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____________/\ /\ ________________________/\__________________ \ / \ / \ \ \ \ / \ \ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /___ / /___ / / / / / ____/ ____/ / / / \/ / \/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / ___/ \ /___/\________/\________/\ /\ /___/\ /_____/\______/ / \ / \ / \ / \/ \________/Ci \/ \/ \/ -+(*- PRESENT -*)+- Air Support from Psygnosis - Complete Docs Introduction. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The aim of this introduction is twofold: To provide SimTech trainees with an informed account of the reasons and methods by which Military SimTech Command was establishe, and to ensure that they are fully aware of the importance of the post to which they aspire. THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE ---------------------- The Twentieth century was a catalog of major conflict in the Northern Hemisphere; was between the non-unified European states, was between Europeans and Asia, the standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, and struggles for power in the old Middle Eastern Countries. Southern Hemisphere battles were largely localised; mostly civil wars or pockets of violence between poorly armed nations. The termination of the cold war at the end of the last century coupled with the establishment of the Sino-American Alliance (1998), the Federal European Alliance (1999) and the Asian accord (2002), all paved the way for the Northern Defence treaty in 2004. This treaty effectively allied the military strength of all the First World nations in the North to those of Australia in the South. A Southern Alliance was hard to follow - but it did so in 2011, alledgedly as a response to commercial, social and political exploitation by the North. The North`s response was to halt the increasing flow of economic and other migrants from the South, to freeze financial aid, and to ban all trade with the Third World countries. The resulting inflation, poverty and decline in variety of goods in the North is recorded elsewhere - suffice it to say that the state of the Cold War which now exists between the two hemispheres began at that time. Nonetheless, because of the impossibility of preventing the secret trading of arms and information, the South has ben able to equip itself with an unknown quantity and quality of weapons. Considering the frequency of their assaults against the Northern territories in the first half of this century, it can be safely assumed that their military equipment is consistently able to keep pace with our own. THE C-CORP SIMULATOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Weapons testing was always a heavy financial burden on any nation`s resources. Aside from the cost of design, construction and transportation, a site was needed to test the weapons and manpower to record the results - which were not always as successful as had first been hoped. The solution which seems so obvious to us now - designing, building and simulating the performance of hardware and the explosion of weapons wholly on computer - was not feasible then. Simulators were used for training purposes in the late twenthieth century, but they were expensive to build and couldnt match the random factors incorporated into todays equivalents. The Eurpoean based Chaos Corporation (C-Corp for short) changed all that. Their first Chaos computer, the C-Corp 2014 (built in March, 2014), was a direct response to political, environmental and economic demands that weapons testing be scrapped. It provided the hardware for a new generation of simulation software, allowing unparalleled random factors to be introduced into training, and in effect freeing software engineers to create worlds and the military machines to battle in them. THE BATTLEFIELD SOFTWARE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The few minor skirmishes that did break out between North and South in the years from 2011-2028 provided a testing ground for a new breed of military simulation technicians (SimTechs). By the beginning of that period, ordinance was so powerful that it renedered the role of the soldier obsolete. Movement guided, long range himing shells launched from remotely operated defence posts wiped out platoons on the ground, and sophisticated seeker missiles annihilated those in the air and on the sea. The element of surprise had been lost, and this forced combatants to throw weapons at each other from inside heavily-fortified bunkers, using computers to plot tactics. These bunker-based fighters were the first SimTechs, planning and executing their strategy wholly on the C-Corp computers, using software designed originally by C-Corp employees, then by the military themselves. The system was successful enough to defeat all Southern Hemisphere attacks in those 17 years, and to deter them from launching major offensives since. It was a natural enough step to transfer the lessons learned in the bunker to the training school. By grooming a new generation of technicians who, because they had been intensively trained on simulators, were capable of directing the course of war at the front line, the North was able to maintain the integrity of its boundaries. The first of the simulation software to be produced was the Ground Battle System (GBS), designed in 2027 for use at West Point Military Academy. This unique program was able to create a faithful representation of the battle conditions, and was re-written eight times (between 2027 and its last use in 2064) to accomodate new designs, ideas and technology. Its replacement is the Air Support Battle Simulation (ASBS), detailed below, which for the moment is only available to graduates of the West Point Military Academy. THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONS. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Victories against the South and the success of the tactical software sparked off two revolutions in military circles; the wholesale switch to the use of C-Corp Chaos Computers, and the establishment of a new command structure - Military SimTech Command (MSC). During the years 2015-2030, MSC grew from a small part of warfare research employing a dozen people to the single largest wing of the Northern Hemisphere Armed Forces, now testing over 50,000 prospective technicians and Defence Complex commanders a year. It also created a whole new brand of pioneering professionals; apart from SimTechs, the branches that we are all familiar with today were begun as early as 2015. BattleField Architects, Enemy Tactics Editors, Hardware Designers and Defence System Advisors are now all under the direct control of the MSC of the MSC. The switch to C-Corp computers was more problematic, however, in 214 the C-Corp C-2014 was far in advance of anything else - with a price, unfortunately to match. This posed a problem for the MSCl vast numbers of computers were required to train Simulation Technicians to the required standard, but the military budget couldnt cope with the demand. The solution established the system which we still use today; networking the Chaos mainframes to 1000 slave computers. The `slaves` could be anything from from an ancient twentieth century Amiga or ST (Fuk u Sukkerz!) to an 886 PC ( A WHAT?!?!?). The advantage was that costs were dramatically reduced; the disadvantage was some loss of graphical and aural power, particularly on the less powerful slave machines. Because of the exacting standards required by the SimTech Command, there was, as there is now, a very low pass rate - approximately 0.02% of all candidates. This in turn, requires a huge number of prospective trainees to fill even the 1000 new SimTech trainee posts at WestPoint Military Academy each year; 50,000 examinees in all worldwide. The requirements are strict because there is no room for error on the real battlefield; one operational mistake from a Simulation Technician could result in a breach of defences and the loss of a million lives. WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ West Point was established in 2026 as a channel to focus the energies of all the finest SimTech trainees from the Northern Hemisphere. Its C-Corp system is the most powerful anywhere; the latest version (C-2050) can reproduce any landscape on Earth down to the last square decimetre; it can replicate the weather patterns of the entire globe up to three weeks in advance to an accuracy rate of 96%; it can be programmed to input any random factor; from a meteorite landing n China to the rise in Sea Level caused by a bucket of water thrown in the Atlantic. At West Point the top 10% of all candidates are networked to C-2050 and given the most rigourous examination of any SimTech trainee. The training is based on 20 introdcutory missions and, if you pass your training, 20 Full-Simulation Missions. Should you fail in the training missions you may then partake in the full simulation missions as Air Support only (ie - you have no control over ground vehicles). However, succeed in this and you may then undertake the 20 full simulation missions for real; these take in the whole range of options from designing you own Defence Complex to controlling 16 remote attack vehicles and annihilating the opposition as quickly as possible. Because of the need to maintain the realism of this chaotic environment, the slave computers are obliged to run 3d vector graphics and engine/firing noises only. Any candidate who passes this examination is then trained on the C-Corp 2050 itself for up to six months, before being given battlefield experience. SIMULATION AND REALITY. