(c) 1995, Strategic Simulations, Inc. A Mindscape Company
Readme Notes Contain:
(1) Additions.
(2) Clarifications and Corrections.
(1). Additions.
New Mouse Feature
To move quickly around the mainplay window, hold down the control key and click the mouse. The mainplay window will center on the cursor.
Dossiers
The dossier is an encrypted, password-protected log of your victories and defeats. Each dossier that you create will contain a count of wins and losses for each type of play (campaign, scenario, and email), and a list of individual records for each scenario. You must assign a dossier to a game prior to the start of the game; once a game is started, no other dossier can be used for that particular game. When something is recorded in a dossier, it can't be removed or overwritten. For example, if you play the first scenario
in a campaign three times and use the same dossier all three times, each of those results will be listed in the dossier.
Each entry in the dossier will list the result of the scenario (victory or defeat), the amount of prestige at the end of the scenario, and the number of turns it took to complete the scenario. If, during gameplay, you wish to examine the current dossier, choose the Active Dossiers option in the File menu. If, during gameplay, you wish to review any dossier file, choose the Review Dossier option in the File menu. Each dossier is created either for the Axis or the Allied side; an Allied General cannot be used for the Axis side, and vice versa. You can have as many dossier files as you want, but each side can have only one dossier active at any time. For campaign play, only the Allied side can have an active dossier.
You can use a dossier for as many campaigns and scenarios as you want; there is no limit to the number of entries that a dossier can hold. Every dossier is protected by a password, which you set at the time of creation. To assign a dossier, you need to provide the password. You do not need to know the password for the dossier in order to review it.
The contents of the dossier are encrypted; you may view a dossier only within Allied General. The computer player cannot have an active dossier. Dossier assignments can be made only before the start of a campaign or scenario; once the campaign or scenario has been started, you may only examine dossiers.
For e-mail play, each player can have a dossier active. The Allied player that initializes the email game sets up his dossier via the usual steps; the Axis player gets the opportunity to assign a dossier when he receives the first turn from the Allied player.
The Buttons in The Dossier Window
OK - Accept the current setup.
Cancel - Cancel any changes made in this window.
Review - Allows you to view a dossier without assigning it. You do not need to know the password for the dossier in order to view it.
New - Create a blank dossier.
Assign - Assign an existing dossier to the Axis or Allied side (if the assignment is available).
Clear - relieve the current Axis or Allied General from command.
The Regions - The upper region displays the names of the active Axis and Allied generals. You can view the dossier for the active generals by double-clicking on the respective region.
'Vacant': there is no currently active dossier, but a dossier can be assigned there, unless the other 'player' is the AI.
'Unavailable': no dossier may be assigned to that side currently. For example, the Axis dossier becomes unavailable during campaign play.
Finish AI Now
This command is in the Game Menu, and will finish the AI's turn without displaying the combat and movement. Use this command if you don't want to wait for the AI to finish its turn.
Pause/Resume
You can pause the game during the AI turn; the AI will resume its turn when you select Resume. Both of these commands can be found in the Game menu.
Bingo Fuel
The Bingo fuel feature indicates destination hexes which are safe (in terms of fuel consumption), and those which are a one-way trip for the selected air unit. When you select an air unit, certain hexes on the map can turn red. If you move the unit to one of the red hexes, that unit will be out of range of any currently owned airport on the next turn. The plane might not fall out of the sky on the next turn, but it will not have enough fuel to get to any of your current airports. Notice that in the Torch scenario, when you select one of the Allied aircraft, all hexes surrounding the aircraft are red because you do not own any airports at the beginning of the scenario. (It's probably a good idea to capture one as quickly as possible.)
Org Table
The Org Table provides the following information:
- The version number of Allied General
- Indicates how much memory the application has free
- The name of the registered user.
- The names of the commanders for the active dossiers for the Axis and the Allies (see 'Dossier' above).
- The total time elapsed: DAYS: HOURS: MINUTES: SECONDS.
- Overall Clock: How long you've spent playing Allied General since you pulled it out of the box.
- Current Sortie: The time elapsed since you launched the game.
- Current Campaign: The time elapsed on the currently active campaign.
- Current Scenario: The time elapsed on the currently active scenario.
- Your win/loss record for Campaign and Scenario play; email games count toward your
scenario record.
- The Reset button will reset the clocks, the win/loss counters, and the commanding officer.
(2). Clarifications and Corrections.
Clarifications
History Feature
To take advantage of the History feature, you must turn on History logging before you begin a scenario or campaign. You cannot turn on History once you have begun a scenario or campaign. If Allied General encounters any problems with the history file, it will silently turn off history recording. Do not move the history file to a different location on your hard drive while Allied General is recording to the file. Allied General cannot record to a history file if that history file is being used by another application. Make sure you have adequate disk space on your hard drive. If you continue to use the same history file it will become progressively larger.
File Search Path For Dossier And History Files
The location of dossier and history files related to a saved game are stored as part of the saved game. If these files cannot be found in the stored location, Allied General will then check the following locations:
- The same directory as the saved game.
- The directory that the Allied General program is in.
If Allied General cannot find a particular file in any of these places, it will ask you to locate the file. Allied General will then update the record of the file's location when the next save game file is created.
Campaign Play
Campaigns are playable only from the Allied side.
AI Selection
The Preferences window offers the user two AI settings; 'Easy' and 'Hard.' This is rather misleading since the differences in the AI behavior is more subtle than that. The (default) 'Easy' AI (the green computer icon) setting tends to stand and slug it out, while the 'Hard' AI (the red computer icon) is more likely to fall back and take replacements. This instinct for self-preservation can make a given scenario harder or easier based on the tactical circumstances. Ironically, we have found that the 'Easy' AI can be a lot tougher than the 'Hard' AI in certain situations.
Corrections
Campaign Game
Deployment Window
Do not close the deployment window until you have deployed ALL of your core units. If you do not deploy at least one core unit before closing the deployment window, you will be unable to deploy ANY core units until the following scenario.
Email
Comments In Email Play
Email comments should be entered before the user moves his last unit.
Combat Animations In Email Play
Both parties engaging in Email battles should be sure to leave Combat Animations off.
Name Unit In Email Play
The Name Unit feature does not function in Email play.
Sound
Sound will not mute on 68K machines.
Rulebook Corrections
On page 2 of the rulebook, Russia, not North Africa, is the currently selected campaign.
On page 8 of the rulebook, Unit Information Window; the information window now includes unit class, core or auxiliary status of unit, and experience total.
On page 8 of the rulebook, Strategic Map; The strategic map now shows Russian units as red stars
On pages 16 and 17 of the rulebook; The Show Casualties, Show Intelligence and Show History windows are available on the Windows menu, not the Game menu.
On page 19 of the rulebook, Western Europe Campaign, the "Note:" sentence is incorrect; the British may not purchase American core units, and the Americans may not purchase British core units.
On page 23 of the rulebook, paragraph one, line (exclusive of heading) 4, the word "movement" should be replaced by the word "fuel".
On page 27 of the rulebook, paragraph four should be replaced by;
"A unit may move and attack, or attack then move, with the exception of artillery and air defense units, which cannot attack after moving."
On page 33 of the rulebook, paragraph three, line four, the word "purchased," should be replaced by the words "placed there".
On page 36 of the rulebook, paragraph three, the second sentence should be replaced by;
"Click to continue."
On page 36 of the rulebook, paragraph eight, player two chooses his password before watching player one's turn.
