How realistic do you play SH3

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by Puster Bill

Exactly! You aren't really doing manual targeting if you leave map contacts on, or weapons officer assistance.

I tend to make a reasonable first guess using two observations and either the KM whiz wheel, a linear slide rule, or I use a protractor and ruler on graph paper. I do at least one method, and if I have time I cross check with another.

At longer ranges, it isn't that accurate because of limitations with the range finding mechanism (as it would have been in real life). As you get closer, you can get more accurate ranges, and hence more accurate solutions, until hopefully by the time you are close enough you have an accurate solution.

It doesn't always work out that way (especially in bad weather), but that is how I do it.

There's a huge difficulty gap between 100% GWX players that have God-eye turned on/off. They shoulda modded it so God-eye is like a 15% penalty... at least.

[Heibges]

I would say the real difference in SH3 (SH2 and AoD) tonnage wise, is those who routinely use their hydrophones to find targets, versus those who don't.

If you routinely use your hydrophones, you will score almost 300% more over the course of an average career, than someone using the hydrophone guidelines from the U.Kdt.Hdb.

Should there be a -%300 penalty, for those who overuse hydrophones. Therefore you could at best play a -%200 realism.

[looney]

I got 2 careers running:
1st with 84%
free cam (F12) and help from my officer
2nd 94% only officer ... I tried 1 tour with the map updates but that's just no fun.

[maillemaker]

87%. I use auto-TDC, no weapon officer assistance. And I have external cam views on.

I find it too tedious and time consuming to determine ship ID/range/bearing/AOB, and figure any sailor experienced enough to skipper a submarine would know this information like the back of his hand. Auto-TDC makes it like the back of /my/ hand.

I`am playing at 100% realism (all options on). Never mess around with destroyers and aircrafts unless i have no choise

When i live the base i never run my diesel engines at ahead flank only on slow speed, same when returned.

When in patrol in the good weather condition my constant speed between 8-9 knots, using ahead flank only when i try intercept a target.
When the weather is bad - slow speed - diving to 40 -50 meters constantly.

My gameplay is depends on the situations and Flotila

[Chisum]

It's my first campaign on SH3 and I'm in 54% realism.

I don't really understand why some people use 100% realism(and more if possible), because I doubt seriously that you kill yourself in the event of a fatal issue...
Or perhaps what will you play never again when you will have been killed?
Be serious, no matter what you do, you will be never in 100% realistic.

Anyway, in any case, it's still a game and the most important is the fun.

[Klaus_Doldinger]

Originally Posted by Chisum

I don't really understand why some people use 100% realism(and more if possible), because I doubt seriously that you kill yourself in the event of a fatal issue...
Or perhaps what will you play never again when you will have been killed?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Fantastic!

[Kpt. Lehmann]

We have an alternative solution in the works concerning the refinement of contact-handling in GWX. Some contact-related situational awareness is appropriate... too much is not appropriate. Who decides?

Regarding "realism" yes, I think many people are kidding themselves... but I also think that some are poseurs. These are the guys that really stick in my craw.

250,000 ton single patrols by individuals claiming "100%" impress me not.

Editing the realism values in their respective location is an easy thing to do. (Heck, I could make nuclear torpedoes if I wanted... and remain at "100% realism.") LOL, some give their deck guns 20,000 rounds with a reload time of ZERO... and claim to be playing on "hard" settings... well that defeats the purpose.

I think that poseurs also take adantage of known exploits etc. to further their careers... all the while SWEARING and PROCLAIMING that they are gaming at "100% REALISM!"

Some, make no bones about it... that they like to uber their stuff... and no worries... They are not hiding anything... Mush Martin is not a "poseur." Diferrent people enjoy different things... and my attitude is, "Well that's cool. Who are we to dictate to anyone how they play their game."

HOWEVER, I also think that taking an elitist view on what exactly constitutes "hardcore" play and belittling others for more relaxed play is wrong... and it occurs here all the time. Encouragement to push players out of their comfort zone would work much better I think. GWX... by design encourages this... and will continue to do so.

