HELP

[jkaufman1967]

I am new to Silent Hunter and I can't figure out how to do any of the Submarine School missions, let alone the real missions. That isn't true. After about 30 minutes I figured out which button to click to get to the map I needed to use to find the location I was supposed to navigate to. Then I had to figure out which marking was me and which was the destination.

Is there good documentation or an interactive tutorial anywhere?

If anybody from UBI is reading this, please do something about the game manual.

Thanks!

[jkaufman1967]

I am new to Silent Hunter and I can't figure out how to do any of the Submarine School missions, let alone the real missions. That isn't true. After about 30 minutes I figured out which button to click to get to the map I needed to use to find the location I was supposed to navigate to. Then I had to figure out which marking was me and which was the destination.

Is there good documentation or an interactive tutorial anywhere?

If anybody from UBI is reading this, please do something about the game manual.

Thanks!

[lane2512]

Gameplay tips in this thread....
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421019045/m/9661024145

[jkaufman1967]

Uhh, I need something more basic than that. I mean the guide to identifying ships is great and all, but I can't figure out how to control the boat at all.

Is there a step by step tutorial at all?

I really want to like this game, but so far it is like playing a flight simulator with the screen turned off.

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:
Uhh, I need something more basic than that. I mean the guide to identifying ships is great and all, but I can't figure out how to control the boat at all.

Is there a step by step tutorial at all?

I really want to like this game, but so far it is like playing a flight simulator with the screen turned off. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The road before you is arduous grasshopper, but a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.
First of all, F1 in any screen brings up help.

Controling the boat:

The gauges on the bottom right of the screen contol the boat manually.
The farthest right is the depth. It has two views, Click just below the stem to change between the shallow and deep guages. Click on a depth and that is where your sub goes. You can also type P for periscope depth.

The middle guage is the compass, where you can click on a compass heading to go in that direction. It is the rudder in the other view where you can click on a turn angle.

The leftmost guage is the speed where you can click on 1/3/, 2/3 etc. to set a speed either in forward or reverse. In the other view it allows a set to a specific speed.

You can also put the boat on automatic, using waypoints.
Double Click on the calipers icon in the top yellow bar.
You should now see a series of icon related to that icon on the lower yellow bar and you will be in the MAP view. Your sub is the little circle. Click on the lower icon that looks like an arrow and bring your cursor onto the map. You will see a line from your sub to where ever the cursor is. Put the cursor where you want to go and left click. Go a little further toward where you want to go and left click again. You are setiing a series of waypoints that the sub will travel until you tell the crew otherwise. To get going or return to, your plotted course, click the bent once arrow and you will get the message "following plotted course".

This should get you started.

[jkaufman1967]

THANKS! Any other tips http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:
THANKS! Any other tips http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>+
<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Hundreds, but where do I start? You need to master driving your sub, firing torpedos, and finding your way around the game. Hover your cursor over the command buttons and they will tell you what they do. Do not under any circumstances check manual torpedo firing in the settings screen. It does not work due to a chronometer bug.

I will monitor your thread and will be happy to help with specific questions, like how do I drive the sub, how do I fire torpedos, etc. This is a complicated SOB of a game and that is what makes it so much fun.</span> http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Get in close, get hits and make like a hole in the water.

[Deepbluewolf]

you might also want to use the comand "Q" to open the door of the torpedo tube you want to fire.

[jkaufman1967]

Thanks for the help.

Anybody want to buy a copy of Silent Hunter 4? I don't mind the complexity (I actually looked forward to it), but the game is just too hard for a newbie.

[Deepbluewolf]

NO it is not, you have to think of it not as a game but as a SImulator and that means that there is a lot of learning involved.
i had all the previus SH and it still took me about a couple of days to get my bearings in SH4.
Hang in there and check the tutorial threads on the stickys above. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/10.gif

[dgrayson]

Please do not give up!
There are plenty of people who love this Sim so much that we want to share the fun. We are all here to help you.
Take it step by step.
Hang in there.
We can, DBW & myself among many others, turn you into the reincarnation of Mush Morton if you will let us.

