Just started CW, I have a couple of questions
 

Just installed the game today and going through the training missions. The quick reference guide lists some commands with an "Alpha" prefix e.g. Weapon Senor key is Alpha 1. What is "Alpha"?

I've watched some vids on YT where a mini 3d view would appear on the bottom left of the screen whilst viewing the 2d map. However in my tutorial missions thus far there's no mini 3d camera view. What am I missing here?

Thanks.

Welcome aboard Zero_Niner
Bearing in mind the QRG is from 2017 but I looked at what you're referencing and I can understand the confusion. Alpha seems to suggest the top row of number keys on your keyboard rather than the numeric keypad (if applicable) which is keypad

Number Row Keys and Commands:
1: Weapon Sensor
2: Weapon Search
3: Weapon Depth
4: Activate Torpedo
Shift+4: Cut Wire
No binds for: 5, 6, 7
8: Radar Mast Raise/Lower
9: ESM Mast Raise/Lower
0: Periscope Raise/Lower

Another question: under game options, there is a setting for distance scale, and the default setting is 1:2. How does this affect gameplay. Would I be correct to say that setting it at 1:1 will result in longer missions, as the contacts would be twice the distance away?

CW distance scale
 

distance scale in Cold Waters

What it does is change the world scale in the X and Z axes.
This means at 1:1, contacts are much farther out and take longer to get to etc. It is a realistic setting with a much slower pace to the game.

1:4 brings everything in much closer. A contact 15 KYD out is still 15 KYD away, but rendered much closer, is more easily visible (especially underwater) and of course takes much less time to get to/away from.


also It doesn't effect the terrain.

Hope this clears things up a bit for you

so basically the higher you go SCALE wise the faster the game action will seem as you will get objects closer to you at the start

and of course weapons and contacts cover distances faster so outbound & incoming weapons & contacts take less time to reach way points and other contacts so more like a arcade game setting


Steel Shark

Got it, thanks.
I've been playing a lot of SH4, I brought a campaign from Pearl Harbor to war's end and it's time for a change of scenery lol.

no problem mate
 

yer a change is good sometimes i agree


Steel Shark