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Your Battleground: Bull Run historical strategy game should contain a Players
Guide, a CD-ROM, Quick Start instructions, a TalonSoft Reg. card and a TalonSoft
product catalog with a separate price list.
NOTE: The default directory for installation is C:\BGBR. If you wish it to be something
other than that, click the Browse button and enter a new destination in the Path box. If
the directory you specify does not exist, the program will prompt you to create it.
7. Battleground: Bull Run permits three levels of installation: TYPICAL, COMPACT, or CUSTOM (for optimum performance, select CUSTOM and click all four option boxes that then
appear). The installation time will vary depending on the level of installation selected,
the transfer rate of your CD-ROM drive, and how much free memory you have during
the install process.
NOTE: If your HD does not have enough space for the selected options, the Installer will
notify you to change the configuration.
8. Battleground: Bull Run requires that you have Microsoft Video For Windows 1.1
installed. If the installation process detects that it is not installed, you will be prompted
to install it.
9. When installation is complete you will have a new Program Group called Battleground:
Bull Run in your Program Manager. To launch the game, double-click on the Battleground: Bull Run icon.
INSTALLING FOR WINDOWS 95
MEMORY NOTES (for Windows 3.1 only)
LOADING INSTRUCTIONS
CONTENTS
1. Launch Microsoft Windows 95®.
2. Place the Battleground: Bull Run CD in the CD-ROM drive.
3. From the Desktop, click on the "Start" button on the Taskbar and select "Run".
4. When the "Run" window appears, type E:\BGBR\SETUP and click "OK".
NOTE: If your CD-ROM drive letter is not E: (as shown above), then substitute the
appropriate letter (e.g., D:\BGBR\SETUP).
5. When you reach the "Welcome" screen, click on the Next> button to continue.
6. When the "Choose Destination Location" screen appears, either choose the default
folder by clicking the Next button, or see the note below.
NOTE: The default folder for installation is C:\BGBR. If you wish it to be something
other than that, click the Browse button and enter a new destination in the Path box. If
the folder you specify does not exist, the program will prompt you to create it.
7. Battleground: Bull Run permits three levels of installation: TYPICAL, COMPACT, or CUSTOM (for optimum performance, select CUSTOM and click all four option boxes that then
appear). The installation time will vary depending on the level of installation selected,
the transfer rate of your CD-ROM drive, and how much free memory you have during
the install process. Regardless of the installation method chosen, all game options will
function (although sometimes slower with less installed to your HD and more on the CD).
NOTE: If your HD does not have enough space for the selected options, the Installer will
notify you to change the configuration.
8. When installation is complete, click on the Start button on the Taskbar. Then select
Programs, then Battleground: Bull Run. Finally, select Battleground: Bull Run again to begin.
Battleground: Bull Run requires that Windows 3.1 Virtual Memory be currently active. If
you are not sure if it is active, perform the following steps prior to installation.
1. Launch Microsoft Windows®.
2. In the Program Manager, double-click the "Main" program group.
3. Next, double-click on the "Control Panel" icon.
4. Next, double-click on the "386 Enhanced" icon.
5. Then click on the "Virtual Memory" button. Next to the word "Size" ensure that at
least 10,000 KB is allocated.
6. If you do not have at least 10,000 KB set, select the " C h a n g e » " button.
7. Enter the recommended size in the "New Size" box.
NOTE: Windows 3.1 performs best if the Virtual Memory "Type" is set to "Permanent".
8. Click the "OK" button and follow the prompts. If you changed the "Size", Windows
must be restarted for the change to activate.
9. On an 8 Mb RAM machine, you'll need at least 6 Mb free XMS memory in order to
open the larger scenarios and maps.
TROUBLESHOOTING
The performance of Battleground: Bull Run will depend on how "fast" your video card is,
how "fast" your system is, and how much total system memory is available. Be sure to add
the latest available drivers for your system hardware to ensure optimal performance.
SYMPTOM: When I open a scenario, the map area is white or only the units appear.