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wargaming is an old profession (hello Dave!) - strategy has played a part in battles for as long as ther have been wars - but its only in the 21st Century that is has had the fundamental impact on the nature of military thinking. In the last 50 years the role of the wargame has switched from the tactical to the practical; whole systems are designed, used in simulated battle and then consigned to the waste bin without ever seeing a production line - the power on new weaponry can be demonstrated for free, and craft can be built and lost for nothing. This has reduced costs and improved operational efficiency at the same time. Without it the thousand mobile Defence Complexes which straddle the Tropic of Cancer would never have been built, and a whole generation of Offensive Weapons would never have been manufactured so quickly. The latest developments are currently being tested in the Air Support Battle Simulation (ASBS, detailed below). These include an articulated version of the Defence Complex: the theory is that all of the Complex's units, even down to relatively minute components such as individual Radar Stations and Missile Command Posts, can be moved independently, thanks to a novel system of flexible Connections' which transfer power from the generators and orders from the central HQ. Other developments include a new Command Module, from which a single pilot can program and operate up to 16 attack craft, each one loaded with different weapons systems and patrolling a course of up to 128 different waypoints. If successful, these systems could be implemented within five years, and could prove the most important deterrent to Southern Hemisphere aggression. The maintenance of peace is the primary objective of all Battlefield Simulations; Simulation Technicians are the new brokers of power. THE AIR SUPPORT BATTLE SIMULATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ASBS is the first of a new generation of Battlefield Simulation Software, and the first to make full use of the Chaos Corporation C- 2050 mainframe. Like its predecessor (the Ground Battle Simulation), it is intended as part of a series, and will be subject to upgrades as and when demand dictates. Version 1.0 is intended for use solely by the West Point Military Academy staff; subsequent versions will be based on their criticisms and distributed freely around the Northern Hemisphere defence network. ASBS represents the latest in SimTech one-on-one wargame design and simulates an encounter between the commander of a Tropic of Cancer Defence Complex and his opposite number from the South. Battlefield Architects have managed to generate a new, variable 3D system - to add depth and realism to the vector graphic representation of the front line terrain - on the basic computers used by trainees. It is hoped that future versions, perhaps no more than a decade away, will be able to recreate a filled polygon battle ground. West Point Academy has no room for failures. The responsibility of each of the 1,000 SimTech trainees received here each year is a heavy one: learning the ability to maintain a defensive screen and the skills to design and implement new technology when required. Having already established yourselves as the pick of the candidates from around the Northern Hemisphere, your success rate here will be higher than that of other trainees around the world: on average, we pass one hundred candidates (100) per annum. The education process is intensive: you have a few hours to read this manual and keyguide before starting immediately on the first training mission. We advise that you familiarise yourself with the theoretical controls before switching on your computer and beginning. Demerits have, and will continue to be, given for slow or sloppy work. A consistently poor success rate will result in automatic expulsion from the Academy, and will oblige the trainee to retake his provisional exams and try again in two years time. However, the reverse is also true: great rewards are given to those who show they have the skill and application to become the best of the SimTech organisation - including a job secured for life, and the knowledge that they can become one of the 1,000 commanders based in the global Defence Complexes, with the responsibility for maintaining world peace. West Point Simulation Technicians are considered to be the elite in the military world. Read this manual and find out how you can join them. CONTENTS 1. LOADING THE SIMULATION 1.1 Atari ST Version .........................................14 1.2 Amiga Version.............................................14 1.3 Virus Warning.............................................14 2. BRIEFING 3. GETTING STARTED 3.1 Registration Screen.......................................18 3.2 Di_fficulty Level Screen..................................19 3.3 Mission Menu Screen ......................................19 3.4 Playin~ In 3D.............................................22 4. THE SIMULATION CONTROLS 4.1 Map Screen ...............................................23 4.1.1 Simulation Map .........................................25 4.1.2 Your Defence Complex....................................25 4.1.3 Enemy Base .............................................33 4.1.4 Vehicles ...............................................33 4.1.5 Waypoint Lists..........................................34 4.1.6 Waypoints...............................................34 4.1.7 Options Menu ...........................................35 4.1.8 Tnfn Panel ............................................ 35 4.1.9 Additional Controls.....................................36 4.2 0 Info Panel .............................................37 4.21 Command Ship Flight Screen ..............................38 4.2.2 Flight Screen ..........................................38 4.2.3 Status Bars.............................................40 4.2.4 Radars .................................................40 4.2.6 Menu ...................................................40 4.26 Flight Control...........................................40 4.3 VEHICLE CONTROL CENTRE 4.3.1 Flight Screen .,........................................46 4.3.2 Radars .................................................46 4.3.3 Stats ..................................................46 4.3.4 Weapons Boxes ..........................................47 4.3.5 Information Panel.......................................47 4.3.6 Other Controls..........................................48 4.3.7 Conclusion..............................................49 5. HINTS AND TIPS ............................................50 6. CONTROLS...................................................65 1. LOADING THE SIMULATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Always switch off your machine for at least 30 seconds before loading the game. Failure to do so may result in virus contamination of the AIR SUPPORT disk. See the Virus Warning and the Warranty Notice in this manual for further information. 1.1 ATARI ST VERSION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Insert your AIR SUPPORT disk into the internal drive, switch on your monitor/tv, then your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions. 1.2 AMIGA VERSION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Switch on your machine. Insert a Kickstart disk if required (for example, if you own an Amiga 1000). When the prompt appears for you to insert the Workbench disk, insert your AIR SUPPORT disk into the internal drive. Insert Disk 2 when prompted. Should you wish to skip the intro you may insert Disk 2 at the Workbench prompt. 1.3 VIRUS WARNING! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This product is guaranteed by Psygnosis to be virus free. Psygnosis Ltd accept no responsibility for damage caused to this product through virus infection. Please see page 67 of this manual for details. To avoid virus infection always ensure that your machine is switched off for at least 30 seconds before loading this game. Please see page 67 for more information regarding viruses and Your warranty. 2. BRIEFING =========== Trainees are advised to read the main Introduction which precedes these pages. However, for those who are already familiar with the information it contains, the following will suffice: The Air Support Battlefield Simulation (ASBS) is the first in a series of theoretical battlefield scenarios designed by Military SimTech Command (MSC) using the C-Corp Chaos 2050 mainframe. As a candidate at the West Point Military Academy you represent the top 0.02% of trainees in the world. There are 1,000 of you competing for the 100 positions of Simulation Technician awarded each year. A qualified Simulation Technician (or SimTech) has two main responsibilities. The first is a ten-year period of service as Commander of one of the 1,000 Defence Complexes based on the Tropic of Cancer and designed to dissuade attacks from the allied Southern Hemisphere forces. The second, undertaken once the period of front-line service has ended, is responsibility for the development and testing of new weapons systems and simulations. The aim of the ASBS is to ensure that only the best candidates qualify for these vitally important posts. In it, you will be given command of a simulated Defence Complex at the forefront of current technology; and you will be asked to protect it at all costs, as well as successfully infiltrating the enemy's defences and nullifying his threat. This is most easily performed by knocking out his four generators. The hardware at your disposal includes radars and missile defences, a Command Ship, a quartet of basic ground and airborne