Best starting point...?

[Takeda Shingen]

Personally, I always liked the desperation of 41/42. It is probably most akin to 44/45 in the Atlantic theatre: Things are not going well. So, I usually start in December of 41 in with the Asiatic Fleet.

[Rockin Robbins]

Glad to have you aboard in SH4 land, Penelope!

[AVGWarhawk]

Are you playing the vanilla version? If so, this could be a good thing so you can see what it is out of the box. Then load up ROW and RSRD. See what it has become.

Anyway, I start in 41 in the Asiatic fleet. Closer to the action! Usually the S-class. Fun little boat.

[Penelope_Grey]

Im sorry AVG, but... ROW? RSRD?

I never play vanilla version either, I play stock or base game... can't call it vanilla you see because IS a flavouring and therefore means that its not plain.

Yeah, definately likeing the idea of asiatic boats in 1941, but... having tried the S-class... god alive.... they have good underwater range.... very comparable to a U-boat but... it takes like... 2 days to recharge their batteries from 50% back to 100%

I usually have a few single missions and war patrols here and there. nothing too taxing, Im waiting for that final patch and hoping its the correction we all deserve.

[AVGWarhawk]

can't call it vanilla you see because IS a flavouring and therefore means that its not plain.

Oh sure, throw logic in my face. See is I care:rotfl:

ROW is Reflections on the Water (stickied on the mod forums)
Total overhaul of the environment! Unbelievably realistic! Beautiful sky and sea effects! Must have mod.

Run Silent Run Deep(Stickied on the mod forums)
This is just the first layer of 41-42. Historical shipping lanes as well as ship type. Greatly enhanced with better messages and objectives. In other words, you do not see 4 Yamato battleships in one patrol or see super convoys. Sure the Japanese had large convoys but nowhere near what the Atlantic had seen. Mostly 3-4 merchants and a few DD. Most times no escort at all. They liked to hug the coastline to keep in shallow waters. Not the greatest of places for a submarine.

I have not messed with mods like Real Fleet Boat or Trigger Maru because I like the stock mix of really good DD and really bad DD. You will find subject matter concerning Japanese and ASW describing such contact between subs and destroyers. Although, towards the later years of the war the Japanese got in the ballgame concerning ASW measures. A bit to late though. Anyway, the ships will zig zag unlike the stock game and will change speeds when you are detected, etc.

The S class battery charge I believe to be realistic. This particular boat was way behind the times and what Germany did the coastal Uboat II. Heck, you are given the TDC and the S class was really a point and shoot boat.

Oh, one more thing, you should find plenty of dud torps ( had 4 premature on one attack ) and watch out for the circle runner. Nothing like your own dog turning on you and taking a bite out of your leg. US torps at the beginning of the war just were not up to the task. A little help from some unexploded German torps found on the beaches of the US East Coast helped a bit!

I'm glad you are giving it a chance. Just a babe in the woods but it will mature into a excellent sim as SH3 has. And, now that you are fooling around with files making a mod or two, who knows what you might dream up for SH4.

[John Channing]

The other thing you have to remember is that this is NOT SH3. The Campaign works very differently. You must complete as many objectives as you can on each patrol (fuel and ordnance permitting). Once you complete your initial objective, radio in a patrol report. You will get a second objective. Complete this and then radio in again.

You cannot go off freelancing like you could in SH3. That will get you retired very quickly... regardless of tonnage.

JCC

PS. Start in Manilla in '41. If you do a good job in the S Boat you will be upgraded after about 3-4 patrols. It really makes you appreciate the better classes of boat as you move up through them. It will also make you a better skipper and avoid a couple of outstanding issues with the code (pending 1.04 fixes). If Manilla falls during your patrol go to Surabaya. If that is gone try Fremantle.

[MONOLITH]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Run Silent Run Deep(Stickied on the mod forums)
This is just the first layer of 41-42. Historical shipping lanes as well as ship type.

AVG, how inaccurate is the map that came with the game in regard to shipping lane correctness?

I guess this question applies to both stock and RSRD.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by MONOLITH

AVG, how inaccurate is the map that came with the game in regard to shipping lane correctness?

I guess this question applies to both stock and RSRD.

You will have to ask Tater and Lurker for better explanation. As for stock there is just way to many ships just all over the place. Battleships are like a dime a dozen. RSRD has placed shipping lanes were the need be and were the Japanese were heading in 41-42. There is many routes and this is the reason Lurker is doing each year individually. They were busy heading south for oil and resources in 41-42. This mod addresses this activity. I know Tater made waypoints for ships that are historical in nature and he also has these ships hit a port, stay a day or so and then head out again. Therefore one could hang out just outside the port for a day or so waiting on them. Also, historically accurate. Raiding or waiting with the ports was something the skippers did. Somewhere Lurker posted all the ship routes he sit up. All the waypoints layered etc. Quite good.