New to site, and I have a few questions.

Vaux · 08-12-10, 09:59 AM

Hello, everyone! I was a big fan of the original Silent Hunter. I bought it when it came out and literally played it for years. As time passed, and my PCs were replaced with newer hardware and operating systems, it got to the point where it wouldn't run anymore.

I tried Silent Hunter II, but didn't like it nearly as much. I played one carreer through and never played it again. It lacked the "free-form" aspect of the original SH (being able to roam at will during campaign play), crashed a lot and, frankly, I just prefer the Pacific Theater.

Fast-forward a few more years and I stumble across my original SH disk while going through some boxes. I decided to see if there was an update, and I discovered SH4. I got it about a month ago and have been playing it a few hours a week. I'm rapidly becoming just as hooked on this one as the original SH.

I did the tutorial missions, found out for my self just how crappy the "manual" is, and have lurked around this site for a couple of weeks. I've had many questions answered and learned a lot here at SubSim (thanks everyone!).

I do have some un-answered questions, though:

1) I've just finished my 5th patrol on my first carreer. On my first patrol, I got jumped by a Betty bomber and didn't dive fast enough. Minor damage to my boat and my gun crew and I were injured (I was on the bridge). When I RTBed, I was awarded a Purple Heart. Cool... but now, after every patrol, I'm awarded a Purple Heart, even though I haven't been injured again. Only one award shows up in my "Medal Box" in my office, but after completing each subsequent patrol I see the picture of the medal and the citation. Interestingly, it has the date of the encounter where I was actually injured. Looking at my log for each mission when in my office shows "Award" as the last entry for each patrol. Is this normal? I've pulled off a couple of impressive actions during some patrols (in my mind at least) and I'm suspecting this "bug" is preventing me from getting other medals.

2) After completing my last patrol, I was given the opportunity to take a Salmon-class boat, which I did. Leaving Brisbane, I decided to see what it can do before getting in the thick of things. The red needle on the shallow depth gauge (periscope depth) is at ~55feet. When I call for periscope depth, my fully extended periscope is still about 3 feet below the surface, even in glassy-calm conditions. Bug?

3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4?

4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots.

5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar?

Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away!

Vaux

Sailor Steve · 08-12-10, 10:13 AM

WELCOME ABOARD!

Your experience with SH2 pretty much parallels that of most of us. Mods turned it into a great game, and it was fun going head-to-head with Destroyer Command, but the lack of dynamic campaign kept if from ever becoming a real sim.

The entire community staged something of a mutiny when it was first announce that SH3 would have a similar "campaign", and the game was delayed six months while they rewrote it to match the career mode of Aces Of The Deep and SH1. We're eternally grateful they took that step.

I don't know the answers to some of your questions but this one:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots.

The crew is divided into three watch bills, or shifts. Only the watch currently on duty has the colored pictures. If you call General Quarters they will all come on duty, and everything will be more efficient. Don't forget to secure from GC when you're done with the combat though, or you'll be back here asking "My has my crew all gone to sleep at their stations?"

Quote:

Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away!

You're fine. Go to the General Topics forum sometime. Then you'll find out what "long-winded" really is!

sergei · 08-12-10, 10:30 AM

Welcome Aboard.

About questions 1 and 2, they could well be stock bugs.
The stock game is pretty FUBARED with bugs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4?

It's in the office. Just to the left of the big map, where you activate your mission.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar?

Not in stock. You'll have to order the depth yourself (approx 40ft IIRC).

Many of the mods fix a lot of these, and other issues.
I predict you will go mod shopping real soon

Vaux · 08-12-10, 10:41 AM

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?

razark · 08-12-10, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?

Acquire the U-boat missions add-on. It's payware, but it's worth it. It bumps the game up to the 1.5 version, which most of the mods use these days.

If you're installing a major mod, I'd suggest restarting a career. It might work, but it might not. Don't take the chance.

WernherVonTrapp · 08-12-10, 11:49 AM

Oh well, looks like everything has been covered. Welcome to the PTO, Vaux.

