How many people would be interested in...

Observer · 08-15-05, 10:10 PM

A tonnage randomizer?

The way this thing works, you would have to randomize and load SH3. If you wanted to randomize again, you would have to save, exit SH3, randomize and reload SH3. You would not be able to make changes on the fly because SH3 loads the necessary files at startup (

), but it would provide a bit more variety than even what's already provided by SH3 Commander.

With a bit more work, I can (I think) randomize the saved game log entry for a bit more variety. Anyone interested in this before I spend a whole bunch of time re-writing what I've already got? Just in case anyone asks, this would be a background application similar to SH3 Commander, but much simpler.

CWorth · 08-15-05, 10:12 PM

If you can find a way to do it and keep from having to exit the game and restart all the time then Im all for it.

hopkins32 · 08-15-05, 10:14 PM

sounds vary interesting i would love to play with it.

Observer · 08-15-05, 10:15 PM

It's not possible. I've tested it in every possible configuration I can think of, and the files are loaded at game start. The files can be accessed and changed on the fly (the changes even show up in the recognition manual), but they won't be recognized until the next time you start the game.

hopkins32 · 08-15-05, 10:19 PM

recognized for each new patrol would be fine I think

Observer · 08-15-05, 10:23 PM

That's already been accomplished with SH3 Commander.

Jungman · 08-16-05, 02:55 AM

Sounds good to me.

Sawdust · 08-16-05, 05:59 PM

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what exactly does a "tonnage randomizer" do?

Captain America · 08-16-05, 06:56 PM

I think that would be cool

Observer · 08-16-05, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawdust

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what exactly does a "tonnage randomizer" do?

Hehe...it randomizes tonnage of course!

Seriously though, it would change the value of merchant ship tonnage before you start the game to something like plus or minus 15% of the original value. I could also add the small chance that you get a very small ship, or a much larger ship than normal.

For example, say the base tonnage for a small merchant is 2,400 GRT. This program would change that to a random number between 2,040 GRT and 2760 GRT before the small change that SH3 applies. I could make this range even bigger if desired. You wouldn't know what the number is unless you look at the recognition manual or sink a ship.

jasonb885 · 08-16-05, 08:34 PM

Sounds like a ton of work for the tonnage to change a bit.

Might be cool for those with seriously beefy systems, but it takes more than a minute to load the game, then another minute to load a save on my system. Way too long to do it more then once a day for me.

Observer · 08-16-05, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb885

Sounds like a ton of work for the tonnage to change a bit.

Might be cool for those with seriously beefy systems, but it takes more than a minute to load the game, then another minute to load a save on my system. Way too long to do it more then once a day for me.

This is true, but I've already done the majority of the work. It's just a matter of making a few changes to the code and testing. I can make the variation bigger and even throw in a few special cases. That's easy to do, and the code supports it.

The best current system to change tonnage uses SH3 Commander and only changes it once a patrol. This program could have the potential to change it several times during the same patrol depending on how often the user exited and restarted the game. I do this quite a bit because I only get a little bit of time at a single sitting. The stock game never changes the tonnage through out the war, so even the once a month method as in SH3 Commander is better, IMHO, than the stock game.

I can also scramble the numbers in the log. It would be after the fact, but it could add some more variety. I haven't written this part of the code so it would require a bit more effort.

jasonb885 · 08-16-05, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Observer

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb885

Sounds like a ton of work for the tonnage to change a bit.

Might be cool for those with seriously beefy systems, but it takes more than a minute to load the game, then another minute to load a save on my system. Way too long to do it more then once a day for me.

...

I can also scramble the numbers in the log. It would be after the fact, but it could add some more variety. I haven't written this part of the code so it would require a bit more effort.

Seems like a lot of work for little payoff, but then I feel that way about the harbor traffic mods too.

To each his own I guess.

Farside · 08-17-05, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawdust

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what exactly does a "tonnage randomizer" do?

basically what observers said but, its to signify that ships could be carrying other cargo, Iron ore, corn etc

joea · 08-17-05, 10:40 AM

Stupid question, how could the u-boat crews know exactly how much their victims weighed?

08-15-05, 10:10 PM	#1
Observer Commander Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 477 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	How many people would be interested in... A tonnage randomizer? The way this thing works, you would have to randomize and load SH3. If you wanted to randomize again, you would have to save, exit SH3, randomize and reload SH3. You would not be able to make changes on the fly because SH3 loads the necessary files at startup ( ), but it would provide a bit more variety than even what's already provided by SH3 Commander. With a bit more work, I can (I think) randomize the saved game log entry for a bit more variety. Anyone interested in this before I spend a whole bunch of time re-writing what I've already got? Just in case anyone asks, this would be a background application similar to SH3 Commander, but much simpler.

08-16-05, 05:59 PM	#8
Sawdust Planesman Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quadrant DB22 Posts: 198 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sorry if this is a silly question, but what exactly does a "tonnage randomizer" do? __________________ .-. --- ..- --. .... ... . .- ... .- .... . .- -..

08-16-05, 08:34 PM	#11
jasonb885 Samurai Navy Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 580 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds like a ton of work for the tonnage to change a bit. Might be cool for those with seriously beefy systems, but it takes more than a minute to load the game, then another minute to load a save on my system. Way too long to do it more then once a day for me. __________________ X1 = Thieves Starforce officially promotes piracy of unprotected game, Galactic Civilizations II! eh? Improved Convoys mod!

08-15-05, 10:12 PM	#2
CWorth Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gettysburg PA Posts: 845 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	If you can find a way to do it and keep from having to exit the game and restart all the time then Im all for it.

08-15-05, 10:14 PM	#3
hopkins32 Mate Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 55 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	sounds vary interesting i would love to play with it.

08-15-05, 10:15 PM	#4
Observer Commander Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 477 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	It's not possible. I've tested it in every possible configuration I can think of, and the files are loaded at game start. The files can be accessed and changed on the fly (the changes even show up in the recognition manual), but they won't be recognized until the next time you start the game.

08-15-05, 10:19 PM	#5
hopkins32 Mate Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 55 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	recognized for each new patrol would be fine I think

08-15-05, 10:23 PM	#6
Observer Commander Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 477 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	That's already been accomplished with SH3 Commander.

08-16-05, 02:55 AM	#7
Jungman Samurai Navy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Iowa, USA Posts: 596 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds good to me.

08-16-05, 06:56 PM	#9
Captain America Planesman Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Good Ole Red White & Blue Posts: 193 Downloads: 167 Uploads: 0	I think that would be cool

08-17-05, 10:40 AM	#15
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Stupid question, how could the u-boat crews know exactly how much their victims weighed?