REMEDY: Either you have an old Windows video driver, or you don't have at least 6 Mb
free of XMS memory. You should either update your Windows video driver (by downloading a new one or contacting your video card manufacturer), or reconfigure your
memory so that you can free up more XMS memory (for Win 3.1 users, try running
Memmaker in DOS).
INSTALLING FOR WINDOWS 3.1
1. Launch Microsoft Windows®.
2. Place the Battleground: Bull Run CD in the CD-ROM drive.
3. From the Program Manager, open the File pop-down menu and select Run.
4. When the "Run" window appears, type E:\BGBR\SETUP and click "OK".
NOTE: If your CD-ROM drive letter is not E: (as shown above), then substitute the
appropriate letter (e.g., D:\BGBR\SETUP).
5. When you reach the "Welcome" screen, click on the Next> button to continue.
6. When the "Choose Destination Location" screen appears, either choose the default
directory by clicking the Next button, or see the following note.
SYMPTOM: The install program hangs up, crashes, or stops after displaying the "Loading Battleground" dialog box.
REMEDY: There is probably an incompatibility issue with the Install program and
something already running on your computer, or you don't have at least 5S0K of free conventional memory. Win 3.1 users can free up more conventional memory by running
Memmaker in DOS. Alternately, try playing the game directly from the CD. Here's how:
1
If using Win 3.1, create an icon in your Program Manager and attach it to the
BG_Start.EXE on the BGBR CD. If using Win 95, create a shortcut on your Desktop and
attach it to the BG_Start.EXE on the BGN CD.
SYMPTOM: When the (intro or action) video starts, the game locks up or a horizontal
black line appears where the video should be.
REMEDY: Try reinstalling MS Video for Windows. This program is included on the BGN
CD for your convenience. To reinstall the program, select Run from the File menu in Win
3.1 or the Start button in Win 95. Type D:\BGBRWFW\SETUP in the Run window's Command Line (where D = the letter of your CD drive), then follow the on-screen prompts.
ately cracks and stops.
REMEDY: Your sound card drivers are too old. Call your sound card manufacturer for
new drivers, or download them from an on-line service.
SYMPTOM: I don't see any intro videos or videos during the game.
REMEDY 1: Make sure you have checks next to "Video Effects" and "Introduction" in
the game's "Options" pop-down menu.
REMEDY 2: Try re-installing MS-Video from the CD. Run the Setup.exe file from the
VFW folder in Windows.
SYMPTOM: The computer seems to "lock up" during the computer player's turn.
REMEDY: The size of the scenario, coupled with your computer's "speed", will have a
direct impact on the computer player's performance/speed. Periodically during the larger scenarios the computer A/I may take a few minutes to reaccess its "strategy".
WARNING: We recommend that you don't run the game in a display mode of more than 8
Bit mode ("256 colors"). If you attempt to run the game in 16 Bit mode ("Thousands of Colors"), or 24 Bit mode ("Millions of Colors"), you will probably see a noted decrease in
scrolling and screen graphics speed; in fact, the game may not even load!
To change your screen display:
WIN 95: Press the Start button, then select Settings from the Task Bar. then select Control
Panel. Double-click the Display icon, then select the Settings "folder" at the top of the window. In the Color Palette area, set your display to "256 Color".
WIN 3.1: Select the Main Program Group from the Program Manager, then select the Windows Setup icon. From the Options pull-down menu, select Change System Settings. Press
the arrow button and select SVGA 640x480x256, and close the window.
Lean & Mean Basics...
Game Overview
So, Bull Run is installed and you're ready to go? Only thing is, you don't
want to take some time to read our comprehensive Players Guide. Well, that's
not unusual. However, you would like to know some of the basics of the game.
Well, you've come to the right place!
Battleground: Bull Run™ recreates both battles of Manassas, Virginia during the American Civil War in July, 1861 and August, 1862. You, as the player,
control regiment- and battery-sized units and individual leaders on the side of
your choice. The map scale is approximately 125yds per hex.
SYMPTOM: When I launch the game, I get an error message stating "Object Windows
Exception, GDI Failure."
