Fifth Dimension

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Rapid Response volume 1 of the trilogy A graphics strategy game by Keith Laverty and Jason Pellerin An MVP Software Production MVP Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 or send a Compuserve message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. About MVP Software MVP Software was founded in 1985. Initially marketing software via direct mail-order channels only, in 1989 it began offering titles through shareware outlets, and in 1991 released its first graphics arcade/adventure retail-only game. MVP Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Inc. Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corp. Copyright 1991 MVP Software All rights reserved Rapid Response Order Form YES! I would like to test my command abilities in volumes 2 and 3 of Rapid Response. I understand I will receive not only volumes 2 and 3, but also a FREE bonus game from MVP Software. I'm enclosing $20 for the software and $3.00 for shipping ($4.00 from Canada; $5.00 from overseas). Name ________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State ______ ZIP _______________ Country (if outside USA) ____________________________________________ CIRCLE DISK SIZE: 5-1/4" -or- 3-1/2" IMPORTANT! Price of the Rapid Response trilogy $20.00 Shipping and Handling 3.00 Shipping and Handling to Canada add $1.00 Shipping and Handling to other countries add $2.00 Michigan residents sales tax add $ .92 Make check payable to "MVP Software" Total enclosed: $__________ Master Card/Visa information (credit card orders only) Card number __________________________________________ Expiration _________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTARY QUESTIONS: Please help us determine what features you would like ==================== in upgrades and future products. Circle what type of equipment you have: 8088 286 386 486 Circle the speed of your computer(Mhz): 10 12 16 20 25 33 40 50 ___ Circle any that apply: Joystick Mouse Modem_______ SVGA card____________ (speed) (type) Where did you get the shareware version of Rapid Response? Friend CompuServe GEnie AOL Prodigy Software Creations BBS (name): _______________________ phone # __________________________ address _______________________________________________________________ Shareware Distributer (name): _________________________________________ address _______________________________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Send this order form and your check to: MVP Software, 1035 Dallas S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1407 From the US or Canada call 800-968-9684 toll-free 24-hour order line. Call (616) 245-8376 tech support, information, or overseas orders. This game is a tactical nuclear field combat simulator. As the General of the yellow forces, you will test your command abilities against one of the eight different generals in the game, controlled by the computer. You will command the yellow forces whereas the computer will command the blue forces. The battle field is being monitored by satellite which means that you will be able to see the enemy forces even when your ground and air forces don't have a line of sight on them. The ground and air forces that you command for the most part will be non-nuclear; however just a single nuclear warhead and resulting radiation can have a have a profound effect on the flow of the battle. The battle will either be fought for the control of objective flags or the complete elimination of enemy forces. Starting Instructions --------------------- To start the game type RR, and press RETURN. The Map ------- The first thing you should know is that the map is in a four section overlapping hex map. To move from section to section all you have to do is move the cursor to the edge of the map. On the map itself you will find different types of terrain and troops. You will also see roads, yellow and blue objective flags, and the cursor. But there are still things you will not see. These are anti-vehicle land mines, radiated hexes, and yellow and blue airports. The land mine may only blow up vehicles. The radiated hexes will kill all infantry and non-nuclear hardened vehicles. The airport allows you a point to load and unload transport air craft. If air craft are at an airport when the airport is overrun, the air craft may be destroyed on the ground. Forms of Combat --------------- There are three forms of combat in which you can engage. The first is the In-Hex Battle (IH). This is where a number of yellow and blue ground forces are in the same hex. The game will draw the yellow and blue battle 'X' on the hex to show the battle in progress. When units are engaged in this form of battle they can't be moved until the battle has been concluded. The second form of combat is the Dog-Fight (DF). This is where yellow and blue high altitude units are in the same hex. The game may or may not show the Battle 'X' depending upon whether the combatants have fully committed. Again once the units are involved they can't be moved until the battle has been decided. The final form of combat is that of the Range Attack (RA). In this attack you use a range weapon to strike a hex or air unit. In the case of firing at a hex the damage that occurs is dangerous to the firing side as well as the enemy. This hex attacking can be done from a 175mm Gun, SPG, GML, or CSF. In the case of firing at enemy air units the AAM will pick out a enemy air craft inside the hex you fire at. The AAM is effective even when you fire at a DF hex. Once you have fired, the unit you used will need time to reload. You will not be able to launch a RA if your unit