Where to start ?

Lancezh · 05-18-12, 05:02 PM

I know about 100 people must have asked this but i cannot find a good beginners guide for SH4 really... i tried and i'm obviously to stupid to find anything.

I played silent hunter about 10 years ago so i remember pretty much nothing. I can barely navigate on the map and fire automatic targeting torpedoes and everything but apart from that i would like to get deep into it again, however i just don't know where to start guys.

I installed this TMO Mod that everybody was suggesting but apart from that, i dont feel like running around with 40% realism setting and the computer doing the rest for me, i couldnt find some videos as well on Youtube, which give just a well rounded basic rundown on the whole uboat and its basics.

It must be a silly question since noone else is asking these kind of question but if anyone has the patience, please go on and help an old man out =), Where do i start as a total noob ? I would like to get the full package!

I have SH4 1.5, the missions and one Mod installed (TMO). And i know almost nothing anymore.

Dalwhat · 05-18-12, 05:50 PM

Welcome back aboard. I think I beat you to it by about a week after having played SH1 and 2, Silent Service and Aces of the Deep in my time.

No matter how much prep you do you will die a lot in the beginning. Fire up a career in auto targetting mode and go out there and sink a few fishing boats. The escorts will probably kill you when you attack a convoy way before you even get into firing range. Their sonars seem to work on ESP. Don't get disheartened. Start another career and bone up on using the manual TDC using the links found in the Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread. I seem to remember there is also a link there which explains the AI's use of sonar and how to avoid falling foul of it to often.

The upshot is that there is no real alternative to experience. Go out there and get killed. Pretty soon you will come home with a broom on your conning tower. Just don't rush it too much and don't get disheartened.

Just off to bed now to read Hitman's Manual Targetting Tutorial (linked in the Skipper thread). See you in Pearl.

PS. Read the TMO "manual" it details the additional levels of realism the author has incorporated into the game.

Lancezh · 05-18-12, 06:19 PM

Will do! Thank you so much.

You recon i should play the campaign without TMO first ?

Soviet Creeper · 05-18-12, 06:44 PM

Start the with GFO mod, it makes stock much more playable. TMO is for people that have gotten use to the stock game and want more of a challenge (and realism)

stanger · 05-18-12, 06:53 PM

I think it's a good idea to play without any mods - if its your first time with SH4. That way you will learn the game, get to know whats wrong with it and whats good, and most things you will eventually mark as "bugs" - those will be fixed by mods. You will also appreciate more whats mods have done to this game, and in terms of gameplay, there will be no repetition if you will complete a career with stock game, and then mod it and play once again; the changes are really big, on any level - from simple replaced textures, improved environment to new ships, better AI and campaign.
To learn the game, play through training missions, to learn manual targeting its best to create your own mission with your sub and a target (stationary) in it - thats how I was learning SH3 and SH4. But, I guess, youre not there yet - to create your own missions, though its very simple, so if you want help, just ask.

Lancezh · 05-19-12, 05:29 AM

Thx for all the tips, i started the campaign now and had to insert an agent somewhere in Japan, however, after doing that i was sent to another assignment in the East China Sea but it is hardly playable now, i'm out in the Pacific far out but for some reason i can't get my time compression above 128, well i can but the Framerate is dropping like crazy.

I have a very strong rig and could compress all the way to 8152 without any problems or framerate drops before, so i dont know what to do, i might have to abandon this mission then.

Am i missing something ?

I have an i2500k on 4.0 Ghz, and a 560Ti

stanger · 05-19-12, 05:53 AM

There may be quite a few reasons for stuttering under time compression: you are near land, theres a lot of traffic nearby, or maybe even a convoy (the game usually does that - stuttering with TC when heavy traffic or port is nearby - you can exploit this when hunting

)
Other reasons may be - no matter how strong your PC is - its hard drive or partition with SH4 - may be fragmented, or there is something running in background and using your CPU (like antivirus software starting a scheduled scan). It's also a good idea to patch SH4.exe to use more than ~2GB of system memory (post your sys specs if you want help with this; [edit] and operating system (x86 or x64)).

