Games PC WARLORDS-BATTLECRY II User Manual

INSTALLING THE GAME

WARLORDS BATTLECRY II and click on Electronic Registration. Follow all on-screen
prompts to complete the registration.

Before you get started, please make sure your system meets the
minimum system requirements listed below. You must install the

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II files to your hard drive and have the WARLORDS

W
BATTLECRY II CD in your CD-ROM drive in order to play this game. To
install the game, insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. When the pop­up window appears, click on the Install option. If you have disabled
the Windows Autorun function, or if it does not operate, explore the
CD and double-click the Setup icon. Follow all on-screen prompts to
complete the installation.

System Requirements

To run WARLORDS BATTLECRY II you need the following minimum system
requirements:

®

• Windows

• Pentium

•845 MB of hard disk space

• 64MB RAM

• 8X CD-ROM

• DirectX compatible video adapter with 4MB of memory and a
Color SVGA Monitor

• 8 MB video card (DirectX 8 compatible)

• Windows compatible pointing device

• Support for 1- 6 players LAN 1-4 players Internet (56K Modem or
faster required)

In addition to the basic system requirements, the game requires that
DirectX 8.1 or higher be installed to your hard drive. The option to
install DirectX 8.1 appears during the game installation. At the end of
installation, you are prompted to register W
electronically. For Internet play you need a DirectPlay compatible
modem.

The following are the recommended system requirements:

• Pentium

• 128 MB RAM

95/98/ME/2000/XP

®

II 350 Mhz PC or compatible

®

III 450 or AMD®K6-3 500

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II

Electronic Registration

If you did not register your copy of WARLORDS BATTLECRY II after
installation and wish to do so later: From your desktop select the
Start button, click on Programs, click on the folder that contains

Uninstalling the Game

Select the Uninstall option from the Autorun Menu, or choose Settings from the
Windows Start Menu and select Control Panel. In the Control Panel, select

Add/Remove Programs, left-click on Warlords Battlecry II and click on the
Add/Remove button. The game and all its components are then removed from your

hard drive, except for data that was changed after the initial install (i.e. save games,
character data, and game options file). These can be found in the My Documents/
Warlords Battlecry II directory.

Starting the Game

Every time the CD-ROM drive is closed with the CD in place, the WARLORDS BATTLECRY II
Autorun menu appears with options to run the game, Install DirectX, view the
Readme.txt file or uninstall the game. The game can also be started by opening the
Start Menu, selecting programs, choosing the folder where the game was installed
and clicking on the W

The first time you run W
through the main screens. Move your cursor over the writing to see explanations
for various parts of the screen. When you are ready, click on the screen to close it.
These dialogues can be activated at any time on that screen by pressing the F1 key.

For complete and specific “how to play” information, please refer to the appropriate
sections of the manual. Note that some changes were made too late to include in this
manual. Please read the Readme.txt file in your game folder for more information.

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II program item.

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II, help dialogues appear to guide you

Saving Games

WARLORDS BATTLECRY II requires space on your hard drive for Saved Games and
temporary files. Each saved game can take up to 2 MB of hard drive space.

Electronic Documentation and Website

Extra information not included in this manual is in the “Documentation” directory on
the WARLORDS BATTLECRY II CD. There are full details of all units in “Battlecry II
Units.chm”, tables and hot-keys in “Battlecry II Appendix.chm”, spell descriptions
and costs in “Battlecry II Spells.chm”, and instructions for the editor in “Battlecry II
Editor.chm”.

Further information, including FAQs, extra scenarios, battle reports and other extra
material can be found on the SSG website: http://www.ssg.com.au

This product has been rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. For
information about the ESRB rating, or to comment about the appropriateness of the
rating, please contact the ESRB at 1-800-771-3772.

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INTRODUCTION

WARLORDS BATTLECRY II is a fantasy strategy game of combat, heroes,
and magic. It provides a unique blend of role-playing and strategy,
where you improve your hero, build an empire, produce units, cast
spells, go on quests, and battle other races.

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II has many exciting new features, including:

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• Heroes – Twelve different races to play.

• Unit races – Twelve different sides to play.

• Units – Over one hundred and forty unique units, including heroes,
archers, mages, and siege weapons.

• Buildings – Almost two hundred unique buildings.

• Skills – Numerous skills to upgrade your units and buildings.

• Spells – Over one hundred spells with spectacular special effects.

• Formations – Eight different formations to control your troops.

• Victory conditions – Thirteen different conditions from which
to choose.

• Quests – Hundreds of different quests for your hero to complete.

• Editor – Create your own fully customizable scenarios.

STARTING THE GAME

Main Menu

The Main Menu appears
after the opening movie
has played. Press the
Escape key to skip the
movie. There are seven
options on the W
BATTLECRY II Main Menu.

Campaign Play the hero and battle other races for the land of

Skirmish Play a single player game versus up to five computer

ARLORDS

Etheria. Engage in duels, challenges, and uprisings;
purchase special items; and unlock new units to use.
For details, see page 5.

