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America
The Expansion Pack
DATA BECKER
Copyright © 2001 by:
DATA BECKER GmbH & Co. KG, Merowingerstr. 30, D-40223
Düsseldorf
Copyright © 2001 by:
DATA BECKER CORP., 210 Highland Avenue, Needham Heights
MA 02494
Published by:
DATA BECKER CORP, 210 Highland Avenue, Needham Heights
MA 02494
Program Authors:
Related Designs
Software Development team:
Markus Zink, Andy Manson
Editing:
Andy Manson, Tim Reed
Printed in the United States
-
Sept. 2001
DB Num:
6715
UPC CODE:
6-80466-10105-5
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1.
Getting started .......................................................................3
1.1
Installing and starting the game .............................................. 3
2.
New features ..........................................................................5
3.
Basic functions ......................................................................6
3.1
Starting the new missions......................................................... 6
3.2
Playing against the computer using multi-player maps ........ 8
3.3
Multi-player games on a LAN ................................................. 9
3.4
Multi-player meeting point .................................................... 11
4.
New units, structures and upgrades ...................................13
4.1
Natives ...................................................................................... 13
4.2
Mexicans .................................................................................. 18
4.3
Desperados............................................................................... 21
4.4
Settlers...................................................................................... 23
5.
Playing the game on the Internet .......................................24
5.
Playing the game on the Internet .......................................24
5.1
Joining a game......................................................................... 27
5.2
Starting a new game................................................................ 28
6.
Level editor ..........................................................................29
6.1
Basic functions......................................................................... 29
6.2
Editor menu bar ...................................................................... 30
6.3
Creating a map (level) ............................................................ 32
6.4
Landscape paintbrushes in the command pane ................... 33
6.5
Placing objects on the map..................................................... 35
6.6
Adding different peoples (players) ........................................ 37
6.7
Starting a game with your own level..................................... 39
6.8
Special tips for creating maps................................................ 40
7.
Web site and support ...........................................................41
8.
Credits and acknowledgements...........................................41
Getting Started
1.
Getting started
This chapter tells you how to install and set up the program, and it
provides tips on getting started.
1.1
Installing and starting the game
Insert the America Expansion Pack CD into your computer’s CD-ROM
drive and follow the instructions on the screen.
If Setup doesn’t start automatically after you insert the CD into the drive,
click the Start button in the Windows taskbar, then select Run and enter
X:\Setup\Setup.exe on the command line, replacing X with the letter of
your CD-ROM drive.
Click OK to confirm and follow the instructions in the installation
program.
To run the program, select Programs\Data
Becker\America\America Expansion Pack from the Start menu. If
you selected a different program group when you installed the software,
you will find the program command there.
Once the program starts, the first screen you see is the main menu. From
there you can access the new single-player missions and open or join a
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America Expansion Pack
multi-player game. You can also change settings, view the credits and exit
the game as usual.
Please note that, of course, you must have the original DATA
BECKER game America installed on your PC before you can
install the America Expansion Pack. If you do not already have
the original America, please visit your local software retailer or
simply order directly from www.databecker.com.
4
New Features
2.
New features
The America Expansion Pack adds a whole range of new and exciting
features to America.
New missions:
You can now rob Fort Fox, play cat-and-mouse with the cavalry and tame
the Wild West. America’s four cultural groups (peoples) have eight new
exciting missions in which to challenge each other in the struggle for gold,
land and power.
New units, structures and upgrades:
In the America Expansion Pack, you get four new units, four new
structures and four new upgrades. You can learn new skills—such as
invoking the warrior spirit or clearing occupied buildings—in the Tepee of
the elders, boot camp, Chinese restaurant or wood mill. New saboteurs
(desperados), tomahawk throwers (natives), pioneers (settlers) and
armored stagecoaches (Mexicans) add a whole new set of tactics to the
game.
Play on the Internet:
If you have Internet access, you can now play America against thousands
of other Wild West fans on the Internet.
Level editor:
To keep things interesting, you can use the level editor to create new maps
whenever you want and use them to play against the computer or other
America players on a LAN or the Internet.
New multi-player maps:
You can take up this challenge right away since the America Expansion
Pack comes with 30 brand new multiplayer maps.
Improved AI:
Your units now have a wider roaming radius, enhanced fighting skills and
faster reflexes, making them more intelligent and efficient. However, your
computer opponent has new skills as well, so you will have to fight hard for
your survival in the Wild West.
5
America Expansion Pack
3.