fighters and reconnaissance vehicles, and the ability to program up to 16 of them to patrol your defences. This equipment will be used to a limited extent in 20 Training Missions. Following this, however, will be up to 40 Full Simulations, in which the complete range of hardware will be featured. THE TRAINING MISSIONS ===================== The aim of the 20 Training Missions is for you to become familiar with the basic ideas and equipment at your disposal in Air Support. The missions begin with simple vehicle control and end with a scaled- down version of the Full Simulations. Complete instructions will be given to you on-screen. The tests grow progressively harder, and rank is be awarded to candidates who show a consistent rate of success; conversely, a permanent demerit will be awarded for failure of a mission. The West Point Academy does not condone graduation by perseverance or trial and error; occasional failures, however, can be tolerated. THE FULL SIMULATIONS ==================== Once you have completed basic training, you are thrown into the Full Simulations. Naturally enough, candidates will not be expected to complete all the missions in one day, or even a week - and for this reason a Registration Screen, unique to the trainee, allows the use of ID codes to save performance details at any point during the simulation. The aim of the Full Simulations is equivalent to that of a real life battle: to disable the enemy's defence complex by eliminating the power generators and HQ. The examiners are not looking for rash displays of power, but for total battle resource management. Strategists make better commanders than conquering heroes. You decide the level of difficulty; there are three in all: Easy, Medium and Hard. Difficulty affects how early you get to see the enemy's movements - see Difficulty Level. You will soon learn the reasons why a relatively flat landscape with few tidal aquatic areas is much easier to negotiate than a mountainous region populated by lakes. Difficulty also affects your performance rating: on a Hard level you are allowed to fail in fewer mission before your rating dips below the Fail line - see Candidate Statistics. One thing you can be sure of: as you progress through the Full Simulations, life will become tougher than anything you have ever experienced before. Should your Statistics Line remain above the Fail area throughout the game you will be allowed to graduate. And when you do, the rewards are great. NOTE: Air Support is a simulation in which you determine the level of interaction. It is vital to establish key strategies from the beginning, but once you have programmed waypoints, built vehicles and designed your Defence Complex, you can do as much, or as little, as you like. For example, you can control all 16 craft and the Command Ship, or leave them on auto-pilot to follow the Vehicle Command Channels you program for them (see 4.1.5, below). Most of the systems run automatically and will only require maintenance; however, tactics should be reviewed constantly in response to enemy manoeuvres. 3. GETTING STARTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3.1 REGISTRATION SCREEN This is the first screen you will see after the game has loaded. If this is your first mission, it allows you to register with the C-2050 at West Point Military Academy; if you have already completed some part of the trainee programme, you can load up previously saved records using your name and ID number. Each mission or simulation you complete gives you a new ID number, which will contain details such as your success rate on previous missions. To enter your name, use the mouse in conjunction with the on-screen keyboard or simply type your input. Selecting the MENU option takes you to the DIFFICULTY LEVEL SCREEN. FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, WHEN ENTERING YOUR PERSONAL ID YOU MUST ENSURE THAT THE NAME YOU USE IS CONSISTENT FROM GAME TO GAME. This is because the name is cross-referenced to the ID number. For example, if you enter the name J. SMITH, the C-2050 computer will, in subsequent games, not accept JSMITH or J SMITH. If this rule is not complied with you will be unable to access the statistics detailed by your personal ID code, and you will be obliged to restart your training from the beginning. 3.2 DIFFICULTY LEVEL SCREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selecting Easy displays a full map including enemy complex and all enemy vehicles. Selecting Medium displays a full map with enemy complex but you will not be able to see enemy vehicles until they are in radar range. Selecting Hard displays only your squares of the map (blue dots), also, you cannot see the enemy complex nor his vehicles until they are within your radar range. 3.3 MISSION MENU SCREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For the purposes of authenticity, no details about missions are given in this booklet. However, as a general rule, in the training Missions you may be asked to perform tasks such as piloting individual craft into enemy territory and then returning to base using waypoints or manual control; and in the Full Simulations you will be asked to adapt the full experience gained from your Training to a Full Simulation. It is therefore vital that you familiarise yourself with the contents of this manual. The Mission Menu screen allows you to utilise the following commands: START SIMULATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starts the currently highlighted Training Mission or Full Simulation. At this stage you are required to enter a Craft Static - Printed in green in the Hardware Guide - be it a Fighter's weight or a Tank's length. RESET SIMULATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Clears from your computer's memory any statistics on your performance to date, allowing you to restart the Air Support program from Training Mission 1. However, the C-2050 computer will still store your performance details for use at a later date, and you can access them again by inputting the corresponding name and ID number. You can drop out of the program - by pressing 'esc' - and restart at any time. CANDIDATE STATISTICS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selecting this option leads you to your own personal statistics screen. This allows you to examine your progress to date. All Air Support statistics are mission-based, not career-oriented: the incentive for each candidate lies in promotion for a well executed mission or a demotion for a failed mission. Trainees who have not yet undertaken any missions will have no record here. DATA BASE ~~~~~~~~~ The Data Base provides brief visual identification of the vehicles you will be able to control during the game. For more detailed information about these craft and those of the enemy, consult the OFFICIAL HARDWARE GUIDE which follows these instructions. REGISTRATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Returns you to the REGISTRATION screen. 3.4 PLAYING IN 3D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some trainees may prefer to play their missions in 3D. If this is the case, follow these instructions. Once you have started the simulation, go to the COMMAND SHIP FLIGHT SCREEN and select the OPTIONS icon from the menu. Select the BACK icon four times to access the 3D menu. Select STEREO to activate the 3D then put on your 3D glasses. Use the DPTH INC, DPTH DEC, POS INC and POS DEC controls to optimise comfortable viewing. Finally, press EXIT to return to the main menu. For more information, see the OPTIONS category in Section 4.2.6, below. (Sorry guys, Couldnt type in the 3d glasses .. lame eh ?!?! ) 4. THE SIMULATION CONTROLS ========================== NOTE: The following abbreviations are used throughout this manual and the accompanying Quick Reference Sheet. LMB = Left mouse button RMB = right mouse button 4.1 MAP SCREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The action in Air Support takes place on a simulated world, represented by this map. This is where you will make all your major tactical decisions. MAIN MAP SCREEN -=============- +----------+-----------------------------------+-------+ | Craft | | | | Control | | | +----------+ | | | Waypnt | | | | Control | | | +----------+ | | | Complex | +-------+ | Control | | | +----------+ | | | | | | | Options | | | | | +-------+ +----------+ | Sortie| | ZOOM XO | +-------+ +----------+ | Patrol| | PAN | +-------+ +----------+ | Attack| | MAPLOCK | +-------+ +----------+ | Halt | |Main Ship | +-------+ +----------+ | | | Control | | | +----------+-----------------------------------+-------+ The Map Screen serves two main purposes. Firstly, it provides an overall view of the landscape, detailing contours, vehicle positions and headings, and showing the layout of your Defence Complex, when applicable. Secondly, it permits you to manipulate that environment, allowing you to command up to 16 vehicles and set their paths, redesign your defences and launch strikes against the enemy (see sections 4.1.2 to 4.1.6, below). To make decisions easier, the map can be changed to show different viewpoints and magnifications, from a simple terrain without contours (which filters out unwanted detail) to an isometric 3D display (which shows the height and shape of the land). 