AI players, on either a standard or random map. For
details on how to play “Skirmish”, see page 8.

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Multiplayer Play other human warlords via IPX, TCP/IP, Internet or

Tutorial There is one simple-to-learn tutorial on how to play the game,

Editor The editor allows you to create your own exciting new scenarios

Options Allows you to control game options for sound, settings, and graphics.

Exit Exit to Windows.

modem. For details on how to play “Multiplayer”, see page 12.

covering all the basics such as how to select and move units, attack,
build buildings, and produce units.

to play by yourself against the computer, or with your friends.
All existing scenarios are fully customizable. Every aspect of the
scenario, including terrain, buildings, units, events, sides and game
options is available to be edited. For full instructions on how to
use the “Editor”, see the “Battlecry II Editor.chm” documentation
included on the W

You can also view the introduction video and the credits. For details
on the options available, see page 14.

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II CD.

PLAYING THE CAMPAIGN

The WARLORDS BATTLECRY II campaign is an epic battle for possession of all sixty­seven regions of Etheria. From your home citadel, you expand to conquer
neighboring regions, occupy enemy citadels and take control of their forces.
You will ultimately engage in duels to the death with other heroes, and even quell
uprisings by your vanquished foes. As your treasury grows, merchants offer
special items for sale, mercenaries offer to join you in battle, and followers flock to
your banner.

Each region has a unique map, with its own goals and victory conditions. You gain
different bonuses from each region – some for just your hero, some for all units or
buildings. All regions have a Tribute, which goes into your treasury when you
conquer the region. A constant income is also available from some regions. Every
time you win a battle, each of your provinces will contribute the amount specified
as Income to your treasury.

Your hero and retinue are carried forward from battle to battle, growing stronger
and more powerful. Although the campaign is only available in single player mode,
you can play any one of the twelve hero races, so why not try them all! You can
find detailed information about “Heroes” starting on page 29.

Creating A New Hero

To play the campaign, choose Campaign from the Main Menu. The Book of
Heroes Screen appears. Click on Create a New Hero, the helmet icon, then
choose a race for your hero. A brief description of each of the twelve races, and
the general statistics for strength, intelligence, dexterity, and charisma are
included on the screen.

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After you have chosen a race, you go to the “Create your Identity”
Screen. On this screen you need to select a portrait, and type in a
name for your hero. You can also enter a password for your hero,
ensuring that nobody can use your hero without knowing the
password. Clicking on Create Hero accepts the new hero, and takes
you to the “Campaign” Screen.

Adventurous players, who feel like a challenge, may also choose to
create heroes in one of our three advanced modes: I

RONZEMAN and TINMAN.

B

RONMAN heroes gain double Experience Points (XP) from any battle in

I
which they fight, but they only have one life. If they are ever slain,
they are automatically removed from your roster of available heroes.

RONZEMAN heroes gain 150% XP from any battle in which they fight

B
and survive, but if they are slain in a battle they revert to the
beginning of their current level.

INMAN heroes gain 125% XP from any battle in which they fight, but

T
only if they are still alive at the end of that battle. Otherwise they gain
no XP at all.

RONMAN,

Selecting A Hero

If you have already started the
campaign, the Book of Heroes
Screen lets you view all heroes
currently available, using View
Previous and View Next. When
you find your desired hero, simply
click on Select this Hero to take
you to the “Campaign” Screen
where you left off.

If at any time you wish to delete a hero from the “Book of Heroes”,
open the book at the selected hero, and press the DELETE key.
A confirmation message appears.

The Campaign
Screen

This screen charts your
progress in your current
campaign game. The first
time you enter this
screen, the “Campaign
Options” will appear,
allowing you to set the
Difficulty, Resolution,

and Borderlines. The options can be accessed and changed at any time during a
campaign by clicking on the compass-rose icon in the bottom left of the map.

The flag of your hero is shown in the top right and left of the screen, and when you
conquer a region, this flag will appear on the map. Your home citadel is of a similar
color, originally surrounded by gold sparkles. These gold sparkles indicate all
adjacent regions available for you to attack.

To start a battle, move your mouse cursor over the regions with sparkles. The
cursor will change to show crossed swords, indicating that you may attack this
region. Choose a region to attack and left-click when the crossed sword cursor is
over that region. Left-clicking will mark it with a spinning sword icon and activate
the Ready button in the bottom right of the screen. Click this, and a dialogue will
appear, telling you which region you are fighting, the expected level of resistance
from the region’s defenders, and any special conditions. Click Okay on this battle
dialogue to start the battle.

If you capture an enemy citadel, you can then use that citadel’s troops in future
campaign battles. You can choose the race you will use from the list box on the
battle dialogue. The “Expected Resistance” may change with different races
depending on how many previous victories you have had with that race.

To gain information about regions on the “Campaign Screen”, you can right-click
on the desired region and a dialogue appears giving you the name, description,
current owner, expected resistance, bonus, tribute and income. For the regions
without sparkles, when you move your mouse cursor over them, it changes to a
book. Left-clicking on these regions also brings up the dialogue.

