In June of 1940, Nazi Germany was so near the victory as ever podria to have it been during the five years of conflict. Much people still think of World War II, that began with the invasion of Poland in 1939, but in 1940 it was not still a world war totally. It was a war between Germany (and from Italy June) on the one hand, and England and France by another one. In June, France still fell and Hitler only tapeworm an enemy still on. If England had been able of to be suitable La Paz - and two members of the five men of the cabinet of emergencia military of Winston Churchill favored the opening of negotiations with Germany - the war habria finished, and the power of the Axis podria to remain on Europe from the Atlantic, to the Soviet border. An immediate invasion of England in June podria to have had a reasonable possibility of success, but the strategists of the Axis were so little preparations, as England for the collapse unforeseen circumstance of France. Therefore, until the 21 of July the invasion was not decided: Leon operation of Sea. The 31 of July, Adolph Hitler fixed the date for the Leon of Sea the 15 of September.
The German army prepared a great plan to invade all the South coast of England. The German Navy felt that the plan was not feasible. All the available one to cross the narrow one was one limited and many-colored fleet of boats, hulls, light steam of recreation and other ships. This was considered sufficient to have a disembarked suitable aggressor forces in a limited front, but only if the RAF and the Navy could remain far. Nevertheless, if the RAF were destroyed, it was probable that the Luftwaffe could maintain to ray to the English Navy. In fact, creia possible that the great boats of the Navy podrian not to be sent to battle, but is fugarian to Canada to fight in another occasion. In summary, therefore, the possibilities of the Leon Operation of Sea are reducian to a simple question - podria the Luftwaffe to throw both to the RAF of the sky during next months before equinocio of autumn did impossible to cross the channel light boats? The marshal of the Reich Herman Goering, head of the Luftwaffe nontapeworm doubts, and convinced to the High Command of the Axis, of which they let to him try it. Batalla of England began the 12 of August. Goering tapeworm to its disposition a 15 percent more of huntings than the RAF, besides an immense amount of pumps of radar, ports and finally cities. The future of England dependia of the ability and the value of the few hundreds of pilots of huntings of the RAF preparations for the combat. Often during the following months the result hung of a thread, but slowly the pilots of the RAF managed to rout in the Luftwaffe first to Germany during the war.
In "Their finest hour" , you control the commando of huntings of the RAF of the south of England, with which the battle was disputed. Probably you will play several sessions using the option To record Game, but is recommended that you try to play one initially whichever battles of " dia" in order to try your skill and reflections. The battle can continue until the 21 of September, day in which England will win if you have not been defeated; but every day of game, will call you to Churchill to his bunker for informarte of how it values Cabinet military the present situation. If the fight is praised/poured off decisively to your favor, the Luftwaffe will cancel the offensive and Churchill will say to you that there are gained the day. If you lose they are very severe, and you are crushed. Churchill he will ask for your resignation. You can stop a campaign at the end of the game of the day, and one will say to you if you have won or lost on the basis of the present balance of forces.
ADVICE FOR THE PLAYERS
At the outset the map appears very simple, but when they are developed several attacks German, it is easy to be imprisoned of the panic and to lose the control. So taken care of with the attacks that have eluded the control of the radar until last moment and for your interceptions that have missed the formation enemies. Estate preparation to change the direction of the interception you need when it. Every day after the lunch, your pilots they begin to tire, and you will have to bring to most exhausted to the base. You can to decide not to alert to some swarm in the morning, to maintain them fresh for the interceptions of afternoon while others are resting after the early battles. Nevertheless, if beams this, ten well-taken care of of which the attacks German do not take them in earth. The swarms in it alerts " cockpit" or " runway" they can take air by themselves and to fight against the intruders who approach their airports, but those that are not alerted or those that are combat ready " hut" they will be taken hoping.
The rested pilots of median or much experience are more dangerous for the Luftwaffe, so you must choose interceptions with high aggressions while your men are fresh. If they are tired, probably he is better to avoid the battle, unless it is with German formation more vulnerable and with mini fighter escort. swarms that are exhausted and " on the brink of madness his posibilidades" they deberian to be transferred to Scotland, especially if the weather forecast is bad (the enemy attacks are less dangerous). The Luftwaffe will go mainly to by the radar facilities and airports, trying to break through your defenses, before attacking ports debilitating them facing the invasion. The ports cannot be repaired and they do not play more role than the one to give points to the Germans they attack when them with success. Generally, deberias to try to prevent the future attacks, but the enemy groups of forces go to a radar station or airport, the defense is more crucial because the caused damages will be important in the coming hours and days. Your better airplanes are the Spitfires, are fastest and effective. Usalos with care.
