Matrix Games Forums

Like Marc above, I work for an Engineering company, and not only do we provide almost all documents (including absolutly mamoth Operating Manuals) to our Customers in PDF format, we have an intranet system that stores all our specifications and fabrication documents for internal use that way as well.

PDFs are compact, flexible, and nearly universally accepted. I find it hard to believe any remotely technologically experianced person can't deal with them.

But for the real topic of this thread, I too would suggest an improvement. How about an intelligence screen that lists all of the previous contacts (at least for the last week or so) including location, composition, and time of sighting (realizing that the first two will certainly be inaccurate and/or incomplete). Similarly, a list of the last recon report for bases, with date, would be useful. This would be very similar to the report provided in Talonsoft's Battle of Britain game.

This would be a lot easier than trying to remember all of the contacts, or trying to scribble everything down as it happens. As I have said in other posts, real Theater Commanders have staffs helping them with this stuff, so as much as possible the computer should simulate the routine data crunching, and allow us to use our limited brain power on the big picture.

<slaps forehead>

Once more, and this time "Read my lips"...

Be...able...to...access...the...manual...in-game...by...clicking...an...icon.

Nothing said about Matrix supplying a printed manual. I fully understand and support the decision to go "electric" from a business standpoint.

But, if you're going to have an e-manual to save costs, lets do it right and make it easy to use by being able to access it within the game. It's been done in games for eons, and is a concept called "functionality". Matrix failing to think the e-manual through, and failing to do it properly, in a game I paid a premium (both ways) for, is most defintely not my problem (except as the end user).

The...pdf...locks...up...my...system...when...alt/tabbing...and...is...an...enormous...pain...in...the...***

I have a very nice manual thank you...I drove to civilization and went to print shop that wasn't owned by a 90+ old man with hardware he bought at Ben Franklins "going out of business" sale. I'm quite certain he'd be crushed to know that his little small town shop for printing flyers, wedding invitations, and business cards doesn't meet with you snooty up-town engineer types approval.

#1 Manual is fine as is, spend your time on making a better WITP.

#2 TF operations are fine, no need for a special command to avoid airfields. It is factored into the aggressiveness of your commanders. Take charge of your forces or go back to C&C type games.

#3 Like the blue screens, it is a Nautical Game after all.

#4 All of Pad152's list is cool with me with emphasis on:

#5 Make the reinforcement screen for ground and air units like the naval screen, highlighting the imminent arrivals in green.

I understand some of the features are built into the game engine and probably can't be patched without a major re-write. You have only so many resources to devote to UV while developing WITP.
A superb WITP is my #1 wish, UV is great as is. Maybe the best suggestions can make it into WITP if not UV.

IMHO

Originally posted by juliet7bravo
<slaps forehead>

The...pdf...locks...up...my...system...when...alt/tabbing...and...is...an...enormous...pain...in...the...***

Its hardly Matrix's fault that your system has a problem with Alt-tab. I alt-tab in and out every few seconds when writing up an AAR without any problems. Does your system meet the minimum spec for the game?

Originally posted by juliet7bravo
I have a very nice manual thank you...I drove to civilization and went to print shop that wasn't owned by a 90+ old man with hardware he bought at Ben Franklins "going out of business" sale. I'm quite certain he'd be crushed to know that his little small town shop for printing flyers, wedding invitations, and business cards doesn't meet with you snooty up-town engineer types approval.

If he has a PC, a printer and a connection to the internet then he can print PDF files. If he lacks those things, then he has a real business problem.

No one is being a snooty up-town engineer, they are just pointing out the reality of the world beyond buttsville (or whatever it was)

To quote Adobe...

"Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) is the open de facto standard for electronic document distribution worldwide. Adobe PDF is a universal file format that preserves all the fonts, formatting, graphics, and color of any source document, regardless of the application and platform used to create it. Adobe PDF files are compact and can be shared, viewed, navigated, and printed exactly as intended by anyone with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software"

slaps forehead
just press ctrl + esc and stop being a pain in the ***
for the wish list-
TF's that are spotted should have estimated course and speed so that your own TF'S (especially subs) can automatically interercept them.
TF's searching subs should react to sub sightings automatically to save micromanagement
planes should sink more subs (they never do)

How about letting us have the choice of printed or CD manual?

I would be prepared to pay the extra because its going to cost me a cartridge to print off with no binding and poor quality?

Me, I would pay the extra for the printed bound manual.

But I use alt tab.

Originally posted by brisd
[B
#2 TF operations are fine, no need for a special command to avoid airfields. It is factored into the aggressiveness of your commanders. Take charge of your forces or go back to C&C type games. [/B]

If you carrier force is simultaneously protecting two separate areas against two enemy forces and in one case reacting is necessary but in the other reacting would take you into LBA range, how does your commander help you?

If you switch react off, you miss a possible intercept and if you switch it on, you could get zapped by LBA. What you need is to be able to allow reaction but not within LBA range. How does the commander help that. As far as I can tell, there is no difference between commander when it comes to knwoing about LBA range.

Besides, what is wrong with adding an extra option for those who want it? No one would force you to use it.

How about letting us have the choice of printed or CD manual?

Basically the idea is okay and we allready thought about it. Problem with this is, we would need a stock of printed manuals here. It would only make sense to let them be printed in huge amounts, 1000 or even 2000+ copies, to save money and fit the minimum for an order with the printing house. If only 100 gamers buy the printed manual for an extra charge we would sit on the rest of the pile.
Print on demand is no option at the moment I´m afraid. We will see what the future brings.

With Pads list, which in fact is identical to one I was going to post. I also Alt-Tab with the manual, no problems. How much Memory is on your system and do you have other apps open?
Phil

in response to item #2 (having a safe mode for the TF's):

Land based aircraft have a range that covers most of the playing area. B-24's, B-17's, Betty's and Nell's mean that your TF's would never go in harms way. Now that I think of it, perhaps that is a good feature. Those that want the feature can turn it on and watch your TF's stay safe and sound protecting the rear areas. Meanwhile the enemy is sinking your transports and despite their pleas for help the cold-hearted TF command replies "They don't pay me to go in harm's way". I'll definitely play a pbem game with such a player.

Three words:
Combat Air Patrol

Originally posted by juliet7bravo
<slaps forehead>

Once more, and this time "Read my lips"...

Be...able...to...access...the...manual...in-game...by...clicking...an...icon.

Calm down there slappy.

Im pretty sure that there was a thread about that before release in which someone from Matrix said it was too late for UV but they would look at it for WITP.

To put it better what I want is a reaction range where a task force will only case so far. Something like we have in PacWar.

Example:

TF is set with React Range - 6
The TF will move a max of 6 hexes to engage an enemy.

Originally posted by Sultanofsham


Calm down there slappy.

Im pretty sure that there was a thread about that before release in which someone from Matrix said it was too late for UV but they would look at it for WITP.

Again...

"(1) Be able to access the manual in-game by clicking an icon...it's not rocket science people. To be blunt, if the WiTP manual isn't accessible in-game, I won't be buying it. By the time I drove 80 miles to a print shop that would print a .pdf and paid them to do it, it cost me another $25-35 USD total. Great game, but not worth $100 USD."

U gizes no spik engrish bery wall?

Originally posted by juliet7bravo


U gizes no spik engrish bery wall?

Yes I can speak it, however you must have some sort of problem reading it. They said they would look at it so you keep whining about not buying it because....? Personally maybe instead of buying the game you should spend the the money to have someone fix whatever the problem with your computer is since it isnt working properly.

Originally posted by Sultanofsham

Personally maybe instead of buying the game you should spend the the money to have someone fix whatever the problem with your computer is since it isnt working properly.

Yep... ALT-TAB works fine. Not a single system crash.

Check out this site for cheaper cartridge replacements for your printer

www.myinks.com

help a blind man out please

I can't seem to find the Campaign Editor

Looking at the PDF and nothing, nor did I find it in the game.

Also, is there a way to go back and read the scen briefing once underway.

only had the game barely a day, but in the midst of playing and reading the manual, I can't see either of these two features.

thanks

Look for an .exe file in the /scen subdirectory of your Uncommon Valor folder. It should be called "UV Campaign Editor.exe".

The briefings only show up at the start. However, the same /scen subdirectory contains all the briefings in text file format if you want to print them out. Just look for the scenario number and print the text files with that number.

Regards,

- Erik

Originally posted by Erik Rutins
Look for an .exe file in the /scen subdirectory of your Uncommon Valor folder. It should be called "UV Campaign Editor.exe".

The briefings only show up at the start. However, the same /scen subdirectory contains all the briefings in text file format if you want to print them out. Just look for the scenario number and print the text files with that number.

Regards,

- Erik

smokin' Erik!
thanks

i've only played this for a day or so, and i'm really enjoying it, although i do have some issues with the game:

1. i don't particularly care whether the manual is electronic or printed, but i WOULD like it to be more useful. the manual as it stands now is a little general in the way it treats a lot of game concepts, like fatigue, disruption, leadership qualities, morale, and supply. the manual does mention that things like a high fatigue will degrade the performance of a unit, but it -doesn't- ever explain -exactly- what the marginal effect of fatigue is. not only is there no clear idea as to what constitutes 'high' fatigue, there's no mention, apart from "Unit fatigue, disruption, experience, morale, and leadership directly impact combat firepower, losses, and the odds of attack." how fatigue impacts combat operations. this is unfortunate as i have no way of being able to intelligently decide how much fatigue is acceptable for a unit and the like. is there a reason that you can't print the formulas? (and note that i mean more than fatigue, there are a whole bunch of game concepts that aren't explained sufficiently in the manual. when should i start worrying about morale? how is morale x different from a morale of x+1, etc)

also, is there an optimal spotting altitude?

2. more 'gamey' information from the game. i don't particularly care that the lexington has a cruise speed of 33 kts (and if i did, i could look it up in the encyclopedia) i AM really interested that it can cruise 6 hexes, though. also, maybe the endurance values should be expressed as a percentage rather than a (seemingly) arbitrary number. that way i could tell who needs immediate attention and who doesn't instantaneously, rather than having a unique heuristic for each ship class. i

3. the encyclopedia could be easier to navigate.

4. PLEASE get rid of the cd check. (i have an external cd rom on my machine, and carrying it around is bulky) i know. i understand why you guys do it, but it is still annoying.