Stealhead · 08-12-10, 04:28 PM

If you are in a Porpoise,Salmon, or Sargo class sub on the early war versions the night periscope and the attack periscope are on different levels and the night scope is shorter and lower in the sub so when you want to use the night periscope you'll need to go to about 49 or 50 ft to use it because the sub goes to a depth for the attack scope.Or you can use the periscope in the conning tower(attack scope raised/lowered by page/up page down) in stead of the one in the control room(night/observation scope raised/lowered by insert/delete)

Get 1.5 and go for some mods. Have fun out there.

Vaux · 08-13-10, 06:27 AM

@Stealhead: I figured that very thing out about the periscopes when playing last night. I was on the bridge, looking around and noticed the hole for the observation scope near the base of the tower, but didn't see the hole for the attack scope. I raised both scopes and noticed the attack scope went higher. Doh! One more difference from the S boat I started with!

I've seen the 1.5 add-on on Ebay for around 5-6 dollars. I think the old sailing kitty budget can handle that!

I think I'm going to see where my current carreer takes me before I put on a major mod. Whenever it ends, either on VJ day, or some earlier date, deep in the briney, I'll stick this one out as-is.

I've been doing a little reading on the Trigger Maru Overhauls and the Real Fleet Boat mods... is there one that's generally preferred over another?

sergei · 08-13-10, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

I think I'm going to see where my current carreer takes me before I put on a major mod. Whenever it ends, either on VJ day, or some earlier date, deep in the briney, I'll stick this one out as-is.

That's probably a smart move.
Get a good feel for the game before you throw a major mod at it.

RFB vs TMO.
Which is preferred?
Depends on who you ask.

In all seriousness they are both very good.
And are both well liked and respected on his forum.

You may need to do what I did.
I used a little tool called 'Multi SH4'. Lets you run more than one install.
I used one for RFB and one for TMO, and ran a few patrols in each before making my final decision.

But you got a career to do before you get to that point.
Enjoy mate

Vaux · 08-13-10, 08:34 AM

@Sergei: Cheers, mate, and thanks for the advice!

Completely unrelated: I always enjoy visiting London and the UK in general. You guys have the best beer in the world, in my opinion (which can be awkward at times since I'm married to a German woman

). A real-ale ESB and Poacher's pie pub lunch is one of my favorite meals in the world (and I've visited a fair portion of it)!

sergei · 08-13-10, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

You guys have the best beer in the world, in my opinion

I wouldn't tell the Frau that

Vaux · 08-13-10, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergei

I wouldn't tell the Frau that

Oh, she figured it out years ago (those clever Krauts). One day she realized that when she went booze shopping, she'd come home with Warsteiner, Becks, Spaten, etc. (which I like as well), but when I went booze shopping I'd come home with Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Hobgoblin Brown Ale, and various ESBs and IPAs. Kind of a dead give-away.

mobucks · 08-13-10, 10:41 AM

Both TMO and RFB are excellent. However RFB seems like it has some bugs in the latest version. I still play it though because i like longer repair times and when a plane takes your nose off the uboat you die! not motor back to pearl with a planet sized hole in your bow. If i could add that stuff to TMO, it would be my perfect mod.

Vaux · 08-13-10, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobucks

Both TMO and RFB are excellent. However RFB seems like it has some bugs in the latest version. I still play it though because i like longer repair times and when a plane takes your nose off the uboat you die! not motor back to pearl with a planet sized hole in your bow. If i could add that stuff to TMO, it would be my perfect mod.

Is there some sort of head-to-head comparison of the features in RFB and TMO?

mobucks · 08-13-10, 03:23 PM

well, both mods have pretty damn good (excuse me, excellent) .pfd manuals that explain what and why about what is changed. TMO has a 2.0 .pfd and i think it is included in the mod. RFB has a manul for 1.52 i think, but it gives you a good rundown of features nonetheless.

