Amazing! Frustrating! Intriguing!

Holdit · 08-16-06, 04:28 AM

I been playing SH3 for about a fortnight and what a fortnight it's been! I started with a full career in 1939 commanding a type II (yes, I was determined to do it the hard way...) and had sunk three ships on my first control - with manual targeting - so I was pretty happy. I play with 79% realism, by the way.

Then...I installed the Grey Wolves mod. Wow! This game is just...amazing. The wireless traffic is deeply immersive; the sea water is like a painting, I've seen seas varying between rough and glassy and I'm sure I haven't seen it all yet; the ships look terrific; the interface is fantastic, including the interactions with officers; in short the most immersive simulation I've seen since the otherwise unfortunate B-17.

Unfortunately, installing the Grey Wolves mod dropped my existing boat in the middle of nowhere (literally! - 0-0' W 0-0' N). No problem sez I...I'll just start again. Ooops but I have to be in Kiel now if I want the type II. Bugger! All that extra transit time...still never mind (and aren't the harbours with traffic amazing too? Last time leaving harbour I passed a cruisier that had dropped in to say hello).

Three patrols later, though, and frustration is starting to creep in. Using G7-a's, I've rendered three ships for a total of about 21,000 tonnes swamped and dead in the water...but not sunk (aaaargh!!!) even though they'd taken three or four torpedo hits each. I thought about maybe using the G7-e's instead, but I wanted to avoid all the malfunctions - maybe I would have been better off.

Of course, being in a type II means that (a) I very quickly run out of torpedoes with which to finish off the targets and (b) I don't have a deck gun with which to administer a coup de grace either. Nothing to do but hang around hoping the bloody thing will sink until I get fed up and call it a day and set off on the long slog back to Kiel. Oh well, at least I have a II-D now, with lots more fuel so I can make the transits at higher speed.

Here's the intriguing bit which makes me wonder if I'm not getting some reward for my efforts after all. Firstly, I wasn't getting any "be more aggressive" messages from BdU. Then, after my third patrol, I was promoted to...Leutnant-sur-Zee I think it was. Last night I had to save my fourth patrol while it was in progress and because this involves "returning to base" I noticed I was going to get the Iron Cross 2nd class. Not bad for someone who has yet to register even a single ton of shipping sunk.

Is anyone aware of how the performance-reward system is modelled - just curious, I don't intend to manipulate it or anything. Also, is the new damage model in the Grey Wolves mod off-whack or is it me doing something wrong. If I finish patrol #4 by sailing away from yet another almost-sunk ship I think I'll end up going postal in the control room...

08-16-06, 04:28 AM	#1
Holdit Watch Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 18 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	Amazing! Frustrating! Intriguing! I been playing SH3 for about a fortnight and what a fortnight it's been! I started with a full career in 1939 commanding a type II (yes, I was determined to do it the hard way...) and had sunk three ships on my first control - with manual targeting - so I was pretty happy. I play with 79% realism, by the way. Then...I installed the Grey Wolves mod. Wow! This game is just...amazing. The wireless traffic is deeply immersive; the sea water is like a painting, I've seen seas varying between rough and glassy and I'm sure I haven't seen it all yet; the ships look terrific; the interface is fantastic, including the interactions with officers; in short the most immersive simulation I've seen since the otherwise unfortunate B-17. Unfortunately, installing the Grey Wolves mod dropped my existing boat in the middle of nowhere (literally! - 0-0' W 0-0' N). No problem sez I...I'll just start again. Ooops but I have to be in Kiel now if I want the type II. Bugger! All that extra transit time...still never mind (and aren't the harbours with traffic amazing too? Last time leaving harbour I passed a cruisier that had dropped in to say hello). Three patrols later, though, and frustration is starting to creep in. Using G7-a's, I've rendered three ships for a total of about 21,000 tonnes swamped and dead in the water...but not sunk (aaaargh!!!) even though they'd taken three or four torpedo hits each. I thought about maybe using the G7-e's instead, but I wanted to avoid all the malfunctions - maybe I would have been better off. Of course, being in a type II means that (a) I very quickly run out of torpedoes with which to finish off the targets and (b) I don't have a deck gun with which to administer a coup de grace either. Nothing to do but hang around hoping the bloody thing will sink until I get fed up and call it a day and set off on the long slog back to Kiel. Oh well, at least I have a II-D now, with lots more fuel so I can make the transits at higher speed. Here's the intriguing bit which makes me wonder if I'm not getting some reward for my efforts after all. Firstly, I wasn't getting any "be more aggressive" messages from BdU. Then, after my third patrol, I was promoted to...Leutnant-sur-Zee I think it was. Last night I had to save my fourth patrol while it was in progress and because this involves "returning to base" I noticed I was going to get the Iron Cross 2nd class. Not bad for someone who has yet to register even a single ton of shipping sunk. Is anyone aware of how the performance-reward system is modelled - just curious, I don't intend to manipulate it or anything. Also, is the new damage model in the Grey Wolves mod off-whack or is it me doing something wrong. If I finish patrol #4 by sailing away from yet another almost-sunk ship I think I'll end up going postal in the control room...