Is it just me?

washishu · 07-17-11, 08:45 AM

After discovering that I could run SHIII on my Mac, I've been doing just that since April. I've also tried GWX for the first time, and it works just fine. So what's the problem?

Well, without a doubt there are some 'issues' with the standard SHIII***8212;what fool thought that that poxy compass was adequate for example? And without a doubt the GWX mod has some amazing features; the visuals are superb and its adherence to historical accuracy is . . . well, there's my problem. More my issue than problem I suppose.

Yes I know that the U-boats often sailed for days and days without a sniff of another vessel. I know that they described it as days and days of boredom punctuated by hours of intense, life-or-death activity. I think it was Bleichrodt who had such unfortunate luck in finding targets that his boat was know by some as the torpedo transporter and this state of affairs is thought to have contributed to his mental breakdown.

However, I play (emphasis on that word play) SHIII for fun (emphasis on the word fun). I've stuck with GWX for three months or so but I have to own up and admit that it just isn't much fun watching that little grey circle move across or up and down the screen for hour after hour after hour. I have even left it running and watched a movie, waiting for that "Ship spotted". Nothing. I've had a shower, cooked a three-course meal, eaten it, been down the shop for some beer, watched another movie; nothing.

It may be historically accurate and maybe there are just too many available targets in the standard version, but, hey, I want some pleasure out of this; it is a game after all.

So, I've gone back to the standard version and am just cursing at but tolerating its inadequacies. But I'm finding ships to sink.

Is it just me?

Jimbuna · 07-17-11, 08:55 AM

Check the GWX mods you've got enabled and if you have the Indian Ocean or Black Sea campaign files installed that is the only area you will have ship traffic in.

Better if you have the Merged Campaign file mod enabled.

irish1958 · 07-17-11, 09:47 AM

There is a mod called SH3Contacts by Nicholas http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1402 which will increase contacts to your liking.
It is especially useful in the areas South of England and in the Irish sea, where there is a lot of traffic. There is also air cover, a plethora of destroyers and shallow waters, making it dangerous to be there. It is necessary to tract vessels by sonar since you can't run on the surface. When you finally ID the vessel it is often a tug or a fishing boat (as it would be in real life). A contact of a war ship might be a deadly destroyer or an armed motor launch.

Paul Riley · 07-17-11, 10:43 AM

washishu,

I trust you use your map at times in your game?,its useful for getting a basic fix on the major convoy lanes out there.
Try and lurk around choke points,such as the area between the Shetlands and the Orkneys (AN14-16).If you still have no luck it may be useful to lurk around a port submerged and wait for outgoing traffic.Follow this traffic by shadowing it until you are in a good spot with deep (if possible) water,and begin your attack.Try and make notes of the co-ordinates of this traffic for future reference.I have literally dozens of ship co-ords in my notepads,so I always have places to stalk if my assigned patrol turns up empty.This does demand high levels of patience and determination mind you,so,if you are after a more 'action packed' (trust me you get these moments and you will know about it!) game this approach may not be desired.
REMEMBER - When you are in an area known to have high traffic stay submerged,at a depth of about 25 -30m,keep speed no higher than 1/3 and you will increase your chances of contacts dramatically.After all,there is a lot of water out there,and you are about the size of a grain of sand in comparison.

Good luck.

washishu · 07-17-11, 11:35 AM

Thanks Irish, I wasn't aware of that mod. I've gotten hold of it and will give it a go. Sounds like it could be the one for me.

Paul - I use the map most of the time. I've used the convoy routes map to cruise around the areas where the convoys from (for example) the Med diverge to go north or south. Still nothing. In fact, in all that time - don't know how many hours of playing but quite a lot over three months - in all that time I've not actually encountered one convoy; not one. Some independents and a couple of two- or three-ship groups from time to time, but no convoy.

And I accept all that about big sea-small ship and so-on, but it just gets real boring watching that circle trek across the screen. I'd rather spend the time pushing crayons up my nose like Homer Simpson.

Sailor Steve · 07-17-11, 02:02 PM

It's just you.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I actually like the boring aspects, but I realize that's not for everybody (or pretty much anybody except me). If you've run into some singles then it can't be having the wrong campaign enabled. Another thing you can do is go into the Mission Editor (it's in the main SH3 folder) and look at the RND Layer. This will show you where all the convoys actually are, and allow you to stick to those areas. That should increase your fun immensely.

Paul Riley · 07-17-11, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by washishu

Thanks Irish, I wasn't aware of that mod. I've gotten hold of it and will give it a go. Sounds like it could be the one for me.

Paul - I use the map most of the time. I've used the convoy routes map to cruise around the areas where the convoys from (for example) the Med diverge to go north or south. Still nothing. In fact, in all that time - don't know how many hours of playing but quite a lot over three months - in all that time I've not actually encountered one convoy; not one. Some independents and a couple of two- or three-ship groups from time to time, but no convoy.

And I accept all that about big sea-small ship and so-on, but it just gets real boring watching that circle trek across the screen. I'd rather spend the time pushing crayons up my nose like Homer Simpson.

