Newbie with newbie questions

[BROJD]

I just got SHIII and am a bit overwhelmed with the depth of the game -- especially the many mods out there.

Right now, I'm not looking for the most realistic simulation possible, just a fun and playable one. I'll slowly ratchet up the realism as I master the more basic parts. I've finished the academy and a couple of scenarios but no campaigns yet.

I've read the SH3 Newbie Guide (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=96026) and lots of other informative posts, but I'm wondering about mods.

Which mods should I go ahead and install to get started on the right foot? What else should I know early on?

Thanks and happy hunting!

[Mush Martin]

Me First ............welcome aboard and most would agree
start with GWX but read through the newbie guide and
learn to use the search feature most questions have
already been asked dozens of times
M

[ReallyDedPoet]

Welcome BROJD

Lots of choices, don't forget to use JSGME ( mod enabler ), nice guide on how to here:http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/t...3?r=3031058373
RDP

[ReM]

Yeah welcome!

Maybe you could try to master Vanilla SH III first and if you feel cocky install GWX and experience SH III as it was meant to be.

GWX pretty much covers it all...

All of us over here started with stock SH III so there's nothing to be ashamed of!

[Brag]

Welcome Brojd!

I'd recommend do a few patrols with stock as training for GWX

[TarJak]

Looks like you've got lots of advice. GWX is the way to go but to get the full benefit play some stock first. It will make you appreciate the difference. Fill yer boots matey!

[BROJD]

Thanks, all. I'll get familiar with the stock game and then jump into the mods.

I'm personally not big on a lot of mods but wanted to know if there were any that were indispensable. I guess not.

[BROJD]

Okay, I've started a 1939 career and have run a few semi-successful patrols and have some random fragen:

-Does anyone ever use the command room? Or do you spend most of your time at the Nav station?

-I have 49% realism set right now. I often get contacts 20-40 km away show up on my map. Are those contacts that are radioed in from other subs or airplanes? Or is that just a super-easy setting making the game easier? And what are the best ways to make contacts (I'm running a IIA now -- are my hydrophones worth anything, or should I always sit on the surface looking for targets)?

-I've sunk a few neutral units. Whoops! Is that a big deal at all? Do I have to wait until I can ID a flag on each ship before I sink her? That can be tough tough tough, especially at night.

-When sighting a plane, does everyone just DIVE DIVE DIVE? Is there any reason to stay on the surface and try to fight it out? And how deep do I need to be to keep a plane from spotting me?

-I know that historically the U-Boats liked to conduct surfaced night attacks. How far away can my U-Boat be *seen* at night, assuming a minimal profile?

Thanks!

[BROJD]

And I hate the crew management!

[danlisa]

Originally Posted by BROJD

Okay, I've started a 1939 career and have run a few semi-successful patrols and have some random fragen:

-Does anyone ever use the command room? Or do you spend most of your time at the Nav station?

Probably most time at the Nav Map. However, only during long spells at time compression. Otherwise, on the bridge or in the Control Room.

Originally Posted by BROJD

-I have 49% realism set right now. I often get contacts 20-40 km away show up on my map. Are those contacts that are radioed in from other subs or airplanes? Or is that just a super-easy setting making the game easier? And what are the best ways to make contacts (I'm running a IIA now -- are my hydrophones worth anything, or should I always sit on the surface looking for targets)?

The contact icons on the map are radioed intel. Do not head straight for them, they won't be there when you arrive. You need to plot an intercept course and arrive in front of the target.

Your hydrophones have a better range than your crew sight, conduct regular hydrophone check as not al targets are reported to the map. You may be missing a lot of targets.

Originally Posted by BROJD

-I've sunk a few neutral units. Whoops! Is that a big deal at all? Do I have to wait until I can ID a flag on each ship before I sink her? That can be tough tough tough, especially at night.

Sinking a neutral will cost you a renown deduction. In stock SH3 the contacts on the map will be Blue=Friendy Red=Enemy & Green=Neutral. However, if you progress to a supermod you will more than likely have to ID the flags as most have grey contacts only.

Originally Posted by BROJD

-When sighting a plane, does everyone just DIVE DIVE DIVE? Is there any reason to stay on the surface and try to fight it out? And how deep do I need to be to keep a plane from spotting me?

In stock, you can quite happily shoot it out on the surface & you will probably down every aircraft you aim at. Again, this is not true anymore with the supermods, aircraft are now deadly and should be feared.

You can be a periscope depth and not be seen by planes, however, if you scopes are up and you are leaving a visible wake, they will spot you.

Originally Posted by BROJD

-I know that historically the U-Boats liked to conduct surfaced night attacks. How far away can my U-Boat be *seen* at night, assuming a minimal profile?

Thanks!

Again, in stock you can pretty much attack at night with impunity. However, there is always a situation where this is not true. Night attacks are best.

Eventually, your crew will get better and will fatique slower. Once you ae happy about mods etc, there are 2 options to remove fatigue altogether. SH3 Commander (read about it in the mods forum) & a cfg mod to remove 1.4b Stock fatigue.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by BROJD

And I hate the crew management!

Crew managment can be tedious, not sure if you are using SH Commander, if not you should be.

SH3 Commander is a standalone third party add-on: you do not need to enable it with the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler. - from the official site.

http://www.users.on.net/~jscones/software/products.html

View the read-me at the site, the d\l is there as well. Among other things, you can disable fatigue or modify it more to taste.

