Amazing! Frustrating! Intriguing!

[Holdit]

I been playing SH3 for about a fortnight and what a fortnight it's been! I started with a full career in 1939 commanding a type II (yes, I was determined to do it the hard way...) and had sunk three ships on my first control - with manual targeting - so I was pretty happy. I play with 79% realism, by the way.

Then...I installed the Grey Wolves mod. Wow! This game is just...amazing. The wireless traffic is deeply immersive; the sea water is like a painting, I've seen seas varying between rough and glassy and I'm sure I haven't seen it all yet; the ships look terrific; the interface is fantastic, including the interactions with officers; in short the most immersive simulation I've seen since the otherwise unfortunate B-17.

Unfortunately, installing the Grey Wolves mod dropped my existing boat in the middle of nowhere (literally! - 0-0' W 0-0' N). No problem sez I...I'll just start again. Ooops but I have to be in Kiel now if I want the type II. Bugger! All that extra transit time...still never mind (and aren't the harbours with traffic amazing too? Last time leaving harbour I passed a cruisier that had dropped in to say hello).

Three patrols later, though, and frustration is starting to creep in. Using G7-a's, I've rendered three ships for a total of about 21,000 tonnes swamped and dead in the water...but not sunk (aaaargh!!!) even though they'd taken three or four torpedo hits each. I thought about maybe using the G7-e's instead, but I wanted to avoid all the malfunctions - maybe I would have been better off.

Of course, being in a type II means that (a) I very quickly run out of torpedoes with which to finish off the targets and (b) I don't have a deck gun with which to administer a coup de grace either. Nothing to do but hang around hoping the bloody thing will sink until I get fed up and call it a day and set off on the long slog back to Kiel. Oh well, at least I have a II-D now, with lots more fuel so I can make the transits at higher speed.

Here's the intriguing bit which makes me wonder if I'm not getting some reward for my efforts after all. Firstly, I wasn't getting any "be more aggressive" messages from BdU. Then, after my third patrol, I was promoted to...Leutnant-sur-Zee I think it was. Last night I had to save my fourth patrol while it was in progress and because this involves "returning to base" I noticed I was going to get the Iron Cross 2nd class. Not bad for someone who has yet to register even a single ton of shipping sunk.

Is anyone aware of how the performance-reward system is modelled - just curious, I don't intend to manipulate it or anything. Also, is the new damage model in the Grey Wolves mod off-whack or is it me doing something wrong. If I finish patrol #4 by sailing away from yet another almost-sunk ship I think I'll end up going postal in the control room...

[HunterICX]

When I started with TGW mod

Also I had the same thing about sinking ships.
Mostly I had to leave the ship lying dead into the waters but not sinkings.

Also I noticed sometimes when I had an ship leaning I stayed around the ship and after 5 or 6 hours in game , a Message popped up....''She's Going Down''

So sometimes you have to wait a long time before she finally decides sink.

Also I faslty learned how to use my torpedo's

I never fired at an greater distance then 1000 Meters
because the T1's sometimes decides to blow up in the middle of the water.

So after that I mostly fire 2 torps at an ship the 1st one I aim at here Engine compartment to make her laying dead in the water or at least to slow her down..the next one i fired under her commander tower and mostly I have the luck she sinks or doesnt struggle a long time before she decides to go down.

my average tonnage per patrol was 9,000 tons

after that I upgraded to an VII because I needed something bigger.

My tonnage rate has gone up dramaticly towards the Record of 38,000 tons (Convoy attack) I was really suprised of that score, but also In the middle of the convoy I spotted an Southampton Cruiser. worth 10,000 Tons.

my average in the VII is 16,000 per patrol.

Also maybe its adviced to go the the Navy school again m8 and do the Torpedo Practice to get weak spots of an Ship.

[Grey Area]

Last night I had to save my fourth patrol while it was in progress and because this involves "returning to base"

You don't have to return to base if you save, you can just save mid-patrol.

[horrgakx]

Note that if you do return to port (under 20km away) then you get more renown. If you take the option 'return to port' in the middle of the sea your score is lower.

The only thing I don't like about the Grey Wolves mod is the drastically reduced water visibility. Yes I know it is more realistic, but I enjoyed the clear waters of the original. Is it possible to put it back?

[kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by horrgakx

The only thing I don't like about the Grey Wolves mod is the drastically reduced water visibility. Yes I know it is more realistic, but I enjoyed the clear waters of the original. Is it possible to put it back?

Yes if you install "SH3Commander 2.6" you can change the visibility by upping it to 20 in the options, to get your boat showing like in the stock game when submerged.

SH3 Commander 2.6 is a must have.

[SteamWake]

[quote=kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by horrgakx

SH3 Commander 2.6 is a must have.

and where does one get this ?