From the “Campaign Screen” you can check your progress against the other races
by clicking the Progress Report button – the crossed swords and shield icon in
top left of the map. You can check any bonuses you have from regions by selecting
the Bonuses button – which is the crossed flags icon in top right of the map.

Winning a Campaign

There are sixty-seven regions in Etheria. Once you have conquered forty-seven of
these regions, the remaining rulers in Etheria, concerned by your growing power,
will try to arrange a peace settlement. This means that you don’t have to conquer
all the provinces to win the campaign, but naturally you may elect to continue the
campaign. As each new province falls to your forces, the rewards offered by those
still opposing you will grow ever more lucrative, and their attitude towards you will
grow ever more respectful.

If you continue to the bitter end, and conquer the very last region, your reward will
be the Orb of Etheria. This is a unique and very powerful item that can only be
gained by totally completing a campaign. There are several types of Orb, and the
power of the Orb reflects the difficulty level of the campaign you finished. Rest
assured, even the least of the Orbs is a mighty and most desirable item, available
nowhere else, and marking its possessor as having achieved total victory in an
Etherian campaign.

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STARTING A SKIRMISH

Select Skirmish from the Main Menu to go into battle against up to
five AI opponents.

You are taken to the Book of Heroes Screen, where you can select
either an existing hero, or create a new hero to take into the
scenario. For more details on “Selecting a Hero”, see page 6. When
you have the hero that you would like to be your champion in the
upcoming battle, simply click on Select this Hero on the far right to
take you to the Side Selection Screen.

If you have a previously saved game, on the Book of Heroes Screen
click Load a Saved Game, the compact disc icon. You are
prompted with a picture with the name of the saved game, and
selecting it starts the game automatically.

Setting Up
a Game

From the “Side
Selection” Screen
you configure your
scenario options
and start the
game. For a quick
start, all you need
to do is:

• Choose a scenario by clicking on a scenario name, or random map,
in the list box. This highlights it, and causes the information about
the sides and options to change.

• Choose a side by clicking on the Player space, next to one of the
side color buttons, to select it for your hero.

• Choose the opponents by clicking on one or more Players from the
other sides, changing them to “Computer AI”. The AI difficulty level
ranges from Squire the easiest, to Emperor the hardest. Note:
there must be at least one “Computer AI”.

• Click on Start to begin play.

There are a multitude of options available on the “Side Selection”
Screen for creating precisely the kind of scenario you feel like
playing. These include the Temporay Heroes option, which allows you
to create a Hero of unlimited power for just one battle. The following
sections explain those options in greater detail. For specifics on
gameplay, see page 15.

Map Options

At the top of the screen is the Scenario List. Click to highlight the scenario you
want to play. Two buttons on the right side allow you to sort the scenario list by
map size and allowed number of players. If you click on Random Map the map
display is replaced by the controls for the Random Map, explained below:

Map Size: Choose the size of your map from Small to X-Large.

Terrain Type: The general landscape of the map. You can choose between Plains,

Woods, Highlands, Badlands, Desert, Wastelands, Orclands, Icelands,
Snow Fields, and Lakelands.

Number of Temples: Varies the number of neutral temples that appear on the game
map. The number available ranges between 0 and 4. Temples randomly appear as
any of four types: Elemental, Dragon, Celestial, or Infernal, and will produce
powerful Allied units for you, once you have converted them.

Number of Animals: : Controls the population of sheep, cows, camels, geese and
penguins on the map. The numbers available range between No Animals and
Lots of Animals. Depending on which race you play, these animals can be useful
for ammunition or healing.

Resources: Controls the amount of resources on the map between Low, Medium
and High.

You can also set the Random Map Generator to make random choices for each of
these options.

Side Options

In the center of the screen are the Side Selectors. There are several options for
each side:

Player: Choose who will control each side. You can control one side, then you must
assign at least one slot to an AI side. The AI has six difficulty levels – Squire,
Knight, Lord, Prince, Warlord, and Emperor. If you are setting up a
multiplayer game, you can leave some slots Open for other human players. In a
single player game, any sides with Open slots are not used when play begins.

Team: Click on the colored gem if you want to set up alliances with other sides.
Sides with matching numbers are on the same team. There can be up to four
teams.

Race: Choose one of the twelve races for your unit. The Races are described
starting on page 39.

Resources: Choose the level of resources that you start with in the scenario, from
Very Low to Very High.

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Scenario Options

On the far right of the screen are several scenario options:

Screen Resolution: Choose between four in-game screen resolutions –
800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 1600x1200. Depending on the
resolution you have chosen, the control panels on the game screen are
slightly different.

Victory Conditions: Choose one of the 13 victory conditions. For details,
see below.

Keeps: Set the maximum Keep level for all players between 1 and 5, or
No Keep at all. This option adds some variety to the game, but usually
scenarios are played with the default of Keep Level 5 so all
buildings, units and skills are available.