Basic functions
This chapter contains all the information you need to get started with the
game.
Throughout the manual, we assume that you have already played America.
If not, first read the manual for America to familiarize yourself with the
game’s basic rules and technology.
3.1
Starting the new missions
The America Expansion Pack adds eight new missions to the original
game—two per people.
If you prefer, you can also play just the original missions even after
installing the expansion pack. To play the new missions, first start the
America Expansion Pack by selecting Programs\Data
Becker\America\America Expansion Pack from the Windows Start
menu. If you selected a different program group when you installed the
software, you will find the program command there.
From the main menu, select Start single-player campaign and then set
up a new player on the screen that appears.
6
Basic Functions
Click OK to confirm and select the people whose missions you want to
play.
To do this, click the button representing the desired people. Then select a
mission for your people from the next menu. Before you can play the
second mission for a people, you must have survived the first one for the
same people.
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America Expansion Pack
Click Level of difficulty in the menu that now appears. You can vary the
game level for your computer opponent between very easy, easy,
medium and difficult. Now click Play to start the mission.
3.2
Playing against the computer using
multi-player maps
The America Expansion Pack gives you 30 new multi-player maps that you
can use to compete against friends on the Internet or over a local area
network (LAN). If you don’t have a network, you can use them to play oneon-one against the computer.
If you want to use one of these new maps in a game against the computer,
select Start single-player campaign from the main menu. The program
prompts you to select a player name. Either create a new player or select an
existing one from the list on the left.
8
Basic Functions
In the next menu, click one of the four people buttons to play the singleplayer campaigns or select Use multi-player map to use one of the 30
new maps in a single-player game against the computer.
The Use multi-player map button takes you to a menu where you can
specify game settings on the Multiplayer meeting point screen. For
more information about the available settings, see Chapter 3.4.
3.3
Multi-player games on a LAN
You can use the 30 new multi-player maps that come with the Expansion
Pack not only to play games against the computer or with friends on the
Internet, but also on a local area network (LAN). Here you can either be a
host—opening a game on your own computer and inviting other players to
join—or a regular player who joins a game on another person’s computer.
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America Expansion Pack
Opening a multi-player game
You can start a multi-player game with up to eight participants over a local
TCP/IP connection (LAN).
Note: The player with the fastest
computer should be the one to open the
game.
Click Open multi-player game on the main menu and enter your player
name on the next screen.
Click Next to confirm.
Now specify the desired game settings on the Multi-player meeting
point screen. For more information about the available settings, see
Chapter 3.4.
Joining a multi-player game
To join a multi-player game, select Join Multi-player game from the
main menu and enter your player name on the screen that appears. Then
click Next to confirm.
The computer displays a list of all multi-player games currently running on
your network. Click a game in the list to select it and open the Multiplayer meeting point screen. For more information about the available
settings, see Chapter 3.4.
10
Basic Functions
3.4
Multi-player meeting point
This is where you specify settings for the multi-player map you want to use.
Select player’s people
First choose which people you want to play. Click the preset people to open
a menu where you can select either Natives, Mexicans, Desperados, or
Settlers.
Select the computer’s people
Follow the same steps to select your opponent, who will be played by the
computer. In the table, set the entry in the Player column to Computer
and then select a people for this player. The number of players displayed on
the Multi-player meeting point screen depends on the map you
selected. Although the map limits the number of players allowed, you can
still use a four-player map even if there are only two players. Just
deactivate the excess players by setting the Player entry in the upper table
to Closed. Human opponents on other computers can choose their own
people.
Select map
Click this button to select one of the 30 new maps.
11
America Expansion Pack
Just pick a map from the list that appears and then click Take map to
confirm.
Game type
You can choose between the following game types: Everybody for
themselves‚(you must destroy all enemy units to win), Kill leader (you
win when the last enemy leader is dead) and Destroy main building (the
player whose main building is the last one standing wins).
Game speed
Use this option to vary the speed at which the units move and carry out
their tasks.
Raw materials
Select the raw materials to set the initial conditions for each player. Select a
low, medium or high supply of raw materials or one determined by the
map.
Population limit
Set this option to a number between 75 and 200 units per people. If you
have a slow computer, it’s best to choose a lower population limit.
Computer AI
Click the preset level of difficulty under Computer AI in the menu that
now appears. You can vary the game level for your computer opponent
between very easy, easy, medium and difficult.