REMEDY: This can happen if you inadvertently try to launch the game while it's
already running. It can also happen if you try to run the game at the same time as some
other program that uses graphics. Be sure to exit all other programs prior to running the
game. If all else fails, restart Windows; this will restore your GDI resources to their maximum value or make sure your video drivers are the most current.
SYMPTOM: Map scrolling is very slow.
REMEDY: Check the Windows system settings for your video card. If it's not set to 256
colors, change the settings to 256.
SYMPTOM: The sound effects don't work.
REMEDY: Check your Windows drivers in the Control Panel to ensure that your sound
card is properly installed. If you hear the initial "chime" when Windows starts, your
sound effects should work.
SYMPTOM: I am constantly tired and irritable when I finally wake up in the morning.
REMEDY: Quit playing Battleground: Bull Run before 4 AM and get to bed earlier.
SYMPTOM: The pop-up videos seem to run slow or "jerky".
REMEDY: Your overall system performance is not "fast" enough to keep up with the video
information coming from the CD-ROM. Re-install the game software and select "Custom"
installation. When prompted, make sure the "Video Files"'box has an "X" in it.
SYMPTOM: When playing modem-to-modem, the game loses connection.
REMEDY 1: If you have "Call Waiting" on your phone system, you must type *70 at the
beginning of your opponent's phone number. Otherwise, an incoming call will break your
modem connection.
REMEDY 2: Check your phone line for a loose connection.
SYMPTOM: I'm having trouble connecting with my modem opponent.
REMEDY 1: Make sure that both systems are set to the same Baud rate.
REMEDY 2: Try a lower Baud rate selection.
CONTINUOUS MODE: If you'd rather sit back and just watch the computer play itself,
select "Automatic" A/I for both sides in the A/I Selection dialog, and right-click on
the Phasebox when it first appears. Then press the Cancel button on the A/I Action
Dialog box. Next, on your keyboard, hold down the Ctrl key and hit the C key. When
the "Continuous Mode On" message appears, right-click the on the "OK" button.
Finally, click the "A/I" toolbar button to let the A/I resume.
To cancel Continuous Mode play, you must again hit the Cancel button of the A/I
Action dialog to stop play. Then again depress the Ctrl key and hit the C key. A message should appear stating "Continuous Mode is off".
Launch the game
Double-click on the Battleground: Bull Run icon (found within the Battleground: Bull Run program group now appearing in your Windows Program
Manager; if in Windows 95, from the "Start" button select "Programs" then
"Battleground Bull Run" and "Battleground Bull Run" again ). You will soon
see the Menu Options screen. Click the "Start New Scenario" button. This will
bring up the "Scenarios" screen.
SYMPTOM: The TalonSoft logo appears and the intro music starts but then immedi-
2
Pick a Scenario
THE MOVEMENT PHASE
The "Scenarios" screen displays a list of the game's scenarios. As you highlight individual titles of this list, each scenario's historical introduction is displayed. Also displayed in this box is the number of Game Turns the scenario
lasts (in general, the shorter the turn length, the simpler the scenario). Since
this is probably your first experience with Battleground: Bull Run, allow us to
suggest the "Blackburn's Ford" scenario, then left-click on the Play button.
In the Movement Phase the phasing player can move his units; e.g., in the
Union Movement Phase, only Union units can move. In order to move a unit,
you must first Select it.
Hex Outlines: The various scenario maps of the game can be overlaid with
a grid of hexagons, used to regulate movement and attack ranges. Since the
hexgrid is "off" by default, it is suggested you make it visible by selecting
Hex Outlines from the Options pop-down menu.
Choose a Side to Play
After a brief pause, the scenario's map will appear and you will see the A/I
Selection dialog box. Select Manual for the side you want to play, and Automatic or Automatic with FOW (Fog of War) for the side you want the computer to play. When "Fog of War" is in effect, you can see an enemy unit only if
one of your units has a "line of sight" to it—a more realistic and more challenging method of play. Alternatively, to control all units of both sides, select
Manual for each side.
