RFB First Impressions and TMO Comparison.

[ancient46]

There are several free programs on the web that can be used to modify sound files. I use Audacity but even the Windows supplied "Sound Recorder" has the option to increase or decrease the sound level. With Audacity I lowered the volume of the General Quarters file and shortened it a bit. That file caused a rapid increase in heart rate and sent the sleeping dogs in the man cave/control room running for cover! Man that file is loud when you are quietly sneaking up on a heavily defended convoy.

One shocking fact I found is that not everyone agrees with me or has the same priorities as me. It doesn't make any sense but there is no fighting human nature My solution is to make my own Mod to fix the things that bother me.

As far as the map goes you can remove or change gradient.tga file in RFB. My map has a green gradient for land and the shallow water color starts at about 100 ft. Also you get the shallow water warning when the boat has about 65 ft under the keel.

[Soundman]

I know what you mean about certains sounds. The one that always made me jump out of my seat was the "Relieve the Watch". I used S3D to turn it down. One thing that has always driven me crazy, is the stopwatch (chronometer) ticking away loudly. After a while it got like that Edgar Allen Poe story "The Tell Tale Heart" where the heartbeat get's louder and louder until it drove him insane. For me, that's the chrono. I have to it have turned down until I can just barely hear it or I go insane. I'm surprised I've never heard anyone else complain of this. BTW, if anyone wants to do this, it's the "Menu.Periscope.RotClicktTorp" file, who would'a thunk it, took me quite a while to discover that one.

[LukeFF]

I'll just address two things, since AVG has done a pretty good job here:

• Charts (note: only landlubbers use maps! ): the charts you see in the control rooms were downloaded from the NOAA website. With the shortage of charts, especially early in the war, these may or may not have been used by boats going on patrol. Also, do note the areas the charts cover: the Philippine Islands and Hawaii. It would thus be logical to believe these areas would be detailed, as the U.S. had long occupied these areas before the war began. While I have plenty of good charts from the Kriegsmarine, I have not found a single US navy chart from the WWII era.
• Renown and radar: yes, like others here, I don't totally like the way renown works in the game. It reminds me of arcades where one redeems their tokens to claim a prize. In reality, radar and sonar was added to the subs as the equipment and time was available to install them. It wasn't really contingent on a commander's success at all. Now, guns were a slightly different matter, as it was really up to the commander (within certain limits, of course) what type of gun armament he wanted for his boat. Thus, the renown system works alright here.

In a perfect world, radar, just like the conning towers, should be installed automatically between patrols, based on the time period being simulated. Gun upgrades should pretty much stay like they are now, IMO.

As a final note, do note I am working on an entirely new renown system for RFB 2.0. The bigger the merchant, the more renown one will earn (not to mention, transports and oil tankers will carry a higher renown value than your garden variety maru ). In addition, the cost of all equipment will depend on how many ships of a given class had the equipment installed at a given time. It's a big project (mainly because of the huge numbers of Gato and Balao class boats commissioned), but I think it will be doable.

[Armistead]

I have found mods were like trying to find the perfect woman...there are many thing you want to combine from several into your perfect game.

I have only played RFB a few patrols, before that TMORSRD with some added mods.

RSRD isn't perfect, but wouldn't play the game without it.

Things I don't like about TMO..the dd's are much stronger. I've noticed that easily already. TMO's can go into Godmode. You can be 3000 yards away at periscope depth running silent and here come the dd's right on you. You basically have little time to plan a shot. In reality, most attacks came after you attacked, not before.

I hate the pitted night scope in TMO..hard on the eyes.

I can do without all the special officers regardless of the mod.

I've attacked bungo pete twice..well ran into him,, lost both times. Sent two spreads of three behind each other, turned and let go 3 cuties...nothing got close.
I seldom miss DTT with a spread of 3.

I prefer env mod in TMO..but that's subject to taste.

I like the historical aspects of RFB. I play 100%, no contacts or cams, so the learning curve wasn't that bad. Still wonder about the stad measurements. The other complaints are basically the same as the OP. TMO has some bugs, the hogisland can't be picked up on sonar, ect.