Chat
While specifying your settings on the Multiplayer meeting point
12
Basic Functions
screen, you can chat with any other human players who are currently on
the same screen.
Just enter your remarks on the command line and press Enter to send.
4.
New units, structures and
upgrades
This chapter introduces you to all the new units, structures and skills
available in the America Expansion Pack for the different peoples.
4.1
Natives
The technology of the Native Americans was no match for that of the White
Man. Consequently, the Natives’ main weapons against the increasingly
advanced repeating rifles of the invading settlers and pioneers were an
unflagging warrior spirit and love of freedom.
Native units
13
America Expansion Pack
Tomahawk thrower
Place of production: Training tepee
Prerequisite: Tepee of the elders
Cost: 100 food units, 75 gold units, 1 living space
Life energy: 240
Damage per blow: 14
Character traits:
•
The tomahawk thrower is one of the Natives’ strong elite units. He has
a great deal of life energy and can attack repeatedly, fighting to the very
last breath even after being struck or wounded by the enemy, which
makes him a formidable opponent.
•
After receiving proper training in the camouflage school, he is an
expert camouflage artist and swimmer.
•
He’s not the best rider, and tends to find leather defense shields an
unnecessary burden. The tomahawk thrower follows the ancient ways
of the warrior, preferring to keep his hands free so that he can hurl the
tomahawk at the enemy at a moment’s notice.
Native structures
Tepee of the elders
Prerequisites: Chief’s tepee, medicine man’s tepee
Cost: 450 wood units, 400 gold units
Energy: 1200
Function: Invoke warrior spirit
Native Americans attached enormous importance to preserving their
forefathers’ traditional way of life. They honored the way of the warrior in
the tepee of the elders, which you must set up before gathering the
tomahawk throwers who follow the ancient traditions and rules of their
14
New units, structures, and upgrades
tribe. Here you invoke the powerful warrior spirit that strengthens all
fighting units for a certain period of time.
The tepee of the elders has room for two warriors at a time, who must then
use their strength to defend the structure. This makes it a well fortified
base that plays an important role in defending the camp and holding
important waypoints.
Native upgrades
Warrior spirit 1
Function: Briefly boosts morale 5%
Applies to: All military units. Surrounds units with a visible aura.
Place of production: Tepee of the elders
Cost of development: 100 food units, 100 wood units, 200 gold units
Cost of execution: 75 units of magic energy
Warrior spirit 2
Function: Briefly boosts morale 10%
Applies to: All military units. Surrounds units with a visible aura.
Place of production: Tepee of the elders
Cost of development: 100 food units, 100 wood units, 200 gold units
Cost of execution: 75 units of magic energy
Warrior spirit 3
Function: Briefly boosts morale 20%
Applies to: All military units. Surrounds units with a visible aura.
Place of production: Tepee of the elders
Cost of development: 100 food units, 100 wood units, 200 gold units
Cost of execution: 75 units of magic energy
15
America Expansion Pack
The warrior spirit places fighting units in a kind of trance, during which an
acute awareness of the power of their ancestors and the importance of the
fight for freedom makes them totally fearless.
Native skills
Invoke warrior spirit
Function: Briefly boosts morale by 5, 10 or 20 percent, depending on the
warrior spirit upgrade level.
Applies to: All military units. Surrounds units with a visible aura.
Place of production: Tepee of the elders
Cost: 75 units of magic energy
To invoke the warrior spirit, select the Tepee of the elders, then look for the
warrior spirit upgrade buttons in the menu for this structure. First click
Warrior spirit 1 to check out the first level, and then select Invoke
warrior spirit to place your warriors in a trance.
You’ll need at least 75 units of magic energy to invoke the warrior spirit.
Check the menu for the Tepee of the elders to find out how much magic
energy you have. In our example, you have 75 units: exactly what you need.
After you invoke the warrior spirit, 75 units are deducted from your total
magic energy, which then builds back up gradually.
16
New units, structures, and upgrades
Invoking the warrior spirit surrounds your fighting units with a visible
aura. This makes their already strong morale even stronger in battle. But
watch out: The warrior spirit lasts only for a short time.
17
America Expansion Pack
4.2 Mexicans
The Mexicans relied heavily on their fortifications for protection. As a
result, the settlers and Natives preferred to attack the less heavily guarded
Mexican outposts, cutting them off from their supply chain. To avoid
leaving their outposts defenseless and exposed to enemy attacks, the
Mexicans used armored stagecoaches to protect their valuable transports
of goods.