Selecting a Unit
To Select a unit, left-click once on the map hex it occupies (this will place the
"Hot Spot" red-rectangle in the hex you just clicked). Below the map the
"Unit List" will appear, showing any unit(s) in the "hot spot" hex. Next, leftclick once anywhere in that unit's data area in the Unit List (see below illustration); a lighter shade of background color in the Unit List indicates the unit
has been selected. Note that a double left-click in a hex will select all units in
that hex. On the "3D" map, a Selected unit is shown by a darker-colored base.
Historical Note: In many of the scenarios of this game, the Union side is
burdened with the task of attacking; in such scenarios they are therefore
given the first "Player Turn". If you wish to take a more active role (i.e.,
attack), choose the Union; however, if you would rather "sit back" and
defend, select the Confederates.
Leader
Command
Rating
Artillery unit
Strength
number
Infantry unit
Range
Movement
(in hexes)
points
Cavalry unit
Quality
rating
current
Fatigue
Click the Phasebox
After you've set the A/I and clicked OK, a
"Phasebox" appears announcing the Union
Movement Phase. Left-click on the phasebox
to begin the phase (or right-click on it to begin
the phase and make it disappear automatically after a few seconds each time it appears).
When the phasebox is gone, you will see part
of the "3D" game map; closer inspection will reveal "units" on brown (Confederate), or blue (Union) bases. The bases of infantry and cavalry regiments
are "lozenge" shaped; the bases of most other unit types are square-shaped.
“State”
Icon
Weapon
Type
info
Unit Types
Unit
name
Formation
& Facing
icon
Fired
icon
Moved
icon
Disordered Fixed unit Spotted
icon
icon
icon
Several different unit types are represented in the game; see the following illustrations. The basic Infantry or Cavalry unit represents a regiment of varying
strength (the number after the " S " in the Unit List represents the regiment's
strength in men rounded to 25, or the number of cannons in a battery). Each
artillery unit represents a battery of 4 to 6 guns. Individual leaders are also
represented; although a leader can't fire or attack by himself, he is important
for rallying troops and is useful in melee.
Infantry and cavalry units can be in line or column ("mounted" if cavalry)
formation; artillery are either limbered or unlimbered. Cavalry and leaders
can be mounted or unmounted. Only regiments in line and unlimbered
artillery can fire. See the following illustrations for a brief explanation of what
effect a unit's formation has on its ability to move or fire.
Turns & Phases (Briefly!)
Each scenario in the game has a set number of Game Turns. Each Game Turn
consists of a Player Turn for each side (usually Union first, then Confederate).
Each Player Turn consists of four phases:
MOVEMENT
DEFENSIVE FIRE
OFFENSIVE FIRE
MELEE
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Moving a Unit
Formation Summary (3D BattleviewT M map display)
Right-Click: Make sure the unit is Selected (see "Selecting a Unit", above),
then right-click in a hex adjacent to the selected unit. The unit(s) will enter the
hex you right-clicked on if that hex is adjacent to the unit, the unit was Selected, the unit has movement points (the MV number in the Unit List) remaining,
and it was that unit's Movement Phase (e.g., you can't move a Union unit in
the Confederate Movement Phase!). Also, you can't move an
unlimbered/uncrewed artillery unit.
Infantry Formations
Line
can fire/melee
Column
no fire/can melee
can move
increased move
Routed
no fire/defense
quartered in melee
run away!
Drag'n'Drop: You can also move a unit using the "drag and drop" method.
Select the unit; then, holding the left mouse button down, drag the mouse cursor to the hex you wish the unit to move toward, and release the mouse button.
Column Movement: Hold down the Ctrl key and right-click or drag'n'drop
the "lead" unit of a column. This is also a real nifty way to move a "line" of
units (usually regiments belonging to the same brigade). For more details on
movement, see section 6.6 of the HGBR Players Guide.
Facing Change: The front facing of an infantry unit in line
formation (or an unlimbered artillery unit) determines the
hexes it can fire at. To change the facing of a unit, Select the
unit and click on the appropriate toolbox button. Illustrated above are the "turn
clockwise", "turn counter-clockwise", and "about-face" buttons, respectively.