is involved in either a IH or DF. Giving Orders ------------- Game Commands: ARROWS Moves Cursor 1 Moving Units 2 Range Weapon 3 Join Units 4 Detach Unit 5 Set Group SPACE Displays all yellow and blue forces in the hex TAB Displays Hex Information and Pauses the Game ESC Surrenders the Campaign F1 Help Screen F2 Activate Keyboard Mode F3 Activate Joystick Mode F4 Change Game Speed Setting F5 Load a Previously Saved Campaign F6 Save the Current Campaign F7 View Descriptions of Troop Types F8 View Terrain Hex Discriptions F9 Get an Campaign Undate F10 Review the Mission Briefing Unit Selection Display (USD) ---------------------------- The USD is the first thing that will meet you when you use commands 1 thru 5. The Display is as follows: UNIT C I A E AT AA ?? ? # # # # # GROUP: ? The UNIT shows which unit you are currently on and if the unit is armed with a nuclear warhead. If the unit has nuclear capability then a 'N' is placed after it. Cargo Carried (C)- Shows what unit if any is being carried or towed. Infantry Squads (I)- Gives amount present. Air-Borne Squads (A)- Gives amount present. Elite Squads (E)- Gives amount present. Anti-Vehicle Missile Squad (AT)- Gives amount present. Anti-Air Craft Missile Squad (AA)- Gives amount present. The GROUP shows the group letter of the unit. A blank represents that the unit is ungrouped and acts alone. USD Commands: LEFT Last Unit RIGHT Next Unit ENTER Select the Current Unit C Abort Selection and return to Game Commands Moving Units (1) ---------------- After you have moved to the hex of the unit you wish to move and press '1' the lower screen will give you the USD. Now you select the unit you wish to have moved. If that unit is attached to a group the follow display will come up: ORDER TYPE 1 INDIVIDUAL 2 GROUP 3 UNENGAGED GROUP You can either use the number key or use the up and down Arrows and ENTER to select the option. If you select the 1 option then the unit you selected will be the only member of the group to be moved. Selecting the 2 option will move all members of the group. The final 3 option will move all member of the group that at that point have no movement orders. You should now be greeted with the 'MOVE' prompt. You now have the follow commands: Movement Commands: ARROWS Extending Movement Path BACK SPACE Move the Movement Path back one space C Cancels Movement Path and enters no movement S Starts the Path over from the Beginning ENTER Enters in the Movement Path When you extend the movement path you will see a little purple 'x' in your past positions. The movement path can only be extended for 40 hexes at one time. Once you have either entered or canceled the movement path you will return to the game commands. The unit/group will move at its own pace during the playing of the game. Range Weapon (2) ---------------- You will have moved to the proper hex and pressed '2' to receive the USD from which to pick a unit to fire a range weapon. Carried units are not capable of firing a range weapon. Once the desired unit is selected the computer will post a message. If this message is 'NO RANGE WEAPON' then the unit has no range weapon and you must choose another. When the message reads 'UNIT NEEDS TO RELOAD' this means that the unit is reloading from last time fired or has recently been involved in a IH or DF. This message will return you to the Game Commands. If the message is 'UNIT DISABLED' then you can't use the unit for the duration of the disablement. The final message is that of a proper usage which is 'PLACE ON TARGET'. The follow are a list of range weapon commands: Range Weapon Commands ARROWS Moves the Cursor S Restarts the Target Selection Cursor ENTER Fire Weapon at Current Target C Cancel Firing and Goto Game Commands Each range weapon has its own range and when that range is exceeded your attempts to move the cursor will fail. To receive a fresh range and location you press 'S'. If you are firing a AAM there is the possibility that the computer will display a prompt that says the 'TARGET NOT AIR BORNE' in which case you can press any key with the same result as pressing 'S'. When a target has been picked and the weapon fired the explosion of the proper type of weapon is displayed. In the case of the use of a nuclear warhead a mushroom cloud will appear and then a fallout cloud. The fallout cloud is invisible and moves with the wind and leaves hot hexes. Join Units (3) -------------- Move to the proper hex and press '3'. Then you will receive two USDs each for a unit you wish to join. If you try to join were one or more units are air borne then you will receive the 'THESE UNITS CANNOT JOIN' message. At which time you will go to the game commands. If not you will come to the Unit Redeployment Chart (URC) at which you have these commands: Unit Redeployment Chart Commands UP Go up one Position DOWN Go down one Position RIGHT Move a count from Unit #1 to #2 LEFT Move a count from Unit #2 to #1 ENTER Finished Arranging the Units C Cancel Unit Joining S Restart the Joining of the Two Units Detach Unit (4) --------------- If you are already at the maximum number of units on the map then nothing will happen when you press '4'. Otherwise a USD will occur when you press '4'. If the unit you select has no cargo and too few infantry you will receive the 'THIS UNIT CANNOT DETACH' message, and you will be returned to the game commands. If the unit can be detached then you get the URC. If you are detaching from an air borne Transport Aircraft then the only units you can detach are Air Borne Squads and Armored Personal Carriers. If you are detaching from a Transport Helicopter into a combat situation then the helicopter stays in the fight as