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- *************** COMBAT ******************** (very rough draft)
-
-
- One of the more substantial elements of player interaction in Conquest
- is combat. What makes combat in Conquest especially intriguing is that
- very little luck is involved in the process. Strategy is the key. Careful
- planning and positioning of units will set up the deadliest attacks.
- A player with few units and good use of strategy is a difficult opponent
- for a player with more units and poor use of strategy.
-
- Players can also engage in Network combat. Network combat allows you
- to play head-to-head against any other opponent registered to play on your
- IPX network. (See section "IPX") In the main game of Conquest, this
- demonstration version of the code has the full network combat mode disabled...
- This means that when you play the full game of this demonstration version,
- you will only be able play in "Hotseat" mode. (i.e. you and your opponent
- switch seats on the same computer.) Of course, the full network game mode
- will be enabled for the official release.
-
-
- However, the stand-alone network combat mode is enabled. (i.e.
- "stand-alone" combat is an option by clicking on "Combat" in the initial
- Conquest menu). In order to play stand-alone network combat, you need to
- have appropriate IPX drivers. (See section "IPX").
-
-
- *************** PLAYING COMBAT *************
-
-
- THE SETUP:
-
- When combat begins, you and your opponent's units will proceed to
- their respective reserves on a board which looks like this:
-
- ╔════════════════════════════════╗
- ║ ║
- ║ OPPONENT's RESERVE ║
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ╠══════════╦══════════╦══════════╣
- ║ ║OPPONENT's║ ║
- ║ ║ HOME ║ ║ <= OPPONENT's HOME ROW
- ║ ║ SQUARE ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ╠══════════╬══════════╬══════════╣
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ╠══════════╬══════════╬══════════╣
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ╠══════════╬══════════╬══════════╣
- ║ ║ YOUR ║ ║
- ║ ║ HOME ║ ║
- ║ ║ SQUARE ║ ║ <= YOUR HOME ROW
- ║ ║ ║ ║
- ╠══════════╩══════════╩══════════╣
- ║ ║
- ║ ║
- ║ YOUR RESERVE ║
- ║ ║
- ╚════════════════════════════════╝
-
- *** NOTE ***
- In a game in which both players are on the same machine
- ("Hotseat" mode), the pieces will switch places after each
- player finishes his/her turn, so that the current player always
- has his/her pieces on the bottom half during his/her turn.
-
- GOAL:
-
- Your goal is to capture your opponent's home square.
- (As your opponent's goal is to capture your home square.)
-
- UNITS:
-
- Each player can have up to three types of units:
-
- * Infantry (foot soldiers)
- * Cavalry: (soldiers on horseback)
- * Artillery: (soldiers who fire cannon)
-
- Each unit of Infantry may either move one square or shoot on a turn.
-
- Each unit of Cavalry may either move 2 squares, shoot, or move
- one square then shoot. (This is known as charging).
-
- Each unit of Artillery may either move one square or shoot on a turn.
- Artillery have the advantage of being able to attack any of your
- opponent's squares in the same vertical column. However, Artillery
- units are restricted to the player's own home row. They cannot move
- past this row. They also cannot shoot to their left or right.
-
- No unit may attack if they are in a reserve.
-
- MAKING MOVES:
-
- Each turn, you are allowed to have only a certain number of units
- attack (depending on the army leader's level). However, you
- may move all your units if they have moves left.
-
- You SELECT a unit by moving the mouse over it and clicking once.
- The selected unit will blink. You may then either move it to
- a square you control or is uncontrolled, or attack a square controlled
- by your opponent, provided that the unit may make such a move.
- Note that all valid squares to move to or attack will blink when
- you move the mouse over it. When you want to pick a target square,
- move the mouse over it until it blinks, then click once on the mouse.
-
- Your unit will then either move into that square, or attack it.
-
- Even if a unit can move to a square, the square may not blink; either
- because that square is full, or your unit is "engaged" (Your unit
- is attempting to move from a square adjecent to opponent's units to
- a square also adjacent to opponent's units.) In such a case, the
- selected unit cannot move to that square.
-
- MULTIPLE SELECTIONS:
-
- You may select more than one unit at a time. This is necessary
- in order to make special attacks.
-
- SPECIAL ATTACKS:
-
- When units combine forces, or attack specific other units
- against which they are most effective, you can gain an extra
- tactical advantage. Many special attacks are possible; a few
- of the most important are:
-
- * Flank attacks: Attacking a square from two different
- squares at the same time will do more damage than
- if each attacking square were to attack separately.
- If three squares attack, the advantage is even greater.
- * Combined Arms attacks: Units often function better when
- they cooperate with units of another type. If two
- types of units attack one square at the same time,
- they are more likely to do damage than if they attacked
- separately.
- * Home-row Flank attacks: If you can get into your
- opponent's home row, any attacks that you make on the
- units there will be more effective, because the enemy
- units will have been demoralized. The extra odds on
- such attacks can prove to be decisive.
- * Cavalry Charge attacks: Cavalry are very deadly when
- charging. They only get this advantage once or twice
- in a given battle, so make good use of your initial
- setup to take advantage of charging bonuses wherever
- you can.
- * Cannister fire: When attacked at close range, artillery
- units can load up special shrapnel-like charges that
- decimate attackers. When charged, artillery are
- more likely to do damage on their next turn.
-
- Each of these attack methods increases your chance of winning
- when used. Your opponent (including the AI player) will know
- how to use them, and so should you.
-
-
- FINISHING A TURN:
-
- When you are done with all of your units' moves, click on "DONE"
- on the right-hand side of the combat screen. Your opponent will
- now play his/her turn.
-
- RETREAT:
-
- You may retreat at any time during your turn. When you retreat,
- your opponent automatically wins combat.
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