Allo from France

[FrankHunter]

Ok ok, so I haven't posted in a long time. In fact I haven't even been reading

Now you guys should know I do everything bas-ackwards. Going quiet is usually a good thing with me. I'm just not a promote promote, build up the buzz kind of guy.

I've been busy with DoubleShot's game getting it ready for testing and writing the manual for GOA. I am going to hand GOA in shortly, no really, I am. One thing I did have to do though as I told David, I didn't like my naval system. I had played it umpteen times and one of us had to go. So it went. That caused a delay as long as the fact I hate writing manuals. Notice no smiley, I realy do hate writing manuals which probably explains why it takes me sooo long to do.

[DoomedMantis]

Hi Frank, thanks for the update, but what does this mean in regard to the Naval aspect of the game? Is it still going to be a part, or is it going to be totally abstracted?

[sol_invictus]

Dreadnaught /Shrmeadnaught, as long as there is an abstracted U-Boat/Bloackade system, we really don't need some fancy naval aspect.

[dpstafford]

ORIGINAL: FrankHunter
That caused a delay as long as the fact I hate writing manuals. Notice no smiley, I really do hate writing manuals.......

Yes, we know. We've read your Campaigns on the Danube manual.[:)]

[FrankHunter]

If it was up to me you'd get nothing except a 32 page Designer Notes Fortunately for you I think my manual is to be used only as a start point for someone else to flesh out. I provide the why and what and they provide the how to's.

The naval system was already abstract. Deploying assets to zones. The new system has the same assets and less zones but the resolution is different. The missions are now more detailed and the movement and combat is now more detailed. The biggest change was in search and interception. I wanted surface raiders and blockade missions and bad weather, not just Jutlands and subs.

The naval (obviously) and land combat parts of the manual are still not done. I am really trying to finish the manual and make the naval AI changes as fast as I can. At my current speed that means September. ok, I'm kidding. It will be done in a matter of days or I know David will hire someone to hunt me down.

[mbatch729]

Thanks Frank! So, now we know, when you disappear, you're getting close to done.

David: If you need someone to hunt Frank down, just let me know. I might know a few people who could help you out...

[Hanal]

Welcome back Frank...are you close to done on the finished game or close to done on an alpha/ beta version where testers may need to apply...[;)]

[wodin]

I think the game is nearly done.

[Dirtdog20]

Outstanding news!!! Twas getting lonely in the trenches.

[Jonathan Palfrey]

"I really do hate writing manuals" -- just as well you don't have my job, then. I'm a technical writer: I've been writing manuals full-time for the last two decades. I can't say I love it, but I suppose I find it easier than you do.

In general it's probably not a good idea for the programmer to write the manual, because he knows the game too well from the inside and can't imagine what it looks like to an ordinary player. Furthemore: game design, programming, and documentation are separate skills and don't always coexist in the same person.

But of course, if the programmer doesn't write the manual he has to put up with answering a lot of questions from whoever does write it...

[FrankHunter]

I think I'm better at answering questions than I am at writing. Good manual writing is an art and I just don't have that set of skills.

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: Jonathan Palfrey
I'm a technical writer: I've been writing manuals full-time for the last two decades.

So your the one!

[Skyros]

So Frank since you are almost done does this mean that maybe the rewrite of your civil war classic maybe next[:D]