Is SH4 The One To Go For?

[Nerazzurri]

Hi people, returning after a LONG break. The last version I played was 3 with GWX and really enjoyed it.

I've seen enough to put me off SH5. The question I have is......should I start afresh with 4 or is it really not worth the change? I still have 3, and the mods on disc too, ready to go. Is 3 still regarded as 'the best' or did 4 take that mantle?

One issue I had with 3 was the instability involved with saving during action - was that resolved with 4?

Thanks all, Gavin.

[Sailor Steve]

Welcome back!

Originally Posted by Nerazzurri

Hi people, returning after a LONG break. The last version I played was 3 with GWX and really enjoyed it.

It's still quite enjoyable, and a lot of people still play it.

I've seen enough to put me off SH5. The question I have is......should I start afresh with 4 or is it really not worth the change? I still have 3, and the mods on disc too, ready to go. Is 3 still regarded as 'the best' or did 4 take that mantle?

The question I have in return is.....what do you want out of the game? SH4 is a marked improvement, not only in the graphics but in certain functions as well, such as the way the crew management works, the "General Quarters" function which calls the entire crew to duty and puts the best men in key positions, and the patrol system, which puts you on stations for a few days and then has you call in for reassignment. SH4 also loads much faster and has a better save-game system.

If you want to add US fleet boats to your repertoire then SH4 is the only way to do it. If you just want to stick with u-boats, then SH4 has one complete supermod, Operation Monsun, and no other alternatives. What you will lose is the huge collection of "stuff" mods. SH4 has nothing like what GWX, LSH3 and WAC offer in the realm of things to look at. No corrected harbors, no details in the Kiel Canal, and none of the newer aircraft and ship mods. Most importantly, there is no SH4 version of SH3 Commander. If those things are important to you, stick with SH3. If you want the things I described earlier, get SH4.

One issue I had with 3 was the instability involved with saving during action - was that resolved with 4?

Not really. SH4 1.5 Gold is more stable than SH3, but it's still a good idea not to save near other ships.

Oh, I almost forgot: I play both, but that's just me. If SH4 ever gets the mods SH3 has my choice will be SH4.

[Nerazzurri]

Thank you for taking time to reply in such detail Steve.

I see I have a lot to think about! I'm probably best sleeping on the points you put to me before deciding which road to go down.

Thanks again shipmate.

[Nerazzurri]

Originally Posted by Nerazzurri

I'm probably best sleeping on the points you put

Done.

I'm too 'conditioned' to the European theatre so I've opted to stay with SH3.

The Uboat/Monsun add-on for SH4 seems to still be getting frequent posts about problems, so although it's appealing I'll avoid it for the moment - although I'll look into it more whilst playing 3 and maybe switch in the near future.

Good hunting everyone.

[fulrich]

Hey Mates! I have been playing various versions of SH for years but I failed to collect all the mods for Silent Hunter 4. Now that I am back to play it again after several years, I cannot find the mods I recall nor can I find the ones that are referenced in the forums and workshop. A great number of links are now gone. Is there anywhere that still has all the mods that used to be? I am playing SH 4 with patch 1.4 only. I have looked high and low and even under water and can't find many. I got a few but not some of the great ones that I would really like. Didn't anyone or any place save them all for posterity and for lazy sailors like me? Anybody got some clues what warehouse on the naval base they are stored in? Thanks for your time.

~ Friendly Fritz

[Dogfish40]

Originally Posted by fulrich

Hey Mates! I have been playing various versions of SH for years but I failed to collect all the mods for Silent Hunter 4. Now that I am back to play it again after several years, I cannot find the mods I recall nor can I find the ones that are referenced in the forums and workshop. A great number of links are now gone. Is there anywhere that still has all the mods that used to be? I am playing SH 4 with patch 1.4 only. I have looked high and low and even under water and can't find many. I got a few but not some of the great ones that I would really like. Didn't anyone or any place save them all for posterity and for lazy sailors like me? Anybody got some clues what warehouse on the naval base they are stored in? Thanks for your time.

~ Friendly Fritz

Ahoy Fritz,
If you're playing 1.4 (as I did for a long time) the simpler mods available in the downloads section can make it an OK game, in terms of graphics and sound and mostly just to fix bugs. I would go up to 1.5 ASAP. That's were you want to be to really get the bigger mods. Even the "Game Fixes Only" mod needs 1.5 to work as most of the modders didn't want to build on the 1.4 platform. It's understandable.
Take it from me though, I resisted even going to 1.5 because it seemed like a hassle to have to go out and get the upgrade but...It was sooo worth it!!
Also, if you could give us some idea or description of the mods you want it would be very helpful.

Nerazzurri, I love SH3 as well, I hope you come back to SH4 and give it a good try as it's not that expensive anymore and it's cool to be able to jump from the Atlantic to the Pacific once in a while. See you around and Good Hunting.
D40

[sharkbit]

Nothing says you can't play them both as the mood suits you.

I have both on my computer and sometimes I'm in the mood for the cold, grey Atlantic and I'll play SH3. When I'm in the mood for some fleet boat action in the wide expanses of the Pacific, I'll play SH4.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages and both have some outstanding mods. SH4 is quite a bit more stable and the crew management system is by far superior than SH3.

