[REL] U.S. Medals Fix

[Red Heat]

Originally Posted by CapnScurvy

This mod will correct the way awards are presented to the player by first changing the stock "order" of the medals which will improve the relationship between what is earned and what is issued. It was found that several inaccuracies that have to do with this "order" prevented the correct medal from being issued, especially to the player/Captain. Secondly the medals were changed to reflect the authentic type and criteria for which they are given. The Distinguished Service Medal was removed from the game and the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal were moved up in rank to fill the void. Both the enlisted men and Captain will be given the Navy Commendation Medal as their initial 1st tier award. It is believed that by changing the specific awards and the various "order" of the awards, a more accurate representation of American awards issued will occur.



The following image shows the Crew Management screen with the Navy Commendation Medal added to the awards list.



To install the mod make sure your current running campaign will have you in port, waiting on another patrol to start. This will ensure a trouble free installation. Of course you can begin a new campaign with the mod installed. Just do not expect to install the mod during an ongoing campaign patrol without the risk of a CTD.

There are various editions of the U.S. Medals Fix that are compatible to other major mods like TMO 1.5.2, or RFB 1.51 062408. Install the compatible mod first then install the Medals Fix mod that is made specifically for it next. The Medals Fix mod is JSGME ready. Click the latest editions dated Oct. 27 '08 for the specific mod you want.


U.S. Medals Fix Stock 1.5

U.S. Medals Fix TMO 1.5.2

U.S. Medals Fix RFB 1.51 062408

Note: The U.S. Medals Fix is intergraded within the latest RFB 1.52 102508


Discussion

There are six awards and medals available from highest ranking to lowest. RFB and TMO both use the same awards. Top ranked is the Congressional Medal of Honor, next the Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and although it is not an achievement award, nor does it fit in the ranking system, the Purple Heart. My contention is the authentic Navy Distinguished Service Medal has a criteria which reads "...of exceptionally mertorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility". In my opinion, this criteria does not hold true of a sub Captain, and especially not of an enlisted crewman. What I have found is the medal is usually bestowed to senior "Navy Flag and Marine Corps General Officers" not rank and file sub Captains and definitely not to an enlisted man, unless he happened to be on Nimitz's "personal" staff of high enlisted rank.

So, my plan was to remove the DSM from the awards, move up the Silver Star and Bronze Star Medal in rank and add the Navy Commendation Medal as a 1st tier award.


The Navy Commendation Medal is the lowest tier award for both Captain and crew. The "Dolphins" Badge was orginally used in this mod for the crew's 1st tier award. After some debate I decided to remove the Dolphins Badge from the game in favor of the Navy Commendation Medal. My largest concern was due to the Captain's written citation which originally needed to describe both "Enlisted Dopphin's Badge - Captain's Commendation Medal" in it's form. I felt this unnecessary description needed to be corrected, along with a general improvement of the citation. This latest version dated Oct. 27, 2008 has both issues met for the written citation. Plus a correction in a spelling typo.


Another improvement to this latest version is the removal of the original medals from the Captain's Award Box. I have simply eliminated them altogether. No medals will be seen within the box but, by mouse clicking within the box you will be taken to the Captain's written citation and a close up of the awarded medals as in the previous stock method.



Again, the 1st tier award will be the Navy Commendation Medal, first received in 1943 as a ribbon. I realise I've taken a bit of license in putting this medal into the game but the use of the Distinguished Service Medal made much less sense.

This modification does more than simply change the type of medals issued. It has corrected the stock game and previous modded medal fix's in rearranging the "order" of medals issued. No more will you receive a Medal of Honor without due player/Captain effort.


I wish to acknowledge the work done by Metalledges, Midnite1977, and Ducimus for there initial efforts in working towards an authentic awards system for Silent Hunter 4. Without their efforts my contribution may not have been possible. Thanks to all for the great work done.

