Provided by: crimson_0.5.2-1.1build1_amd64 
NAME
crimson - a hex-based tactical combat game
SYNOPSIS
crimson [--level level] [--width w] [--height h] [--fullscreen 1|0] [--sound 1|0]
crimson {--help | --version}
DESCRIPTION
Crimson Fields is a tactical war game in the tradition of the popular Battle Isle. Two players command a
number of units on a map of hexagons, trying to accomplish mission objectives ranging from defending
important locations to simply destroying all enemy forces. Damaged units may be repaired or replaced by
new recruits, while victorious squadrons will improve their abilities so they will be even more difficult
to beat next time.
The game can be played against a human adversary in hot-seat mode, over a network, or via e-mail, or
against a computer player.
The level editor cfed(6) can be used to create your own levels.
OPTIONS
If called without options crimson will open its main window using the settings from the last session or
the defaults if no previous settings exist.
--level level
Skip the level selection window and load the mission file level. The file may be either a standard
level file or a saved game. When starting a new game this way you will be playing a single map
against the computer without any handicaps.
--width w
Set screen width to w. Minimum screen width is 320. Default is 800.
--height h
Set screen height to h. Minimum screen height is 240. Default is 600.
--fullscreen 1|0
Turn fullscreen mode on/off. The default is to start in windowed mode.
--sound 1|0
Turn sound on/off. The default is on.
--help
Print a usage message on standard output and exit.
--version
Print version information on standard output and exit.
The display and sound options given to crimson on startup will be saved to file and restored on the next
program start.
GETTING STARTED
Introduction
The once peaceful planet Nexus has been invaded by beings calling themselves the Empire of Kand who are
determined to conquer Nexus or destroy it completely. The public unrest has become violent as the people
attempt revolution against the invasion, but the Empire of Kand are quick to silence opposition. Nexus is
on the verge of war and its people have formed factions to battle the Empire. As a member of one of the
major rebel factions, the Free Nexus Army, your goals are obvious: to drive the intruders back to
whichever part of the galaxy they came from and restore peace on planet Nexus...
(This is the background story for most of the included missions and the default campaign. There may be
maps with entirely different settings.)
Main Menu
The main screen presents a number of widgets to configure the game. The most important decision is
whether you want to play a skirmish match, a campaign, or load a saved game. Skirmishes are stand-alone
maps while campaigns consist of a number of maps which must be played (and won) in sequence. Each map
that you advance to during a campaign will also be unlocked for skirmish matches. While campaigns can
only be played against the computer, skirmishes can additionally be played as hot-seat matches (two
players on one computer taking turns), e-mail matches (see the section called “PLAY-BY-E-MAIL”), or over
a network, and when playing against the computer you get to choose which side you want to play on. For
both game types you can optionally define a handicap, to make the game a bit easier or harder. What this
means exactly depends on the map being played but in most cases a handicapped player will have fewer
units or resources at his disposal than his opponent.
The large box on the left lists all available skirmishes, campaigns, or saved games, while the box on the
right displays a small image of the selected map or, for campaigns, the story. For skirmishes, the number
in brackets shows the recommended number of players. Missions designed for one player are often rather
unbalanced if played against another human since the computer plays so different from a human, although a
handicap can sometimes fix this.
After you have selected a map hit Start to enter the game.
First Steps
After starting the match you will be presented with the mission briefing. Here you are given your orders
and objectives to win the map. As both players usually have different and conflicting goals, each player
gets his own briefing session at the beginning of his first turn.
After the briefing you will be presented with the map. This is your command center. From here you can
issue most of the orders that will determine the outcome of the mission. The first player commands the
yellow units while the second player or computer takes control of the blue units.
The map consists of small regions of land (or water) each known as a hex (sometimes also called field or
square). Left-clicking on a hex selects that hex and moves the cursor to it. If there is a unit on the
selected hex then a small bar will appear in the lower left of the screen showing the rank of the unit,
its type, and the squad size (see the section called “Experience” for more information about ranks). If
there is instead a building or shop on the selected hex, the information bar displays the name of the
shop and possibly some icons representing special attributes (see the section called “CRYSTALS” for
details). Shops may occupy several fields, but they only have a single entrance, which is marked by the
colour of the respective owner. Buildings with a white entrance are neutral and not controlled by any
player.
A right-click on one of your units generally brings up a context menu for that unit (this does not apply
to enemy units). Here you can view the unit stats, or inspect its contents (transporters only). Other
units like mine-sweepers may have special skills which also show up here. If the unit is not a
transporter and does not offer any special skills, the menu is skipped and you are directly taken to the
stats display.
The stats window is basically divided in two parts. The top part shows the unit name and its values for
speed, armour, and effectiveness against ground troops, aircraft, and ships in that order, from the top
left to the bottom right. Most units have a weapon range of 1, meaning they can shoot at units one hex
away (i.e. directly next to it). For units with different settings, the actual range is given in brackets
after the weapon power. The second part of the window lists the most important terrain types. Shaded
terrain indicates that the unit cannot cross that ground.
Right-clicking anywhere but on a unit or pressing F1 pops up the Game menu where you can review your
mission objectives, take a look at an overview map, or save your game, for example.
You select one of your units by simply clicking on it. Large parts of the map will now be shaded to
indicate that the unit cannot move there. Unshaded enemy units are potential targets. To move to an
accessible field or attack a foe, simply double-click the respective hex. If you accidentally sent your
unit to a hex you did not want it to go to, right-clicking on the unit gives you the option of reverting
the last move, as long as it did not trigger any special events.
