Is there a commercial guide to Silent Hunter III?

Russ Chewning · 10-31-07, 05:04 PM

I bought a copy of the game, and it came with no manual. Is there a good commercial product out there for this game? I know I can get pretty much all the info here, but it would take days to glean from the forum, and frankly, I don't want to spend that much time to even find out IF I even like the game.

As it stands now, the game is unplayable without a manual. Yeah, I figured out the deck gun. Did Excellent on it. Yeah, I figured out the flak gun. Did okay on it. Torpedo'ing boats without a manual? Nearly impossible.

I know you guys and gals are hardcore fans of the genre, and I really want to like the game, but I am not thrilled at the prospect of looking at a computer screen to figure out how to play it, either looking at the pdf on the DVD, or looking on a forum for 20 different subjects that I should have gotten in a game manual.

If there's not a commercial guide out for this game, I guess I just have to wait for Crysis to come out..

Russ

bigboywooly · 10-31-07, 05:10 PM

Hi and welcome aboard

You can try the community manual

http://www.mysh3.info/shiii/index.php?title=Main_Page

Russ Chewning · 10-31-07, 06:47 PM

So in answer to my question, there is no commercial manual?

Like I said... Not thrilled at reading from a PC screen.. Don't want to print out hundreds of pages from a FAQ. Not looking for a replacement guide, as I have already read that the original guide wasn't anything to get excited about in the first place.I just want a pretty, illustrated, commercial guide. Something nice to put on my bookshelf or even as a coffee table book.

Does no such thing exist, even in the UK?

Russ

Torplexed · 10-31-07, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ Chewning

Does no such thing exist, even in the UK?

Russ

The original Silent Hunter had one. But in truth it wasn't very good. Most of what was in it could be picked up playing the game.

baggygreen · 10-31-07, 08:49 PM

Gday russ,

What torplexed has said is right, the original manual really wasnt even worth the bother - they wasted their time on it.

While i can understand your reluctance to want to read off the screen or print a hundred pages, the result is honest to god worth it. you won't regret the effort reading through, especially once you graduate onto GWX!

TarJak · 10-31-07, 08:59 PM

Did the copy you bought come with a bunch of tutorial .WMV files included? IIRC when I first bought the game I found these and played them and found out that it explained pretty much all you need to know to get started.

There should be one for each exam in the academy. Can't remember whether you can click to them from the academy menu though:hmm:

Chock · 10-31-07, 09:04 PM

Since SH3 is essentially fairly realistic, I'd recommend getting this book, as it explains almost everything you'll come across weapons-wise on a German submarine, and it's probably something you'll enjoy reading too:

http://www.subsim.com/books/book_type7_stern.htm

Definitely a great book, and it can serve as an explanatory guide to most of the weapon's and (most common) boat's capabilities and most common tactics. Never stays on my bookshelf for long!

Chock

Torplexed · 10-31-07, 09:41 PM

Sounds like he's after one of those slick printed and bound strategy manuals you find in some software shops. Prima Publishing put out one for the first Silent Hunter in 1996. Still have my copy. But they're rare for subsims. I can't see passing up a great sim like this just because they're not being published for this genre anymore. It's not the game or the developer's fault.

Capa · 10-31-07, 10:54 PM

You're going to end up playing Crysis anyway, I think. The bottom line is a Prima guide isn't necssary, not for any game. If that's a prerequisite to your enjoyment of a game then you're probably making excuses not to like it. I've never bought one in my life, since they tend to bust open a game in the same way as a cheat does. They're also really expensive. Besides, speaking as a pure newbie (been playing just over a week) the game isn't at all hard to get into. The game is basically a simple on-rails shooting gallery on the easiest settings. You dip your toes into the more complex (and satisfying) elements at your own pace.

Pff, guides. I'm sure you'll enjoy Crysis without one.

M00nStalker · 11-01-07, 11:50 AM

There should be a .pdf version of the manual in the documentation folder of your install, so play around, do the training missions, watch the instruction movies and if you wonder something specific check out the manual. SHIII is pretty alt+TAB friendly too.

As mentioned above the manual really isn´t necessary to play the game, the training levels will give you most information you need, the forum and the community guide will give you the rest, the manual won´t give you what you need.

neves_rats · 11-01-07, 12:01 PM

Russ, surprised you didn't ask for one of the GWX development team to come round and play the game for you, can you really be bothered pushing that damn mouse around the table yourself. Does your mum still cut up your meat for you and tuck you in at night

Sailor Steve · 11-01-07, 02:03 PM

That was more than a little rude. We try to help people here, not smack them upside the head.

neves_rats · 11-01-07, 03:15 PM

You don't think the

gave away the lightheartedness? And you honestly have no problem whatsoever with the initial and subsequent post? Didn't realise I had to be deadly serious all of the time, lesson taken on board, have slapped myself down with a wet kipper.

bigboywooly · 11-01-07, 03:22 PM

Smoked I hope

Sailor Steve · 11-01-07, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neves_rats

You don't think the

gave away the lightheartedness? And you honestly have no problem whatsoever with the initial and subsequent post? Didn't realise I had to be deadly serious all of the time, lesson taken on board, have slapped myself down with a wet kipper.