1. LOADING AND SELECTING OPTIONS It follows the given instructions of load in the label of the cassette. initial screen is surrounded by a series of drawings or icons, with a hand aiming at one of them. Pressing BREAK/SPACE, you can move hand a any other of the icons. Pressing ENTER with the hand aiming at icon you will confirm the action that realises such icon:
Specific KEYBOARD that you play through keyboard. JOYSTICK Controlas the movement of the cursor by means of joystick (must be of Kempston type). CLOCK You select the speed at which the game is developed and you it asks if you want the option of game of a day. I (for information) not used at the moment. M (to begin the game) you indicate to the computer that you want to begin to play. TAPE You want to again load a game previously recorded. Note on the speed of the game You can select the speed at which the action is developed. You it asks the measurement in which the time passes, between 1 and 255. If nonactive the icon " reloj" , the computer chooses speed 50 by defect, that is appropriate. The novices deberian to begin with a speed around 70 to have time to be accustomed to the game. If you choose speed 255, every day happens slowly, and it has itself long time to plan each action; it will be like playing a table game. A reasonable rank oscillates between 30 (for experts who think at the speed of the lightning) and 150 (stops anxious players to have an ample margin of time to plan). After choosing the speed, he asks himself to you if you want to play the option of a unique day. He responds and or N. When you have finished the selection of options, aim at icon M and press ENTER to begin to play.
2 WEATHER FORECAST The game begins with a brief weather forecast for the morning of the 12 of August. In general terms, whichever better it is the time, ground observers and of radar more easily detect the attacks of the enemy (but also Luftwaffe is easier it to hit the targets). Every day will be a new weather forecast. When there are taken note from the same ENTER beats.
3. VALUE OF INTELLIGENCE You will see a drawing of Winston Churchill and the valuation of intelligence of the enemy group of forces, for each type of airplane. The ME109 are the main ones huntings German; HE111 and JU88 are the heaviest bombers, and more slow; the DO17 (" pencils voladores") a little lighter, but more expresses; the heavy bombers bring about more damages if they hit his targets. It observes that the initial valuation of intelligence can vary whenever you play, but the losses are always moderate against the initial valuation. ENTER beats when you have finished seeing the valuation of intelligence.
4. MAPS The following screen shows three new icons in the area shaded of yellow to the left, and a small map of the south of England. Each point of the map represents a white one on which the enemy can be gliding an attack. These targets include six radar stations, ten bases aerial (numbered 0-9 for easy references) and nine ports.
The map of the main battle is full of information, and to study in detail each area normally you will want a greater scale. It tightens the button of firing of your joystick or key CAPS SHIFT to increase the scale of the area of the shown map. You will jump to a map with greater scale of the area where the cursor was placed. You will also see more clearly the targets. The squaring points within are air bases, the anchors are ports; and five points are radar stations. Tightening CAPS SHIFT it becomes the map from smaller scale. The cursor will be in the same position. The cursor movements are realised with joystick, or the keys in the following directions:
Q W E
A D
Z X C
All the actions mentioned in these instructions are valid in the submaps and the main map, in the same way. You can do " scroll" through the four pieces of the great map moving the cursor to the bottom of each submap to happen to the following one. In order to return to the main map, it tightens the button of firing or CAPS SHIFT like before. It tries to move the cursor outside the faces and to the bottom and ceiling of the maps of great scale, and happens of the maps of small using the fire button or CAPS SHIFT on a large scale until you have become familiar with the movement of the cursor. You will see that you cannot moverte beyond the border of the area of all the map, but can do scroll enters the maps of great scale when moving the cursor.
5. THE DEFENSE PLAN The icons allow you to make several things in each one of the targets like part of the plan of defense of the present day. In order to implement anyone of these options, pon cursor on position - it will be easier if you use the map of great scale - and presses BREAK/SPACE to select the icon appropriate in the edge of the screen; ENTER beats when the hand is aiming at the icon that you have chosen. If the cursor is not on a target will not happen anything, only pitido of warning. The icons and their actions are the following: ANTIAIR GUN (above to the left) - ENTER beats and will appear two drawings more showing guns with you shoot with an arrow ABOVE and DOWN; it chooses one (using BREAK/SPACE) and presses ENTER again to increase (ABOVE) or to fall (DOWN) the amount of anti-aircraft fire (flak) in the present position. Changes can be done every day.
AIRPLANE (left center) - pressing ENTER they appear other two drawings of airplanes with you shoot with an arrow ABOVE and DOWN; it chooses one (with BREAK/SPACE) stops to reinforce the base or to transfer the airplanes outside the map. The airplanes with shoot with an arrow ABOVE are used to reinforce the air bases with pilots rested. You will have said every day, how many rested pilots you have. The airplanes with shoot with an arrow DOWN are used to transfer swarms tired outside the map, to Scotland. The tired swarms recover gradually in Scotland (25% of the pilots arrive rested every day), permiti?ndote to bring them of return later. In the day of transfer the base cannot be used and is still vulnerable to the attack. REPAIRS (down left) - if you press ENTER with the hand aiming at this icon, nothing happens unless the cursor is located on a target that has been damaged. If the target is not damaged, you will receive a message to this end. Organizing intensive repairs of any radar station or base of installation of operation to the day. (In the first day of battle, nothing is damaged). INFORMATION (icon I) - ENTER for information of the present state and the damages of the position beats. If the cursor is not on a point, you will have information of the present disposition of the anti-aircraft fire. TAPE - if ENTER with the hand beats aiming at this icon, you will have opportunity to record or to recommence the game. If you selected the option by mistake, presses BREAK/SPACE to return to where you were. M (main) - this icon activates the clock and it introduces immediately you in the main game. Thus, when you have finished your plan of defense, it selects east icon.