Map: Choose between an Exposed (all visible) map, or a Hidden (all
blacked out at the start) map that must be explored first.

Vision: Fog of War is the term for the way the game map only shows
changes when one of your units is close enough to see them. For
example, if Fog of War is in effect and an enemy tower is built in an
area you have already explored, you will not see the tower on the map
until one of your units passes through the area again. Select No Fog
of War to eliminate it for the game, and show all changes and unit
movements in any area you have explored (the entire map if you
choose Exposed above). Select Line of Sight to only clear the fog
in the direction each of your units is facing.

Handicapping: If you are battling against a higher level hero and
Handicapping is On, you receive a bonus number of unit setup points.
Only available in multiplayer.

Quests: Toggle quests On and Off for your heroes. For details about
“Quests” see page 35.

The More Options button contains several more scenario options:

Tough Starting Towers: Sets the initial starting towers on a random
map to have increased hit points, speed and damage.

Random Weather: Allows the weather to change randomly between
night and day, raining and fine. If this option is not on, the only time the
weather changes is due to a spell or special ability from a unit or
building.

Resignation Kills Side: If an AI or human resigns from the game, the
side is effectively “killed”. All of that side’s remaining units are
removed from the map, and all remaining buildings change to Neutral
ownership.

AI Resignation: If an AI player does not have many units or buildings
left, including no hero, no general, no builder, nor unit-producing
buildings, it will resign. This saves you having to track down and kill
every last unit or building on the map.

10

Play with a Temporary Hero: Lets you play with a hero of any level between 4 and
50 (set on the slider bar), for the current scenario only. After you leave the “Side
Selection” Screen and before the battle, you can customize all attributes of the
hero – Race, Profession, Speciality, Abilities, etc. So try out a new hero type
against the AI or friends.

I Am The Greatest: Lays down a challenge to all enemies! In response, all enemy
AIs are set to the top level (Emperor), and all enemy heroes are level 50. Hidden
Map and Fog of War are turned On, Quests are turned Off, Unit Points are set to 5,
Keep Level is set to 5, and Walls may not be built. If you are victorious, you gain a
30 XP bonus.

Game Speed: Set the overall pace of play between Very Slow and Very Fast.

Rules: Contains options to add some variety to the game: No Dragons, No

Eyries, No Titans, Tough Towers, No Towers, No Walls, No Heroes. The
Tough Towers option increases hit points, speed and damage of any tower built

on the map. The other options prohibit the building or production of the specified
items.

Unit Setup Points: Set the number of points (0-50) available to spend on units to
take into battle. If you set this number to greater than 0, a version of the Retinue
Screen appears, allowing you to assemble a starting army from your retinue and
basic units of your race. See “Retinue” on page 31 for more details.

Victory Conditions

Victory conditions are the circumstances you must fulfil in order to win a certain
scenario. WARLORDS BATTLECRY II has thirteen different victory conditions for you to
choose from, playable with any scenario. The conditions are located on the right of
the “Side Selection” Screen, with the scenario options. Click to scroll through all
thirteen conditions, which are described below:

Standard Victory: The goal is to eliminate all significant enemy units and buildings
on the map.

Raze All Buildings: The goal is to eliminate all enemy buildings on the map
(excluding mines). When the game starts you will see a 5-minute counter, counting
down. It is impossible to lose within the first 5 minutes (unless all your units and
buildings are destroyed).

Kill All Units: The goal is to eliminate all enemy units on the map. When the game
starts you will see a 5-minute counter, counting down. It is impossible to lose
within the first 5 minutes (unless all your units and buildings are destroyed).

Assassination: The goal is to be the last hero left alive. As soon as your hero is
slain, you lose the game.

Raze Fest: The goal is to destroy as many enemy buildings as possible within a 30
minute time limit.

Slug Fest: The goal is to destroy as many enemy units as possible within a 30
minute time limit.

Fortress: The goal is to defend your Keep. As soon as your last remaining Keep is
destroyed, you lose the game.

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King Of The Castle: The goal is to be the first player to build a level 5
Keep.

Merchants: The goal is to be the first player to accumulate 2,500 of
each four resources.

Against The Horde: The goal is the same as for standard victory, but
the sides are set up differently. Side one is “The Horde” with a lot of
units, and all other sides are allied. You can play either “The Horde”,
or one of the allied sides.

Battle Of The Titans: The goal is the same as for standard victory, but
all enemy heroes are at level 50, and each side gets a Titan to start
with.

Pitched Battle: The goal is the same as for standard victory, but all
sides start the game with 50 unit setup points, and no building is
allowed.

Capture The Flag: The goal is to convert and own all the flags on the
map. Only available in multiplayer.

MULTIPLAYER BATTLES

Nothing can match the excitement of going head to head with
another human being. To play with or against other human players
select Multiplayer from the Main Menu. Up to six players can
connect to a game across a network, up to four players on the
Internet, or two players across a modem.

