Having fun...and I haven't even done anything yet.

[mrbannon]

I'm 1.5 hours into my VERY FIRST CAREER! I've got a VIIB heading towards the southwest shores of England. My very first patrol!

I have to say, it's oddly entertaining just playing the game without time compression and just...sailing along.

Anyways, wanted to share my excitement, AND ask some questions.

1 - MODS
============================
I'm currently running this:

GWX - Lite Harbor Traffic
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ Option 4 ~ Environment with EDE and GUI with LRT
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ Flat Sun Fix
GWX - Late War Sensors Snorkel Antennas (OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ LRT)
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ MkIId Update (Enable After MkIIc)
ACM Reloaded for OLC 'Gold' MkII
ACM Lite Map
Evan82's Uniforms II

Any recommendations which will make this even more awesome?



2 - My orders
============================

2nd Flotilla
Patrol BF16 for a total of 24 hours (whaaaa?) - August 1, 1939

So, I just patrol the grid for...what? The war hasn't started yet. And just for 24 hours? It takes three days to get there! Is this just to see that I'm not a complete idiot, or am I missing something in regards to the game and/or history?

Tx,

Ryan

[GoldenRivet]

A quick read of various parts of the GWX manual will reveal that you receive command of your boat it august, you should take the boat on a shake down cruise for a period of time 2-3 days i think? then return to port. Once you are in port you will receive your orders to sea.

In reality, there were some u-boats which were sent out into the atlantic waters in August in preparation for the commencement of hostilities once Plan white went into effect and the invasion of Poland had begun.

command wanted boats to be ready not only to commence attacks on polish shipping, but to be prepared to take action against British shipping depending on the posture of the British following the invasion of Poland.

There is a good full interior mod available, additionally sh3 commander if it is still available out there on the internet tubes really enhances the game experience by adding personnel transfers, realistic ship names and cargos in your patrol reports, crewman being killed in accidents while off duty etc.

in the original release, and even while modded, SH3 will assign you a patrol grid to sail around in for 24 hours, however the use of GWX removes this requirement as this was considered unrealistic. you will still receive a grid assignment, however you dont have to obey that order instead sailing wherever you wish.

The lifeboats and debris mod will add lifeboats and floating survivors to most sunken ships. i like that one.

Keep plugging away and try out mods that appeal to you, you'll get SH3 to your liking.

[mrbannon]

Thanks for the response.

I am, indeed, running SH3 Commander (which is amazing). In fact, all these MODs are quite incredible. But I forgot to load some of the GWX MODs, and one of those has me doing the 4-day shakedown, if I'm not mistaken. (I actually did go through the GWX manual, but it was last week and I completely forgot.)

[Sailor Steve]

Welcome aboard, if I haven't done so already.

Here is a thread dedicated to mods for GWX:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170090

I use SH3 Commander's 'Days In Base' function in the following manner. If I start my career at the beginning of August 1939 I do a quick turnaround, driving out into the harbor and then back to my pier. I then set 'Days In Base' to 18, which forces a patrol start on August 19, the date on which FdU sent 14 u-boats out into the Atlantic. Then I have to wait a little over a week for the war to start. After that patrol I reset 'Days In Base' to Random.

Oh, and if you're using Commander's 'Ship Names' function, you might like this:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=203461

[Jimbuna]

I do the same as Steve...but don't worry, you aren't the first to forget and you'll no doubt not be the last.

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by mrbannon

I'm 1.5 hours into my VERY FIRST CAREER! I've got a VIIB heading towards the southwest shores of England. My very first patrol!

I have to say, it's oddly entertaining just playing the game without time compression and just...sailing along.

Anyways, wanted to share my excitement, AND ask some questions.

1 - MODS
============================
I'm currently running this:

GWX - Lite Harbor Traffic
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ Option 4 ~ Environment with EDE and GUI with LRT
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ Flat Sun Fix
GWX - Late War Sensors Snorkel Antennas (OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ LRT)
OLC 'Gold' MkII ~ MkIId Update (Enable After MkIIc)
ACM Reloaded for OLC 'Gold' MkII
ACM Lite Map
Evan82's Uniforms II

Any recommendations which will make this even more awesome?

Personally I go with 20 km environments, such as MEP or SH5 water.
In addition to that if your system can deal with it you might consider the Type VII interiors mod and one of the merchants mod. I guess that if you are running Lite Harbor Traffic pretty harbors aren't your thing, if not there are some mods to fix the sub pens and correct a pair of harbors.

[mrbannon]

Originally Posted by Marcello

Personally I go with 20 km environments, such as MEP or SH5 water.
In addition to that if your system can deal with it you might consider the Type VII interiors mod and one of the merchants mod. I guess that if you are running Lite Harbor Traffic pretty harbors aren't your thing, if not there are some mods to fix the sub pens and correct a pair of harbors.

Thanks for all the replies.

Will the MEP work with OLCs Gold MkIId? I was under the impression it wouldn't.

[Marcello]

Originally Posted by mrbannon

Thanks for all the replies.

Will the MEP work with OLCs Gold MkIId? I was under the impression it wouldn't.

There are several interface mods available, but in truth I must say that I usually stick with the GWX one, as I usually play in 1943-1945 ambushing isolated merchants and it is sufficient for that task. In more chaotic situations having most or all torpedo controls at hand in the attack periscope is probably an advantage so it may make sense to stick to the OLC package now that I think about it.

[mrbannon]

So, I added some more MODs, but they're just aesthetic and require some "action", which I won't see. I started a new campaign, but it has me doing the same thing (patrol BF17 for 24 hours). Meh, I don't care.

My new question is this: am I crazy for NOT using time compression? I mean, it's just cool to have my PC on beside me while the sub and crew does their thing. I'm looking forward to seeing my first sunset, too!

Oh, one other thing: does flak work on seagulls? What about torpedoes with the dolphin MOD?

[GoldenRivet]

I once did a patrol using only 1x time compression, others have as well i believe, search the forums if you want to read about it.

you cant kill the wildlife

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by mrbannon

Oh, one other thing: does flak work on seagulls? What about torpedoes with the dolphin MOD?

No, not possible.

[mrbannon]

Originally Posted by GalaKev

One point I will make is that when you quit SH3, the weather clock will reset, so unless you do it it one sitting weather will never change.

However, what I do is, when its bed/work time is:

• Save just in-case
• Pause the game, but don't quit
• Put my Laptop in sleep mode. Mine uses about 10% battery in 8 hours. in this mode.
• Wake the lappy from sleep and just un pause and continue with game

This will keep the clock ticking, but may slow down your internet browsing, etc, while on patrol. Also remember that a 12 day patrol, if playing 6 hours a day will equate to 48 days of PC/Lappy being on.


Worst case is, if battery runs out. You still have last save.

But I do no time compression, although 1 hour game for me is slightly more than 1 hour real time. However you then realise days on end without contact is days on end of boredom. But when you get on that hunt, its sweet. But that's how it happened.

Kev

How exactly does the weather clock work?