Perspective from a complete newbie :( - Page 2

09-07-10, 06:10 AM

@poetic hunter
Forget the academy.
Get yourself set up for a carreer beginning in 1939. This will be your on the job training.
You must Lock your target/contact on one of the periscopes or the UZO (binocular looking thing on the bridge).
Aim it at your target then Left Click on the Lock button.
Next, tell the WE (Weapons Officer) to identify target. (He will).
Tell the WE to give a solution to the target. (He will).
These things will be entered on the notepad, which is on the right of your screen.
(Ship type, range, speed, angle on the bow.)
These are the only two things he will do for you. The other buttons look very impressive, but do nothing. They don't work. There, SH3 is messed up, not you.

OK. Get yourself a carreer, boat, and crew. Take them out on a (training) patrol. Take the boat for a ride some place. Just driving yourself out of the base can be a real learning experience in ship handling!
Let us know how it goes. If your past problems were solved, and any new problems you encounter.

On return, as long as you are within 25 km of your homeport, hit the "escape" key.
LC (Left Click) End Patrol.
LC Dock at XYZ (your port name).

Mittelwaechter · 09-07-10, 06:40 AM

SH3 is incomplete, has a very bad documentation and a steep learning curve. The navigation tutorial has an error too.

Not the best premise for a newbie to get into the game.

Choose one teacher and follow his advice, I'd recommend Snestorm. If he fails to give proper advice 25 guys will show up and correct his comments.

Don't be shy to ask simple questions - no one will take the mickey out of you.

poetic hunter · 09-07-10, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snestorm

These are the only two things he will do for you. The other buttons look very impressive, but do nothing. They don't work. There, SH3 is messed up, not you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mittelwaechter

SH3 is incomplete, has a very bad documentation and a steep learning curve. The navigation tutorial has an error too.

Not the best premise for a newbie to get into the game.

Ah..I see. So the game does have some bugs and a few functions that don't work as intended. That's good to know ! It would have saved me some hours of frustration, if I knew this before.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.

I will take Snestorm's advice and just start a career. I will use the career mode to learn more about the game, and help me with that tutorial I intend to write later on for complete beginners.

And if I run into serious snags, I will run back here with my tail between my legs.

poetic hunter · 09-07-10, 04:20 PM

Ran into a problem already.

Does the Weapons officer make mistakes with Torpedoes? Or am I the one making mistakes?

Tell me where I'm going wrong:

Step 1: I press F3 and go to periscope, I raise the periscope and turn around. I see different ships. Some have a green arrow, some have a yellow arrow and some have a red arrow. What is the difference between these arrow colors?

Anyway, I pick a ship with a yellow arrow on it, and it's automatically identified as a cargo merchant. I then press Tab to zoom in, then I press lock to lock on to it.

Step 2:

I go down to the weapon officer and click on torpedo attack, then I click on identify,and find solution.

Step 3:

I click on hatch number 1 to open it, then I press fire. Do I have to stay on the F-3 periscope screen after I fire a torpedo?

Step 4:

The torpedo goes straight out of my sub's front. Whereas the target was off to the side.

In other words, a complete miss.

Where did I go wrong?

----------------------

(I also notice that I always miss whenever I use hatch number 5. Is there something special about torpedo hatch 5?)

Pisces · 09-07-10, 07:15 AM

Poetic Hunter, you have a point in that the manual and Academy tutorial missions and movies could use some improvements. We all wish them. However Ubisoft has left SH3 'as it is' many years ago. There simply is no way to solve this without 'experienced knowledge' from other players. And forums like Subsim are the simplest and cheapest ways (well maybe not for Uncle Neal

) to get it across. I suppose it's possible to create replacement academy missions that requires no a priori knowledge. But those would come in the form of mods, a community generated 'patch'. Personally I think it is more likely that a new player is going to search for and find 'the proper steps to do' in the forum, rather than consider adding modified files before he has any idea how the game works.

If you feel that the community generated tutorial videos, documents and tutorial-threads are not clear enough for a beginner, then please say which. Or better, write a request for additional clarification in their respective threads. But do realize some of those threads are many years old. The original writer may not be around anymore. Or just can't be bothered for various reasons.

Sailor Steve · 09-07-10, 08:15 AM

WELCOME ABOARD!

Mr. "I don't know anything but I'm very patient" (that's me) is here to help. I understand that even the simplest things can be confusing sometimes, mainly because I'm simple myself.

I would invite you to PM me with any problems, but I'd also like to keep everything out in the open so anyone else who happens along can see each step.

STEP 1: Navigation. First rule of learning: In the SH3 game folder are two files labeled SH3_QRC_PG1 and SH3_QRC_PG2.

PG1 shows you all the in-game hotkeys, which keys to push to make things happen. This will become second nature in time, but when you are playing these are also available by pressing the 'F1' key.

PG2 shows the keyboard layout, including what each key combination does.

There is also a manual in there. It is pretty much useless, but it doesn't hurt to give it a look anyway, since any question you have will be answered here.

