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RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/10/2013 9:21:43 PM

HR2

Posts: 46
Joined: 5/14/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: HR2

I have a question- Is it totally necessary to read the manual to play the game?

I just don't have the patient to read- anything (I might have finished one book in my 67 year life:) I did read some manuals back in the day with board games like SL,3R etc. (and the ensuing arguments:)

I've played GGWitE, SC global, etc with no rule reading and do very well due to my vast experience. Or at the least would skimming some important rules be enough?

I was trying to figure out if it's a total computer game minus the AI that would enforce the rules. I read above yes but bought the game it earlier today after hemming and hollering to find out myself:)

Of course I was going to buy it loving strategic games but will anxiously await the AI addon

Not totally necessary. But partially necessary part of the time. It depends on what you can pick up from the other sources of information, e.g., tutorials of different flavors.

Probably a better solution to your preference to not reading all the manuals, lies in the fact that each of the forms and phases/subphases of the game have Help buttons, which display selected pages from the Players Manuals as context sensitive help. So if you come to a point where you have a question, a Help button will bring up pretty much the same information as the Players Manual has on the subject in question. That's more of a "read up on it when you need to" solution.

Thanks for the feedback. I was kind of hoping that would be the response- a little reading here and there:)
I'm doing the set up for Guadalcanal now and haven't read anything yet:) Except not sure where to put the Japanese. All those carriers I wouldn't imagine all being at Truk for the campaign but some in Japan in case of US attack:)

(in reply to Shannon V. OKeets)

Post #: 91

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/10/2013 9:24:32 PM

Posts: 4176
Joined: 5/1/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: jglazier

quote:

ORIGINAL: bo

quote:

ORIGINAL: jglazier

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: Grizzly

I am a complete WiF newbie. Where is the best place to start?

- Manuals?
- Video tutorials?
- In game tutorials?

And where to go from there?

warspite1

I am not a complete newb, but even so I would say the tutorials are a must. They take time to go through, but given the manuals don't seem to really tell you how to do things, I think the videos are invaluable.

The manuals don't really tell you how to do things? Well, this sounds like a big problem. I better start looking at the manuals to see what you mean, but their 500+ pages had better teach me how to do things in the game.

We are trying to be helpful jglazier, please try to stop taking everything literally, warspite is referring to, if he the poster cannot understand the manuals then go to the videos which are excellent, and the wording "had better teach me" by you is a little strong it seems to me. If you want help, we will be glad to help you in any way we can, but we are human and your attitude is important to us as to whether we are willing to help you or not. Be nice and we will be nice.

Bo

Thank you, Bo, for putting me in my place. I'm serious, thank you. I'm not being sarcastic. I came off way too harsh in a moment of frustration. I have just seen way too many poorly written manuals that don't tell you anything about how to play their game, when I saw that comment it got me worried, like here we go again.

I have posted a lot of comments in this forum the past couple days, and I think I have always been kind. I don't like rude people, so I don't want to be one myself.

I certainly do want all your help as I learn this amazing game, so I will be more careful with my wording in the future.

Thank you!

I understand frustration about this game believe me, and I truly understand yours, I am not here to put you in your place I am here to help you and you do not have to say please. When I started over a year ago beta testing I was lost, but in a very short time of playing and replaying and trying different things it stated to dawn on me hey I can play this game. AND NEVER READ A RULE. But time was on my side because I knew the game was a ways off towards completion and you and others want to play yesterday

It was very different for me though I was testing and it did not cost me anything but my time and being retired it gave me something to do. And after awhile I began to understand the quality of this game that the boardgamers were telling me about. And every rule complex or easy began to sink into me and the game took on new life for me.

I began to think I was Erwin Rommel til a couple of bad die rolls brought me down to earth with a thud

The nicest thing about solo play is if things dont go well turn the stinking computer off

Did you get your copy of Annual 98 yet, because once you get the game down you will be able to kick butt either in netplay or against the future AI or against yourself

I hope. Go to the page that says Annual 98, you will see my e-mail adress there, Pm me and I will send you a copy.

Relax the game will come to you hopefully before California falls into the Pacific

Bo

< Message edited by bo -- 11/10/2013 10:34:00 PM >

(in reply to FroBodine)

Post #: 92

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/10/2013 9:30:38 PM

Posts: 4176
Joined: 5/1/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: HR2

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: HR2

I have a question- Is it totally necessary to read the manual to play the game?

I just don't have the patient to read- anything (I might have finished one book in my 67 year life:) I did read some manuals back in the day with board games like SL,3R etc. (and the ensuing arguments:)

I've played GGWitE, SC global, etc with no rule reading and do very well due to my vast experience. Or at the least would skimming some important rules be enough?