Good Hunting


RDP

[ichso]

Hi Brojd,

-Does anyone ever use the command room? Or do you spend most of your time at the Nav station?

If under time compression you have to use the Nav Map. Otherwise you don't get high TC levels. (You can edit this but 512x TC in some 3D station wouldn't be any practical )

-I've sunk a few neutral units. Whoops! Is that a big deal at all? Do I have to wait until I can ID a flag on each ship before I sink her? That can be tough tough tough, especially at night.

Normally you should get very near to your target to get a shot with a high chance to hit. Then you are also close enough to identify your target's nationality correctly.

-When sighting a plane, does everyone just DIVE DIVE DIVE? Is there any reason to stay on the surface and try to fight it out? And how deep do I need to be to keep a plane from spotting me?

Depends much on what mods you use (some increase airplane's deadliness) and the year you are into. Early stages of war + stock SH3 it may be fun to fight back onto those planes in any other case you should dive for safety. Especially if you play Did .

-I know that historically the U-Boats liked to conduct surfaced night attacks. How far away can my U-Boat be *seen* at night, assuming a minimal profile?

In a really dark night those ships shouldn't see you if you are presenting them your front or back. Even if you are in shooting range (~700m). Some mods (like GWX) allow you also to run with decks awash which makes you even harder to be spotted. But remember that the allies get radar later on and won't have to spot you anymore.

Hope this helps.
Good hunting, i.

[Salad]

It certainly does take time to get used to everything. I got pretty much straight into GWX and haven't looked back, the people responsible have done a brilliant job with it. (Then again, I had graduated from SH2 so it wasn't quite as daunting as starting fresh).

As for standing in the control room, I tend to do it often. It seems to put the wind up that dude sitting on the planes the way he keeps twitching and looking over his shoulder. I'm convinced he's some sort of prison escapee running away to war.

And now, the Tipperary song if you please.....

[Tobus]

Note that I play with GWX and SH3commander, so answers below are represented in those mods.

-Does anyone ever use the command room? Or do you spend most of your time at the Nav station?

When I go for extra realism and turn off external view, I use it often. Otherwise, I am usually on the navmap (showing targets on map = on) or in external watching those nice explosions

-I have 49% realism set right now. I often get contacts 20-40 km away show up on my map. Are those contacts that are radioed in from other subs or airplanes? Or is that just a super-easy setting making the game easier? And what are the best ways to make contacts (I'm running a IIA now -- are my hydrophones worth anything, or should I always sit on the surface looking for targets)?

They are radioed in. I always cruise on top, except when fog is medium or heavy. Then I go to 50m and cruise slowly, often manually checking my hydrophones, only popping up to replenish air and batteries. In early war in fog, you just don't find any ships. In later war, THEY just always find YOU because of radar!

-I've sunk a few neutral units. Whoops! Is that a big deal at all? Do I have to wait until I can ID a flag on each ship before I sink her? That can be tough tough tough, especially at night.

Yep. Sinking neutrals costs you renown (although they ARE added to your tonnage I think). ID'ing is the best way to go. In GWX though, at night neutrals are showing all lights, including spots on the flag. If lights are on then don't shoot them.

-When sighting a plane, does everyone just DIVE DIVE DIVE? Is there any reason to stay on the surface and try to fight it out? And how deep do I need to be to keep a plane from spotting me?

In GWX planes are a nightmare. My tactic: as soon as sighted I go to max speed. If range is long then I crashdive. If range is medium (3-5 km) than I arm flakguns and turn perpendicular to the aircraft. When it dives to attack, I slam rudders full towards the aircraft. 95% of the time, his bombs will overshoot you. If my flakker hasn't brought him down, THEN I crashdive. Depth doesn't matter, although in rough weather you tower may sometimes breach. Crashdive to be safer, it's faster than normal dive too.

-I know that historically the U-Boats liked to conduct surfaced night attacks. How far away can my U-Boat be *seen* at night, assuming a minimal profile?

Without arousing suspicion you are generally safe at night. Greater speed gives greater bowwaves and thus possibly earlier detection. But when the first torpedo hits, zigzags start, starshells are shot and searchlights are lit. Note that at close range, searchlights CAN see you through the water when at periscope depth. I recommend doing long range shots from the surface or submerged shots from closer in. The first is better in early war, since escorts will shoot starshell in the convoy and do ASDIC searches in the convoy, while you are surfaced outside the convoy. In later war, escorts will find you by radar on the surface, so get close submerged, fire all torpedoes and go as deep as fast as you can, firing a BOLD if available, then running silent at depth while your torps hit.

A tip: get accustomed to a sub. I like the VIIc best, because of very quick diving time and manouvrability. I get higher scores (more torps) in a IX, but also die more in them because of lower manouvrability, slower divetime and being a bigger target to hit.

Good luck!

Already mentioned I know, but the best thing I ever did when playing stock SHIII was include SH3 Commander. Apart from the "uber" mods like GWX SH3 Commander has improved the game to no end - it allows you to do so much more with your career than you can with just the stock game.

Also, I spent nearly 4 to 5 months playing with the stock game before adding any mods but once you have played the game with even the smallest ones playing the game without them is never the same. My personal favourites are GWX and NYGM v2.2