Need help with choosing mods.

[Sil]

Hello

I'm a new SH4 player, got this game for a few days only, and didn't even start any campaign. Well, to be honest, I earlier wasn't aware that such series exist

Anyway, I want to improve this awesome game a bit. I found your forum, realized that there are hundreds of modifications, so I spent long hours to get a hang with it. I've tested different configurations and so far I have these modes in my JSGME menu:

1. GFO mod 1.1 +patches for Real Env and RSRDC
2. Real Enviroment mod (still not sure to keep it. I saw the screens and weather effects, sunsets etc look amazing however water is to purple and too transparent for my taste)
3. RSRDC_SH15_V401 + patch 2
4. Row sound Effects v9 with some files replaced by Webster's Eax Sound Simulation
5. Lite fog&Slow water
6. ROW Sea Foam mod from Jaketoox.
7. Natural Sinking Mechanics 4.0 (installed on Uboat Mission add-on 1.5 but seems to working fine)
8. Different smoke merchant_warships mod.

I also wanted Ships Reflect and Caustic Enviroment mod but it didn't work for my configuration, it requires TMO, which I don't want to install because of lack of Free Camera on a difficulty level higher than easy (automatic targeting system? Yeah, right...)

So:
*Any suggestions for my configurations/mods?
*I'm looking for a 'debris after sinking' mod if there is something like that If there is - is it standalone mod or part of something bigger?
*Also looking for water foam effects mods. Specially for sinking and surfacing. Jaketoox's Sea Foam mod seems to affect only water traces (which look really nice) but I was a little confused when I ordered emergency surface to my nearly 2500 tons heavy steel monster and he emerged... with few bubbles

I would be grateful for any help in this matter.

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD!

If you want to use TMO there are separate free cam mods floating around.

[Sil]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

WELCOME ABOARD!

If you want to use TMO there are separate free cam mods floating around.

Ha, I should guess it earlier I think I found one - Extended FreeCam 1.2. //EDIT Oh, it seems to be a mod for SH III :/ Pity cause internal free camera and shaking effects sound great.

Anyway... can anyone share any opinion of this TMO? What's the main idea of it? Yes, I know there is manual but I want to hear what generally should I expect - in few words.

Originally Posted by Ducimus

It's always amused me how some folks can't give up the external camera, which is a far greater crutch then auto TDC.

No it isn't if you don't use it for that. Simple Manual targeting is the only option, there is no fun without it. But I can't resist the image of sinking Battleship in flames

Anyway, what's the reason for installing (and making) all of these heavy enviromental mods, with thousands of new various effects, visual improvements, ships/water/sky/clouds textures, EAX sounds if the only way to appreciate it (partially) would be taking a look through periscope lens from time to time?

[Ducimus]

I want to hear what generally should I expect - in few words.

A much harder time then what your probably used to.

As to cam's not being a crutch, I'm afraid i'll be a hard sell on that one. Just FYI, you know you can custom adjust what realism settings you want in the career room office right?

Anyway, what's the reason for installing (and making) all of these heavy enviromental mods, ...... if the only way to appreciate it (partially) would be taking a look through periscope lens from time to time?

Because it also looks nice from the bridge.

[OrangeYoshi]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

As to cam's not being a crutch, I'm afraid i'll be a hard sell on that one.

I like to leave the external cam on because I like to explore (friendly) harbors, see what my boat looks like, take cool pics of sunset/sunrises, watch my target explode, and occasionally watch sit back and follow the friendly ships as I leave harbor on a patrol.

I do limit myself so that I won't use it to gain a tactical advantage in a sticky situation though. I feel that as long as I take the external cam eye candy without damaging the tactical situation when in trouble, that I'm still basically playing on 100% realism (which is why I made it so that having the external cam leaves me on 100%).

Just the other day I used the external cam (more precisely the free bridge cam in OM) to position my camera (captain) so that I was basically laying on the bow of the boat. I traveled all the way from the mouth of the Kiel Canal to that little island on the way to Scapa Flow on TC 32 just watching the waves, the sunsets and sunrises, and the birds fly around while reading a book. I took a few pictures while I was at it.

[Ducimus]

I do limit myself so that I won't use it to gain a tactical advantage in a sticky situation though.

Hmm.. sure. Lots of people say that, but i honestly don't believe that. The temptation is too great to sneak an occasional peek.

External camera is really more of a cheat. Espeically if one is playing for realism. With one press of a key you can:

- see where depth charges are falling, in order that you might know where to manuever to avoid them.

- Scroll through an entire convoy to get an idea of size , escort strength, and position

- identify and ascertain if a sound or radar contact is worth chasing from 20 NM away without ever having popped a periscope, or even surfaced.

- See where your torpedos hit and/or follow a wounded target in order to find out if more torpedo's are required or, say for instance, if that BB you tagged is falling out of formation while your being pounded by it's escorts.

etc etc,all these things give you knowledge that no submarine captain at the time period would be able to know. The external cameras give away far too much info. Not to mention it breaks the claustiphobic atmoshere that is being on a submarine. In my opinion, if you have the external cam on, your not playing 100% realism.

Eyecandy above all, sadly, is the unspoken mantra of many people. The best compromise of eyecandy to gameplay that i've been able to come up with while having the free cam enabled is to simply disable the next/previous unit cam. But if one was going for realism, then i think the best compromise is:
- is the free roaming bridge cam
- disabled next/previous unit cam
- disabled the normal free cam
- enable event cam

But If your really hardcore, then the event cam would probably go too. Personally, im not that hardcore. lol.

[Ducimus]

It's always amused me how some folks can't give up the external camera, which is a far greater crutch then auto TDC.

BTW, the difficulty levels? They do nothing!

[Sil]

Oh, I saw these flaming trials in some other mod but I thought it was graphics error

Anyway, I cannot decide between GFO + RE + RSRD or just FOTRS. FOTRS looks pretty nice, it looks very similar to Real Environment + some nice effects. But it isn't compatible with RSRD and RSRD is so tempting...