I was trying to figure out if it's a total computer game minus the AI that would enforce the rules. I read above yes but bought the game it earlier today after hemming and hollering to find out myself:)

Of course I was going to buy it loving strategic games but will anxiously await the AI addon

Not totally necessary. But partially necessary part of the time. It depends on what you can pick up from the other sources of information, e.g., tutorials of different flavors.

Probably a better solution to your preference to not reading all the manuals, lies in the fact that each of the forms and phases/subphases of the game have Help buttons, which display selected pages from the Players Manuals as context sensitive help. So if you come to a point where you have a question, a Help button will bring up pretty much the same information as the Players Manual has on the subject in question. That's more of a "read up on it when you need to" solution.

Thanks for the feedback. I was kind of hoping that would be the response- a little reading here and there:)
I'm doing the set up for Guadalcanal now and haven't read anything yet:) Except not sure where to put the Japanese. All those carriers I wouldn't imagine all being at Truk for the campaign but some in Japan in case of US attack:)

(in reply to HR2)

Post #: 93

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/10/2013 9:51:59 PM

FroBodine

Posts: 872
Joined: 5/5/2007
From: Brentwood, California (not the OJ one)
Status: offline

PM and e-mail sent to you Bo. I really appreciate your willingness to spread the wealth and help us newbies learn this amazing game.

-=Jeff

(in reply to bo)

Post #: 94

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/10/2013 10:29:31 PM

Missouri_Rebel

Posts: 3065
Joined: 6/19/2006
From: Southern Missouri
Status: offline

I've tested several games through the years and have bookcases full of games I'd buy just to decipher the rules and never play. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but if I can sit down to a good rule system and go through all the legalese I get the satisfaction of reading the works of Faulkner, Dickinson, or Hemingway. IMHO, The manuals for MWiF are some of the best I have come across. Sure there are some errors and a few things left out, but overall they are fantastic.

For example, pages 19 through 74 of Player Manual 1 deal with important decisions. The sole purpose of this section is to help new players avoid making common mistakes, especially in the early turns, which can easily result in a game being irretrievably lost. These pages contain outlines of many of the rules, strategies, tips, hints, country specific points of interests etc. That's 55 pages of insight from the developer and many other people down the years. It really is a top notch read and I encourage everyone to check this section out.

It was the best of rules, it was the worst of rules, it was the rules of wisdom...

Did I just put you up there with Dickinson? Maybe a little bit of a stretch.

mo reb

_____________________________

**Those who rob Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul
**A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have-Gerald Ford

(in reply to bo)

Post #: 95

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 12:19:29 AM

HR2

Posts: 46
Joined: 5/14/2008
Status: offline

Hi HR2

Gudalcanal was my baliwick in testing and if I can help you I will be glad to. Remember Truk is more of a fleet anchorage not a naval base.[In real life] I would for this scenario place most of my carriers in Rabaul [you can go into a higher sea box in thje Coral sea] and the first chance you get send your Japanese SNLF units into Guadalcanal and capture the port and Henderson field. Practice invasions over and over until you understand the ingenuity of this game. If you have a moment go back to I think page 6 or 7 and see my AAR on the battle of the Coral sea.

Bo
[/quote]

Thanks very much. My knowledge on the Pacific (tho I like it) is far less than the rest of the world:)
I wasn't sure Rabaul was in bomber range of US. The Japanese have what 10+ CV's and I thought only a few operated in the Coral Sea region.

So Truk being more a fleet anchorage mean it's more a staging area? I will look at your AAR, thx.

(in reply to bo)

Post #: 96

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 2:48:07 AM

Ingtar

Posts: 194
Joined: 8/1/2004
Status: offline

Where can I find the rules that allow/disallow British forces landing in France (as a B.E.F.)?

(in reply to HR2)

Post #: 97

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 2:55:07 AM

Posts: 4176
Joined: 5/1/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: HR2

Hi HR2

Gudalcanal was my baliwick in testing and if I can help you I will be glad to. Remember Truk is more of a fleet anchorage not a naval base.[In real life] I would for this scenario place most of my carriers in Rabaul [you can go into a higher sea box in thje Coral sea] and the first chance you get send your Japanese SNLF units into Guadalcanal and capture the port and Henderson field. Practice invasions over and over until you understand the ingenuity of this game. If you have a moment go back to I think page 6 or 7 and see my AAR on the battle of the Coral sea.

Bo

Thanks very much. My knowledge on the Pacific (tho I like it) is far less than the rest of the world:)
I wasn't sure Rabaul was in bomber range of US. The Japanese have what 10+ CV's and I thought only a few operated in the Coral Sea region.

So Truk being more a fleet anchorage mean it's more a staging area? I will look at your AAR, thx.

I apologize HR I stated that incorrectly I meant in WW2 it was a fleet anchorage, like saftey from violent tsunami's, Rabaul was more of a regular Japanese naval base, In this game Truk seems to be a regular major port for the Japanese I am not sure what kind of fleet repair they could do there probably not any wheres near what Yokohama could do for the fleet.

