Query about saves

[washishu]

As I stated in my "Mac users do it with BootCamp" post, I'm running SHIII on my MacBook. Not being a Windows user I'm not completely familiar with the system but as far as I'm aware my XP installation operates much as it would on a pc. So, shipmates, I have a couple of questions, two of which are tied together so to speak.

However, a general question first. I've been sent to stations off West Africa on every patrol so far. Not too concerned by that although I do fancy a North Atlantic trip. But it's now November '41 and so far though I've met many independent ships I've not come across a single convoy. Why is this? Does anyone know?

Now the system question—
• If I go to All Stop, when I put the engines into forward again, there's a problem. I believe it to be a system bug because sometimes the boat moves forward but there is no engine noise; the appropriate sound file is not being triggered. On rare occasions the boat doesn't move at all. Either way, if I All Stop again and then go Back, then Stop, then For'd, it all works fine again—until the next time.

• There is also a minor—but irritating— problem with the Ruler on the map not always displaying accurately.

This makes me think that I need to re-install the game, but I don't want to loose my Saves. I see that there's a Data folder in the Documents folder which contains the saves. If I uninstall the game will this be deleted? If I copy it to somewhere else and put it back after the re-install, will this work? What to do guys, what to do?

Thanks in advance.

[Bakkels]

Originally Posted by washishu

As I stated in my "Mac users do it with BootCamp" post, I'm running SHIII on my MacBook. Not being a Windows user I'm not completely familiar with the system but as far as I'm aware my XP installation operates much as it would on a pc. So, shipmates, I have a couple of questions, two of which are tied together so to speak.

However, a general question first. I've been sent to stations off West Africa on every patrol so far. Not too concerned by that although I do fancy a North Atlantic trip. But it's now November '41 and so far though I've met many independent ships I've not come across a single convoy. Why is this? Does anyone know?

Now the system question—
• If I go to All Stop, when I put the engines into forward again, there's a problem. I believe it to be a system bug because sometimes the boat moves forward but there is no engine noise; the appropriate sound file is not being triggered. On rare occasions the boat doesn't move at all. Either way, if I All Stop again and then go Back, then Stop, then For'd, it all works fine again—until the next time.

• There is also a minor—but irritating— problem with the Ruler on the map not always displaying accurately.

This makes me think that I need to re-install the game, but I don't want to loose my Saves. I see that there's a Data folder in the Documents folder which contains the saves. If I uninstall the game will this be deleted? If I copy it to somewhere else and put it back after the re-install, will this work? What to do guys, what to do?

Thanks in advance.

The way you get assigned patrol grids is quite realistic; it's based on the historic areas u-boats would patrol. It depends on which flotilla you're in, but also which month/year you are in. For example; when you're in the 2nd Flotilla from Brest, around January '42 you will be assigned to American waters. (That's when operation Drumbeat began) However, I don't know if this is in stock sh3, or if it's GWX that does this.
About the convoys; the map with convoy routes in the top left of the screen should be a help. (But also look at the letter codes that are on there; some shipping lanes / convoy routes only get used from a particular year on)
In my experience, the concentration of convoys in African waters is slightly lower than -for example- to the west / north west of Ireland. But they're definitely there. Also (but you might regard this as cheating) you can look in your mission editor. Load the Mission_RND file, set the dates to the period you are going to be out on sea and watch where the most traffic is.

The 'all stop' problem I never heard of. So I can't help you there.

The ruler not displaying distance correctly is well known. The distance it shows is always 50 meters more than the actual distance. (Try looking at the distance your rules gives you when you measure the rings around your ship in the navmap when you zoom in; it's always +50 meters)

Your savegames will be in My Documents >Sh3>Data>Careers. If you make a backup of these, they will work on a new install. (But I think when uninstalling sh3, it doesn't delete the sh3 folder in My Documents anyway. I'm not sure though! So make a backup anyway)

Hope this helps a bit

[washishu]

Hi there Bakkels. Thanks for the prompt—and comprehensive—reply. I'll give the re-install a shot.

Re the convoys etc. I was at first based at Lorient and transferred to Brest, wondering if I might get some North Atlantic action from there; no joy however. My reading around the subject tells me that Britain introduced the convoy system almost from the start of the war. I checked again recently to see if I had mis-remembered; Richard Hough in The Longest Battle says ". . . the Royal Navy being desperately short of escort vessels for the convoys, which were instituted for certain classes of merchantmen at the outset of war". My italics.

Elsewhere he states, as do other sources, that faster merchantmen were permitted to travel alone, but I'm sinking merchants doing no more than 6 knots. Am I expecting too much of the game here?

It's just that I only recently graduated to manual targeting and I'm eager to try it out on a convoy. Maybe I'm getting complacent here and won't live to regret it! But that's the fun of the game isn't it?

