New Here

Caleb141 · 04-08-10, 10:44 AM

Hi all

Just thought I'd introduce myself to the subsim community as I have just bought SH4 and 5 for my PC. I have them both in front of me now (wasn't sure what forum to post this in, so I just went here) and im wondering which one I should play first as this will be my first experience with the SH series .

Any help on deciding which one to play first? and also is there any advice you veteran subsimmers can give me on my first patrol out to either the Pacific or Atlantic theaters of war?

Thanks

danurve · 04-08-10, 10:52 AM

Welcome to Subsim.
I would install SHIV, patched to 1.5 (ubm).
Then find out about JSGME if your not familiar with it. It is a mod enabler.
Then browse the SHIV mods workshop and read about TMO, RFB, & RSRD. And OM for UBM (Atlantic theater)
You can jump right in but the super mods for SHIV might be hard on a new player. Either way SHIV is realy two sims in one.

Caleb141 · 04-08-10, 10:58 AM

Where does it say which patch I am running on?

BillBam · 04-08-10, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb141

Where does it say which patch I am running on?

If you have the Gold Edition that includes the U-Boat missions you have 1.5 (the most current.)

tomoose · 04-08-10, 12:31 PM

I'd go with SH4 first as previously suggested. Be advised, both games have certain glitches and bugs (as I'm sure you'll read about elsewhere in the forums). Try vanilla SH4 then add some mods (I'd recommend TMO1.9 and Run Silent Run Deep (RSRD) but I'm biased, LOL). Once you're comfortable with SH4 then try SH5. If you prefer the Pacific and a U.S. sub then SH4 is the only way to go. If you prefer a U-boat then you now have a few choices (for good or for bad,LOL);
1. SH3 with GWX mod (an excellent version and despite the lesser quality graphics does a great job of simulating the Atlantic U-boat war IMHO although there's no wolfpacks modelled).
2. SH4 U-boat add-on - can't speak to this as I only use SH4 for the U.S. Pacific experience but there are many positive comments elsewhere in the forums regarding the Operation Monsun mod.
3. SH5 - the latest but not necessarily the greatest. U-boat action in the Atlantic with a 1st-person/RPG perspective. Lots of bugs and complaints but you can decide for yourself.

Caleb141 · 04-08-10, 12:32 PM

Looks like its not the gold edition, but I've just patched it to 1.4 so i've started downloading some mods for that patch version (such as TMO and RSRDC).

There's just so many buttons to remember and use!

I like sims though because they're a challenge to learn and you feel awesome when you can do well in one.

Just a quick question: How do I set torpedo speed, depth and type fired? I can find the torpedo launch panel and all that but not much else

Thanks for any help

Steiger · 04-08-10, 01:11 PM

You can use your SH5 DVD as a drinks coaster while you play SH4.

Bothersome · 04-08-10, 01:46 PM

Why do we oldies always get that envy feeling for the new guys that have all that NEW stuff they have to learn. Ahh the days when it was so exciting to sink your first freighter. I had to call my brother and tell him all about it on my first one. The memories.

I don't have SH-5 but on SH-4, in a U-Boat, you can go to the tactical map and there is a manual input button that you need to turn on (green). It will then let rotate the dials by dragging them with the mouse. If you are playing American side with a fleet boat (US submarine), then you can only set the dial manually IF you have selected manual targeting in the options while in the office (if you are on career play), or the options in the main menu for quick missions and such.

If you are on auto targeting (default), then the dials get rotated automatically (by your weapons officer) when you lock onto a target.

And welcome to the world of submarines. If you enjoy challenge, you are in the right game.

SH4 was the only game I have found that could pull me away from X3-Terran Conflict. It's that good.

Bothersome · 04-08-10, 01:58 PM

Oops, wrong thread.

Edited out.

danurve · 04-08-10, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb141

Looks like its not the gold edition, but I've just patched it to 1.4 so i've started downloading some mods for that patch version (such as TMO and RSRDC).
...

NOTE: Hold up on installing those mods!
Most of the Supermods for SHIV are for 1.5 if your game reports / says 1.4 then you need the UBM (Uboat Missions Add-on) which brings your game up to 1.5 version.

magic452 · 04-08-10, 02:51 PM

I would hold off on the mods for a time. Play stock and get a feel for the game first. Once you get it than go with some mods.

There is one mod for the stock game that will improve some of the bugs, etc. called Game Fix Only Mod, by Webster. This is a good one to add to stock.
Check in the mods forum to find them. EDIT GFO is for V1.5 only.

There is a TMO for V1.4 called TMO1.5 and a patch for it TMO patch 1.63.
I'll see if I can find a link.

RSRD is a great mod but you need to have some knowledge of where the real convoys and task forces were so I would go there last.

