Recommend easy beginner game

[Ferrante]

I've always been interested in submarines and thought playing a sub game would be fun. Could someone please suggest a very easy game for a beginner to start out with and then build on? I got Steel Tide and really am having problems playing it. It came with no manual so I am lost for the most part. Any help,suggestions, or whatever will be appreciated by this adult who can use your help. Thanks!

[Chock]

Personally, I'd recommend getting hold of Silent Hunter 3.

In the first place it can be bought for very little, second it has been through many patches and can be tweeked to play without any problems, third, when you get into it, there are very many add-ons for it that can make it more challenging, fourth, there are a lot of 'help systems' options with it (such as crew helping you identify targets and working out firing solutions for you so you can effectively just point and fire with the periscope), which means it can be made very easy to play until you understand how everything works, at which point, you can gradually turn the help off and go for the level of realism you like. Lastly, being slightly older than brand new sub simulations, it runs well on a very modest machine.

On top of all that, there are literally thousands of posts on this forum about it, so a quick search on pretty much any topic you are having difficulty with can be investigated for a solution pretty much instantaneously. And if you cannot find an answer to your query, a quick question on the forums will usually get you an answer very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Chock

[Sailor Steve]

Yep: in addition to the thousands of posts there are hundreds of people here who just love to help any way they can.

Oh, and WELCOME ABOARD!

[d@rk51d3]

Stock SH3 (or 4 for that matter) will be perfect for you. You can increase the difficulty and mod it to your hearts content as you get a feel for the game.

[Ferrante]

Thanks guys for your recommendation. I read while investigating SH III that for those of us dummies who want to be a sub commander, there is a Naval Academy that is included within the game that will teach beginners on what to do. How useful is that? Btw, I am going to get this game based on your recommendations and lastly, how are the graphics compared to Steel Tide? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Chock

Personally, I'd recommend getting hold of Silent Hunter 3.

In the first place it can be bought for very little, second it has been through many patches and can be tweeked to play without any problems, third, when you get into it, there are very many add-ons for it that can make it more challenging, fourth, there are a lot of 'help systems' options with it (such as crew helping you identify targets and working out firing solutions for you so you can effectively just point and fire with the periscope), which means it can be made very easy to play until you understand how everything works, at which point, you can gradually turn the help off and go for the level of realism you like. Lastly, being slightly older than brand new sub simulations, it runs well on a very modest machine.

On top of all that, there are literally thousands of posts on this forum about it, so a quick search on pretty much any topic you are having difficulty with can be investigated for a solution pretty much instantaneously. And if you cannot find an answer to your query, a quick question on the forums will usually get you an answer very quickly.

Hope this helps.

Chock

[Chock]

I think the graphics on SH3 still stand up pretty well. For example, the graphic story you can find at the link below, which I produced, was done using SH3 (note that some pics have had some tweeks in Photoshop, but they are all basically screenshots from SH3:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=115045

The Naval Academy aspects of SH games are effectively small practice missions where you get to try out navigation, using the deck gun, the anti-aircraft gun and the torpedoes. In combination with a quick read of the manual, they will teach you most of what you need to know to work the sub's various bits and pieces. One advantage doing these 'academy missions' confers, is that if you complete them successfully, you earn 'renown points' which can be used to equip and upgrade your submarine in a campaign, this emulates the more popular and successful skippers getting the best stuff, as they tended to in real life, and so is worth it. The renown system continues in the campaigns also depending on how successful you are.

What the tutorial missions won't teach you is the tactics of evading depth charge attacks after you've torpedoed stuff, for that there are a few tutorials kicking about on this forum, one or two of which explain how the simulation actually detects stuff, and knowing this will assist you somewhat.

Like most things, you just have to try and see what works for your particular style, for example, some people like attacking at night, others in the day, some will go for long range shots, others like to get in close and hide underneath enemy ships etc. Sussing out what works best for you is all part of the fun of course, prepare to lose a lot of sleep by the way, like most good simulations and computer games, Silent Hunter is very addictive.

Chock

[Ferrante]

Chock, man, you did a great job with the page you listed below. I took your advice as well as the others and bought the game off Ebay last night. Brand new and never opened, so hopefully I will have it by this comming weekend. One last thing: If there is something that I don't understand, yet may be simple or sound stupid to others here, should I expect nasty remarks or are most (or all) very helpful? I have found that many people in Usenet newsgroups can be very nasty when a novice asks for help. Thanks again to you, et al, for your help thus far!