05-18-12, 05:02 PM	#1
Lancezh Seaman Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 39 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Where to start ? I know about 100 people must have asked this but i cannot find a good beginners guide for SH4 really... i tried and i'm obviously to stupid to find anything. I played silent hunter about 10 years ago so i remember pretty much nothing. I can barely navigate on the map and fire automatic targeting torpedoes and everything but apart from that i would like to get deep into it again, however i just don't know where to start guys. I installed this TMO Mod that everybody was suggesting but apart from that, i dont feel like running around with 40% realism setting and the computer doing the rest for me, i couldnt find some videos as well on Youtube, which give just a well rounded basic rundown on the whole uboat and its basics. It must be a silly question since noone else is asking these kind of question but if anyone has the patience, please go on and help an old man out =), Where do i start as a total noob ? I would like to get the full package! I have SH4 1.5, the missions and one Mod installed (TMO). And i know almost nothing anymore.

05-18-12, 06:44 PM	#4
Soviet Creeper Planesman Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: In the corner of shame Posts: 187 Downloads: 143 Uploads: 0	Start the with GFO mod, it makes stock much more playable. TMO is for people that have gotten use to the stock game and want more of a challenge (and realism) __________________ I used to be a huge submarine guy but now I'm a huge submarine girl ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

05-19-12, 05:29 AM	#6
Lancezh Seaman Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 39 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Thx for all the tips, i started the campaign now and had to insert an agent somewhere in Japan, however, after doing that i was sent to another assignment in the East China Sea but it is hardly playable now, i'm out in the Pacific far out but for some reason i can't get my time compression above 128, well i can but the Framerate is dropping like crazy. I have a very strong rig and could compress all the way to 8152 without any problems or framerate drops before, so i dont know what to do, i might have to abandon this mission then. Am i missing something ? I have an i2500k on 4.0 Ghz, and a 560Ti Last edited by Lancezh; 05-19-12 at 05:50 AM.

05-18-12, 05:50 PM	#2
Dalwhat Swabbie Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8 Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Welcome back aboard. I think I beat you to it by about a week after having played SH1 and 2, Silent Service and Aces of the Deep in my time. No matter how much prep you do you will die a lot in the beginning. Fire up a career in auto targetting mode and go out there and sink a few fishing boats. The escorts will probably kill you when you attack a convoy way before you even get into firing range. Their sonars seem to work on ESP. Don't get disheartened. Start another career and bone up on using the manual TDC using the links found in the Skipper's Bag of Tricks thread. I seem to remember there is also a link there which explains the AI's use of sonar and how to avoid falling foul of it to often. The upshot is that there is no real alternative to experience. Go out there and get killed. Pretty soon you will come home with a broom on your conning tower. Just don't rush it too much and don't get disheartened. Just off to bed now to read Hitman's Manual Targetting Tutorial (linked in the Skipper thread). See you in Pearl. PS. Read the TMO "manual" it details the additional levels of realism the author has incorporated into the game.

05-18-12, 06:19 PM	#3
Lancezh Seaman Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 39 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Will do! Thank you so much. You recon i should play the campaign without TMO first ?

05-18-12, 06:53 PM	#5
stanger Engineer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Poland Posts: 200 Downloads: 84 Uploads: 0	I think it's a good idea to play without any mods - if its your first time with SH4. That way you will learn the game, get to know whats wrong with it and whats good, and most things you will eventually mark as "bugs" - those will be fixed by mods. You will also appreciate more whats mods have done to this game, and in terms of gameplay, there will be no repetition if you will complete a career with stock game, and then mod it and play once again; the changes are really big, on any level - from simple replaced textures, improved environment to new ships, better AI and campaign. To learn the game, play through training missions, to learn manual targeting its best to create your own mission with your sub and a target (stationary) in it - thats how I was learning SH3 and SH4. But, I guess, youre not there yet - to create your own missions, though its very simple, so if you want help, just ask.

05-19-12, 05:53 AM	#7
stanger Engineer Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Poland Posts: 200 Downloads: 84 Uploads: 0	There may be quite a few reasons for stuttering under time compression: you are near land, theres a lot of traffic nearby, or maybe even a convoy (the game usually does that - stuttering with TC when heavy traffic or port is nearby - you can exploit this when hunting ) Other reasons may be - no matter how strong your PC is - its hard drive or partition with SH4 - may be fragmented, or there is something running in background and using your CPU (like antivirus software starting a scheduled scan). It's also a good idea to patch SH4.exe to use more than ~2GB of system memory (post your sys specs if you want help with this; [edit] and operating system (x86 or x64)).