New to site, and I have a few questions.

Vaux · 08-12-10, 09:59 AM

Hello, everyone! I was a big fan of the original Silent Hunter. I bought it when it came out and literally played it for years. As time passed, and my PCs were replaced with newer hardware and operating systems, it got to the point where it wouldn't run anymore.

I tried Silent Hunter II, but didn't like it nearly as much. I played one carreer through and never played it again. It lacked the "free-form" aspect of the original SH (being able to roam at will during campaign play), crashed a lot and, frankly, I just prefer the Pacific Theater.

Fast-forward a few more years and I stumble across my original SH disk while going through some boxes. I decided to see if there was an update, and I discovered SH4. I got it about a month ago and have been playing it a few hours a week. I'm rapidly becoming just as hooked on this one as the original SH.

I did the tutorial missions, found out for my self just how crappy the "manual" is, and have lurked around this site for a couple of weeks. I've had many questions answered and learned a lot here at SubSim (thanks everyone!).

I do have some un-answered questions, though:

1) I've just finished my 5th patrol on my first carreer. On my first patrol, I got jumped by a Betty bomber and didn't dive fast enough. Minor damage to my boat and my gun crew and I were injured (I was on the bridge). When I RTBed, I was awarded a Purple Heart. Cool... but now, after every patrol, I'm awarded a Purple Heart, even though I haven't been injured again. Only one award shows up in my "Medal Box" in my office, but after completing each subsequent patrol I see the picture of the medal and the citation. Interestingly, it has the date of the encounter where I was actually injured. Looking at my log for each mission when in my office shows "Award" as the last entry for each patrol. Is this normal? I've pulled off a couple of impressive actions during some patrols (in my mind at least) and I'm suspecting this "bug" is preventing me from getting other medals.

2) After completing my last patrol, I was given the opportunity to take a Salmon-class boat, which I did. Leaving Brisbane, I decided to see what it can do before getting in the thick of things. The red needle on the shallow depth gauge (periscope depth) is at ~55feet. When I call for periscope depth, my fully extended periscope is still about 3 feet below the surface, even in glassy-calm conditions. Bug?

3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4?

4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots.

5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar?

Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away!

Vaux

Sailor Steve · 08-12-10, 10:13 AM

WELCOME ABOARD!

Your experience with SH2 pretty much parallels that of most of us. Mods turned it into a great game, and it was fun going head-to-head with Destroyer Command, but the lack of dynamic campaign kept if from ever becoming a real sim.

The entire community staged something of a mutiny when it was first announce that SH3 would have a similar "campaign", and the game was delayed six months while they rewrote it to match the career mode of Aces Of The Deep and SH1. We're eternally grateful they took that step.

I don't know the answers to some of your questions but this one:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots.

The crew is divided into three watch bills, or shifts. Only the watch currently on duty has the colored pictures. If you call General Quarters they will all come on duty, and everything will be more efficient. Don't forget to secure from GC when you're done with the combat though, or you'll be back here asking "My has my crew all gone to sleep at their stations?"

Quote:

Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away!

You're fine. Go to the General Topics forum sometime. Then you'll find out what "long-winded" really is!

sergei · 08-12-10, 10:30 AM

Welcome Aboard.

About questions 1 and 2, they could well be stock bugs.
The stock game is pretty FUBARED with bugs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4?

It's in the office. Just to the left of the big map, where you activate your mission.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar?

Not in stock. You'll have to order the depth yourself (approx 40ft IIRC).

Many of the mods fix a lot of these, and other issues.
I predict you will go mod shopping real soon

Vaux · 08-12-10, 10:41 AM

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?

razark · 08-12-10, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaux

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?

Acquire the U-boat missions add-on. It's payware, but it's worth it. It bumps the game up to the 1.5 version, which most of the mods use these days.

If you're installing a major mod, I'd suggest restarting a career. It might work, but it might not. Don't take the chance.

WernherVonTrapp · 08-12-10, 11:49 AM

Oh well, looks like everything has been covered. Welcome to the PTO, Vaux.

