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LGN1 · 05-30-09, 01:24 AM

Hi,

thanks to BtS-Mods.com and CapZap1970 the mod is now available for download from:

http://www.bts-mods.com/?page=sh3user=LGN1

It is now also available from (thanks to Neal Stevens):

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1179

The main features are:

-> With 'Map updates on' the navigation map shows contacts only for higher zoom levels (starting from 125 KM). Single contacts and small contacts are shown with different symbols.
This feature is similar to the old 'Assisted plotting mod' and OLC's map update mod.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/607/navmap1.jpg

-> On the attack map the contacts can be seen more detailed (from zoom level 2500m); thus providing a better situational awareness. Since one cannot draw on the attack map, detailed data cannot be obtained, i.e., the excitement of manual targeting is not lost. Since on the attack map the time compression is limited, the crew will get tired when one uses the attack map (e.g. for shadowing).

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1794/attackmap.jpg

-> The player's boat is still visible at all zoom levels. An optional mod for colored sonar lines and colored convoys is included (single ships remain uncolored). This version contains also the necessary files for iambecomelife's MFM.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5529/navmap2.jpg

Cheers, LGN1

More detailed background info:

Hi,

since I have started playing SH3 I am (as many others, I guess) a little bit unhappy about how the game handles information given on the maps. Without map updates the player has to do everything alone, measuring, drawing,... and the workload for him is unrealistically high.
However, with map updates turned on it is also unrealistic because it is in this case possible to obtain highly accurate data for an attack in seconds, i.e., all the excitement of manual targeting is lost.

This issue has been discussed already many times here and several mods have been created to solve the problem (e.g., the assisted plotting mod). After many tries I have found a good compromise for me and thought that others might be interested, too. The basic ideas behind the mod are:

1.) The map should give the player enough general information so that he has a good idea what is going on around him, i.e., he should know the rough distances to the other ships.
This compensates for the missing feature to give crew members orders to warn you if some ships come closer than a certain distance,... This also allows the player to shadow a convoy/ship more easily with time compression (important for players who have not that much time to play). Again, this compensates for the missing feature of telling the crew/watch to keep a certain distance from the target.

2.) To compensate for the impossibility to ask the sonar man detailed questions (not only what is the next contact (actually the sonar man tells you the NEXT contact not the NEAREST), but a brief report about the general situation), the map should show rough sonar contacts to give you an idea about the situation.

3.) It should NOT be possible to determine the course and the speed of a contact in seconds or minutes without any input from you.

To achieve these goals, I play with map updates with the following changes (borrowed from many different mods, thanks to all involved!):

-on the navigation map sonar lines are shown which roughly indicate the distance of the contact.

-starting from a high zoom level (see the picture), the group symbol for a contact is shown. In contrast to playing without map updates the only gain is that one gets the rough course and speed information by clicking on the contact (e.g., SSW,slow). I don't regard this as unrealistic. For slow targets at least 30 min. are required to get a decent estimate for the course and speed from marking the position on the map. This also can be achieved in 30 min. without map updates by roughly marking the bearing and range on the map. So, the player does not really gain anything from this feature (I have found out that it is also possible to have different symbols for single ship contacts and small convois

).

-on the attack map the single ships are shown from a moderate high zoom level (see picture). Since the attack map does not allow you to draw anything or mark any positions, this gives you only a rough picture! This is the crucial feature how one can have some information on the map without revealing all the exact data immediately! So, the attack map can be used to get a rough idea about a convoy, where escorts are, at which distance roughly,... and for shadowing/overtaking a convoy. A nice feature is that on the attack map your time compression is limited, so if you use the attack map your crew gets tired

I think these changes make the game easier, but considerably more realistic. Especially for people who do not have that much time these changes are good because they allow one to use time compression in more situations without risking your boat. From my experience, these changes do not make manual targeting easier, but just help you with the situational awareness. If anyone is interested in the mod, I can upload the files or describe the required changes in detail.