Mexican units
Armored stagecoach
Place of production: Wood mill
Cost: 200 wood units, 2 horses, 100 gold units, 2 units of living space
Life energy: 600
Damage per blow: Depends on number of guards
Character traits:
18
•
The units who man the armored stagecoach receive greater protection
while inside the vehicle. They shoot with normal strength from inside
the stagecoach.
•
An armored stagecoach can be manned by any two units. Following the
Enlarge stagecoach upgrade, the armored stagecoach can hold four
units.
•
You do not have to place the stagecoach in an optimum shooting
position, for it can defend itself even while moving. It is a good choice
for patrols or when traveling across battlegrounds.
•
Destroying the stagecoach kills all the units inside.
New units, structures, and upgrades
To place a unit inside an armored stagecoach, first select the desired unit
and then right-click a stagecoach that has enough room inside.
To move one or more units out of an armored stagecoach, select the
stagecoach and then click the Remove units button in the stagecoach
menu.
Mexican structures
Wood mill
Prerequisites: Command post, fort
Cost: 300 wood units, 200 gold units
Energy: 1100
Function: Produces armored stagecoaches, enlarges a stagecoach
You must have a wood mill before you can produce armored stagecoaches,
which can shelter up to four units, depending on their size.
Mexican upgrades
19
America Expansion Pack
Enlarge stagecoach
Function: Adds space for 2 more units to an armored stagecoach
Applies to: Armored stagecoach
Place of production: Wood mill
Cost: 400 wood units, 50 gold units
20
New units, structures, and upgrades
4.3 Desperados
Because the desperados consistently fail to breach strong fortifications in
their raids, they are adding a new member with special skills to their gang:
the Chinese saboteur. You can sign him up in the restaurant and then use
him to clear and capture enemy defense structures.
Desperado units
Saboteur
Place of production: Restaurant
Cost: 80 food units, 100 gold units, 1 living space
Life energy: 100
Damage per blow: 8
Character traits:
•
The saboteur can remove three units from all enemy structures that
provide shelter to units, and then capture the empty structures. Each
time he performs one of these tasks, the saboteur gives up his life.
Thus, if an enemy fort is manned by eight units, you need three
saboteurs to enter the structure and remove all eight of the units
inside. Because the saboteurs die in the line of duty, you also need an
extra one to send into the empty structure and change it to your color,
thus capturing it for your people. The saboteur can also change the
color of all Native traps.
•
The saboteur can camouflage himself following an upgrade in the
restaurant.
•
He carries a pistol and can upgrade to greater fighting power using the
following upgrades: protective clothing 1-3, self-healing and pistol 1-2.
21
America Expansion Pack
To clear or capture an enemy structure, select one or more saboteurs and
then right-click the desired enemy structure.
Desperado structures
Restaurant
Prerequisites: Base, drugstore
Cost: 300 wood units, 200 gold units
Energy: 800
Function: Produces saboteurs and the camouflage upgrade.
To sign up saboteurs, you must first have a Chinese restaurant, where you
can also develop the camouflage upgrade for saboteurs.
Desperado upgrades
Camouflage
Function: Lets desperado saboteurs camouflage themselves
Applies to: Saboteur
Cost: 500 gold units
22
New units, structures, and upgrades
4.4 Settlers
The Natives and desperados have higher mobility, which makes it more
difficult for the settlers to flush them out of their hiding places and draw
them into open battle. New instructions from Washington call for the
increased deployment of frontier-wise pioneers, who have the flexibility
and speed to pursue fleeing Natives on land or water.
Settler units
Pioneer
Place of production: Boot camp
Cost: 100 food units, 110 gold units, 1 living space
Life energy: 160
Damage per blow: 25
Character traits:
•
Armed with sticks of dynamite that he can throw quite far.
•
An upgrade lets him swim.
Settler structures
Boot camp
Prerequisites: Headquarters, fort
Cost: 200 wood units, 150 gold units
Energy: 1000
Function: Produces pioneers.
You need a boot camp before you can produce pioneers, long-distance
fighting units of average speed.
Settler upgrades
Swim
Function: Lets pioneers and trappers swim
Applies to: Pioneers and trappers
Place of production: Trapper’s cabin
Cost: 300 food units, 50 gold units
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America Expansion Pack
5. Playing on the Internet
To play the America Expansion Pack against friends on the Internet, you
must have Internet access, and the Expansion Pack must be installed on
your computer.
