Coming back to SH3+GWX3 Gold after a long Lay-Off--Need Advice Please.

[Feuer Frei!]

Kaleuns,
after many years(3 approx.) I am about to install SH3 and GWX3 and have been actively scouring the forum section of SH3 and its stickies. However as you know there is a plethora of information and mods available to use, which of course is wonderful. But. What I would like to know from people currently playing SH3 WITH GWX3 is what has changed in relation to mods having been updated, what files/mods are still working, what are must-haves, what mod load-out orders are optimal, what mods have been discontinued, ie out-dated, cause ctd's, etc etc.
Some mod stickies and threads unfortunately do not state the last update made to them, some if not most are dated from several years back, or longer.
Updated only through forum posts, however it becomes difficult navigating through 20+ pages, perhaps some of you have a quick bit of time posting here what are the current optimal mod load-outs with the least amount of, if any, ctd's or smooth, uninterruptable gameplay.
Perhaps if i may offer some feedback tying in with my requests: a sticky or a thread for us people who are about to install the game to pinpoint easily and without having to make a thread asking what i am asking. A sticky or a thread(a kind of 'one-stop go-to place) where current, updated mod load-outs are posted with a user's summary of this load-out, why it's optimal or that it's optimal, a updated list of what does and currently does not work in the game?
Just a suggestion.

[scudder]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

[...] what has changed in relation to mods having been updated, what files/mods are still working, what are must-haves, what mod load-out orders are optimal, what mods have been discontinued, ie out-dated, cause ctd's, etc etc.

[...] what are the current optimal mod load-outs with the least amount of, if any, ctd's or smooth, uninterruptable gameplay.

First things first...you ask some very complex questions, so I'll try to give informative, albeit general, answers.

As a general rule, updates are fewer and farther between these days. GWX has long since ceased to be updated, and other major mods (MaGui leaps to mind) are in final versions as well. There are exceptions, of course. That said, these forums are still active with current and past modders. For example, you can hardly make a post around here without tripping over one of the GWX team, and that's a good thing.

As for CTD's and load-outs, well, that depends on any number of factors. What OS are you using? What release of SH3? What graphics hardware? What resolution are you using? Chances are no one out there has your exact set up, though there are some common problems (and solutions) that can be found in the forums.

Lots of people come here and ask about "must-have" mods. For me, right now, I need GWX, SH3Commander, and (my own) SoundTrimmer, cause I was seriously about to strangle my WO. My must-haves are someone else's waste of time, though.

As for what does and does not work, again, that's highly variable. Remember that you're trying to play a game released in 2005 in 2013. It's hard enough to get a new game to work on a new computer. Around these parts we live by trial and error.

I know you want a nice clean list of mods and ideal load outs, but it's just not possible. There are way too many variables. I'd suggest figuring out what mods you want, then try loading them. It's hard to call a mod out-dated, since the game itself is out-dated. Many of the old mods still work. If you hit a snag, make a thread about it here. Rarely do questions go unanswered.

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by scudder

As for CTD's and load-outs, well, that depends on any number of factors. What OS are you using? What release of SH3? What graphics hardware? What resolution are you using?

Win7, GTX570, 8GB RAM, the rest is not important to the overall working of the game. Game version patched to 1.4, res currently 1980x1020.
I've run SH3 on this system before so from that perspective it'll be fine.

As for what does and does not work

JSGME should certainly be able to warn me beforehand of any impending trouble before running the game, that much i remember.

Thanks for the reply.