4.1.1 SIMULATION MAP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When applicable, this initially shows an overhead view of the entire battlefield with your Defence Complex at the bottom left corner and your opponent's at the top right corner. Details about how to change the viewpoints, use the zoom feature and implement strategic options are given in sections 4.1.7 to 4.1.9, below. As games progress, an increasing amount of terrain will be laid waste and flattened, due to the use of weapons such as mines. This produces craters which are easily negotiated by land vehicles such as Main Battle Tanks and Reconnaissance Craft. You can scroll immediately to any area of the map by lowlighting the Maplock option on the left-hand panel and moving the cursor to the desired spot and clicking the LMB. You can then magnify the selected area by using the ZOOM function, described in section 4.1.8, below. 4.1.2 YOUR DEFENCE COMPLEX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note: In order to access information about your Defence Complex, you must highlight the COMPLEX icon in the OPTION Panel. The Defence Complex is the core of your military operations. It is an entirely automated system capable of growth and change. (In reality, the 1,000 Complexes that mark the boundary between Northern and Southern Hemispheres are run by a C-2050 computer, and are manned by a SimTech Commander with four SimTech engineers). The simulated Complex enables you to build and replace offensive units and weapons, and can be moved around to suit the local terrain. It consists of six different units, as follows: HEADQUARTERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The centre of your complex from which every other unit is constructed. To move your entire complex, simply move the Headquarters. Click on the HEADQUARTERS icon to glean information on vehicles available to you. GENERATORS ~~~~~~~~~~ These units provide power to your factories, you should protect them at all costs. Once all four are destroyed you have nothing left with which to protect your Complex. Please note: Generators may only be destroyed when switched on and by a direct hit. When switched on they are independant of HQ as they supply their own power. FACTORY ~~~~~~~ The twelve Factories in your Defence Complex are vital in creating supplies for your vehicles and replacing or repairing those vehicles when they are destroyed or damaged. There are four types of vehicle which a Factory can manufacture: the Airborne Attack Fighter (ATTF), the ground-based Reconnaissance Vehicle (RECO), the Main Battle Tank (MBT) and the Multiple Missile Launching Systems (MMLS). Please note that some factories are limited as to which vehicles/weapons they can manufacture. TO MAKE A NEW VEHICLE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a. Select the COMPLEX icon from the OPTIONS display. (This displays your complex in blue and shows its major supply lines). Next, select any factory by clicking the LMB on it or b y hitting the F4 key - see accompanying keyboard layout.. A list of the craft and weapons/equipment available will then appear in the INFO box. (For more details about weapons, see the OFFICIAL HARDWARE GUIDE which follows this instruction manual). b. Use the mouse to select a craft. Once you have selected, choose a weapon from the list available - this will vary according to the vehicle. Note that you cannot select all the weapons that are available for the craft you have chosen - due to weight considerations you must decide which one(s) you want to take. Once you have selected the weapons, click the mouse button on OFF to start the construction process: a percentage rating will inform you of the progress. c. Once the vehicle and its weapons have been manufactured, the Defence Complex positions them on standby at the factory, awaiting further instructions. If you have not created a Waypoint List for a vehicle, do so (see 4.1.5 and 4.1.6t below). You may assign a Waypoint to a vehicle before it has been built. You can, if you wish, control the vehicle manually: All vehicles need to locate an exit at the nearest Radar Station or Missile Command Post. If a Waypoint is already in place, the computer will automatically install the newly-made craft on that route. You now have full control over the vehicle you have created, and can either leave it to run automatically or pilot it yourself from the VEHICLE CONTROL CENTRE (See 4.3, below). Once the vehicle has left the Factory, another one may be constructed in its place. Craft which run out of energy or become irreparably damaged are automatically replaced and replacement vehicles sent along their Waypoint Lists. NOTE: You can create up to 16 different vehicles by varying the hardware/weapons configuration. For example, you could create one Main Battle Tank with Track and Wire Missiles, and another MBT with Wire Guided Missiles and a Maser. MISSILE COMMAND POST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This fires a tracking missile at any enemy in its direction and range - but only if that vehicle has been detected by radar. You can set the missile rate (Off/Low/High) by clicking the LMB on the Missile Command Post, then highlighting your choice in the INFO BOX. To activate all Missile Command Posts, click on the ALL ON icon. To increase the missile rate, click on the ALL OFF icon and again on the ALL ON icon. RADAR STATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is one of the most important parts of your defences, since it gives you advance warning of enemy approaches in the direction to which it is pointed. To see exactly how strong its signal is, click the mouse button on the DISPLAY icon. You can then set the radar range (Off/Low/High) by clicking the LMB on the RADAR icon and highlighting your choice in the INFO BOX. You may also select radar range by clicking LMB on ALL ON icon, this sets range to Low. To increase the range click on the ALL OFF icon and click on the ALL ON icon again, this sets all radar stations to High Range. CONNECTIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~ Connections supply power and orders to the outlying Factories, Missile Command Posts and Radar Stations. The latest technology, currently being tested in this version of the Air Support Battle Simulation, has transformed them into flexible limbs', allowing the Defence Complex to be reshaped according to the terrain. The trainee has control over the length of the connectiuns between units, and can even input a 90 degree turn into the connection at any point if desired (see ~Designing your Defence Complex', below). Connections link the whole Defence Complex in the following way: 4 Generators are connected to the central HQ 3 Factories are connected to each Generator 2 Radar Units and one Missile Command Post are connected to each factory At any point, damage to this system will stop the functioning of units further along the chain. For example, if you lose a Generator you will also lose the use of three factories, six Radar Units and three Missile Command Posts. DESIGNING YOUR DEFENCE COMPLEX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The units which make up the Defence Complex are interdependent but can be moved around the map area *eely. By selecting a unit and manipulating the Connections, you can redesign your defensive wall. Size isn't important: units as small as a Radar Base or as large as the whole complex can be moved anywhere within its specified radius. The first thing you need to do is highlight the COMPLEX icon (your base will animate and turn blue). Next, decide what you want to move, and consult the following table to find out which unit you should select Choose the unit you require from the Complex Sub Menu (or from the Map Display - using the LMB). Activate that unit with the Select icon and the Select Sub Menu appears. Using the Up, Down, Left and Right icons, position the unit to the required location and lock its position using the Set icon. Unit Selected.................... Will Move Radar Station.................... Radar Station Missile Command Post............. Missile Command Post Factory ......................... Factory, and defence ................................. cluster comprising 2 ................................. Radars and Missile ................................. Command Post Generator........................ Generator, 3 factories ................................. and 3 defence clusters HQ .............................. The whole base - HQ ................................. can only be moved once NOTE: There is a limit to the distance or direction in which you can move your Defence Complex Units. A step-by-step guide to building your defence complex. ------------------------------------------------------ Click on COMPLEX CONTROL Click on HQ Click on SELECT Use UP,DOWN,LEFT RIGHT to move you whole complex to a more suitable site - if required. Select SET to establish it. Click on GENERATOR - Press F3 to toggle through your four generators, click on ON in the INFO BOX to switch the selected generator on. Or select ALL ON to switch them all on in one go. Click on FACTORY and build the required craft - see Factory (4.12 DEFENCE COMPLEX), Select MISSILE and select ALL ON. Select RADAR and select ALL ON. You now have a fully functional Defence Complex. INSIDE THE DEFENCE COMPLEX ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can enter the Defence Complex by directing one of the vehicles under your control into it, or by taking command of a newly created vehicle. You can find your way around by using the radar - but only on magnification greater than 3. 