I'm sure these are very good noob questions:

[jasondef]

OK vets, here's your chance to show off your knowledge and answer some noob questions for the hundredth time. Medals of Valor (me drinking a beer in your name) go to those who can answer the fastest!

1. Is there any reason why I would want to outfit my sub with the Mark 10 torps? In the sub outfit screen in the office of career mode, it looks like I can buy them with renown or something I guess, but their stats seem inferior than that of the Mark 14 torps that automatically are outfitted to your sub at the start of every mission. If they are inferior and cost money, and the better ones come for free on your sub, than why have them as an option?

1 & 1/2. Also when in the office, on the desk, there's a picture framed of a dude (is that me??) that lights up when my mouse hovers over it, but when I click it nothing happens. What's that about?

2. What do the crew medals do? Is there a reference somewhere that explains each one, what they do and how you get them? And knowing that information, what then are good strategies as to which crew members to award them to?

3. I keep reading in different posts that people are radioing in contact reports and patrol updates, and HQ issues you new commands in reply etc. I've tried this and nothing happens. I'm surfaced, no other contacts around. I go to the captain's clipboard and click the two different buttons, one for radioing in a contact report, and another for a patrol update. But I get no indication that it got sent, and nothing ever comes in reply. And this is after I have significant contact info and patrol happenings to report. So how do I do this?

4. I get war updates occasionly about the battle for the Phillipines in the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, etc. Do these happen in the game realtime, i.e. if I'm in the right place at the right time, will I see this action unfold, and possibly lend the support of my sub?

5. I get crew promotions easy enough, it seems that I'll have all captains for a crew by the time the war's over. I remember the best mod for SH3 was a career mod (dang what's the name) that would take members of your crew away (due to transfers, bar fights, etc) randomly, thinning out your ranks, making it more realistic. Is there anything like this yet for SH4?

OK, thanks! That's all for now, though I'm sure there will be more...