6 SCREEN Now the screen is occupied by the main map of the battle, showing the targets, date and present hour. At the outset they are the six before the dawn. The minutes will pass in agreement with the selected speed of game. The action is developed on all the screen until the end of the day. " Their finest hour" it is a game of continuous action: the one that you are examining the situation of a corner of the map, does not mean that important things are not happening elsewhere. The player must follow the track of all the battle. If you are too much far from an area of the battle map, you can find that some of your facilities located in such zone has been attacked meanwhile. Now you have three new icons in the left face of the screen, that you can select like before. The icons and their meaning are: ALARM SIREN (above left) - it puts in your base or alert status to one more (it watches ALERT). AIRPLANES (left center) - it is used to give aircraft formations your airplanes. You can request a information (you are aiming at its basic number) sent to the present position of the cursor and to remain here, turning, until the fuel finishes to him or receives new orders. If it finds a formation of the Luftwaffe it will attack, it. YOU SHOOT WITH AN ARROW (more down left) - if the cursor is on a base jumps to where it is the formation (that is the airplanes) of such base. If it is a formation of huntings it will jump to the base from which they come. If the pilots are still in their base, the cursor does not move. This option can help you to follow the track (to control) of the formation of a particular airport.
7 INFORMATION If you put the cursor on any target and select I you will obtain information of its state (damages), and in the basic case aerial, the number and type of airplanes, if they are in flight or earth, and the present state of pilot (experience and degree of fatigue). The veteran and fresh pilots operate far better that the tired ones; if in an air base you obtain the message of which the pilots are " on the brink of madness his fuerzas" deberias to make them return as soon as outside possible, because they are easy prey for the Luftwaffe. If you put the cursor on a great cross, that it shows a German formation, you will have the best possible estimation of his size, force and composition (if it is a formation of bombers, huntings or of both). Initially there is no German formation in the air; like they fly within the rank of the radar can be detected, and once they cross the English coastal line will be seen by the observers terrestrial. When it is detected a enemy formation appears suddenly in battle map. Normally you will want to attack the formation of bombers that they have a minimum fire protection, and to ignore the formation of huntings only that have been sent like bait to introduce your airplanes in it battles.
8. ALERT If you want to request a swarm, first they must return the pilots from where it wants that they are (sending letters or by means of the radio), and spends a time before they can respond. Therefore, if delays to use one soon formation, you would have to alert it. There are three degrees of alert: " hut" ( pilots are hoping tensely, dispersed in their places of stay), " cockpit" (they are in his airplanes near the hangars), and " runway" (they are ready to attack). Whichever major is the alert status, will get tired more the pilots while they hope, for that reason are not a good idea to have a stop alert status too much early.
When you want to alert a base, you must as always select the icon of alarm siren (above left). The effect of the selection of alert depends if the cursor is in a base or no. If it is thus, the computer assumes that you want to change the state of the formation maintained here. In another case it is wondered to you if you want to give a local or global alert (it chooses L or G). A local alert is only for a base, of which the number is asked to you. A global alert is for all a region of the commando of huntings of the south. You can choose between the three bases of the west, the four power stations and the three of the east, and all will have the same orders. Whatever your election, you will obtain a new set of four as always used icons. They are: SIREN OF erased ALARM - the alert cancels; if the formation were already in the air it returns to the base. It is useful for tired pilots. HUT - It alerts hut (it does not have any effect if one is in flight). COCKPIT - It alerts cockpit (no effect if it is in the air). AIRPLANE - Alert runway (no effect if it is in the air). The huntings in alert runway will be able to leave and to take care of formation enemy. Those alerted or with a low level of alert cannot be bombed and be destroyed in earth (bad planning).
9 MOVEMENT OF THE AIRPLANES In order to order a swarm to leave and to move in a particular direction, it takes the cursor where you want to go, and uses the icon AIRPLANE. You will be indicating the basic number (from 0 to 9). The airplanes will leave as soon as it is possible and they go to the site that you have indicated; if they already are in flight they will change his course to come here. They will intercept and attack any German formation whose movement crosses its way. When they reach his destiny, remains there (turning on the place) until its fuel it finishes, in which case they return automatically to house. In order to order to a formation to fly to house before its fuel is finished (or because they are canssados or there is no German in the area) pon the cursor upon the formation and uses the alert icon; when you have the list of options presses " 0" in order to cancel the alert and it allows that they return to house (no other change of alert will be accepted when the airplanes are in flight).