You can play the America Expansion Pack under GameSpy Arcade
without incurring any additional expenses beyond your Internet
connection costs. The GameSpy Arcade Launcher is installed along with
the America Expansion Pack. For further details on playing games with the
GameSpy Arcade Launcher, and to download the latest version, go to the
GameSpy web site by clicking GameSpy Arcade Web Site in the
America Expansion Pack program group on the Windows Start menu.
The GameSpy Arcade Launcher starts from the America Expansion Pack
program directory. Before you can play the America Expansion Pack under
GameSpy, you need to set up a GameSpy profile. If you have already done
this, just enter your profile name and password on the login screen and
click Connect to confirm. If you haven’t created an account yet, you can
do so free of charge.
Just click Login Wizard on the login screen and following the
instructions displayed. The wizard prompts you to enter your name,
mailing address and e-mail address.
After you log on, the GameSpy Arcade Launcher displays the Welcome
dialog box. Click the X in the top left corner of this dialog box to close it
and display the main area of the GameSpy Arcade Launcher.
24
Playing the game on the internet
The GameSpy Arcade Launcher provides
many different functions and interesting
information about online gaming. This
manual describes only the steps you need
to take to play America on the Internet.
For more information, go to the GameSpy
Arcade web site by following the link in
the America program directory.
Select America Expansion Pack from the Games category on the left of
the GameSpy Launcher window.
25
America Expansion Pack
If you don’t see the program, select Scan for Games from the GameSpy
menu in the main window of the GameSpy Arcade Launcher to search
your hard disk for games that you can play using GameSpy Arcade. This
adds the America Expansion Pack to your list.
Now click America Expansion Pack under Games on the left of the
GameSpy Launcher window.
You will see a list of servers, sorted by Number of players, Game type,
Ping or Map to be used, along with a list of the people currently in the
chat room.
Because all players must load America games simultaneously on the
Internet, you first have to find a game that is looking for more players or
open a new game of your own.
Now decide whether you want to join an existing player group that is
looking for more players (enter the room) or set up a new player group of
your own.
The GameSpy Arcade Launcher gives you access only to those rooms that
are looking for players and have not yet started a game.
26
Playing the game on the internet
5.1
Joining a game
To join a game of America that has been set up but has not yet started,
double-click one of the America game rooms (server entries) displayed
under America Expansion Pack in the GameSpy Arcade Launcher.
The Players column shows the number of people in the room, while the
Ping column shows the quality of your connection to this server.
Double-clicking a server entry takes you to the staging area, where you can
chat with other players and arrange a time to start playing the game.
As soon as everyone is ready, click the Ready button. The player who
opened the room on his computer (host) must now click Launch Game to
start the game. The America Expansion Pack now starts on all computers
27
America Expansion Pack
and automatically opens the Multi-player meeting point screen (see
Chapter 3.4), where the host can specify game settings.
5.2
Starting a new game
Click Create Game to start a new game of America and invite others to
join in.
Enter a name for your new room, set the maximum number of players and
choose a game type.
It’s a good idea to give your room a
name that is easily recognizable to
other players, such as America bomb
twix/Everybody for themselves (map
name/game mode). This helps other
players decide whether they want to join
the game.
Now you can chat with all players who enter your room, and arrange a time
to start the game.
After all players have clicked Ready to show that they’re ready to play, you
can start the game. You can tell when each player has clicked the Ready
button because a green light appears next to their names.
Click Launch Game to start the game. The America Expansion Pack now
starts on all computers participating in the game and automatically opens
the Multi-player meeting point screen (see Chapter 3.4), where you
can specify game settings.
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Level Editor
6.
Level editor
The level editor is a stand-alone windows program that lets you create your
own maps for America,
which you can then use in games against the computer or friends on the
Internet or a LAN. To start the editor, select Programs/DATA
BECKER/America/Level Editor from the Windows Start menu. If you
selected a different program group when you installed the software, you
will find the program command there.
Be sure to close America or the America
Expansion Pack while modifying maps
(levels) using the editor. You have to
save a map and then close the editor
before you can load your maps in
America.
6.1
Basic functions
The level editor window is divided into four areas.
Use the menu bar to create new levels, load existing ones, configure the
editor view, and select editing commands (such as Undo or Redo).
On the level map, edit the landscape by holding down the left mouse
button and “drawing” with the mouse.
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America Expansion Pack
The changes this makes to the landscape depends on the paintbrush
properties of your mouse, which you set in the command pane. You can
select different landscape paintbrushes to scatter objects like bushes,
cactuses or rocks across the map, set the starting points for different
peoples and place individual units on the map.
