================================================= Across the Rhine for DOS FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Last revised: January 21, 1997 ================================================= System Requirements =================== IBM PC 33MHz 80486DX compatible or faster MS-DOS 5.0 or higher 4MB RAM Double-speed CD-ROM drive using MSCDEX version 2.22 or higher Super VGA graphics Microsoft Mouse Driver 9.01 or greater Recommended ----------- IBM PC Pentium compatible 8MB RAM for digitized sound Quad-speed CD-ROM drive Local bus or PCI Super VGA video card 16-bit sound card General ======= Q: When I try to install the game, the screens come up OK but the text is garbled. A: This problem occurs if you are running a memory manager that manipulates the video memory. You cannot use a memory manager like QEMM, NetRoom or 386MAX with Across the Rhine. Q: I have True-Dos 7.0 and Across the Rhine will not run. A: Unfortunately, Across the Rhine is designed to run on PC compatible systems using MS-DOS 5.0 or greater and is, therefore, not compatible with True-DOS 7.0. Q: The disk access time and screen changes take forever. Why is this so slow? A: There is a significant increase in speed if you enable SmartDrive with write caching. Q: In battle, my mouse suddenly stopped working or acted funny. I could still move the cursor, but nothing would click and the movement was very jerky. A: Press Alt-F1 to reset your mouse. If this continues to occur, make sure you are using Microsoft Mouse Driver version 9.01 or greater. Q: How do I calibrate the joystick? A: In the battle, press Alt-J. With your mouse, choose your joystick from the list, center the stick and press the SET CENTER button. Move the joystick (and hat, if applicable) to all four corners and press the OK button using your mouse. Sound ===== Q: What is the minimum memory required for digitized sound? A: You must have at least 450K of free conventional memory and 5MB of free XMS memory for digitized sound to work. In addition, in your CONFIG.SYS file, FILES must be set to 40 and BUFFERS must be set to 40. Q: I am not getting digitized sound. Why? A: Across the Rhine requires at least 5MB of free XMS (extended memory) for digital sounds to work. Q: The install is not detecting my Sound Blaster AWE32; it is identifying it as a Sound Blaster 16. A: The install is checking for the SET statements, and since the AWE32 uses the same as a Sound Blaster 16, it will identify it as such. You can change the configuration to the correct settings. Q: How can I disable all the voice messages like "Artillery Firing" without disabling the digital sounds like gunfire and explosions? A: In battle, hit Alt-C to selectively turn on or off the voice messages that you want to hear. Video Setup and Test ==================== To display the following modes, your video card must have the minimum amount of DOS-usable VRAM (Video RAM) as stated below. Note that some accelerator cards may have 2MB of memory or more available for Windows, but only 512K available for DOS. 640 x 480, 800 x 600 requires 512K 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768 requires 1MB 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024 requires 2MB+ If you use a boot disk, make sure that your AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the following line: SET TEMP=C:\TEMP and that the TEMP directory exists on your hard drive. Create this directory by typing "MD \TEMP" at the DOS prompt. Also, if you are using the /SHADOWRAM:ON parameter in your HIMEM.SYS device line, make sure there is a space before the forward slash. For example: DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS /SHADOWRAM:ON Gameplay ======== Q: In pre-battle briefings with partial intelligence, I sometimes see enemy units on the map, but when I go into battle, they don't show up. A: This is correct; partial intelligence may or may not be correct. Q: I sent out Air Assets (recon or attack) and en route, they disappeared. What happened? A: If an air unit flies over enemy units that anti-aircraft units, the air asset may be shot down. Q: I gave platoon orders to advance and attack, but when they made contact, they turned around and ran like cowards. Why? A: Units will not act outside of their doctrine and training. For example, you can order an infantry unit to advance against Tiger tanks, but once they engage the tanks, they will withdrawal. Q: I started a battle as a sergeant, and now I can only control one platoon. How can I control more than my one platoon? A: You can create your character with the rank of major, so you can control all the companies, or you can change the reality option of Rank Control to full control instead of historical. Q: In a Delay/Counterattack battle scenario in the pre-battle briefing, the Map window has a blue vertical line going down the right quarter of the screen. A: This represents the defensive line you previously held. Q: How do I save a custom-built battle in the battle builder? A: Set up everything the way you want it, then simply exit the battle builder. The battle will automatically be saved. Q: In the Organization screen, I can rest