A couple of career questions

[Sensekhmet]

First of all, I'm new here, so hi all. A few words about myself. I'm Polish, I've started my sub adventures with some old game on some old computer, names of both have since been lost. Then came the Wolfpack on PC, SH2, Aces of the Deep (very briefly).
I've been playing SH3 for a couple of weeks but eventually shelved it. Race sims and Combat Mission series were too big of a temptation for me. I dusted SH3 off maybe a month ago and shortly afterwards I discovered Subsim and with it, GWX.
Now, I'm not a good player, I'm not even sure I'm decent (and that can be said about all the games I play...). I use GWX 2.1 and the SH3 Commander combo. It's 1st of August 1940, I serve at 2nd Flotilla, U46 type VIIB boat. So far I've completed 11 patrols, sinking 138k tons in total. I play at 94% realism (map update and weapons officer assistance are on). So far, I've had a rather uneventful career. I guess this is because I can't find jack out there. Call me Johnny The Contact Loser. The only things worth noting are blasting an odd schooner with my flak gun , a quirky surface engagement with 3 French merchants off Gibraltar that had me tossing everything but the kitchen sink at them at a distance of 200 metres while ziggzagging between them and the odd breakdown I suspect SH3 Commander is 'responsible' for, that had me loosing diesel fast... but leaving no oil slick . And of course that one patrol when my depthcharged boat bounced between 13 and 230 metres (if memory serves me right) below water, fighting flooding. For a couple of hours. Right then, here are my questions.
1. I've been saving up my renown for that fat bastard, the type IX. Thing is, I'm still a long way off (4500-ish). Now, I thought I won't have to do it. Why? I thought I'll have that IX issued to me by the command. It didn't happen yet. Is it random or it simply doesn't work that way? (I see the twin 20mm costs zero renown, so I assume that's the 'standard issue' in game terms, right?).
2. If I'll finally get my hands on that IX, will I be automatically assigned far away patrol sectors (US of A, here I come)?
3. I find that renown works rather strange. Yes, my renown is slow to rack up, but, come on: my medal case is full! I'm leading the aces list! Yet I have to pay 600 renown for better batteries, which is almost 1/4 of my total points. Is that realistic?

[Bosje]

Welcome, Kaleun

the IX won't be assigned to you automatically, you need to earn it and pay for it with renown (if you START a career in 2nd flotilla, later in the war, you'll get it as your starting sub)

yes renown builds up slow in GWX. you only get it for sinking ships and you need quite an impressive patrol to earn more than 2000 renown points (I got 2000 renown for sinking 67.000 tons in 1943, my best patrol ever) Sinking big fat ships and battleships/carriers helps a lot. Save up renown by not spending it on useless crap. I am doing pretty much the same as you are, at the moment. Started in 1939 in 2nd flotilla on a VIIB and i plan to get a IXB as soon as possible. To me, that means not spending any renown at all, except the improved sonar for 300 points on the 2nd patrol. Early in the war I don't consider all those upgrades important, anyway. specially if you plan to get a new boat. Also, the IXB gets cheaper after a bit. i think it's like 9000 points at first and 7500 later on. Check the community manual for details.

I'm not completely sure about the patrol grids, but I do know that I once got sent off to Gibraltar from Wilhelmshaven when I transferred from 1st to 2nd flotilla while still riding my old Type II. So patrol grids are assigned based on flotilla and time. It seems that 2nd flotilla gets sent off deep into the atlantic and as far as the carribean and the US coast, while Type II subs from Kiel get sent off to the English east coast. But that's just my experience. On the other hand, when I operate out of Bergen in 1943 they send me off to the Azores, which is just stupid.

Happy Hunting

[Jimbuna]

Welcome aboard Kaleun Sensekhmet

[Brag]

Welcome aboard Kaleun Sensekhmet!

You may want to visit my kielman webbie and read up the articles on tactics.

[Sensekhmet]

Thanks guys. I already have a feeling I'll enjoy my stay here.
Brag, I'll look through the site ASAP.

[predavolk]

It seems like your biggest problem is finding targets. An average of 10K tons per mission is relatively low in the early years of GWX 2.1. I would strongly suggest that you concentrate on fixing that problem before worrying about a bigger boat. Maybe if you tell us what the problem(s) is(are) we can help you get your boat on target more often.

I switched over to a IXB a little earlier than where you are now. I was given missions around Gibraltar, then Africa, and now in 1942, the US and the Caribbean. The IX is a real blessing in terms of maximizing your sinking, but it won't help you if can't find targets!

If you are simply having problems finding good hunting areas, there certainly are lots of threads here on that. Besides using the excellent convoy/inidividual route map that comes with the game (pull down from the top), search for "tanker alley", or "hunting grounds", "patrol areas", with favourite splashed in there. My Glorious Hunting thread lists some, and quite often, I talk about good hunting areas in the threads I've started.

[Red Heat]

Hello

Nobody born knowing everithing and in SH3 (GWX) its the same a good start its to complete the Naval Academy...and repeat a couple of times untill you get confortable with all operations, and later start a Caraer in the begining of the War.
Set the dificulty as you please, the most inportant its to play and get fun, get experience and complete the objectives, and using you renow wisely to upgrate your U-boat...thats it!
And...ah...welcome aboart, Kaptain!