Stealhead · 08-12-10, 04:28 PM

If you are in a Porpoise,Salmon, or Sargo class sub on the early war versions the night periscope and the attack periscope are on different levels and the night scope is shorter and lower in the sub so when you want to use the night periscope you'll need to go to about 49 or 50 ft to use it because the sub goes to a depth for the attack scope.Or you can use the periscope in the conning tower(attack scope raised/lowered by page/up page down) in stead of the one in the control room(night/observation scope raised/lowered by insert/delete)

Get 1.5 and go for some mods. Have fun out there.

08-12-10, 09:59 AM	#1
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	New to site, and I have a few questions. Hello, everyone! I was a big fan of the original Silent Hunter. I bought it when it came out and literally played it for years. As time passed, and my PCs were replaced with newer hardware and operating systems, it got to the point where it wouldn't run anymore. I tried Silent Hunter II, but didn't like it nearly as much. I played one carreer through and never played it again. It lacked the "free-form" aspect of the original SH (being able to roam at will during campaign play), crashed a lot and, frankly, I just prefer the Pacific Theater. Fast-forward a few more years and I stumble across my original SH disk while going through some boxes. I decided to see if there was an update, and I discovered SH4. I got it about a month ago and have been playing it a few hours a week. I'm rapidly becoming just as hooked on this one as the original SH. I did the tutorial missions, found out for my self just how crappy the "manual" is, and have lurked around this site for a couple of weeks. I've had many questions answered and learned a lot here at SubSim (thanks everyone!). I do have some un-answered questions, though: 1) I've just finished my 5th patrol on my first carreer. On my first patrol, I got jumped by a Betty bomber and didn't dive fast enough. Minor damage to my boat and my gun crew and I were injured (I was on the bridge). When I RTBed, I was awarded a Purple Heart. Cool... but now, after every patrol, I'm awarded a Purple Heart, even though I haven't been injured again. Only one award shows up in my "Medal Box" in my office, but after completing each subsequent patrol I see the picture of the medal and the citation. Interestingly, it has the date of the encounter where I was actually injured. Looking at my log for each mission when in my office shows "Award" as the last entry for each patrol. Is this normal? I've pulled off a couple of impressive actions during some patrols (in my mind at least) and I'm suspecting this "bug" is preventing me from getting other medals. 2) After completing my last patrol, I was given the opportunity to take a Salmon-class boat, which I did. Leaving Brisbane, I decided to see what it can do before getting in the thick of things. The red needle on the shallow depth gauge (periscope depth) is at ~55feet. When I call for periscope depth, my fully extended periscope is still about 3 feet below the surface, even in glassy-calm conditions. Bug? 3) The original SH had a "leader board" that showed your total tonnage to date and compared it with other, historical skippers. Is there anything like that in SH4? 4) In Crew Management, why are some of my crew's photos black and white? They seem to eventually become color photos... they seem to go to black and white when I move them between slots. 5) The original SH had a hot key for Radar Depth ("R", IIRC), dos SH4 have something similar? Sorry, for the long-winded introductory post. It's been fun getting back into the Pacific Theater after so many years away! Vaux

08-12-10, 11:49 AM	#6
WernherVonTrapp Admiral Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Now, alot farther from NYC. Posts: 2,228 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 0	Oh well, looks like everything has been covered. Welcome to the PTO, Vaux. __________________ "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Miyamoto Musashi ------------------------------------------------------- "What is truth?" -Pontius Pilate

08-12-10, 04:28 PM	#7
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	If you are in a Porpoise,Salmon, or Sargo class sub on the early war versions the night periscope and the attack periscope are on different levels and the night scope is shorter and lower in the sub so when you want to use the night periscope you'll need to go to about 49 or 50 ft to use it because the sub goes to a depth for the attack scope.Or you can use the periscope in the conning tower(attack scope raised/lowered by page/up page down) in stead of the one in the control room(night/observation scope raised/lowered by insert/delete) Get 1.5 and go for some mods. Have fun out there. Last edited by Stealhead; 08-12-10 at 04:39 PM.

08-12-10, 10:41 AM	#4
Vaux Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 116 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the 1.4 patch on my game and the only mod I have is the "Real Clothes" one. It just seemed strange seeing everyone in perfect uniforms all the time. If I go for one of the major mods, should I start a new carreer, or should it work OK in my current one?