10. ATTACKS If a German formation reaches its objective (its direction is controlled by the computer), it carries out an attack. Any anti-aircraft fire that tapeworms in the target it will demolish a enemy airplane by each antiaircraft weapon emplacement. The remaining interests will drop pumps and obte
13. MESSAGES From time to time through game, you will receive messages that can influence in your operations day to day. You must decide how to act on each message of the best way possible - or to even ignore them.
14. ACCELERATION OF THE ACTION If you want to increase speed of game temporarily (perhaps because you want to have the first attacks German to your view), you must press S. You leave when it, the speed of the game will return to the proportion initially putting.
15. ERRORS AND PROBLEMS If you select by mistake an icon, beating ENTER again iron gates the selection. If the game seems to be congealed (it does not advance) is waiting for an entrance of data - a message looks for the bottom of the screen. If it does not have no, has been given information to you of some type and the computer is hoping to that you press ENTER to continue the game.
16. THE NIGHT OF THE DEFEAT When the last German attack has reached its objective or has been forced to retire, the combats are finished by this day, and all the pilots they return automatically to his bases. It will call you to Churchill to his bunker for decirte how the cabinet evaluates the battle military. If you have given to the enemy a mutilador blow, you can win the war of a blow. Otherwise a valuation will occur you and the game continues the following day. You will receive a new weather forecast and will be able to put in movement the plan of defense of the day. The clock will begin to work and the continuous battle like in the previous day.
Note of Nicholas Palmer, designer of the game: "Their finest hour" it is designed to mix the challenge of the games of strategy with the excitation of the rapid action of the computers. Having written " The Comprehensive guide to Board Wargaming" and other books on table games military, I wanted to give the computer players same depth of simulation: if you play a game military deberias to be put under the historical dilemmas, and to have the luck to try different strategies in each game. There are many computer games that they try to simulate air battles; very few are based (like " Its better hora") in the historical reality. At the same time, I wanted to use the computer to add to the tension and excitation which the table games usually lack. Mainly, I wanted to give to players the exhausting sensation to be in center of control, fighting with insufficient information. Even in the first day, the attacks German they will not be detected by radar, until they are halfway on channel, but once the enemy has begun the destruction of radar stations the attacks will change more and more within the emptiness of " ojos" English, and the attacks will be only seen in the last moment: in bad weather they can be happened through even then stop, by a few and precious seconds. If you discover a German formation, you do not know where it directs exactly nor of what apparatuses consist, especially if your radar seriously is damaged. But for fast reactions when they are detected attacks and become intelligent conjectures on the targets to that they direct, you deberias to be able to desarrolar your skill until the point of to be able to play with a speed even faster than the thought one by defect of 50.
The computer is more than a nonintelligent opponent: it gives the possibility of to take advantage of bases damaged radars, and you can receive a series of " blows of martillo" of that your formation never will recover. Each game it presents/displays different a German strategy: in one the Luftwaffe can choose by massive attacks to its targets, in other to flood to the defenses with numerous small attacks, and the strategy will vary by day to day, in agreement with the flow of the battle. Finally, I believe that " Its better hora" he is unique allowing the player to choose " excitaci?n" of the game, from the rapid action to analyses very meditated. Many players will want to begin of a relatively slow way (using the key to lift the speed if he is wanted), and to increase gradually until the last challenge of 30. Some simplifications have been made to play more easily. The thickness of the English effort it was done by Spitfires and Hurricanes; the few swarms of Beauforts, Defiants,? have been ignored. The swarms they have been grouped in ten bases (generally using historical groups 10 and 11 of the sector of airports), and the radar stations in six complexes of radars. The game does not take into account the attacks to cities in the last stage of Battle of England because the decision to happen to these targets was desperate gesture of the controls German in its incapacity to win to RAF in its bases: if the Luftwaffe reaches this stage in the game, the player it will be recognized like winner. To the readers interested in deepening in the subject it is recommended to them books:
Fighter, Len Deighton (Jonathan Cape) Eagle Day, Richard Collier (Bread) The Battle of Britain, Marcel Julien (Panther) Game design (c) Nicholas Palmer 1985 Program (c) John Wilson 1985 Published by Century Communications Limited to division of Century Hutchinson Limited Brookmount House 62-65 Chandos Place London WC2N 4NW Manufactured in great Britain by Cosprint Limited Reserved all the rights. The content of this package is protected by the laws of Copyright and is prohibited any total or partial reproduction by any means or method without authorization of the publisher.
Heres a link to the scanned in instructions and map for 'Their Finest Hour'
Can it be added to the WOS game entry as the link will only be there for a couple of weeks.
Cheers
MevWeb www.mevagissey.net/TFH.zip
PS anyone fancy stitching the images together ?
