Beginner Questions

[Jimbuna]

Welcome to SubSim and the GWXperience Nuke

[maillemaker]

@Maillemaker

What exactly are map contacts? Are those when blips show up on nav. map saying "Unknown, N NE, Slow" ?

Those are contacts that are reported to you via radio for you to go investigate (or not).

What I am talking about is if you have Map Contacts turned on, as soon as you raise your periscope, or if you are surfaced and your deck crew has spotted them, little ship icons will appear on your nav and attack maps. If you zoom in on the map you can even tell what kind of ship they are by the size and shape of the icon. And of course you can determine exactly their heading and speed. It is basically a "God's Eye" view of the battlefield. The 3:15 method works perfectly to determine speed when you have Map Contacts turned on.

Also, in the campaign I mentioned earlier, I am in one of the coastal craft, the small U-boats. I find that the only way I can make my patrols is going the whole way at 1/3 or less speed. Is this unusual? Time-wise it really isn't so bad with TC, but I am just wondering in general.

As a quick aside, there IS the Kiel Canal (possible shortcut?), but I find you cannot use TC in it and so it would take an inordinately long amount to travel it!

I avoid Kiel and I avoid those kinky Type II boats.

I start from Wilhelmshaven with a Type VII, and upgrade to a Type IX as soon as possible. I want a big deck gun and lots of torpedoes!

Also, if I run out of torpedo's it seems that if I dock in a friendly port (to resupply) and have NOT completed or arrived at my patrol grid, upon leaving the friendly dock I am told to just return home to my original beginning port (Kiel in this case). So, don't dock until you have completed patrol I guess, if you want to keep hunting?

There are a few drawbacks to ending the mission anywhere other than your home port. You will be given a default torpedo loadout that you cannot change, and you will lose any awards or promotions that you earned as you cannot issue them if you are not in your home port. Also you cannot qualify a petty officer or officer. Generally, unless it is an emergency, it is best to go home.

Will they ever radio you to come home if you stay out hunting and just keep resupplying at friendly ports?

No, but you will never be able to promote/award your crew or pick custom torpedo loadouts, as above. You can get around the promotion/award problem by using SH Commander.

[quote[Also, if anyone cares to, are there any highly recommended mods that come with the GWX3 Gold install but are not enabled by default? (e.g. 16km atomsphere)[/quote]

I like the long-range atmosphere mods. You'll also want the late-war sensor mods in late war, so you get the radar detector on your snorkle.

Steve

[captgeo]

Just got my copy of SH3 today, got it installed and it is 1.4, so.....

should I mess with the stock version or dive right into the MOD's ?

[Pisces]

Personally I would only start with stock to be able to experience the difference (in praise of the mod-creators). If you don't care (you are in appraisal anyway ) , then go right ahead with mods.

But do realise, some bugs and quirks originated or happened in stock too. So be careful if you come up against something weird and you attribute them to any mod you are using. There is a good chance the mod-creators know about it but can't do anything about it.

[captgeo]

Originally Posted by Pisces

Personally I would only start with stock to be able to experience the difference (in praise of the mod-creators). If you don't care (you are in appraisal anyway ) , then go right ahead with mods.

But do realise, some bugs and quirks originated or happened in stock too. So be careful if you come up against something weird and you attribute them to any mod you are using. There is a good chance the mod-creators know about it but can't do anything about it.

thanks mate, I ran SH4 stock for a few months also before I switched to Mod's, great advice.

the only reason I asked was all the things I heard about the great Mod's for 3, figured being an "old timer " here might affect what players would suggest for me.

[maillemaker]

Yeah I'm torn. On one hand, the GWX and other mods are so great, it's sad to think of missing out on them. On the other hand, you'll never appreciate how great the mods are until you play stock.

Something as simple as the Torpedo Damage Final and Lifeboats and Debris mods are huge game enhancers beyond stock.

Steve