[Bakkels]

Originally Posted by washishu

Hi there Bakkels. Thanks for the prompt—and comprehensive—reply. I'll give the re-install a shot.

Re the convoys etc. I was at first based at Lorient and transferred to Brest, wondering if I might get some North Atlantic action from there; no joy however. My reading around the subject tells me that Britain introduced the convoy system almost from the start of the war. I checked again recently to see if I had mis-remembered; Richard Hough in The Longest Battle says ". . . the Royal Navy being desperately short of escort vessels for the convoys, which were instituted for certain classes of merchantmen at the outset of war". My italics.

Elsewhere he states, as do other sources, that faster merchantmen were permitted to travel alone, but I'm sinking merchants doing no more than 6 knots. Am I expecting too much of the game here?

It's just that I only recently graduated to manual targeting and I'm eager to try it out on a convoy. Maybe I'm getting complacent here and won't live to regret it! But that's the fun of the game isn't it?

If you're going to re-install, I'd really recommend installing GWX too. Adds a lot of features (ships, real-world Naval operations, etc.)
And SH3Commander. It's a tool that works outside of the game to tweak your crew, and you can choose your own grid to patrol. Come to think of it, I believe it's actually Sh3Commander that assigns realistic patrol grids
And it makes a patrol report afterwards with the names, cargo and casualties from the ships you sank.

As for the lone merchants; yes you're expecting too much. I never heard that the lone ones would travel faster, but that sounds realistic to me and make sense. But you're right. Most travel at 6 knots. But I've seen quite a few doing 9 knots. No more than that though.

And yes, manual targeting is what makes the game fun. I'm doing it semi-realistic though. I use the nav map a lot, and I have the contacts displayed on my map. The most enjoyable (and demanding) is when you encounter a convoy, and try to calculate a firing solution on multiple targets while making sure all torpedoes hit at around the same time. Damn difficult but a hell of a lot of fun.

[Sailor Steve]

I you uninstall using the disc it will ask you if you want to save your current career. Just click "Yes".

It looks like the only bug is the ruler.
If it's defective in your current install, it will be defective in your next, unless you install a different version.

The diesels not starting isn't a bug. It's in the design.
Hit back slow to start the diesels, then ahead whatever speed you want.
Best to avoid being DIW.

Stock, as well as all supermods, is plagued with slow merchants sailing independently.
If you have a lot of time on your hands, it is repairable in the RND Layer.

It seems to have been overlooked, that the IXs formed wolfpacks along the Freetown routes. As a result, the convoys along those routes are never given via contact reports. This too can be corrected in the RND Layer (much more easily than the slow independents, for reasons of sheer volume). It's not difficult, just VERY time consuming.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

It looks like the only bug is the ruler.
If it's defective in your current install, it will be defective in your next, unless you install a different version.

The diesels not starting isn't a bug. It's in the design.
Hit back slow to start the diesels, then ahead whatever speed you want.
Best to avoid being DIW.

Stock, as well as all supermods, is plagued with slow merchants sailing independently.
If you have a lot of time on your hands, it is repairable in the RND Layer.

It seems to have been overlooked, that the IXs formed wolfpacks along the Freetown routes. As a result, the convoys along those routes are never given via contact reports. This too can be corrected in the RND Layer (much more easily than the slow independents, for reasons of sheer volume). It's not difficult, just VERY time consuming.

You are a bit of an omnivore,

[Bakkels]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

It seems to have been overlooked, that the IXs formed wolfpacks along the Freetown routes. As a result, the convoys along those routes are never given via contact reports. This too can be corrected in the RND Layer (much more easily than the slow independents, for reasons of sheer volume). It's not difficult, just VERY time consuming.

You can alter which contact reports you get in the mission editor?
How do you do that?

Originally Posted by Bakkels

You can alter which contact reports you get in the mission editor?
How do you do that?

Stand by. I'll PM you.

[washishu]

Originally Posted by washishu

I've been sent to stations off West Africa on every patrol so far. Not too concerned by that although I do fancy a North Atlantic trip. But it's now November '41 and so far though I've met many independent ships I've not come across a single convoy. Why is this? Does anyone know?

I should have kept my mouth shut. Was sent to a patrol area off south-west Ireland. After sinking two independents I—almost literally—ran into a heavily escorted convoy. Managed to get deep and avoid three depth charge attacks but then got careless and after a while I figured I could sneak up to periscope depth and see what was going on. What was going on was a destroyer bearing down at a high rate of knots. I'm dead. Ah well c'est la vie(??)

[Fish In The Water]

Originally Posted by washishu

Managed to get deep and avoid three depth charge attacks but then got careless and after a while I figured I could sneak up to periscope depth and see what was going on. What was going on was a destroyer bearing down at a high rate of knots. I'm dead. Ah well c'est la vie(??)

They have a nasty habit of doing just that....

Patience is the key. I always try to wait until I think it's safe, and then I wait a little longer.