Units can only change facing during their own Movement Phase.
Cavalry Formations
Dismounted (Line)
can fire/melee
can move
Mounted (Column)
no fire/can melee
increased move
Routed
no fire/defense halved in melee
run away!
Artillery Formations
Unlimbered
can fire/no move
Limbered
no fire/can move
Routed
no fire
run away!
Error Message
Uncrewed*
no fire/no move
If you attempt to do something that the program won't allow, you should
hear an error "beep"; a corresponding error message will appear in the status bar along the bottom of the display detailing the wrongdoing. The "Status bar" normally displays the current time and game phase.
* An artillery battery can become Uncrewed only as an adverse result of an attack
Leader Formations
Supply Wagon*
Advance to Next Phase
To end the Movement Phase, click on the toolbox button that looks like
a pocket watch (or hold down the Ctrl key and press N).
Dismounted
decreased move
less vulnerable
Mounted
increased move
more vulnerable
(no formation)
no fire/can move
Changing Formations
You can change a unit's formation during its Movement Phase. A formation
change for an infantry unit must be done before it has expended any movement
points. All other units can move and then change formation, assuming such a
unit has the required number of movement points remaining (as each change of
formation by a non-leader unit requires an expenditure of movement points).
4
Combat Results
THE DEFENSIVE FIRE PHASE
When an attack is performed, you will see a "Fire Report" giving details of
the attack. The effect on the target can vary from no effect to increasing its battle fatigue to a strength-point loss (which also increases its fatigue). Furthermore, a unit that suffers a loss can become disrupted or routed. A Disrupted
or Routed unit has a D or R icon (respectively) printed in its icon area in the
Unit List.
To find another eligible unit to fire, click again on the "Next Unit" toolbox button.
In the Defensive Fire Phase, combat units of the non-phasing side are allowed
to shoot (conduct "Ranged Fire") at enemy targets.
Firing Qualifications
There are several "qualifications" for a unit to conduct a Ranged Fire attack:
Formation: To conduct a Ranged Fire attack, an infantry or cavalry unit must
be in line formation ("dismounted" if cavalry), and an artillery unit must be
unlimbered. (Leaders, limbered/uncrewed artillery, mounted cavalry and
Routed units cannot conduct Ranged Fire.)
LOS: The target must be within the firing unit's line of sight.
Range: The target must be within the firer's range. A unit's range is the "RG"
# in its Unit List data. Most regiments in Battleground: Bull Run have a range
of " 5 " and can fire at a unit up to five hexes away.
Facing: The firer must be facing the target. A unit can fire only within an arc
defined by the three hexes it is "facing". See the following illustration:
When the message "All units have been considered" appears, it is time
to advance to the next phase (click on the "timepiece" toolbox button).
THE OFFENSIVE FIRE PHASE
Firing in the Offensive Fire Phase is identical to firing in the Defensive Fire
Phase, except that in this phase only the eligible infantry and artillery units of the
phasing side (the side that moved in the current Player Turn) are allowed to fire.
THE MELEE PHASE
Melee represents hand-to-hand combat between opposing units. The meleeing unit(s) attempts to enter the location of an adjacent enemy and displace it.
Who Can Melee?
Only Good Order (i.e., non-Disrupted, non-Routed) infantry or cavalry
units of the phasing side (even if in column or mounted) can initiate
melees (i.e., advance into an enemy-occupied hex in the Melee Phase).
To find a unit eligible to melee, click the "Next Unit" toolbox button. Having
a leader attack (or defend) in a melee is beneficial.
Conducting a Melee
In the illustration above, the infantry regiment (armed with smoothbore muskets with a
"range" of only 2) can conduct ranged-fire only at a target in the darker-shaded hexes. The
"front facing" consists of the three hexsides covered by the white-dashed line.
Drag'n'Drop: Select all the units in one hex you wish to make a melee attack
with; place the cursor on their hex, then (holding the left mouse button down),
drag them into an adjacent target hex. An odds box is displayed if this is done
properly. You can add more adjacent units to the Melee by this same method.
