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Text File | 1991-11-16 | 92KB | 2,378 lines

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Registered users: │ │ │ │ put BIG THREE sticker here. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ TABLE OF CONTENTS (Version 2.01, First Edition) page page 1.1 INTRODUCTION.......... 1 4.1 INPUT DEVICES...................... 13 1.2 Getting Started....... 1 4.2 Keyboard........................... 13 1.3 Introductory Screen... 1 4.3 Joystick........................... 14 4.4 Mouse.............................. 14 2.1 THE GAME SCREEN....... 2 4.5 Multiple Methods................... 14 2.2 The Game Map.......... 2 2.3 Special Terrain....... 3 5.1 ROUTINE OF PLAY.................... 15 2.4 Control............... 5 5.2 Phase I- Count and display VP's.... 15 2.5 Movement Restrictions. 5 5.3 Phase II- Allocate Military Points. 16 2.6 Date.................. 6 5.4 Phase III- Initial Supply Check.... 17 2.7 Player Turn........... 6 5.5 Phase IV- Military Operations Query 18 2.8 Text Window........... 6 5.6 Phase V- Build and Deployment Phase 20 2.9 SCROLL button......... 6 5.7 Phase VI- Surrender and Demobilize. 22 2.10 DIRECTION Button..... 6 5.8 Phase VII- Destroy Unsupplied Units 22 2.11 END Button........... 7 5.9 Defensive Air and Navy Options..... 22 2.12 NEXT Button.......... 7 5.10 Military Aid Convoy............... 23 2.13 Defensive Air, Navy.. 7 2.14 Military Points...... 7 6.1 COMBAT............................. 24 6.2 Combat Results..................... 24 3.1 UNIT DESCRIPTIONS..... 7 6.3 Automatic Retreats................. 25 3.2 Ground Units.......... 8 6.4 Combat Modifiers................... 25 3.3 Zone-of-Control (ZOC). 8 6.5 Ground Support..................... 26 3.4 Air Units.............10 6.6 French, Italian Incompetence....... 26 3.5 Sea Units............ 11 6.7 Anglo-Franco non-cooperation....... 26 3.6 Troop Transport...... 12 6.8 Russian Winter..................... 26 3.7 ID Numbers........... 12 6.9 Rommel's Tactical Genius........... 26 3.8 Stack Counters....... 12 6.10 Combat Results Tables............. 26 3.9 MC- Mission Completed 12 6.11 Amphibious Assault................ 27 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: 7.1 NEUTRALS........................... 27 ----------------------------- 7.2 Italy Enters the War............... 28 IBM(tm) PC or 100% Compatible 7.3 Soviets Enter the War.............. 28 CGA, EGA or VGA graphics card 7.4 USA Enters the War................. 28 512K memory Supports Mouse and Joystick(s) 8.0 SCENARIO 1-3.................... 29-31 Hard Drive required 9.0 GLOSSARY, SHORT CUTS, EXHIBIT... 32-34 Version 1.03 is available to users without a hard drive. 10.0 SCENARIOS 4-13, SCENARIO EDITOR..35-45 (i) PREFACE Changes From Version 1.02 to 2.01. 1) Version 2.01 supports VGA/EGA (16 color) and CGA (4 color). The 16 color capability forced us to transfer some of the memory requirements to disk. BIG THREE now creates between 40 and 108 temporary storage files with the extension *.BRD. They are automatically erased upon exiting BIG THREE. 2) On the GAME SCREEN, the SKIP and LATER buttons have been replaced with END and NEXT, respectively. These are more accurate descriptions of the buttons actual purpose. Also, use the "N" button (for NEXT) in all places where you would normally have used the "L" button (for LATER). 3) The automatic scrolling function should now work properly. 4) All players can now use the mouse as an input device. Defensive Air and Navy may be activated by moving the cursor over their respective buttons and pressing the 1st button on the input device. 5) If Italy is still neutral, Italian troops cannot enter Germany or other Axis countries. German troops cannot enter Italy or Lybia. 6) The amphibious assault subroutine had several errors that have been fixed. 7) Several other minor error corrections and changes were made that are not worth documenting. NOTE: Several users reported "ghost" units. That is, units that appear on the map but are not really there. I tried to recreate this error but could not. If ghost units appear, simply return to the MAIN MENU, SAVE the game, LOAD and START. BUG AND ERROR REPORTING Users are the best source of bug detection due to BIG THREE's complex nature. Please contact us by letter or phone and give as detailed a description of the bug as possible. BIG THREE copyright (c) 1991 by SDJ Enterprises, Inc., (v 2.01) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express, prior written permission of SDJ Enterprises, Inc. (1) 1.1 INTRODUCTION BIG THREE is the ultimate WWII strategy game. You control all the action from the desolate fiords of Norway to the scorching sands of Egypt, from the strategic Rock of Gibralter to the frozen streets of Moscow. Recreate the epic and fiercely fought battles of Tobruk and Stalingrad. Decide to open your second front in Normandy or the "soft underbelly" of Europe (Italy). Build bombers to hit your opponent's cities or build tanks and fighters to encircle and destroy his armies at the front. BIG THREE gives you all this in an easy-to-use format plus excellent graphics. Each player assumes supreme command of the Axis, Allied or Soviet forces in Europe during 1939-1945. Players can choose from three scenarios (register today and receive four addition scenarios plus a scenario editor) or a previously saved game. Players that perform better than their historical counterparts will normally win and those that under perform will normally lose. 1.2 Getting Started Boot up DOS 2.0 or higher and put the Start-Up disk into the default drive. Type BIGTHREE and press [ENTER]. Wait for the program to load. After the copyright and donation request screens appears, follow the instructions. BIG THREE will often ask you to press the 1st or 2nd button to accomplish a task. When using the keyboard, the 1st button is the space bar (or Enter key) and the 2nd button is the "L" key. When using a joystick, the 1st button is the main trigger button and the 2nd button is the secondary trigger button. When using a mouse, the 1st button is the left button and the 2nd button is the right button. The "Esc" key can be used to cancel erroneous input or halt combat. 1.3 Introductory Screen The Introductory screen has a picture of the original big three, Winston Churchill of Great Britain, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. The Introductory screen also displays a message stating which input devices are available, which one is currently active and the Main Menu (see below). (2) MAIN MENU FUNCTION ---- ------------------ New Loads and briefly describes one of seven scenarios. Load Loads a previously saved game into memory. Save Saves the current game in progress (filename.WW2) Start Starts the currently loaded scenario or saved game. Input Displays the input menu (see below). Quit Quit the game and exit to DOS. F1 key Toggles the sound "on" and "off". F2 key Toggles automatic game save (autosave) "on" and "off". F9 key Temporarily exits to DOS (COMMAND.COM must be present in default drive or accessible through PATH command). Type "EXIT" at DOS prompt to return to the MAIN MENU. While playing a scenario, you may want to return to the MAIN MENU to start a new scenario or save the current scenario. To do so, press the "Esc" key at the Display Victory Points Phase (after the music stops playing.) INPUT MENU FUNCTION ----- ------------------ Active Displays and changes the current active input device. Player Displays a player's input device. Also allows that player to change devices using DEVICE (see below). Device Changes a player's input device (if available). Exit Returns to the MAIN MENU. 2.1 THE GAME SCREEN After selecting a pre-made scenario or loading a saved game, move the highlighter over START and hit the 1st or 2nd button. Wait for BIG THREE to load the game map and unit locations into memory. After it's done loading, BIG THREE will display the game screen. The game screen (see exhibit on page 34) presents the game map, date, player turn, text window, SCROLL button, six DIRECTION buttons, the END button, the NEXT button, the DEFENSIVE AIR and NAVY buttons, and each player's current military points (MP). Each of these are described in detail below. 