Why SH IIi?

pdiddy · 01-09-15, 03:54 PM

I started playing SH4 in 2011 with TMO and have recently downloaded Op Monsun for SH4 as well as starting to play SH5 (with WOS) I've never really considered SH3, but I know it has become almost a cult classic if that is a good way to put it. I'm not trying to start controversy, by any means, but as someone who knows very little about SH3, what makes it so great?

U-15 · 01-09-15, 05:32 PM

Hello Pdiddy,

The only way I can answer is to compare your question with when someone asks me which is the best single malt.

You have to taste them all to appreciate their differences, and to find one you really like, as they are all good.
Just like SH1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 are all good to their respective devotees.

To me SH3 is like a good glass of Laphroaig, once tasted never put down.
It is really a matter of choice and taste.

Give it a go with both SH3 and the Laphroaig

Sailor Steve · 01-09-15, 09:13 PM

SH3 is not without its flaws, but I'll try to give you a rundown.

SH3 was the first subsim to have a 3D crew. SH4 and 5 do that better, but ten years ago it was a true wonder, and despite comments on how dated they look that wonder still hasn't worn off for most of us.

SH3 was the first subsim to feature crew management. Most of us turn that off, as the way it was done was unrealistic and SH4 does it much better. But that's a negative, and you didn't ask for that.

SH3 was the first subsim to allow the player to sail through the harbors. It's another thing that SH4 could do better, but what makes it great is the improvement brought by various mods, and SH4 has none of those.

That brings me to may main point. What's best about SH3 is the way it's been modded. SH4 could have received the same treatment and ended up being much better, but it came to soon on the heels of its older brother and the modders who could have made a difference didn't want to touch it. They also were less interested in an American Fleet Boat game, and by the time the U-Boats Add-On was out a year later they were even less interested.

SH3 (modded) is the only subsim that gives the player more than 100 different merchant types to look at and shoot at.

SH3 with SH3 Commander is the only subsim that tells you the name of the ship you sank plus the cargo and crew numbers involved.

I'll be honest. If there had been a GWX and a Commander for SH4 I wouldn't bother looking at SH3 again. SH4 is, in theory, that much better. But there aren't, and that leaves the better base game without any of the extra added attractions that make SH3 perhaps not as good as SH4, but much greater in the end.

I continue to play both, for the above-listed reasons.

sharkbit · 01-09-15, 09:52 PM

Great post Steve.

Halgarre · 01-10-15, 12:13 AM

For me, SH3 is an old friend. I've spent 60-80 dollars on sims or games only to find myself dusting of my cd case and prowling the Atlantic. Everything that Steve said I agree with. I've played it modded and unmodded and to me it's like night and day. The community here is also a big plus and brings me back just to read their After Action Reports or the crumpled log inside a message bottle that gets caught up in a fishing net that tells the final days of the U-Boat.

CCIP · 01-10-15, 03:38 AM

Totally in agreement with Steve

To add to that: out of the box, SHIII doesn't offer anything that SHIV and SHV don't do as well or better - except for a couple of additional U-boat types and a longer, more comprehensive campaign. Otherwise, IV and V are better than stock SHIII in virtually every way.

However, with modding, that picture changes rather drastically. SHIII has been expanded and added onto so much by mods that it's by far the most fully-featured of the bunch. From improvements to sensors and evasion, to Type XXIIIs, to working wolfpacks and virtually all previously-missing ships, aircraft and weapons, to SHIII commander, it has by far the most complete package and a lot of options to boot.

That said, TMO, RSRD and Op Monsun? Fantastic mods which offer some things which SH3 can't have! Even on the Uboat side, Op Monsun for example has by far the best (most historically accurate) campaign traffic and mission structure.

Like Steve, I wish we could have had more work done on SHIV. But on the bright side, that leaves lots of great things in SHIII that are very worth exploring on their own merits.

Foggy · 01-26-15, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

SH3 with SH3 Commander is the only subsim that tells you the name of the ship you sank plus the cargo and crew numbers involved.

When I am in SH3 and I view past patrol logs, I don't get any of those details for some reason. I thought that maybe there was a category or two missing and that I had to activate them, but I can't figure it out. All I get is the ship type and tonnage, location, time it sank. No name, crew figures. Any tips on how to make the other info appear?

Oh, and "Laphroaig!"

BigWalleye · 01-26-15, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foggy

When I am in SH3 and I view past patrol logs, I don't get any of those details for some reason. I thought that maybe there was a category or two missing and that I had to activate them, but I can't figure it out. All I get is the ship type and tonnage, location, time it sank. No name, crew figures. Any tips on how to make the other info appear?

Oh, and "Laphroaig!"

That information is only added by SH3 Commander, when the "Use Real Ship Names" option is checked. Default gets you everything, ship names can be used without the cargo and casualty information by a bit of editing of the SH3C file Cfg\Ship_names.cfg. FMI, check the readme for SH3 Log http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=4107.

Foggy · 01-26-15, 11:54 AM

I definitely have "Use Real Ship Names" checked, that's why I can't figure out why it's not doing it.

silla · 01-26-15, 03:38 AM

sorry for bad english

SH3 for me is the best submarine simulator of all time. Perfectly able to insert yourself in that era of war and stimulates you to do better, to try to get new submarines and new technical updates. The part of the personnel management, I think it is the best of the series.

