AE PDF Manual Revision Part Two

[Justus2]

Thank you Alfred, I know this is a massive undertaking and the entire community will appreciate the results.

[Yaab]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: Yaab

The new manual will be distributed to those players who completed at least one GC game against human/AI and reached March, 1946. Slackers will be stuck with the old manual.This discrimination will continue until the turn rate improves.

Hey, wait Yaab, doesn't that leave you out. You haven't gone passed the end of December if I recall.[:D]

Oh yes, but I am doing all my best to jockey for the best position to get the new manual. Should be there in about year 2038, God willing!

[Alfred]

Short update.
 
Chapters 1-4 have been sent to an experienced forumite to check on readability and how well the objectives are being met.
 
There are three objectives for this project.
 
1.  Produce an accurate manual.  Entails correcting errors, incorporating patch enhancements, standardise concept naming, filling in lacuna but still not breaching the no algorithm disclosure rule, ultimately improving the index.
 
2.  Producing a readable manual.  Not just a reference document which players look up when they come across a problem but one which logically flows and reduces the learning cliff.
 
3.  Reduce the number of new players asking questions on the forum and then receiving incorrect answers.  A good manual should always be the first resource accessed by a new player.  If a new player can't be bothered to check a good manual and work out for themselves the answer, they are incapable of understanding properly forum answers which are often incorrect anyway.
 
Actually, there is a fourth objective.  Get it finished and approved by the devs.[:)]
 
The process of polishing the first 4 chapters is not yet complete.  When done they, together with chapter 5, will be sent to the devs to check on certain under the hood functions.  hopefully, this will be early in early January 2016.
 
Compared to the printed manual, the drafts of the first 4 chapters have gained "weight".  Much of it is due to the great increase in screenshots incorporated.
 
To give an idea of the changes, these are the working sections titles of chapter 4 only.  They should hint at the new screenshots added.  To get an idea of the work involved compare the draft layout with the printed manual layout.
 
4.0  The Main Map Display
 
4.1  The Menu Bar
 
4.2  The Tactical Map
 
4.2.1  Terrain
4.2.1.1  Hex Terrain Types
4.2.1.2  Land Transportation Links
4.2.1.3  Hexside Barrier Terrain
4.2.1.4  Maritime transportation Links
4.2.1.4.1  Tactical Map Straits
4.2.1.4.2  Tactical Map Navigable Rivers
4.2.1.4.3  Off Map Maritime Transportation Links
 
4.2.2  Allowable Movement Through Hexsides
 
4.2.3  Tactical Map Icons
4.2.3.1  Land Unit Icons
4.2.3.2  Base Icons
4.2.3.3  Operational Airfield Icon
4.2.3.4  Anchored Ships Icon
4.2.3.5  Task Force Icons
4.2.3.6  Minefields Icon
4.2.3.7  Flagged Events icons
 
4.2.4  Off Map Areas
4.2.4.1  Transit Zones
4.2.4.2  Holding Boxes
 
4.3  Hex Command Display
 
4.4 Jump Map
 
4.5  Mouse Pop Over
4.5.1  Base Icon Mouse Over Display
4.5.2  Land combat Unit Icon Mouse Over Display
4.5.3  Operational Airfield Icon Mouse Over Display
4.5.4  Anchored Ships Icon Mouse Over Display
4.5.5  Task Force Icon Mouse Over Display
 
4.6  Strategic Map
4.6.1  Strategic Map Top Edge Filters
4.6.2  Strategic map Left Edge Filters
 
The next update from me will probably be no earlier than mid January.
 
Alfred

[Rommel76]

Wonderful idea Alfred , I appreciate very much your effort in getting a complete manual , this is the best wargame ever seen and deserves a more complete manual. Greetings and thanks!

[Anachro]

I would advise you to try to write it according to the structure and graphical style of the current manual. Thank you very much for the effort!

[Tejszd]

Thank you for all the effort Alfred![&o]

[LeeChard]

Will the manual be term searchable?

[pws1225]

Thanks so much Alfred. I can't imagine the amount of work this project must require. We all owe you a pint or two.

[USSAmerica]

Thank you, Alfred!

[jcax101]

Thanks for making the AE experience better Alfred.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Ranger5355

Will the manual be term searchable?

It already is - just use the search box in your PDF viewer.

The problem has been that the manual was written before the long history of the player forum, and many of the terms we use are not the same ones in the manual. Hopefully that is part of what Alfred is changing.

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

I would advise you to try to write it according to the structure and graphical style of the current manual....

Why[;)]

Alfred

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: Ranger5355

Will the manual be term searchable?

It already is - just use the search box in your PDF viewer.

The problem has been that the manual was written before the long history of the player forum, and many of the terms we use are not the same ones in the manual. Hopefully that is part of what Alfred is changing.

Correct.

That is the intention (see my recent update re comment on standardising term concepts) although not to base it on forum terminology. The glossary will include forum terminology. The manual itself more a case of consistency and precision, in some cases new terminology is being introduced where it captures the concept better.

Alfred

[Rommel76]

Good afternoon Alfred, in this fórum is available the second part of your manual , I wonder if there is also a link to the first part.

Thank you for your effort.

[PaxMondo]

Alfred accepted my recent offer to read his manual drafts as I am traveling overseas with all of the extensive travel that entails and a plethora of dead time. I've gotten through 2 of the 4 chapters that he has thus far sent to me. Great to this point, incorporating all the changes through the latest official patch and stuffed with hyper-links to specific forum discussions on the topics. Even though the first two chapters are a bit 'dry' in terms of content, there have been a number of crucial updates/changes/fixes since the manual was first printed. I think this will be a big help to all the newbies in getting started.

[CaptBeefheart]

This is great. Thanks a lot, Alfred. You are a good part of what makes this the best forum in gaming. Also, kudos to those providing assistance such as PaxMondo.

Cheers,
CC

[Schlussel]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

This is great. Thanks a lot, Alfred. You are a good part of what makes this the best forum in gaming. Also, kudos to those providing assistance such as PaxMondo.

Cheers,
CC

+1 [&o]

[pws1225]

And hats off to Pax as well for his proofing Alfred's drafts. [:)]

[zuluhour]

If I had a printing company, I would buy you all leather bound editions, except "the Capt'n", maybe the abridged version.[:D]

[Dante Fierro]

Looking forward to the completion of this manual and am even willing to donate good money for it!

Perhaps the biggest drawback for me with AE has been numerous questions that go unanswered in the currently available manual (including all
the additions of the modifications to the game over the years)- requiring repetitive searching via the forums here and collating
information to find answers that you still aren't always sure are correct or not ...

And the simple black box of algorithms running the game making it difficult to realistically assess your tactical and strategic options...