USS Balao (SS-285)

Redmane · 05-12-13, 10:41 PM

I'm looking for ideas anyone may have regarding a very minor issue.

In a previous career and this current one I'm playing I started with a Gar class boat in December '41. After my 3rd patrol I received a refit to a '42 conning tower, and after the next patrol was offered command of a Balao. In fact the boat was the USS Balao. As other players are probably aware this class always seems to be offered too early, in my current career this was in late September of '42. But that's not what I'm really asking about here. I understand the game has some issues with ignoring availabiltiy dates, etc. To counter this problem I refused the boat and kept the Gudgeon for another few patrols. In March of '43 I transfered to Fremantle, ran one patrol, and was offered a new command again after that. I'd gone to Fremantle in an attempt to get offered a Gato, but that didn't work. Once again the boat was the USS Balao. I really like the Balao Class, they are fine boats, but here's the deal:

The Balao class I always get offered, even when I was playing the stock game, is ALWAYS the USS Balao. Furthermore, I'm playing TMO and as anyone who has played it has noticed, Ducimus added to the roster the SS numbers of all the boats in the game. However, the Balao NEVER displays this number on the sub managment screens, as all of the other boats seem to do. Now for the question:

Does anyone have any ideas on how to force the game to offer a different boat for the Balao Class in a career game, or at least how to get the game to display the SS number? I went so far as to edit the Roster file, changing first the Dates of Commission, then actually removed the USS Balao from the unit 1 position in the list and replaced it with the USS Cisco, but still the boat I got was... USS Balao.

acofm89 · 05-13-13, 12:54 AM

Had the same thing happened to me a short while ago. Not sure why it's happening though. I think it's probably one of the quirks that's in TMO. Like when you're offered the USS Tautog while in the Asiatic fleet (it's a Tambor and shouldn't be available in South East Asia) and shift base to Pear Harbor with no explanation

Redmane · 05-13-13, 07:50 AM

Well, getting the Tautog is different, and there is a fix for that. In a previous career, I also was "upgraded" to the Tautog after starting my career in a Gar. Then transfered to Fremantle, later back to Pearl where the boat was refitted, which was nice, then time warped back to July of '42, and the refit happened in '43, I think. Anyway that whole problem was caused by an issue with the Terrible T campaign, which can be fixed by downloading and activating Aanker's small patch found here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=3506 The fix will disable the Terrible T campaign option, so if you want to try that sometime you will need to deactivate the patch.

So far as getting the Balao early, thats really not anything to do with TMO, and I understand that, its a problem with the game itself that it ignores availability dates, as well as alot of other info when it picks a boat to give you. My question is only about seeing if I can in some way "force" the game to give me a Balao class boat that for once isn't the USS Balao, or at least get it to include the SS number that it has in the roster file, like all the other boats do. I've run single missions in Balao class boats, and can't recall ever getting the Balao for one, but there are alot of other names in the roster list for that class, and it would be nice to see one in a career game for once.

Phoenix35 · 05-13-13, 10:59 AM

How many sub was created in Balao class?

Redmane · 05-13-13, 11:33 AM

Well, I don't have actual historical numbers on how many Balao class boats were built, but seeing how much Ducimus was committed to giving TMO historical authenticity, perhaps the number of names he included in the Balao class roster is accurate, and that file lists 116 different names and SS numbers.

acofm89 · 05-13-13, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redmane

Well, getting the Tautog is different, and there is a fix for that. In a previous career, I also was "upgraded" to the Tautog after starting my career in a Gar. Then transfered to Fremantle, later back to Pearl where the boat was refitted, which was nice, then time warped back to July of '42, and the refit happened in '43, I think. Anyway that whole problem was caused by an issue with the Terrible T campaign, which can be fixed by downloading and activating Aanker's small patch found here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=3506 The fix will disable the Terrible T campaign option, so if you want to try that sometime you will need to deactivate the patch.

So far as getting the Balao early, thats really not anything to do with TMO, and I understand that, its a problem with the game itself that it ignores availability dates, as well as alot of other info when it picks a boat to give you. My question is only about seeing if I can in some way "force" the game to give me a Balao class boat that for once isn't the USS Balao, or at least get it to include the SS number that it has in the roster file, like all the other boats do. I've run single missions in Balao class boats, and can't recall ever getting the Balao for one, but there are alot of other names in the roster list for that class, and it would be nice to see one in a career game for once.

Yeah, I know about aankers small patch. I brought up the Tautog/terrible T issue a while ago and was recommended to download it which I did. I was just thinking that the thing with USS Balao might have been something similar, since it seems to be an egually weird occurence that makes no sense.