First you need to choose a champion. For more details on “Selecting
a Hero”, see page 6. Once you’ve selected your hero you need to
choose a connection method:

Modem: Allows you to play two-player multi-player games. The
joining player must have the host’s phone number, each player’s
modem must be properly configured for Windows, and both players
must have their modems set to the same connection speed.

IPX Network: Allows you to play up to six-player multi-player games
over an IPX Local Area Network. Each player must be connected to
the same network. Every network is different, and something in your
network’s structure may effect game play or prevent you from
connecting. If you encounter difficulties consult your Network
Administrator.

TCP/IP: Allows you to play up to four-player multi-player games over
the Internet, or a network that uses the TCP/IP protocol. In order to
play a TCP/IP game each player must know the host’s IP address,
which is given to the host when a game is created.

Internet: Allows you to play up to four-player multi-player games over the Ubi.com
network. You may choose to play on either the secure server (where heroes are
securely stored online & may not be used in single-player games), or on the non­secure server (where players may take heroes who have been built up in single­player skirmish or campaign battles).

After selecting your connection method, you have the option of hosting or joining a
game.

Hosting a Multiplayer Game

To host a game, after choosing a connection type, click Create, and when
prompted, type in the name of the game. Click Create again, and it takes you to the
“Side Selection” Screen where you can set up your multiplayer game. For details
on how to start a game, see “To start a new game” under “Skirmish” on page 8.

The host is the only player able to change the scenario map, options, and unit
setup points. If you select a map that other players do not have, for example, one
you created yourself, a Send button appears below the scenario map. Click on
Send to automatically transfer the map data to all other players.

The host is also able to close sides permanently, but only if they are not already
selected by other players. You can kick other players out of the game by clicking on
their side name; a confirmation message appears. By right-clicking on a human
player’s name you can view the details of their chosen hero.

All players, including the host, must click Ready before the host can start the
game. If you change your mind before the game starts, click Ready again. When
all players’ Ready buttons are highlighted, the host can click Start to start the
game.

Joining a Multiplayer Game

To join a game, after choosing the connection type, click Connect, and when
prompted, select the name of the game you wish to join. Click Connect again, and
you go to the “Side Selection” Screen. All you are able to change here is the
screen resolution, and the details of the side you choose to play (team, race, and
resources). When you are finished, click Ready.

Additional Multiplayer Information

In most aspects of the game, multiplayer skirmishes are very much like single
player games. However, there are some differences:

Chatting During a Game

To chat with other players during the game:

• Press Enter to activate the chat prompt and type in your message.

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• To send the message to every player in the game, press Enter again.

• To send the message only to your allies, press Ctrl + Enter.

• To send the message only to your enemies, press Shift + Enter.

Losing Your Connection

If you lose your connection after a skirmish has begun you will usually
be ejected completely from the game. You will not be able to rejoin the
current battle. Inside the game, the units and buildings of a
disconnected player are taken over by the computer.

If you deliberately exit or resign from the game, you are taken to the
“Defeat Screen”.

Hints for Multiplayer Games

• Resources are vital. Destroy enemy resources whenever possible,
secure your own resources quickly, and protect them well.

• Take advantage of building queues. Stacking up several units to
be built, or using the continuous production button for one unit
saves time.

• Build multiple production buildings as soon as you can, to keep
unit production running smoothly.

• High level Keeps need to be protected at all costs.

• Protect your hero carefully during the beginning of a game, until
you produce a unit that can convert resource structures. If you
lose your hero early, it is extremely difficult to pick up the speed of
production later in the game.

SETUP
OPTIONS

Setup options in three
categories allow you to
customize the game
environment to match your personal preferences. Simply select
Options from the Main Menu to proceed to the Options Screen. Check
the boxes at the top of the screen to access the options for
Gameplay, Graphics and Sound, described in detail below. When
you have finished making changes, select Save & Exit to return to the
Main Menu with your new settings, or Cancel to exit without making
changes. You can also view the Credits and see the Opening Movie
from this screen.

Gameplay

Popup Help: Adjusts the amount of in-game help that appears between All and
None. If All is selected, then a Help Panel appears at the top of the map. Moving

the mouse over a unit or structure causes information about the unit or structure to
be displayed in the Help Panel.

Scroll Rate: Adjusts the rate at which the view scrolls when you move the cursor to
the edge of the screen between Very Slow and Very Fast.

Game Speed: Sets the overall pace of play between Very Slow and Very Fast.
To alter the game speed while playing the game, press the + (plus) key to increase
the speed, and the – (minus) key to slow it down. This option does not work in
multiplay games.

Group Move: Toggles between having all units in a group move at the pace of the
Slowest Unit or having each unit move as Fast as Possible.

Spacebar: Toggles the spacebar between Visit Last Message or Pauses, for
your convenience. At all times, Page Up visits the last message, and F12 pauses
the game, though you cannot pause in multiplay games.

Interface: Toggles between Right Click and Left Click for performing actions
such as moving and attacking. The default is Right Click, but you may prefer the
Left Click as used in some other strategy games.