4.1.3 ENEMY BASE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The enemy's base and vehicles are visible at all times on Easy Difficulty Level, although his activities and craft deployment remain secret until revealed by your radar on Medium and Hard Levels. Trainees can be confident that the enemy will be engaged in manoeuvres similar to his own. 4.1.4 VEHICLES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When you select the CRAFT icon from the OPTIONS MENU. If an enemy craft comes within range of one of your radars, it is momentarily expanded to indicate as such. Your vehicles are divided into Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), Multiple Missile Launchers (MMLSs), Reconnaissance Vehicles (RECO), Attack Fighters (ATTF) and your Command Ship. For more details about these, consult the OFFICIAL HARDWARE GUIDE. Passing the cursor over each craft will give you details about the number and type of each ship. DIRECTING ~~~~~~~~~ You can take control of any vehicle at any time, just by accessing the VEHICLE COMMAND SCREEN (section 4.3, below). If you want your vehicle to follow a predetermined route and let the computer respond to enemy attacks by itself, create a WAYPOINT LISTS for the craft, select Sortie from the Craft Status Menu and watch the action. (see 4.1.5 Waypoint Lists, below). REFUELLING AND REARMING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Losing craft in real battles is a waste of time and resources, so the Air Support simulation has been designed to instruct you in the skill of reusing vehicles. There are two ways in which craft can be disabled: if they run out of energy, or if they are damaged beyond repair. They can also be rendered useless if they run out of weapons or equipment. If possible, you must direct the craft to return to the Defence Complex before the problem arises. Once-you have reached the DC, the craft must be guided to the nearest Factory unit for refuelling, rearming or repairs. The time taken for this process will vary according to the type of craft and the weapons it was carrying. However, if craft are destroyed, your factories will, if able, build a replacement. Note: The number of craft that may be manufactured is limited. The Information Box (on the HQ Screen) displays the number currently available to you. 4.1.5 WAYPOINT LISTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Setting up a Waypoint Lists is one of the most important tactical decisions in the simulation. Waypoint Lists are the routes between waypoints which a vehicle uses to patrol the landscape, attacking enemies when necessary. You must ensure that any Waypoint Lists you create pass over terrain which your craft can negotiate. For example, a Waypoint List for an MBT is useless if it runs over water and high mountains. 4.1.6 WAYPOINT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can create up to a maximum of 128 waypoints for your vehicles to follow (see the information detailed under the WAYPNT icon in 4.1.7 below). MSC trainees should aim to create effective patrol and attack routes for their vehicles. This is achieved by creating waypoints. First, highlight the WAYPNT icon to enable the display of waypoints on the map. These waypoints can then be manipulated as follows: a. The RMB creates a new waypoint. This is known as the current 'waypoint'. b. When the cursor is placed over a previously created waypoint, holding down the RMB allows that waypoint to be repositioned. c. The LMB deletes any waypoint under the cursor. d. Pressing and releasing the LMB while repositioning a new waypoint (as in B., above) will create a new point connected to the first. 4.1.7 OPTIONS SUB MENU 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The OPTIONS menu gives you complete control over how information is displayed on the map screen. Show buildings, such as the Defence Complex. GRIDS : Toggles agridon/off. SETCON : Identifies which squares on the map belong to you - shown in blue - and which are the enemy's - shown in red INFO : Highlighting this icon removes all unnecessary terrain details from the map, showing only a flat landscape with basic contours. This is the clearest display for seeing what's happening to your craft, but not as effective as the relief maps when it comes to plotting waypoints. FASTMAP: Increases speed of your and enemy's activities. RELIEF : Relief map display. This toggles between a map showing land heights as a series of coloured contour bars (revealed as a relative display in the INFO panel) and one which depicts them as true' 3D, with a light source and shading. OPT 2 : takes you to: 4.1.8 OPTIONS SUB MENU 2 ------------------------- ISO : Toggle between the overhead view of the landscape and an isometric one. (In conjunction with HEIGHT icon this can be useful for plotting vehicle routes through valleys). You must click on this icon to gain access to the following: SCAPE : Angles the view of the Isometric map. HEIGHT : Toggles between a flat, colour contour isometric display in I which all the heights are proportional, and a ~true' 3D one. Only works with the ISO map. LOOK N : Click on Look N, E, S or W to view the map from these directions. EXIT : Exits to the MAP SCREEN. DEFENCE : Toggles between showing and masking the activity of your Radar Stations and Missile Command Posts. The radar strength is shown by an animated sequence of dotted arcs, and missile activity by a sequence of short lines. This icon is particularly useful for revealing weak spots once you have altered the shape of your Defence Complex. 4.1.9 ADDITIONAL CONTROLS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ZOOM : The zoom feature has four different magnifications. Use the LMB to select the area on the map you wish to magnify, then click on the ZOOM icon with the RMB. The next three clicks of the RMB magnify the area of map that you have chosen. Use the LMB to zoom out. PAN : This control allows you to scroll around the map. Holding down either mouse button on this icon and moving the mouse in the desired direction moves the map accordingly. It's best used for fine control: a more direct method is to move the cursor to the required position on the map and click the LMB. MAPLOCK : Used in conjunction with the ZOOM function, this icon allows you to skip from a magnified position to a default position (using the LMB) or reset the position totally using the RMB. When this icon is highlighted the map is locked to the default position. COMMAND SHIP: Puts you in the cockpit of your Command Ship - see Command Ship Flight Screen 4.21. CONTROL CENTRE: Puts you in the cockpit of the currently selected vehicle. 4.2.0 INFO PANEL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If an icon is activated in the OPTIONS menu, this panel will reveal information about the type and number of vehicles (with the CRAFT icon), or the status of your Defence Complex units (with the COMPLEX icon). Details such as power levels, radar range, missile rate, and Factory output are all shown here. To change these details (for example, to increase the range of a radar from Low to High), click the LMB on the selected unit, then make the alteration in the Info Panel using the mouse. When no icon is activated, the Info Panel will usually show a vertical bar of colours: this displays the relative height of the terrain. The Command box is the control centre for directing your 16 vehicles. As you construct craft in your Factories, they appear in this box in order. For example, the first vehicle in the top row is number 1, the last one in the bottom row is number 16 - and these numbers correspond to the craft highlighted on the map. For ease-of-use the different vehicles have been translated into simple symbols. Select a Waypoint or Target then highlight a craft in the box by clicking on it with the LMB, it will then follow that course at a preset speed. MSC advises that you set up a bank of patrol craft before launching an attack. The following is a list of commands given to selected craft: When highlighted: Sortie - Follow WAYPOINT LIST and engage enemy when in range Patrol - Follow WAYPOINT LIST Attack - Attack specified when in range Halt - Skips between Sortie/Patrol/Halt Patrol or Sortie will be automatically selected when you designate a WAYPOINT LIST to a craft. Attack is automatically selected when a craft is selected - with the RMB. 4.2.1 COMMAND SHIP FLIGHT SCREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This screen gives you direct control over the Command Ship, as well as allowing you to set up the game to your liking, turn on the 3D display and alter a host of other options. 4.2.2 FLIGHT SCRREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This shows the view from your Command Ship (CS). Its default mode is auto-pilot, but you can take control of it at any time, as follows: press the LMB on the Flight Screen itself, and this will eliminate the menus and allow you to enter flight mode. By holding down the LMB and moving the mouse forwards or backwards you can accelerate and decelerate. To fire the currently selected weapon (see 4.2.4, below), press the RMB. Once fired, you can control a Wire Guided or Waypoint Guided missile to its target by keeping the RMB held down. To exit flight mode and return to the menus, hold down the LMB and click the RMB. 4.2.3 STATUS BARS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These bars detail your altitude, speed and fuel. If your craft is in Hugging mode (see below), you don't need to worry too much about altitude. However, keep an eye on the fuel level - if you run out, your Command Ship will crash and be lost. 4.2.4 RADARS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The radars reveal information about craft in the surrounding terrain. You can position them anywhere on screen by holding down the RMB and sliding the radar display with the mouse to the required position. The magnification is changed by clicking on the box marked MAG x4'. The LMB reduces magnification, the-RMB increases it. Click on the RADAR box to open Radar Window. 