troop support. Regardless of the situation, you can't detach in a hot hex or a water hex. Set Group (5) ------------- Place the cursor in position and press '5'. A modified version of the USD will be given. In this form of the USD the commands are as follows: Commands LEFT Last Unit RIGHT Next Unit UP Back one Group Letter DOWN Forward one Group Letter ENTER Group Assignments Completed C Cancel Unit Grouping S Restart Unit Grouping from Beginning The groups from which you have to choose are A thru I and to be unattached to any group. Grouping only affects movement. Display All Yellow and Blue forces in the Hex (SPACE) ----------------------------------------------------- This will give you the yellow forces in a row. If any of this units are disabled then a red box display of the unit will appear instead of the normal unit. If there is more than 24 units in the hex then a second, third, or fourth row of units are given before the blue forces are displayed. When the blue forces are displayed the same rules apply, with the exception that when the blue forces are completed you will return to the game commands. Display Hex Information (TAB) ----------------------------- This will give you extra information on the hex your cursor is on. This information starts with the identification of the terrain of the hex. This consists of a picture of the hex and the name of the terrain given next to it. The next piece of information is whether a road is there and if so what direction it leads. It will then tell you whether there is a airport on that hex. This is important because it's the only way to know if an airport exists. The last thing that is given is the wind sock in the upper right corner of the lower display. This wind sock gives the wind direction which is important to know when using nuclear weapons. The last function is that this as well as all other commands will pause the game. Surrendering the Campaign (ESC) ------------------------------- Once you press this you will be given the option to surrender. I know you don't want to use this key, but sometimes it is necessary. It is the only way, other than reseting the computer, to back out of the campaign without a win. You should also use it in case of a stalemate where no mobile or offensive troops remain. Help Screen (F1) ---------------- This will give you a list of commands as well as a brief discription of what the key does. This function is avaible most of the time you are inside the simulator. You press any key to return to your previous menu. Keyboard Mode (F2) ------------------ This will activate the keyboard and return you from joystick mode. The game assumes keyboard mode when it starts. Joystick Mode (F3) ------------------ This will activate the joystick. The keyboard commands can still be used while in joystick mode. When entering this mode you will be asked to center your stick. Please carefully follow the instructions on the screen at this time. During the centering of the stick if you wish to return to keyboard mode please press ESC. Modifying Game Speed (F4) ------------------------- There are three game speeds: slow, medium, and fast. Each time you press 'F4' the game speed will get faster until it moves from fast to slow. Pressing any other key than 'F4' will get you back to the game commands. The Joystick will act as key presses in the following ways: Joystick Keyboard Equivalent Directions --> Arrow Keys Button A --> Enter or Space on Game Commands Menu Button B --> 'C' for Cancel Load an Old Campaign (F5) ------------------------- This will give you the Load Game Menu. You have three previously saved game slots to choose from. At this time if you don't wish to load a game then press 'C' to cancel selection. Otherwise you use the up and down arrows to move the pointer and ENTER to select the old game to continue. Save the Current Campaign (F6) ------------------------------ This will give you the save game menu. You have three slots in which you can save your game. You use the up and down arrows to move the pointer and the ENTER key to select the slot. If you decide not to save your campaign then you can press 'C'. You can label these slots with a comment up to 22 characters in length in order to better refresh your memory when you go to replay that campaign. View Discriptions of Troop Types (F7) ------------------------------------- This will give you the name of a unit, the marker, offensive rating, defensive rating, speed, and a description of the unit's capabilities. You use the left and right arrows to change the troop type you are looking at. Any other key will return you to your previous menu. View Terrain Hex Discriptions (F8) ---------------------------------- This will give you the name of a terrain hex, the marker, a definition of the hex, and a description of how it affects the various units attempting to defend or cross the hex. You use the left and right arrows to change the terrain hex you are looking at. Any other key will return you to your previous menu. Campaign Update (F9) -------------------- This will give you what units you have remaining on the map, blue casualties, flags held, yellow casualties, and time elapsed since the beginning of play. These various pieces of information add up to determine your score. Different campaigns will grade you on accomplishing different things. Any key will return you to your previous menu. Review Mission Briefing (F10) ----------------------------- This will replay the original mission briefing you recieved just before the campaign began. You use the up and down arrows to change the text window you are looking at. Any other key will return you to your previous Menu.