I play SH3 with the GWX (Grey Wolves Expansion) mod and the Lifeboats & Debris mod. That's it. I play 100% realism which means no external camera views so many of the eye-candy mods don't apply to me.
The game is extremely compelling and customizable. I find the graphics fantastic though I wish there was better widescreen support.
Some of the things that I find great about SH3 are:
* Highly customizable realism settings. These allow you to get into the game quickly. Especially the auto TDC (target data computer), which basically makes shooting torpedoes a point-and-shoot affair.
* A deep sense of investment in your u-boat and crew. It takes several successful patrols before you earn enough renown to get your crew built up with enough medals and qualifications to maximize your crew and u-boat's efficiency. Many people play "Dead is Dead" with no "do-overs" so it stings to have invested 10 hours in your boat and crew and have it lost.
* A compelling sense of accomplishment. This is really the key to any game, in my opinion, whether it is SH3 or Farmville. The game is addictive because it fuels a sense of accomplishment, especially with harder difficulty levels. You randomly find ships to sink (and random reinforcement is much stronger than consistent reinforcement, this is a psychological fact). You earn renown based on tonnage sunk so you are always gunning for more tonnage. You earn rank for yourself, awards for yourself, and rank, awards, and skills for your crew.
And as the war progresses, the game gets harder, so the sense of accomplishment grows stronger. I myself have never made it through the war without dying, and that is frustrating and inspiring at the same time.
That's my take on SH3.
Steve
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