2.2 The Game Map The game map depicts Europe, North Africa and the Middle East at the start of World War II. Due to space limitations, most of the countries' names are abbreviated (see glossary for list of abbreviations). Axis countries and colonies are grey, allied countries and colonies are dark green (blue in EGA), the Soviet Union is red, neutral countries are white, prohibited areas are white with black dots, and sea areas are green (blue in EGA). (3) Some scenarios only use a subset of the game map, leaving the rest of the map inaccessible. Also, some areas that normally aren't considered prohibited may be designated that way, depending on the scenario. Players are urged to familiarize themselves with the game map at the start of each scenario by entering the SCROLL mode (see below). The game map is superimposed over a hexagonal grid of eighteen rows and eighteen columns, for a total of 324 areas. (Register today and receive a complementary game map.) Each area is about 200 kilometers in diameter. Only ten rows and twelve columns can appear at any one time. To see the rest, enter the SCROLL mode (see below). For geographic, logistic and political reasons, the game map is divided into three fronts- western, eastern and Mediterranean. A heavy red line delineates the division between fronts. The western front encompasses the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, etc. The Eastern Front includes the USSR, Poland, Finland, etc. The Mediterranean Front includes Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Spain, Turkey, North Africa, etc. 2.3 Special Terrain Many areas have special terrain, such as capitals (designated by a flag), ports (an anchor), industry (a factory), mountains (black inverted v's), forts (a jagged edge) and marsh (green inverted v's). Note, some areas are a combination of terrains (e.g., port and industry). CAPITALS - There are eight capital areas, two Axis, three Allied and three Soviet. Each capital is designated by a flag representing either Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, the United States or the Soviet Union. Occupying an enemy capital will normally force that country to surrender and demobilize its troops. (Exception: the Axis must simultaneous control all three Soviet capitals to force surrender. Also, the United States cannot be forced to surrender.) Note, a country always has one season to counter-attack before being forced to surrender and demobilize. Capitals are the main source of supply. Units inside them cannot be destroyed due to a lack of supply. Excep- tion: Soviet capitals can only supply Soviet units. Cap- itals are difficult to attack because of their numerous reinforced buildings. All attacks against capitals are at -1. Defenders cannot be forced to retreat from a capital during attrition operations. (4) Friendly capitals are worth 3 VP's each while occupied enemy capitals are worth only 1 VP each. (Exception: Moscow, the middle Soviet capital, is worth 2 VP's to the Soviet player while the other two capitals are worth only 1 VP each. Also, the United States' capital is worth 6 VP's.) PORTS - All fleets must return to a port by the end of the season or be destroyed. (Exception: defensive fleets may stay at sea until the end of the owning player's next turn.) Defending units cannot be forced to retreat from a port during attrition operations. A Port may be converted into a bridgehead after a successful amphibious assault or when a fleet enters a friendly, unsupplied port during an offensive operation. Also, some ports may start the scenario as a bridgehead. Bridgeheads cost 2 MP's to build and serve as a source of supply. All attacks against bridgeheads are at -1. Enemy ground units automatically destroy a bridgehead (convert it back to a port) by moving onto it. INDUSTRY - Industrial areas provide materiel to sustain the war effort. Also, they are harder to attack because of their numerous reinforced buildings. All attacks against industrial areas are at -1. All industrial areas are worth 1 VP each. (Exception: the United States' industrial areas are worth 2 VP's each.) Defending units cannot be forced to retreat from an industrial area during attrition operations. MOUNTAINS - Mountain areas are difficult to move in and attack. All attacks against mountain areas are at -1. FORTS - Forts are entrenched, reinforced fortifications. All attacks against fortress areas are at -3. Also, units inside forts cannot be destroyed due to lack of supply. The Maginot Line (the only fortress in France) ceases to be a fortress after it's occupied by Axis ground units or after France falls. MARSH - Marsh areas are difficult to move in and afford the defender much protection. All attacks against marsh areas are at -1. (5) BLACK ARROWS - The game map has three solid black arrows. One is located in the north next to Norway, another in the southwest next to French North Africa, and another in the southeast just below the Suez canal. The arrow in the north (To Mur.) represents the direction Allied fleets must move when trying to deliver military supplies to the Soviets via Murmansk. Fleets can only deliver military supplies during non-winter turns in the deployment phase. The arrow in the southwest (To Suez) represents the direction units must be moved to go around the southern tip of Africa to the Suez canal. The arrow in the southeast (To Atl.) represents the direction units must move to go to the Atlantic. Note, you must use the direction buttons (see section 2.10) to move a unit off th map in the direction of the arrows. Units can only move around Africa during the deployment phase. Only Allied units can move around Africa. 2.4 Control All non-prohibited land areas start out being controlled by the either the Axis, Allied, or Soviet player, or a neutral country. No player can ever control a prohibited or sea area. To gain control of an area, simply move an infantry or armored unit into it. Also, an airborne unit can gain control by ending Phase IV (Military Operations Query) in an unoccupied, enemy controlled area. Only controlled areas can be in supply during your turn. Only controlled areas and sea areas can be moved through during deployment. (Exception: fighters and bombers can move over enemy controlled areas but will be destroyed if they end the season there.) During offensive operations, fighters can only move over controlled areas. Fleets can only enter land areas that are controlled and have a port. (Exception: Fleets transporting infantry or armor may launch amphibious assaults against unoccupied, enemy ports or islands.) 2.5 Movement Restrictions Axis units can never enter the USA. Allied units can't enter Soviet areas if they are occupied by a Soviet unit. Also, the Soviets cannot enter Allied areas if occupied by an Allied unit. British ground units cannot enter the French capital unless France has already surrendered. (6) 2.6 Date The current season (spring, summer or winter) and year (1939-1945). Note, Spring runs from March to June, Summer runs from July to October, and Winter runs from November to February. 2.7 Player Turn The current player turn - Axis, Allied or Soviet. Note, the enemy player(s) is called the defensive player. 2.8 Text Window The Text window displays a variety of messages to communicate what's going on to the players. 2.9 SCROLL button Press the SCROLL button to enter the scroll mode. Then, press one of the DIRECTION keys to move the map in the desired direction. To exit the SCROLL mode, press the SCROLL button or the 2nd button. The scroll mode also allows you to gather information about a particular area. Move the cursor over the area and press the 1st button. The text window displays who controls the area, its supply status and any special terrain, such as capital, industry, port or island. You can also enter the scroll mode during the military operations query by pressing the 2nd button. Finally, the game map will automatically scroll when you move a unit off the "edge" using a DIRECTION button. 2.10 DIRECTION Button There are six direction buttons located immediately below the SCROLL button. You can move a unit or scroll the game map (if you're in the scroll mode) by moving the cursor over the desired DIRECTION button and pressing the 1st button. Note, when your enter the scroll mode, END and NEXT are replaced with the UP and DOWN DIRECTION buttons. END and NEXT will return upon exiting the scroll mode. (7) 2.11 END Button The END button ends the blinking unit's movement for the remainder of the military operation and causes a new unit to start blinking. 2.12 NEXT Button The NEXT button causes a new unit to start blinking. Note, pressing the 2nd button or "N" key accomplishes the same thing. 2.13 Defensive Air and Navy Buttons The defensive air button allows a player to move his fighters during the enemies' turn. The defensive navy button allows a player to move his fleets during the enemies' turn. These buttons are important when trying to thwart an enemy attack. (See section 5.9 for details.) 2.14 Military Points The bottom right hand corner of the game map displays each player's current number of Military Points (MP's). The Axis player's MP's are next to the German and Italian hybrid flag (top). The Allied player's MP's are next to the British, French and USA hybrid flag (middle). The Soviet MP's are next to the Soviet flag (hammer and sickle on the bottom). 