Regarding how we present any given element in GWX... no matter what we do people will bitch about it. The research is there in BUCKETLOADS concerning many matters... especially campaign elements... and this is obvious when you read the manual.

A further variable that I think players rarely think about... As cool as SH3 is... in modding circles, fixing one thing often causes you to break another... and so you begin your rappel with a shoestring when you need a rope. Who decides which modification is adopted? Long repair times are a prime example of this phenomenon.

One thing about GWX... is that it is pretty easy for a player to enjoy at EITHER end of the "realism" spectrum. The "realism percentage" is an easily debateable AND modifiable item... it is IMHO a pointless measurement. GWX is easily "hardcore" or "arcadish" dependant on YOUR CHOICES.

We have heard it all...

"GWX is too hard!"
"GWX is just eyecandy!"
"My porridge is cold!"
"My hamster is running backwards!"

At the end of the day, it is individual convictions that will determine gameplay styles and options.

I am a "hardcore" kaleun at heart... but I get quite angry when I see that sort of attitude imposed on others in such a way that "the other guys can't join our little club because they aren't as tough/good as we are."

PLEH!

Today's swabbies... are tomorrow's admirals. They'll get tired of all the gratuitous tonnage and pretty explosions... and either get bored and leave... or get better/tougher. Forgetting that will kill the longevity of the thing we all love.

Alienating them is a mistake.

Now if we could just hunt down all the "poseurs"...

[Puster Bill]

Originally Posted by aaronblood

There's a huge difficulty gap between 100% GWX players that have God-eye turned on/off. They shoulda modded it so God-eye is like a 15% penalty... at least.

I have God's eye (update map contacts) off, and I play GWX. The only thing is that I do keep stabilized view enabled, so I'm only at 95% realism.

[Penelope_Grey]

I agree with you Kap, there are too many people here quick to come along and say I sank this that and the next and I play at 100% realism. I think many are genuine in their claims but them that sing the loudest are usually them that don't have it.

I'll be perfectly truthful in as much as when I first started to play SH3-GWX I played at wait for it... 18% realism. I had limited fuel, air, compressed air, and batteries. That was it. Now I wouldn't mind betting some people would laugh me out of the building at that. "ha ha little girl plays on 18% ha ha ha" Its only natural, and much as I am loathed to say it, I probably would do the same thing now.

So then, I moved up I decided I would have dud torpedoes and realistic reloads enabled. Im now on 28% realism. Then I decided to turn on realistic sensors, Im now on 39% realism.

Then came no stabilise view, 44% realism.

I then got confident enough with my ability to evade depthcharges that I thought, don't need the event cam anymore. 47% realism.

Next came realistic repair times, felt confident enough to enable this because I was not getting damaged much anymore. Last but not least, I switched on realistic vulnerability. Bringing my game to 60% realism. Which is a perfect balance for me, its well above normal setting, and just below hard.

Next to go will be the noise meter which will bring me to 72% realism, that will go when I feel ready to.

If the day comes when I get to 100% realism, so be it. I will have then earnt the right to say, I play at 100% realism and its true. Playing at 100% realism doesn't make you a better player necessarily, or make the game better.

First and foremost SH3 is a game, a computer game, just one of many in an ocean of games and no matter how much you mod the game it will never EVER be 100% realistic, the only way you get 100% realism is go back in time and join the kriegsmarine. Games are supposed to be fun and enjoyable, and the reason anybody plays a game, be it, monopoly to SH3 to gambling games whatever... they play to win...

That is why I play like I do, I like to win, but I also want to get to the stage where I can look at SH3 and say bring it on! I can take it.

Kap mentions Mush Martin there, yep I agree he is no poseur Mush is a straight up guy with a good mod in construction, I use the uberboot and like to blast things to shreds, but not for a serious play, its literally just a case of letting imagiination take flight and do some real damage its a hell of laugh in all the single missions! Great fun.

