SAFETY WARNING
ABOUT PHOTOSENSITIVE SEIZURES
A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including fl ashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video games.
These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects.
Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures.
The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions:
•Play in a well-lit room.
•Do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued.
If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before playing.
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BattleTech material © 2002 WizKids LLC. BattleMech, BattleTech, ’Mech, and MechWarrior are trademarks or registered trademarks of WizKids LLC and/or Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Direct3D, DirectX, FASA Studio, MSN, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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CONTENTS
INCOMING MESSAGE |
2 |
PREBATTLE CHECKLIST |
3 |
INSTALLING AND LAUNCHING THE GAME |
3 |
GETTING HELP |
3 |
OPERATIONAL SCREENS |
4 |
ROSTER |
4 |
MAIN MENU |
5 |
COMMAND CENTER |
6 |
STAR SYSTEMS |
7 |
ORBITAL VIEW |
8 |
MISSION VIEW |
9 |
FREE MARKET |
10 |
SOLARIS VII ORBITAL VIEW |
11 |
SOLARIS VII MISSION VIEW |
12 |
UNDERSTANDING THE COCKPIT |
13 |
FINDING SOME ACTION |
16 |
CAMPAIGN |
16 |
INSTANT ACTION |
17 |
MULTIPLAYER |
17 |
MULTIPLAYER GAME TYPES |
19 |
BATTLE STRATEGIES |
20 |
BATTLEMECH SPECIFICATIONS |
23 |
WORKING IN THE MECHLAB |
32 |
1
INCOMING MESSAGE
DATE: |
17 DECEMBER 3064 |
TO: |
MERCENARY COMMAND APPLICANT NO. 7912 |
FROM: |
MERCENARY REVIEW AND BONDING COMMISSION (MRBC) |
SUBJ: |
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP |
CONGRATULATIONS, your application for membership in the MRBC is approved. You are hereby granted an interim license to do business as a MechWarrior mercenary company with the same privileges afforded a full member. You are authorized to proceed under the following condition(s):
1.(A) You must fi nd a sponsor to underwrite your company and provide guidance during your initial year.
(B) As a courtesy, we provide you with the following names of mercenary regiments that have expressed interest in sponsoring you. Please make contact at your earliest convenience.
WOLF’S DRAGOONS
NORTHWIND HIGHLANDERS
KELL HOUNDS
GRAY DEATH LEGION
POSTSCRIPT:
Given recent events (to wit, the Federated Commonwealth Civil War), the need for experienced BattleMech® pilots will likely increase in the Lyran sector.
PREBATTLE CHECKLIST
INSTALLING AND LAUNCHING THE GAME
Insert Microsoft® MechWarrior® 4: Mercenaries video game Disc 1 into your CD-ROM drive. When the Setup screen appears,
click Install, and then follow the instructions on the screen. You’ll be given the option to place an icon on your desktop. For subsequent play, double-click the icon to start the game.
If Setup does not begin automatically, or for other pertinent information, refer to the Readme fi le on MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries Disc 2.
GETTING HELP
ROLLOVER TEXT Help is provided for most user interface screens in the form of rollover text. As you pass the mouse pointer over any screen feature, Help text is displayed in the ComStar Information Network box in the lower part of the screen.
TUTORIAL To learn how to play MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, click Training on the Main Menu.
INFO ON THE WEB To learn more about MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries or other games developed by FASA Studio™, visit http://www.fasastudio.com.
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS For further details on BattleMechs, weapons, vehicles, and terrains included in this game, see the Specs.pdf fi le in the Goodies folder on MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries Disc 2.
2 |
3 |
OPERATIONAL SCREENS
ROSTER
On the Roster screen, you create new pilot profi les and company names or edit existing ones. When creating a new profi le, you must choose from one of four sponsors: Wolf’s Dragoons, Northwind Highlanders, Kell Hounds, or Gray Death Legion. A brief description of each is provided, so you can compare the benefi ts and consequences of selecting one over another. Once you have aligned a pilot with a sponsor, that pilot maintains the association with that sponsor for the duration of the game.