3.1 UNIT DESCRIPTIONS All infantry, armor, fighters, fleets, airborne, bombers and U-boats are collectively known as "units". An area is considered occupied if it contains any units. Each scenario has it's own unique set of units and when they are available. Players should refer to the Scenario description for details. Each player's armies are a coalition of the following: Axis In CGA, German, Finnish, Romanian, and other unspecified minor allies are black and white with blue borders. Italian units are black and blue with red borders. In EGA, German, Finnish, and Romanian units are grey and black with blue borders and Italian units are black and gold with red borders. (8) Allied Britain's army is a diverse combination from Canada, Australia, India, Poland, New Zealand, Free French and others. In CGA, they are light green and black with black borders. In EGA they are brown and white with black borders. In CGA, French units are green and black with red borders. In EGA, French units are blue and white with red borders. USA units are green and black with black borders in both EGA and CGA. Soviet In EGA and CGA, Soviet units are red and black with black borders. Neutral Swedish, Spanish, Yugoslavian, Greek and Turkish units are white and black with black borders. 3.2 Ground Units Ground units include all infantry and armor units. They may not stack with other ground units and cannot move across water except when transported by a fleet. (Exceptions: ground units may stack with friendly Neutral units. Also, ground units can move back and forth from the Italian mainland to Sicily, the triangular island at the end of the boot. Finally, ground units can move across water into adjacent land areas during deployment.) Ground units must advance into an unoccupied area vacated by a retreating or destroyed enemy unit. 3.3 Zone-of-Control (ZOC) Ground units exert a ZOC into adjacent land areas. A ZOC interferes with enemy movement, retreat and supply. Note, a ZOC has no effect on friendly units. Infantry cannot move from one ZOC to another ZOC. Armor can move from ZOC to ZOC but must expend two movements to do so. Important: during offensive operations, armored units can still move from ZOC to ZOC even if they only have one move remaining (i.e., They can exceed their 3 move allowance.) A line of supply can be traced into a ZOC but not through it. (9) Cost Type Summary ---- ------ ------------------ 1 Infantry -Depicted by a rifle or machine gun. -Two moves during offensive or attrition operations. -Attacks vs. armor at -1. -Cannot move from one ZOC to another ZOC. -Exert ZOC on adjacent areas. -Destroyed if not kept in supply. -Must advance into unoccupied, enemy areas after defender destroyed or defender retreat. -Cannot stack with other ground units, except neutrals. -Cannot move during strategic operations. -Can be loaded onto fleets during deployment and then transported across sea areas during deployment or offensive operations. -Have no moves left after amphibious assault. Have one move left after unloading at friendly port. 2 Armor -Depicted by a tank. -Three moves during offensive or attrition operations. -During offensive operations, attacks resulting in a defender destroyed or defender retreat allow the armor one additional movement. Only applicable once per season. -Attacks vs. infantry at +1. -Required to expend two moves when going from ZOC to ZOC. Note, during offensive operations, armored units can still move from ZOC to ZOC even if they only have one move left. -Exert ZOC on adjacent areas. -Destroyed if not kept in supply. -Must advance into unoccupied, enemy areas after defender destroyed or defender retreat. -Cannot stack with other ground units, except neutrals. -Cannot move during strategic operations. -Can be loaded onto fleets during deployment and then transported across sea areas during deployment or offensive operations. -Have one move left after amphibious assault. Have two moves left after unloading at friendly port. (10) 3.4 Air Units Air units can move across sea areas. Air units may stack with other units. During strategic operations, fighters and bombers can move over enemy controlled areas. Air units are destroyed if they end movement over a sea area or if they end the season over an enemy occupied area. Fighters and bombers will also be destroyed if they are left over enemy controlled areas. Cost Type Summary ---- ------ ------------------ 3 Fighters -Depicted by the front of an airplane. -During offensive or strategic operations, five moves before combat, two moves after combat. Exception: USA fighters, after 1942, have four moves after combat. -During offensive operations, cannot move into enemy controlled areas. -Cannot move during attrition operations. -Cannot attack or defend if they start the season in an unsupplied area. -Not required to advance into a vacated enemy area after defender destroyed or defender retreat. -Have a better chance than ground units of surviving an attack on the enemy. -During offensive operations, must be stacked with supplied ground unit or fleet to attack enemy ground units. -Can only conduct one mission per season. Missions include attacks on other units and attacks from other units. Exception: Bombers moving into fighters must always enter combat. - Can attack and destroy U-boat during offensive operations. 4 Bombers -Depicted by the front of a large airplane. -Allowed 12 moves during strategic operations. -Cannot move during offensive or attrition operations. -Cannot conduct bombing missions if they start the season in an unsupplied area. -Destroy 1 enemy MP by moving over enemy capitals or enemy home industrial areas. (Exception: the Axis can only bomb the British or French capitals.) The bombs are dropped when the bomber tries to exit the area. -Can only conduct one bombing mission per season. -Each enemy capital or home industrial area can only be bombed once per season. -Bombers moving into enemy fighters must enter combat even if fighter already conducted a mission. (11) 3 Airborne -Depicted by a parachute. -Allowed 3 moves during offensive operations. -Can't move during attrition or strategic operations. -During offensive operations, can move over enemy occupied or enemy controlled areas. -Can take control of unoccupied, enemy controlled areas at the end of Phase IV - Military Operations Query (i.e., after all other combat has occurred) -Destroyed if not kept in supply. -Defend at -2 vs. armor, -1 against everything else. -Once per season during an offensive operation, if a friendly airborne unit is in the same area as an enemy ground unit or where your amphibious assault occurs, add +1 to the attack. Note, afterward, the airborne can't move for the rest of the operation. -Destroyed if it ends movement over a sea area or if ends season over enemy occupied area. -Cannot be rebuilt if destroyed by "out of supply". HINT: Airborne units can successfully invade unoccupied islands by moving over the island during offensive operations, and then withdrawing during the subsequent deployment phase. 3.5 Sea Units Sea units cannot move across land except into a port. They cannot end the season out of port or they will be destroyed. (Exception: defensive fleets may end their opponent's turn out of port.) Sea units may freely stack with other units. Cost Type Summary ---- ------ ------------------ 5 Fleet -Depicted by a battleship. -During offensive operations, allowed fifty moves. -Cannot move during attrition or strategic operations. -Can load ground units during deployment if no other missions were conducted that season. -Can transport ground units across sea areas and unload at friendly ports during deployment or offensive operations. -Can attack ground units with shore bombardment. -If transporting amphibious infantry or armor, fleets can launch amphibious assaults against unoccupied, enemy ports or islands. -During offensive operations, can provide supply to port or island or may build bridgeheads in unsupplied, friendly ports (must have at least 2 MP's to do so). -Can deliver military aid to the Soviets via Murmansk during non-winter deployments or via Suez if Persia is under Allied control. -Allied fleets can sail around Africa during deployment. -Can only conduct one mission per season. Missions include shore bombardment, loading ground units, delivery of Soviet military aid, and attacks on units. -Can attack U-boat during offensive operations. -Attack at -1 (cumulatively) for every three areas moved during the current season. (12) Cost Type Summary ---- ------ ------------------ 3 U-boat -Depicted by a submarine. -Can only move during deployment. -Can destroy allied MP's by ending the allied turn in the Atlantic Ocean. Some locations destroy no MP's, others 1 or 2 MP's (depending on a random number). You be the judge of the best areas to hunt. 3.6 Troop Transport To load ground units, be sure that the ground unit and fleet are occupying adjacent areas and that one of them is in a friendly port. (Exception: ground units on an island don't need to have a port nearby to load up.) Then, during deployment, simply move the ground unit into the same area as the fleet and answer "Yes" to the question prompt, "Want to load troops?" IMPORTANT: Fleets that have already conducted a mission that season may not load any troops. To unload ground units, move the fleet into a friendly port and answer "Yes" to the question prompt, "Want to unload troops?" After unloading at a friendly port, infantry have one move left and armored units have two moves left. 3.7 ID Numbers Each unit has an ID number to help the player's keep track of their units. The ID number appears in the second line of the text window (to the far right, inside parenthesis) during offensive, attrition and strategic operations and during deployment. It also appears to the right of the current buildable unit (underneath the BUILD function). 3.8 Stack Counters When more than one unit occupies the same area, a small number appears in the lower right hand corner of the top unit. This number represents the total number of units "stacked" in the area and is meant to help the players keep track of where their units are. 3.9 MC (Mission Completed) To help the players keep track of which fighters, bombers and fleets have already completed a mission (and are thus unable to make further attacks), an MC (mission completed) appears in the text area next to the unit type. (13) 4.1 INPUT DEVICES BIG THREE features an easy to use "point and click" input system that allows players to concentrate their energy on developing and implementing a winning strategy. Each player needs only one input device (mouse, joystick or keyboard) to play the entire game (Exception: players may periodically need to use the "Esc" key to cancel erroneous input.) The program automatically checks to see which devices are available and assigns one to each player. To find out which device each player is assigned, use the INPUT function on the MAIN Menu and then the PLAYER function. To change input devices, use the DEVICE function. If the keyboard is the only available device, BIG THREE allows all the players to share the keyboard. If only two devices are available, the Allied and Soviet player should share the keyboard. BIG THREE supports four different input devices; the keyboard, joystick A, joystick B and the Microsoft (tm) mouse. (To use mouse, install mouse software first.) 4.2 Keyboard During your turn, use the numeric keypad to move the highlighter or the cursor in the desired direction. Depending on the circumstances, pressing the space bar will erase the text window and continue the game, or initiate the highlighted option, or move the blinking unit towards the cursor, etc. Pressing the "L" key will also erase the text window and continue the game, or cause a new unit to start blinking, or exit the SCROLL or DEPLOY modes, or enter the SCROLL mode at the military option text window, etc. During your opponent's turn, pressing the "Q" key will highlight the Defensive Air option. Pressing the "Z" key will highlight the Defensive Navy option. The Axis or Allied player activates the highlighted option by pressing the "A" key; the Soviet by pressing the "S" key. After you've activated one of the Defensive options, pressing the "L" key will cause a new unit to start blinking. After all defensive units have had a chance to move, control automatically returns to the player whose turn it is. (14) 4.3 Joystick During your turn, tilt the joystick to move the highlighter or cursor in the desired direction. Pressing the main trigger button is equivalent to pressing the space bar (see above). Pressing the secondary trigger button is equivalent to pressing the "L" key (see above). During your opponent's turn, tilting the joystick up will highlight the Defensive Air option. Tilting it down will highlight the Defensive Navy option. Pressing the 1st or 2nd button will activate the highlighted option. After you've activated one of the Defensive options, pressing the secondary trigger button will cause a new unit to start blinking. 4.4 Mouse During your turn, rolling the mouse will move the highlighter or cursor in the desired direction. Pressing the left mouse button is equivalent to pressing the space bar (see above). Pressing the right mouse button is equivalent to pressing the "L" key (see above). During your opponent's turn, rolling the mouse upward will highlight the Defensive Air option. Rolling it downward will highlight the Defensive Navy option. Pressing the left mouse button will activate the highlighted option. After you've activated one of the Defensive option, pressing the right mouse button will cause a new unit to start blinking. 4.5 Multiple Methods To provide flexibility, BIG THREE offers several different ways to accomplish most tasks. (Exception: the END button is unique.) For example, players can move their units by pressing a direction button on the game map, or by putting the cursor on an unoccupied area and pressing the 1st button. Also, players may cause a different unit to blink (prepare to move) by moving the cursor over the NEXT button on the game map and pressing the 1st button, or by pressing the 2nd button, or by moving the cursor over the desired unit and pressing the 1st button. (Note, the latter method only works if the desired unit is more than one area away from the current blinking unit.) (15) 5.1 ROUTINE OF PLAY Each player has one turn per season. The Axis goes first, followed by the Allies and then the Soviets. (Note, some scenarios don't include the Allies and others don't include the Soviets.) Each player's turn is divided into the following seven phases : Phase I - Count and display VP's. Phase II - Allocate MP's (spring season only). Phase III- Initial Supply Check. Phase IV - Military Operations Query (Offensive, Attrition and Strategic Operations) Phase V - Build and Deployment Phase. Phase VI - Surrender and Demobilize Troops (if applicable). Phase VII- Destroy Unsupplied Units (if applicable). Each of these phases is described in detail below. After completing Phase VII, the next player takes his turn, and so on. After each player has had a turn, the season will change. After the winter season, the year will change. 5.2 Phase I - Count and display VP's. If the autosave is on, BIG THREE will automatically save the current game in progress under the file name SAVEGAME.WW2. At the beginning of each player's turn, BIG THREE counts and prints his current VP total in the text window while playing the musical theme. It also highlights the corresponding level of victory. Note, if your level of victory is an Absolute Defeat, nothing will be highlighted. At the end of the musical theme, if you want to change input devices, start a NEW game or SAVE the current game, press the "Esc" button to return to the main menu. Select the START option to return to the current game. WARNING: if you press NEW or LOAD you will erase the current game in memory. Victory Points (VP's) are awarded by occupying capitals, industrial areas and the Suez Canal (the port in Egypt with two rings). Friendly capitals are worth 3 VP's each, occupied enemy capitals and all industrial areas are worth 1 VP each and the Suez canal is worth 2 VP's. (Exceptions: The middle Soviet capital, Moscow, is worth 2 VP's to the Soviet player while the other two Soviet capitals are worth only 1 VP each. Also, the USA capital is worth 6 VP's and the USA industrial areas are worth 2 VP's each.) (16) There are six levels of victory. Absolute Victory (AV)- The results are good enough to have changed the outcome of the war and its aftermath. Strategic Victory (SV)- The results are good enough to have changed the course of the war but not its outcome or aftermath. Tactical Victory (TV)- The results are good but not good enough to have altered the course of the war or its aftermath. Tactical Defeat (TD)- The results are bad, but not bad enough to have altered the course of the war or its aftermath. Strategic Defeat (SD)- The results are bad enough to have changed the course of the war but not its outcome or aftermath. Absolute Defeat- The results are bad enough to have changed the outcome of the war and its aftermath. (Note, an absolute defeat has no corresponding level of VP's. It occurs automatically when a player