Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 02:36:14 PM

Title: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 02:36:14 PM
Just in case this thought takes root .....

Post the instructional content you think this manual should include (including screen shots, illustrations, etc. - good graphic content attracts - perhaps our resident cartoon artist, MrSlim, would be kind enough to add his beautiful work to the project).

I'm working on a Wix site to host it, as we speak (if that's acceptable). All input should be considered then, perhaps, voted on? We could get the final approval from HTC (it's their product, after all). Even hints on how to get the most out of the game (a positive spin instead of shaming) could be applied.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Bruv119 on February 04, 2018, 02:36:56 PM
shoot the red guys?
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 02:38:20 PM
shoot the red guys?

There's a quote, to start.  ;)
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: 100Coogn on February 04, 2018, 02:48:32 PM
The new guys will be anxious to get going, so some type of Quick Start section with the very basics to get a plane/gv started and moving. (with & without HOTAS) I'm guessing a lot of new guys may not have flight sticks, but still want to check out the game.

Coogan



Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: 8thJinx on February 04, 2018, 03:05:33 PM
I started a write-up not too long ago.  Hard to juggle everything I want to do these days.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 03:10:00 PM
The new guys will be anxious to get going, so some type of Quick Start section with the very basics to get a plane/gv started and moving. (with & without HOTAS) I'm guessing a lot of new guys may not have flight sticks, but still want to check out the game.

Coogan

Agreed. Older games/sims offered a keyboard overlay. We could at least offer a printable diagram:

Example:

(http://www.wingsofhonour.com/redbaron3d/tutorials/img_rb3d_diagram_keyboard_450x317x24b.jpg)
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 03:11:25 PM
I started a write-up not too long ago.  Hard to juggle everything I want to do these days.

Understood (completely). Which is why this is likely best done as a community effort (which also may lead to cooperation in aspect of the game).
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: The Fugitive on February 04, 2018, 10:05:21 PM
Agreed. Older games/sims offered a keyboard overlay. We could at least offer a printable diagram:

Example:

(http://www.wingsofhonour.com/redbaron3d/tutorials/img_rb3d_diagram_keyboard_450x317x24b.jpg)

I think even that might be tough. I was thinking more along the lines...

JOYSTICK SETUP

Press ESC to open notebook, click "Options"," controls", "map controllers". Select controller from drop down, activate button, click modify, click action, click save. Repeat for all buttons.

TO FLY

Press ESC to open notebook. click "Hanger" select plane by clicking on the name in the list. Select load out by clicking on fuel ammo and ordnance. Click on the button in lower right to select direction for take-off.

TO USE A GROUND VEHICLE

......

And so on and so on. Add little pictures to help IF needed but you could get 8 -10 of these "basic" how to's on a page and with a big bold header each action is easy to spot and follow.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 04, 2018, 10:12:47 PM
I think even that might be tough. I was thinking more along the lines...

JOYSTICK SETUP

Press ESC to open notebook, click "Options"," controls", "map controllers". Select controller from drop down, activate button, click modify, click action, click save. Repeat for all buttons.

TO FLY

Press ESC to open notebook. click "Hanger" select plane by clicking on the name in the list. Select load out by clicking on fuel ammo and ordnance. Click on the button in lower right to select direction for take-off.

TO USE A GROUND VEHICLE

......

And so on and so on. Add little pictures to help IF needed but you could get 8 -10 of these "basic" how to's on a page and with a big bold header each action is easy to spot and follow.

All good stuff to add to 'basics.'  :aok

(http://www.rfcafe.com/miscellany/smorgasbord/images/dilbert-the-pilot-7.jpg)
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Slade on February 05, 2018, 05:39:30 AM
My AH notes\wiki page is here (http://oracledba.help/app/ww2planes/).
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Wizer on February 05, 2018, 05:48:25 AM
This is  a good topic :banana:  A sticky should be applied to the topic so that all suggestions would appear a top of forum. :cheers:
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Mongoose on February 05, 2018, 09:15:56 PM
Basics for beginners:

1.   Communicate by text
2.   Communicate by voice
3.   Clipboard on and off
4.   Hangar, select plane.
5.   Map
a.   How to zoom in and out on map
b.   Sectors
c.   Radar and dar bar
d.   .sf command
e.   Changing field
6.   Take off.
7.   Looking around
8.   Level and auto climb
9.   Zoom
10.   Icons, how to read.
11.   Flying practice for beginners.
      a.   Landing
      b.   Shooting drones.
      c.   Flying formation with drones.
12.   How to capture base
      a.   Emphasis that new pilot does not need to participate in base capture, just needs to know what is going on.
      b.   Each team has flag
               i.   Bishop: Green
              ii.   Knight: Blue
              iii.   Rook: Red
c.   75% buildings destroyed for white flag.
d.   Once flag is white, get ten troopers to map room to capture field.
e.   Anti-aircraft guns around town will kill troops, so you must destroy guns as well before dropping troops.
f.   For a field without a town, just kill guns and get troops to map room

I once wrote a 21 page manual for beginners.  Send me a PM with a place to upload it if you want a good laugh.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 05, 2018, 10:21:25 PM
Basics for beginners:

1.   Communicate by text
2.   Communicate by voice
3.   Clipboard on and off
4.   Hangar, select plane.
5.   Map
a.   How to zoom in and out on map
b.   Sectors
c.   Radar and dar bar
d.   .sf command
e.   Changing field
6.   Take off.
7.   Looking around
8.   Level and auto climb
9.   Zoom
10.   Icons, how to read.
11.   Flying practice for beginners.
      a.   Landing
      b.   Shooting drones.
      c.   Flying formation with drones.
12.   How to capture base
      a.   Emphasis that new pilot does not need to participate in base capture, just needs to know what is going on.
      b.   Each team has flag
               i.   Bishop: Green
              ii.   Knight: Blue
              iii.   Rook: Red
c.   75% buildings destroyed for white flag.
d.   Once flag is white, get ten troopers to map room to capture field.
e.   Anti-aircraft guns around town will kill troops, so you must destroy guns as well before dropping troops.
f.   For a field without a town, just kill guns and get troops to map room

I once wrote a 21 page manual for beginners.  Send me a PM with a place to upload it if you want a good laugh.

All good stuff. Put it on a webpage?
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Mongoose on February 05, 2018, 10:48:47 PM
All good stuff. Put it on a webpage?

Working on it.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Ciaphas on February 06, 2018, 07:42:35 AM
Be nice if we could add additional clipboard items with the quick red help topics.


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Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: FLS on February 06, 2018, 09:19:25 AM
You could start with anything that's missing from the HTC help files instead of recreating what's already there.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 06, 2018, 11:29:56 AM
You could start with anything that's missing from the HTC help files instead of recreating what's already there.

True dat. Been already capturing all the data already there to form a template for what isn't.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Puma44 on February 06, 2018, 11:34:10 AM
Find a relatively new player and get input on what they had trouble finding guidance for during the vertical learning curve at the beginning.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 06, 2018, 05:16:42 PM
You could start with anything that's missing from the HTC help files instead of recreating what's already there.

:aok

Find a relatively new player and get input on what they had trouble finding guidance for during the vertical learning curve at the beginning.

:aok

When I was asked if I wanted to be a Trainer for AH by Ren back when I was put out of work from some severe injuries in Oct. 2003, we discussed it a bit and I finally accepted the invite in 2004.... I figured I would go back to the  first post ever made in the Trainer's private forum and read up on every single post made until I got there.... From what I learned, I noticed that Dale / HiTech had requested early on for a Training Manual...which seemed like Soda began to start but went dormant quick with no input for years...

I decided that I would start it  over in 2004 and delivered my first rough draft of 64+ pages for review in August of 2004... I couldn't get a response from any of the  current trainer's, so I called dale and asked him to take a look at it and give me  his critique of it.... Dale gave a thumbs up and asked me to keep it coming..... I got to 98 pages and at the time the Trainer's needed a website, so we all agreed to take my 98 page AH Training Manual Draft PDF and converted it into the Trainers Website...