[Deepbluewolf]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">dgrayson </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

well put. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/clap.gif

[jkaufman1967]

OK, so I am doing the Midway quick mission (I figured that it would be easiest to start with those), and no matter which way I go I end up just east of the japanese fleet. I've tried every course from due north to due south, doesn't matter. Then I will somehow end up 500 yards from an enemy ship with a 90 angle on the bow, but I can't get a good shot off. I did manage to sink an aircraft carrier in one time and a heavy cruiser another, but that was just luck both times.

Then I tried a war patrol, the one to find and sink the aircraft carrier. How do I try to figure out where to look for it? I assume I don't just start steaming around the Southwest Pacific calling it by name.

[jkaufman1967]

and thanks, I do appreciate the help.

[dgrayson]

Great to have you on board j.

I play the game exclusivly in the career mode and haven't even tried any of the single missions. I will try the Midway mission tonight in order to find out what is involved and where they put you. I use my own difficulties and probably a Gar or Porpoise for that. Let me know what difficulty settings you are using and what sub you have chosen and I will then play it with those settings and sub.

My game also uses two mods that change, for the better, a lot of little things about the game. I will therefore use terms like "Attack Map" and "Navigation Map" rather than the key stroke as my keyboard is completely remapped.

I have a couple of questions:
What time zone are you in? I am in the Eastern US time zone. Deepblue wolf is in Portugal if I remember correctly. That right DBW?

What is your primary language? Mine is American English
How computer literate are you?

Are you over or under 50 years old?

How familiar are you with submarine warfare in the Second World War?

Do you have any idea of how addicting this game can become once you get good at it?

For the next few weeks or so my wife is out of town tending to her mother in another state. That would normally mean bad news for the Imperial Japanaese Navy, but I think that helping to train a new Sub Commander will be even worse news for them.

Dave
Get in close, get hits and make like a hole in the water.

[Deepbluewolf]

thats wrong http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif i was born there but i moved to Germany a few months ago.

Im also trying that mission tonight for i never played a single mission before. Ill post the results tomorrow. and i also have this moded so i got to use the same routine...Attack Map etc...

[jkaufman1967]

1) I am in the US Pacific Time Zone
2) My primarily language is like Californian
3) I run a web software development company
4) I am under 40. And I will be until late August. Please don't remind me.
5) I am sort of familiar with it. I don't have an iswas at home or anything, but I know the concepts: get in position, shoot, and get lost.
6) Yes, I am counting in it being addicting. I've been waiting for a good sub simulator for the Pacific.

What mods do you use or recommend? Also, I will go right to the career mode. I thought that the quick missions would be good for training but if they aren't, then I will dive right in (sorry about the pun).

Thanks again! I am looking forward to beers at the Royal Hawaiian.

[dgrayson]

Greetings from like Florida Dude http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif
I started that Midway mission and found myself in the middle of the entire IJN. Not a good place to learn. I had my hands full for a long time.

Mods:
I install my MODs with JSGME
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...5&postcount=48 )
for details on installation with JSGME

TTM The Trigger Maru by Ducimus download at:
http://www.ducimus.net/sh4/

It needs some minor changes before you install it. I will look them up and get back with the necessary changes.

Silent Service Graphics Mod download at:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=110756

TTM fixes a lot of bugs and make the game flow better.

SSGM replaces the opening film and changes the menu backgrounds to pix of real WWII submariners and boats.

BTW What difficulty level setting are you using?

<STRIKE>I will post the needed TTM changes later tonight.</STRIKE>

TTM Changes

Before you put TTM into your MODS Folder. Unzip it to folder of your choice and edit it as follows.

Go to: /DATA/LIBRARY/
Remove TORPEDOS_US.SIM
His changes make a bad situation worse.

Go to:/DATA/SOUND/
remove MUSIC/MUSIC.CFG
He disables the in game music. You can shut it off in "Settings" if you don't like it.

Go to:/DATA/
remove MOVIES/INTRO
This kills the opening sequence and you miss a lot of the SSGM graphics.

Get your career going and let the forum know where and when you are, what boat you have etc.

Good luck and good hunting.
See you at the bar, I too am in the Pearl flotilla for this career.

[jkaufman1967]

Thanks again for all of your help and answering my dumb questions.

So I do a mission, and I get to my patrol area. How do I actually catch up with one of the convoys? I am assuming i just watch where they are going to and from and lie in wait. Is that right?

