[Help!] It's my first day.

Jerik · 06-05-08, 10:44 PM

I've been lurking this forum for quite awhile, reading about SH4 and wanting to grab a copy. Now that I have a computer that can play it, I've been running the tutorials... and got a bit stuck.

I used assorted videos to learn manual TDC, so I'm alright and manually getting a solution (just alright-- I still need practice), but I'm stuck on the 4th training mission. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to do to get in range of the merchants. The destroyers always see and pound me.

So, I need help with the tactics of the approach. What is the theory behind convoy attacks? I've watched Legion's (Extremely helpful) tutorial on getting near something, but I'm looking for close-range escort evasion tactics. I'd greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks!

P.S. Bonus points to anyone who picks out the (oddly appropriate) Simpson's reference here.

THE_MASK · 06-05-08, 11:06 PM

My advice is to forget that training mission . Go to the mods section and downlaod the RSRDC mod where you will get loads of war patrol missions and practice with those . Cheers .

Jerik · 06-05-08, 11:28 PM

Awesome, I went and installed it, will get to work.

Thanks!

Frame57 · 06-05-08, 11:46 PM

I found the single missions to not be a great training ground. Simply because I found myself in a position i would not have approached a convoy to begin with. In the campaign if you mess it up you can start again. What works for me especially with a convoy or a task force once I have some intel via radar, sonar or radio. I knuckle around the convoy well past the radar ranges of the escorts. Place my boat in a good intercept position and I get under a thermal layer at all stop and go quiet. I let the escorts pass then it is up to PD and pick a nice juicy merchant. Sneaking past escorts is doable but there are some tricks to it and like a magician we cant give them all away, but you have one good startegy here I gave you to start. Part of the fun is learning by trial and error.

Jerik · 06-06-08, 02:34 PM

New question:

I have two periscopes, the observation scope and the attack scope. I seem to be able to do TDC calculations and fire torps from either, however, so the distinction is lost on me. What is the purpose of two scopes, and when should I use one over the other?

THE_MASK · 06-06-08, 02:47 PM

I never use the obs . The attack scope is skinnier and harder to spot and the obs scope can look right up where the attack cannot .

Quillan · 06-06-08, 05:05 PM

If you're running Trigger Maru Overhauled, the observation scope is brighter than the attack scope, because the bigger head lets more light in. I use the attack scope during the day and the observation scope at night. In the stock game the only differences are magnification level and maximum angle of elevation.

Red Devil · 06-06-08, 05:22 PM

When I first installed SH4, I started a war patrol on "easy" and just used it as practice. Now am running RSRD too and on realistic. But the lack of targets makes one fall asleep!!

Sailor Steve · 06-06-08, 06:17 PM

Part of the problem is confusing the game with real life. I don't mean that in an insulting way; it's just that before SH3 and now SH4 no game ever modelled both periscopes, and it was something everybody said they wanted. I try to use both periscopes historically, just 'cause.

In real life both scopes have the same magnifications. The purpose of the observation scope is to observe, obviously. It does let in more light for night use, and cranks up 85 degrees for spotting aircraft. It also leaves a larger wake.

Here is pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about periscopes:
http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/pscope/index.htm

THE_MASK · 06-06-08, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Part of the problem is confusing the game with real life.

What , you mean its not real

Frame57 · 06-06-08, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sober

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Part of the problem is confusing the game with real life.

What , you mean its not real

WHAT! Does thart mean CJ on baywatch is not real either? (Borat voice):hmm:

Red Devil · 06-07-08, 04:45 AM

I am gutted!! Al those ships gone and it didn't matter!!! Shocked

Jerik · 06-07-08, 08:27 PM

Another question for you all.

I have noticed that campaign has a difficulty setting. I don't see any information anywhere that defines what these settings really mean.

Also, I'm looking for a way to alter realism a la carte as with war patrols and the other missions. The earlier settings lack Manual TDC, which is something I've been practicing, and is one of (in my opinion) the most exciting aspects of the game. How can I have my realism settings in campaign?

Arclight · 06-07-08, 11:23 PM

Hey,

Not to sure about campaign difficulty, wondering about that myself, but I quess it effects enemy AI and maybe number of enemy ships/planes that spawn or show up on your map. Torpedo failure rate might also be affected, but can't say anything for certain.

What I do know is that you can change realism settings mid-campaign when you're in port (office). If you look to the left there is a radio or something:

Click it and you can change you're options. I think you have to do it every time you start a career (I "had" to do several restarts because I forgot this).

Hope it helps.

THE_MASK · 06-08-08, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arclight

Hey,

Not to sure about campaign difficulty, wondering about that myself, but I quess it effects enemy AI and maybe number of enemy ships/planes that spawn or show up on your map. Torpedo failure rate might also be affected, but can't say anything for certain.

What I do know is that you can change realism settings mid-campaign when you're in port (office). If you look to the left there is a radio or something:

Click it and you can change you're options. I think you have to do it every time you start a career (I "had" to do several restarts because I forgot this).

Hope it helps.

campaign difficulty settings , hard , very hard etc effects what boxes are ticked in realism settings . Thats it .