4.2.5 MENU ~~~~~~~~~~ You can only use the menu if you are not in Flight Mode. To select a menu icon, move the cursor to the icon you wish to select and click either mouse button. 4.2.6 FLIGHT CONTROLS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HUGGING ------- Activates the Command Ship's anti-gravity drive mechanism, allowing it to follow the contours of the landscape. In rugged terrain, SimTech Command advises that trainees do not fly at excessive speeds: the anti- gravity sensors work on a quick, but not immediate, response time, and it is all too easy to crash into a steep hillside. Even when this system is activated, you can override it by entering Flight Mode and piloting the CS, as described above: once you have finished controlling the CS, return to the menus and let the craft fly itself- it will automatically return to Hugging mode. TRACKING -------- When activated, this guides the Command Ship automatically towards the currently selected waypoint or target. AUTO ---- Automatically engages enemy while protecting itself. WEAPONS: ~~~~~~~~ The Command Ship is the most heavily armed of all your craft, and also the most heavily armoured. For more details about the above weapons, consult the OFFICIAL HARDWARE GUIDE which follows this manual. OPTIONS: ~~~~~~~~ The options listed below allow you to customise the game to your liking, and are accessed by activating the OPTIONS icon on the menu. BACK : Takes you to the previous list of options. NEXT : Takes you to the next list of options. EXIT : Takes you back to the MENU, above. STATUS : Shows/hides the status bars (altitude, fuel and speed). HEADUP : Allows you to make use of a Headup display (effecti~ when the enemy is in view). STARS :Turns the background stars on and off. In conjunction with other options (such as turning off the Horizon, water and filled radar display), turning these off increases the update speed and provides a more reali~t - flight. HORIZON: Removes/replaces the horizon. SOLID : Fills in all the dotted vector lines to create solid vectol, (this gives a poorer impression of distance, but some trainees have expressed a preference for it). WATER : Toggles the water animation on/off- in wire-frame mode~ only. RADARS : Shows hides the radars at the top of the Flight Screen RAD SOL : Toggles between a radar display with a transparent background (the stars can be seen through it, but it speeds up the simulation), and one in which the background is filled-in black. JOYSTICK : Allows you to use a joystick for flight control. INT LACE :Interlace on/off. COMP : Toggles the compass on/off. ON/OFF COMP BIG : Toggles the size of the compass between normal and large. STEREO : Activates the 3D viewing display, in conjunction with the 3D glasses provided. RGB : Maintains Stereo view but with limited on-screen colours. DPTH INC : This quartet of icons allows you to customise the 3D DPTH DE : effect to suit your eyesight. The DPTH icons control the POS INC : 3D, and the POS icons compensate for your position in front of the screen. Put on the 3D glasses, then try out POS DEC : these commands until you're happy with the movement of the landscape. TUNNEL 1 : Camouflages Complexes - wire-frame view only. TUNNEL 2 : Shows wire-frame complexes in greater detail. OBJ SIMP : Simplifies objects to increase speed of game. LINE FAT : Increase thickness of all lines shown in wire-frame mode. LANDFIL : Fill sections of the wire-frame display and shows Grid lines. LANDTYPE : Works in conjunction with LANDFILL; and alters wire- frame display to a filled display. MAP SFX : Toggle sound effects on/off on map screen MAP SPE : Toggle speech on/off on map screen (Amiga only) MAIN SFX : Toggle sound effects on/off MAIN SPE : Toggle speech on/off (Amiga only) GIVE UP : The easy way out of a mission, however you will rewarded with a double demotion FILLBOX : Toggles between see-through and non see-through command icons BUTTONS : Swaps mouse buttons. FLICKCOL : Changes colour of on-screen text FLICKOFF : Toggles between screen flickering or being steady BCKGRND : Changes dark blue background to black Other menu controls: -------------------- CONTROL : Selecting this icon leads you to the VEHICLE CONTROL CENTRE (see over). MAP : Takes you back to the MAP SCREEN. EXIT : Takes you back to the MISSION MENU SCREEN anu allows you to restart the game if desired. 4.3.0 VEHICLE CONTROL CENTRE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Vehicle Command Centre is based inside your Command Module at the Defence Complex HQ. It gives you information about all the vehicles in your armoury, and allows you to access the Command Ship Flight Screen. The first time you access the Command Centre, all vehicles that you have built in the Factories will be operating on auto- pilot; however, you can take direct control of up to 16 vehicles by deselecting the AUTO function and entering Flight Mode by pressing the LMB on the FLIGHT SCREEN and controlling the vehicle as detailed below. NOTE: Air Support can be played without once taking direct control of any of your craft: everything can be put on auto- pilot (see 4.3.6, below), leaving you to get on with the strategic side of the simulation. Trainees will not be demerited for playing a simulation entirely on auto. 4.3.1 FLIGHT SCREEN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To control one of your vehicles, first select it from the Informatio] Panel (click the mouse button on your choice). Pressing the LM] anywhere on the Flight Screen itself eliminates the menus and allows you to enter Flight Mode. 13y holding the LMB down and moving the mouse forwards or backwards you can accelerate and decelerate. To fire, press the RMB. Once fired, you can track a Wire Guided missile its target by keeping the RMB held down. To return to the menus, hold down the LMB and click the RMB. 4.3.2 RADARS ~~~~~~~~~~~~ As with the radars on the Command Ship, these reveal informatior about the craft in the surrounding terrain. You can position them anywhere on screen by holding down the RMB and sliding the radar display with the mouse to the required position. The magnification is changed by clicking on the box marked 'MAG x 4'. The LMB reduces magnification, the RMB increases it. 4.3.3 STATS ~~~~~~~~~~~ These menus display information similar to that on the Command Ship Flight Screen. STATUS : The C-2050 computer is authorised to send you basic messages, giving simple information, such as what your vehicles are doing. These messages are a word-for-word match with those from a real-life Defence Complex. SPEED : The speed of the craft currently selected. Some vehicles can travel more quickly than others, so the speed meter is relative. If you do not wish to enter Flight Mode, you can increase/decrease the speed of the vehicle by holding down either mouse button on this bar and dragging it left or right. DAMAGE : Some craft have better defences than others, so it's vital that you keep an eye on the damage levels. If repairs are needed, get the vehicle back to base! Losing all your shields results in machine failure, and means that your Factories will have to produce a replacement. THRUST : Thrust is proportional to Speed. ENERGY : As with the Damage meter, keep an eye on your Energy levels as often as you can: if your energy runs out, the vehicle will self destruct. 4.3.4 WEAPONS BOXES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The three boxes on the right hand side of the menu display reveal the weapons available for the craft under control, and the remaining stock of those weapons. These items will vary from craft to craft - some vehicles may only be carrying one weapon, others will carry as many as three. (For more information, consult the OFFICIAL HARDWARE GUIDE which follows this manual). 4.3.5 INFORMATION PANEL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This panel allows you to access individually each of the 16 craft (maximum) under your control. Standard notation is the same as that used elsewhere in this manual (see 4.1.9 Command Box', above). By holding down either mouse button and moving the mouse up and down you can scroll through the list of available craft. This action also accesses the corresponding vehicle on the Flight Screen, along with its statistics and remaining weapons. If you choose to control one of your craft, click the LMB on the Flight Screen to access the flight controls. To discontinue control, hold down the LMB and click the RMB to return you to the menus. 4.3.6 OTHER CONTROLS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTO : Toggles between putting the currently selected craft on auto pilot (default mode) or giving you manual control. You can override auto-pilot at any time by selecting the vehicle you wish to control, and entering flight mode as described above. Craft on auto-pilot will automatically engage the enemy when appropriate. These are the advantages and disadvantages: AUTO CONTROL All vehicles default to Auto if not specifically selected for manual control. When AUTO is enabled you can control the strategic aspect of the battle and leave the actual combat to the computer. The only involvement the trainee has is instructing the vehicle to follow a series of waypoints on a Waypoint Lists (WAYPOINT LIST). Each vehicle will then carry out predefined instructions, as detailed below: Vehicle Instructions MMLS Attack a ground installation RECO Drop a radar module or mine MBT/ATTF Attack an enemy vehicle in range Once it has completed its task, the vehicle will await a new command. If no such command is forthcoming, the vehicle will retrace its steps along the waypoint, and then repeat its actions. MANUAL CONTROL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Manual control is engaged by the trainee when they think they can take better advantage of a situation than the computer. For example, there will be occasions when the outcome of a simple one-on-one dogfight between the computer and its opponent would be inconclusive. In addition, manual control is useful where mines or radar modules need to be placed in unsurveyed territory. MAP : Takes you to the MAP SCREEN. Pressing EXIT on the Map Screen returns you to this screen. COMM : Takes you back to the COMMAND SHIP FLIGHT SCREEN. 