The new year bug

[BasilY]

November 26th, 1944, I took my XXI back to Bergen without damage. I exit the game and update my profile with SH3 commander. Then restart the game from there. Once in the game, I proceed to arm my boat with all Type I Luts, spending a few thousand renown in the process. (I am relying on 6000-8000 meter shots with type I LUTs beginning 1944. trying to avoid entanglement with DDs and the dreaded hedgehog.)

As soon as the arming is finished, I start patrol (did not exit game). By the time the battle screen is loaded, the date is January 1945.

Here is the problem -- my torpedo load become the default 1945 load (NOT A SINGLE TYPE I LUT!) The renown I spent, however, are gone for good. I lost all the renown for nothing! And I have to spend a patrol with torpedoes that requires close contact with the enemy... (You can call me a coward all you want, I want this career to survive the war...)

It happened once before at the turn of 1943/1944. I suspect it's the same thing throughout the game, if you end a patrol on the previous year, buy new torps, then have to start the new patrol on the new year, the torp load will be reset to default. But the renown you spend is gone for good.

Any fixes?

[BasilY]

The wrong torpedo cause immediate problems. The uboat encounter a hunter-killer group at grid AM15. While trying to snipe off the Escort carrier in the middle, U-2523 close to within about 4000 meter of the center course of the enemy task force. She was discovered. Two torpedoes fire in haste (TYPE III LATs) missed.

U-2523 dive to 220 meters depth and try to shake off by deploying decoys. After using three decoy and still can't shake the hunters and sustaining some damage in the process, the captain snapped.

One thing good about the wrong torpedo load out is the fact that U-2523 now has 6 sound-homing torpedoes. And this hunter-killer group has exactly 6 DDs.

You guess it. Using one more decoy to confuse the DD, U-2523 quickly ascend to 20 meters and start to pick off the pursuers one at a time. (you don't need a visual to aim a homing torpedo) In between kills, U-2523 raise her snorkel and run at ahead full to close on the CVE as well as to draw in the remaining DDs.

Captain Class II @ 18:43
Captain Class II @ 19:03
Colony Class @ 19:36
Captain Class II @ 19:39
Captain Class I @ 19:49
Colony Class @ 19:50

And finally, the main prize:

Bogue class @ 21:01

Still with more half of her torpedoes and only 4 days into the patrol, U-2523 decides to head back to base and yell at someone at the Ordinance Office...

I know, I know, killing an entire hunter-killer group is so completely not historical. But the captain is just so pissed that he didn't get the torpedoes and wanted and paid for.

Happy new year, 1945.

[Jimbuna]

What version of the game are you guys playing?

[BasilY]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

What version of the game are you guys playing?

GWX 3.0 Gold Version. The date is end of November 25th, 1944 when I click start patrol, The Date is Jan 16th 1945 after the patrol is loaded. The torpedoes are reset to default. I start the game from SH3 Commander (v.2.7.0.130).

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by BasilY

GWX 3.0 Gold Version. The date is end of November 25th, 1944 when I click start patrol, The Date is Jan 16th 1945 after the patrol is loaded. The torpedoes are reset to default. I start the game from SH3 Commander (v.2.7.0.130).

Looking into it

[Stiebler]

I'm pretty sure this is a problem with the stock game.

As BasilY reports, you return to base just before the end of a year, create your own torpedo load-out, exit from 'the office' to start your new patrol in January of the following year, and you have the default torpedo loadout for the new year, whatever you had earlier selected.

I doubt if this bug can be fixed.

Stiebler.

[Graf Paper]

Even though this might be an "unfixable" bug, surely a workaround wouldn't be all that difficult to kludge together?

Perhaps this would work?...
Using SH3 Commander's date function, you could modify the correct CFG and EQP files for the u-boat's weapons loadout to whatever you like, historical or personal preference. Then drop this mod into the correct date folder, making sure it is JSGME compatible, and it will override the default game settings when the year changes, leaving you with the loadout you choose.