MAIN MENU
TRAINING Learn how to play MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries.
INSTANT ACTION Play individual scenarios. Victory and defeat have no effect on other scenarios.
CAMPAIGN Become part of the MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries story. What happens to you on the battlefi eld affects future missions.
MULTIPLAYER Engage others in online combat. MECHLAB Customize your ’Mech®.
ROSTER Create a pilot profi le and select a mercenary sponsor for your unit.
OPTIONS Edit game settings for graphics, audio, controller, and multiplayer play.
4 |
5 |
COMMAND CENTER
The Command Center shows your account balance and the status of your reputation.
MRBC RATING Check your rating in the MRBC’s system, which ranks mercenary units’ capabilities and professionalism.
NEWS Read up on current events. You never know what you might learn.
UNIT STATS Track your statistics, such as ’Mech kills, C-Bills earned, and so on.
STAR SYSTEMS
Seek work as a mercenary in various planetary systems. Each system has its own campaign—problems that could use talent like yours. One system in particular offers you the chance to earn money by entertaining the masses. For more on that opportunity, see “Solaris VII Orbital View,” page 11.
Before you commit to action, check the readout on the left side for an overview of each campaign. If you need to travel to a different system than you’re in, you’ll have to pay a jump fee. The fee is automatically deducted from your account when you launch the campaign.
6 |
7 |
ORBITAL VIEW
Each planetary system has its own set of troubles. The Orbital View screen provides summaries of the missions within a given star system.
Before jumping in, read up on mission particulars. Check the ComStar Information Network box at lower left for details. To learn about current events, check the news feed at upper left.
MISSION VIEW
The Mission View screen provides mission briefi ngs and lets you select pilots for your primary and secondary lances. A lance is a unit of up to four ’Mechs.
MISSION BRIEFING Mission goals and objectives are displayed in the ComStar Information Network box, and the Mission Map shows key locations such as drop points and navigation (or nav) points.
PILOT SELECTION It is your task to select pilots from the duty roster and assign each a ’Mech. Most missions let you deploy a primary lance. In some, you can also deploy a secondary lance; to do so, you’ll need a pilot who is qualifi ed as a lance commander.
DROP WEIGHT The combined tonnage of your lances cannot exceed the total weight of the drop.
DROP FEE You pay a drop fee for each mission undertaken.
8 |
9 |
FREE MARKET
In the Free Market, you can hire and fi re personnel and buy and sell ’Mech chassis and weapons. Get rid of a deadweight pilot, or make a few quick C-Bills by selling materiel. When a transaction is fi nalized, your account is credited or debited accordingly.
PERSONNEL To acquire the services of a pilot, drag that pilot’s icon from the Market Items personnel list to the Transaction window at center, and then click Buy/Hire. To dismiss a pilot, drag that pilot’s icon from your Current Inventory personnel list to the Transaction window, and then click Sell/Fire.
EQUIPMENT To acquire new chassis or weapons, drag items from the Market Items list to the Transaction window, and then click Buy/Hire. To sell off your chassis or weapons, drag items from your Current Inventory list to the Transaction window, and then click Sell/Fire.
SOLARIS VII ORBITAL VIEW
Solaris VII is not a mission so much as an opportunity—an opportunity for you to make some serious C-Bills fast. Ever thought of yourself as the gladiator type? If you’re in need of cash, or if you just like fi ghting for the sake of fi ghting and don’t mind thousands of rabid fans cheering you—or jeering you—you’re going to like Solaris VII. Choose among three arenas: the Factory, the Jungle, and the most prestigious of them all, the Coliseum.
Competition begins with the light ’Mech class. You’ll have to work your way up to the assault class. Prize money is based on weight class. The heavier the competition, the more C-Bills you can earn.
10 |
11 |
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