4.3.7 CONCLUSION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Before reading the Hints and Tips which follow this section, trainees are reminded that the above instructions are only a list of suggestions. You may find better ways to defeat the simulation, and you may be able to create your own defensive techniques. ASBS Vl.0 is an experimental system, and as such is flexible enough to cater for a varietY of tactical stYles. 5. HINTS AND TIPS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Use your Command Ship for primary defence until you have built more craft. * Use your Command Ship's Wire Guided Missiles to destroy enemy generators. * Disabling all enemy generators will cause them severe dama~e and win the game in the Full Simulations. * Organise an efficient Defence Complex design and defence patrol system as soon as you can - but make sure it is appropriate for the terrain. * Advice on structuring your defence complex: some terrains will provide natural barriers against enemy land vehicles, such as mountains or water. Where there are gaps, fill them with your radar and missile defence systems. Be careful not to abuse this ability, since it could leave your defences very weak, and you could see your power lines being sabotaged. * Protect your weakest units! Usually these will be the MMLSs, so don't just send them into enemy territory alone - it's too easy for them to be destroyed by the enemy Defence Complex' automatic missile launchers. * Guard your Generators! Destruction of one will severely limit yo ability to maintain your defences and manufacture new vehicles. Generators can only be destroyed when they are switched on. AIR SUPPORT BATTLE SIMULATION OFFICLAL HARDWARE GUIDE v1.0 (March, 2064) INTRODUCTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~ This first version of the Hardware Guide supports ASBS V1.0 for use with the C-Corp Chaos 2050 mainframe, networked to your personal computer. ASBS hardware is a development of the Ground Battle Simulation (GBS) hardware designed by MSC in the late 2020s, which was the standard SimTech trainee simulation for over two decades. However, users familiar with that system will notice the following major changes: 1) All of the GBS Airborne and Ground Attack and Reconnaissance Vehicles have been replaced by quicker, more manoeuvrable and better armed equivalents. Candidates are asked to note in particular that the GBS Mobile Command System has been replaced by the experimental Command Module. 2) Manual control is now possible on all the craft. 3) There are now 16 craft available, with up to 128 programmable waypoints. 4) ASBS allows you to redesign your Defence Complex to establish stronger defence positions. 5) The use of C-Corp's C-2050 means that the Enemy's ability is fully equal to that of the Defending Forces. Simulation Technicians and Trainees may like to note that all the GBS software/hardware is compatible with the Air Support Battle Simulation, and may be used to add variety at the discretion of the MSC. For 3D visual identification of all the craft listed below, trainees are advised to consult the simulation database. YOUR HARDWARE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All the strategic and flight options which prospective Technicians could face on a real battlefield are available here. Your four craft have the ability to automatically patrol up to 128 waypoints, and can be customised with a variety of weapons to create up to 16 unique hardware configurations. Thanks to a centrally-controlled hover system all aircraft have landscape-hugging capability. Damage and energy levels are the most critical aspects of keeping a unit operational, so trainees are advised that at all times they must take care of their hardware - excessive loss of equipment will result in poor performance statistics, which can lead to failure. Note: in practice your vehicles can only be armed with some of the weapons which they are capable of carrying, NOT all of them. (For more details about weapons and their abbreviations, see the WEAPONRY section below). TRANSPORT AND ATTACK CRAFT ========================== (Dunno why but none of the length, wingspan etc.. values are included in the original docs. Please dont think im just too lazt to enter em hehe) COMMAND MODULE (CM) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Length: Wingspan: Height: Weight: Weapons: Ta/A-M/VVG/Ma/Mi History: The CM is a replacement for the GBS Mobile Command System. Both aircraft are based on the Airborne Warning and Control Centre (AWAC), built by Boeing for the United States of America in 1977. It is intended that the version for use in real battle scenarios will carry a crew of ten SimTech operators Comments: The Command Module is used to carry out airborne surveillance, control and command simultaneously. A pair of nuclear-powered retro- thrusters allow it to achieve great speeds, and it is kept airborne by a computer-controlled anti-gravity hovering system. Its short wingspan and huge bulk (three times the size of other vehicles) make it an unwieldy craft to fly. In order to increase its radar vision (five times greater than that of any other vehicle in this simulation), it has of necessity a reduced armour coating. This makes it vulnerable to enemy attack, and so it is equipped with a full complement of defensive and offensive weapons - even so, protection in the form of additional air support is advised. In effect, all communications and information go through the Command Ship, which makes it the most important vehicle in the simulation: if it is destroyed, your training mission/full simulation is immediately terminated. The CM is based at the Head Quarters of your Defence Complex, and its main uses are as follows: 1) As an information/command link to the game world: you are able to control all of your 16 additional craft from here. 2) As a refuelling/rearming ship: it can gather supplies from a factory unit and place them on the landscape (ready to be picke~ up by another vehicle). 3) As a large mobile radar station: when placed in an advanced position on the simulation map, it allows you to view a large number the enemy's advancing craft. ATTACK FIGHTER (ATTF) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Length: Wingspan: Height: Weight: Weapons: Tr/AM/Ma History: The history of the airborne attack fighter dates back to balloons and blimps, but the most direct link the ATTF has with the past is the jet fighter, created by Heinkel in 1939. This Air Support model is a more powerful and manoeuvrable version of the GBS Attack Fighter. The real aircraft currently under development will either be able to carry two operators - a navigator and pilot - or feature remote control. Comments: A lightweight aircraft with excellent response and sharp (one kilometre) turning circle, made possible by its novel articulated rear wings and a pair of tail rudders. It is powered by a single retro- thruster and has medium strength armour-plating - however, its most useful form of defence will be in avoiding attacks altogether and striking before the enemy strikes it. As you would expect, this is the fastest vehicle in the fleet and therefore the most useful in emergencies - for example, when your key installations or equipment are under attack. It is capable of carrying up to eight missiles (Tracking or Wire Guided) and a single Maser unit. Special attention must be paid to refuelling: because it can travel great distances at high speeds, it needs to collect fuel on its waypoint course. This makes the positioning of factory modules by the Command Ship critical. MAIN BATTLE TANK (MBT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Length: Width: Height: Weight: Weapons: Tr/Wg/Ma History: Armoured vehicles have been with us for millennia, but the first recognisable tank' was built during the First World War, back in the Twentieth Century. This Main Battle Tank is a development of the MSC's early Armoured Battle Tanks, with stronger armour plating and (more importantly) increased manoeuvrability. Comments: This is one of your most important attack craft, a slow-moving but highly accurate ground vehicle able to defend against invadRrs, provide support for your Multiple Missile Launchers and launch attacks of its own against all ground targets. It features twin 120mm Rifled gun turrets for extra firepower, excellent armour plating, a low, trim body shape and a T-101 hover-track for increased speed and manoeuvrability. Weapons and defence systems include an anti-missile missile launching bay, Track and Wire Guided Missile bays, a gunner's sight, wind sensors and advanced radar. Up to four missiles and 40 shells can be carried. The MBT cannot pass over excessively mountainous landscapes or large areas of water. RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLE (RECO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Length: Width: Height: Weight: Weapons: Ma, Mines History: Spy vehicles are crucial to the success of any campaign, and are one of the oldest components of any armoury. Their history is too long and