When all units have been added, click on the "Resolve Melee" toolbox
button (the crossed rifle and sword with upward pointing red arrow),
and the melee will be performed. For more details, see pages 49-51 in
your BGR Players Guide.
Firing a Unit
To find a unit eligible to fire, click the "Next Unit" toolbox button. The
program will automatically find a hex with a unit eligible to fire! However, you still must Select that unit in order to fire it. To Select the unit, leftclick once in that unit's data area in the Unit List (or double left-click in the hex to
select all units in the hex). Next, right-click on a nearby enemy unit. If that enemy
unit is in the firer's range and LOS, the attack will be performed (if not, check
for an error message along the bottom of the screen explaining the problem).
You can also Drag 'n 'Drop a Selected firer onto an eligible target to carry out
the attack. For more information, see section 6.7 of the BGR Players Guide.
Next Player Turn
When all melees you wish to conduct have been resolved, click on the
"Next Phase" toolbox button. Play will now proceed to the Player Turn of
the next player (the non-phasing player of the turn just-completed). Once
the first two Player Turns have been completed, Game Turn two will begin.
5
Free! Demo Games
and Upgrades!
Advance the game to the next phase.
Change the screen display between the 2D Normal View and 2D Zoom Out, or
the 3D Normal View and the 3D Zoom Out, mode.
Included on the Battleground:
Bull Run CD-ROM are free Interactive
Previews of our best-selling games, and
the latest upgrades for our other Battleground'" games, and Age of Sail™.
Change the Facing of the Selected unit(s) one hexside in a counterclockwise
direction.
Change the Facing of the Selected unit(s) one hexside in a clockwise direction.
Change the Facing of the Selected unit(s) by 180º.
Change the Formation of the Selected infantry unit from column to line (and
back), limber /unlimber an artillery unit, or mount/dismount a cavalry regiment
or leader.
© 1996 TalonSoft, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Toggle (off or on) the on-map display of all units.
Toggle (off or on) the bases of all unit icons on the 3D map.
Make the Artillery Dialog appear.
Resolve the Melee in the Hot Spot hex.
• To install a demo name, click on the
appropriate Install Demo icon. Note:
demo games do not install on your HD;
they run from the CD.
• To upgrade a previously purchased Battleground™ game, click on the appropriate Install Upgrade icon.
For the upgrades to work properly, you must ensure that
the game you are upgrading was installed using a Typical
installation, or via a Custom installation with at least the
Battle and Map files checked. In other words, if you did a
Custom install with no options selected, or a Compact
install, the upgrade may not properly install or work.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all infantry/cavalry units suffering from
low/no ammo and uncrewed artillery units.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all units that have a LOS to (and thus are
in the LOS of) at least one enemy unit.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all units that have moved during the current phase.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all units that have either fired at an enemy
unit or fought in a Melee during the current phase.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all units that are Disrupted.
Toggle (on or off) a highlight around all units that are part of the same organization as the first Selected unit in the Unit List.
Interested in Civil War Re-enactment Videos?
Hide (or display) the Unit List and Terrain Info Box.
If you are, please have a look at the promotional video by Freedom
Productions, the supplier of video clips for our Civil War games.
Toggle (on or off) a display of which hexes are in the LOS of the current Hot
Spot hex. An “X” in a hex indicates no LOS.
Display (or hide) the flag of the controlling side in each Objective hex.
To view it, insert the BG:BullRun CD into your
CD-ROM drive. Open your Windows File Manager (or
Explorer), navigate to your CD-ROM drive and open the
BGN directory. Then open the FDMPROD directory, and
double-click on the PROMO.AVI file.
Display the Jump Window. Select any spot on the jump map, and the game map
will scroll to the corresponding spot.
Cycle the Hot Spot to another unit that has yet to (be designated to) perform an
action pertinent to the current phase.
Activate the A/I (after you have halted it, or if you started the phase not using
A/I but wish to activate it for the remainder of the phase).
6