Repeatable Crash when approaching huge convoy

[propbeanie]

1. No, that mod did not cause it. But if you had corrupted data in the Save folder from the CTD, that could cause a similar issue, hence the suggestion to empty the Save folder. See the other thread about correcting the Captain Midnight radio mod's config with Digital_Trucker's RSM mod, but you do still need to delete the Save folder data to clear those bad DD "convoys"...
2. Some game versions and mods had improperly "docked" ships in what are called RGG (Random Generated Groups), that instead of being "anchored" and set at zero knots speed to sit alongside a dock, instead were not "anchored" and had the default 5 knots speed still set, which then allows the ships to travel around the world. When the game then runs, the game's internal database tracks where the ships are continually, and every so many hours (generally about once every few months) will "spawn" another ship to replace the one that left the dock... Since they are all set to the same "heading" (ie: 24 degrees true), they all follow the same track. Since the game does not check for collisions until a ship is actually within the player's sub area and then actually generates the 3D ship, they never run aground, and just continue on their merry way. When your player sub gets within approximately 32nm of where the ship(s) are tracking, then they spawn into the 3D world, and start "stealing bandwidth" from the game. There might only be three or four near you, so you wouldn't notice an impact, but later in the war, that number might be 3 or 4 dozen, or perhaps hundreds of ships, which is when you get a CTD, because the game cannot handle that amount of data.

Open your game folder, and right-click on the SH4.exe file, and click on the "Properties" menu choice. Then click on the "Details" tab, and about the middle of that page is the "Product Version:" such as 1.3.1.0, or 1.5.0.0 - what number do you have for yours?

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

1. No, that mod did not cause it. But if you had corrupted data in the Save folder from the CTD, that could cause a similar issue, hence the suggestion to empty the Save folder. See the other thread about correcting the Captain Midnight radio mod's config with Digital_Trucker's RSM mod, but you do still need to delete the Save folder data to clear those bad DD "convoys"...
2. Some game versions and mods had improperly "docked" ships in what are called RGG (Random Generated Groups), that instead of being "anchored" and set at zero knots speed to sit alongside a dock, instead were not "anchored" and had the default 5 knots speed still set, which then allows the ships to travel around the world. When the game then runs, the game's internal database tracks where the ships are continually, and every so many hours (generally about once every few months) will "spawn" another ship to replace the one that left the dock... Since they are all set to the same "heading" (ie: 24 degrees true), they all follow the same track. Since the game does not check for collisions until a ship is actually within the player's sub area and then actually generates the 3D ship, they never run aground, and just continue on their merry way. When your player sub gets within approximately 32nm of where the ship(s) are tracking, then they spawn into the 3D world, and start "stealing bandwidth" from the game. There might only be three or four near you, so you wouldn't notice an impact, but later in the war, that number might be 3 or 4 dozen, or perhaps hundreds of ships, which is when you get a CTD, because the game cannot handle that amount of data.

Open your game folder, and right-click on the SH4.exe file, and click on the "Properties" menu choice. Then click on the "Details" tab, and about the middle of that page is the "Product Version:" such as 1.3.1.0, or 1.5.0.0 - what number do you have for yours?

Interesting read! So, this would also apply to other variations of the game, such as DW or KSD, yes?

Just for clarification on emptying the game save folder:
Does this apply only to the current patrol, i.e., does one still need to empty the game save folder, even if starting a new patrol from base?

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Interesting read! So, this would also apply to other variations of the game, such as DW or KSD, yes?

Just for clarification on emptying the game save folder:
Does this apply only to the current patrol, i.e., does one still need to empty the game save folder, even if starting a new patrol from base?

jumping back in here.....

the offending action () is the change of mods during a career, not the mod-set itself. in other words, yes, this applies to all mod-sets for SH4. if you change a file that has been modded then you probably need to perform this clear function (Below).

if you change mods or update a file's contents that is included in a mod, then it is recommended that you delete the file-folder

\YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\cfg\UserPlayerContext

and also these two files in the folder just above:

\YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\cfg\
playersettings.cfg and main.cfg

if you are starting a new career, then you can delete the entire folder structure under \YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\.
SH4 will recreate it once you have created a new boat within a new career and saved it.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

jumping back in here.....

the offending action () is the change of mods during a career, not the mod-set itself. in other words, yes, this applies to all mod-sets for SH4. if you change a file that has been modded then you probably need to perform this clear function (Below).

if you change mods or update a file's contents that is included in a mod, then it is recommended that you delete the file-folder

\YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\cfg\UserPlayerContext

and also these two files in the folder just above:

\YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\cfg\
playersettings.cfg and main.cfg

if you are starting a new career, then you can delete the entire folder structure under \YOURTHREELETTERACRONYM\data\.
SH4 will recreate it once you have created a new boat within a new career and saved it.