Graphics

Resolution: Choose between four in-game screen resolutions – 800x600, 1024x768,
1280x1024, and 1600x1200. Depending on the resolution you have chosen, the
control panels on the game screen are slightly different. In 1024x768 and higher
mode, an extra box on the right displays the unit or building currently under the
cursor on the game map, along with its hit point bar. An extra box on the left is the
current “locked in” unit or building. Click on its picture at any time to select it. You
can lock in a new unit or building by moving the cursor to the unit and pressing
CTRL-L.

Shadows: Toggles shadows On and Off, which can affect game performance.

Ambient Animations: Toggles animations other than unit movement On and Off.

Blood: Toggles the display of blood in the game On and Off.

Gamma Correction: Switches between five levels of correction for brightness.

Animated Water: Toggles the animation of the water On and Off.

Particles: Sets the display of particles in the game for spell effects, smoke, etc.

between Off and Maximum.

Decals: Toggles the display of footprints, blood splatters, dirt scarring, etc. in the
game On and Off.

Lighting Effects: Sets the lighting effects in the game between Off and Maximum.

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Mouse Click Effects: Toggles the display of particle feedback under
the mouse cursor On and Off.

ARLORDS BATTLECRY II will run internal performance checks, and

Note: W
turn off any graphics options that would degrade game performance.

Sound

Environmental Sounds: Toggles background noises On and Off.

Footsteps: Toggles the sounds of your units moving On and Off.

SFX: Adjusts the overall volume of the sound in the game between

Off and Full.

Music: Toggles the game music On and Off.

Combat Sounds: Toggles the sounds of battle On and Off.

Unit Speech: Toggles your units’ voices On and Off.

EAX Support: If your sound card supports EAX, this toggles it On and

Off. Otherwise it reads N/A for Not Available.

Victory/Defeat Buildup: Toggles the buildup noise at the end of a
scenario On and Off.

Hero Heartbeat: Toggles the heartbeat noise when a hero is injured
On and Off.

Soundtrack: This allows you to set the current soundtrack being
played. The game ships with a default soundtrack, but more may be
made available after release. Check the SSG website
http://www.ssg.com.au. You may even create your own, by adding
MP3 files to your Music directory.

Control Panel: Nine context sensitive buttons that command your units and
buildings. Detailed explanation of the buttons starts on page 1

Display Area: This displays a picture and some details on the currently selected
unit. For example, you can check the progress of a construction project by
selecting the building; the percentage of completion appears in the Display Area.

Mini Map: A small scale version of the entire game map. Rough terrain features
are shown on the Mini Map, along with tiny squares representing buildings.
Resource squares are made up of two triangles, the lower colored to show the
type of resource it is, the upper triangle gray for Neutral mines, then changing with
the owner’s color. Quest buildings are shown as white squares.

Hero Portrait: A picture of your hero. Click on the Portrait to select your hero and
double click to center the map on him or her.

Resource Indicators: In the upper right corner of your screen are four symbols and
numbers, indicating the amount of each type of resource you currently possess.
From left to right, these are gold, ore, stone and crystal. See “Resources” on page

32 for more information.

Lock-In Box: This box, not available at 800x600 resolution, shows the current
“locked in” unit or building. Click on its picture at any time to select it. You can lock
in a new unit or building by selecting a different unit and pressing CTRL-L.

Cursor Box: This box, not available at 800x600 resolution, displays the unit or
building currently under the cursor on the game map, along with its hit point bar.

8.

The Game Map

The bulk of the main game screen is taken up by the Game Map. On the map units
move, buildings are built, battles are fought, etc. To learn how to select and move
units, and attack with them, play the tutorial, or read the instructions below.

THE GAME SCREEN

When you start a
campaign episode,
skirmish or multiplayer
game, the Game Screen
appears. From this
screen you control your
units as they explore,
attack, defend, and
conquer battlefields.

The most important of
the Game Screen features are:

Game Map: The playing area, described in further detail below.

16

Selecting Units, Buildings and Multiple Objects

To select a single unit, simply left-click on it. A selection circle appears around it,
with a green bar below to indicate the unit’s hit points, and a blue bar for its mana
points (if applicable).

To select a group of units, you can do any of the following:

• Left-click and drag a box out over multiple units.

• Double-click on a unit to select all units of the same type that are visible on
the screen.

• Hold down SHIFT, and left-click on individual units to add them to the units
already selected.

• Press CTRL-S to select all units currently on the screen.

• Press CTRL-A to select as many units as possible.

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You can always select your hero by clicking on his Portrait at the
bottom of the screen. Double-clicking selects the hero and centers
him on the screen.

These buttons change, depending on the type of unit or structure selected but here
are the most common.

Selection Limits

The size of a group of selected units is limited by the size of the
Display Area. Less powerful units have small unit pictures, and you
can therefore fit a large number of units into a single group. More
powerful units have larger pictures, which limits the number of the
more powerful units that can be combined into a single group. The
exception to this rule is your Hero, who always has a minimum size
picture, regardless of how powerful he has become.

