Where do you start?

[Alice]

Ok, so I've been spending way too much time on uboat.net and I decided to get SH3. I know I'm in way over my head but I would like to eventually learn how to play with 100% realism and GWX and all that good stuff. But right now I'm still at rank HN 3 (Hardcore Noob, 3rd class).
I've mostly been playing the naval academy and trying to get used to stuff.

So my question is how did everyone start out? Did you just jump right into a career and learn from trial and error? Did you turn the realism settings down until you figured things out? Did you play the naval academy over and over again?

Yes, I have been reading the newbie guides and the community manual, but I'm wondering how different people approached the game when they started out. Also what settings are considered "standard"? I kind of assume that most people play with 100% realism as sort of the way to play. Is that right?

[SeaWolf U-57]

yes i kept playing the naval academy untill i passed all the tests

[richardphat]

Yup i did training and exam but im still a noob. I cant believe i havent progress at all since 1 year and half

[headcase]

I started the acadamy. Got aggravated, and jumped into a career. Died a few times without hitting anything. Pulled out pencil, paper, compass and protractor. Went back to the Acad. missions and slowly figured out what I was doing. And I still get crews killed more often than I would like. But not as often, and with much better tonnage to show for it.

[melnibonian]

I never bothered with the academy. I just got a boat and hit the high seas. Especially in the begining of the war you can try different tactics without much danger and get to know the potential of your boat.

[HW3]

I hate to say it but, I still do not play at 100% realism. I like the external view for watching my victims going down, and to just admire the graphics in GWX 2.1. If I were you, I would start a campaign with the realism settings you want to try and then adjust them till you find the setting that suits you. Remember, there is no one set correct setting to play this sim, just what works for you.

[Red Heat]

Originally Posted by melnibonian

I never bothered with the academy. I just got a boat and hit the high seas. Especially in the begining of the war you can try different tactics without much danger and get to know the potential of your boat.

I make your words my words, mate...
Dont get to much close to the academy when you feel confortable with basic, chose a U-Boat and see the world...about playing at 100% its beter start with for exemple 74% or less and go up when you real fell confortable to make the change, because 100% dificulty can be frustating for a player wich is starting...and make the player give up from the game, and that its what WE dont want to happened!
Good Luck!