How do you keep the game interesting?

musides · 05-10-10, 02:25 PM

I bought this game a couple of months ago. It has been fun to learn and play, and the Grey Wolves expansion is one of the most impressive community add-ons I've seen for a game.

The trouble is, I've done about 8 patrols or so (72% realism). I typically sink around 10 ships per patrol, and try to use all my ammo efficiently in so doing. I don't really understand why I should put out to sea again because every patrol is so similar! I hit a large convoy once, which was pretty fun, but every merchant encounter is essentially a replica of the last encounter: approach at a distance, submerge, line up the shot, fire, surface, finish off with deck gun if necessary. Rinse and repeat.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something, or perhaps this isn't a long term game for me. I'm almost totally a strategy-only gamer, so this genre is a first for me. Anyway, I'm curious to know how veterans find this game compelling over the long term.

Jimbuna · 05-10-10, 02:30 PM

If your using the GWX3.0 supermod you are indeed missing a great deal.

There are different thetres such as N. Atlantic, S. Atlantic, Med, Black Sea and Indian Ocean plus the Arctic and so on and so on.

Each year brings differings types of equipment, shipping and levels of difficulty.

Enough from me....welcome aboard

gord96 · 05-10-10, 02:48 PM

i suppose its the challenge that GWX brings as the war progresses. My favorite part of the game is not sinking alot of ships, but surviving as long as I can. I have yet to make it into 1943 and have been playing for several years.

The Black Sea and Arctic campaigns are alot of fun.

But yeah, there isnt much variation in patrols. Your job is to sink ships. I sometimes throw in other missions myself. Like getting a radio message on my way back from a patrol that I need to pickup a spy from near some British port.

Canovaro · 05-10-10, 02:54 PM

That's right. The challenge is to survive as long as you can.
In order to survive, you need the best equipment and technology. To get that, you need renown. To get renown, you need to sink ships. But the longer you survive the more dangerous it becomes to attack ships.

You see, SH3 is like zen.

fw66 · 05-10-10, 03:06 PM

One of the best parts of GWX is the scripted layer - if you read the manual, you'll see how many historical operations are part of the campaign.

I particularly enjoy finding that a patrol coincides with a big event - like weserubung or something because there's always the chance of running into some big warships.

As has already been said, the Black Sea campaign's great and provides something different.

I know what you mean though. It can sometimes feel repetitive - to avoid that I never really go from one patrol straight into another - usually give it a day or two's rest then fire it up again!
I also find that even when I'm completely bored with SH3, if I read up a bit of atlantic or u-boat history, the cravings start again and it's off on another patrol!

maillemaker · 05-10-10, 03:08 PM

Quote:

In order to survive, you need the best equipment and technology. To get that, you need renown. To get renown, you need to sink ships. But the longer you survive the more dangerous it becomes to attack ships.

Well, that's kind of it in a nutshell, for me.

It's not just sinking ships, it's how long can you survive?. Can you make it to the end of the war?

Steve

gord96 · 05-10-10, 03:11 PM

one of my favorite ways to play is play an entire campaign in a Type II boat. Challenge yourself to do port raids in the little tub. Patrol the channel. You can do many things in the Type II that you cant do in the larger boats.

raymond6751 · 05-10-10, 03:47 PM

I have downloaded a lot of WW2 era music, added some of my faves from recent years, and listen on patrol. I also have all the speechs by Churchill and news broadcasts.

I also read while listening to either music or the waves.

More interesting challenges are found around enemy ports. Try to find actual convoys or task forces.

Sailor Steve · 05-10-10, 03:49 PM

WELCOME ABOARD!

One other thing you can do is use SH3 Commander. It will open up the campaign itself so you feel like you have a real career.

Unfortunately the life of a submariner was mostly boredom. I'm lucky if I sink 2-3 ships in a patrol. It's not for everybody. I play it because I like the boats and I like the history, not because it's a fast action game, which it isn't.

gord96 · 05-10-10, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I play it because I like the boats and I like the history, not because it's a fast action game, which it isn't.