08-12-10, 09:59 AM	#1
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	New to site, and I have a few questions. Hello, everyone! I was a big fan of the original Silent Hunter. I bought it when it came out and literally played it for years. As time passed, and my PCs were replaced with newer hardware and operating systems, it got to the point where it wouldn't run anymore. I tried Silent Hunter II, but didn't like it nearly as much. I played one carreer through and never played it again. It lacked the "free-form" aspect of the original SH (being able to roam at will during campaign play), crashed a lot and, frankly, I just prefer the Pacific Theater. Fast-forward a few more years and I stumble across my original SH disk while going through some boxes. I decided to see if there was an update, and I discovered SH4. I got it about a month ago and have been playing it a few hours a week. I'm rapidly becoming just as hooked on this one as the original SH. I did the tutorial missions, found out for my self just how crappy the "manual" is, and have lurked around this site for a couple of weeks. I've had many questions answered and learned a lot here at SubSim (thanks everyone!). I do have some un-answered questions, though: 1) I've just finished my 5th patrol on my first carreer. On my first patrol, I got jumped by a Betty bomber and didn't dive fast enough. Minor damage to my boat and my gun crew and I were injured (I was on the bridge). When I RTBed, I was awarded a Purple Heart. Cool... but now, after every patrol, I'm awarded a Purple Heart, even though I haven't been injured again. Only one award shows up in my "Medal Box" in my office, but after completing each subsequent patrol I see the picture of the medal and the citation. Interestingly, it has the date of the encounter where I was actually injured. Looking at my log for each mission when in my office shows "Award" as the last entry for each patrol. Is this normal? I've pulled off a couple of impressive actions during some patrols (in my mind at least) and I'm suspecting this "bug" is preventing me from getting other medals. 2) After completing my last patrol, I was given the opportunity to take a Salmon-class boat, which I did. Leaving Brisbane, I decided to see what it can do before getting in the thick of things. The red needle on the shallow depth gauge (periscope depth) is at ~55feet. When I call for periscope depth, my fully extended periscope is still about 3 feet below the surface, even in glassy-calm conditions. Bug? 3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4? 4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots. 5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar? Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away! Vaux

08-12-10, 11:49 AM	#6
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Oh well, looks like everything has been covered. Welcome to the PTO, Vaux. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

08-12-10, 04:28 PM	#7
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	If you are in a Porpoise,Salmon, or Sargo class sub on the early war versions the night periscope and the attack periscope are on different levels and the night scope is shorter and lower in the sub so when you want to use the night periscope you'll need to go to about 49 or 50 ft to use it because the sub goes to a depth for the attack scope.Or you can use the periscope in the conning tower(attack scope raised/lowered by page/up page down) in stead of the one in the control room(night/observation scope raised/lowered by insert/delete) Get 1.5 and go for some mods. Have fun out there. Last edited by Stealhead; 08-12-10 at 04:39 PM.

08-12-10, 10:41 AM	#4
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?

08-13-10, 06:27 AM	#8
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	@Stealhead: I figured that very thing out about the periscopes when playing last night. I was on the bridge, looking around and noticed the hole for the observation scope near the base of the tower, but didn't see the hole for the attack scope. I raised both scopes and noticed the attack scope went higher. Doh! One more difference from the S boat I started with! I've seen the 1.5 add-on on Ebay for around 5-6 dollars. I think the old sailing kitty budget can handle that! I think I'm going to see where my current carreer takes me before I put on a major mod. Whenever it ends, either on VJ day, or some earlier date, deep in the briney, I'll stick this one out as-is. I've been doing a little reading on the Trigger Maru Overhauls and the Real Fleet Boat mods... is there one that's generally preferred over another?

08-13-10, 08:34 AM	#10
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	@Sergei: Cheers, mate, and thanks for the advice! Completely unrelated: I always enjoy visiting London and the UK in general. You guys have the best beer in the world, in my opinion (which can be awkward at times since I'm married to a German woman ). A real-ale ESB and Poacher's pie pub lunch is one of my favorite meals in the world (and I've visited a fair portion of it)!

08-13-10, 10:41 AM	#13
mobucks Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 713 Downloads: 209 Uploads: 0	Both TMO and RFB are excellent. However RFB seems like it has some bugs in the latest version. I still play it though because i like longer repair times and when a plane takes your nose off the uboat you die! not motor back to pearl with a planet sized hole in your bow. If i could add that stuff to TMO, it would be my perfect mod.

08-13-10, 03:23 PM	#15
mobucks Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 713 Downloads: 209 Uploads: 0	well, both mods have pretty damn good (excuse me, excellent) .pfd manuals that explain what and why about what is changed. TMO has a 2.0 .pfd and i think it is included in the mod. RFB has a manul for 1.52 i think, but it gives you a good rundown of features nonetheless.