Dipping my toes into the Pacific

Zero Niner · 09-03-07, 09:20 PM

Hi
I've been a long time SH3 player. I've been itching to try SH4 however, but my optical drive was busted so I couldn't install.

Now that I've replaced the drive, I'm looking to transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific

.

I'm aware that the latest patch is 1.03, and that there are a few mods out there which improve on the sim. However, I intend to try just the stock patched game first before venturing into mods.

What tips and advise regarding SH4 would you give to a newbie to this sim? I'm looking for things that help improve performance and gameplay.

Thanks.

SteamWake · 09-04-07, 01:05 PM

Biggest tips I can give you is

1.) Read the sticky 'helps and guides' at the top of these forums.

2.) Watch your fuel consumption.... very carefully, if you run out of fuel your screwed as far as your carrier is concearned. Many many topics here on how to conserve.

ReallyDedPoet · 09-04-07, 01:42 PM

It's a different experience than SH3, be patient with it, it is a very enjoyable game.
Good idea to play stock first, when you are ready, there are plenty of great mods to choose from

RDP

AVGWarhawk · 09-04-07, 02:07 PM

For tips on performance and game play, we need to know what you have in the computer....vidcard, RAM, etc. Without these, we are shooting in the dark in helping you get the most out of your rig.

Rockin Robbins · 09-04-07, 02:39 PM

You're going the right way on the mods. First play the game stock at version 1.3 to get a feel for the defaults. It will also help you learn manual targeting to have all the helps on the attack screen. When you're ready, the mod du jour and standard of the industry is Trigger Maru 1.6 by Ducimus, who you should already know from SH3. Then there are a few mods you can stack on top of TM, but as usual, with care that you don't make unplanned changes in the underlying supermod.

Oh.....strategy tip. Don't forget all you learned in SH3. Although the American method of planning an attack and working the TDC is entirely different from U-Boat strategy, all those U-Boat strategies do not care what nationality submarine they are used in! We have discovered that Dick O'Kane did just that, using the TDC in the same manner as the Germans did and not using our fancy Position Keeper at all. By all means learn the new toys, but never forget what you learned in the Atlantic. Use it and prosper from having more tricks in your ditty bag than the average bear.

C DuDe · 09-04-07, 03:09 PM

Welcome aboard!

Playing the stock version is fine as said by other members, however I would recommend you get some environmental Mods which are out their.
This won't interfere with the game play it self, its just eye candy with better clouds, sunshine, water and such.
Remove them after getting acquainted with targeting and stuff, then go for the bigger Mod's which have them incorporated.

Anyway have fun!

Rockin Robbins · 09-04-07, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C DuDe

Welcome aboard!

Playing the stock version is fine as said by other members, however I would recommend you get some environmental Mods which are out their.
This won't interfere with the game play it self, its just eye candy with better clouds, sunshine, water and such.
Remove them after getting acquainted with targeting and stuff, then go for the bigger Mod's which have them incorporated.

Anyway have fun!

Yup, I forgot all about THAT angle. Realistic Sinking Mechanics, Living Breathing Ocean and Anvart's Interior Periscope Animations just to name three and not to imply that others are not good too. OHHHHHH! FooFighter's sub skins too.

the_belgian · 09-05-07, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

Hi
I've been a long time SH3 player. I've been itching to try SH4 however, but my optical drive was busted so I couldn't install.

Now that I've replaced the drive, I'm looking to transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific

.

I'm aware that the latest patch is 1.03, and that there are a few mods out there which improve on the sim. However, I intend to try just the stock patched game first before venturing into mods.

What tips and advise regarding SH4 would you give to a newbie to this sim? I'm looking for things that help improve performance and gameplay.

Thanks.

I'm not much of a "mod lover" so all i do is add some conningtower-art and use the next "mods":
Krillers_visual_upgrade1_1
US NAVY OFFICER HAT MOD FOR SH4
dails
and of course silent_hunter_4_1.3 patch

...and i'm happy with it...

Monica Lewinsky · 09-05-07, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

What tips and advise regarding SH4 would you give to a newbie to this sim?
Thanks.

a. Save, and save often.
b. Save while on the SURFACE.
c. Save multiple copies of a patrol, i.e. saved game like: My-1941-Patrol01a, My-1941-Patrol01b, My-1941-Patrol01c, etc.
d. Do not save with the Replay option - creates HUGE saved game files, hence huge loading times.

I have > NEVER < had a saved game go corrupt on me - other people here do have that problem.

Performance is gotten by: RAM, RAM, and then some more RAM!

