Game manual?
 

Thank you for this WONDERFUL game!

I discovered this, quite by accident, and I am very pleased. I joined this board, a LOOONG time ago, and promptly never went back! Unusual, as I really enjoy the product lines from Shrapnel Games.

In a word, I would describe myself as a grognard. Military history has always been a passion, as has gaming.

I remember playing Tactics II, from Avalon Hill, more years ago than I care to admit...but I will say, Nixon was President!

Now...my issue.

It seems that I am quite unable to view the game manual.

I use firefox, and it crashes out each and every time I attempt to load it.

Now, I consider myself a reasonably bright guy, and in the limited time I have played this excellent game, I have figured out about 90% of what I need.

But, it would be particulary useful to read up on the game mechanics, and some of the insights listed in the manual.

Is there something I can do to get the manual, or do I need to reinstall the Windows Explorer browser that came with Vista?

Vista sucks, btw...thanks for the thread which carefully explained how to work around it.

Sorry if this is in a different thread.

Oh...also, when I have sufficient experience, I would be interested in building scenarios, and eventually, campaigns. In these regards, the bar has been set very, very high.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Game manual?
 

theres nothing wrong with my manual and i use firefox, BTW: re-install your internet explorer or you'll have problems with updates, installs and such things :D

Re: Game manual?
 

I should...but I would rather face a Tiger tank in a Sherman than expose my computer to risk by using Explorer!

Re: Game manual?
 

I use firefox, and have absolutely no problems with viewing the Game Guide, whether launched from the Game Options programme or manually.

You should leave Microsoft Internet Exploder installed even if you do not plan to use it. I don't apart from checking for updates. Microsoft Widows update uses it (active X controls that only work in exploder) and any programme such as the Game Options programme that calls shellexecute needs it to be there, (as the initial O/S "hook" I believe) even if the O/S then redirects the URL to the new default browser.

Cheers
Andy

Re: Game manual?
 

OK, this I understand.

I haven't actually un-installed Explorer, the O/S clearly won't let me.

I use Firefox as my default browser, and I have deleted the shortcut to Explorer to prevent my wife and daughter from accessing it. Time for Plan "B", which is the same thing I say when I see Panzers.

Thanks for taking the time to help me with this.

Re: Game manual?
 

Time To Run for your life?especially if its a VI :D

Re: Game manual?
 

I created a chm file of the game guide. Please check whether it is useful.

I use firefox myself and there is no problem.

Re: Game manual?
 

Thanks

What is a chm file my work computer doesn't seem to recognize it?

Bob out:D

Re: Game manual?
 

chm is a format for help files by Microsoft. I think it stands for Compiled HtMl. MS provides a free tool "HTML workshop". Basically it can compile a group of html files into a single file. It should be working under win98 or later, IIRC.

Are you using Linux, or win95?

BTW
If you can use FF or IE to view GG, use it. For the chm I created, you can't use "open in new tab" to have a full view of a page -- the index side form is always there. I don't how to get rid of it, not a good user for the help workshop.

Re: Game manual?
 

Perfect!!!! Thank you very much!

I just finished a 36 turn random game, US vs. Germans, January 1930.

I had a fair number of light tanks, and he had a HUGE number of halftracks! One of my tanks had 8 kills!

I blew up an enormous number of his troops, but still only got a marginal victory...despite controlling all the vp hexes. I did lose three of my tanks, however.

Quick question:

Is there a quick and dirty ratio between the number of hexes vs. the number of build points? I used 750 points, for a 40 x 40 map, meeting engagement, and it seemed a little light on forces.

Re: Game manual?
 

Try campaigning,at least you and your units will improve from experience.
Did you lose alot infantry or did your HQ's get beat-up?
I have times where The AO barely survived,and was thankful to get a marginal to go on and fight another day:D

Re: Game manual?
 

OK, understand that this is the first battle I played to completion, and without reading the rules. I did run through the tutorial. The first (lame) attempt at a scenario, I never even attempted to use the "R" key...and really didn't have the concept of "command" down.

As a retired Master Sergeant, I fully appreciate span of control, and command, control, and communications. I am pleased that these concepts are treated with the respect they deserve.

So, in this first real attempt, this is how I purchased my forces:

40 x 40, heavily wooded, spotty fields offering decent fields of fire.

750 points, I am the Americans, January 1930.

The points may not work out to be perfect, memory is tricky at my age..heh heh.

One spotter aircraft
Light tanks, a dozen or so.
One company of leg infantry.
Three mortars, 81's I think.
Four machine guns, medium and heavy.
Two scouts...on foot
One arty spotter

I had no transport (mistake #1), and had to leg it to the victory locations. There were two large groupings of flags, and I sent about 40% of my forces to each one, and kept a small reserve on the north-south road between the two areas, including all four of my machine guns.

I sent two of my light tanks along the northern and southern roads, each generally oriented east-west. I found good locations just off the road for all four, and gave them instructions to not shoot until stuffses were within 4 hexes.

Well...along the northern road, a TON of personnel carriers came along. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! It took a couple of shots from the 37mm popgun to kill them all, and heaven knows how much infantry was killed along with them.

This was the key to this game. I don't know how many points the AI spent on these APC's, but I never saw another one during the game.

The northern vp area was eventually attacked, en masse, by fair number of infantry units, I would estimate about 20. I shifted my machine guns to the north, and found excellent fields of fire for each.

My vp locations were on the west side of a major road, and any assault HAD to come across the road. They never made it...a PERFECT kill zone. I zeroed in my mortars on the other side of the road, and brought up the reserves.

The AI had some artillery, and I used my A0 to un-suppress units just about every turn. This worked out pretty well.

Don't know what I will try tonight, there is no way I am up to a campaign yet...have to figure out the mechanics.

I have all the Combat Mission games, Advanced Tactics, and a slew of other games, but this one is the best, by far.

Re: Game manual?
 

try fighting in the pacific, LOTS of wood, near 0 open ground, SMGs, satchels and grenades are you best friend there :D IF you play some allied nation, say usmc, you'll have more smgs than the japanese, giving you a better chance as you'll usually be fighting at 50 yards from your enemy, if not already on melee (get rangers/commandos/native troops for melee) :D

Re: Game manual?
 

I'll have to grab it at home, as usual our Techo Overlords won't let anything though that would improve the functioning of this machine!!! ^&**^$^)(&!!!! :doh:

Thanks
Bob out:D