Limited ships?
 

I'm brand new to SH4 (played SH3 years ago) and on my first mission off Honshu.

I'm finding a few solo merchant ships in the general region of my patrol area off Miyako, but absolutely nothing (except airplanes) if I get more than about 100 nm from the gray star. Is this how the vanilla game operates - only generating ships in my assigned patrol area? Do I need a mod to bring more of the world to life?

Similarly, I thought I was well-placed to intercept a convoy traversing the strait between Honshu and Hokaido, but never found it. Are the convoy reports real, or just chrome?

Thanks! I'm sure this all got answered years ago, but it's tough to wade through such ancient literature.

No that's not how the game operates. Convoy reports are real, you have to gauge what their speed is and the fact they can change direction any time and if you can get there in time to intercept. Weather is a factor too. If you're on the surface in a monsoon, your observation is going to be nil. Keep at it skipper. BTW if the star is grey, it means you completed the assignment area, ask for new assignment. Star is Yellow when it's an active assignment. Vanilla is good to get the basics. Then move on to mods. I prefer playing uboat mods myself. There's all kinds of mods Jap to Brit to German to Russian even. Lots of good US mods like FOTRUS.

Thanks for the reply. Considering what a bottleneck that strait is, I can only conclude that the convoy docked at Hakodate.

Next task when I get back to Pearl - check my realism settings. I haven't had any dud torpedoes and that seems too good to be true. :03:

One more thing for now - I don't see where I can ask for a new assignment while on patrol. Is that an option somewhere?

Welcome aboard!
 

Captain's Panel then lower left button. Looks like an envelope.
that panel is also your message log and your sunk-ship tally.
the fourth tab is labeled Captain's Abilities. Ignore it: it is non-functional.

also, you will not be able see your gameplay options while you are on a mission.
check it when you return to your base.

:Kaleun_Salute: