Let's talk manual

[Missouri_Rebel]

Kind of odd, but I usually dedicate my first day or so reading the manual after recieving a new game. I own tons of table-top wargames that I often go back to read even if I don't play them. Therefore it is only natural that I will have a couple questions concerning the FoF manual.

1)Is there a printed manual included with the boxed version? Or pdf only?

2)Full color?

3)Does it include an index?

4)Anything else of interest?

Mo Reb

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

5) Can we download it ahead of time?

[Missouri_Rebel]

hehe  Good luck.Not very likely, but I wish we could.

How about a screen or two featuring the manual? Is that possible?

mo reb

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I don't even want a teaser. These AAR's are bad enough! Just bring on the game dammit! I am willing to take the initiative check on whether my computer will run it or not!


American by birth.
Southern by the grace of God!

[Gil R.]

I can answer a bit. The manual is around 250 pages, so there is no hard copy, just a .pdf file. It will have color screenshots (for those of you who haven't yet had your fill of screenshots).

Mr. Z wrote it (which is like writing a book), so I'll let him answer further. Unfortunately, we cannot share any part of the manual here, but will answer questions about it.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

250 pages, huh?

I guess I'll have to wait until the boss leaves early on a friday to print it...!

[Mr. Z]

It is full color.  There will not be an index, though the table of contents is rather detailed, and each relevant section usually includes important cross-references.  Usually the .pdf includes a bookmarked hierarchy (with linked headings, that is), though I can't myself say that it will for sure.

That's about it--we hope that it will be complete enough to answer nearly all player questions, outside of game strategies (though we do include a few tips here and there to help the player along.)

[Jonathan Palfrey]

A pity about the lack of index, but a good index is a non-trivial piece of work in itself -- and anyone who has the PDF file can search the text for a word or phrase. That's not quite the same as a good index, but it'll serve.

250 pages sounds good. A game of this complexity deserves documentation on that scale, and I'm glad Western Civilization was willing to invest in it.

[JudgeDredd]

This is terrible news. Increase the price of the game by a fiver and put a printed manual in it.

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

This is terrible news. Increase the price of the game by a fiver and put a printed manual in it.

That would be my first choice too...., but given modern printing costs, full colour, and 250 pages of length; for your "fiver" you would recieve a booklet in type so tiny and pale as to be illegible and have to print it out anyway. Try taking your CD to your local "Copy Shop" and see if they can't run you off a nice bound copy you can actually use. It will cost more..., but if you think of it in terms of usage you should get your money's worth overall (always excluding that the forum "hype" may be "bull", and the game is "garbage". Sorry designers..., but I own a couple of these)

[JudgeDredd]

I know....I'm hoping for the day when manuals make their way back into gaming life.
 
There is nowhere, locally for me, who can print a manual. The one guy I did find said the manual I was discussing at the time (can't remember which one) wasn't in the proper order for him to print in normal booklet fashion, and so wanted more money to reshift things.
 
Decided against it. Turned out I started reading my HoI2 manual and started playing that, dropping the game that didn't have the manual because I couldn't get into it because I didn't know how it worked because I hate reading PDF and cannot abide carrying unweildy A4 , unbound manuals between rooms when wanting a quiet read.
 
I always post the same drivel. Hate PDF, want printed. It'll never happen, but as long as there's a "manual" thread, I'll voice my opinion. [;)]

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I know....I'm hoping for the day when manuals make their way back into gaming life.

There is nowhere, locally for me, who can print a manual. The one guy I did find said the manual I was discussing at the time (can't remember which one) wasn't in the proper order for him to print in normal booklet fashion, and so wanted more money to reshift things.

Decided against it. Turned out I started reading my HoI2 manual and started playing that, dropping the game that didn't have the manual because I couldn't get into it because I didn't know how it worked because I hate reading PDF and cannot abide carrying unweildy A4 , unbound manuals between rooms when wanting a quiet read.

I always post the same drivel. Hate PDF, want printed. It'll never happen, but as long as there's a "manual" thread, I'll voice my opinion. [;)]

Know the feeling. Heaven is having a good, clear, readable manual in one hand; and the mouse in the other... Everything else is just settling for "second best" (and sometimes "third" or "fourth"). But that's the Economics of the game business.

[Jonathan Palfrey]

A printed manual is nice to have, true. On the other hand:

1. I'll probably buy the game by download, anyway.

2. A PDF file can be updated to cover changes made post-release. Whether it will be updated is another matter, but at least it can be.

[tgb]

As to printing and binding - I just print .pdf manuals at home, buy an inexpensive 3-ring binder, and use a 3-hole punch. No biggie.

[Grotius]

Aye, I'm going to buy the game via digital download anyway, so a printed manual is of no use to me. I'd prefer a PDF.

[olperfessor]

Suppose we collectively write that manual on Wikipedia? I think that "Crusader Kings" and other games have that, in effect. Do any of you have any experience with Wikipedia as a substitute for a manual/cheats/FAQ/tips source? The idea sounds like a major improvement over scattered sites.

[AU Tiger_MatrixForum]

I imagine we could get some assistance from the guys in the WitP forum. They are WORLD CLASS TECHNO GEEKS!

[Raverdave]

Ahhhhh.....a printed manual is the only way to go..............it's a bit uncomfortable sitting on the throne with the laptop.

[kmb]

What about tutorials for the people that are on the little yellow bus,,,,,,,,,,,,,,like me

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: kmb

What about tutorials for the people that are on the little yellow bus,,,,,,,,,,,,,,like me

Eric has put together a flash tutorial. It's not the same thing as a demo, but will help anyone when they first get the game.