01-09-15, 03:54 PM	#1
pdiddy Gunner Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 93 Downloads: 227 Uploads: 0	Why SH IIi? I started playing SH4 in 2011 with TMO and have recently downloaded Op Monsun for SH4 as well as starting to play SH5 (with WOS) I've never really considered SH3, but I know it has become almost a cult classic if that is a good way to put it. I'm not trying to start controversy, by any means, but as someone who knows very little about SH3, what makes it so great?

01-09-15, 05:32 PM	#2
U-15 Soundman Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Cannock Posts: 146 Downloads: 18 Uploads: 0	Hello Pdiddy, The only way I can answer is to compare your question with when someone asks me which is the best single malt. You have to taste them all to appreciate their differences, and to find one you really like, as they are all good. Just like SH1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 are all good to their respective devotees. To me SH3 is like a good glass of Laphroaig, once tasted never put down. It is really a matter of choice and taste. Give it a go with both SH3 and the Laphroaig __________________ I hope they're still open, I'm bostin for a pint of Banks's U-15 [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

01-09-15, 09:13 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	SH3 is not without its flaws, but I'll try to give you a rundown. SH3 was the first subsim to have a 3D crew. SH4 and 5 do that better, but ten years ago it was a true wonder, and despite comments on how dated they look that wonder still hasn't worn off for most of us. SH3 was the first subsim to feature crew management. Most of us turn that off, as the way it was done was unrealistic and SH4 does it much better. But that's a negative, and you didn't ask for that. SH3 was the first subsim to allow the player to sail through the harbors. It's another thing that SH4 could do better, but what makes it great is the improvement brought by various mods, and SH4 has none of those. That brings me to may main point. What's best about SH3 is the way it's been modded. SH4 could have received the same treatment and ended up being much better, but it came to soon on the heels of its older brother and the modders who could have made a difference didn't want to touch it. They also were less interested in an American Fleet Boat game, and by the time the U-Boats Add-On was out a year later they were even less interested. SH3 (modded) is the only subsim that gives the player more than 100 different merchant types to look at and shoot at. SH3 with SH3 Commander is the only subsim that tells you the name of the ship you sank plus the cargo and crew numbers involved. I'll be honest. If there had been a GWX and a Commander for SH4 I wouldn't bother looking at SH3 again. SH4 is, in theory, that much better. But there aren't, and that leaves the better base game without any of the extra added attractions that make SH3 perhaps not as good as SH4, but much greater in the end. I continue to play both, for the above-listed reasons. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-09-15, 09:52 PM	#4
sharkbit The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,529 Downloads: 334 Uploads: 0	Great post Steve. __________________ “Prejudice is blind. There will always be someone who says you aren’t welcome at the table. Stop apologizing for who you are and using all your energy trying to change their minds. Yes, you will lose friends, maybe even family. But you will gain your self-respect. You will know your worth. Once you have that, nothing can stop you.”

01-10-15, 12:13 AM	#5
Halgarre Shore leave Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tennessee, below the thermocline Posts: 70 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	For me, SH3 is an old friend. I've spent 60-80 dollars on sims or games only to find myself dusting of my cd case and prowling the Atlantic. Everything that Steve said I agree with. I've played it modded and unmodded and to me it's like night and day. The community here is also a big plus and brings me back just to read their After Action Reports or the crumpled log inside a message bottle that gets caught up in a fishing net that tells the final days of the U-Boat. __________________ U-33, Missing, presumed lost. U-105, Starting 4th patrol.

01-10-15, 03:38 AM	#6
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Totally in agreement with Steve To add to that: out of the box, SHIII doesn't offer anything that SHIV and SHV don't do as well or better - except for a couple of additional U-boat types and a longer, more comprehensive campaign. Otherwise, IV and V are better than stock SHIII in virtually every way. However, with modding, that picture changes rather drastically. SHIII has been expanded and added onto so much by mods that it's by far the most fully-featured of the bunch. From improvements to sensors and evasion, to Type XXIIIs, to working wolfpacks and virtually all previously-missing ships, aircraft and weapons, to SHIII commander, it has by far the most complete package and a lot of options to boot. That said, TMO, RSRD and Op Monsun? Fantastic mods which offer some things which SH3 can't have! Even on the Uboat side, Op Monsun for example has by far the best (most historically accurate) campaign traffic and mission structure. Like Steve, I wish we could have had more work done on SHIV. But on the bright side, that leaves lots of great things in SHIII that are very worth exploring on their own merits. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

01-26-15, 11:54 AM	#9
Foggy Loader Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central CA Posts: 88 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	I definitely have "Use Real Ship Names" checked, that's why I can't figure out why it's not doing it.

01-26-15, 03:38 AM	#10
silla Bilge Rat Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	sorry for bad english SH3 for me is the best submarine simulator of all time. Perfectly able to insert yourself in that era of war and stimulates you to do better, to try to get new submarines and new technical updates. The part of the personnel management, I think it is the best of the series.