Comments
Part 1
THEIR FINEST HOUR
Background and instructions.
In June of 1940, Nazi Germany was so near the victory as ever podria to have it been during the five years of conflict. Much people still think of World War II, that began with the invasion of Poland in 1939, but in 1940 it was not still a world war totally. It was a war between Germany (and from Italy June) on the one hand, and England and France by another one. In June, France still fell and Hitler only tapeworm an enemy still on. If England had been able of to be suitable La Paz - and two members of the five men of the cabinet of emergencia military of Winston Churchill favored the opening of negotiations with Germany - the war habria finished, and the power of the Axis podria to remain on Europe from the Atlantic, to the Soviet border. An immediate invasion of England in June podria to have had a reasonable possibility of success, but the strategists of the Axis were so little preparations, as England for the collapse unforeseen circumstance of France. Therefore, until the 21 of July the invasion was not decided: Leon operation of Sea. The 31 of July, Adolph Hitler fixed the date for the Leon of Sea the 15 of September.
The German army prepared a great plan to invade all the South coast of England. The German Navy felt that the plan was not feasible. All the available one to cross the narrow one was one limited and many-colored fleet of boats, hulls, light steam of recreation and other ships. This was considered sufficient to have a disembarked suitable aggressor forces in a limited front, but only if the RAF and the Navy could remain far. Nevertheless, if the RAF were destroyed, it was probable that the Luftwaffe could maintain to ray to the English Navy. In fact, creia possible that the great boats of the Navy podrian not to be sent to battle, but is fugarian to Canada to fight in another occasion. In summary, therefore, the possibilities of the Leon Operation of Sea are reducian to a simple question - podria the Luftwaffe to throw both to the RAF of the sky during next months before equinocio of autumn did impossible to cross the channel light boats? The marshal of the Reich Herman Goering, head of the Luftwaffe nontapeworm doubts, and convinced to the High Command of the Axis, of which they let to him try it. Batalla of England began the 12 of August. Goering tapeworm to its disposition a 15 percent more of huntings than the RAF, besides an immense amount of pumps of radar, ports and finally cities. The future of England dependia of the ability and the value of the few hundreds of pilots of huntings of the RAF preparations for the combat. Often during the following months the result hung of a thread, but slowly the pilots of the RAF managed to rout in the Luftwaffe first to Germany during the war.
In "Their finest hour" , you control the commando of huntings of the RAF of the south of England, with which the battle was disputed. Probably you will play several sessions using the option To record Game, but is recommended that you try to play one initially whichever battles of " dia" in order to try your skill and reflections. The battle can continue until the 21 of September, day in which England will win if you have not been defeated; but every day of game, will call you to Churchill to his bunker for informarte of how it values Cabinet military the present situation. If the fight is praised/poured off decisively to your favor, the Luftwaffe will cancel the offensive and Churchill will say to you that there are gained the day. If you lose they are very severe, and you are crushed. Churchill he will ask for your resignation. You can stop a campaign at the end of the game of the day, and one will say to you if you have won or lost on the basis of the present balance of forces.
ADVICE FOR THE PLAYERS
At the outset the map appears very simple, but when they are developed several attacks German, it is easy to be imprisoned of the panic and to lose the control. So taken care of with the attacks that have eluded the control of the radar until last moment and for your interceptions that have missed the formation enemies. Estate preparation to change the direction of the interception you need when it. Every day after the lunch, your pilots they begin to tire, and you will have to bring to most exhausted to the base. You can to decide not to alert to some swarm in the morning, to maintain them fresh for the interceptions of afternoon while others are resting after the early battles. Nevertheless, if beams this, ten well-taken care of of which the attacks German do not take them in earth. The swarms in it alerts " cockpit" or " runway" they can take air by themselves and to fight against the intruders who approach their airports, but those that are not alerted or those that are combat ready " hut" they will be taken hoping.
The rested pilots of median or much experience are more dangerous for the Luftwaffe, so you must choose interceptions with high aggressions while your men are fresh. If they are tired, probably he is better to avoid the battle, unless it is with German formation more vulnerable and with mini fighter escort. swarms that are exhausted and " on the brink of madness his posibilidades" they deberian to be transferred to Scotland, especially if the weather forecast is bad (the enemy attacks are less dangerous). The Luftwaffe will go mainly to by the radar facilities and airports, trying to break through your defenses, before attacking ports debilitating them facing the invasion. The ports cannot be repaired and they do not play more role than the one to give points to the Germans they attack when them with success. Generally, deberias to try to prevent the future attacks, but the enemy groups of forces go to a radar station or airport, the defense is more crucial because the caused damages will be important in the coming hours and days. Your better airplanes are the Spitfires, are fastest and effective. Usalos with care.
