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Documentation! Do you use it?

 
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Documentation! Do you use it?


I like the physical copy so I have a book for light bathroom reading
  16% (7)
I read all of the manuals to learn a game system
  51% (22)
I will look at Tutorial or Quick Start Guides
  13% (6)
I only skim manuals when the mood strikes
  2% (1)
If I can't figure it out on screen I hit a manual
  13% (6)
I don't have time for reading books so the UI better tell me
  2% (1)
There are manuals?!?
  0% (0)


Total Votes : 43
(last vote on : 11/23/2021 4:07:54 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
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Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/21/2019 7:23:21 PM   
CapnDarwin


Posts: 8467
Joined: 2/12/2005
From: Newark, OH
Status: offline 		How do you prefer to learn a game? Are manuals worthwhile and for what purpose/use? IF you are new to a system of era of conflict, would you read how-to type information?

What other considerations for documentation should we be looking at for the new Cold War game series?

Comments and thoughts welcome.

_____________________________

OTS is looking forward to Southern Storm getting released!

Cap'n Darwin aka Jim Snyder
On Target Simulations LLC
Post #: 1
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/21/2019 7:37:20 PM   
zakblood


Posts: 22687
Joined: 10/4/2012
Status: offline 		so far only ever read manuals if i get stuck and really need to, imo the game should teach all and if you have been playing long enough, be understandable from the off without one, some in game tutorials and some hints on everything that needs one should be more than enough so a manual is only needed for reference or to stop the table from rocking when you place your tea on it.

quote:

I don't have time for reading books
i love a good book and read about one every week or so, but manuals aren't books imo



< Message edited by zakblood -- 11/21/2019 7:39:14 PM >

(in reply to CapnDarwin)
Post #: 2
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/21/2019 9:43:34 PM   
76mm


Posts: 4688
Joined: 5/2/2004
From: Washington, DC
Status: offline 		Personally I don't like games that aren't complicated enough to make a manual pretty much mandatory. I like pdf manuals and keep them all on my iPad for reading, I try to avoid paper manuals these days but also hate html wiki-style "manuals".

(in reply to zakblood)
Post #: 3
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/22/2019 11:43:17 AM   
CapnDarwin


Posts: 8467
Joined: 2/12/2005
From: Newark, OH
Status: offline 		What puts you off on the Wikis?

_____________________________

OTS is looking forward to Southern Storm getting released!

Cap'n Darwin aka Jim Snyder
On Target Simulations LLC

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 4
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/22/2019 11:45:59 AM   
Lowlaner2012

 

Posts: 779
Joined: 11/20/2011
Status: offline 		I tend to play the game and check the manual if I get stuck...

(in reply to CapnDarwin)
Post #: 5
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/22/2019 1:56:34 PM   
76mm


Posts: 4688
Joined: 5/2/2004
From: Washington, DC
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CapnDarwin
What puts you off on the Wikis?

All the links, etc--going back and forth between sections via the links drives me crazy, and also often they are web-based you can't read them in places without internet access (flights, etc.). I've read some wiki-style manuals converted into pdfs but they still suffered from poor formatting with the links, etc. Also, most of the wiki-style manuals that I've encountered are woefully incomplete.

(in reply to CapnDarwin)
Post #: 6
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/22/2019 4:52:28 PM   
JoeMK

 

Posts: 89
Joined: 11/4/2017
From: Germany
Status: offline 		I liked to print out all your PDFs regarding Red Storm. I like to feel the paper, I like to read the paper version, delighting to be off the digital world. And a good written manual transports all the developers' important intentions in addition to the description of mechanics and rules. While reading in that analog manner, bunches of pictures are screening, maneuvers and tactical possibilities, and so reading also gives great pleasure. A great pleasure before experiencing the great excitement of failing or triumphant battle plans.

(in reply to 76mm)
Post #: 7
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/23/2019 12:52:15 PM   
pzgndr

 

Posts: 3170
Joined: 3/18/2004
From: Maryland
Status: offline 		These wargames are all games, each one with its own game mechanics. For better or worse. Players expect to understand the rules, the game mechanics. Certainly there should be in-game assistance, but at the end of the day most players want to be able to go back and read the manual to better understand what the game is "doing under the hood."

(in reply to JoeMK)
Post #: 8
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/23/2019 9:10:45 PM   
z1812


Posts: 1796
Joined: 9/1/2004
Status: offline 		Tutorials are very helpful. I always play through them on any game. I could point to CMANO as a good example of Tutorials being well arranged.

Each is a like a small scenario. Every step of the tutorial, a Pop-Up advises you about the what and how of each aspect of the process.

So my vote goes to Tutorials supported by the manual............rather than a Manual supported by tutorials.

(in reply to pzgndr)
Post #: 9
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/28/2019 4:44:03 PM   
WABAC

 

Posts: 337
Joined: 1/25/2014
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: pzgndr

These wargames are all games, each one with its own game mechanics. For better or worse. Players expect to understand the rules, the game mechanics. Certainly there should be in-game assistance, but at the end of the day most players want to be able to go back and read the manual to better understand what the game is "doing under the hood."


This is the way I see it after years of wargaming on computers. And the best part of the best manuals are often in designer notes, and what's under the hood.

I did refer to the manual for this game on a few occasions because there were some new wrinkles.

I've spent much more time in the scenario building manuals.

(in reply to pzgndr)
Post #: 10
RE: Documentation! Do you use it? - 11/28/2019 6:06:20 PM   
OldSarge


Posts: 642
Joined: 11/25/2010
From: Albuquerque, NM
Status: offline 		I go through the manuals when I first purchase a game and then use them later as reference on the finer points of the game mechanics.

That being said, updating manuals almost always seems to be a low priority task and inevitably they become out of date.

_____________________________

You and the rest, you forgot the first rule of the fanatic: When you become obsessed with the enemy, you become the enemy.
Jeffrey Sinclair, "Infection", Babylon 5

(in reply to WABAC)
Post #: 11
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