Tutorial problem - no fort McHenry no US Grant

[Art99]

Hi everyone. I bought this game a few weeks ago and can't remember ever having such trouble figuring out how to play a game. I am trying to use the tutorial now that shows how command structure works. On the 2nd page it says to click on the region with Fort McHenry which is supposed to be in Baltimore, MD. I see Baltimore but there is no Ft McHenry anywhere. Later the tutorial mentions clicking on a US Grant icon and it is also nowhere to be found. It seems as if the map and the tutorial are not in synch. This game could really use a search function to help find things. Rather than blue or gray dots representing units, towns and forts they should use a different color to help locate units when the map is in the birds eye view too.

I just downloaded and installed the most recent patch maybe it messed up the tutorial map or something. I dunno , maybe there is more than one Fort McHenry. I love how they went to such great lengths to add so much detail but unfortunately when it takes weeks or months just to figure out how to start a game most people will give up and play something else.

Thanks for any advice on how to get started with this game

[apd1004]

I just bought the game about a month ago myself, and it didn't take long to realize the tutorial is broke.

Don't let that be your impression of the game though. ACW really is an awesome game. I ordered the digits-only version of the game, so I have no printed documents. The pdf documents I have are not too far off synch with the tutorial, but it is still broke. The latest version of the game is 1.12 and can be downloaded from the forum here.

The tutorial is broke because it has not been updated like the rest of the game has. Not sure which version you are looking at, but I don't recall there being any mention of Fort McHenry or Baltimore. Again, I have the digits-only version so mine may be different than the boxed version. There is a Fort Henry, but that is west of Nashville TN and is where the tutorial that I have takes place. That is also one area that used to be broke in the tutorial - the main map in version 1.12 has forts Henry and Donelson combined into a single fort icon, but in the tutorial it shows them as 2 separate forts which is the way the game originally was released. This may have been fixed in 1.12, not sure.

The manual that I have on digits is also way behind but there is an update file that comes with the patch that lists what the changes have been to date.

As I mentioned, the official game has been updated very well to incorporate a lot of realism updates from the public.

My best advice to you is to read the forums here, to include a couple of the AAR's. After brushing aside the tutorial, I started with the 1861 western theater scenario and followed a very good AAR on the scenario from this forum. Here it is:

http://www.ageod-forum.com/showthread.php?t=11205

There is also the ACW Wiki which is very helpful too, and provides some clarity to the differences in the current versions of the game and the older manual.

ACW is a very cool game, and the historical accuracy and level of detail are incredible, thanks to the users who have made that possible. Don't give up on it because of the tutorial!

[arsan]

Hi guys!

It's possible the tutorial is a little outdated (although it was revised recently if i'm not mistaken) but the differences should be small (maybe a railroad removed here or there). But not that much i think
Art99 , you are mistaken about Baltimore. The tutorial take place only aroudn Tennessee and Kentucky. Forget about Baltimere and teh east coast for the moment

As Apd1004 hints, you should check for Ft Henry/ Ft Donelson (two forts very near each other o real history that are represented justa s one on game) in the confluence of three big rivers (Cumberland & Ohio & Tennesse rivers).

If you are not familiar with USA geography (like i was back then :bonk it can be a little difficult to find places aroudn. But after playing a little you will know half the states by heart .

Maybe using the pdf version of the tutorial you can find on the Windows start menu on the AACW group. There you ahev teh same interactive tutorial explained on text and with screens that will help you locate things.
About US Grant, its not a place, but the USA general US Grant.

Two little tips that can help (probably you already know...)
1 - you can zoom in and out of the map with the mouse wheel.
2 - check the tool tips over units, regions and interface buttons. They are very useful

Regards!

PS: if you have the 1.11 patch or a later one installed, use the shortcut keys Control+F to get a box where you can search any map region by name

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Le Ricain]

Hi everyone. I bought this game a few weeks ago and can't remember ever having such trouble figuring out how to play a game. I am trying to use the tutorial now that shows how command structure works. On the 2nd page it says to click on the region with Fort McHenry which is supposed to be in Baltimore, MD. I see Baltimore but there is no Ft McHenry anywhere. Later the tutorial mentions clicking on a US Grant icon and it is also nowhere to be found. It seems as if the map and the tutorial are not in synch. This game could really use a search function to help find things. Rather than blue or gray dots representing units, towns and forts they should use a different color to help locate units when the map is in the birds eye view too.

I just downloaded and installed the most recent patch maybe it messed up the tutorial map or something. I dunno , maybe there is more than one Fort McHenry. I love how they went to such great lengths to add so much detail but unfortunately when it takes weeks or months just to figure out how to start a game most people will give up and play something else.

Thanks for any advice on how to get started with this game

I could have sworn that I have seen this post somewhere else.

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Art99]

I posted this ONCE in the strategy forum and why it appears here too is a total mystery to me. Shortly after I made the post I realized a reading error I had made and posted this in the strategy forum too but it' doesn't show in this thread :

"Opps very sorry for my post. I misread what it said in the tutorial it was Ft Henry not Ft McHenry and US Grant is located there too so hopefully I can start figuring this out and get playing now"

Unfortunately after I went back to the tutorial again it told me to click the next turn button and then the window with the tutorial dialogue completely disappeared so it was useless for me. I am using the most recent patch located on this web site.