platoons, but I cannot rest assets. A: Correct. Assets are allotted per battle, and you cannot hold them back in order to use them later. Manual Changes ============== In all organization screens, the following colors are used as unit overlays to indicate special status: Orange Fill Platoon/Unit is rested. Blue Fill Unit is broken down. Gray Fill Unit is destroyed. Orange Border Platoon/Unit is attached. Red Border This is your HQ Section and HQ Unit. Page 35 ------- The Invulnerability option in the Battle Reality Options is incorrect. While INVULNERABLE, none of the vehicles in the character's platoon can be destroyed. Page 66 ------- In the Platoon's active subordinate list, once a unit has been put out of action it is listed as Knocked Out; therefore, it is removed from the list. Page 71 ------- You can remove your highest numbered waypoint by right-clicking anywhere on the Zoom Map only. Page 76 ------- Fighter Bomber attacks will search for targets around the target icon, make any attacks and exit the map. Fighter bombers may be automatically attacked by units with anti-aircraft capabilities, but they may not be manually targeted. Page 88 ------- Gun Homes must be added in the location of an existing house. They cannot replace the larger buildings in cities. Page 91 ------- In the Organization paragraph, the statement concerning the Data Viewer is incorrect. The full Data Viewer is available in the battle builder. Page 91 ------ The following additional Data Viewer controls are active. You can switch nationalities by left-clicking the Nationality Symbol under the unit name. Left-clicking on the center button of the compass will rotate the object. The PREV/LIST/NEXT switch will allow you to scroll through the other units or activate a list of units which you may select by left-clicking on the desired name. Pages 122-123 ------------- The Combat unit descriptions for Assault Guns and Mortars are missing the appropriate military icons for these units. These icons are listed correctly in the Appendix. Designer Comments from Jim Day, Producer and Designer ===================================================== Please keep in mind that Across the Rhine is a complex program that combines the elements of a sim and a strategy game into one product. You must play it for a period of time to become comfortable with its systems and concepts. Platoon/Section Level AI ------------------------ Individual platoons and sections follow their company orders or individual detached orders until they spot an enemy formation and break for combat. They then determine individual combat maneuvers based on their company level orders. The company level orders control how aggressive a platoon or section is in combat. A company with Break Contact orders tends to run away, while a company with Assault orders tends to close with the enemy. The platoons and sections also determine their combat maneuvers based on the type of unit they are and the nature of the opposing forces. HQ and mortar units do not generally close with the enemy. If the friendly units are totally unable to hurt the opposing forces, they will probably turn away. They have a basic survival instinct built into their AI. This does not mean that they are cowards, but they will determine their actions based on an evaluation of the overall situation. They also attempt to flank and trap the opposing force, so all units may not move in the same directions. Map Zoom -------- The map zoom has three basic levels: full, company and platoon. When at the full or company level, only the company level icons are displayed on the map. When at the platoon level, all of a company's platoons and sections are displayed on the map. Clicking on the icons on the toolbar also changes the zoom level of the map. If the toolbar is set to look at company level units, clicking on a combat icon switches to the company level zoom. If the toolbar is set on platoon level units, clicking on a combat icon switches to the platoon level zoom. Targeting --------- Look for the target indicator on the lower left of the 3-D views. When that is visible, you have a good line-of-fire to a target. Remember, you can manually fire at friendly targets--be careful. Pregame Interface ----------------- The main menus for the U.S. and Germans are in 320 x 200 x 256-color graphics mode. These screens are displayed in that mode due to the full-motion video running in the background. If not, the video would run far too slow. There are not any 320 x 200 x 16-color screens in the game. Disk Accessing and Loading -------------------------- It is recommended that you have SmartDrive loaded for Across the Rhine. The default settings for your system is more than adequate; Across the Rhine does not require any special size for SmartDrive. If not loaded, there is a great deal of disk access that goes on. This is generally true of many programs. We are not aware of any incompatibility problems with SmartDrive. Across the Rhine does have a great deal of data to load before a battle starts and when you initialize the battle builder. Unfortunately, it cannot be helped. We recommend using SmartDrive to alleviate this problem.