My essential installation list for the easy mode casual gamer new to SH5

[lengro]

Ahoy Captains!

background:
I have played subsims on and off since Silent Service on C64. In some periods I played SH3/4 with supermods at high realism - in other periods, when interest was lower, I would just play now and then with easy aiming, full map updates and so on.
When I got SH5 it only stayed on my HD for a few hours - walking around the boat to give commands, and the lack of compass to give directional orders was a major let down for me.
Then a few days ago - after a very long break from subsims - I had the urge for a easy mode quick run in the Atlantic, and I decided to reinstall SH5 and see if the Mods of today had made it playable for me.
I was absolutely overwhelmed with the current amount of mods and their endlessly long threads on this BBS - so I went with Sobers Mega Mod list - and after some frustrating days with coffee and stubbornness I had it all running.
Absolutely stunning work from the modders <Salute> - but soon I realized 3 things:

1. Sobers mega mod list is for the hard core subsimmer - (I will possibly go that way again some day, but for now I just want easy casual game)
2. I didn't know vanilla SH5 good enough to see what actually was modded and what was not.
3. I had now spend 99% spare time on fiddling with SH5 installation and 1% playing it!

So to fix 1 and 2 (but make 3 worse) I started to remove mods until I ended up with those few mods that covers my need for now - and actually makes me like SH5:

So if someone like me come across this board, here is what I suggest you start out with - and hopefully save you some hours of frustration.

My essential installation list for the easy mode casual gamer new to SH5:

1. Install stock game SH5
2. install official patch 1.2
3. Install JSGME (a tool to enable/disable mods)
4. install mod: Accurate German Flags (the stock game do not show Nazi symbols - this mod enables them)
5. install mod: Small_trees_SH5_V1 (the stock game trees a way to big - this mod makes the trees smaller)
6. install mod: NewUIs_TDC_7_2_0_ByTheDarkWraith (Removes the need to walk around the boat, press T and select which station you want to go to. It also enables a compass you can click on to select heading)
7. install mod: Church's Compass Dials Mod v2.2 - Option Two (changes the look of the compass in the above mod - I prefer the look of this one)
8. install mod: sobers NO water drops V1 (removes irritating water drop animations on telescope)
9. install mod: smaller flags for Warships 1_0b (stock game flags on warship a way to big - the mod makes their size correct)

Thats it for now.

There a lots and lots of great mods that enhances gameplay, realism, interior and exterior graphics, sound effects and so on, but that are gifts I will save for later. However, if one of you experienced SH5'ers thinks my "getting started list for the easy mode casual gamer" misses something essential, please let me know.

And now I'm off to actually play the game! (I wonder how long it will take before I run into something forcing me to reevaluate my beginning mod list)

cya
(and sorry for the sad state of my english)

[Fifi]

Really essentials mods to enjoy SH5 as it should have been, are IMO:

-Dynamic Environment
-Equipment and Upgrade
-FX Update
-New UIs TDC
-IRAI
-OHII Full
-Reworked Morale and Abilities
-TDW Generic Patcher

Others are extra bonus

[lengro]

Thanks for your input Fifi - I'm already started to expand my list based on yours.

For now I'm most interested in essential mods that enhances game functionality - not so much graphics only enhancements (I'll save that for later)

With that in mind, is it then correct to split your list the following way:

Enhances game functionality
========================
-Equipment and Upgrade
-New UIs TDC
-IRAI
-OHII Full
-Reworked Morale and Abilities
-TDW Generic Patcher

Enhances graphics
==============
-Dynamic Environment
-FX Update

cya

[THE_MASK]

Great thread

[gap]

Originally Posted by lengro

Enhances game functionality
========================
-Equipment and Upgrade
-New UIs TDC
-IRAI
-OHII Full
-Reworked Morale and Abilities
-TDW Generic Patcher

Enhances graphics
==============
-Dynamic Environment
-FX Update

Good list
but in my opinion your classification into game functionality/graphics is a bit forced:

without entering into details, Dynamic Environment affects weather and wave mechanics, and Fx Update changes ship sinking mechanics, both of which are more game functionalities than graphic improvements

[Fifi]

Gap is right even though IMO Dynamic Env is more about graphics enhancement.
Not easy to clasify mods like you are trying Lengro, because each of them often add many improvments together...