I hate to say this but after putting well over 10 hours into the game so far I'm pretty much where I started at as far as playing it goes. I'm a veteran war game addict and have mastered complex games like Hearts of Iron but this game requires more patience to figure out than Mother Teresa had.
It just doesn't seem to be very well designed or intuitive. Cumbersome and tedious is how I describe it. Maybe I'll just take a break from it and try again in a couple of weeks. While I was writing this I noticed several PDF files in the game folder which I'll look at and maybe that will get me straightened out since the tutorial in the game is screwed. Honestly though , when a game requires hours and hours just to learn the most basic things it usually goes back on the shelf at my house. The problem with the manual is that important basics are scattered in between reams and reams of details and should be located in one area instead of just being glossed over. The mini map is pretty useless as well. Units, forts and towns should all have different symbols - having them all as blue or gray dots is not very helpful. It's almost easier just to scroll the regular map to find units than with the mini map. There are some other serious flaws as well. I applaud AGEod for all their hard work researching things but they should focus on game play and design issues first. After all this is a game not a history book.

Cheers

[videogames10]

One of the newest changes that is being implemented is the disabling of the ability to form Corps until 1862 Early Mar. (both sides). This is being implemented in v1.12a.

I'm assuming this is going to be a hard change. Or, are you guys going to include a toggle in the options menu?

Lensman, you may want to provide a note in the tutorial for the newcomers.

[Le Ricain]

You did, but he's new... We'll cut him some slack until he's more comfortable with AGEod's forum layout.

No problem. Art99, welcome to the forum.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[videogames10]

No option, it's historical fact. The Corp formation was not in use until sometime in 1862.

Oh, I know; I wasn't questioning that fact. I was just curious about the toggle, because some people may simply prefer to bypass one particular facet of historical accuracy in order to use corps from the outset in all of the campaigns. Just a gameplay preference thing. No big deal.

The tutorial teaches how to form Corps, which is the point. It takes a lot of work to modify the Tutorials and then have all the accompanying translations. (5 languages). I'm sure they'll learn soon enough about all the historical quirks that are built into the game and not just Corp formation restrictions.

I understand, but be prepared for an onslaught of confusion and head scratching; although, a toggle could potentially go beyond just simple gameplay preference by also providing a clue to newcomers as to what is going on with the corps.

Anyway, it really doesn't matter to me because I read this board, but I'd hate to see new players pass on this game out of frustration. The tutorials are critical in that regard. Just trying to help.

[Primasprit]

Anyway, it really doesn't matter to me because I read this board, but I'd hate to see new players pass on this game out of frustration. The tutorials are critical in that regard. Just trying to help.

Any hints how to improve the accessibility of the game for new players are welcome of course!
I admit the tutorials are not really the strongest part of the games and some patience is surely necessary to understand how it works.

Cheers
Norbert

[videogames10]

Any hints how to improve the accessibility of the game for new players are welcome of course!

I realize you guys are strapped for time, but anything that could be added to the tutorials would only help this game. That, and updating the manual.

Furthermore, what might be helpful to new players would be a step-by-step run-through from the first turn of a campaign (i.e. an addendum to the existing tutorials). Not a complete walkthrough of the grand campaign, of course, but just enough to allow players to become comfortable with the decision making process as the game progresses. Many different gameplay aspects can be covered cohesively this way.

Although the tutorials are nicely done and are quite helpful with certain aspects of the game, I think new players are still going to be overwhelmed from the first turn of a campaign. They’re simply going to stare at the map and the ledger and not know what to do, which is when they’ll begin mumbling in incoherent gibberish while reaching toward the sky trying to catch butterflies that are not really there.

I know, a lot of work and so little time; therefore, feel free to file my suggestion under miscellaneous pipe dreams.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[Jarkko]

I strongly suggest playing the Far West scenario after the tutorials. Most things of the game (minus naval business) I learned playing that scenario a few times

[Gray_Lensman]

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[biggp07]

Any date estimation as to when the 1.12a "official patch will be released? I know not the place (in the forum) to ask but was here and thought about it anyway...sorry!

[biggp07]

Any hints how to improve the accessibility of the game for new players are welcome of course!
I admit the tutorials are not really the strongest part of the games and some patience is surely necessary to understand how it works.

Cheers
Norbert

Yes, patience and the desire to learn the game mechanics. Not everything in this world is handed to you. Or perhaps I have too much time on my hands!

[videogames10]

I've been asking for a manual update since last year, so I suspect it's not going to happen anytime soon, though occasionally I hear rumors myself. You have to remember, you bought a great game, BUT, it's two years old, the programmer/developers are programming for a living not a hobby meaning they have newer higher priorities to work on in order to literally pay their bills. We are very fortunate that they are still working with us after 2 full years to remove historical inaccuracies and add other enhancements to the game. Fortunately, they'll continue to do this. Most of the improvements and enhancements and bug removals that you are currently seeing in the latest release version as opposed to v1.00 are user driven changes, except for game engine changes themselves. The volunteers are a small group, that are slowly over time, making necessary changes to the game as we can get to them.

The efforts of everyone involved who continually try to improve this game are greatly appreciated.

And, I suspect that much of the ongoing work that is being done with this game will be carried over to the next installment should there be one.

It has always been this way, unfortunately. New gamers come on board and admittedly are baffled at first by the complexity of the game and the convoluted learning process and the first thing they post about is the tutorials and the manual. I fully sympathasize with all of you, but generally, after a while you pick up on how to play the game by sheer practice and determination and consistent picking thru these forum threads. Luckily, there's no lack of helpful comments for any question you might post.

Posting a step-by-step run thru would truly be nice, but it would take a volunteer to do it that not only is willing to take the week(s) of time necessary to go back and forth repeating endless moves to test the new "tutorials" but be thoroughly familiar with all the necessary requirements to make this new "scenario" from the ground up. There are very few people able to understand how to actually make new scenarios, in the required .xls database format, let alone convert them to work with the game engine compiler so that each update they would remain compatible.

Just something that might be considered in the future, perhaps.