I run SH4 on two different PCs. One has 1 gig RAM, slow loading times - up to 12 minutes once a saved game is loaded, switching between various stations is slow on a one time basis at the beginning. The 2 gig PC ... wow what a difference! Loading time averages about two minutes max including a saved game. Switching between stations is instant.

It's all in the total PC RAM, then the video card? Both PCs have the graphics settings max'd out - both PCs have graphics card[s] with 512 meg. RAM on board the video card. Never had a graphics glitch either. One is Nvidia based, one is ATI based. I always make sure the video driver is current and I keep the prior video driver ... just in case the update causes problems.

I keep the mods to a minimum.

Zero Niner · 09-05-07, 08:43 PM

Thanks for all the replies.
Does SH4 have the same irritating save game system as SH3? I'm referring to the part where deleting previous saves (even from previous patrols) also wipes out every save after that point.

Capt. Shark Bait · 09-05-07, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Niner

Thanks for all the replies.
Does SH4 have the same irritating save game system as SH3? I'm referring to the part where deleting previous saves (even from previous patrols) also wipes out every save after that point.

nope, none that i'm aware of. never had a prob deleting an older save and everything after going with it

Zero Niner · 09-07-07, 05:08 AM

Would a kind soul let me know what mods are considered "must haves" becasue they fix bugs that the official patches didn't fix?

I'd really appreciate it as it'd take me quite a while to get myself acquainted with the many many mods out there.

I just need bug-fixing mods, thanks.

09-03-07, 09:20 PM	#1
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Dipping my toes into the Pacific Hi I've been a long time SH3 player. I've been itching to try SH4 however, but my optical drive was busted so I couldn't install. Now that I've replaced the drive, I'm looking to transfer from the Atlantic to the Pacific . I'm aware that the latest patch is 1.03, and that there are a few mods out there which improve on the sim. However, I intend to try just the stock patched game first before venturing into mods. What tips and advise regarding SH4 would you give to a newbie to this sim? I'm looking for things that help improve performance and gameplay. Thanks.

09-04-07, 01:42 PM	#3
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,886 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	It's a different experience than SH3, be patient with it, it is a very enjoyable game. Good idea to play stock first, when you are ready, there are plenty of great mods to choose from RDP __________________ Back in the Day Last edited by ReallyDedPoet; 09-04-07 at 01:58 PM.

09-04-07, 02:07 PM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,262 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	For tips on performance and game play, we need to know what you have in the computer....vidcard, RAM, etc. Without these, we are shooting in the dark in helping you get the most out of your rig. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

09-04-07, 02:39 PM	#5
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Strategy tip You're going the right way on the mods. First play the game stock at version 1.3 to get a feel for the defaults. It will also help you learn manual targeting to have all the helps on the attack screen. When you're ready, the mod du jour and standard of the industry is Trigger Maru 1.6 by Ducimus, who you should already know from SH3. Then there are a few mods you can stack on top of TM, but as usual, with care that you don't make unplanned changes in the underlying supermod. Oh.....strategy tip. Don't forget all you learned in SH3. Although the American method of planning an attack and working the TDC is entirely different from U-Boat strategy, all those U-Boat strategies do not care what nationality submarine they are used in! We have discovered that Dick O'Kane did just that, using the TDC in the same manner as the Germans did and not using our fancy Position Keeper at all. By all means learn the new toys, but never forget what you learned in the Atlantic. Use it and prosper from having more tricks in your ditty bag than the average bear. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

09-07-07, 05:08 AM	#12
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Sry, another req Would a kind soul let me know what mods are considered "must haves" becasue they fix bugs that the official patches didn't fix? I'd really appreciate it as it'd take me quite a while to get myself acquainted with the many many mods out there. I just need bug-fixing mods, thanks.

09-04-07, 01:05 PM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Biggest tips I can give you is 1.) Read the sticky 'helps and guides' at the top of these forums. 2.) Watch your fuel consumption.... very carefully, if you run out of fuel your screwed as far as your carrier is concearned. Many many topics here on how to conserve.

09-04-07, 03:09 PM	#6
C DuDe Ensign Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 229 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Welcome aboard! Playing the stock version is fine as said by other members, however I would recommend you get some environmental Mods which are out their. This won't interfere with the game play it self, its just eye candy with better clouds, sunshine, water and such. Remove them after getting acquainted with targeting and stuff, then go for the bigger Mod's which have them incorporated. Anyway have fun!

09-05-07, 08:43 PM	#10
Zero Niner Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Thanks for all the replies. Does SH4 have the same irritating save game system as SH3? I'm referring to the part where deleting previous saves (even from previous patrols) also wipes out every save after that point.