[fitzcarraldo]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Kaleuns,
after many years(3 approx.) I am about to install SH3 and GWX3 and have been actively scouring the forum section of SH3 and its stickies. However as you know there is a plethora of information and mods available to use, which of course is wonderful. But. What I would like to know from people currently playing SH3 WITH GWX3 is what has changed in relation to mods having been updated, what files/mods are still working, what are must-haves, what mod load-out orders are optimal, what mods have been discontinued, ie out-dated, cause ctd's, etc etc.
Some mod stickies and threads unfortunately do not state the last update made to them, some if not most are dated from several years back, or longer.
Updated only through forum posts, however it becomes difficult navigating through 20+ pages, perhaps some of you have a quick bit of time posting here what are the current optimal mod load-outs with the least amount of, if any, ctd's or smooth, uninterruptable gameplay.
Perhaps if i may offer some feedback tying in with my requests: a sticky or a thread for us people who are about to install the game to pinpoint easily and without having to make a thread asking what i am asking. A sticky or a thread(a kind of 'one-stop go-to place) where current, updated mod load-outs are posted with a user's summary of this load-out, why it's optimal or that it's optimal, a updated list of what does and currently does not work in the game?
Just a suggestion.

Only for your reference, this is my SH3 GWX JSGME list:


Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
[F:\SH3\MODS]

WAC4.1 SubPen_animated_18.02.2010
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part1
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part2
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part3
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part4
LifeBoats&Debris_v4
New Uboat Guns 1.2
Waterstream+Exhaust Combi V2.3 for GWX3
GWX_DFa-Flag&Pens_2010
FM30_UpDown_final
FM_NewInterior_V1.0
Conning Tower open Hatch TestFMfood
Depthcharge Shake v2.01
Aces' Multimod compatability fix release v1.3 public beta
FM_NewInterior_V2.1
Aces' Super Turms v7 Taster
MaGui 3.4
Widescreen MaGui v3.4
optional-blue recmanual for Widescreen MaGui v3.4
optional-stopwatch with speed lines for Widescreen MaGui v3.4
TorpedoSolutionButton for WideScreen MaGui v3.4
Aces' MaGUI v3.4 (Widescreen version) add-on v3 for Super Turms 5+ & Multimod compatability Fix v1.4
Rapt0r's Das Boot Interior
Rapt0r's Instruments V3.5
Flags_enlighten
Pascal_Port_People
BMW-R75 v.1 by TP
Dönitz Aces - Custom Emblems
Merchant_Fleet_Mod_3.2
Q Ship mod GWX3.0
Combat Radio Frequency
Thomsen's Sound Pack V3.2cg
GWX Speech
Torpedo_HAHD_1024_GWX
Rapt0r's Uniforms V2.0 [Black]
No Medals On Crew [Patch]
Compulsory U-boat Headdress - GWX 2.0
OLC's Modified Searchlight Beams for GWX3
Rbs1_SH4_Effects_GWX_30_71
Rbs2withbuoyance
Rbs3withlifeboat
Carotio_SH3_Seafloormod - 128mb
Aces' St.Nazaire Super Pens v5.1 GWX Version
Aces' Modified Headphones
TMTv2+ThomsensShips v4.4 for GWX3+Xtra ships
TheDarkWraith_DC_Water_Disturbance_v4_0_SH3
Type VII salvo selector
KJF_Moon_v1.1
Low Contrast Instruments
pascal_map
B25_Deck_Crew_Ambient
Haunting Atlantic Wind
Karle's_Crash_Dive_Mod
Scirè-Tikigod- repeated order
Real Depth Charge
TiefeMkI(German)
TorpedoTubesFfireFinal vGW
Rapt0r's Das Boot Skin
Konrad_Krumm_VIIc Decks
_LSH3_V5.1_SLS_Schiffshorn-Leuchtkugeln-Seenotsignal
_LSH3_V5.1_SLS_Spezialeffekte-Gross
Aces' Combined SH3.SDL Files v4
Sub Image mod
Supplement to V16B1 (JSGME)
Stiebler4B_Addon_for_V16B1
WAC3.0 RealAtlantic 2 v.TP
WAC4.1 16k Atmosphere

Plus:

A lot of mods in SH3 Commander.

All Wreford Brown mis files (scripted ships).

Regards.

Fitzcarraldo

[Feuer Frei!]

