War and Peace ReadMe File Version 1.0 03.11.02 About this document: This file contains last-minute information relating to War and Peace. It contains answers to questions you may have regarding the game or your computer. Reading this file may save you from having to call our Technical Support. To keep up-to-date with all the latest information concerning War and Peace, visit our website at www.warandpeace-game.com I. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS II. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS III. GAME SETTINGS IV. ADDITIONS TO THE MANUAL I. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Minimum system requirements: OS: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Processor: PIII 800 Mhz or equivalent RAM: 128MB RAM Graphics: 32MB 3D-card fully compatible with DirectX 8.1 Sound: Sound card fully compatible with DirectX 8.1 CD drive Input: Keyboard / mouse Hard disk: 900MB of free space Recommended system requirements: Processor: PIII 1 Ghz or equivalent RAM: 256MB RAM II. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS This game has been optimised for Microsoft DirectX 8.1. To ensure the game functions correctly, it is imperative that you install the latest DirectX 8.1 compatible drivers available for your graphics and sound cards. These drivers can be obtained from the manufacturers of your sound and graphics cards. It is highly recommended that you close all other applications before running the game. Leaving other applications running may cause conflicts which may in turn cause the game to function incorrectly. It is not possible to quit the game by pressing Alt + F4. Pressing Alt + Tab to quit the game will neither pause it nor cut the sound and music. If playing War and Peace on a bi-monitor set up, the Windows cursor may appear on the game screen. If this happens, press Alt - Tab twice to make it disappear. If a semi-transparent beige filter is covering the screen and preventing you from using the mouse, then the console may be activated. See the next section on how to turn the console on and off. III. GAME SETTINGS You can change the game settings by clicking on the 'Settings' button in the CD's autorun menu or by clicking on Start/Programs/Microids/War and Peace. The drop-down menu on the top right of the settings screen gives you access to two pre-settings and a user setting: - the 'Best performance' pre-setting automatically sets the game options to the lowest quality. It is recommended you run the game on this pre-setting if your computer just meets the minimum system requirements. - the 'Highest quality' pre-setting automatically sets the game options to the highest quality. It is recommended you run the game on this pre-setting if your computer meets the recommended system requirements. - 'User settings' lets you select and save your own settings. Click on one of the three tabs to select the options you want to change: '3D Options', 'Game Options', and 'Audio Settings'. The '3D Options' tab lets you set: - the game's resolution. Choose between: 800*600 and 1024*756. - colour depth: 16 bits or 32 bits. - town detail levels and building animations. - range of vision: move the bar to the right to increase the range of vision. - sea detail levels: tick the 'animation' box to turn on wave animation. - forest density: only set this to 'High' if you have a powerful computer. Tick the 'animation' box and trees will sway in the wind. - landscape detail: move the bar to the right to increase the detail of the landscape. - sky detail: tick the 'animation' box and clouds will move across the sky. The 'Game Options' tab lets you set: - the length of time corpses are displayed on-screen. Move the bar to the right to increase the length of time corpses remain on-screen. You can also set the maximum number of corpses that will appear on-screen at the same time. - mouse pointer speed. Move the bar to the right to increase the in-game pointer speed. You can also invert the mouse's vertical axis. - ticking the 'Animated menus' box will cause the landscape to scroll by in the background behind the game's menus. The 'Audio Settings' tab lets you set: - your audio driver - the volume of the music and sound fx. Move the bar to the right to increase the volume. - you can also turn the sound on or off and set the sound quality level. IV. ADDITIONS TO THE MANUAL Maximum number of ground and naval regiments: You cannot have more than 60 ground and naval regiments. Once the figure in the information box representing the number of ground and naval regiments turns red, you can't construct any more regiments. Generals, admirals and spies are all worth one regiment each. Embarkation: If you want to order a mass embarkation, you need to select all the ground units and ships present on the screen. Now click on a ship capable of transporting troops: all your ground units will embark on the various waiting ships. Defeat conditions: Losing your capital or a number of towns (which varies according to the level of difficulty) will cause you to lose the game. Victory and defeat warnings: When the number of towns in the information box turns orange, you will lose the game if you lose 2 more towns. When the number of towns in the information box turns red, it means defeat is imminent: you will lose the game if you lose 1 more town. When the number of towns in the information box turns green, you will win the game if you capture 1 more town. Ambassador responses: After you've sent a diplomatic message, ambassadors will let you know what their response is by flashing red for a negative reply and green for a positive reply. You can always read the response by clicking on the 'Messages sent' button. Extra keyboard shortcuts: Num Enter will return the game to normal speed (x1). M lets you launch a unit's special attack (same function as the 'special attack' button in the interface). Holding down E will display symbols representing the unit type (infantry, cavalry, artillery) under enemy units. The symbols will disappear once you release the key. ` and INSERT will call up the console. This appears as a semi-transparent beige window and a prompt. Press either ` or INSERT again to make it disappear.