Magic

Caleb141 · 04-08-10, 03:07 PM

Well I've just installed TMO and RSRDC for SHIV, enjoying it so far although i've yet to detect any contacts (im using the hydrophone and radar - im assuming thats what im supposed to do?). What I tend to do is is travel for a while on Time Compression at 1000-2000+, then stop and go down to 80ft and do a hydrophone and radar check, then continue. Would that be along the lines of what is standard procedure here?

Quick question: I read the RSRDC thread but didn't fully understand what it changed, but decided it must be good if it has its own TMo version. Could someone briefly explain what it does?

EDIT: magic452, is that all RSRDC does then? just change the convoys and task forces to how they were in real life?

BillBam · 04-08-10, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caleb141

Well I've just installed TMO and RSRDC for SHIV, enjoying it so far although i've yet to detect any contacts (im using the hydrophone and radar - im assuming thats what im supposed to do?). What I tend to do is is travel for a while on Time Compression at 1000-2000+, then stop and go down to 80ft and do a hydrophone and radar check, then continue. Would that be along the lines of what is standard procedure here?

Quick question: I read the RSRDC thread but didn't fully understand what it changed, but decided it must be good if it has its own TMo version. Could someone briefly explain what it does?

EDIT: magic452, is that all RSRDC does then? just change the convoys and task forces to how they were in real life?

Radar (if installed) only works when surfaced, most times you will not have radar early or only the type that detects air contacts and not surface contacts. If you don't have surface contact radar your best method of detecting ships is visual contact which means you need to be surface for best range. Sonar only works when submerged and can have a fairly short range, especially in early war period.

I would not patrol at too high of a TC, I generally keep it to 256 or 512 TC and try to patrol areas called "choke points", this is the narrow straights that traffic is forced to use to move from area to area. Much harder to find the needle in the hay stack in open waters.

RSRD modifies the stock campaign layers to make convoy and task force movement historically correct, it even recreates historical sea battles. In the stock game you will get way more convoys but they are not historically correct and don't make sense sometimes.

Caleb141 · 04-08-10, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillBam

Radar (if installed) only works when surfaced, most times you will not have radar early or only the type that detects air contacts and not surface contacts. If you don't have surface contact radar your best method of detecting ships is visual contact which means you need to be surface for best range. Sonar only works when submerged and can have a fairly short range, especially in early war period.

I would not patrol at too high of a TC, I generally keep it to 256 or 512 TC and try to patrol areas called "choke points", this is the narrow straights that traffic is forced to use to move from area to area. Much harder to find the needle in the hay stack in open waters.

RSRD modifies the stock campaign layers to make convoy and task force movement historically correct, it even recreates historical sea battles. In the stock game you will get way more convoys but they are not historically correct and don't make sense sometimes.

So how does RSRDC run with the stock games campaigns missions then? As I've just been assigned to patrol the eastern part of the south china sea but if RSRDC changes it so that the convoys are historically correct then has the objectives/missions been changed to compensate for this? After all, I dont want to be told to patrol somewhere and not encounter any ships because its not historically correct.

Also, I started my campaign at the earliest possible date (8th December 1941) , so im assuming that I wont have surface radar or anything of the like?

Thanks for all your help guys, im really really starting to enjoy this

EDIT: Also, could someone direct me to where I could maybe get information on historic patrol routes? thanks

Bothersome · 04-08-10, 04:13 PM

How are the guys that are giving the orders to you supposed to know that there won't be targets there or will be at a certain date?

They want you to patrol that area because they have intelligence that puts a probability that some bad guys will be there and doing something. Did someone send them a history book from the future?

That's my beef with RSRD. You're not supposed to know the future. The captains of WW2 didn't know the future. And you shouldn't either.

Knowing that a ship or group is going to be somewhere at a certain time = cheating.

04-08-10, 10:44 AM	#1
Caleb141 Watch Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 15 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	New Here Hi all Just thought I'd introduce myself to the subsim community as I have just bought SH4 and 5 for my PC. I have them both in front of me now (wasn't sure what forum to post this in, so I just went here) and im wondering which one I should play first as this will be my first experience with the SH series . Any help on deciding which one to play first? and also is there any advice you veteran subsimmers can give me on my first patrol out to either the Pacific or Atlantic theaters of war? Thanks

04-08-10, 10:52 AM	#2
danurve The Old Man Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,481 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 3	Welcome to Subsim. I would install SHIV, patched to 1.5 (ubm). Then find out about JSGME if your not familiar with it. It is a mod enabler. Then browse the SHIV mods workshop and read about TMO, RFB, & RSRD. And OM for UBM (Atlantic theater) You can jump right in but the super mods for SHIV might be hard on a new player. Either way SHIV is realy two sims in one. __________________

