Immersion in Silent Hunter 4 - Page 3

Bubble Head · 03-18-14, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnDon

SH4 is a nice respite from responsibilty, but also brings back the feel of being at sea. I spent 28 years in the Navy, 11 of that at sea, although not on submarines. Given that these subs are really submersibles, one spends most of the time on the surface. I enjoy piloting in and out of harbors, particularly harbors I have actually been in - Surabaya, Sasebo, Manila, Subic Bay, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, among others.

I spend time learning about the various areas and the history of the war in those areas.

A fantasy of mine is to increase the detail on the nav chart in SH4 with more local names, including points often used for navigation, such as in the Sulu Sea.

Overall, I spend a lot of time just sailing the Pacific Ocean and enjoying the scenery.

As far as the game itself is concerned, I am taking the USS Tambor through the war. I did that once several years ago and am starting over, again. Currently on my second patrol in the boat - early 1942.

Alot of people who are current or ex service men and women on here eh?

Says a lot about the gaming series if its so widely supported by people with real experience.

ReallyDedPoet · 03-18-14, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnDon

SH4 is a nice respite from responsibilty, but also brings back the feel of being at sea. I spent 28 years in the Navy, 11 of that at sea, although not on submarines. Given that these subs are really submersibles, one spends most of the time on the surface. I enjoy piloting in and out of harbors, particularly harbors I have actually been in - Surabaya, Sasebo, Manila, Subic Bay, San Francisco, San Diego, Long Beach, among others.

Just seeing this, very nice

mobucks · 03-18-14, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubble Head

For a relative newb to SH4 could you explain the "lag cheat" to me?

Hello Bubble Head

The lag cheat occurs when using time compression on the map and you unblinkingly stare at the chronometer (hotkey 'X' in my game) revolutions of the minute or hour hands, waiting for a split second of lag, while your finger hovers over the backspace key to immediately bring the game out of time compression. The clock will "lag" (stop) for a split second, at which point you mash the backspace key to bring time compression back to 1. And who said Silent Hunter wasn't for twitch gamers? Then you manually do a hydrophone sweep and voila!

The lag is caused by an AI unit coming into your sensor range. It's basically when a unit switches from being an invisible icon on the map to a real object in the game world. I recommend anywhere between 512 to 1534 time compression. Any higher and a half hour can happen before you can hit backspace, dependent on levels of grog consumed that evening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TG626

Occasional musing of how a conversation about the current orders or situation might go between me and my officers.

I read this the other day and thought it was neat. Then I found myself doing it during my latest playthrough. Thanks for the inspiration. My crew was very upset with me recently taking big risks and getting a few of them shot.

I do a lot of what people here have listed. Reading about the real thing was probably the most contributing factor to the immersion of my patrols. I try to do things like they were done historically.

For example not using the periscope traveling over a few knots due to vibration.

I never fight airplanes unless submerging is not an option.

Crewmembers get promoted and rotated off my boat to perhaps their own command. They usually have a few medals by then.

A few other things I can't think of right now; It's been a while since I've played and am just getting back into it.

Bubble Head · 03-18-14, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobucks

Hello Bubble Head
Any higher and a half hour can happen before you can hit backspace, dependent on levels of grog consumed that evening.

Haha - that's me out then.

Still - seems a little... dodgy lol - I wondered why it lagged some times when you go to very high TC.

TorpX · 03-19-14, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubble Head

I've been meaning to try limiting my TC - what is the max you tend to use that you find acceptable?

When I first started, I used pretty high TC (though not in active areas). Last career, I would use maybe 512x in safe areas, 128x in a patrol area. I am going to try 64x max next career.

Some hardy souls have played through a patrol in real-time, but I consider that a bit much. I think 64x will be a good compromise. One would still have some sensation of being bored, having to patiently work through an approach, being excited when you finally find a target, time passing over the length of a patrol, etc. I don't like the pace of going out at warp speed, quickly torpedoing some ships, and teleporting back, in the space of a few hours. It feels too much like a game.