Check the general map at any time to get an overview of your entire level
and decide whether the overall map looks the way you want it.
6.2
Editor menu bar
This chapter describes the level editor’s main commands, which you
execute by selecting them from the editor menu bar. Next to the
description of some commands on the menu bar is a small icon, which you
can click directly.
Level menu
New level
Creates a completely new level (map) for America.
Open level
Opens a previously created level so you can edit it.
Save
Saves the level you are working on in the current directory. If you are
saving a new level for the first time, this command automatically opens the
Save as dialog box, where you can select a folder.
Save as
Lets you save the current level under any name in any directory. The
command opens a dialog box where you can select the target folder and
enter a name.
Close
Closes the current level file. If you made any changes to the file, the
program first asks whether you want to save the level. Select Yes to save
30
Level Editor
the changes or No to close the level without saving the changes. Chose
Cancel to return to the work area.
Edit menu
Undo
Cancels the last change you made to the level map. This command lets you
undo the last 15 operations.
Redo
Restores the last change to the level map that you just canceled using the
Undo command.
Select
Activates Select mode so you can reset your current paintbrush properties
and select individual elements on the level map using the mouse pointer.
Then left-click individual elements to select them or hold down the left
mouse button and drag a frame around multiple objects to select a group of
elements.
Delete
Removes one or more selected objects from the level map. You can also
press Delete on your keyboard.
Small paintbrush
The size of the paintbrush determines the width of your brush strokes
when drawing on the level map. The small paintbrush works best for touchup work after you have finished arranging your landscape.
Medium paintbrush
Use this brush to draw small forests on your landscape or create transitions
between different areas of your map.
Large paintbrush
Use this brush to create large landscape features on your level map.
View menu
Toolbar
Displays and hides the toolbar containing the command icons.
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America Expansion Pack
Status bar
Displays and hides the status bar at the bottom of the editor window. The
status bar displays the progress of individual operations as well as the
current editor mode.
Show grid
Displays a virtual grid on the level map, which makes it easier to align
objects precisely and estimate distances between objects on the map.
Display shading
Turns shading on and off for objects on the level map.
Zoom out
Changes the size of the level map view, making it easier to change large
areas of the landscape. Click this command again to return the view to its
previous size.
6.3
Creating a map (level)
Select New level from the Level menu or click the New level button on
the menu bar to create a new level.
A dialog box appears where you can set the basic properties for your
scenario.
Level name
Enter a name to be used for your game scenario. The usual format is [x
players]—map name, where you replace x with the maximum number of
players who can play your map.
32
Level Editor
Level size
Determines the size of your map; the first number represent the height,
while the second specifies the width. To change the dimensions, open the
drop-down menu and select one of the preset values: 128, 256 or 384.
Change the size of the map to accommodate the number of players.
Landscape type
You can chose one of two different landscape types: steppe and meadow.
These settings do not affect how your units behave, but merely give your
map the look of either a desert region or fertile land.
Initialization brush
Lets you select the type of paintbrush to be used to fill in a new level. For
example, if you set this option to Deep water, the entire level initially fills
with water. Naturally, you can modify and edit the level manually once it
has been created.
Initial values:
Use this window to set the amounts of wood, gold, food and guns that the
players have at their disposal when the game begins. The default settings
are:
Wood: 1000
Gold: 1000
Food: 1000
Guns: 10
Click OK to confirm your settings and generate the level. At first, the entire
level shows only the selected basic landscape type.
6.4
Landscape paintbrushes
To change the playing surface, first select the landscape type you want to
use under Landscape paintbrush in the command pane on the left of
the level editor and then chose a brush size from the menu bar. Now design
your landscape in the work area by holding down the left mouse button and
dragging the mouse across the level map. You can choose three different
brush sizes: small, medium and large.
33
America Expansion Pack
The landscape types Fertile soil, Steppe/Meadow, Rocky
wasteland/Rocky meadow, Wasteland/Grassland, Rocky soil and
Path are normal soil types; all land-traversing units can cross such terrain
and build structures there. They all have a different appearance and help
make a level look more three-dimensional, detailed and realistic.
Land units can cross Rocky/Sandy desert, Dry/Solid rockbed and
Waterfront landscapes, but not build structures on them.
Using Shallow water, you can build fords that can be crossed by landand water-traversing units.