Aye! My favorite part is just sailing around, getting into trouble. Blowing up ships is just a bonus!

Hook · 05-10-10, 04:03 PM

Bump up the realism. The more decisions you have to make that affect the outcome, the more interesting the game is.

I'm currently only using stabilized periscope view, and map contacts because GWX does not penalize you for using map contacts. Next patrol will be without map contacts.

Most of the time I'm playing without time compression unless I'm returning to base without torpedoes. There's a certain tempo to the game that you don't get if you use time compression whenever you can.

And I have to say that once I started playing with higher realism, no two intercepts have been the same. And at 1x time compression, you have plenty of time to think: Did I mess up the intercept course? Has he changed course? Is this going to be another neutral ship? Do I have time to go make a sandwich? Is it too early to submerge and check the hydrophones? If this is another ****ed schooner, I'm gonna try ramming him, I don't care if he's neutral!

Enjoy.

Hook

flag4 · 05-10-10, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musides

I bought this game a couple of months ago. It has been fun to learn and play, and the Grey Wolves expansion is one of the most impressive community add-ons I've seen for a game.

The trouble is, I've done about 8 patrols or so (72% realism). I typically sink around 10 ships per patrol, and try to use all my ammo efficiently in so doing. I don't really understand why I should put out to sea again because every patrol is so similar! I hit a large convoy once, which was pretty fun, but every merchant encounter is essentially a replica of the last encounter: approach at a distance, submerge, line up the shot, fire, surface, finish off with deck gun if necessary. Rinse and repeat.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something, or perhaps this isn't a long term game for me. I'm almost totally a strategy-only gamer, so this genre is a first for me. Anyway, I'm curious to know how veterans find this game compelling over the long term.

if not already doing so, begin reading the history. a good place to start is OPERATION DRUMBEAT by Micheal Gannon. available from amazon at a good price in paper back - order it through Subsim too, they get a cut.

its not just the game but the history will immerse you even more. there are many excellent and controversial books (Iron Coffins) to read on your long patrols...

Sailor Steve · 05-10-10, 04:09 PM

And watch Das Boot; preferably the 5-hour uncut version.

flag4 · 05-10-10, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

And watch Das Boot; preferably the 5-hour uncut version.

oh god!! - here come the DVD's: HITLER'S LOST SUB. by NOVA. available at Amazon...

...any more?

05-10-10, 04:50 PM

Bored? You can:

Up the realism to 100% (no map contacts).
This will give you a chance to make mistakes.

Use a Type II boat.
This removes the deck gun, for when you do make mistakes.

Start in 1943, or so.
It's a whole different game.

05-10-10, 02:25 PM	#1
musides Watch Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 29 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	How do you keep the game interesting? I bought this game a couple of months ago. It has been fun to learn and play, and the Grey Wolves expansion is one of the most impressive community add-ons I've seen for a game. The trouble is, I've done about 8 patrols or so (72% realism). I typically sink around 10 ships per patrol, and try to use all my ammo efficiently in so doing. I don't really understand why I should put out to sea again because every patrol is so similar! I hit a large convoy once, which was pretty fun, but every merchant encounter is essentially a replica of the last encounter: approach at a distance, submerge, line up the shot, fire, surface, finish off with deck gun if necessary. Rinse and repeat. I'm wondering if I'm missing something, or perhaps this isn't a long term game for me. I'm almost totally a strategy-only gamer, so this genre is a first for me. Anyway, I'm curious to know how veterans find this game compelling over the long term.

