Manual Addendum?

[Ratqueen]

I used to play Space Empires III a lot (it's still on my HD) and received my copy of SE4 Gold a couple days ago. I love the game (although I miss some of the features/options of SE3) but, as it's been said a million times before, the manual is really weak... I find myself searching for details in the printed manual quite often and, not finding anything in there, searching in the HTML manual... which doesn't provide much more information (or at least not what I'm looking for.)

So my question is: has anyone ever made a detailed manual addendum for SE4 that would explain everything that is missing from the manuals on the CD? If so, where can I find it?

If this hasn't been done, I intend to make my own SE4 manual addendum by gathering information from the Shrapnel forums, and whatever I can find out on my own as I play along.

If you have tips or information about obscure features, please post them here so I can add them too.

I'm a software tech writer so I have all the tools to make a Windows help file -- would this be the preferred format for Users? Or would a more printable (but less searchable) format be better?

Also, if anyone has written any documentation (in whichever format, even HTML) that they would like converted to WinHelp format, please let me know. I could make a compilation of existing information from web sites, etc, and have it all available in a single Windows Help file, complete with Table of Contents and detailed Index (I'll add credits and URLs of the contributing sites of course.)

Is this even a good idea or not worth it?

[Richard]

I haven't heard of any but I always love the comments about how the manual is "weak" when it is 120 pages itself and then on the CD we have several hundrend more pages of detail.

SE4 is just to deep, that's the problem .

[Jmenschenfresser]

Ratqueen. I don't think I have read either manual. There are things about the game I really have no clue about and I have been playing it for more than a year...like ministers for instance. Don't know a damned thing about em.

Suggestion. First search the forum, and if that fails, ask. Answering questions gives all of us bored to death at work, something to do.

[Richard]

Get back to work you .

Heh I can't say anything I am doing the same thing...

Originally posted by Jmenschenfresser:
Ratqueen. I don't think I have read either manual. There are things about the game I really have no clue about and I have been playing it for more than a year...like ministers for instance. Don't know a damned thing about em.

Suggestion. First search the forum, and if that fails, ask. Answering questions gives all of us bored to death at work, something to do.

[Ratqueen]

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the fact that there is at least a printed and HTML manual... It's just that I never seem to find the information I want in either of them...

Example: I tried to find information on how to upgrade ships. I looked in the manual's index but there was nothing under "Upgrade." I finally found the info I needed in the HTML manual under "Scrap Window"... Well, not too obvious that you upgrade ships by going to the Scrap window...

Same with repairing a ship. I had no idea how to do it and couldn't find any info on that. I happened to leave one of my "ready-to-be-upgraded" ships at a Space Yard and realized it was being "repaired" and, thus, upgraded...

I really think a Windows Help file, with a detailed Index and cross-references, would be so helpful. HTML is not the right format for a manual, IMO. And if nobody has done it so far, I intend to gather as much info as I can and put something together in WinHelp format.

[Mudshark]

Ratqueen My site has has a a bit of information that you are welcome to use, Also check out the dubious strategy guide.

[Ruatha]

Great Idea.
I was thinking in the same direction, now I don't have to go through that work.
My idea was to take the original HTML Manual and add to it keeping the layout, but I think that an Windows Help file would be better, if you include pictures.
What I'd want was detailed info and pics on all tech improvments, facilities, units etc.

Post here when you have something to share.

Don't give up, please do it....

[Ratqueen]

Originally posted by Mudshark:
Ratqueen My site has has a a bit of information that you are welcome to use, Also check out the dubious strategy guide.

I'll check it out! Thanks for letting me add it to the Help file! I'll give credit to anyone who contributes in any way

[Ratqueen]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
Great Idea.
I was thinking in the same direction, now I don't have to go through that work.
My idea was to take the original HTML Manual and add to it keeping the layout, but I think that an Windows Help file would be better, if you include pictures.
What I'd want was detailed info and pics on all tech improvments, facilities, units etc.

I wasn't planning on adding the large images of the game's windows because it would make the help file quite voluminous... Good idea about the tech improvements, facilities and units pictures though -- I'll try to keep that in mind.

Post here when you have something to share.

Sure will!

[eorg]

dubious strategy guide - here in archive or in seiv.pbw.cc archive when it does up (i'm waiting ) or i'll mail it to you if you can't find it :-)