Ahoy,

For sometimes i had some dificulty to understand "the true meaning of the words" in English language...my question its this mod its compatible to SH4 PATCH 1.4?
This is the mods im running in the game:

. Foofighters sargo black with hi-res v2 (skin)

. Ruimv1.0 for SH4v 1.4

. Ruimv1.0 for SH4v 1.4 Enlisted Ranks

. Ruimv1.0 for SH4v 1.4 awards add-on

. diveratedRC2

. NSM4 classic

. ASW 9.0 Standart 1.4

. Kosh Stealthy sub v1.22b

* Thanks in advance, mates...

[CapnScurvy]

Hello Red Heat, you asked if the mod is compatible with SH4 1.4, saddly it is not.

I have tried to implement the same structure of the mod into the 1.4 framework but I was unsuccessfull. I spent a lot of time trying different things to make it work but the structure of the game prior to the 1.5 Addon would not allow me to. There are just some things we can't do.

[Red Heat]

Originally Posted by CapnScurvy

Hello Red Heat, you asked if the mod is compatible with SH4 1.4, saddly it is not.

I have tried to implement the same structure of the mod into the 1.4 framework but I was unsuccessfull. I spent a lot of time trying different things to make it work but the structure of the game prior to the 1.5 Addon would not allow me to. There are just some things we can't do.

Hello

Thank you for the fast info about the mod, i was hoping to use it in the game, but its not possible...any away looks to me a great job, thanks for sharing with us and keep the good work mate!

[SinkingDDT]

Hey, Capn, I went out and bought GOLD just so I could see actual US medals with your mod.

Simply-- thanks. I hurried through my patrol and got an actual not-made-up US award (which, as I sit here writing this, I can't remember what I got... BUT it was an actual historical award).

Looks GREAT!! Thanks a lot.

[banjo]

Went back and looked. It was the Distiguished Service Medal.

[CapnScurvy]

Originally Posted by banjo

Went back and looked. It was the Distiguished Service Medal.

Thanks for getting back with me. You should check to see if the U.S. Medals Fix is really installed within your game. I removed both the image and the reference to the Distinguished Service Medal. There should be no mention of it on the written citation, and to be sure, the citation should read like the one that is pictured in the first post of this thread (shows the Navy Commendation Medal).

One quick way of checking is to open the Medals Box on the Captain's Desk back in port. When you mouse over the interior it should state "CLICK TO VIEW AWARDS". U.S. Medals Fix is not installed if it simply reads "AWARDS", or shows a medal within the interior.

[banjo]

No, it's installed as you say. Maybe I installed it the mission after I got the DSM--I wrote my post from memory--not a good thing nowadays.

[SinkingDDT]

Modders,

First, let me say--I'M NOT WORTHY!

Second, if I break down and buy the newest SH4 (with the U-Boat add-ons), I have 1.5, right? Will this medals fix work with that version? My 8-year-old just had a sub christmas-- 28" Seawolf model, Gato model, Nautilus model, small Seawolf, Type VII and some modern Japanese sub I can't recall, and his dad bought him a really cool navy ball cap with dolphins, scrambled eggs and commander rank on it. He is on an underwater roll (though he inexplicably hates having to use the TDC and realistic targeting with me... ). I'll buy the new version if I can get him actual US awards.

Third, if I am not clear, you modders amaze me. Thanks for doing this, Cap'n.

[CapnScurvy]

SinkingDDT, Welcome to SubSim!!

Yes, the stand alone U-Boat Missions Addon is patch 1.5. The patch 1.5 is the latest from UbiSoft and they saw fit to couple it with the U-Boat addon. U.S. Medals Fix works with 1.5. Unfortunately it does not work with the game patched to only 1.4 or earlier. Believe me I've tried but the structure of the game changed quite a bit between 1.4 and 1.5 when it comes to the awards. I was able to work with the newer version much easier then with the old.

If you can find the "Gold Edition" of SH4 it has the latest patch 1.5 and the U-boat missions all rolled in one.

Thanks for the kind words.
Best regards

[groomsie]

Curious if this works with the recent update to TMO... Anyone tried it?