[Wolferz]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:
OK, so I am doing the Midway quick mission (I figured that it would be easiest to start with those), and no matter which way I go I end up just east of the japanese fleet. I've tried every course from due north to due south, doesn't matter. Then I will somehow end up 500 yards from an enemy ship with a 90 angle on the bow, but I can't get a good shot off. I did manage to sink an aircraft carrier in one time and a heavy cruiser another, but that was just luck both times.

Then I tried a war patrol, the one to find and sink the aircraft carrier. How do I try to figure out where to look for it? I assume I don't just start steaming around the Southwest Pacific calling it by name. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Of course not. You have to stand on the bridge and yell MARCO! Then wait until you hear PORO! http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:
Thanks again for all of your help and answering my dumb questions.

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Sorry, but I do not believe there is such a thing as a dumb question.</span>

So I do a mission, and I get to my patrol area.

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Here is how the patrol star with the binoculars works. Get within 75 km of the star and stay there. There is a navigation icon you can use to help with that. It is the double bent yellow arrow on the navigation bar. stet a way point on the point of the star closest to you and then click the "Search Pattern" icon and a search pattern course will appear at the end of the waypoint you set. Stay in that area until the star grays, you will then get new orders to engage and destroy enemy MERCHANT shipping. You are now free to go anywhere and sinking a total of over 10,000 tons satisfies those orders. Anytime you want new orders, go to the Messages tab of the Captains log ( Button is 2nd under time in right corner ) and send a status report ( lower left icon on messages tab ). You then get new orders until you get low on torpedos.</span>


How do I actually catch up with one of the convoys? I am assuming i just watch where they are going to and from and lie in wait. Is that right? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Sort of. You use your navigation tools.
Step by step
Go to Nav Map and look at contacts within 200 km. You can draw a circle by clicking in the compass tool. Then click on your sub and you can draw a circle of any diameter by dragging outward, a click will freeze it and a right click turs it off. the little tail on each contact indicates it's direction. Click on them and you get time, course and speed. Slow is 5kts, medium is 9 or so and fast is around 12. Pick a contact more or less approaching you.

Zoom to the closest level that shows both you and the contact.

Click the ruler tool and click on the contact's "tail" then move the cursor to draw a line that contiues the direction of the "tail" so that it continues to the screen top and click. That is your first approximation of the contacts course.

Click the Calipers Icon and select the arrow. Set a course for your sub that intersects the ruler line at a right angle. Check the distance to the intercept point for your sub. The distance is at the end waypoint.

Click the ruler and and determine the contact's distance to the intercept point. Click the convoy position and then draw to IP.

Do the math and see what speed you need to beat them to the IP.

Check for any updates and watch for radar contacts as the IP conjunction nears. You can get there early and wait rather that putt along a 4 or 5 knots. Remember the line we drew was only an approximation. A fancy guess.

We will work on attacks a little later. Try some intercepts.

Good Luck and Good Hunting
</span>

[Deepbluewolf]

Geee http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/blink.gif what ever can I add to that? you said it all.

well...

Have fun! http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif

[jkaufman1967]

Thanks! I am now able to catch up to them, and most of the time I can sink some ships when I catch up to them. Not great yet, but if the ship is slow enough I can get a couple of fish in it.

[dgrayson]

j,

Are you still stock game or have you modded it?

Now that you can find them, here is a safe way to sink them.

Rather than trying to explain an attack, I took a series of screen shots and posted them at: http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z107/davegrayson/

Start on page two. View them in military time order. I am not that proficient in posting things on the web, so I inadvertantly put them in the wrong order.

In the first screen shot I am on the surface, headed for my IP at 10.5 knots with the gramaphone playing a little Glenn Miller. As I get close to my IP I submerge, turn off the gramaphone and "Rig for silent running". At the IP ( .7 to .9 KM from the IP line) it's "all stop" and wait.

Once they get into visual range I choose my target, in this case the Large Modern Tanker. I get the scope on him and when his little yellow arrow appears I lock the target ( Type L to lock target.)

I fired two fish at 3000 yards and then, down scope, set depth at 445 feet. Stay in all stop. At some point the crew will say "passing thermal layer. This is the Thermocline, where the water temp drops rapidly and it makes the DD's sonar fairly ineffective. Stay under the layer until the DD's get tired of looking for you and leave. Do not start moving even if they pass overhead, they will hear your motors. When you are satisfied that they are back on their way, come to periscope depth and have a look. Don't see them? Go to radar depth (38 feet) and see where they are on radar. If you are out of visual range, surface and be on your merry way with a nice fat tanker in your sunk log.

