Playable surface ships in SP missions possible?

[EPinniger]

I've heard that SH4's multiplayer mode allows one team to control the escorts and merchants (with the option for a Destroyer Command-style bridge view) whilst the other team controls the attacking subs.

Is it possible, therefore, to create (using the mission editor) single-player missions where the player is in control of a destroyer or other surface vessel? I'd assume that this is possible (you could create missions in SH3 where the player's unit was a ship, but it would crash the game when the mission loaded, as the engine did not support player control of surface vessels) but just wanted to check first.

I'm mostly interested in playing surface ships rather than subs, and other than Destroyer Command there aren't really any decent WW2 warship sims available - so being able to create DC-style missions in SH4 would be interesting. (Though I'm thinking of buying SH4 anyway)

[EPinniger]

Surely someone else here must have some interest in creating ship-based SP missions?
Anyway, I will have SH4 in a day or two (hopefully; I've already ordered it) so will be able to answer the question myself soon; I'll post my results here if someone else hasn't already done.

[Fercyful]

bump!

any update please? wandering the same, hope we can play as a destroyer in SP mission...

thanks!

I see ALOT of "maybe we can do this" with SH4!!
More so then with SH3.
I do not, for a second, believe we have scratched the surface
on what can be done!!
Time, Mates, Time to dig and experament!!
Tis all a modder needs!!!

[phatmatt]

Being able to command a destroyer in SP would be fun

I look at a file size of around 2+ megs for SH3.exe
compared to a file size of 6+ megs for SH4.exe and wonder.
As the rest of the files seem lacking to match this increase?
:hmm:
The future looks bright so I may need shades!!!

:rotfl:

[EPinniger]

I still don't have SH4 - I've ordered it from Play.com and received an e-mail on Friday that it had been shipped, so should get it in a day or two hopefully. When I do I'll try this out as soon as possible!

From my experiences with modding SH3, it may not actually be possible to create single missions in SH4 where you play as a surface ship - even if the engine supports it. The problem is the GUI screen for selecting single mission, which also allows you to choose the sub type you want to command - the selected sub overrides whatever the player vessel is set as in the mission file, and I have not found a way to add new subs or ships to this list.

However, it will almost certainly be possible to create multiplayer "adversarial" missions where you control surface ships fighting against AI-controlled enemy ships. Multiplayer missions can be played offline if you create a LAN game (at least in SH3)

I've no idea, though, how much actual control you have over the ships under your command (I'm guessing you can't directly aim the weapons, only give targeting orders). I'm also not sure if all the ships in the game can be commanded, or only a small selection (i.e Japanese DDs and escorts)

[Fercyful]

However, it will almost certainly be possible to create multiplayer "adversarial" missions where you control surface ships fighting against AI-controlled enemy ships. Multiplayer missions can be played offline if you create a LAN game (at least in SH3)

Hi there! hope you will get the game soon! I try that but when I select LAN I can enter the game because it want to other people to join your game I don´t know how to serve AND play in SH4... so I can test the great idea you have, any clue on that plase?

[EPinniger]

Originally Posted by Fercyful

Hi there! hope you will get the game soon! I try that but when I select LAN I can enter the game because it want to other people to join your game I don´t know how to serve AND play in SH4... so I can test the great idea you have, any clue on that plase?

I got the game today and, after briefly trying it out, it seems like you are right, the adversarial MP mode does not allow you to start the game with only 1 player (though the co-op mode does, as in SH3) - which is seriously annoying.
I'll try and see if there is a work around for this, but I doubt it. Shame, as there is a serious lack of good naval sims out there, and SH3/4 have a lot of good features (realistic physics + damage modelling, complete world map, comprehensive mission editor, etc.)

I had a look at the adversarial MP mission files to see if there is any scripting involved, which could be copied over to a SP mission, but it seems like there isn't - presumably the game engine automatically gives one player control of the Axis/Japanese ships when the mission starts, no special scripting is required.

[EPinniger]

I've tried just about everything I could think of (including copying a MP adversarial mission to the single mission folder), but no luck. I even tried creating a LAN game, then starting another session of SH4 to join this game, but it doesn't appear to be possible to run more than one SH4 session on the same PC (it is possible with some other games)

Does anyone think it's worth asking the developers about some kind of support for adversarial mode in SP - even if it's just allowing you to start a LAN game with only one player?

I know there's no sub AI in the game, but I was thinking more of battles between player ships and AI surface ships. From reading the manual, it looks like adversarial mode gives the escort commander complete control over their ship's movements and actions (though you can't "pilot" them directly) so this could result in some fun "Fighting Steel"-style missions, if not quite "Destroyer Command 2".

[Fercyful]

thanks for try it out EPinniger!! sad that it wastn´t possible... hope something will arise to bring us that nice feature in SP!