has less than the required number of VP's for a strategic defeat.) At the end of the game, the player with the highest level of victory is the winner. If the players have the same level of victory, the game is considered a draw. In many scenarios, one side starts with a military advantage. To make for balanced play, the superior side usually starts at a lower level of victory. So don't be discouraged if your side starts with a strategic or absolute defeat. It's only a reflection of your superior military strength. Also realize the onus of attack rests with you. Likewise, an inferior military force usually starts with enough VP's for an absolute or strategic victory. However, maintaining it against a superior military force for the entire scenario is not easy. 5.3 Phase II - Allocate Military Points (Spring Season Only) In spring, each player is allocated one Military Point (MP) for each VP plus 1 MP for every three unspent MP's from the prior year. (Exception: The Soviet player receives 1 MP for every four unspent MP's.) Military Points are needed to initiate offensive operations, declare war and build units. (17) 5.4 Phase III - Initial Supply Check Armies require an enormous amount of food, fuel, ammunition and medicine just to function normally. Losing this "life line", for even a short period of time, can destroy a unit's ability to attack and defend. Units are considered to be in supply if they begin their turn in a supplied area. An area is supplied if you can trace a contiguous path of controlled areas, free of enemy units and enemy ZOC, back to a controlled supply source. Note, supply can be traced into an enemy ZOC but not through it. (Exception: supply can al- ways be traced through a friendly infantry or armored unit regardless of the presence of enemy ZOC.) Supply lines can- not exceed 18 areas in length. Supply sources include friendly and occupied capitals, areas with both a port and supply (also called bridgeheads), the two areas on the game map that contain both a port and an industry (one is in southern France and the other is in Sweden), and the eastern-most land areas of the Soviet Union (areas 2,18 4,18 6,18 and 8,18). Important: supply sources inside the Soviet Union can only supply Soviet units. Enter the SCROLL mode to check an areas' current supply status and for supply sources. All infantry, armor and airborne units that start their turn in an unsupplied area cannot move or attack for the entire season. If they are still out of supply at the end of the season (Phase VII), they are destroyed. Fighters and bombers that start their turn in an uncontrolled area cannot conduct any missions (however, they can move) until their next turn. Units on islands or in unsupplied areas next to a controlled port can be supplied during offensive operations by moving a fleet into the island or port. Unsupplied ground units still cannot move or attack during the season, but at least they won't be destroyed at the end of Phase VII. Note, Sicily (area 14,8) is a unique island because it can be supplied from either Malta (area 15,9) or the Italian mainland. The Axis can supply only one German unit in Africa so long as the Allies control Malta (area 15,9). If more than one German unit is in Africa then the unit with the largest ID number gets supplied and the others don't. Note, there is no limit to the number of Italian units that can be supplied in Africa. This rule only applies to German units in Africa that are west of the Suez canal. (18) 5.5 Phase IV - Military Operations Query You must choose one military operation for each of the three fronts. Exceptions: You won't be queried about a front if no units are present on that front, or if the units are incapable of moving during a particular operation. Also, players with no MP's remaining will not be queried about offensive operations. Finally, strategic operations involve all three fronts simultaneously. In other words, during strategic operations, all fighters and bombers can move and attack regardless of which front they're on. Units move one front at a time. All units on the western front move and attack first, followed by all units on the eastern front and then the Mediterranean front. Note, only infantry and armor can move and attack during attrition operations. Bombers are only allowed to move and attack during strategic operations. The U-boat can't move at all except during deployment. The Query There are four different military operations: Offensive, Attrition, Pass and Strategic. Offensive - Costs one MP and allows the player to move and attack with infantry, armor, fighters, fleets and airborne. Also, the defensive player may move his fighters and fleets using the defensive air and defensive navy options. Note, fighters and fleets that attack in an offensive operation cannot be used in the next Defensive Phase (during your opponent's next turn). Attrition - Allows the player to only move and attack with infantry and armor. This operation usually inflicts less damage on your opponent, but also holds your casualties to a minimum. Also, no defensive air or naval movement is allowed. Pass - Neither of the above operations is selected. Strategic - Allows the player to move and attack with his fighters and bombers in an attempt to bomb enemy cities. Also, the defensive player may move his fighters using the defensive air option. Note, strategic operations encompass all three fronts. That is, all fighters and bombers can move and attack regardless of which front they're on. (19) At the military operations query, you can press the 2nd button, instead of Yes or No, to enter the SCROLL mode and look around the map. This may help you arrive at a decision. If you accidentally bypass your desired military operation or select the wrong operation, press "Esc" before moving any units. This should return you to the top of the query and return any spent MP's. The Blinking Unit After you've chosen a military operation for a given front, one of the units on that front will automatically start to blink. The blinking unit is the only unit that can move. To make a different unit blink, press the 2nd button, or move the cursor over the NEXT button on the game map and press the 1st button, or place the cursor over a another unit and press the 1st button. (Note, the latter method will only work if the blinking unit is not adjacent to the new unit or if both units are ground units.) Press the END button to end the blinking unit's movement for the rest of the operation and make a new unit blink. The text window displays the blinking units' description, moves remaining, mission completed status and ID number (in parenthesis). To move the blinking unit, move the cursor over the desired DIRECTION button and press the 1st button. Alternatively, put the cursor in an unoccupied, or enemy controlled, or adjacent area and press the 1st button. Normally, all air units on the screen blink first, followed by all ground units and sea units. After all units on the current screen have moved, BIG THREE automatically searches and scrolls for other units located in other parts of the game map. To enter combat, attempt to move the blinking unit into the same area as the enemy unit. This can be done by moving the unit one area at a time (the recommended way) or by putting the cursor over the desired enemy unit and pressing the 1st button. This will cause the unit to approach the enemy unit one area at a time, but not necessarily in the way you would like. Your unit may accidentally encounter a prohibited area or a different enemy unit than planned. Fighters or bombers that end the military operation over an uncontrolled, sea or prohibited area are destroyed. Airborne units that end over a sea or enemy occupied area are also destroyed. (20) If you accidentally move the blinking unit in the wrong direction, immediately press the "Esc" key. This should return your unit to it's original location and restore it's used moves. If you accidentally cause combat to occur, press the "Esc" key anytime before the final random number is generated. Your move and the combat will be cancelled. If you wait until after the final number has been generated, combat will occur. 