Introduction
The game is set during the American Civil War and represents skirmish around a river crossing between Union and Confederate forces. The objective of the game is to either capture the enemy's flag or to achieve the more dominant tactical position within the time period which you allow yourself.
Setting Up
- The first decision is whether the game is for two different players, using the computer as the impartial umpire, or as a game for one player where the computer will take the role of player 2.
- Choosing sides - Player 1 must enter which army he wishes to be, either c (confederate) or u (union). In all subsequent actions, player 1 will always move first, and in the one player game you will always be player 1, having the black pieces on the right hand side of the screen.
- Setting a time limit - if you wish to play the game through to a conclusion, then enter "n" and the battle will continue until one flag has been captured. If you enter "y" a time limit will be imposed of a given number of game turns.
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Choosing your troops - This is always done first by player 1 who has a maximum limit of twenty pieces of each unit (infantry, cavalry and artillery). You must now either input "y" if you wish to fight with the combination or "n" which will enable you to re-select the force. It is now the turn of either the computer or player 2 to select their forces.
He has to construct his force to a value no greater than the points total of player 1.
Gameplay
1. The Battlefield
marshland (impenetrable)
forest (impenetrable)
Your troops will be placed randomly on your own side of the screen.
2. Movement Commands
In each game turn, player 1 must give commands for all his units, after which the results of any artillery fire are calculated before player 2 is able to make any of his moves. After player 2 has made all his moves, then it is at this stage that the results of any direct attacks on any units are calculated. Your units must be moved in the sequence in which they change colour. The input of "q" enables you to pass over the remaining moves for all your units who have not already received a movement command and therefore passes the move to the other player.
Pressing RETURN will enable you to bypass an individual unit.
| a) Move (m) | - | You can move in one of 8 directions: n, s, e, w, ne, se, sw, nw. All movement commands must contain three elements, the move command (m), the direction using the above compass points and the number of squares moved. |
| b) Fire (f) | - | A valid input has three elements, the fire command (f), direction using the eight compass points and range (number of squares) |
| c) Crossing the river (cross) | - | To cross the river, your unit must be directly adjacent to it and you must input the command "cross" when a movement is requested. |
| d) Limits of moves | - | Where an invalid request is made for a movement or the unit reaches an impenetrable square then the movement will stop and a message will be reported. |
| e) Saving the game | - | (Save). |
Attacking
| a) Artillery fire | - | your initial supply of ammunition is limited but you may receive occasional re-supply during the game. |
| b) Attacking an enemy unit | - | More than one unit can attack a single enemy unit. |
| c) Unit strength | - | each unit is shown against a background colour which indicates its strength. (The lighter the colour, the stronger the unit) |
| d) Completion of the game | - | the final action before the start of the next game turn is for the computer to check the new position of each unit and these will flash in turn as the check is made. |
Game End
| 1. Expire time period | - | the higher points total is the victor. |
| 2. Capture of enemy flag | - | to capture a flag, you must order your unit to move onto the square occupied by the enemy flag. |
| 3. No result | - | it is possible to so deplete each other's force that neither side can reach a winning position. |