What i listed above is in my opinion, "basic must have" mods i just couldn't play without, because they all fix stock SH5 release bugs and inconsistencies.
(note that those mods often have patches/additions to activate too)

[lengro]

Thanks gap and Fifi.

I understand and agree on your points - single mods often affects the game in more than one area.

I'm very lost in this mod jungle, and I'm in two minds about it:
1) on one hand I just want to go ship hunting, but is frustrated that I spend most of the time trying to understand, what mods is essential for my SH5 experience.
2) on the other hand I'm in deep respect of the hard work people have put up to even give me option 1.

Here is my current essential mod list which I still thinks has more focus on functionality rather than sound and graphics enhancements. (But I can see how, in a not very distant future, it likely will converge toward sober's or Fifi's full list )

Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
[E:\Games\Ubisoft\Silent Hunter 5\MODS]

Equipment_Upgrades_Fix_v1_4_byTheBeast
Equipment_Upgrades_Fix_v1_4_Patch_1
#Equipment_Upgrades_Fix_v1_4_Patch_1_HotFix
MightyFine Crew Mod 1.2.1 Alt faces
MCCD_1.04_MFCM_1.2.1_compatible
NewUIs_TDC_7_1_0_ByTheDarkWraith
NewUIs_TDC_7_1_0_New_radio_messages_German
Manos Scopes-patch for 8x5
IRAI_0_0_39_ByTheDarkWraith
IRAI_0_0_39_Patch_ByTheDarkWraith
Accurate German Flags
OPEN HORIZONS II_full v2
OHII v2 Mission Fix WA
Reworked Morale and Abilities v.1.1
sobers NO water drops V1
smaller flags for Warships 1_0b
stoianm pitch&roll for SH5 V1 (normal)
TDW_IRAI_Inertia_Damage
TDW_Ship_Inertia_1_1_0
TDW_GenericPatcher_v_1_0_74_0

P.s.:
Fifi - on your mod compilation there are 3 mods I can't find:

1. Webster's Smaller Rain for v1.5 <- I can only find a SH4 reference to this?
2. stoianm lights <- is it the same as "stoianm Brighter Nights mod"?
3. 2 SC_Music_DasBoot <- this one I can't find anywhere?

Do you know where I can find information about them - thank you.

cya

[volodya61]

I think you don't need this one - sobers NO water drops V1
you can remove water drops using TDW's patch IMO

[lengro]

Originally Posted by volodya61

I think you don't need this one - sobers NO water drops V1
you can remove water drops using TDW's patch IMO

Right, got it:
GenericPatcher.exe -> TDW_SH5_Patches.s5p -> Patches -> Render patches -> Change 2 -> Enable

thanks

[Fifi]

Originally Posted by lengro

Right, got it:
GenericPatcher.exe -> TDW_SH5_Patches.s5p -> Patches -> Render patches -> Change 2 -> Enable

thanks

That's cool to know! Didn't know that!

About the mods you pointed:
-Stoianm lights was never shared
-2SC music Das Boot is old (but awesome) and can't be found anymore, and i can't upload it on my mediafire because of copyrights
- Webster smaller rain is here : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=152721

EDIT: i could add to this basic must have list 2 mods i also couldn't skip:
- Mighty Fine Crew Mod
- MCCD
But maybe they are not really fixing stock bugs...but they add so much to the game!

[lengro]

Thanks Fifi

Originally Posted by Fifi

- Webster smaller rain is here : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=152721

Aye, that was the one I could find, isn't that a SH4 mod? So, maybe its a part of SH4 carried unchanged over to SH5, hence the mod works with both sims.

EDIT: i could add to this basic must have list 2 mods i also couldn't skip:
- Mighty Fine Crew Mod
- MCCD
But maybe they are not really fixing stock bugs...but they add so much to the game!

Yes excellent mods too! Heh - my essential list grew fast

I'm really enjoying SH5 now - I'm on my first campaign and having a great time!