Creating Groups

To create a group:

• Select the units that you want to group.

• Hold down CTRL, and press any number (0-9) that you want to
assign to that group.

Once a group has been assigned a number, you can press that
number at any time to select it. If you press that number twice, the
group is selected, and the screen centers on the group’s leader.

To remove a unit from a group, right-click on it in the Display Area, or
SHIFT left-click on it on the map.

Unit Formations

There are eight different ways you can choose to arrange your units
on the battlefield. All have various strengths and weaknesses.
The default arrangement is “Block”. If you have two or more units
selected, the Formations button becomes active. Clicking on this
button displays the actual formations to choose. You can also bring
up the formation options by pressing SHIFT-F. For more information,
see page 22.

The Control Panel

The Control Panel allows you to command
and control your heroes, units and
buildings. When you select a unit or
structure, the available commands appear
as buttons on the Panel. Move the cursor
over a button to receive help, and see the
keyboard shortcut for that command.

General Controls: Stop

Ceases whatever action the unit or building is engaged in, be it moving, attacking
or building. The unit or building then waits for new orders.

General Controls: Attack

Heroes, units and some buildings can attack. All units can attack buildings. To
order a tower, unit or group to attack, select them, then right-click on the enemy
unit or building you wish to attack, or click on the Attack button in the Control
Panel and click on the enemy. Note the cursor changes into crossed swords to
indicate battle. Your units automatically move into battle.

To improve a group’s efficiency when attacking a large enemy group, have them
selected, press A, then right-click on the ground beyond the enemy unit or building
you wish to attack. Your units will individually select enemy targets, instead of you
selecting targets one at a time.

Keep an eye on your units during combat. If their health bar turns red, they are
close to death and may need to be ordered out of the line of fire.

General Controls: Convert

Heroes, Generals, and the Phoenix are the only units that can convert neutral or
enemy buildings to your side. This is a particularly useful way to obtain resources.
To learn how to convert buildings, you can also play the tutorial.

A Keep of any level can also convert buildings in a wide area around itself. This is
a slow process, but is useful for getting resource points at the start of a game. It
also allows you to still convert buildings if your hero has been killed early in the
battle.

To convert a building with a unit, move the unit next to the desired building, then
select Convert in the Control Panel. Your unit stays there until the building is
converted. If you are using your Keep to convert, all the buildings in the area that
are being converted will be highlighted with a red circle, and your Keep can do
nothing else until the process is finished.

You can check on the progress of the conversion by selecting your unit or Keep.
The percentage counter is shown in the Display Area. A sound, and a gold sparkle
over the building alert you to a successful conversion.

General Controls: Unload

Towers can hold units inside of them. When units are inside, the Unload button
activates on the Control Panel.

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19

To place selected units or groups into a tower, just right-click on the
tower. The cursor changes into a hand, and the units disappear into
the tower. Units in a tower do not use their individual attacks, but
improve the tower’s combat capabilities. Only four small or medium
sized land units can be put into each tower, which have the following
effects on the tower:

Basic infantry +1 Speed +3 Combat

Advanced infantry +2 Speed +6 Combat

Basic missile unit +10 Damage +1 Range

Advanced missile
unit & Spellcasters +20 Damage +1 Range

Heroes +2 Speed +6 Combat +20 Damage +2 Range

Note that the attack type of a tower will be changed if units with a
different attack type are placed inside.

To remove units from a tower, select the tower, and click on the small
picture of the unit in the control panel, or click Unload from the
Control Panel.

Unit Controls: Move

To move a selected unit, you can simply right-click where you want
the unit to move on the map, or select Move in the Control Panel,
then click where you want the unit to go. Note the cursor changes
into a pair of boots to indicate movement. To move a group, do the
same as for a single unit. The group moves at the speed of the
slowest unit by default. If you want each unit to move as fast as
possible, hold down CTRL while you click. You can change the default
in the “Setup Options” described on page 14.

To move selected units or groups using waypoints, hold down SHIFT
and right-click points along the path. Waypoints are orders that you
can queue up for your units, and can include moving, attacking,
converting or building. To insert a waypoint at the beginning of a path,
hold down ALT and click on a new point.

Unit Controls: Patrol

To assign a unit to patrol in a certain area, select the unit, choose
Patrol from the Control Panel, and click on the area to be patrolled.
A series of waypoints is automatically generated. You can view and
change this path using the method described above. To lay out a
complex patrol path made up of multiple points, hold down SHIFT
while clicking the various locations along the path.

20

Unit Controls: Guard

This control allows you to designate a unit or building for the selected unit to
guard. Select the unit, choose Guard from the Control Panel, and click on a target.
The guarding unit will move to its designated assignment, or as close as possible.
It will then devote itself to protecting its assigned target, moving with a mobile unit
if necessary. Select the guarding unit and choose Stop to countermand the order
to guard.

A production building can also be set to guard a unit. This does not mean that the
building moves with a mobile unit, but that any unit produced from that building will
automatically move to the designated unit and guard it as described above.

