When to buy a new boat?
 

I am in June 1940 right now and have 5000 renown in the bank. I can get the type C for 3000 now or save to 9000 and get an IX in a little while. Do you guys upgrade right away? Or do you save up and keep your type B for a while and go after a better boat in 43/44 (IX-D2, C-41, etc.)? I see alot of people get a Type C and upgrade the hell out of it and keep that most of the war. Anyone upgraded a Type B and kept that till the later war years? This is my first career and I am having trouble deciding what to do...lol...decsions, decisions :damn:

Depending on what you want to do.

If you like long patrols and with many sunk ships, go for the IX (but be warned, it has it's disadvatages).

If you like short patrols, go for the VII C. It beats heel out of VII B. It has better hull integrity, more upgrades, the lot.

I'm sure you'll get enough renown after you buy the VII C that later on you'll be able to buy and upgrade later type VII boats!

Personally i never buy a new boat. Ill start a career with the boat i want, and press on until i get killed or the war ends. The only cavet i keep for myself is the boat i pick has to have been at least comissioned within a couple months of my start date in the same year, and if known, have to use the same conning tower insignia and will name the career the same name as that boats first captian. It's a silly superstition i have with SH3, any game that ive started were i didnt follow those rules i set for myself ended up not lasting very long.

I do upgrade my boats but not staight away my favs are the Ix boats and I do love the IX-D2 but if you use renown to buy upgrades and buy a boat and don't have enough to buy any sonar or radar what's the point stay put with what you got and if the Ix-d2 is your fortie save you renown for it,.By all mean go and upgrade to a IXB or C.

I start with a VIIB, I wait till I get moved to France and then get an IXB, I keep that untill around till 1943 and then go back to a VIIC as it's getting a little hard to survive in such a big boat. I may go for an XXI near the end but it depends on how I feel about it.

Go with what your heart desires:up:

I never 'buy' a new boat, as real captains couldn't. On the other hand I cheat like crazy with my 'life': I have a career starting in 1939 out of all three flotillas; one in a II, one in a VIIb and one in a IXb. When a new squadron opens up I start a new career. If one of them retires or dies I start a new one from that flotilla at that date.

I started 3 careers;

One started in 1939 in a VIIb, upgraded to a VIIc in 1941 (9 patrols until now)

A carreer started in 1941 in a IXc ( my 'main' campaign at the moment, 6 patrols)

And a carreer starting in 1944 with a XXI (just to play around, 3 patrols)

So now ive got a little of everything :)
I switch between careers every few missions to keep me from getting bored.

Ive finished one carreer, starting in a type II, VIIb, IXc, VIIc and VIIc41 from 39 to the wars end :)

This brings up a good question. Right now I have a type VIIC and I really like it- every few months those propellerheads in deuchland invent a new little toy for my sub (most recent is radar detector and ladder pattern torpedoes). Thus, my sub gets a little bit better each patrol. I am considering getting a type XXI when it becomes available, though, simply for the torpedo loadout.

Part of the answer will also depend on what mod(s) you might be using.

With NYGM I'd go for the VIIC. Has slightly deeper max depth and slightly faster dive time. Can also have more upgrades than VIIB. I suspect a IX of any description will be VERY tough after mid/late '42 - simply too slow to dive and a bit ponderous when submerged. It's also a bigger ASDIC target....

I never buy new boats. I go for upgrading the one I start with to the max whilst still getting promoted of course!

i know what you mean. I meant buy as in upgrade using your renown. i actually think the renown system is good. It makes sense that Germany's UBoat Ace would have a voice if he thought he should get a better boat and better equipment. Using your renown is like buying a boat in a sense with your fame.

BTW got the VIIC last night. Put a few upgrades on already. Loving it. Bagged by first 2 tankers with it. 8000 tons each :)

I usually wait until the end of the year clearance sales....you get a better deal on the old models before the new model year hit the showroom floor.:D

You're right: You should have a certain amount of fame to get a new boat, because nobody would give you a XXI if you're just a noob for example. But I think it's just plain wrong to "pay" for your boat! Just because you've got a new boat you do not lose your fame/renown!:damn:

I like to think of renown as a virtual representation of the "good ole boy system". It's alive and well in todays military and probably in other militaries, past and present. In some cases/places its all about who you know. Say base supply only has two left of a certain piece of equipment. If you got the connections or if the guy in supply owes you a favor, all you got to do is place a phone call and call in the favor. Or say, you call him and say, "hey man i need a favor". Well, sure you get the part, but now you owe him.

Its influence.. its renown in action. it's not fair but in many place its how it works.