Bubble Head · 03-19-14, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

Some hardy souls have played through a patrol in real-time, but I consider that a bit much.

If I played like this it would take me a very long time to finish a patrol - most time I get is about an hour a day to play...

Sniper297 · 03-19-14, 01:30 AM

For me it's just a pain in the neck since it works both ways - try TC when you're leaving the area after sinking the entire convoy of 2 passenger liners and 3 escorts, and it wants to jerk and stutter for 20 minutes while it keeps track of course, speed, range and bearing for every lifeboat and carley float you're leaving behind until you're well out of range. Half tempted to turn war criminal and sink every boat and raft, but that would take even longer.

TG626 · 03-19-14, 02:12 AM

Blasting life boats changes nothing, save for crediting you with another kill worth 1 ton. I think they do sink eventually, but it takes a loooong time. And even then the game is still tracking its descent and location sitting on the bottom....

Bubble Head · 03-19-14, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TG626

Blasting life boats changes nothing, save for crediting you with another kill worth 1 ton. I think they do sink eventually, but it takes a loooong time. And even then the game is still tracking its descent and location sitting on the bottom....

I didn't realize you could even do that!

Never thought to do it!

TG626 · 03-19-14, 09:23 AM

I recommend using your AA guns on anything small and unarmed.

bandit484 · 03-20-14, 11:06 AM

While on a patrol, I read Clay Blair's "Silent Victory". It comes in a 2 volume set. In my opinion it is a must read about the submarine war.

Admiral8Q · 03-20-14, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandit484

While on a patrol, I read Clay Blair's "Silent Victory". It comes in a 2 volume set. In my opinion it is a must read about the submarine war.

Aye. I'm Not old yet.

I hope not anyways.

Herr Eeguy · 03-23-14, 06:57 AM

I still own a VCR and watch Run Silent, Run Deep over and over again

Sailor Steve · 03-23-14, 07:13 AM

WELCOME ABOARD!

Of course it is available on DVD too.

ReallyDedPoet · 03-23-14, 07:21 AM

Welcome to SUBSIM Herr Eeguy : )

03-19-14, 02:12 AM	#38
TG626 Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: USS Seal - Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 268 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 3	Blasting life boats changes nothing, save for crediting you with another kill worth 1 ton. I think they do sink eventually, but it takes a loooong time. And even then the game is still tracking its descent and location sitting on the bottom.... __________________ T. E. Thompson, LTCDR Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Seal (formerly S-40 (SS-145))

03-19-14, 09:23 AM	#40
TG626 Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: USS Seal - Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 268 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 3	I recommend using your AA guns on anything small and unarmed. __________________ T. E. Thompson, LTCDR Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Seal (formerly S-40 (SS-145))

03-23-14, 06:57 AM	#43
Herr Eeguy Watch Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ USA Posts: 27 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 0	Black and White immersion I still own a VCR and watch Run Silent, Run Deep over and over again

03-23-14, 07:13 AM	#44
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	WELCOME ABOARD! Of course it is available on DVD too. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-23-14, 07:21 AM	#45
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,801 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Welcome to SUBSIM Herr Eeguy : ) __________________ Back in the Day

03-19-14, 01:30 AM	#37
Sniper297 The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philadelphia Shipyard Brig Posts: 1,386 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 19	For me it's just a pain in the neck since it works both ways - try TC when you're leaving the area after sinking the entire convoy of 2 passenger liners and 3 escorts, and it wants to jerk and stutter for 20 minutes while it keeps track of course, speed, range and bearing for every lifeboat and carley float you're leaving behind until you're well out of range. Half tempted to turn war criminal and sink every boat and raft, but that would take even longer.

03-20-14, 11:06 AM	#41
bandit484 Medic Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 165 Downloads: 523 Uploads: 0	While on a patrol, I read Clay Blair's "Silent Victory". It comes in a 2 volume set. In my opinion it is a must read about the submarine war.