1. LOADING AND SELECTING OPTIONS It follows the given instructions of load in the label of the cassette. initial screen is surrounded by a series of drawings or icons, with a hand aiming at one of them. Pressing BREAK/SPACE, you can move hand a any other of the icons. Pressing ENTER with the hand aiming at icon you will confirm the action that realises such icon:
Specific KEYBOARD that you play through keyboard. JOYSTICK Controlas the movement of the cursor by means of joystick (must be of Kempston type). CLOCK You select the speed at which the game is developed and you it asks if you want the option of game of a day. I (for information) not used at the moment. M (to begin the game) you indicate to the computer that you want to begin to play. TAPE You want to again load a game previously recorded. Note on the speed of the game You can select the speed at which the action is developed. You it asks the measurement in which the time passes, between 1 and 255. If nonactive the icon " reloj" , the computer chooses speed 50 by defect, that is appropriate. The novices deberian to begin with a speed around 70 to have time to be accustomed to the game. If you choose speed 255, every day happens slowly, and it has itself long time to plan each action; it will be like playing a table game. A reasonable rank oscillates between 30 (for experts who think at the speed of the lightning) and 150 (stops anxious players to have an ample margin of time to plan). After choosing the speed, he asks himself to you if you want to play the option of a unique day. He responds and or N. When you have finished the selection of options, aim at icon M and press ENTER to begin to play.
2 WEATHER FORECAST The game begins with a brief weather forecast for the morning of the 12 of August. In general terms, whichever better it is the time, ground observers and of radar more easily detect the attacks of the enemy (but also Luftwaffe is easier it to hit the targets). Every day will be a new weather forecast. When there are taken note from the same ENTER beats.
3. VALUE OF INTELLIGENCE You will see a drawing of Winston Churchill and the valuation of intelligence of the enemy group of forces, for each type of airplane. The ME109 are the main ones huntings German; HE111 and JU88 are the heaviest bombers, and more slow; the DO17 (" pencils voladores") a little lighter, but more expresses; the heavy bombers bring about more damages if they hit his targets. It observes that the initial valuation of intelligence can vary whenever you play, but the losses are always moderate against the initial valuation. ENTER beats when you have finished seeing the valuation of intelligence.
4. MAPS The following screen shows three new icons in the area shaded of yellow to the left, and a small map of the south of England. Each point of the map represents a white one on which the enemy can be gliding an attack. These targets include six radar stations, ten bases aerial (numbered 0-9 for easy references) and nine ports.
The map of the main battle is full of information, and to study in detail each area normally you will want a greater scale. It tightens the button of firing of your joystick or key CAPS SHIFT to increase the scale of the area of the shown map. You will jump to a map with greater scale of the area where the cursor was placed. You will also see more clearly the targets. The squaring points within are air bases, the anchors are ports; and five points are radar stations. Tightening CAPS SHIFT it becomes the map from smaller scale. The cursor will be in the same position. The cursor movements are realised with joystick, or the keys in the following directions:
Q W E
A D
Z X C
All the actions mentioned in these instructions are valid in the submaps and the main map, in the same way. You can do " scroll" through the four pieces of the great map moving the cursor to the bottom of each submap to happen to the following one. In order to return to the main map, it tightens the button of firing or CAPS SHIFT like before. It tries to move the cursor outside the faces and to the bottom and ceiling of the maps of great scale, and happens of the maps of small using the fire button or CAPS SHIFT on a large scale until you have become familiar with the movement of the cursor. You will see that you cannot moverte beyond the border of the area of all the map, but can do scroll enters the maps of great scale when moving the cursor.
5. THE DEFENSE PLAN The icons allow you to make several things in each one of the targets like part of the plan of defense of the present day. In order to implement anyone of these options, pon cursor on position - it will be easier if you use the map of great scale - and presses BREAK/SPACE to select the icon appropriate in the edge of the screen; ENTER beats when the hand is aiming at the icon that you have chosen. If the cursor is not on a target will not happen anything, only pitido of warning. The icons and their actions are the following: ANTIAIR GUN (above to the left) - ENTER beats and will appear two drawings more showing guns with you shoot with an arrow ABOVE and DOWN; it chooses one (using BREAK/SPACE) and presses ENTER again to increase (ABOVE) or to fall (DOWN) the amount of anti-aircraft fire (flak) in the present position. Changes can be done every day.
AIRPLANE (left center) - pressing ENTER they appear other two drawings of airplanes with you shoot with an arrow ABOVE and DOWN; it chooses one (with BREAK/SPACE) stops to reinforce the base or to transfer the airplanes outside the map. The airplanes with shoot with an arrow ABOVE are used to reinforce the air bases with pilots rested. You will have said every day, how many rested pilots you have. The airplanes with shoot with an arrow DOWN are used to transfer swarms tired outside the map, to Scotland. The tired swarms recover gradually in Scotland (25% of the pilots arrive rested every day), permiti?ndote to bring them of return later. In the day of transfer the base cannot be used and is still vulnerable to the attack. REPAIRS (down left) - if you press ENTER with the hand aiming at this icon, nothing happens unless the cursor is located on a target that has been damaged. If the target is not damaged, you will receive a message to this end. Organizing intensive repairs of any radar station or base of installation of operation to the day. (In the first day of battle, nothing is damaged). INFORMATION (icon I) - ENTER for information of the present state and the damages of the position beats. If the cursor is not on a point, you will have information of the present disposition of the anti-aircraft fire. TAPE - if ENTER with the hand beats aiming at this icon, you will have opportunity to record or to recommence the game. If you selected the option by mistake, presses BREAK/SPACE to return to where you were. M (main) - this icon activates the clock and it introduces immediately you in the main game. Thus, when you have finished your plan of defense, it selects east icon.