Originally Posted by Chock

I think the graphics on SH3 still stand up pretty well. For example, the graphic story you can find at the link below, which I produced, was done using SH3 (note that some pics have had some tweeks in Photoshop, but they are all basically screenshots from SH3:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=115045

The Naval Academy aspects of SH games are effectively small practice missions where you get to try out navigation, using the deck gun, the anti-aircraft gun and the torpedoes. In combination with a quick read of the manual, they will teach you most of what you need to know to work the sub's various bits and pieces. One advantage doing these 'academy missions' confers, is that if you complete them successfully, you earn 'renown points' which can be used to equip and upgrade your submarine in a campaign, this emulates the more popular and successful skippers getting the best stuff, as they tended to in real life, and so is worth it. The renown system continues in the campaigns also depending on how successful you are.

What the tutorial missions won't teach you is the tactics of evading depth charge attacks after you've torpedoed stuff, for that there are a few tutorials kicking about on this forum, one or two of which explain how the simulation actually detects stuff, and knowing this will assist you somewhat.

Like most things, you just have to try and see what works for your particular style, for example, some people like attacking at night, others in the day, some will go for long range shots, others like to get in close and hide underneath enemy ships etc. Sussing out what works best for you is all part of the fun of course, prepare to lose a lot of sleep by the way, like most good simulations and computer games, Silent Hunter is very addictive.

Chock

[Chock]

Nobody is going to make fun of you if you ask questions about stuff here. If they did, they'd probably get banned because this is supposed to be (and is) a very friendly community. In fact, even though I like aeroplane sims too and write reviews for other websites about that and other stuff, I think it's fair to say that I spend more time on this forum than any other, simply because it is so friendly and fun.

Anyone who considers themselves knowledgeable about a subject that would mock someone for asking a question about stuff is beneath contempt as far as I'm concerned, and I'd say the vast majority of people on Subsim would probably think that too. Both myself, and I daresay others, would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have (if we can), as there are few things people like doing more than talking about a subject they are interested in! So go ahead, ask away if you have any questions.

Chock

[Ferrante]

Thanks, Chock. I know I will have lots of questions, but I am sure the game is going to be lots of fun, especially with winter comming and I will be spending more time inside. I should have my SH III by this weekend and I cannot wait.

Originally Posted by Chock

Nobody is going to make fun of you if you ask questions about stuff here. If they did, they'd probably get banned because this is supposed to be (and is) a very friendly community. In fact, even though I like aeroplane sims too and write reviews for other websites about that and other stuff, I think it's fair to say that I spend more time on this forum than any other, simply because it is so friendly and fun.

Anyone who considers themselves knowledgeable about a subject that would mock someone for asking a question about stuff is beneath contempt as far as I'm concerned, and I'd say the vast majority of people on Subsim would probably think that too. Both myself, and I daresay others, would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have (if we can), as there are few things people like doing more than talking about a subject they are interested in! So go ahead, ask away if you have any questions.

Chock

[EAST]

Ferrante, I'd also recommend Enigma: Rising Tide as a good starter game. It isn't a hardcore ship sim, its meant to be a command sim; kind of a "gateway drug" to hardcore simulations like the Silent Hunter Series.

It's more action oriented, but all in all was received well by most players; Enigma sold over 300k units worldwide and, while its looking a little aged now in the graphics department, is worth trying out. I think there are still some downloads of the demos available out there somewhere.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Welcome aboard Ferrante!

I agree with the other guys here, SH3 is the place to go. Referring to your point about the Naval Academy, yeah, its pretty useful, but it differs from usual tutorials in that it doesnt have a guy talking to you through the mission. You can read the information before you start and use F1 to look at the key bindings when you're in the game.

Enjoy and dont hesitate to ask us about anything! Us sea dogs have more salt than a pretzel.

[Monterey]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=123583

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Welcome aboard Ferrante!

I agree with the other guys here, SH3 is the place to go. Referring to your point about the Naval Academy, yeah, its pretty useful, but it differs from usual tutorials in that it doesnt have a guy talking to you through the mission. You can read the information before you start and use F1 to look at the key bindings when you're in the game.

Enjoy and dont hesitate to ask us about anything! Us sea dogs have more salt than a pretzel.

I'd agree with that. The Naval Acadamy in SH3 is great.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Welcome aboard Ferrante!

I agree with the other guys here, SH3 is the place to go. Referring to your point about the Naval Academy, yeah, its pretty useful, but it differs from usual tutorials in that it doesnt have a guy talking to you through the mission. You can read the information before you start and use F1 to look at the key bindings when you're in the game.

Enjoy and dont hesitate to ask us about anything! Us sea dogs have more salt than a pretzel.

I second that. Subsim is here just as much for new skippers as old sea dogs. If you catch any flack, let me know.

Neal