Matrix Games Forums

Bought this game on the week end, the learning curb looks steep. is there a tutorial? any advice on how to get into this game.

The manual steps you through by starting with the Basic Game rules, then the Intermediate and finally the Advanced, so that you can learn the game piece by piece. Have you tried that method yet? The Basic Game is pretty easy to get the hang of I think.

Also, have you tried the Flash Tutorial? You'll find a link to it in the Documentation sub-folder in your FOF start menu group. There's also a link to it from the Game Menu as "Basic Interface Tutorial".

I just bumped some threads that will help you and others new to FOF.

    It isn't that hard to pick up, either.  I just jumped in and played on the "tutorial" level and the 1st game I lost pretty badly, the second one I won but just barely and then after that I was doing OK.  I played just with instant battles, though.  My next step will be to learn detailed battles and win using them.

Handling resources/reinforcements and assigning the right generals to the right groups to have better chances to improve with troops is not so tough and probably the hardest thing to do. As AACW player i find FOF very very easy...lol. I started with advanced and so far only posted impressions, not real questions but surely had to read the manual many times, i think i am at the 4th time and still re-reading.

There is a big margin of improvement for this game, but i find it awesome so far.

GShock,
One thing that might not be in the manual is that the more special abilities a general has, the better the chance of his teaching one of them to a brigade. Generals can't teach abilities to low-quality units, so this only becomes more important later in the game, when more units are at 3.5 (I believe it is; the readme file would say) and beyond. So if you want to be meticulous about these things, generals with good leadership but 0-2 abilities should be put in command of low-quality units, while generals with 3-5 abilities should be put in command of better units, so that these can start gaining abilities as well as quality. (Of course, it's not necessary to pay attention to this: put the generals with the best ratings and abilities as high up the chain of command as you can get them, and over time their units will improve. What I describe is just a way of getting a slight edge.)

We look forward to your suggestions for improvements.

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

GShock,
One thing that might not be in the manual is that the more special abilities a general has, the better the chance of his teaching one of them to a brigade.

Yes the manual states that. A few more readings and i ll know it as well as i know Dante's Divina Commedia

Generals can't teach abilities to low-quality units, so this only becomes more important later in the game, when more units are at 3.5 (I believe it is; the readme file would say) and beyond. So if you want to be meticulous about these things, generals with good leadership but 0-2 abilities should be put in command of low-quality units, while generals with 3-5 abilities should be put in command of better units, so that these can start gaining abilities as well as quality. (Of course, it's not necessary to pay attention to this: put the generals with the best ratings and abilities as high up the chain of command as you can get them, and over time their units will improve. What I describe is just a way of getting a slight edge.)

I haven't gone down to that detail on management yet as i'm still studying the mechanics. Looks to me the best thing to do is to keep a good eye on the ranks. From what i seem to understand, the general ALSO needs to be in command of the right Military Group and, in order to be able to teach, he also needs to have the proper rank, not just the abilities. Yes it's a bit tricky but adds spice to the game as that's how it should really be. To explain myself (to see if i got it right): 2* can be a div leader and teach to all bdes in the div, while 3* can teach to the corps and 4* to the army.

We look forward to your suggestions for improvements.

I've started to post some in "Questions and impressions" and i just finished posting some more in the "Surrendere in Detailed Battle".

Just started the game today as well.  Looks awesome.  Will try the Flash tutorial, then the Tutorial level off the menu and see how I go.  Have many years of wargaming experience so hopefully will ease myself into it OK.  I find with PC games the hard part is catching up on what all the patches did - can be quite subtle at times.

After a year of observation, play and exploration, here's my advice to newbies:

Start with the small set up at the tutorial level and then turn off every option except may be some combat options. Get comfortable with the basics, then go to intermediate and delete options to taste. Continue this process on through Advanced.

My suggestion is: print the manual and bring it with you when you go to sleep. After 3 readings (and don't forget to check the patch changelog!) you'll be good to go with the full advanced mode....which is the best part of the game.

After all, for any questions there's the forum...at least that was my method