Sometimes I have to seperate in my mind real war from MWIF war.

This game is like a game of chess the one who gets there the fastest with the mostest has an advantage.
I would try to keep the carriers together. Are you playing fast start or did you start a new game with more optional rules than in fast start. If you have any questions please let us know. We are here to help.
If you need help with setting up a new game let me know and also we can suggest what optional rules would be good to add on to the fast start rules.

Bo

< Message edited by bo -- 11/11/2013 3:57:50 AM >

(in reply to HR2)

Post #: 98

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 3:30:40 AM

Shannon V. OKeets

Posts: 22095
Joined: 5/19/2005
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ingtar

Where can I find the rules that allow/disallow British forces landing in France (as a B.E.F.)?

Rules as Coded.

These are known in WIF as Foreign Troop Commitment Limits (FTC). There are two flavors: units entering a country and units leaving a country.

Entering is restricted primarily when moving units into a major power's home country, for example, Commonwealth into Metropolitan France. These wouldn't apply to moving Commonwealth units into, say, Algeria.

Leaving is a restriction placed on minor country units. They didn't like to see all their forces leave home, so some of them need to stay within their home country's borders.

_____________________________

Steve

Perfection is an elusive goal.

(in reply to Ingtar)

Post #: 99

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 3:48:58 AM

Ingtar

Posts: 194
Joined: 8/1/2004
Status: offline

My handicap is not reading the rules again and working on the RAC (Rules as Clouded by 10+ years with nowhere to set up the game).

Thank you again.

(in reply to Shannon V. OKeets)

Post #: 100

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 12:10:33 PM

Centuur

Posts: 8802
Joined: 6/3/2011
From: Hoorn (NED).
Status: offline

For people with only one monitor, I suggest that you make your screen look like the one I have been using for testing for two years now:

Using this screen layout has the advantages that:

The main form (center left) is always visible;
The selectable units form appears in the upper left side of the screen (it pops up now and than and it shouldn't cover the main form if it does).
The screen layouts and map views (the latter, I haven't used at all in two years of testing - and Steve loves them...

) are available when you need them.
The global map can easily be used to navigate the detailed map (if you move the mouse over that small portion of the map which is visible, it appears in total on screen. You can click on any part of the global map and the detailed map moves accordingly to that area of the world).
And finally, it maximises the detailed map on the rest of your screen.

I've never wanted all those big screens... I'm a lazy man, wanting to lay on my couch, have the lap top on an old hospital table I inherited from my late uncle, get me a beer and pretzels next to me and well... I think you are getting the picture...

< Message edited by Centuur -- 11/11/2013 1:18:59 PM >

_____________________________

Peter

(in reply to Ingtar)

Post #: 101

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 4:00:52 PM

stormbringer3

Posts: 875
Joined: 7/26/2007
From: Staunton, Va.
Status: offline

Thank you for posting the above. My single screeen setup and reading about all the windows to wade through has been a big hangup for my buying this. I looked at the AARs to see the screens I'd have to cope with. I was hoping to see a Windows minimize icon on the screens thinking that I could line them up on the taskbar to be ready when I wanted to use them. Unless I missed it, I don't see anything like the Windows minimize icon so I guess that minimizing a screen can't be done. Is a minimize icon a possibility in the future?
Thanks.

(in reply to Centuur)

Post #: 102

RE: Need Help? Ask The Semi-Experts - 11/11/2013 4:24:11 PM

Shannon V. OKeets

Posts: 22095
Joined: 5/19/2005
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: stormbringer3

Thank you for posting the above. My single screeen setup and reading about all the windows to wade through has been a big hangup for my buying this. I looked at the AARs to see the screens I'd have to cope with. I was hoping to see a Windows minimize icon on the screens thinking that I could line them up on the taskbar to be ready when I wanted to use them. Unless I missed it, I don't see anything like the Windows minimize icon so I guess that minimizing a screen can't be done. Is a minimize icon a possibility in the future?
Thanks.

Minimizing individual forms isn't available.

Some of the forms have to be responded to before the sequence of play can advance (e.g., do you want to intercept the naval units moving through the North Sea?). Most of the ones that you will want to reference frequently are gathered together in the Players Manual appendices. The main form panels act as buttons for bringing up some forms: terrain effects, sequence of play, weather report, activity limits. Others can be brought up with keystroke shortcuts - see below.

You can 'roll up' forms by clicking on an icon in the upper left corner of the form. Clicking on the icon a second time rolls the form down. This is a lot like minimizing a form - it is reduced to the size of the top border. The advantage over minimizing is that the form stays where it is on the screen so you do not have to search for where the minimized icon was placed on the screen.