5.6 Phase V - Build and Deployment Phase The build and deployment phase allows players to replace destroyed units, build new units and move some units to a new location. Note, if a player doesn't have any MP's remaining or any available units to build, the BUILD option is inaccessible. After first entering this phase a menu will appear with the following options: BUILD DEPLOY SCROLL END. If the player has units available to build and at least one MP remaining, then underneath the BUILD option appears a unit that can be built by moving the highlighter over BUILD and pressing the 1st button. You will also see the unit's ID number immediately to the right. Underneath the DEPLOY option, you'll see the number of deployments remaining. Every time you move a unit using DEPLOY, the number of deployments remaining decreases by one. (Exception: if a unit has already been moved this season using the DEPLOY option, you can go back and move it again without reducing your remaining deployments.) To enter the scroll mode, move the cursor over the SCROLL button and press the 1st button. To end the Build and Deployment Phase, move the highlighter over END and press the 1st button. (21) Building a Unit To build a unit, first move the highlighter over BUILD and select the desired unit. You may select the desired unit by scrolling up and down the list of available units with the "8" or "2" key (keyboard), tilting the joystick up or down (joystick) or rolling the mouse up or down (mouse). Keep an eye on the ID number to the right of the buildable units to keep track of them. After selecting a unit, press the 1st or 2nd button. Infantry cost 1 MP to build, armor cost 2 MP's, Fighters cost 3 MP's, Fleets cost 5 MP's, Airborne cost 2 MP's, Bombers cost 3 MP's and the U-boat cost 2 MP's. If you don't have enough MP's remaining to build the unit, an error message appears in the text window. If you make a mistake and accidentally build the wrong unit, immediately press the "Esc" key. This should remove the unit and replace your spent MP's. Building Infantry, Armor, Fighters, Airborne and Bombers The newly built unit automatically appears in the sponsoring countries' capital. (Exception: you must select which of the three Soviet capitals you want the new unit to appear in.) Normal stacking limits on ground units apply. Building Fleets and the U-boat. You must select a controlled home port to build the unit in. Exception: German and Italian units can only be built in one port and will automatically appear there. Otherwise, a home port is defined as a port located inside the sponsoring country that built the unit. Great Britain has three, France has four, the USA has three and the Soviets have four. Deployment During deployment, you can freely move units around the game map subject to the following restrictions. Ground and airborne units cannot enter or leave an enemy ZOC. (Exception: These units may always enter a capital or fort area. Also, they may always exit a capital or fort as long as they don't try to enter an enemy ZOC.) Ground units cannot cross sea areas unless first loaded on board a fleet. Note, to load a ground unit, the fleet must not have already conducted a mission. Figthers and bombers are allowed to cross over enemy controlled areas. (22) 5.7 Phase VI - Surrender and Demobilize Units At the end of the Axis turn only, if the German or Italian capital is occupied by the enemy, that country must surrender and demobilize its units. At the end of the Allied turn only, if the French or British capital is occupied by the enemy, that country must surrender and demobilize its units. The United States cannot be forced to surrender. If France surrenders, all of the unoccupied, Fr. N. Africa areas controlled by the allies are switched to Axis control. At the end of the Soviet turn only, if the Axis simultaneous control all three Soviet capitals, the Soviets are forced to surrender and demobilize their units. Demobilized units cannot be rebuilt for the remainder of the game. Note, just because a country surrenders, it doesn't mean all of its areas revert to the control of the conquering country. The remaining areas only become controlled by moving a ground unit into them. 5.8 Phase VII - Destroy Unsupplied Units Any fleets still at sea (out of port) are destroyed. Any fighters or bombers not over a controlled area are destroyed and any airborne units still over a sea or enemy occupied area are destroyed. Any infantry, armor and airborne units that began the season out of supply and are still out of supply are now destroyed. Units destroyed by lack of supply are available for rebuilding during the next build and deployment phase. Exception: Airborne units destroyed by lack of supply cannot be rebuilt. 5.9 Defensive Air and Navy Options During your opponent's offensive operation, you may activate the Defensive Air or Navy Options. This allows you to move your fighters and/or fleets in an effort to thwart your opponent's attack(s). Any of your fighters that initiated attacks or fleets that conducted missions during your previous turn cannot move during the defensive option. Also, newly built fighters and fleets cannot be moved. If no units are available to move on the current front, BIG THREE automatically recognizes this and ignores your request. Otherwise, units are allowed their full movement allowance. (23) To activate a defensive option, move the highlighter over the desired option and press the 1st or 2nd button. Exception: when using the keyboard, press the "Q" key to move the defensive cursor up and the "Z" key to move it down. Also, to activate the defensive option, the Axis and Allied players should press the "A" key while the Soviet should press the "S" key. Defensive fighters cannot initiate any attacks, even against other fighters. However, they can guard an area by moving over it and waiting for the enemy to attack. (Exception: during strategic operations, defensive fighters can attack enemy fighters and bombers.) Defensive fighters that have suffered a defender retreat can't move or defend that season. As a general rule, don't leave you defensive fighters over water or uncontrolled areas at the end of your opponent's turn. They will eventually be destroyed unless you save them by selecting an offensive operation during your next turn. Even then, they are considered out of supply and won't be allowed to attack. Defensive fleets are allowed to attack other fleets, but they cannot attack anything else. Once they attack an enemy fleet, they are stuck out at sea cannot move anymore until their next turn. You'll need to move them with an offensive operation or deployment to get them back safety to a port. Defensive fleets are better at blockading enemy fleets (i.e. forcing the enemy to enter combat unless they stay put) than attacking because of the -1 modifier for every 3 areas moved. 5.10 Military Aid Convoy Each season the Allied player may create a convoy containing 2 MP's in order to aid the Soviets. The Allied player is requested to select a fleet to escort the convoy. The convoy remains with the fleet until delivery via Murmansk or Persia. Fleets escorting a convoy may not also load or transport ground units. The military aid may be delivered to the Soviets either through Murmansk or Persia during the deployment phase. Military aid delivered through Murmansk is subject to attack from Axis fleets, fighters and U-boats stationed in Bergen (the only port in Norway). Allied fleets cannot be harmed by these attacks, only the military aid being escorted. To deliver military aid to the Soviets via Murmansk, attempt to move the escorting fleet off the edge of the map in the direction of the black arrow next to Norway. Note, you must use the direction arrow keys to accomplish this. Murmansk is closed during winter turns. (24) Military aid can only be delivered through Persia if the Persian industrial area and the Suez canal are under Allied control. To deliver aid to the Soviets via Persia, move the fleet escorting the aid into the Suez canal. 6.1 COMBAT Combat occurs when your unit attempts to enter an area occupied by an enemy unit. First, BIG THREE generates a random number between one and six (simulating the roll of a die). Then the appropriate combat modifiers are added to the random number to get the total and determine the battles' outcome. A total of less than one provides the same result as a one and a total above seven provides the same result as a seven. In general, a high total is better for the attacker and a low total is better for the defender. To stop combat from occurring, press the "Esc" key anytime before the last random number is generated. Otherwise, combat will proceed as normal. All attacks, whether successful or not, cumulatively add one to the die roll of further attacks on that unit for the remainder of the season. 