1. WELCOME TO COSSACKS: THE ART OF WAR

This demo will give you just a small glimpse of the incredible official add-on to the RTS hit. This document describes the most important changes and updates, and provides vital hints and tricks for playing, as well as technical advice for the Internet game.

2. SUMMARY of Updates

The following are just a few of the improvements we have in store for you in COSSACKS: THE ART OF WAR

New Units & Features
• New units (with their own experience values) include the Prussian hussar and new formations
• 6 new ships, including the salvo-firing battleship "Victoria" and the frigate "Flora"
• Bavaria and Denmark add their own peculiarities and units to the already huge range of nations
• New campaigns set in Prussia, Austria, Saxony, Algeria and Poland
• New missions, historical battles, and much more ...

New Functions
• Four difficulty levels to choose from
• A variety of start options ranging from the Peace Time mode (where firing ceases for a certain period of time), through starting with a normal, large or huge army, towers and artillery, cabins (defensive structures) and with or without the "Fog Of War", to capturing options, etc.
• Various new kinds of landscapes within a single map
• Larger maps (normal, 2x2 or 4x4 size)
• You can either play alone or form alliances against computer opponents, compete against other teams and play the game in a local network or on the Internet. The game's online features now also include detailed statistics about your opponents, as well as a an Internet high-score list in the Global Rating System and the ability to rise through the ranks from Esquire to King!
• "Deathmatch" and "Capture the Territory" modes included
• You can even select your own colour for all nations.

New Opportunities
• The new recording feature allows you to record an entire game using a virtual camera, so that you can watch the video later on!
• Use the new editor to create your own maps and missions.

Improved Controls
• A waypoint system has been added for the mini-map
• Take your time when giving orders by simply pausing the game!
• Animated cursors indicate possible actions and help you to command your army
• Hotkeys enable you to build and control your troops with a single action

Improved AI
Further improvements: When you build a mine, your peasants will automatically enter it and work as miners; Guard and Patrol mode; Attack Ground mode makes better use of your cannon; improved handling and formation control, an Autosave function and lots more …

3. Tips AND HINTS fOr THE Demo VERSION

The features provided by this demo are limited, for example you will not be able to play a campaign. However, you will still be able to witness the great improvements that have been made to the controls by playing either a single player or multiplayer game on a random map. You can also experiment with the new start options in the multiplayer mode.

Important notes:

National Colours
The game lets you assign new colours (flags) to the nations on single player random maps or in the multiplayer game. Always make sure each nation has a unique colour. You can compete against up to seven other players.

New Random Map Options
(only available for multiplayer mode in the demo version)

There are various new options to choose from when preparing a random map in single or multiplayer mode. For example, you can determine the type and amount of available resources and the size of the map.

There are two new interactive lines just above the map section. The top line lists the available categories, while the lower one provides alternatives to choose from within whichever category is currently selected. Click on the top line and select an (main) option from the menu that pops up (e.g. Start Options). Then click on the lower line and select an (sub) option (e.g. a big army) from the menu that pops up. You can modify and combine a variety of options which will make your game and tactics different each time you play.

Examples:

• Start Options: These let you determine whether to start the game with a small or large army, with towers and cannons, etc.
• Balloon Options: Select the Montgolfier option in this category and you will be able to see the whole map from the moment the game starts (there is no "Fog Of War").
• Peace Time: This option allows you to select the duration of the peace at the beginning of a game. This can be anything from 10 minutes to several hours. Note: For as long as this ceasefire lasts, you will be able to move across enemy territory unharmed. If your units attack, however, they will be destroyed instantly!
• Capture Options: These allow you to determine, for example, whether or not peasants can be captured.
• 18th Century Options: If you want, these options will make 18th century technology and units available to you at the very beginning of the game.
These are just a few of the new possibilities you will be able to choose from.

Other new functions are represented by new icons and cursors. If, for example, you click first on a military unit, then on the "Patrol" or "Guard" icon and finally on the target, your selected unit will perform that duty. You can also press the pause key to freeze the game, give your units new orders, and then press the pause key again to continue and watch your orders being carried out. Control your units using the mini-map (select a unit, hold the Shift key, right-click) and much, much more ...

Your CDV team hopes you will enjoy these new features as much as we do.

Order your copy of COSSACKS: THE ART OF WAR now at www.cdv.de
For more information call 0049-721-972240 or send an e-mail to mail@cdv.de

PS: Read on for technical information regarding the Internet game.

TECHNICAL ADVICE FOR THE INTERNET GAME

Climb the steps to glory with Cossacks' new Global Rating System.

Logging in
Clicking on the "Internet Game" option in the connection menu for the multiplayer mode will take you to a menu where you can log in to an online game.

Nickname	Select a nickname to play under. (The selection is limited to names of profiles registered in the Cossacks data base.)
Password	Enter a password for your personal account.
Bypass Information	This option enables you to skip the personal information section and to go straight to the master server login screen.
Anonymous Login	Select this option to remain anonymous when you log in to the master server. This means no personal information will be displayed about you and you can log in using any nickname you like. Note: Logging in anonymously also means that your game(s) will not appear in the Global Rating System.
E-Mail Password	Left-click on this option to have your password sent to you by e-mail.
Login	Click here to log in with the master server or register your personal account.
New	Click here to register your new profile name (nickname) or create a new account.
Cancel	Click here to return to the main menu.

Warning! If you do not yet have a personal account please read the Login section below.

Login Information
The Cossacks Internet server stores data about all players who use it. You will therefore need to create a personal account before playing. To do so, click on New in the Internet Game Login screen. You will be guided through the steps required to create your new account.

First of all, enter your e-mail address in the appropriate window. Then click on "Next". Two more login information windows will appear for you to enter further personal data. Once you have entered all information required to create a new account, you will reach the game's master server. You can now chat with other players, create a new game or join an existing one, read up information about your fellow players, and lots more.
Now that you have created an account, you can use your name and the information you have registered to log in to Cossacks Internet games. If you ever want to modify your personal data (e.g. change your nickname or add more information about yourself), left-click on "New" in the Internet Game Login menu. This will take you straight to the information screen where you can edit the information.
  
Internet Game Menu
You will reach this menu when you have logged in with the game's Internet server. It allows you to join existing Cossacks Internet games or create a new game, read up about your fellow players and other games, etc.
   
In the lower third on the right (next to the list of menu items) you will see a row of five new icons just below the list of active players.

1 – Click on the first icon to view a list of Internet games which are being played or created.
2 – The second icon enables you to access information about the best Cossacks players on the web. Click here to view the top 100 players, as well as information about them and their games.
3 – Click on the third icon to view information that the players have provided about themselves. Note: Select a player from the list before clicking on this option.
4 – Left-clicking on the fourth icon allows you to send a personal message to the selected player.
5 – By clicking on the fifth icon, you can mute the selected player or players. This will prevent you from receiving any more messages from them, and their names are crossed out in red in the list of players. To receive messages from a player you have muted, select him/her from the list and then click on this icon again.

Global Rating System
From now on, those of you who play Cossacks on the Internet can battle for top place in the new Global Rating System. Your efforts and military victories are rewarded thanks to a special system developed expressly for Cossacks: The Art of War. Each player has his or her own coat of arms, which is embellished as they advance through the ranks.

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