With RSRD I spent so much time chasing lone merchants with my deckgun. Too easy and boring. They should make it much more difficult. One hit with a deckgun that puts a hole in your ship should send you back to port.

Harbor raping for points is OK, but lame....I do it. They need to program some idle dd's among the stationary dd's. Just silly a whole fleet sits there why you spend a day sinking them...at least put some roving dd's near by.

Should allow only one refit for torps and fuel, after that...fuel only...both mods.

I'm finding RFB to have the most upcoming promise, not quite as good as TMO yet, but will see after a few patrols. The dd's are easy or I'm just use to TMO's killers.

FORS is great as far as ships and graphics..wish the other mods would include this work.

I think in a few months both mods, if Duc will keep working will be about as perfect as they can get...can't wait for the next env. mod.

[AVGWarhawk]

With RSRD I spent so much time chasing lone merchants with my deckgun. Too easy and boring. They should make it much more difficult. One hit with a deckgun that puts a hole in your ship should send you back to port.

You will find dueling it out on the surface with a cannon laden merchant will in fact send you home or to the bottom. Machine gun fire will make life very difficult for your crew and sub. This aspect has been worked on extensively. I always look for cannons before I surface in RFB. Super Subs no longer exist.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

You will find dueling it out on the surface with a cannon laden merchant will in fact send you home or to the bottom. Machine gun fire will make life very difficult for your crew and sub. This aspect has been worked on extensively. I always look for cannons before I surface in RFB. Super Subs no longer exist.

Oh, it's much better, but still, no Skipper would stay on the seas with a big gaping hole flooding a compartment...To me one hit on your hull should send you back to port.

TMO is basically the same way. I almost got sunk by a fishin vessel that was shooting back....had nothing but the 40 and 20 and just wanted to sink it. I gave it all I had to out of nowhere...massive damage...

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Oh, it's much better, but still, no Skipper would stay on the seas with a big gaping hole flooding a compartment...To me one hit on your hull should send you back to port.

TMO is basically the same way. I almost got sunk by a fishin vessel that was shooting back....had nothing but the 40 and 20 and just wanted to sink it. I gave it all I had to out of nowhere...massive damage...

Yes, it is much better and I would have to say the likelihood of continuing on after a hit in RFB are slim to none. I would say that 9 times out of 10 I was damaged was enough to throw in the towel and go home. Not to mention the crew can not handle a strafing anymore either. Direct hit to the sail and that is all she wrote.

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by Armistead

Should allow only one refit for torps and fuel, after that...fuel only...both mods.

I'd do this if it was possible. Sadly, the coding for submarine tenders cannot be modded.

[Armistead]

As stated, I think the "great" modders have done all they can do, what little tweaks left will please some and not others...and you know the saying to that.
Oh, how I bet you guys wish you could alter programming files.

I think it would be possible to put some idle dd's sitting among all the stationary harbor targets. I like sinking two BB and two Carriers with all ease, but in the end it gets old. I like the challange of getting into harbors, pass the screening dd's, but once that is done, even though they are within 7000 yards they stay on patrol.

Have played RFB more this weekend and now I'm tore between the two...I can't say which mod I like best, but could see several aspect I would love to combine.

RSRD is by far a must..not saying it's the best mod and works with both supermods, as it has a difference aspect to it, but can't believe someone took the time to do this....a big thank YOU.

[Hitman]

I had moved my entire aft torpedo room crew up to the deck gun. Lost 'em all. All of 'em dead. Six men died because I couldn't bother to dive. The boat didn't incure any other damage, and nobody else was lost.

It made me think... by all rights, that's six letters that I should have to sit down and write, explaining their deaths in a flowery language promoting their service, knowing deep inside that I could've saved 'em simply by diving, instead of trying to maneuver on the surface. Thank God this is just a bunch of electrons streaming around in a couple boxes .

LOL that happens when you conduct commerce raiding like WW1 trench warfare

The main thing I don't like from RFB right now are the enlarged periscopes. I am used to my own custom optics mods, so I will put a remedy to that soon. Of course, this all is just a pure matter of personal taste.