It grew from there with Rolex, Murdr,  Badboy, fuzeman, WideWing, Schatzi, Hammer and Mace and other contributors like Fugitive and batfink all helping...

Skuzzy asked that it be updated to be more closely resembling the Aces High homepage that Skuzzy was updating....we tried to find people that might want to help... I talking with Kanth asked if she had the time and would be interested.... Kanth took to it like an Eagle taking flight with FLS being the current Head Trainer providing input on what the Trainer's want to be shown/shared ....revamping the website for HTC  and the Trainers....

Just how we got to here from 14 years ago

Keep the Flame lit..... The Community thanks everyone who has been a part of progressing forward!

~S~

TC
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 06, 2018, 05:45:19 PM
TC, your sig/quote should be in the manual.  :D
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Mongoose on February 07, 2018, 09:16:31 PM
You could start with anything that's missing from the HTC help files instead of recreating what's already there.

Not trying to recreate what is already there.  There is a load of good information.  But the learning curve is pretty steep.  I, for one, and trying to lay out the bare basics that a new player needs to know in order to get in the fight.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: zack1234 on February 09, 2018, 08:28:17 AM
Players manual would be useful for everyone, we don’t know what  we don’t know :old:
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Chilli on February 10, 2018, 09:13:46 AM
Players manual would be useful for everyone, we don’t know what  we don’t know :old:

 :D

Prime example:  I had no clue that adjusting my ground detail in graphics settings would also affect the distance at which vehicles are drawn, whereas, object detail adjustments did not.  :headscratch:

I imagine if it were done any other way, would be an advantage in spotting vehicles hidden in cover.

Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Arlo on February 10, 2018, 09:35:02 AM
:D

Prime example:  I had no clue that adjusting my ground detail in graphics settings would also affect the distance at which vehicles are drawn, whereas, object detail adjustments did not.  :headscratch:

I imagine if it were done any other way, would be an advantage in spotting vehicles hidden in cover.

Tidbits like that kinda leads me to believe that a more robust manual would be advantageous to more than just FNGs.  :cool:
Title: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Ciaphas on February 10, 2018, 10:34:21 AM
Tidbits like that kinda leads me to believe that a more robust manual would be advantageous to more than just FNGs.  :cool:


Definitely agree with that.

I think that a quick start manual would be advantageous. K.I.S.S should be applied to any quick start guide and then perhaps work an a more detailed manual covering intermediate and advanced topics.

Just my opinion but attention spans are not what they used to be.


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Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Rodent57 on February 10, 2018, 10:45:31 AM
My AH notes\wiki page is here (http://oracledba.help/app/ww2planes/).


Slade,

I like your approach with your wiki page -- intuitive. :aok

<S>
Title: Re: &quot;AH player's manual&quot;
Post by: Ciaphas on February 10, 2018, 10:51:19 AM
Why not ask HiTech to add a few more clipboard pages so the basics can be pulled up from there in game?


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Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Rodent57 on February 10, 2018, 10:52:09 AM
Think you just did :-)
Title: Re: &quot;AH player's manual&quot;
Post by: Ciaphas on February 10, 2018, 11:00:35 AM
Well there is that haha


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Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: bustr on February 10, 2018, 03:03:36 PM
Just like the player who created the current AH3 clipboard maps took it on himself and Hitech liked what he was offering to the community. Or my historic gunsight package that are the game defaults today. Everything from a keyboard map to all the basic HowTo's can be placed in the same file format as maps, then offered to the community and Hitech for his sanctioning and distribution with the game download as a default.

First one of you has to create them and share them like the original maps were a few years ago.
Title: Re: "AH player's manual"
Post by: Rodent57 on February 10, 2018, 09:41:09 PM
I'd ask folks to slow down (I know its anathema to most of us), but we are reviewing some inputs from folks to try to get a good jumping off point to submit to HiTech for approval).

It is going to take a while, but hoping it will work out...

Or, Don't....and one of you might get it done sooner.