@fitzcarraldo:
thanks for your reply. That is a massive list of mods enabled there.
Well, i've installed SH3+GWX3 and have the following mods enabled with jsgme:
Ace's super pens v4 gwx3 v
das boot officers mod
16km atmosphere
alternate load scrn
alt flotillas
contact colour
enhanced dmge effx
no medals on crew
haunting atlantic wind
ice age
no continuous ship spotted
olc's modified searchlight beams
integrated orders
open hatch
fix french
axis medit. aircraft skins
sf grass full
lite harbour traffic
and...ctd!
As you can see, bugger all mods loaded, jsgme tells me of no clashes with any other mods when loading.
However that SOB will not load.

[Sailor Steve]

Read this thread to get some ideas.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170090

[Jimbuna]

GWX3 does not come with the latest/final version of JSGME

Here is a link to it:

http://www.mediafire.com/?5sryab9masy5xt6

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Perhaps if i may offer some feedback tying in with my requests: a sticky or a thread for us people who are about to install the game to pinpoint easily and without having to make a thread asking what i am asking. A sticky or a thread(a kind of 'one-stop go-to place) where current, updated mod load-outs are posted with a user's summary of this load-out, why it's optimal or that it's optimal, a updated list of what does and currently does not work in the game?
Just a suggestion.

It's been done, and more than once. It doesn't take long before links become broken and people start posting in the thread, making it just as bad as others. The bottom line is that they end up being unstickied because it just doesn't work. It would require someone to have moderator powers to lock the thread so no one could post in it, and that someone would have to be dedicated to updating the thread every single day, deleting old links and supplying new ones. Basically it would be a full-time job for no pay.

[max-peck]

May I just suggest a few more?

1. H.Sies realism fixes.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=174225
Read post one for a rundown.
I now consider this mandatory.

2. There are some good environment mods
The two I am thinking of are MEP and SH5 Water for SH3.
I use the second and it is just beautiful.

You don't say whether you are running Commander.
That is an absolute must IMO.

Finally if you are experiencing CTDs or a failure to load you'll have to disable them all then enable one by one until you find the culprit.
Could be one of them has not downloaded properly and is corrupt or incomplete.

[CapZap1970]

Originally Posted by fitzcarraldo

Only for your reference, this is my SH3 GWX JSGME list:


Generic Mod Enabler - v2.6.0.157
[F:\SH3\MODS]

WAC4.1 SubPen_animated_18.02.2010
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part1
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part2
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part3
GWX 3 Wilhemshafen,St Naz,Schluese and xtra ships V7 Part4
LifeBoats&Debris_v4
New Uboat Guns 1.2
Waterstream+Exhaust Combi V2.3 for GWX3
GWX_DFa-Flag&Pens_2010
FM30_UpDown_final
FM_NewInterior_V1.0
Conning Tower open Hatch TestFMfood
Depthcharge Shake v2.01
Aces' Multimod compatability fix release v1.3 public beta
FM_NewInterior_V2.1
Aces' Super Turms v7 Taster
MaGui 3.4
Widescreen MaGui v3.4
optional-blue recmanual for Widescreen MaGui v3.4
optional-stopwatch with speed lines for Widescreen MaGui v3.4
TorpedoSolutionButton for WideScreen MaGui v3.4
Aces' MaGUI v3.4 (Widescreen version) add-on v3 for Super Turms 5+ & Multimod compatability Fix v1.4
Rapt0r's Das Boot Interior
Rapt0r's Instruments V3.5
Flags_enlighten
Pascal_Port_People
BMW-R75 v.1 by TP
Dönitz Aces - Custom Emblems
Merchant_Fleet_Mod_3.2
Q Ship mod GWX3.0
Combat Radio Frequency
Thomsen's Sound Pack V3.2cg
GWX Speech
Torpedo_HAHD_1024_GWX
Rapt0r's Uniforms V2.0 [Black]
No Medals On Crew [Patch]
Compulsory U-boat Headdress - GWX 2.0
OLC's Modified Searchlight Beams for GWX3
Rbs1_SH4_Effects_GWX_30_71
Rbs2withbuoyance
Rbs3withlifeboat
Carotio_SH3_Seafloormod - 128mb
Aces' St.Nazaire Super Pens v5.1 GWX Version
Aces' Modified Headphones
TMTv2+ThomsensShips v4.4 for GWX3+Xtra ships
TheDarkWraith_DC_Water_Disturbance_v4_0_SH3
Type VII salvo selector
KJF_Moon_v1.1
Low Contrast Instruments
pascal_map
B25_Deck_Crew_Ambient
Haunting Atlantic Wind
Karle's_Crash_Dive_Mod
Scirè-Tikigod- repeated order
Real Depth Charge
TiefeMkI(German)
TorpedoTubesFfireFinal vGW
Rapt0r's Das Boot Skin
Konrad_Krumm_VIIc Decks
_LSH3_V5.1_SLS_Schiffshorn-Leuchtkugeln-Seenotsignal
_LSH3_V5.1_SLS_Spezialeffekte-Gross
Aces' Combined SH3.SDL Files v4
Sub Image mod
Supplement to V16B1 (JSGME)
Stiebler4B_Addon_for_V16B1
WAC3.0 RealAtlantic 2 v.TP
WAC4.1 16k Atmosphere