When in the Navigation tutorial, the radio messages will tell you to click on certain functions, and will also tell you which hotkeys duplicate those functions. At the bottom right of the screen are three dials. One is the depth guage. You click on it to set your depth when the message says "Go to 25 meters". When it says "Go to periscope depth", just press the 'P' key. Another guage is the engine telegraph. It is the one that is divided into sections with funny names like "Kleine Fahrt". You don't have to memorize the names, just note that there are five of them forward and four reverse, and they translate as "Ahead Slow", "Ahead 1/3", "Ahead Standard", "Ahead Full" and "Ahead Flank". You can click on them, or press keys 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

That's pretty much all you need to know to earn an "Excellent" in the Navigation Class. Practice that one and ask anything you don't understand, and then we'll move on to the next one.

Hangman · 09-07-10, 10:17 AM

Hey, count me in on this action, I wanna play too.

I like your idea Poetic Hunter regarding a tutorial for the absolute newbie beginner. I have never played SHIII yet. I bought the game about a month ago and have just barely (over the Labor day weekend) loaded it onto my laptop. Unfortunately, I've run into a little snag trying to update it to v1.4b so I can't even get the mods on it yet.
<uh oh, long story coming on ... trying to resist>
I've read enough to claim a five credit hour course stretching months worth of work from an accredited university. But my schedule only allows me an hour or two a week to mess with this. So I can read all about it, but I can't participate much. Hopefully this coming weekend I'll get the v1.4b update and the mods going. From all I've read, I'm going to bypass the stock SH3 and go straight for GWX3.0 to start. I've worked out a 10 year plan so I should be good for sub work for a while. In five years I will pull GWX off and load Living SH3 v5, it sounds like a really good mod too.

I'm anticipating the starting of a career and hopefully by the first weekend of October I can begin. They say, "in a classroom setting, the teacher always learns the most"; I'd love to help in writing a newbies crash course on how to start this game, but I'm afraid my schedule would hold everyone back, much like the convoy can only go as fast as the slowest ship.

So don't fret. I'm sure I'll see you out there on the vast expanse and stop you for some helpful information.

Lemme think here; 52 weeks (weekends) in a year, two hours a weekend will give me 104 hours. A 60 day patrol could take ... what, 12 hours on 8x speed.?. That's 12*2 = 24 weekends ... I should be able to get two whole patrols done in a years time. If I can manage to last the entire war, I'd need the whole 10 year plan just on GWX3.0, but given the odds of history, I should only last until 1941-42. That's do-able.

By the way, keep the questions rolling. I can learn from these and so - in five years - I won't be asking questions regarding SH III and these guys here are working with SH VIII.

09-07-10, 06:40 AM	#2
Mittelwaechter The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,304 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	SH3 is incomplete, has a very bad documentation and a steep learning curve. The navigation tutorial has an error too. Not the best premise for a newbie to get into the game. Choose one teacher and follow his advice, I'd recommend Snestorm. If he fails to give proper advice 25 guys will show up and correct his comments. Don't be shy to ask simple questions - no one will take the mickey out of you. __________________ 10 happy wolves rear 90 blinded, ensnared sheep. 90 happy sheep banish the wolves. Arrest the 1% - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ6hg1oNeGE

09-07-10, 07:15 AM	#5
Pisces Silent Hunter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: AN9771 Posts: 4,904 Downloads: 304 Uploads: 0	Poetic Hunter, you have a point in that the manual and Academy tutorial missions and movies could use some improvements. We all wish them. However Ubisoft has left SH3 'as it is' many years ago. There simply is no way to solve this without 'experienced knowledge' from other players. And forums like Subsim are the simplest and cheapest ways (well maybe not for Uncle Neal ) to get it across. I suppose it's possible to create replacement academy missions that requires no a priori knowledge. But those would come in the form of mods, a community generated 'patch'. Personally I think it is more likely that a new player is going to search for and find 'the proper steps to do' in the forum, rather than consider adding modified files before he has any idea how the game works. If you feel that the community generated tutorial videos, documents and tutorial-threads are not clear enough for a beginner, then please say which. Or better, write a request for additional clarification in their respective threads. But do realize some of those threads are many years old. The original writer may not be around anymore. Or just can't be bothered for various reasons. __________________ My site downloads: https://ricojansen.nl/downloads