6 SCREEN Now the screen is occupied by the main map of the battle, showing the targets, date and present hour. At the outset they are the six before the dawn. The minutes will pass in agreement with the selected speed of game. The action is developed on all the screen until the end of the day. " Their finest hour" it is a game of continuous action: the one that you are examining the situation of a corner of the map, does not mean that important things are not happening elsewhere. The player must follow the track of all the battle. If you are too much far from an area of the battle map, you can find that some of your facilities located in such zone has been attacked meanwhile. Now you have three new icons in the left face of the screen, that you can select like before. The icons and their meaning are: ALARM SIREN (above left) - it puts in your base or alert status to one more (it watches ALERT). AIRPLANES (left center) - it is used to give aircraft formations your airplanes. You can request a information (you are aiming at its basic number) sent to the present position of the cursor and to remain here, turning, until the fuel finishes to him or receives new orders. If it finds a formation of the Luftwaffe it will attack, it. YOU SHOOT WITH AN ARROW (more down left) - if the cursor is on a base jumps to where it is the formation (that is the airplanes) of such base. If it is a formation of huntings it will jump to the base from which they come. If the pilots are still in their base, the cursor does not move. This option can help you to follow the track (to control) of the formation of a particular airport.
7 INFORMATION If you put the cursor on any target and select I you will obtain information of its state (damages), and in the basic case aerial, the number and type of airplanes, if they are in flight or earth, and the present state of pilot (experience and degree of fatigue). The veteran and fresh pilots operate far better that the tired ones; if in an air base you obtain the message of which the pilots are " on the brink of madness his fuerzas" deberias to make them return as soon as outside possible, because they are easy prey for the Luftwaffe. If you put the cursor on a great cross, that it shows a German formation, you will have the best possible estimation of his size, force and composition (if it is a formation of bombers, huntings or of both). Initially there is no German formation in the air; like they fly within the rank of the radar can be detected, and once they cross the English coastal line will be seen by the observers terrestrial. When it is detected a enemy formation appears suddenly in battle map. Normally you will want to attack the formation of bombers that they have a minimum fire protection, and to ignore the formation of huntings only that have been sent like bait to introduce your airplanes in it battles.
8. ALERT If you want to request a swarm, first they must return the pilots from where it wants that they are (sending letters or by means of the radio), and spends a time before they can respond. Therefore, if delays to use one soon formation, you would have to alert it. There are three degrees of alert: " hut" ( pilots are hoping tensely, dispersed in their places of stay), " cockpit" (they are in his airplanes near the hangars), and " runway" (they are ready to attack). Whichever major is the alert status, will get tired more the pilots while they hope, for that reason are not a good idea to have a stop alert status too much early.
When you want to alert a base, you must as always select the icon of alarm siren (above left). The effect of the selection of alert depends if the cursor is in a base or no. If it is thus, the computer assumes that you want to change the state of the formation maintained here. In another case it is wondered to you if you want to give a local or global alert (it chooses L or G). A local alert is only for a base, of which the number is asked to you. A global alert is for all a region of the commando of huntings of the south. You can choose between the three bases of the west, the four power stations and the three of the east, and all will have the same orders. Whatever your election, you will obtain a new set of four as always used icons. They are: SIREN OF erased ALARM - the alert cancels; if the formation were already in the air it returns to the base. It is useful for tired pilots. HUT - It alerts hut (it does not have any effect if one is in flight). COCKPIT - It alerts cockpit (no effect if it is in the air). AIRPLANE - Alert runway (no effect if it is in the air). The huntings in alert runway will be able to leave and to take care of formation enemy. Those alerted or with a low level of alert cannot be bombed and be destroyed in earth (bad planning).
9 MOVEMENT OF THE AIRPLANES In order to order a swarm to leave and to move in a particular direction, it takes the cursor where you want to go, and uses the icon AIRPLANE. You will be indicating the basic number (from 0 to 9). The airplanes will leave as soon as it is possible and they go to the site that you have indicated; if they already are in flight they will change his course to come here. They will intercept and attack any German formation whose movement crosses its way. When they reach his destiny, remains there (turning on the place) until its fuel it finishes, in which case they return automatically to house. In order to order to a formation to fly to house before its fuel is finished (or because they are canssados or there is no German in the area) pon the cursor upon the formation and uses the alert icon; when you have the list of options presses " 0" in order to cancel the alert and it allows that they return to house (no other change of alert will be accepted when the airplanes are in flight).