Try and hang in there pal.I know what you mean though as I also spend many hours without much action sometimes.Take tonight for example.Since from about 4pm (I came off the game around 00:15) I have sunk 1 medium cargo.Most of the time is spent patrolling a given area,then moving on to more fruitful areas.
I really suggest,initially at least picking a port,and lurking say,20km out to sea.Some traffic should arrive every day or few days.If not move on,and repeat.This is how it was in real life,and dont forget the missed opportunities (for whatever reason),duds,premature detonations,rerouted shipping lanes,which must have been infuriating.
Really,hang in there,absorb as much info about the real UBoat war and the game as you can,you will be surprised how much can be implemented in your game

07-17-11, 08:45 AM	#1
washishu Mate Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: England Posts: 54 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Is it just me? After discovering that I could run SHIII on my Mac, I've been doing just that since April. I've also tried GWX for the first time, and it works just fine. So what's the problem? Well, without a doubt there are some 'issues' with the standard SHIII**8212;what fool thought that that poxy compass was adequate for example? And without a doubt the GWX* mod has some amazing features; the visuals are superb and its adherence to historical accuracy is . . . well, there's my problem. More my issue than problem I suppose. Yes I know that the U-boats often sailed for days and days without a sniff of another vessel. I know that they described it as days and days of boredom punctuated by hours of intense, life-or-death activity. I think it was Bleichrodt who had such unfortunate luck in finding targets that his boat was know by some as the torpedo transporter and this state of affairs is thought to have contributed to his mental breakdown. However, I play (emphasis on that word play) SHIII for fun (emphasis on the word *fun). I've stuck with GWX for three months or so but I have to own up and admit that it just isn't much fun watching that little grey circle move across or up and down the screen for hour after hour after hour. I have even left it running and watched a movie, waiting for that "Ship spotted". Nothing. I've had a shower, cooked a three-course meal, eaten it, been down the shop for some beer, watched another movie; nothing. It may be historically accurate and maybe there are just too many available targets in the standard version, but, hey, I want some pleasure out of this; it is a game* after all. So, I've gone back to the standard version and am just cursing at but tolerating its inadequacies. But I'm finding ships to sink. Is it just me?

07-17-11, 08:55 AM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,992 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Check the GWX mods you've got enabled and if you have the Indian Ocean or Black Sea campaign files installed that is the only area you will have ship traffic in. Better if you have the Merged Campaign file mod enabled. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-17-11, 09:47 AM	#3
irish1958 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 3,250 Downloads: 320 Uploads: 11	There is a mod called SH3Contacts by Nicholas http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1402 which will increase contacts to your liking. It is especially useful in the areas South of England and in the Irish sea, where there is a lot of traffic. There is also air cover, a plethora of destroyers and shallow waters, making it dangerous to be there. It is necessary to tract vessels by sonar since you can't run on the surface. When you finally ID the vessel it is often a tug or a fishing boat (as it would be in real life). A contact of a war ship might be a deadly destroyer or an armed motor launch. __________________ Irish1958

07-17-11, 10:43 AM	#4
Paul Riley Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 2,679 Downloads: 165 Uploads: 0	washishu, I trust you use your map at times in your game?,its useful for getting a basic fix on the major convoy lanes out there. Try and lurk around choke points,such as the area between the Shetlands and the Orkneys (AN14-16).If you still have no luck it may be useful to lurk around a port submerged and wait for outgoing traffic.Follow this traffic by shadowing it until you are in a good spot with deep (if possible) water,and begin your attack.Try and make notes of the co-ordinates of this traffic for future reference.I have literally dozens of ship co-ords in my notepads,so I always have places to stalk if my assigned patrol turns up empty.This does demand high levels of patience and determination mind you,so,if you are after a more 'action packed' (trust me you get these moments and you will know about it!) game this approach may not be desired. REMEMBER - When you are in an area known to have high traffic stay submerged,at a depth of about 25 -30m,keep speed no higher than 1/3 and you will increase your chances of contacts dramatically.After all,there is a lot of water out there,and you are about the size of a grain of sand in comparison. Good luck. __________________ Best Patrol: 10 merchants + HMS Nelson for 68.056 Tonnes

07-17-11, 02:02 PM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	It's just you. Sorry, couldn't resist. I actually like the boring aspects, but I realize that's not for everybody (or pretty much anybody except me). If you've run into some singles then it can't be having the wrong campaign enabled. Another thing you can do is go into the Mission Editor (it's in the main SH3 folder) and look at the RND Layer. This will show you where all the convoys actually are, and allow you to stick to those areas. That should increase your fun immensely. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-17-11, 11:35 AM	#5
washishu Mate Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: England Posts: 54 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Thanks Irish, I wasn't aware of that mod. I've gotten hold of it and will give it a go. Sounds like it could be the one for me. Paul - I use the map most of the time. I've used the convoy routes map to cruise around the areas where the convoys from (for example) the Med diverge to go north or south. Still nothing. In fact, in all that time - don't know how many hours of playing but quite a lot over three months - in all that time I've not actually encountered one convoy; not one. Some independents and a couple of two- or three-ship groups from time to time, but no convoy. And I accept all that about big sea-small ship and so-on, but it just gets real boring watching that circle trek across the screen. I'd rather spend the time pushing crayons up my nose like Homer Simpson.