Unit Controls: Attitude

Attitude affects the way a unit or hero reacts to the enemy, and is defaulted
appropriately for each type of unit. The current attitude icon is shown on the right
of the Display Area when the unit is selected. To change a unit’s attitude, simply
press Attitude on the Control Panel, and click on one of the many states which
are described in the pop-up help, and below. You can also set the attitude of a
building, and then any unit produced from that building will have that designated
attitude.

The full list of attitudes are: Aggressive, Cowardly, Defensive, Fallback, Guardian,
Magic Attacker, Magic Defender, Magic Guardian, Rampant, Roaming Guardian,
Scout, Stand Ground, Standard.

• The Magic attitudes are useful for any spellcaster units you have, as it allows
the unit to assess the situation and casts appropriate spells as necessary,
without you having to manage them.

• The Scout attitude is good at the start of a Hidden Map game. You can set this
attitude on a weak unit, and it will gradually uncover the map for you.

• Guardian attitudes act like Guard described above.

• The Fallback attitudes order your units out of the line of fire if they are close to
death, and are especially good for ensuring the safety of your hero or generals.

• Rampant attitude is useful towards the end of a battle when you are trying to
flush out the last of the enemy. Your unit moves randomly around the map,
looking for enemies to attack.

Unit Controls: Build Buildings
and Build Walls and Towers

Constructing buildings allows you to produce
units and upgrade skills. Constructing walls
and towers helps you defend your land.
Only builder units and heroes are able to
build. Building costs one or more resources,
depending on your race and the type of

21

building. To learn how to construct buildings, play the tutorial. For a
full list of the buildings for each race, see “Race Dependencies”
starting on page 38.

Constructing a Building

Select your unit and select Build Building in the Control Panel.
A window pops up with pictures of all the buildings you are able to
construct (see screenshot above).

• If a building appears in color with the cost, you are able to build it
right now.

• If it appears grayed out with the cost, you do not have enough
resources to build it now.

• If it appears grayed out with no cost, you have not met the
requirements to build it yet.

Click on an available building, and place it on the desired location on
the map. Your unit disappears while building, then reappears and
announces when the job is finished. To check the progress of a
building, select the building in progress, and look at the percentage
counter in the building display area.

Constructing a Wall or Tower

This is the same as constructing a building, however you select the
Build Wall or Tower button from the Control Panel. Once you have
built a tower, you can place units inside it. Units in a tower do not use
their individual attacks, but improve the tower’s combat capabilities.
To place units in a tower, simply select the desired units and right­click on the tower. The cursor changes into a hand, and the units
disappear into the tower. Only four small or medium sized land units
can be put into each tower, the effects of which are described under
“General Controls: Unload” on pag

To stop building or reselect your builder unit at any time, just select
the building in progress, and press Stop, or Select Builder on the
Control Panel (see “Control Panels” on page 18). If you stop the
building partway through, it eventually falls to ruins. Selecting the
builder does not stop the building, and is used for queuing up orders
(waypoints) to be carried out when finished building.

e 19.

Unit Controls: Formation

There are eight different ways you can choose to arrange your units
on the battlefield. The default arrangement is “Block”. If you have
two or more units selected, the Formations button becomes active.
Clicking on this button displays the actual formations to choose from.

A unit in formation starts with the orientation
shown on the button, with missile units kept in
the back and melee units defending in front.

Your units automatically assemble in
formation in the direction of movement. In
other words, if they are moving west, the point
of a Wedge formation will be facing west. This
can result in an illogical position once they
reach their target, for instance with the
missile units at the edge instead of the back,
click on the Rotate buttons to rotate the orientation of the formation clockwise or
counter-clockwise and solve this problem.

Building Controls: Buy Units and Skills

In addition to producing units and researching skills, this button also controls
upgrading buildings. When this button is selected, a window appears with pictures
of all the units you are able to produce, research, or upgrade.

• If a picture appears in color with the cost, you are able to produce, research, or
upgrade that right now.

• If it appears grayed out with the cost, you do not have enough resources to
produce, research, or upgrade that right now.

• If it appears grayed out with no cost, you have not met the requirements to
produce, research, or upgrade that yet.

Producing a Unit

Click on an available unit to start producing it, and watch the progress on the
percentage counter in the building display area. After completion, the unit
produced appears near the building, and moves to the rally point if one exists.

To produce multiple units, click on any available unit more than once, or a
combination of different units. A queue appears in the building display area, along
with the progress percentage counter. The queue only graphically displays the first
six units being produced, and a counter at the end for extra units. Alternatively, you
can select any one available unit and click the Continuous Production button in
the building display area to have that unit produced continuously.

The unit cost is deducted from your resources at the instant that a unit starts
production. To remove a unit from the queue, click on it in the queue. To stop
production, click Stop in the Control Panel.

Researching a Skill

Most buildings have skills available to upgrade units, improve a hero’s abilities, or
improve the building itself. The skills available at the building depend on your race.
For a full list of the skills available, see page 30.

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