10. ATTACKS If a German formation reaches its objective (its direction is controlled by the computer), it carries out an attack. Any anti-aircraft fire that tapeworms in the target it will demolish a enemy airplane by each antiaircraft weapon emplacement. The remaining interests will drop pumps and obte
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13. MESSAGES From time to time through game, you will receive messages that can influence in your operations day to day. You must decide how to act on each message of the best way possible - or to even ignore them.
14. ACCELERATION OF THE ACTION If you want to increase speed of game temporarily (perhaps because you want to have the first attacks German to your view), you must press S. You leave when it, the speed of the game will return to the proportion initially putting.
15. ERRORS AND PROBLEMS If you select by mistake an icon, beating ENTER again iron gates the selection. If the game seems to be congealed (it does not advance) is waiting for an entrance of data - a message looks for the bottom of the screen. If it does not have no, has been given information to you of some type and the computer is hoping to that you press ENTER to continue the game.
16. THE NIGHT OF THE DEFEAT When the last German attack has reached its objective or has been forced to retire, the combats are finished by this day, and all the pilots they return automatically to his bases. It will call you to Churchill to his bunker for decirte how the cabinet evaluates the battle military. If you have given to the enemy a mutilador blow, you can win the war of a blow. Otherwise a valuation will occur you and the game continues the following day. You will receive a new weather forecast and will be able to put in movement the plan of defense of the day. The clock will begin to work and the continuous battle like in the previous day.
Note of Nicholas Palmer, designer of the game: "Their finest hour" it is designed to mix the challenge of the games of strategy with the excitation of the rapid action of the computers. Having written " The Comprehensive guide to Board Wargaming" and other books on table games military, I wanted to give the computer players same depth of simulation: if you play a game military deberias to be put under the historical dilemmas, and to have the luck to try different strategies in each game. There are many computer games that they try to simulate air battles; very few are based (like " Its better hora") in the historical reality. At the same time, I wanted to use the computer to add to the tension and excitation which the table games usually lack. Mainly, I wanted to give to players the exhausting sensation to be in center of control, fighting with insufficient information. Even in the first day, the attacks German they will not be detected by radar, until they are halfway on channel, but once the enemy has begun the destruction of radar stations the attacks will change more and more within the emptiness of " ojos" English, and the attacks will be only seen in the last moment: in bad weather they can be happened through even then stop, by a few and precious seconds. If you discover a German formation, you do not know where it directs exactly nor of what apparatuses consist, especially if your radar seriously is damaged. But for fast reactions when they are detected attacks and become intelligent conjectures on the targets to that they direct, you deberias to be able to desarrolar your skill until the point of to be able to play with a speed even faster than the thought one by defect of 50.
The computer is more than a nonintelligent opponent: it gives the possibility of to take advantage of bases damaged radars, and you can receive a series of " blows of martillo" of that your formation never will recover. Each game it presents/displays different a German strategy: in one the Luftwaffe can choose by massive attacks to its targets, in other to flood to the defenses with numerous small attacks, and the strategy will vary by day to day, in agreement with the flow of the battle. Finally, I believe that " Its better hora" he is unique allowing the player to choose " excitaci?n" of the game, from the rapid action to analyses very meditated. Many players will want to begin of a relatively slow way (using the key to lift the speed if he is wanted), and to increase gradually until the last challenge of 30. Some simplifications have been made to play more easily. The thickness of the English effort it was done by Spitfires and Hurricanes; the few swarms of Beauforts, Defiants,? have been ignored. The swarms they have been grouped in ten bases (generally using historical groups 10 and 11 of the sector of airports), and the radar stations in six complexes of radars. The game does not take into account the attacks to cities in the last stage of Battle of England because the decision to happen to these targets was desperate gesture of the controls German in its incapacity to win to RAF in its bases: if the Luftwaffe reaches this stage in the game, the player it will be recognized like winner. To the readers interested in deepening in the subject it is recommended to them books:
Fighter, Len Deighton (Jonathan Cape) Eagle Day, Richard Collier (Bread) The Battle of Britain, Marcel Julien (Panther) Game design (c) Nicholas Palmer 1985 Program (c) John Wilson 1985 Published by Century Communications Limited to division of Century Hutchinson Limited Brookmount House 62-65 Chandos Place London WC2N 4NW Manufactured in great Britain by Cosprint Limited Reserved all the rights. The content of this package is protected by the laws of Copyright and is prohibited any total or partial reproduction by any means or method without authorization of the publisher.
Can it be added to the WOS game entry as the link will only be there for a couple of weeks.
Cheers
MevWeb
www.mevagissey.net/TFH.zip
PS anyone fancy stitching the images together ?