Wolves of Steel 1.06 is pretty dang good, plus Real Nav

maillemaker · 01-29-17, 04:33 PM

So I have loaded up Wolves of Steel 1.06 04h for a new campaign starting in 1939. And I loaded up the Real Navigation mod.

I used the recommended time compression settings, and so far, it's pretty darn good. I think I have only had one crash to desktop so far in probably 20 hours of game time. Max TC is limited to 512, and that's good enough for me.

Also, I had originally hesitated to try the Real Navigation mod, because I did not think I would enjoy the tedium of having to manually navigate my sub.

But here is the thing: With auto-navigation, you really have the tedium of watching your u-boat slowly crawl across the ocean.

With real-navigation, you stay much more engaged with the game. I have the Real Navigation Automation Tool running, which makes your navigator automatically compute and plot a position every couple of hours:

His plots are only estimates, though, and you do have to pay attention when you start getting near shore - I ran aground once on my way home!

But I find that the real nav really adds to the game and keeps you fully engaged and thinking about your position in your head.

My only disappointment with Real Nav is that you no longer see reported radio contacts on the map. You sometimes get radio alerts with a position which you have to plot yourself. I wish they would just be auto-plotted.

But other than that, I highly recommend WoS 1.06 04h and the Real Navigation mod.

Steve

THEBERBSTER · 01-29-17, 05:45 PM

Hi Steve
I think you summed out Real Navigation quite well.
It sounds more difficult than actually is.

Quote:

I wish they would just be auto-plotted.

That would be a contradiction and not Real Navigation.
The whole point of Real Navigation is you have to do it yourself with a bit of help from your crew.
Peter

maillemaker · 01-29-17, 08:36 PM

Quote:

That would be a contradiction and not Real Navigation.

Not to me. To me, navigation is about the navigating of my submarine, not plotting incoming contact reports, which has nothing to do with navigation.

I would expect the incoming coordinates to be shown on the map, and then I would realistically navigate to that intercept.

Steve

Lost At Sea · 01-30-17, 01:36 AM

We must be on the same uboat !!

I've installed Wolves of Steel 1.06 few days back, also running under Real Nav.
Loving every minute of it, much more involving than the vanilla "gps / no error" sub icon.

I have 1 question tho...
Let's say I'm on a 270 course heading towards the British Isles, a long way to go, no change of heading expected for the next 16+ hrs.
My navigator plots our position every 2 hrs or so, his best guesstimate frequently positions the boat way off course. I then usually re-calculate my estimated distance covered via time and speed, and reposition my boat along my pre-drawn 270 degree course.

Is that correct, or is my navigator aware of currents, drifting and such?
I tend to assume there is no such thing as drift and currents in SH5 Wolves of Steel, and trust myself more than my 56% experienced navigator...
I guess my point is that why would my navigator plot my boat way off course when my speed or heading have not changed over a long period of time.

I've ran aground once, middle of the night, definitely wrong plotting on my end!!!

On a side note, also installed the Enigma mod. Much more intuitive than expected.
Great addition, and love the clunky sounds !

Cheers,
Lost

maillemaker · 01-30-17, 08:06 PM

Once when coming back to Wilhelmshaven my navigator plotted 2 plot points in land.

Obviously the random number generator at play.

I'm pretty sure my navigator ought to know that my submarine can't go on land.

Steve

Andayle · 01-31-17, 03:45 AM

I've also just started playing SH5 with Wolves of Steel mod. It indeed is great stuff. Like you I'm playing with max realism. I seem to have grasped the navigation side of things quite quickly. The manual TDC however is another story. I've read many guides and watched a few hours of youtube clips and I feel I'm drowning in knowledge that I'm still unsure how to use.

Anyone recommend an upto date guide/youtube video explaining manual TDC?

Navigator857 · 02-24-17, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

I'm pretty sure my navigator ought to know that my submarine can't go on land.

Steve

Actually not true, you can go onto land, but it'll be only once!

Jack

01-29-17, 04:33 PM	#1
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Wolves of Steel 1.06 is pretty dang good, plus Real Nav So I have loaded up Wolves of Steel 1.06 04h for a new campaign starting in 1939. And I loaded up the Real Navigation mod. I used the recommended time compression settings, and so far, it's pretty darn good. I think I have only had one crash to desktop so far in probably 20 hours of game time. Max TC is limited to 512, and that's good enough for me. Also, I had originally hesitated to try the Real Navigation mod, because I did not think I would enjoy the tedium of having to manually navigate my sub. But here is the thing: With auto-navigation, you really have the tedium of watching your u-boat slowly crawl across the ocean. With real-navigation, you stay much more engaged with the game. I have the Real Navigation Automation Tool running, which makes your navigator automatically compute and plot a position every couple of hours: His plots are only estimates, though, and you do have to pay attention when you start getting near shore - I ran aground once on my way home! But I find that the real nav really adds to the game and keeps you fully engaged and thinking about your position in your head. My only disappointment with Real Nav is that you no longer see reported radio contacts on the map. You sometimes get radio alerts with a position which you have to plot yourself. I wish they would just be auto-plotted. But other than that, I highly recommend WoS 1.06 04h and the Real Navigation mod. Steve

01-30-17, 01:36 AM	#4
Lost At Sea Soundman Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 144 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	We must be on the same uboat !! I've installed Wolves of Steel 1.06 few days back, also running under Real Nav. Loving every minute of it, much more involving than the vanilla "gps / no error" sub icon. I have 1 question tho... Let's say I'm on a 270 course heading towards the British Isles, a long way to go, no change of heading expected for the next 16+ hrs. My navigator plots our position every 2 hrs or so, his best guesstimate frequently positions the boat way off course. I then usually re-calculate my estimated distance covered via time and speed, and reposition my boat along my pre-drawn 270 degree course. Is that correct, or is my navigator aware of currents, drifting and such? I tend to assume there is no such thing as drift and currents in SH5 Wolves of Steel, and trust myself more than my 56% experienced navigator... I guess my point is that why would my navigator plot my boat way off course when my speed or heading have not changed over a long period of time. I've ran aground once, middle of the night, definitely wrong plotting on my end!!! On a side note, also installed the Enigma mod. Much more intuitive than expected. Great addition, and love the clunky sounds ! Cheers, Lost

01-30-17, 08:06 PM	#5
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Once when coming back to Wilhelmshaven my navigator plotted 2 plot points in land. Obviously the random number generator at play. I'm pretty sure my navigator ought to know that my submarine can't go on land. Steve

01-31-17, 03:45 AM	#6
Andayle Watch Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 27 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	I've also just started playing SH5 with Wolves of Steel mod. It indeed is great stuff. Like you I'm playing with max realism. I seem to have grasped the navigation side of things quite quickly. The manual TDC however is another story. I've read many guides and watched a few hours of youtube clips and I feel I'm drowning in knowledge that I'm still unsure how to use. Anyone recommend an upto date guide/youtube video explaining manual TDC?