06-05-08, 10:44 PM	#1
Jerik Seaman Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	[Help!] It's my first day. I've been lurking this forum for quite awhile, reading about SH4 and wanting to grab a copy. Now that I have a computer that can play it, I've been running the tutorials... and got a bit stuck. I used assorted videos to learn manual TDC, so I'm alright and manually getting a solution (just alright-- I still need practice), but I'm stuck on the 4th training mission. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to do to get in range of the merchants. The destroyers always see and pound me. So, I need help with the tactics of the approach. What is the theory behind convoy attacks? I've watched Legion's (Extremely helpful) tutorial on getting near something, but I'm looking for close-range escort evasion tactics. I'd greatly appreciate the help. Thanks! P.S. Bonus points to anyone who picks out the (oddly appropriate) Simpson's reference here.

06-06-08, 05:05 PM	#7
Quillan Samurai Navy Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 579 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	If you're running Trigger Maru Overhauled, the observation scope is brighter than the attack scope, because the bigger head lets more light in. I use the attack scope during the day and the observation scope at night. In the stock game the only differences are magnification level and maximum angle of elevation. __________________ We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

06-06-08, 05:22 PM	#8
Red Devil The Old Man Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sutton Coldfield England Posts: 1,540 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 0	When I first installed SH4, I started a war patrol on "easy" and just used it as practice. Now am running RSRD too and on realistic. But the lack of targets makes one fall asleep!! __________________ > > Captain!, there's a destroyer on the por........ periscope is flooded Sir! > Darkness is only the absence of Light; Ignorance is only the absence of knowledge © www.worldwartwo.uk www.captainwalker.uk

06-06-08, 06:17 PM	#9
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Part of the problem is confusing the game with real life. I don't mean that in an insulting way; it's just that before SH3 and now SH4 no game ever modelled both periscopes, and it was something everybody said they wanted. I try to use both periscopes historically, just 'cause. In real life both scopes have the same magnifications. The purpose of the observation scope is to observe, obviously. It does let in more light for night use, and cranks up 85 degrees for spotting aircraft. It also leaves a larger wake. Here is pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about periscopes: http://www.maritime.org/fleetsub/pscope/index.htm __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

06-07-08, 04:45 AM	#12
Red Devil The Old Man Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sutton Coldfield England Posts: 1,540 Downloads: 305 Uploads: 0	I am gutted!! Al those ships gone and it didn't matter!!! Shocked __________________ > > Captain!, there's a destroyer on the por........ periscope is flooded Sir! > Darkness is only the absence of Light; Ignorance is only the absence of knowledge © www.worldwartwo.uk www.captainwalker.uk

06-05-08, 11:06 PM	#2
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	My advice is to forget that training mission . Go to the mods section and downlaod the RSRDC mod where you will get loads of war patrol missions and practice with those . Cheers .

06-05-08, 11:28 PM	#3
Jerik Seaman Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Awesome, I went and installed it, will get to work. Thanks!

06-05-08, 11:46 PM	#4
Frame57 Sea Lord Join Date: May 2008 Location: 1300 feet on the crapper Posts: 1,860 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I found the single missions to not be a great training ground. Simply because I found myself in a position i would not have approached a convoy to begin with. In the campaign if you mess it up you can start again. What works for me especially with a convoy or a task force once I have some intel via radar, sonar or radio. I knuckle around the convoy well past the radar ranges of the escorts. Place my boat in a good intercept position and I get under a thermal layer at all stop and go quiet. I let the escorts pass then it is up to PD and pick a nice juicy merchant. Sneaking past escorts is doable but there are some tricks to it and like a magician we cant give them all away, but you have one good startegy here I gave you to start. Part of the fun is learning by trial and error.

06-06-08, 02:34 PM	#5
Jerik Seaman Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	New question: I have two periscopes, the observation scope and the attack scope. I seem to be able to do TDC calculations and fire torps from either, however, so the distinction is lost on me. What is the purpose of two scopes, and when should I use one over the other?

06-06-08, 02:47 PM	#6
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	I never use the obs . The attack scope is skinnier and harder to spot and the obs scope can look right up where the attack cannot .

06-07-08, 08:27 PM	#13
Jerik Seaman Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 34 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Another question for you all. I have noticed that campaign has a difficulty setting. I don't see any information anywhere that defines what these settings really mean. Also, I'm looking for a way to alter realism a la carte as with war patrols and the other missions. The earlier settings lack Manual TDC, which is something I've been practicing, and is one of (in my opinion) the most exciting aspects of the game. How can I have my realism settings in campaign?

06-07-08, 11:23 PM	#14
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Hey, Not to sure about campaign difficulty, wondering about that myself, but I quess it effects enemy AI and maybe number of enemy ships/planes that spawn or show up on your map. Torpedo failure rate might also be affected, but can't say anything for certain. What I do know is that you can change realism settings mid-campaign when you're in port (office). If you look to the left there is a radio or something: Click it and you can change you're options. I think you have to do it every time you start a career (I "had" to do several restarts because I forgot this). Hope it helps. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.