Okay. So, does this apply to the mods that come with, for example with KSDII, i.e., I installed certain mods from the mod set that come with the game when downloading and installing it right at the beginning and haven't changed those since then ...

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Okay. So, does this apply to the mods that come with, for example with KSDII, i.e., I installed certain mods from the mod set that come with the game when downloading and installing it right at the beginning and haven't changed those since then ...

well, there is no set of saved config files at the "beginning" of an installation.
SH4 stores/caches certain config files when the player starts his first career mission.

after this point, deleting config files after a mod change is a universal constant.
when a player changes mods or adds new mods or even a new mod set, it is highly recommended (polite words for mandatory) that you delete the saved config files before launching a new career.
if the player does not do this, then invariably they travel to Area CTD where there is no hope, no light, only darkness and despair.

[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by KaleunMarco

well, there is no set of saved config files at the "beginning" of an installation.
SH4 stores/caches certain config files when the player starts his first career mission.

after this point, deleting config files after a mod change is a universal constant.
when a player changes mods or adds new mods or even a new mod set, it is highly recommended (polite words for mandatory) that you delete the saved config files before launching a new career.
if the player does not do this, then invariably they travel to Area CTD where there is no hope, no light, only darkness and despair.

Well put


So, as is in my case (installed the game and activating some of the mods that came with the game once and not changed those since), one should be ok, yes? Perhaps, delete the saved config files just prior to launching a new carrer ...

[KaleunMarco]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Well put


So, as is in my case (installed the game and activating some of the mods that came with the game once and not changed those since), one should be ok, yes? Perhaps, delete the saved config files just prior to launching a new career ...

yes, that is a good plan.

occasionally, i run into anomalies while i am playing SH4 that are totally unexplainable.
then i have to give myself my own advice on how to try and fix it.
sometimes, i end up starting from scratch, after running through the lesser fixes.
as we say on De Soud Side: whadya gonna do?

[boapiu]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

1. No, that mod did not cause it. But if you had corrupted data in the Save folder from the CTD, that could cause a similar issue, hence the suggestion to empty the Save folder. See the other thread about correcting the Captain Midnight radio mod's config with Digital_Trucker's RSM mod, but you do still need to delete the Save folder data to clear those bad DD "convoys"...
2. Some game versions and mods had improperly "docked" ships in what are called RGG (Random Generated Groups), that instead of being "anchored" and set at zero knots speed to sit alongside a dock, instead were not "anchored" and had the default 5 knots speed still set, which then allows the ships to travel around the world. When the game then runs, the game's internal database tracks where the ships are continually, and every so many hours (generally about once every few months) will "spawn" another ship to replace the one that left the dock... Since they are all set to the same "heading" (ie: 24 degrees true), they all follow the same track. Since the game does not check for collisions until a ship is actually within the player's sub area and then actually generates the 3D ship, they never run aground, and just continue on their merry way. When your player sub gets within approximately 32nm of where the ship(s) are tracking, then they spawn into the 3D world, and start "stealing bandwidth" from the game. There might only be three or four near you, so you wouldn't notice an impact, but later in the war, that number might be 3 or 4 dozen, or perhaps hundreds of ships, which is when you get a CTD, because the game cannot handle that amount of data.

Open your game folder, and right-click on the SH4.exe file, and click on the "Properties" menu choice. Then click on the "Details" tab, and about the middle of that page is the "Product Version:" such as 1.3.1.0, or 1.5.0.0 - what number do you have for yours?

Thanks so very much for this explanation. I never realized what is going on in the guts of a computer simulation game or mod. It boggles my mind. And I have greater respect and appreciation for the efforts of those who build these mods.

[HellNY]

Originally Posted by propbeanie

Open your game folder, and right-click on the SH4.exe file, and click on the "Properties" menu choice. Then click on the "Details" tab, and about the middle of that page is the "Product Version:" such as 1.3.1.0, or 1.5.0.0 - what number do you have for yours?

It says 1.5.0.0

Thee convoy I was was 51 ships (all identical destroyers). They were near Formosa but headed in a SouthWest direction. There were 3 lines, each like a mile long.

The CTS happens only when I come within a few thousand yards of them...certainly not miles away.

I did clear the save file and of course now that campaign is gone. You say people have to clear the save file or eventually the campaign grind down. This sounds impossible but is there a way to keep your campaign but erase everything else that is causing the problem? I aks because Im starting a new campaign but I don't want to lose all my progress again.