6.2 Combat Results There are four possible outcomes to combat, attacker destroyed (A), Stalemate (S), Defender Retreat (R) and Defender Destroyed (D). Each of these is described in detail below. Attacker destroyed (A)- the attacking unit is eliminated. Stalemate (S)- neither the attacker or defender is destroyed. Defender retreat (R)- the defending unit must immediately retreat one area. It cannot retreat into an enemy unit, an enemy ZOC, an uncontrolled area, inhospitable terrain or a prohibited area. Also, normal stacking restrictions for ground units apply. If the defending unit doesn't have an acceptable area in which to retreat, it is destroyed. All ground units on islands suffering a defender retreat are automatically destroyed. (25) Infantry and armored units must advance into newly vacated, unoccupied enemy areas. Also, during offensive operations, attacking armor will be allowed one additional movement to either move or attack (only allowed once per season). During attrition operations, Defender Retreat has no effect (is treated like a stalemate) if the defender is in a capital, industrial area, fort, port or bridgehead. Neutral units are destroyed by a defender retreat result during offensive operations. They are not destroyed during attrition operations if they are in an industrial area. Fighters and fleets suffering a defender retreat cannot move during the Defensive air or naval option. Defender destroyed (D)- the defending unit is eliminated. If the attacking unit is infantry or armor, it will automatically advance into the newly vacated area. Also, during offensive operations, attacking armor will be allowed one additional movement to either move or attack. 6.3 Automatic Retreats The defending unit is automatically forced to retreat when: -a ground unit attacks a fighter during attrition operations; -a ground unit attacks a fleet or U-boat in port; -a ground unit attacks a fighter and the fighter doesn't have any ground support. -a ground unit, airborne or fleet attacks a bomber; -a fighter attacks a bomber during offensive operations; -a ground unit, fighter or fleet attacks a fighter that has already conducted a mission; -an Axis unit attacks a British fighter over a French ground unit or a French fighter over a British ground unit. 6.4 Combat Modifiers Positive modifiers benefit the attacker, negative the defender. Each previous attack on the defender this season adds +1. Infantry vs. armor at -1. Armor vs. infantry at +1. All attackers (except armor) vs. airborne at +1 (armor at +2). Defender in capital, industrial, mountain or marsh at -1. Defender in fortress at -3. Defender in port and supply source (bridgehead) at -1. Ground unit vs. fighter with ground support at -2. Fleets attack at -1 (cumulatively) for every 3 areas moved. Friendly airborne in enemy ground unit's area, add +1 (one time). See sections 6.6, 6.8 and 6.9 for special combat modifiers. (26) 6.5 Ground Support Fighters need ground support to effectively attack enemy ground units. A fighter has ground support if it is stacked with a friendly, supplied ground unit or a fleet. Neutral units don't qualify as ground support. A ground unit attacking a fighter that doesn't have ground support results in automatic defender retreat. Airborne vs. fighter without ground support results in automatic retreat. 6.6 French and Italian Incompetence Due to the low morale of the Italian troops and incompetence of the French and Italian high command, all attacks by the French and Italians are at -1. All attacks against the French and Italians are at +1. For your convenience, French and Italian units have a red border. 6.7 Anglo-Franco non-cooperation British fighters cannot provide defensive air protection for French ground units, nor can they make attacks using French ground support. Conversely, French fighters cannot protect British ground units nor make attacks with British ground support. Also, British ground units cannot enter the French capital prior to the surrender of France. 6.8 Russian Winter The Axis troops were sorely unprepared for the terrible Russian winter. To reflect this, in the winter of 1940 and 1941, Axis attacks are made at -3 while Soviet attacks are made at +3. In the winter of 1942, Axis attacks are made at -2 while the Soviets attack at +2. In the winter of 1943, Axis attacks are made at -1 while the Soviets attack at +1. Note, this rule only effects Axis units inside the USSR. 6.9 Rommel's Tactical Genius Prior to 1943, all German armor units in North Africa (west of the Suez canal) attack at +1 and defend at -1. Note, the Axis can only supply one German unit in North Africa as long as the Allies control Malta (section 5.4, paragraph 6). (27) 6.10 Combat Results Tables Attrition Operations Ground unit vs. Ground unit.. 1S 2S 3S 4S 5S 6R 7R Defenders in capital, industrial, port and fortress areas may ignore defender retreat (treat it like a stalemate.) Offensive Operations Ground unit vs. Ground unit.. 1A 2A 3S 4S 5R 6R 7D Fighter vs. Ground Unit...... 1A 2S 3S 4S 5R 6R 7D Fighter vs. Fighter.......... 1A 2A 3S 4R 5D 6D 7D Fighter vs. Fleet............ 1A 2A 3A 4S 5D 6D 7D Fighter vs. Bomber........... 1S 2D 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D Fighter vs. U-boat........... 1S 2S 3S 4S 5S 6D 7D (+3 after 1943) Fleet vs. ground unit........ 1A 2S 3S 4S 5R 6R 7D Fleet vs. fighter............ 1A 2A 3S 4S 5D 6D 7D Fleet vs. fleet.............. 1S 2S 3A 4D 5A 6D 7D (-1 every 2 moves) Fleet vs. U-boat............. 1S 2S 3S 4S 5S 6D 7D (+3 after 1943) Amphibious Assault........... 1A 2A 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D (+1 vs. Norway, if neutral) Bomber vs. Fighter........... 1A 2A 3A 4A 5S 6S 7S 6.11 Amphibious Assault Players may launch amphibious assaults against unoccupied, enemy controlled ports or islands by moving a fleet that's transporting an infantry or armored unit into the area. The assault gets no benefit from previous attacks. Friendly airborne in the port adds +1 to the attack (once a season). If you launch a successful amphibious assault on a port and have at least 2 MP's, you may build a bridgehead. Bridge- heads cost two MP's to build and change an ordinary port into a port and supply source. Bridgehead defend at -1 and continue to serve as a source of supply until captured by the enemy. At that point, they revert to a normal port. (Exception: the Suez canal will remain a bridgehead even if captured by the enemy.) Note, in several scenarios, some ports start out as bridgeheads and in others they don't. Enter the Scroll mode to find out for sure. If the amphibious assault is successful, the transported ground unit will automatically be unloaded into the port or island. Unloaded infantry have no moves left and armored units have one move left. (28) 7.1 NEUTRALS The following neutral countries- Sweden, Spain, Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey- have garrisons and special rules when they are attacked. Due to space constraints, many small countries' names, like Bulgaria and Portugal, don't appear on the game map. Sweden, Yugoslavia and Greece have a garrison of one infantry unit each. Spain and Turkey have two infantry units each protecting them. When first entering an area controlled by one of the above neutral countries, you will be asked whether or not you want to declare war on that neutral. If you answer no, then your move is ignored. If yes, and you are the Axis player, then the neutral joins the Allies. If you're the Allies, then the neutral joins the Axis. When a neutral country joins your side, you gain control of the countries' armies and all of the areas under its control. 7.2 Italy Enters the War In some scenarios, Italy starts out as a neutral country. If Italian troops attack the Allies, the Axis player must pay 2 MP's for a declaration of war. Likewise, if the Allied player attacks Italy, the Allies must pay 2 MP's. 7.3 Soviets Enter the War In some scenarios, the Soviets start out as a neutral power. They cannot enter any uncontrolled areas before 1941. This reflects Stalin's rebuilding of the Soviet military following his ruthless purges of the 1930's. After 1940, the Soviet player may attack the Axis player but must pay 2 MP's for a declaration of war. The Soviets may attack neutral areas at no cost. The Axis may attack the Soviets anytime at a cost of 2 MP's. 7.4 USA Enters the War The United States randomly enters the war on or about the Winter of 1941. The American forces cannot move or attack until they declare war. (29) It is recommended that the scenarios be played in order. SCENARIO 1- NO MORE PHONEY WAR (WESTERN FRONT 1940) Situation: In 1939, Hitler started one of the worst, yet most fascinating, periods in human history by launching a surprise attack on Poland. The new German battle tactics, known as "blitzkrieg", quickly encircled and destroyed all organized resistance within the beleaguered nation. To make matters worse, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator, made a secret pact with Hitler to simultaneously invade from the east. While the Allies sat helplessly by, the short-lived independent Polish nation was crushed. Meanwhile, the