Matrix Games Forums

Hello there!

I am an all time fan of the Harpoon game of the early days and AEGIS and Ticonderoga after that. I've also enjoyed the 688i, Sub Command and Dangerous Waters titles and so I've decided to buy HCE!

I hope to get tons of enjoyment from the package and maybe you can point me into the right direction to get started here. . .
Do you have tips for a new recruit? Then please let's hear them! [:)]

Try the smaller scenarios in the original GIUK battleset.  Their small size will allow you to become familiar with the interface and commands before you move onto larger scenarios. 

The later scenarios can be quite large and daunting (not to mention overwhelming you with too much information.)

Welcome aboard, shipmate!  [8D]

Oh, don't forget WestPac 1.0, it will give you a much easier introductory scenario thank GIUK 1.0.
 
I've placed a PDF of the orders at: http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=263 to help.
 
 

Thanks for the heads up!
One question though; what's with all the databases? I see a playerDB project, HCDB's and whatnot. . . [:'(]
Is there anything I should get for HCE? [;)]

The PlayersDB is for the other version of Harpoon. Only Harpoon3 and Harpoon3: ANW use the PlayersDB.

HCE comes with the HCDB already pre-packaged with the game. There are other databases like HCDA (covering N. America), HC_Euro_DB (covering Europe), etc. These are specialty databases that cover a different region/time period than the HCDB. They are all fun to use.

As a new player, you might be better off acclimitizing to HCE by using the standard HCDB before venturing off and installing these other databases.

Nah.....! [:D]

Harpoon 3.6 or ANW is of course much more challenging [this is not to embarrass the people behind HC[E]; they do a great job! maintaining a database, a good looking forum [ http://www.harpgamer.com ] and a IIRC chat.
Even the Current ANW multi-player server is runned by the "concurrence" [:D][:D]

There are a dozen differences between both games. But, both are challenging . My reason to choose HCE right now, would be that HCE contains a better Battlesetset/scenario list with very good scenarios, against a very marginal battleset for the ANW version [YES! the ANW version contains old fashion scn's, built for ancient versions of h2AE or the more recently H3.6.3 [my favorite], but do not proper work in ANW [that's not completely right; The PDB-team has rebuild all these scn's, but they are not included within the the game [You want to play them? visit: http://www.harplonkhq.com/Harpoon/ANWscenlist.htm.

ANW is "under construction".

If you want to play right now. I would choose for HCE,

But I would visit E-bay or something like that to get your own copy of the latest H3.6.3 version if I was you
[;)]

And one good news is that the HCE will bring you more battlesets (thanks to the battleset maker in the first patch---I think you've already downloaded it), such as the Carribean ,South America and Middle East battleset in the next patch (I'm also eagerly waiting for that). And IMO the HCE interface is much more friendly than H3ANW. It feels like a real windows game while H3ANW is basded on the Dos scheme.