Plus:

A lot of mods in SH3 Commander.

All Wreford Brown mis files (scripted ships).

Regards.

Fitzcarraldo

Fitzcarraldo:
I am curious: I've downloaded the GWX Wilhelmshafen, St. Nazaire, Schleuses and xtra ships mod V7, and tried to use it, but it always CTD's. Now in your list of enabled mods I see parts 1,2,3 and 4 that I never knew they existed, which makes me wonder if I downloaded the right file. Could you please tell me if there is another d/l link to it?
Thanks a lot and sorry for the trouble.
CapZap

[Jimbuna]

IIRC it was split up into smaller files because the original zipped file was 314MB in size.

[CapZap1970]

Thanks for the prompt reply, Jim. Useful as always.!

[Jimbuna]

Always a pleasur CZ

[Feuer Frei!]

Thanks for the answers so far.
I've bumped this thread now because i wanted to ask if anyone is using SH3 Mini Tweaker Tool?
If so, can they answer me please a few questions.
I used to be able to run SH3 and GWX3, along with a big list of mods enabled via JSGME very successfully, along with heavily-tweaked .zon and .sim files via this tool.
Now what i've found is that when i fire up SH3 with GWX3 without tweaked files via this tool i can most often boot up the game fine.
However, as soon as i tweak for eg the ai sensors file and gun sub sim zon file, along with shells zon file, the game will load to the career screen and ctd when loading a new career. Loading a new career is necessary i remember so that the newly-tweaked files 'stick'.
Now, i am NOT tweaking the files to insane amounts, then i would understand that the game would ctd.
I've read instructions for using the tweaker utility, also ensuring that everything is installed correctly etc.
Upon tweaking a file it creates a copy of that tweaked file in the same directory, ie the data/library folder where the files relevant to the tweaks are stored in the game directory.
Does this tool actually work with GWX3 installed? I am soon trying to tweak files in a completely unmodded, w/o GWX3 upgraded v1.4 game, to see if it works that way.
I can't for the life of me remember how i used to play the game with the files tweaked so much. Also which file do i copy to another directory? Is it the copied file that the tweaker tool creates of that tweaked file? Or.
Because in the instructions i've read the game sometimes might use the 'original' file, ie not using the new values tweaked with the tool?
Can someone that uses or has used the tool extensively shed some light on this?
Thanks in advance.

EDIT:
Just fired up a totally unmodded SH3 with some tweaked files, guns sub sim, shells.zon and bombs.zon and no ctd! So does that mean that tweaking files via the aforementioned tool with mods loaded and gwx3 ctd? Seems so. I just could have sworn that i had gwx running and also tweaked zon files etc ages ago

A lot of files were changed with one tool or another that caused Hex offsets to change.
The original tweak files for mini-tweaker won't change the right areas of those files. Thus the CTD.

Use S3D and you'll have no problems.