situation on the Western front was quite peaceful. Hence, this period was dubbed the "phoney war". The allies seemed content to sit by and let the Germans make the first move. In the spring of 1940, they did. Start: Winter, 1939 End: Winter, 1940 Players: Starting Starting Victory Points MP's Deployments SD TD TV SV AV Axis 0 7 10 11 12 13 14 Allied 0 8 4 5 6 7 8 Germany: At War At Start 1940 -------- ---- Infantry 3 3 Armor 3 Fighters 3 British: At War French: At War At Start At Start -------- -------- Armor 1 Infantry 2 Fighters 1 Armor 1 Fighters 1 Aftermath: In short, the whole campaign was a brilliant success for the Germans and a debacle for the French and British. The Axis correctly surmised that if they attacked Belgium, the allies would quickly send their best troops northward to its defense. The Germans would then punch a hole in the Allied lines farther to the south and send their newly formed armored units on a race to the sea, thereby cutting the best allied troops off and leaving the road to Paris wide open. The plan worked perfectly and France was soon forced to surrender. Worst still, the bulk of the British force was trapped at the French port of Dunkirk. Only German bungling and a daring sea rescue saved them from total destruction. (30) SCENARIO 2- AFTER THE 1ST THAW (EASTERN FRONT 1942-44) Situation: In the summer of 1941, Germany launched a surprise attack on the Soviet Union. The blitz carried deep inside Russia, costing the Soviets dearly as whole armies were surrounded and destroyed. But the terrible Russian winter halted the Axis drive at the very gates of Moscow. Hitler's refusal to withdraw his troops to winter quarters almost caused the collapse of the entire front as the Russians pressed their winter counter-offensive. But somehow the lines held and the Germans began preparing for their spring offensive. Instead of striking towards Moscow again, Hitler moved his armored units south toward the fateful city of Stalingrad. Start: Spring, 1942 End: Winter, 1944 Players: Starting Starting Victory Points MP's Deployments SD TD TV SV AV Axis 0 6 10 11 12 13 14 Soviet 0 5 5 6 8 9 10 Germany: At War At Start -------- Infantry 6 Armor 3 Fighters 2 Soviet: At War At Start 1940 1941 1942 -------- ---- ---- ---- Infantry 5 3 Armor 1 2 Fighters 1 Aftermath: With the coming of Spring, the Germans were quickly on the march. They gobbled up immense chucks of Soviet territory in the south while playing a waiting game in the north. However, their southern offensive finally stalled at the city of Stalingrad in the face of fanatical Soviet resistance. The Soviets managed to tie down an entire German army in vicious hand-to-hand and street- to-street combat. Hitler, once again ignoring the advice of his generals, discounted reports of a large Soviet buildup to the north and south of the city. Instead, he ordered his troops to dig in and hold the city at all costs. When the inevitable Soviet winter offensive came, the Germans found themselves hopelessly trapped behind enemy lines. It was a defeat from which the Germans would never recover. (31) SCENARIO 3- AFRIKA KORPS (MEDITERRANEAN FRONT 1940-42) Situation: In the summer of 1940, France capitulated and Britain stood alone against the Axis juggernaut. By winter, the "Battle of Britain" was raging in the skies above London and Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, desperately needed a victory to boost sagging morale. Start: Winter, 1940 End: Winter, 1942 Players: Starting Starting Victory Points MP's Deployments SD TD TV SV AV Axis 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 Allied 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Germany: At War Italy: At War At Start 1940 At Start -------- ---- -------- Infantry 1 1 Infantry 3 Armor - 1 Fighters 1 Airborne - 1 Fleets 3 British: At War At Start 1940 -------- ---- Infantry 1 1 Armor 1 Fighters 1 1 Fleets 4 Aftermath: Churchill got the victory he so desperately needed in the far off deserts of North Africa. The British army routed the Italians, capturing thousands of prisoners. Meanwhile, the Italians launched a surprise attack on Greece and suffered another humiliating defeat. The Germans intervened and quickly conquered the ill-fated country. Next, the Axis struck at Yugoslavia and sent General Erwin Rommell, the "Desert Fox", to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating situation in North Africa. To nearly everyone's surprise, Rommell struck quickly and drove the British all the way back to where they had started from. Afterwards, the battle for North Africa see-sawed back and forth, but in the end, the lack of supplies and reinforcements and the entry of the United States into the war eventually forced the Axis from the continent for good. (32) GLOSSARY Major Powers Abbreviations (printed in all capitals) GER. - Germany IT. - Italy BR. - Great Britain FR. - France USA - United States USSR - Soviet Union Neutral Country and Other Abbreviations Fin. - Finland Fr. N. Africa- French North Africa (Morroco, Tunis, Algeria) Gr. - Greece Norw. - Norway Pol. - Poland Rum. - Romania Sp. - Spain Swed. - Sweden Turk. - Turkey Yug. - Yugoslavia Other Abbreviations and definitions: Br. - British island, colony or port Fr. - French island, colony or port It. - Italian island, colony or port To Mur. - To Murmansk (deployment only, not allowed in winter). To Suez - To the Suez canal around the southern tip of Africa (during deployment only). To Atl. - To the Atlantic Ocean around the southern tip of Africa (during deployment only). MP or MP's - Military Points are needed to build new units or rebuild destroyed units, to declare war or conduct offensive operations. MP's can be destroyed during enemy strategic operations. VP or VP's - Victory Points determine a players level of victory and therefore the winner. (33) 1st button - On mouse is the left button. On joystick is the main trigger button. On keyboard is the space bar. 2nd button - On mouse is the right button. On joystick is the secondary trigger button. On keyboard is the "L" key. "Esc" key - The escape key on the keyboard. SHORT CUTS Most input requirements are well documented in order to keep the game flowing smoothly. However, due to time and space constraints, some useful short cut keys are not well documented. Therefore, please take note of the following list. 1) Press the "Esc" key at the Display Victory Points Phase (phase I) to return to the Main Menu. Note, if the sound is on, you must wait until it stops playing before pressing the "Esc" key. 2) While at the Main Menu, the F1 key toggles the sound on and off, the F2 key toggles autosave on and off, and the F9 key temporarily exits to DOS. 3) Press the "Esc" key during offensive, attrition or strategic operations to cancel erroneous or accidental movement. Or press the "Esc" key before any units have been moved to exit an erroneous military operation. 4) To make another unit blink during offensive, attrition or strategic operations, move the cursor over the desired unit and press the first button. Or, press the 2nd button and the next unit (according to the ID number) will blink. 5) Press the 2nd button during the military operations query to enter the SCROLL mode. Copyright (c) 1989 by SDJ Enterprises, Inc., St. Louis, MO 63131 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express, prior written permission of SDJ Enterprises, Inc. (34) Exhibit 1- The Game Screen ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────╥─────────╖ │ ║BIG THREE║ │ ║ SDJ ║ │ ╠═════════╣ │ ║ SCROLL ║\ │ ╠════╦════╣ \ │ ║ \ ║ / ║ \ │ ╠════╬════╣ \ │ ║ <- ║ -> ║ \ │ ╠════╬════╣ \ │ (Game Map) ║ / ║ \ ║ Button │ (Area) ╠════╬════╣ Area │ ║End ║Next║ / │ ╠════╩════╣ / │ ║Def. Air ║ / │ ╠═════════╣ / │ ║Def. Navy║/ │ ╠═════════╣ │ ║ MP ║\ │ ║Axis ║ \ │ ║ ║Military ╞════════╤════════╤═════════════════════════════╣Allied ║ Point │ (Date) │(Player)│ (Text) ║ ║ Area │ (Area) │ (Turn) │ (Area) ║Soviet ║ / └────────┴────────┴─────────────────────────────╨─────────╜/ Game Map Area (Section 2.2)....... European theatre of operations. Date Area (Section 2.6)........... The current season and year. Player Turn (Section 2.7)......... The current player turn. Text Window (Section 2.8)......... Displays a variety of messages. SCROLL button (Section 2.9)....... Press to enter the scroll mode. DIRECTION Button (Section 2.10)... Move a unit or scroll game map. END Button (Section 2.11)........ Ends the blinking unit's movement. NEXT Button (Section 2.12)....... Causes a new unit to blink. Defensive Air (Section 2.13)...... Move defensive player's fighters. Defensive Navy (Section 2.13)..... Move defensive player's fleets. Military Points (Section 2.14).... Each player's Military Points.