I guess we just have to chalk it up as one of the strange quirks of the original game then. I know Ducimus and other modders have tried to sort these kinds of things out as much as possible (mostly) but with the games original code being what it is it'll never be perfect.

TorpX · 05-13-13, 10:59 PM

I know this is a very makeshift solution, but could you at least edit your career file (after the fact), so you don't have the USS Balao (again)?

Redmane · 05-14-13, 01:40 AM

Would that be a cfg file? I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Truth is all theses little problems with the game are turning me into a modder, I think.

05-12-13, 10:41 PM	#1
Redmane Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 113 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	USS Balao (SS-285) I'm looking for ideas anyone may have regarding a very minor issue. In a previous career and this current one I'm playing I started with a Gar class boat in December '41. After my 3rd patrol I received a refit to a '42 conning tower, and after the next patrol was offered command of a Balao. In fact the boat was the USS Balao. As other players are probably aware this class always seems to be offered too early, in my current career this was in late September of '42. But that's not what I'm really asking about here. I understand the game has some issues with ignoring availabiltiy dates, etc. To counter this problem I refused the boat and kept the Gudgeon for another few patrols. In March of '43 I transfered to Fremantle, ran one patrol, and was offered a new command again after that. I'd gone to Fremantle in an attempt to get offered a Gato, but that didn't work. Once again the boat was the USS Balao. I really like the Balao Class, they are fine boats, but here's the deal: The Balao class I always get offered, even when I was playing the stock game, is ALWAYS the USS Balao. Furthermore, I'm playing TMO and as anyone who has played it has noticed, Ducimus added to the roster the SS numbers of all the boats in the game. However, the Balao NEVER displays this number on the sub managment screens, as all of the other boats seem to do. Now for the question: Does anyone have any ideas on how to force the game to offer a different boat for the Balao Class in a career game, or at least how to get the game to display the SS number? I went so far as to edit the Roster file, changing first the Dates of Commission, then actually removed the USS Balao from the unit 1 position in the list and replaced it with the USS Cisco, but still the boat I got was... USS Balao. __________________ REDMANE Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bullet-proof. -V

05-13-13, 07:50 AM	#3
Redmane Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 113 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Tautog Well, getting the Tautog is different, and there is a fix for that. In a previous career, I also was "upgraded" to the Tautog after starting my career in a Gar. Then transfered to Fremantle, later back to Pearl where the boat was refitted, which was nice, then time warped back to July of '42, and the refit happened in '43, I think. Anyway that whole problem was caused by an issue with the Terrible T campaign, which can be fixed by downloading and activating Aanker's small patch found here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=3506 The fix will disable the Terrible T campaign option, so if you want to try that sometime you will need to deactivate the patch. So far as getting the Balao early, thats really not anything to do with TMO, and I understand that, its a problem with the game itself that it ignores availability dates, as well as alot of other info when it picks a boat to give you. My question is only about seeing if I can in some way "force" the game to give me a Balao class boat that for once isn't the USS Balao, or at least get it to include the SS number that it has in the roster file, like all the other boats do. I've run single missions in Balao class boats, and can't recall ever getting the Balao for one, but there are alot of other names in the roster list for that class, and it would be nice to see one in a career game for once. __________________ REDMANE Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bullet-proof. -V

05-13-13, 11:33 AM	#5
Redmane Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 113 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Well... Well, I don't have actual historical numbers on how many Balao class boats were built, but seeing how much Ducimus was committed to giving TMO historical authenticity, perhaps the number of names he included in the Balao class roster is accurate, and that file lists 116 different names and SS numbers. __________________ REDMANE Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bullet-proof. -V

05-14-13, 01:40 AM	#8
Redmane Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 113 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Hmm... Would that be a cfg file? I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Truth is all theses little problems with the game are turning me into a modder, I think. __________________ REDMANE Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bullet-proof. -V

05-13-13, 12:54 AM	#2
acofm89 Watch Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: 20'000 leagues under the sea Posts: 29 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Had the same thing happened to me a short while ago. Not sure why it's happening though. I think it's probably one of the quirks that's in TMO. Like when you're offered the USS Tautog while in the Asiatic fleet (it's a Tambor and shouldn't be available in South East Asia) and shift base to Pear Harbor with no explanation

05-13-13, 10:59 AM	#4
Phoenix35 Watch Join Date: May 2012 Location: Rennes 35 Posts: 19 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	How many sub was created in Balao class?

05-13-13, 10:59 PM	#7
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	I know this is a very makeshift solution, but could you at least edit your career file (after the fact), so you don't have the USS Balao (again)?