Cheers, LGN1

05-30-09, 01:24 AM	#1
LGN1 Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,138 Downloads: 147 Uploads: 12	Map update mod Hi, thanks to BtS-Mods.com and CapZap1970 the mod is now available for download from: http://www.bts-mods.com/?page=sh3user=LGN1 It is now also available from (thanks to Neal Stevens): http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1179 The main features are: -> With 'Map updates on' the navigation map shows contacts only for higher zoom levels (starting from 125 KM). Single contacts and small contacts are shown with different symbols. This feature is similar to the old 'Assisted plotting mod' and OLC's map update mod. http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/607/navmap1.jpg -> On the attack map the contacts can be seen more detailed (from zoom level 2500m); thus providing a better situational awareness. Since one cannot draw on the attack map, detailed data cannot be obtained, i.e., the excitement of manual targeting is not lost. Since on the attack map the time compression is limited, the crew will get tired when one uses the attack map (e.g. for shadowing). http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1794/attackmap.jpg -> The player's boat is still visible at all zoom levels. An optional mod for colored sonar lines and colored convoys is included (single ships remain uncolored). This version contains also the necessary files for iambecomelife's MFM. http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/5529/navmap2.jpg Cheers, LGN1 More detailed background info: Hi, since I have started playing SH3 I am (as many others, I guess) a little bit unhappy about how the game handles information given on the maps. Without map updates the player has to do everything alone, measuring, drawing,... and the workload for him is unrealistically high. However, with map updates turned on it is also unrealistic because it is in this case possible to obtain highly accurate data for an attack in seconds, i.e., all the excitement of manual targeting is lost. This issue has been discussed already many times here and several mods have been created to solve the problem (e.g., the assisted plotting mod). After many tries I have found a good compromise for me and thought that others might be interested, too. The basic ideas behind the mod are: 1.) The map should give the player enough general information so that he has a good idea what is going on around him, i.e., he should know the rough distances to the other ships. This compensates for the missing feature to give crew members orders to warn you if some ships come closer than a certain distance,... This also allows the player to shadow a convoy/ship more easily with time compression (important for players who have not that much time to play). Again, this compensates for the missing feature of telling the crew/watch to keep a certain distance from the target. 2.) To compensate for the impossibility to ask the sonar man detailed questions (not only what is the next contact (actually the sonar man tells you the NEXT contact not the NEAREST), but a brief report about the general situation), the map should show rough sonar contacts to give you an idea about the situation. 3.) It should NOT be possible to determine the course and the speed of a contact in seconds or minutes without any input from you. To achieve these goals, I play with map updates with the following changes (borrowed from many different mods, thanks to all involved!): -on the navigation map sonar lines are shown which roughly indicate the distance of the contact. -starting from a high zoom level (see the picture), the group symbol for a contact is shown. In contrast to playing without map updates the only gain is that one gets the rough course and speed information by clicking on the contact (e.g., SSW,slow). I don't regard this as unrealistic. For slow targets at least 30 min. are required to get a decent estimate for the course and speed from marking the position on the map. This also can be achieved in 30 min. without map updates by roughly marking the bearing and range on the map. So, the player does not really gain anything from this feature (I have found out that it is also possible to have different symbols for single ship contacts and small convois ). -on the attack map the single ships are shown from a moderate high zoom level (see picture). Since the attack map does not allow you to draw anything or mark any positions, this gives you only a rough picture! This is the crucial feature how one can have some information on the map without revealing all the exact data immediately! So, the attack map can be used to get a rough idea about a convoy, where escorts are, at which distance roughly,... and for shadowing/overtaking a convoy. A nice feature is that on the attack map your time compression is limited, so if you use the attack map your crew gets tired I think these changes make the game easier, but considerably more realistic. Especially for people who do not have that much time these changes are good because they allow one to use time compression in more situations without risking your boat. From my experience, these changes do not make manual targeting easier, but just help you with the situational awareness. If anyone is interested in the mod, I can upload the files or describe the required changes in detail. Cheers, LGN1 Last edited by LGN1; 06-15-09 at 10:03 PM.