If you need a step by step or have any questions on the screen shots let me know.

Good luck and Good Hunting

[jkaufman1967]

This is fantastic, thank you so much. I just sunk just over 40 tons on my first patrol (ok, I am on easy and the DD's aren't that aggressive), and had I been patient I would've gotten another 7 - I sank two freighters in one convoy and couldn't get a 3rd fish into another one. I did pick off a destroyer though, just for fun.

I think I need to be more patient when I get to the IP, too and not compress time so much. I just get impatient waiting.

I am downloading the pictures now, I want to put a little document together with your advice. I will let you know when I have it. As I thought, the game does rock once you get the basics.

I really appreciate all the help. Now I am back to the hunt. Let me know if there is any way I can repay you!

[Deepbluewolf]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Let me know if there is any way I can repay you! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

wellll...now that you mention it http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">
I think I need to be more patient when I get to the IP, too and not compress time so much. I just get impatient waiting.

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Patience is a requirement. SHIV is more like chess than football.</span>

I am downloading the pictures now, I want to put a little document together with your advice. I will let you know when I have it. As I thought, the game does rock once you get the basics.

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">I am honored. Thank you!</span> http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I really appreciate all the help. Now I am back to the hunt. Let me know if there is any way I can repay you! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">If you are ever near Tampa, FL, you can buy me that beer. In fact, just about any place in Fl will do as my job takes me around most of the state. I rarely go to the panhandle however, which we call the redneck Riviera.</span> http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Good luck and good hunting.

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Deepbluewolf:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Let me know if there is any way I can repay you! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

wellll...now that you mention it http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Right... I do all the work and you want the glory. Typical fighter pilot. Just remember, without your wingman you are just another target.</span> http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-very-happy.gif

"Stay with the bast**d till he's down" Dudley "Mush" Morton

[Deepbluewolf]

http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif a GOOD pilot goes for the easy kill http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/88.gif


but yeah you earned that beer http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/25.gif

[Flamewagon]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:
This is fantastic, thank you so much. I just sunk just over 40 tons on my first patrol (ok, I am on easy and the DD's aren't that aggressive), and had I been patient I would've gotten another 7 - I sank two freighters in one convoy and couldn't get a 3rd fish into another one. I did pick off a destroyer though, just for fun.

I think I need to be more patient when I get to the IP, too and not compress time so much. I just get impatient waiting.

I am downloading the pictures now, I want to put a little document together with your advice. I will let you know when I have it. As I thought, the game does rock once you get the basics.

I really appreciate all the help. Now I am back to the hunt. Let me know if there is any way I can repay you! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Hi, J.

Good to see you are sticking with the game, everyone here is really helpful and friendly and we seem to be all in it together which is great.
Hve you downloaded or placed any radio tunes or broadcasts into your radio or gramaphone yet?, it adds to the realism. There are loads of links on the forum to sites where you can get the broadcasts, it has made my missions really interesting and atmospheric.
Have fun.

P.S. Am I correct in guessing 1967 was your birth year?

[jkaufman1967]

Yes, 67 is my birth year. I haven't downloaded any radio tunes or gramaphones yet. I am still trying to get used to the basics, but I do plan on getting some V-Disks for the crew http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif.

I've taken your advice and put it into a handy document. I would like to share that with anybody else who would like some help getting started. Is there a good place I can post it?

[dgrayson]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jkaufman1967:

I've taken your advice and put it into a handy document. I would like to share that with anybody else who would like some help getting started. Is there a good place I can post it? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

<span class="ev_code_YELLOW">Why don't you start a thread and title it "Help for Newbies" or something like that. That way others can contibute and inexperienced Captains can ask for basic game operation help. There are a lot of Skippers in this forum that would love to share their knowledge. Who knows, maybe you can get a manual started!</span>

I'll keep watching this thread for any questions you may have. Glad to be of help. I really enjoy immersing myself in this game.

Get in close, get hits and make like a hole in the water.

[jkaufman1967]

excellent idea.