09-07-10, 08:15 AM	#6
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	WELCOME ABOARD! Mr. "I don't know anything but I'm very patient" (that's me) is here to help. I understand that even the simplest things can be confusing sometimes, mainly because I'm simple myself. I would invite you to PM me with any problems, but I'd also like to keep everything out in the open so anyone else who happens along can see each step. STEP 1: Navigation. First rule of learning: In the SH3 game folder are two files labeled SH3_QRC_PG1 and SH3_QRC_PG2. PG1 shows you all the in-game hotkeys, which keys to push to make things happen. This will become second nature in time, but when you are playing these are also available by pressing the 'F1' key. PG2 shows the keyboard layout, including what each key combination does. There is also a manual in there. It is pretty much useless, but it doesn't hurt to give it a look anyway, since any question you have will be answered here. When in the Navigation tutorial, the radio messages will tell you to click on certain functions, and will also tell you which hotkeys duplicate those functions. At the bottom right of the screen are three dials. One is the depth guage. You click on it to set your depth when the message says "Go to 25 meters". When it says "Go to periscope depth", just press the 'P' key. Another guage is the engine telegraph. It is the one that is divided into sections with funny names like "Kleine Fahrt". You don't have to memorize the names, just note that there are five of them forward and four reverse, and they translate as "Ahead Slow", "Ahead 1/3", "Ahead Standard", "Ahead Full" and "Ahead Flank". You can click on them, or press keys 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. That's pretty much all you need to know to earn an "Excellent" in the Navigation Class. Practice that one and ask anything you don't understand, and then we'll move on to the next one. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-07-10, 10:17 AM	#7
Hangman Bosun Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North of the 37th Parallel Posts: 68 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Hey, count me in on this action, I wanna play too. I like your idea Poetic Hunter regarding a tutorial for the absolute newbie beginner. I have never played SHIII yet. I bought the game about a month ago and have just barely (over the Labor day weekend) loaded it onto my laptop. Unfortunately, I've run into a little snag trying to update it to v1.4b so I can't even get the mods on it yet. <uh oh, long story coming on ... trying to resist> I've read enough to claim a five credit hour course stretching months worth of work from an accredited university. But my schedule only allows me an hour or two a week to mess with this. So I can read all about it, but I can't participate much. Hopefully this coming weekend I'll get the v1.4b update and the mods going. From all I've read, I'm going to bypass the stock SH3 and go straight for GWX3.0 to start. I've worked out a 10 year plan so I should be good for sub work for a while. In five years I will pull GWX off and load Living SH3 v5, it sounds like a really good mod too. I'm anticipating the starting of a career and hopefully by the first weekend of October I can begin. They say, "in a classroom setting, the teacher always learns the most"; I'd love to help in writing a newbies crash course on how to start this game, but I'm afraid my schedule would hold everyone back, much like the convoy can only go as fast as the slowest ship. So don't fret. I'm sure I'll see you out there on the vast expanse and stop you for some helpful information. Lemme think here; 52 weeks (weekends) in a year, two hours a weekend will give me 104 hours. A 60 day patrol could take ... what, 12 hours on 8x speed.?. That's 12*2 = 24 weekends ... I should be able to get two whole patrols done in a years time. If I can manage to last the entire war, I'd need the whole 10 year plan just on GWX3.0, but given the odds of history, I should only last until 1941-42. That's do-able. By the way, keep the questions rolling. I can learn from these and so - in five years - I won't be asking questions regarding SH III and these guys here are working with SH VIII. __________________ Hangman

09-07-10, 06:10 AM	#1
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	@poetic hunter Forget the academy. Get yourself set up for a carreer beginning in 1939. This will be your on the job training. You must Lock your target/contact on one of the periscopes or the UZO (binocular looking thing on the bridge). Aim it at your target then Left Click on the Lock button. Next, tell the WE (Weapons Officer) to identify target. (He will). Tell the WE to give a solution to the target. (He will). These things will be entered on the notepad, which is on the right of your screen. (Ship type, range, speed, angle on the bow.) These are the only two things he will do for you. The other buttons look very impressive, but do nothing. They don't work. There, SH3 is messed up, not you. OK. Get yourself a carreer, boat, and crew. Take them out on a (training) patrol. Take the boat for a ride some place. Just driving yourself out of the base can be a real learning experience in ship handling! Let us know how it goes. If your past problems were solved, and any new problems you encounter. On return, as long as you are within 25 km of your homeport, hit the "escape" key. LC (Left Click) End Patrol. LC Dock at XYZ (your port name).

09-07-10, 04:20 PM	#4
poetic hunter Watch Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 24 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Ran into a problem already. Does the Weapons officer make mistakes with Torpedoes? Or am I the one making mistakes? Tell me where I'm going wrong: Step 1: I press F3 and go to periscope, I raise the periscope and turn around. I see different ships. Some have a green arrow, some have a yellow arrow and some have a red arrow. What is the difference between these arrow colors? Anyway, I pick a ship with a yellow arrow on it, and it's automatically identified as a cargo merchant. I then press Tab to zoom in, then I press lock to lock on to it. Step 2: I go down to the weapon officer and click on torpedo attack, then I click on identify,and find solution. Step 3: I click on hatch number 1 to open it, then I press fire. Do I have to stay on the F-3 periscope screen after I fire a torpedo? Step 4: The torpedo goes straight out of my sub's front. Whereas the target was off to the side. In other words, a complete miss. Where did I go wrong? ---------------------- (I also notice that I always miss whenever I use hatch number 5. Is there something special about torpedo hatch 5?)