Once you get a grip on how to use the US TDC, shooting torpedoes can be a pretty satisfying experience (except early war when you get constant duds ).

Don't give up on SH3 though. The things that h.sie and Stiebler have done with their gamecode fixes are amazing. Can you say "wolfpacks"?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by sharkbit

Nothing says you can't play them both as the mood suits you.

I have both on my computer and sometimes I'm in the mood for the cold, grey Atlantic and I'll play SH3. When I'm in the mood for some fleet boat action in the wide expanses of the Pacific, I'll play SH4.

And nothing says you can't play a u-boat campaign in SH4.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Nerazzurri

The Uboat/Monsun add-on for SH4 seems to still be getting frequent posts about problems, so although it's appealing I'll avoid it for the moment - although I'll look into it more whilst playing 3 and maybe switch in the near future.

Good hunting everyone.

That might not be the best indicator to be honest! At least in my experience, I've run into very few problems with it and to be honest it's been more stable for me than any SHIII config, which is one reason why I like it.

But yeah, no reason to choose just one when you can choose both! Personally, I'm more or less settled with SH4/OM, but SH3 beckons me every once in a while with some of the nifty advancements the community comes up with.

[Rockin Robbins]

It's curious that people have said that the clunky save games problem of SH3 weren't solved with SH4. My experience has been that I can save in any situation, including with a torpedo halfway to the target with no problems at all. I've TRIED to break it and haven't been able to, other than if I change certain mods when I'm not in port.

I call the save game problems totally fixed. I suppose it's possible that hardware configurations could make a difference but I had two longstanding campaigns totally forgotten by SH3 before I made the switch. I really haven't looked back, although I still play some SH3 once in awhile because the atmosphere of the game is so great.

Other than the save game issue, I can't really say that one is better than the other. SH3 was a complete revolution: when it came out there was literally nothing to compare it to. SH4 is an evolutionary change. There are good things and there are bad things too. So even if you like SH4 better you can't say it's better without reservation.

I do like the crew handling functions of SH4 much better and the crew interaction is different but not better or worse in my estimation.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I call the save game problems totally fixed. I suppose it's possible that hardware configurations could make a difference but I had two longstanding campaigns totally forgotten by SH3 before I made the switch. I really haven't looked back, although I still play some SH3 once in awhile because the atmosphere of the game is so great.

There's still a bunch of issues - but it is certainly better at it than SHIII. Unfortunately I still run into broken saves every once a while, or lose credit for sunk ships after reloading. That's why I'm very careful to make multiple save files every patrol, instead of saving the same file over and over - spares headache if things go awry!

Actually, although it's not as necessary anymore, but I've more or less kept my saving habits unchanged from SH3 to 4. I'm still very careful about how I do it!

Other than the save game issue, I can't really say that one is better than the other. SH3 was a complete revolution: when it came out there was literally nothing to compare it to. SH4 is an evolutionary change. There are good things and there are bad things too. So even if you like SH4 better you can't say it's better without reservation.

Truer words have not been spoken on this
Both are worth your attention; both have their pros and cons. SH4 is, like Ducimius said, essentially a 'supermod' for SH3 - but some of the things gained in SH4 make it very worth the time. Not without reservation, of course.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I have to agree. I can save anywhere (during a battle, near a loaded port, etc.) or at anytime w/o a problem. The scant few "Save Game" issues I have had, I don't believe are related to SHIV itself. Maybe mod soup, another program (virus scan) running, etc., but the game saves everything for me, all the time.

[Nerazzurri]

Helpful posts, thank you everyone.

Yeah, I hadn't totally dismissed 4 - was just trying to judge the place to jump back in. I'm going with 3 + GWX , partly because I'll finally be able to enjoy the eye candy properly with my current PC - the last time I played, my PC could run it, but not very well.

And once I'm settled I'll look again at 4 and weigh it up, and probably give it a try. Unfortunately, I may be back in the position I was in before with 3! My system will run it, but possibly not in the fashion to enjoy it fully. The only way to tell is to give it a go.

It's great to hear the confidence you all have in the save game stability. The features Sailor Steve mentioned are a big improvement too.

Thanks again; the positive feedback has encouraged me.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

It's curious that people have said that the clunky save games problem of SH3 weren't solved with SH4. My experience has been that I can save in any situation, including with a torpedo halfway to the target with no problems at all. I've TRIED to break it and haven't been able to, other than if I change certain mods when I'm not in port.

I never get to play enough to make my own determinations. I was just going by what I've heard, so your opinion is indeed more valid than mine. Glad to hear it's better than I thought.

[fulrich]

I do appreciate the response about 1.5 but I didn't see any thing about where all those mods are. When I say "mods" i am referring to the many, many mods so generously cranked out by the experts for SH4. Aside from the Download page are there no more? Have they all evaporated? I know there used to be a ton of them. Is there no way to recover them for future submariners? It's enough to make me want to turn my cap around and hike my pants down around my buns.

~ Friendly Fritz