Water and Deep water are landscapes that are accessible only to boats
and units who can swim, such as the various Native units and pioneers.
All land units can cross Plateau landscapes, but only if you provide a path
to connect them to lower elevations. Units can then use these paths to
reach higher elevations. Steppe/Grassland (level 1) and
Grassland/Rocky terrain (level 1) differ only in appearance, the
second level merely representing an increase in elevation. Once again you
have to provide a path to make these areas accessible. This is the highest
possible terrain type.
The Pine forest and Leafy forest landscape types are automatically
filled with trees, which players can turn into wood.
Note: Always make sure there is a
sufficient supply of wood on a multi-
34
Level Editor
player map. Assign each player a
forested area from which they can start
gathering resources.
Select the Zoom out function to draw larger map segments. This gives you
a better overview of the displayed map to help you find your way around.
However, in the zoomed-out view, you can only use the landscape
paintbrush, you cannot position objects on the map. In this mode, you can
also vary the brush size.
Select the Zoom Out button or menu option again to return from the
zoomed-out view to the normal view.
6.5
Placing objects on the map
Once you have completed your landscape, you can add objects to the
scenario.
The Objects menu contains all objects that you can place individually on
the map and are therefore not listed under Landscape paintbrush. They
not only help your landscape look prettier but also add useful features that
change the “feel” of the game.
All objects from Trees to Bushes have subcategories and are thus
available in different sizes (the only exception is the Cactuses object,
which can only be placed on a Steppe landscape). In addition, there are
different variants of each size which differ in appearance. The editor
randomly places different object combinations on the map, such as various
colors of deciduous trees. However, you can select a specific variant by
right-clicking the selected object (several times, if necessary).
While bushes, cactuses and rocks can be used as decorative items, they can
also make certain areas off-limits to development since players cannot
build structures over these objects. These features allow you to set
minimum distances for watchtowers near fords or limit the territory that
players can develop.
35
America Expansion Pack
Gold mines can be placed only in mountainous regions (Elevation1 or
Elevation2). There are two types of gold mines: those that face southeast
and those that face southwest. To place gold in the mine, right-click the
mine in the work area and then set the amount of gold in the window that
appears.
Paths can be used to connect different elevations. This category is divided
into paths that lead to the northeast and those that lead to the northwest.
You can store guns, wood, gold and food in Warehouses, and players can
fetch these raw materials with their transport wagons. To set the number of
goods stored, follow the same procedure you used for the gold mine: Rightclick the warehouse to open a menu from which you can select the item and
quantity.
The Animals category contains horses, cattle and buffalo, which you can
add to your map. Keep in mind that placing buffalo at the starting point
makes life easier for players initially, while hiding cattle and horses in
different places on the map adds tension later on for battles between the
players. You can earn up to 25 gold units per cow when you send them to
an animal processing facility.
Note: Placing buffalo near a player
starting point helps players lay in a
store of food quickly right at the
beginning of the game. Use this strategy
to get the game going.
36
Level Editor
To remove an object from the map, select it with the mouse and press
Delete on the keyboard or select Delete from the Edit menu. Holding
down the left mouse button while dragging a frame around multiple objects
selects them all at once and lets you delete several objects at the same time.
6.6
Adding different peoples (players)
Once you have finished creating your map, you need to add player starting
points. To do this, double-click one of the idle players in the command
pane. This opens a window where you can specify different settings for the
new player.
Under Player name, type a name for the player, such as Player1 or Sioux.
From the People drop-down menu, select the people you want to assign to
this player. If you want players to be able to choose their own people at the
beginning of a multi-player game, select the Random option. Then assign
the player a starting point where the selected party’s basic structure (main
building) and default units (commander and four civilian units) will stand.
Note: If you specify a people at this
point, the player cannot change it later
on during the game.
If you selected Random for a people, the Set starting point command
appears below the player’s entry in the command pane. Select this
37
America Expansion Pack
command and then left-click any point on the level map to set the starting
point for this player.
This option is not available if you chose a particular people above. Instead,
you see the Structures, Units, Upgrades and Heroes command
groups in the command pane. Use these commands to set initial units and
structures for the player.
You can set units and structures by
selecting a people for a player instead
of choosing Random and leaving the
choice up to him or her. Like objects,
these units and structures are listed in
the different branches of the selection
tree for that particular player. These
objects also appear in the color
assigned to that player in the miniature
view of your map.
Use Player color to choose the player’s color. In multi-player games, the
colors are selected at random. Be careful not to assign the same color to
more than one player—if you do, one of the two affected players will
automatically get a new color.