If you click twice on one of your shops or a neutral one, you enter that building. Of course, you can
also move units into shops, although only some units (Infantry in the default set) can move into shops
not owned by you, and some buildings may not allow all unit types. Quite often buildings are important
mission objectives. Taking the enemy headquarters, e.g., is a very common goal. But even if you do not
specifically need to control a certain shop for victory, it can still be very helpful as it may be
possible to repair or build units (see the section called “CRYSTALS”).
When you have issued all orders, select End Turn from the Game menu. Your commands are then executed,
fights are resolved, and your opponent gets his chance to strike back...
MOVEMENT
Each unit may only move once each turn, and only if it did not initiate combat on the same turn.
Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Guns cannot attack if they have already been moved on the same turn. To move
around on the map, a unit needs movement points. The number in the upper left corner of the unit
information dialog (which can be brought up for one of your units by right-clicking it) indicates how
many hexes the unit can move under optimal circumstances. The actual range is determined by several
factors.
For ordinary ground units the terrain can greatly reduce the range of action. The maximum can only ever
be reached on roads, everything else will slow the unit down, and mountains more so than forest. For
airborne units or ships, terrain is of no importance.
Enemy units can be trapped in order to prevent them from using superior speed or to deny them access to
certain areas of the map. A unit which attempts to cross a hex between two hostile units or one hostile
unit and inaccessible terrain will be stopped immediately after passing through.
A unit cannot leave a transport or building and enter another one on the same turn. Enemy buildings can
only be conquered by infantry units.
COMBAT
Results
Basically the probability to hit an enemy unit in combat is the same for all unit types, although the
attacker always gets a slight advantage. This hit probability is then modified by effects such as
experience, distance to the target, terrain, or wedging (see below). Similarly, each unit gets assigned a
probability for evading an attack which is then modified by experience, terrain effects and blocking. If
a unit scores a hit it will increase its attack pool by an amount equal to its strength. A unit which
successfully evades an attack will have its defence pool grow by an amount equal to its defence or armour
value. Finally, each attack pool is compared to the enemy's defence pool, and the resulting ratio
determines the casualties on both sides.
Terrain
Terrain is an important factor in combat as it can heavily influence a unit's effectiveness. For example,
fighting on a road or open plains will greatly increase attacking strength but offers relatively poor
defensive capabilities, whereas a unit in the mountains will profit from the higher position in both
attack and defence. Terrain modifiers do not apply for aircraft.
Wedging
Friendly units can help increase the combat strength of an attacking unit without attacking themselves.
For each friendly unit which is adjacent to and capable of shooting at the defender, the attacker will
get a 10 per cent bonus. If the unit is adjacent to the defender, but cannot attack it the bonus is
reduced to 5 per cent. A friendly unit in the back of the defender will earn another 5 per cent bonus, or
10 if it could also attack. It does not matter whether a wedging unit actually attacks the defender.
Wedging does not work for long-range attacks.
Blocking
In a manner similar to wedging, defending units may improve their position in combat. For each friendly
unit adjacent to the attacker and the defender, the defending unit will have its combat strength
increased by 10 per cent. Just like wedging, blocking does not help against long-range attacks.
Experience
Veteran units are usually much stronger than newly assembled ones. If you manage to wipe out an enemy
unit your unit will receive three experience points. If the enemy is only damaged you will still get one
point. Every three experience points a unit advances to a new rank which improves its combat skills.
Still, a seasoned infantry unit will have a very hard time against a group of recently recruited heavy
tanks. Destroying mines does not earn any experience points.
CRYSTALS
Crystals represent the resources required to maintain and enlarge your army. You need them to repair
damaged units or build new ones.
Repairs
Units which have been damaged in combat can be repaired in any building equipped for this purpose (a
workshop). To check whether a building is a workshop, click on it. For workshops a wrench icon will be
displayed in the small info bar that appears in the lower left of the screen, and a repair button is
available in the icon bar inside. Repairing will restore a unit to its full strength and requires an
amount of 5 crystals, no matter what kind of unit it is or how badly is was damaged. Apart from the
crystal cost the unit loses one experience point for each rookie that fills up an empty slot.
The ability to repair damaged units is not necessarily limited to shops. Some unit types may offer the
same service (from the standard unit set, for example, the Aircraft Carriers can bring aircraft back into
shape). Repairs in units works exactly the same way as in workshops, and you also need to supply the
crystals to do so.
Production
To build new units you need some crystals and a factory (hammer icon). The amount of crystals required
depends on the type of unit you want to build: A squad of light reconnaissance vehicles is cheaper than a
group of heavy attack choppers. Most factories can not produce all unit types, even if you could afford
it. If you click on the production button inside a factory, you are shown the list of units which can be
built in this particular factory. Next to each unit type is the amount of crystals that will be consumed.
Newly built units can only move on your next turn.
Mines
To replenish your supply of crystals you need mines. Mines are buildings which 'produce' a certain amount
of crystals each turn. They can not be identified from the outside. Many maps do not have any mines at
all, so it is always a good idea to consider carefully what you spend your resources on. Crystals can be
transferred from one building to another (e.g. from a mine to a factory) using any transporter unit.
PLAY-BY-E-MAIL
If Crimson Fields is played in play-by-e-mail mode, the game will automatically be saved whenever a
player ends her turn. The resulting save file can then be sent to your opponent using your favourite mail
client program.
On your first turn you will be asked for a password. You will be prompted for this password at the
beginning of each of your turns to prevent your opponent from spying. Note, however, that the password
only offers very mild protection if you are playing against deliberate cheaters. Choose your enemies
carefully!
FILES
Unix
~/.crimson/crimsonrc
~/.crimson/levels/
SEE ALSO
cfed(6), bi2cf(6)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2000-2007 Jens Granseuer
This software is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License[1] (GPL).
AUTHOR
Jens Granseuer <jensgr@gmx.net> Author.
REFERENCES
1. GNU General Public License
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
January 20 2007 CRIMSON(6)