No, I didn't think the smilie gave away anything, and I thought that since he might not have read your other posts he might not get that either. No, you don't have to be serious all the time, and having been accused of similar callousness myself in the past, I apologise.

10-31-07, 05:04 PM	#1
Russ Chewning Nub Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Is there a commercial guide to Silent Hunter III? I bought a copy of the game, and it came with no manual. Is there a good commercial product out there for this game? I know I can get pretty much all the info here, but it would take days to glean from the forum, and frankly, I don't want to spend that much time to even find out IF I even like the game. As it stands now, the game is unplayable without a manual. Yeah, I figured out the deck gun. Did Excellent on it. Yeah, I figured out the flak gun. Did okay on it. Torpedo'ing boats without a manual? Nearly impossible. I know you guys and gals are hardcore fans of the genre, and I really want to like the game, but I am not thrilled at the prospect of looking at a computer screen to figure out how to play it, either looking at the pdf on the DVD, or looking on a forum for 20 different subjects that I should have gotten in a game manual. If there's not a commercial guide out for this game, I guess I just have to wait for Crysis to come out.. Russ

10-31-07, 05:10 PM	#2
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Hi and welcome aboard You can try the community manual http://www.mysh3.info/shiii/index.php?title=Main_Page __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

10-31-07, 09:04 PM	#7
Chock Sea Lord Join Date: May 2005 Location: Under a thermal layer in chilly Olde England Posts: 1,842 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Since SH3 is essentially fairly realistic, I'd recommend getting this book, as it explains almost everything you'll come across weapons-wise on a German submarine, and it's probably something you'll enjoy reading too: http://www.subsim.com/books/book_type7_stern.htm Definitely a great book, and it can serve as an explanatory guide to most of the weapon's and (most common) boat's capabilities and most common tactics. Never stays on my bookshelf for long! Chock __________________

11-01-07, 02:03 PM	#12
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	That was more than a little rude. We try to help people here, not smack them upside the head. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

11-01-07, 03:22 PM	#14
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Smoked I hope __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

10-31-07, 06:47 PM	#3
Russ Chewning Nub Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	So in answer to my question, there is no commercial manual? Like I said... Not thrilled at reading from a PC screen.. Don't want to print out hundreds of pages from a FAQ. Not looking for a replacement guide, as I have already read that the original guide wasn't anything to get excited about in the first place.I just want a pretty, illustrated, commercial guide. Something nice to put on my bookshelf or even as a coffee table book. Does no such thing exist, even in the UK? Russ

10-31-07, 08:49 PM	#5
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Gday russ, What torplexed has said is right, the original manual really wasnt even worth the bother - they wasted their time on it. While i can understand your reluctance to want to read off the screen or print a hundred pages, the result is honest to god worth it. you won't regret the effort reading through, especially once you graduate onto GWX!

10-31-07, 08:59 PM	#6
TarJak Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 17,052 Downloads: 150 Uploads: 8	Did the copy you bought come with a bunch of tutorial .WMV files included? IIRC when I first bought the game I found these and played them and found out that it explained pretty much all you need to know to get started. There should be one for each exam in the academy. Can't remember whether you can click to them from the academy menu though:hmm:

10-31-07, 09:41 PM	#8
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Sounds like he's after one of those slick printed and bound strategy manuals you find in some software shops. Prima Publishing put out one for the first Silent Hunter in 1996. Still have my copy. But they're rare for subsims. I can't see passing up a great sim like this just because they're not being published for this genre anymore. It's not the game or the developer's fault.

10-31-07, 10:54 PM	#9
Capa A-ganger Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 76 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You're going to end up playing Crysis anyway, I think. The bottom line is a Prima guide isn't necssary, not for any game. If that's a prerequisite to your enjoyment of a game then you're probably making excuses not to like it. I've never bought one in my life, since they tend to bust open a game in the same way as a cheat does. They're also really expensive. Besides, speaking as a pure newbie (been playing just over a week) the game isn't at all hard to get into. The game is basically a simple on-rails shooting gallery on the easiest settings. You dip your toes into the more complex (and satisfying) elements at your own pace. Pff, guides. I'm sure you'll enjoy Crysis without one.

11-01-07, 11:50 AM	#10
M00nStalker Watch Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 25 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	There should be a .pdf version of the manual in the documentation folder of your install, so play around, do the training missions, watch the instruction movies and if you wonder something specific check out the manual. SHIII is pretty alt+TAB friendly too. As mentioned above the manual really isn´t necessary to play the game, the training levels will give you most information you need, the forum and the community guide will give you the rest, the manual won´t give you what you need.

11-01-07, 12:01 PM	#11
neves_rats Seaman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 40 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Russ, surprised you didn't ask for one of the GWX development team to come round and play the game for you, can you really be bothered pushing that damn mouse around the table yourself. Does your mum still cut up your meat for you and tuck you in at night

11-01-07, 03:15 PM	#13
neves_rats Seaman Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 40 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You don't think the gave away the lightheartedness? And you honestly have no problem whatsoever with the initial and subsequent post? Didn't realise I had to be deadly serious all of the time, lesson taken on board, have slapped myself down with a wet kipper.