Choose Initial values to set the number of resources that are available to
the player at the beginning of the game. While the raw materials that you
set at the beginning of the level are usually assigned to all players, you can
also set different amounts for each player. In a multi-player game, you can
38
Level Editor
decide whether to assign the same amount of resources to all players or
whether to use the amounts of raw materials specified by the creator of the
map. However, be careful to keep the game fair for all peoples.
Who’s playing? specifies whether the computer or a real person is
controlling this player. Players for whom you select the Random option
under People in a multi-player game can decide whether they want their
people to be controlled by a human player or computer, or whether they’d
rather be deactivated.
Select the Allies option to form alliances between players. However, it’s
best not to use this option in multi-player scenarios since players should be
given the opportunity to form their own alliances during the game. Same
view lets you give allied players a view of the same areas on the map,
provided that one of the two players has lifted the fog of war there.
Click Clear player to reset a player’s properties to the values of an idle
player.
Note that symmetrical maps provide the
fairest starting conditions. On
asymmetrical maps, you can add more raw
materials to balance out defense
problems (or weaken defenses to
compensate for a lack of raw materials).
6.7
Starting your own level
When you are happy with your map, save it in the Levels folder of the
America directory by selecting Save or Save as from the File menu.
Start the America Expansion Pack and select Single-player campaign.
To test your map, select Use multi-player map and then choose your
level from the list of levels.
Your level is stored under the name you assigned to it in the Level name
field of the Level properties dialog box.
39
America Expansion Pack
6.8
Special tips for creating maps
It is important to keep one thing in mind when creating a multi-player
level: Keep things fair for all players without giving one player an
advantage and another a disadvantage. Symmetrical maps work best since
they give every player the same starting position. When using asymmetrical
maps, you need to make sure that all players have the same number of raw
material as well as sufficient means to defend their bases; there should also
be an equal amount of space between the players.
Design each map so that one player always has one or more direct
competitors while making sure that they all have the same number of
opponents. It would not be fair to place one player in the corner of a map,
where he can be attacked only from one side, while locating another in
open space in the middle where he would have to fight off attacks from
every direction.
Don’t space the players too far apart— this will extend the duration of
attacks, increasing the playing time and making the attacks much more
risky for the player.
In addition, players should be able to find sources of raw materials right at
the beginning of the game, which means resources must be located in the
area of the screen that is visible from the outset. Providing a small forest, a
gold mine and a couple of buffalo helps players gather resources quickly
and gets the game going without delay.
Don’t forget that players should start looking for new sources of raw
materials as soon as possible. If you keep the amount of gold in the initial
mine to a minimum, you should plan to have more mines farther away
from camp where players can mine more gold while being exposed to
greater danger.
Avoid using very narrow maps since players need a lot of space to spread
out. Make sure they have enough room to build structures.
Distributing various bonus items over the map makes the game a whole lot
more fun, especially when multiple players are involved. For example,
consider placing cattle or warehouses in the center of the map where raw
materials are just waiting for players to find them.
40
Support - Credits
7.
Web site and support
To find out more about America and the America Expansion Pack, visit
our Web site at www.game-america.com. In addition to the latest news,
tips and tricks relating to the game, you will also find a discussion forum
where you can exchange ideas with other Natives, desperados, Mexicans or
settlers. For technical support, please visit our web site at
www.databecker.com
8.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the many people who contributed ideas and suggestions
making this project possible. Special thanks go to Related Designs and the
beta testers who helped with their many suggestions.
RELATED DESIGNS
LEAD PROGRAMMER
Thomas Stein
PROJECT MANAGER
Thomas Pottkämper
ART DIRECTOR & INTRO
Igor Posavec
PROGRAMMERS
Thomas Stein
Kevin Zellner
Thomas Bliem
DATA BECKER
PRODUCER AND PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Markus Zink
Andy Manson
GAMES TEAM
Robert Lauth
Markus Stark,
George Guerraz,
Elmar Grunenberg
Tina Feilen
USER MANUAL
41
America Expansion Pack
Robert Lauth
MISSION BRIEFING NARRATORS
Ronald Hayden
TITLE TRACK
Thomas Langen (Instrumental)
Britta Engel (Vocals)
Special thanks to Joost Shuur at GameSpy
USES BINK VIDEO & MILES SOUND SYSTEM
Copyright (c) 1991-2000 by RAD Game Tools, Inc.
42