04-08-10, 12:31 PM	#5
tomoose Grey Wolf Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 930 Downloads: 23 Uploads: 0	SHIV I'd go with SH4 first as previously suggested. Be advised, both games have certain glitches and bugs (as I'm sure you'll read about elsewhere in the forums). Try vanilla SH4 then add some mods (I'd recommend TMO1.9 and Run Silent Run Deep (RSRD) but I'm biased, LOL). Once you're comfortable with SH4 then try SH5. If you prefer the Pacific and a U.S. sub then SH4 is the only way to go. If you prefer a U-boat then you now have a few choices (for good or for bad,LOL); 1. SH3 with GWX mod (an excellent version and despite the lesser quality graphics does a great job of simulating the Atlantic U-boat war IMHO although there's no wolfpacks modelled). 2. SH4 U-boat add-on - can't speak to this as I only use SH4 for the U.S. Pacific experience but there are many positive comments elsewhere in the forums regarding the Operation Monsun mod. 3. SH5 - the latest but not necessarily the greatest. U-boat action in the Atlantic with a 1st-person/RPG perspective. Lots of bugs and complaints but you can decide for yourself.

04-08-10, 01:11 PM	#7
Steiger Planesman Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	You can use your SH5 DVD as a drinks coaster while you play SH4. __________________

04-08-10, 02:51 PM	#11
magic452 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Reno Nevada USA Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I would hold off on the mods for a time. Play stock and get a feel for the game first. Once you get it than go with some mods. There is one mod for the stock game that will improve some of the bugs, etc. called Game Fix Only Mod, by Webster. This is a good one to add to stock. Check in the mods forum to find them. EDIT GFO is for V1.5 only. There is a TMO for V1.4 called TMO1.5 and a patch for it TMO patch 1.63. I'll see if I can find a link. RSRD is a great mod but you need to have some knowledge of where the real convoys and task forces were so I would go there last. Magic __________________ Reported lost 11 Feb. 1942 Signature by depthtok33l

04-08-10, 10:58 AM	#3
Caleb141 Watch Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 15 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Where does it say which patch I am running on?

04-08-10, 12:32 PM	#6
Caleb141 Watch Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 15 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Looks like its not the gold edition, but I've just patched it to 1.4 so i've started downloading some mods for that patch version (such as TMO and RSRDC). There's just so many buttons to remember and use! I like sims though because they're a challenge to learn and you feel awesome when you can do well in one. Just a quick question: How do I set torpedo speed, depth and type fired? I can find the torpedo launch panel and all that but not much else Thanks for any help

04-08-10, 01:46 PM	#8
Bothersome Planesman Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 194 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	Why do we oldies always get that envy feeling for the new guys that have all that NEW stuff they have to learn. Ahh the days when it was so exciting to sink your first freighter. I had to call my brother and tell him all about it on my first one. The memories. I don't have SH-5 but on SH-4, in a U-Boat, you can go to the tactical map and there is a manual input button that you need to turn on (green). It will then let rotate the dials by dragging them with the mouse. If you are playing American side with a fleet boat (US submarine), then you can only set the dial manually IF you have selected manual targeting in the options while in the office (if you are on career play), or the options in the main menu for quick missions and such. If you are on auto targeting (default), then the dials get rotated automatically (by your weapons officer) when you lock onto a target. And welcome to the world of submarines. If you enjoy challenge, you are in the right game. SH4 was the only game I have found that could pull me away from X3-Terran Conflict. It's that good.

04-08-10, 01:58 PM	#9
Bothersome Planesman Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 194 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	Oops, wrong thread. Edited out.

04-08-10, 03:07 PM	#12
Caleb141 Watch Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 15 Downloads: 16 Uploads: 0	Well I've just installed TMO and RSRDC for SHIV, enjoying it so far although i've yet to detect any contacts (im using the hydrophone and radar - im assuming thats what im supposed to do?). What I tend to do is is travel for a while on Time Compression at 1000-2000+, then stop and go down to 80ft and do a hydrophone and radar check, then continue. Would that be along the lines of what is standard procedure here? Quick question: I read the RSRDC thread but didn't fully understand what it changed, but decided it must be good if it has its own TMo version. Could someone briefly explain what it does? EDIT: magic452, is that all RSRDC does then? just change the convoys and task forces to how they were in real life?

04-08-10, 04:13 PM	#15
Bothersome Planesman Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 194 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	How are the guys that are giving the orders to you supposed to know that there won't be targets there or will be at a certain date? They want you to patrol that area because they have intelligence that puts a probability that some bad guys will be there and doing something. Did someone send them a history book from the future? That's my beef with RSRD. You're not supposed to know the future. The captains of WW2 didn't know the future. And you shouldn't either. Knowing that a ship or group is going to be somewhere at a certain time = cheating.