05-10-10, 02:30 PM	#2
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,914 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	If your using the GWX3.0 supermod you are indeed missing a great deal. There are different thetres such as N. Atlantic, S. Atlantic, Med, Black Sea and Indian Ocean plus the Arctic and so on and so on. Each year brings differings types of equipment, shipping and levels of difficulty. Enough from me....welcome aboard __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

05-10-10, 03:47 PM	#8
raymond6751 Admirable Mike Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,338 Downloads: 421 Uploads: 0	Music helps I have downloaded a lot of WW2 era music, added some of my faves from recent years, and listen on patrol. I also have all the speechs by Churchill and news broadcasts. I also read while listening to either music or the waves. More interesting challenges are found around enemy ports. Try to find actual convoys or task forces. __________________ Game Designer: Close The Atlantic - World War Three https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/...orld-war-three

05-10-10, 03:49 PM	#9
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	WELCOME ABOARD! One other thing you can do is use SH3 Commander. It will open up the campaign itself so you feel like you have a real career. Unfortunately the life of a submariner was mostly boredom. I'm lucky if I sink 2-3 ships in a patrol. It's not for everybody. I play it because I like the boats and I like the history, not because it's a fast action game, which it isn't. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-10-10, 04:09 PM	#13
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	And watch Das Boot; preferably the 5-hour uncut version. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

05-10-10, 02:48 PM	#3
gord96 Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 627 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	i suppose its the challenge that GWX brings as the war progresses. My favorite part of the game is not sinking alot of ships, but surviving as long as I can. I have yet to make it into 1943 and have been playing for several years. The Black Sea and Arctic campaigns are alot of fun. But yeah, there isnt much variation in patrols. Your job is to sink ships. I sometimes throw in other missions myself. Like getting a radio message on my way back from a patrol that I need to pickup a spy from near some British port.

05-10-10, 02:54 PM	#4
Canovaro Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,062 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	That's right. The challenge is to survive as long as you can. In order to survive, you need the best equipment and technology. To get that, you need renown. To get renown, you need to sink ships. But the longer you survive the more dangerous it becomes to attack ships. You see, SH3 is like zen.

05-10-10, 03:06 PM	#5
fw66 Torpedoman Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 119 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 0	One of the best parts of GWX is the scripted layer - if you read the manual, you'll see how many historical operations are part of the campaign. I particularly enjoy finding that a patrol coincides with a big event - like weserubung or something because there's always the chance of running into some big warships. As has already been said, the Black Sea campaign's great and provides something different. I know what you mean though. It can sometimes feel repetitive - to avoid that I never really go from one patrol straight into another - usually give it a day or two's rest then fire it up again! I also find that even when I'm completely bored with SH3, if I read up a bit of atlantic or u-boat history, the cravings start again and it's off on another patrol!

05-10-10, 03:11 PM	#7
gord96 Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 627 Downloads: 57 Uploads: 0	one of my favorite ways to play is play an entire campaign in a Type II boat. Challenge yourself to do port raids in the little tub. Patrol the channel. You can do many things in the Type II that you cant do in the larger boats.

05-10-10, 04:03 PM	#11
Hook Bosun Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 63 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Bump up the realism. The more decisions you have to make that affect the outcome, the more interesting the game is. I'm currently only using stabilized periscope view, and map contacts because GWX does not penalize you for using map contacts. Next patrol will be without map contacts. Most of the time I'm playing without time compression unless I'm returning to base without torpedoes. There's a certain tempo to the game that you don't get if you use time compression whenever you can. And I have to say that once I started playing with higher realism, no two intercepts have been the same. And at 1x time compression, you have plenty of time to think: Did I mess up the intercept course? Has he changed course? Is this going to be another neutral ship? Do I have time to go make a sandwich? Is it too early to submerge and check the hydrophones? If this is another ****ed schooner, I'm gonna try ramming him, I don't care if he's neutral! Enjoy. Hook

05-10-10, 04:50 PM	#15
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Bored? You can: Up the realism to 100% (no map contacts). This will give you a chance to make mistakes. Use a Type II boat. This removes the deck gun, for when you do make mistakes. Start in 1943, or so. It's a whole different game.