Conning Towers revisited

[Subferro]

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but searching around left me with still a few questions about upgrading my conning tower.

I'm running TMO 2.5, RSRDC 5xx, and currently in a Tambor in July 1942, completed 3 patrols and I'm pretty sure one of them was 'good' (hell, I sunk the Kongo at Midway). So far no sign of a new tower. I get that it's renown and date based, as shown here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=134913 but that still leaves a few questions.

1) In Duci's thread, his 2nd patrol starts after 'end of life' for the old tower, but he doesn't get a new tower until after that patrol. Shouldn't he get the upgrade before he sets out on January 15th? Or is there more to the dates than that?

2) In my game, the early war tower ends 6/31, and the new one starts 7/1. I docked from my last patrol after July 1st, and still no tower. Is there still a level of randomness built in?

Thanks

[Subferro]

Update: after patrol 4 I was promoted, still no new boats of towers. After patrol 5 I received the USS Balao... In October of 1942. Clearly something is a little screwy with the upgrade system

[aanker]

You were given command of a boat from the newest class in the fleet. Someone up there noticed your terrific patrols : )

Maybe you wanted to do the TAMBOR career?

Happy Hunting!

[Rockin Robbins]

Hidden inside the game engine is the infamous Blind Chimpanzee. He is installed on a swivel stool, surrounded by a cylindrical dart board with semi-amazing upgrades stuck on it in random places. In his hands he holds darts.

When you enter port after a cruise, the chimp is equipped with a number of darts, corresponding to the quality of your cruise: better performance, more darts. Worse performance, fewer darts. Upon your entry of the port, Admiral Lockwood gives our chimp a hefty spin. Once spun the blind chimpanzee tosses his darts to the inside of the cylindrical dart board.

If one of the darts sticks into the paper target entitled "Conning tower update" then you get one. If none does, then you wait. There are no guarantees as you are at all times under the power of the Blind Chimpanzee. It is entirely possible to never have a bad cruise and you never get an upgrade. It is entirely possible that after a bad cruise you get the upgrade.

Because, you see, the place is under the control of a blind chimpanzee. You think it's Admiral Lockwood, but his only job is to spin the stool. It really sucks to find out now the Navy really works, doesn't it?

[Tshark]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Because, you see, the place is under the control of a blind chimpanzee. You think it's Admiral Lockwood, but his only job is to spin the stool. It really sucks to find out now the Navy really works, doesn't it?

Anybody that has had prior military service is all too acquainted with the blind chimpanzee. It is amazing how he is able to be a part of every branch of service!

[Rockin Robbins]

And it's amazing that the SH4 game developers had the insight, understanding and cruelty to incorporate the blind chimp into a mere computer game. SALUTE!!!

[ColonelSandersLite]

You see, it's commonly believed that we beat the Japanese in ww2 due to a mix of superior production, technology, tactics and strategy. This is actually a lie. In actual fact, our admirals could spin their chimp faster than the japanese admirals could spin theirs. Of course, the obvious exception is admiral Yamamoto. That man could really spin a chimp quickly, but he also didn't have the endurance to keep it up for long.

[Subferro]

Originally Posted by aanker

You were given command of a boat from the newest class in the fleet. Someone up there noticed your terrific patrols : )

Maybe you wanted to do the TAMBOR career?

Happy Hunting!

Hah I suppose, but I would rather do a Tambor career, or at least get upgraded to a Gato rather than a boat that hasn't even been commissioned yet. Either way I discovered that he best way to shape the career I want is to force the game to play my way. After reaching July, I just started a new career in August of 1942 in a Gato with a Mod 2 tower. Why rely on a chimp when I'm a (hopefully) much more capable ape?

Hopefully ComSubPac didn't hear me insult the chimp and won't bust me to a desk job

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by Subferro

Hopefully ComSubPac didn't hear me insult the chimp and won't bust me to a desk job

Desk job hell! This chimp will put you in command of a garbage scow!

[Fish40]

Besides the Chimp, this may help: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...+tower+upgrade

[CapnScurvy]

Fish40, Ducimus's explanation is one of the best out there for conning tower upgrades. The how and why are fairly clear. The dates and their progression in time makes perfect sense. Getting all the different files to relate to the same dates is really the issue.....all have to be using the same time frame in order to work correctly.

Originally Posted by Subferro

In my game, the early war tower ends 6/31, and the new one starts 7/1. I docked from my last patrol after July 1st, and still no tower. Is there still a level of randomness built in?

Does anyone not see what the problem is in the above statement. It's so clear, we can't see the forest for the tree's!

June, 31??...........no such date!! There is only 30 days in the month of June!! I bring this up because within many of the different "upgrades" of the game (conning tower; equipment; etc.) there are date errors like this one that create problems for the game.

Of all the things a computer can do, its most impressive feature is to count 2+2. The game understands that a year is 365 days long.....that's why on December 31st the calender year changes to the next year, along with January 1st. Throw in an extra day, and you have just bunched its panties into a wad. Causing it to stop and think...........What's going on here?!? With the game scratching its head in trying to figure out why there's an extra day involved........you don't get an upgrade, even if your other dates are correct and your Patrol Rating is high enough. I'm suspecting a change in Mission's or a change in sub class may "reset" this date error, giving you a better chance in receiving a proper upgrade.....provided the date error isn't in play again.

Just my two cents worth. What Ducimus referred to, and the date error you mentioned, all play a part in the inability to receive an upgrade.

[KaleunMarco]

Hello,

there are many threads questioning/complaining about the lack of proper upgrading of Conning Towers within SH4.
there is a fix that has been developed and it needs someone (other than the developer) to test it.
the tester must be adept at using Notepad and have a summary knowledge of SH4 folder structure.
due to the complexity of the subject matter, a mod-fix cannot be created at this time. the fix is in the form of an edit procedure, hence the need for the Notepad skills for the tester.

if you are interested, please send me a PM and we can set it up.

thanks.

km