complicated to explain here - you are advised to consult MSC's The Origin of Military Hardware (latest edition, 2059). Comments: This vehicle is the fastest of the ground-based attack craft, with lightweight (but poor) armour and an excellent radar. Like the MBT it cannot pass over mountainous landscapes (unless you provide a breach in the mountain for it), but unlike the MBT it is perfectly able to travel over water at high speeds when not fully laden. Its function is a combination of advanced warning of enemy approaches and the short, sharp elimination of radar modules and mines. Its only defence is a Maser unit, so great care is needed when controlling this vehicle. MULTIPLE MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEMS (MMLS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Length: Width : Height: Weight: Weapons: WG History: Missile Launchers were first successfuily used in the late 1900s, but none of them were capable of the accuracy or flexibility of today's models. This MMLS is an experimental version, currently under development at the MSC HQ in Eastern Europe. As such, there is little information or advice we can give you, except that you try the system for yourself. Comments: The most striking feature of the MMLS is its extremely poor armour. A more adequately defended version is under development for ASBS V2.0, but in the mean time current technology only allows MSC to send out a virtually undefended system. Its launching tubes are mounted on the back of an armoured vehicle and are capable of releasing up to 20 long-range missiles at once. Its Tracking missiles will home in on any designated target and should provide the best options for occasions when swift, multiple strikes are required. Like the MBT, it cannot pass over mountainous terrain or water, so a path must be carved (using other vehicles) through heavily defended or awkward terrain. In automatic mode it will fire missiles at the last two waypoints you select from the Main Map Screen; after which, if still intact, it will turn around and return to the Defence Complex for rearming and refuelling. WEAPONRY ~~~~~~~~~ As explained above, weapons are limited in use to certain types of craft, and even then those vehicles will only be able to take a selection of arms from those available, due to weight, fuel and manoeuvrability considerations. All weapons can be manufactured at short notice in the Defence Complex. MISSILES: ~~~~~~~~~ All missiles are provided with a bank of sensors which allow them to hug the landscape until a line of sight is established with the target. TRACK (Tr) ~~~~~~~~~~ Standard tracking missiles: if they see an enemy vehicle they will head straight for it. WIRE GUIDED (WG) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Simulation Technicians please note: the GBS HM-117 Homing Missile has been replaced by the WG-1 Wire Guided Missile. This can be piloted from the Command Module control screens: it features a video unit mounted in the nose cone and a relay/tracking computer guidance system. ANTI-MISSILE (A-M) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Use this to defend particularly against the enemy's MMLS units and their own Defence Complex Missile Command Posts. OTHERS: ~~~~~~~ Missiles apart, the trainee is able to access a trio of other weapons and equipment, all of which represent the latest in MSC technology. A more advanced version of the Mine is currently under development - it will feature increased range for sensing enemy craft, radar invisibility and localised (directional) explosions. MASER (Ma) ~~~~~~~~~~ Rapid firing but relatively weak: many direct hits are required to destroy an enemy vehicle. However, a single direct hit will destroy missile. MINES (Mi) ~~~~~~~~~~ These small, explosive devices can be placed anywhere on this landscape by the Command Module (CM). Use them to form an effective wall of defence around your Complex, or scatter them randomly to create havoc in enemy ranks. Mines automatically self destruct when opposing vehicles come within range. II. ENEMY HARDWARE ================== Enemy capabilities have been designed to simulate the variety of real engagements. According to the difficulty level selected (at random) by the mainframe, your opponent can vary from a slow-moving, poorly defended and reasonably intelligent commander to the kind of enemy that a trainee should pray he/she will never face in a real life situation. On a practical level, the quality of your adversary's hardware in this simulation is roughly equivalent to your own (although not exactly the same). The purpose of this is to ensure flexibility: a real-life battle will offer the kind of unquantifiable and unanticipated opposition you will face in the Air Support Battle Simulation. The real enemy - whether it be from the Northern or Southern Hemisphere - will undoubtedly possess sophisticated weapons systems. For this reason information on your opponent in the simulation has been deliberately suppressed: it is the responsibility of every trainee to discover the quality of the enemy for themselves, and to infiltrate his defences as quickly as possible. One final point: the only constant factor in the Full Simulations is that everything from the terrain to enemy strength is variable. You will face everything from relatively flat plains to huge mountain ranges. It is therefore vital that you establish visual contact as soon as possible, so that you know what you are up against. The following list will give some clues, but the rest is up to you. TRANSPORT AND ATTACK CRAFT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMAND SHIP Little is known about the enemy's airborne control centre, except that its size is equivalent to the trainee's own Command Module. Length: Width: Height: Weight: You can be certain, however, that eliminating this craft will have severely debilitating effect on your opponent. FIGHTER ~~~~~~~~ The enemy equivalent to your ATTF is reputedly as manoeuvrable, but its shape is fundamentally different from your own: Reports indicate a shorter body length and extended wingspan. Length: Width : Height: Weight: TANK ~~~~ All military commanders take armoured land vehicle warfare very seriously indeed: your opponents' tanks are modelled on twentieth century equivalents, with a heavier and less streamlined shape than the MBT, and with a single forward-mounted turret. Length: Width : Height: Weight: SCOUT CRAFT ~~~~~~~~~~~ Nothing is known about the technical specifications, but you may assume that it has similar qualities of lightness and speed as your own RECO vehicle. Length: Width : Height: Weight: MISSILE LAUNCHER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No information available except for the following dimensions: Length: Width : Height: Weight: WEAPONRY ~~~~~~~~ As with the enemy's field equipment, weaponry is a largely unknown quantity. However, you can be certain that your opponents in all the Full Simulations will possess missiles capable of locking onto your vehicles, anti-missile missiles, lasers and (possibly) mines, as well as the usual radar pods - the strength and accuracy of these will be determined by the skill of the enemy commander. It is wise to treat all enemy threats as potentially dangerous, whatever the level of the opposition - ignorance of any invader could be fatal. CONCLUSION ~~~~~~~~~~ Our aim is to keep Military SimTech Command at the forefront of battlefield simulation technology, whilst making such technology available to all at an affordable price. However, such realism does not incorporate compensation schemes: trainee SimTech employees are reminded that MSC disclaims responsibility for any personal physical or mental injury or loss of status resulting *om the use of the ASBS. Air Support Keyboard Controls ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ESC - Exit to Map Screen. F1 - Low Detail. F2 - Head up Display. F3 - High Detail. F4 - 3D Low Detail. F5 - 3D High Detail. F6 - Inside/Outside View. F7 - Camera Pan Back. F8 - Camera Pan In. F9 - Camera Pan Left. F10 - Camera Pan right. - - Decrease Craft Speed. + - Increase Craft Speed. W - Weapon Select. P - Pause. Enter - Mouse Control Toggle. Left ALT - Target Cycle Forwards. Left Ami - Target Cycle Backwards. SPACE - Fire Current Weapon. Right Ami - Target Cycle Forwards. Right ALT - Target Cycle Backwards. Alternative Values for Function Keys. +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Main map Screen | Craft | Waypoint | Complex | Options | | | Control | Control | Control | | | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Option Panel 1 | | Build | Grids | Section | Info | | | | | Cons | | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Option Panel 2 | | ISO | Scape | Height | N | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Panel 2 - Low | | | | | NW | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Complex Panel | | HQ | GEN | Factory | Missile | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ | F6 | F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Main map Screen | | | | | | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Option Panel 1 | Fast Map | Relief | |Options 2 | EXIT | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Option Panel 2 | E | S | W |Options 1 | EXIT | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Panel 2 - Low | NE | SE | SW | | EXIT | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Complex Panel | Radar | Select | | Display | EXIT | +----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Greets To : 2tuff, Rygar, Scooter, Brynn Rogers, Baser Evil, Deadbeat, Loons, Pazza and everyone else that ever did a DOC!!.