Battlefleet is the program for naval conflicts modeling. The program can be used in one of three different modes:
Edit mode to create new battles or to modify initial conditions of existing ones;
Game mode to control the battle;
Film mode to review the battle as film on VCR.
When the Battlefleet program is started the scenario selection window will be opened. This window allows to select the application mode (Edit, Play or Film), and the scenario to work with.
The button in the window displays this help; the button hides the window, and returns to the current scenario in the current mode without any changes; the button terminates the Battlefleet application.
The application modes are described below.
If you plan to create completely new scenario you should select the button and activate the New page. The window similar to shown in the figure New scenario page will be displayed.
The value entered in the Scenario name field will be displayed in the user interface forms.
The value from the File name field will be used as the base name for the scenario files in the computer file system. The new scenarios are saved in the data subdirectory of the Battlefleet installation directory. Each scenario save consists of the file with the specified name plus .xml extension and the corresponding directory.
Select the enemy names from drop-down list or enter them in Side 1 and Side 2 fields. The vessels of the different sides are indicated with different colors in the map.
Enter the time start point in the Begin date field, brief description of the battle in the bottom text area and press the button. The scenario will be opened in the editor. To modify the scenario later select the Open page in this window - created scenario will be displayed in the list of available scenarios.
If you plan to modify initial conditions of the existing scenario select the button and activate the Open page. The window similar to shown in the figure Open scenario page will be displayed.
All available scenarios will be displayed in the list. To edit the initial conditions of the scenario select it in the list and press the button. The scenario will be opened in the editor.
In the Battlefleet editor you can specify the initial conditions of the battle:
the map properties;
the list of ships for both sides;
the divisional order;
the position, course and speed of each vessel;
the beginning time of the battle;
and other scenario properties.
After the initial conditions of the battle have been defined it is possible to start the battle (or play the game, it is up to you). To do this select the button and activate the New page. The window similar to shown in the figure New game page will be displayed.
The list of the battles in this page is the same as in the page Open for the Edit mode - you can start to play only scenarios with fully defined initial conditions, the same files were processed to build this list.
To start the game select scenario in the list and press the button. The Battlefleet application will be switched to the Game mode. In this mode you can control speed, course and divisional order of all vessels during the battle.
If the game was terminated or you want to play it in different way you can restart it not from the beginning but from the specified time. To do this select the button and activate the Open page. The window similar to shown in the figure Open game page will be displayed.
The list of battles in the Open page is different from the list in the New page. The Open page contains scenarios saved in the Game mode. You can start to play the selected scenario from the time between scenario start date and the scenario finish date. The scenario start date is defined in the Edit mode, and the finish date is the last scenario save date.
To replay the scenario select it in the list, set the start date using slider or date entry field and press the button. The scenario will be opened in the Game mode. The scenario state at the specified time will be restored. All commands from the previous save will be replayed, but you can clear future commands for the selected vessel and issue another.
You cannot open scenarios from the list in this page in the editor mode - initial conditions cannot be changed for the battle in progress.
The Film mode is the simplest in the Battlefleet. In this mode you can only watch the battle, but not control it. To enter the Film mode select button. Only one page will be displayed - the Open page with list of the battles available to be played as the film on VCR. The list of the scenarios is the same as for the Open page in the Game mode. You can start to play on VCR only already recorded scenarios, the same files were processed to build this list. The window looks very similar to the previous and is not shown.
To play the scenario in the Film mode select it from the list, set the start date and press the button.