It's right off the top of my head and there may be some technical reason preventing this from being a workable solution. Although I know what the files do, I'm still learning the workings of the details so it would take a lot more homework before I knew the particular entries that needed altering.

Perhaps you or jimbuna could provide some examples, Stiebler? That's assuming the idea would work.

[Jimbuna]

Can you just confirm the date on the calender positioned on the right hand side of the office after you have upgraded your eels and prior to loading the patrol from the wall map?

[BasilY]

I think the only work-around is to use SH3 command to change the date of the next patrol to start just before the new year. But that's alright now. I survive that patrol. And now it's May 14, 1945, Seem like Captain Zinn will survive the war.

[BasilY]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Can you just confirm the date on the calender positioned on the right hand side of the office after you have upgraded your eels and prior to loading the patrol from the wall map?

I am quite sure the date there still shows November, 44, Since I did not make any boat upgrades.

[Jimbuna]

I've ran patrols commencing November 1st, 24th and 28th.....the most Lut 1 available on each occasion has been approx 13/15 and at commencement of each patrol there has been no leap forward into 1945.

I'm sorry but I just don't seem able to replicate the problem

[BasilY]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I've ran patrols commencing November 1st, 24th and 28th.....the most Lut 1 available on each occasion has been approx 13/15 and at commencement of each patrol there has been no leap forward into 1945.

I'm sorry but I just don't seem able to replicate the problem

Not all Type I LUTs, so type I FAT as well. (I use them more or less interchangeably.)

But the problem should have nothing to do with LUTs or FATs. Try this Jim:

1. Go to SH3 Commander and set days between patrol to 45
2. Start SH3 from SH3 commander
3. Finish your last patrol on November 25th, 1945.
4. Change some part of the torpedo load out (Just "buy" a Type X homer should be sufficient)
5. Start patrol.

Now instead of the torpedo load out you spend renown to buy (the Type X homer), you should be reset to 1945 default load out.

Try it.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by BasilY

Not all Type I LUTs, so type I FAT as well. (I use them more or less interchangeably.)

But the problem should have nothing to do with LUTs or FATs. Try this Jim:

1. Go to SH3 Commander and set days between patrol to 45
2. Start SH3 from SH3 commander
3. Finish your last patrol on November 25th, 1945.
4. Change some part of the torpedo load out (Just "buy" a Type X homer should be sufficient)
5. Start patrol.

Now instead of the torpedo load out you spend renown to buy (the Type X homer), you should be reset to 1945 default load out.

Try it.

Ah!....humble apologies, I see precisely what you mean now. I set Commander to 45 days in port, changed torpedo loadout, chose a patrol commencing 22nd or 24th November and new patrol commenced 6th January 1945 with a default loadout.

This anomaly is dictated by the CFG that allocates all weapons and equipment availability dates and as such I would not recommend changing it because it is not simply dictatorial of weapons systems alone but also the myriad of equipment files.

Changing one may well have a detrimental impact on another.....an example would be changing the hit power of a subs 20mm would also mean a similar change to every 20mm weapons platform in game, be it Allied or otherwise.

Don't get me wrong, it is probably doeable but the time work and effort it would entail hardly justifies the outcome.

A quick workaround would be to set Commander to x number of days in port, taking you up to 1st Jan, then change your loadout and set Commander back to whatever your preference is prior to your next patrol.

[BasilY]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Don't get me wrong, it is probably doeable but the time work and effort it would entail hardly justifies the outcome.

A quick workaround would be to set Commander to x number of days in port, taking you up to 1st Jan, then change your loadout and set Commander back to whatever your preference is prior to your next patrol.

I agree. Besides, no patrol ever starts perfect in the real war, a little bit of frustration with non-performing ordinance officers comes with the territory.

Hey, I am in a good mood. I survive that little mishap.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by BasilY

I agree. Besides, no patrol ever starts perfect in the real war, a little bit of frustration with non-performing ordinance officers comes with the territory.

Hey, I am in a good mood. I survive that little mishap.

SINK EM ALL!!