That is what games should be first and foremost, fun. GWX I found helped me to move on and advance I agree with Kap there, it does force you to play in a way that makes you think twice that makes you plan like you really are on the bridge of the boat. The beauty of GWX you can play it both relaxed and still feel challenged and more serious and be challenged. Fun is the most important thing, and its cool to have some bragging rights. Just don't abuse your rights is the key thing.

[XLjedi]

I actually seldomly play 100% cuz I like to watch the external camera action too much.

Sometimes a nice comprimise is to play without the x-cam but have the event cam on. I get to see the carnage but don't feel like its too much of a cheat.

I might try a new career this week with map updates off and only the event cam on. Whadyall think about event cam only? ...can that somehow give you a cheat? I guess knowing when the cans are dropping might help huh.

[Heibges]

I agree with Kapt and Pen. The only way I have found to get "realistic" results is use SOP from the Uboat Commanders Handbook.

Basically it is three rules.

1. Only use hydrophones at dawn, dusk, and in terrible visibility.
2. Torpedo Allocation. Fan shooting at all targets.
3. Maximum range for deckgun is 1100m.

After studying the Uboat Commanders Handbook, and other sources, I developed these SOP's and I get careers that could straight off from uboat.net.

1. 1/3 of my patrols I see no targets.
2. 7 ships is about the most you will ever sink in a Type VII on one patrol.
3. A career of 13 Patrols will yield about 150K tons on average.

Certainly I still make the Most Successful list, but am much more in line with historical averages.

[Mowinz]

After 6 months of SH3 I'm making the slow gradual move to manual targeting. I'm interested in perhaps doing some calculations on paper...have to see how time consuming these alternative methods are. Currently at 74% for now but I like the outside views so I don't believe I'll ever be at 100%.

For example, I just downloaded the longer torpedo wake mod and that needs an outside view to be appreciated. There's a cool video out there somewhere.

Cheers

[XLjedi]

Originally Posted by Heibges

I agree with Kapt and Pen. The only way I have found to get "realistic" results is use SOP from the Uboat Commanders Handbook.

Basically it is three rules.

1. Only use hydrophones at dawn, dusk, and in terrible visibility.
2. Torpedo Allocation. Fan shooting at all targets.
3. Maximum range for deckgun is 1100m.

After studying the Uboat Commanders Handbook, and other sources, I developed these SOP's and I get careers that could straight off from uboat.net.

1. 1/3 of my patrols I see no targets.
2. 7 ships is about the most you will ever sink in a Type VII on one patrol.
3. A career of 13 Patrols will yield about 150K tons on average.

Certainly I still make the Most Successful list, but am much more in line with historical averages.

I'd say a typical successful patrol for me would be maybe 3-5 ships sunk. I don't always shoot a fan of 3, but almost always at least 2, and then maybe a 3rd to finish if needed. The intent is to score at least 2 hits on the initial attack. This seems to be in agreement with what I've read in the handbook about expenditure of torps.

Agreed 7 ships in a single patrol would be an unusually good patrol.

I try to use the deckgun as outlined in section 5. ...which is basically not much. Attack with deckgun only if there's little to no threat of retribution.

I seldomly make initial contact with the hydro, but sometimes it happens, like maybe once every 3 or 4 patrols. But I don't think I've ever played a patrol where I haven't sunk a ship... unless badly damaged in some way that is.

I guess I patrol the assigned area at slow speed on surface for the 24 horus and if I don't find anything I head for a favorite traffic area. I'd say most of my contacts are via BdU radio contact reports though.

When you say that for 1/3 of your patrols you see no targets, do you chase after the BdU radio contacts or just ignore them. I could see myself not finding targets if I didn't chase after the reported contacts.

[ref]

I actually play at 100, and I've have connected the keyboard to the power line, so when a DC hits the boat I get shocked, and also placed the computer under the shower in my bathroom so when it's raining in the game I open it, the only thing that lowers my realism settings is that I use warm water, I can't get used to setting it cold...

Come on, it's a game...

Ref