[Tim Brooks]

Manual. Did someone say manual!

This is a work in progress, so don't take it as golden. The manual will be in the 150 page range (as of right now) when completed and will have to be perfect bound (glued binding) due to its size. I know this isn't much, but maybe it will help those trying to decide what to do about GOLD. The manual is being written by Mark Walker, who has numberous game strategy guides and industry books to his credit including the just released "The Video Game Almanac." The manual will be something all will want!


Space Empires IV: User Manual Outline

Introduction

· About Space Empires IV
· A Brief Overview
· Quick Start

Getting Started

· System Requirements
· Installing the Game
· Additional Documentation

A Day in the Life of a Galactic Emperor
Walks the player through three or four turns of play. This is not a tutorial-like walkthrough, but rather a general description of the flow of play, and the choices made in the first few turns.

Game Interface

· The Startup Screen
· New Game Screen
· Scenario
· Quick Start
· Load
· Resume Game
· Tutorial
· Credits
· Quit Game

The Main Game Screen

· System Window
· Selection Window
· Galaxy Window
· Interface Selections-includes an overview of the following buttons. I intend to describe the Planets, Colonies, Ships or Units, Construction Queues, Empire Status, Help, Next ship/fleet/planet, selections in depth. I intend to briefly describe Designs, Research, and Empires, because I plan to go into depth on them later in the manual.
· Planet and Ship Interface Selections Consists of a nut and bolt examination of the selections available when ships and/or planets are selected.

Designs

Includes an explanation of all the selections available on the Designs screen. Special attention will be given to explaining exactly how to design a ship and unit.
· Design Screen Selections
· Ship and Unit Design

Production and Research

Describes how to research and produce. Describes all the selections on both the research and planet production screens.
· Research
· Production

Combat

Describes combat options. Special attention will be given to explaining how the player manages tactical combat, and how his or her choices affect the combat’s outcome.

Diplomacy

In-depth explanation of diplomacy, and each species in Space Empires IV.
· Diplomacy
· The Races of Space Empires IV

Editor and Player Add-ons

Details the Space Empires IV Editor and the user add-ons included on the Space Empires IV: Gold Edition ROM.

Appendices

*Hotkey and Attribute Icon List

Lists the Hotkeys and the attribute icons.

*Troubleshooting

*The credits.