TWR2 Documentation

**AngryTitusPullo** · May 30, 2013, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by torongill

It will be a steep curve anyway because it's a different genre. Besides it's not like it's RTS, you have turns, you can reload, you can think...

You want a steep learning curve? Try playing Dune when the only thing you know in English is "How are you doing?"(Yes, from Joey.) and "You have beautiful eyes."

Hey.. I played Dune II when I don't even know English and I though my game broke because I can't continue after some time (it turns out that you need to key in some code from some page of the manual.. or something like that).

**familyguy1** · May 30, 2013, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Petroniu

I could never grasp the need of manuals for a game. The tutorial should be enough to get you started and after that you should have fun discovering things for yourself. What is the point of playing a new game if you learn to play it from a manual. Actually, WTF man, it is a game, not a class in school to be learned and then examined.

True. Isn't the advisor system somewhat akin to a manual these days?

**King Philip II** · May 30, 2013, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by familyguy1

True. Isn't the advisor system somewhat akin to a manual these days?

The "Advisor" was introduced in RTW I believe. It was only good for allowing Modders to include specific campaign scripts

**TotalWarker** · May 30, 2013, 11:09 AM

Didn't think you needed a manual after going through the tutorial etc. Haven't read one in about 10 years! Probably the last one was at uni when I had enough time on my hands to lay about and swot up on games as procrastination for essays haha. Most stuff can be found on community produced wikis nowadays as people tend not to be looking only for game facts but also the strategy that others apply using those facts, something which the developer shouldn't produce as it takes away the point of a 'strategy game'!

Not sure what you mean by "due diligence on documentation" either...

**King Philip II** · May 30, 2013, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by TotalWarker

Not sure what you mean by "due diligence on documentation" either...

It does not matter, I was just rambling. Thanks for your contribution.

**Epic28** · May 30, 2013, 11:16 AM

The game manuals did make great reads when I was on the crapper waiting 14 mins for my turn to finish.

**Sun Jetzu** · May 30, 2013, 01:23 PM

This is a very good thread, with a very good point to make. Thank you for making this thread. I will keep reading and see what others say. You are the best Philip!

**Tim_Ward** · May 30, 2013, 02:23 PM

I don't know why most gamestudios believe they are exempt from software development due diligence on documentation. Maybe as the game industry is getting more professional i.e. more suits, less long hair, this will improve, but this is something CA really need to prioritize. All the manuals for titles up to ETW (I don't know about STW2) was horrible - if not misleading. This is not a task for the office intern, it's a key role on the Scrum/project team.

It's a video game, not a database management system

**King Philip II** · May 30, 2013, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Tim_Ward

It's a video game, not a database management system

Is it not?

**Remwr** · May 30, 2013, 02:40 PM

I never read manuals even when it was standard for them to come with the game, what exactly was in older manuals that is now missing in the newer ones the ones that do exist at least?

**[N2]Kami** · May 30, 2013, 06:25 PM

I think some may need tutorial some don't.
In my opinion I find it more challenging and fun when you play a game without tutorial. The joy when you discovered something new always feel great.
Of course I will exclude some ultra super hardcore game that I find without tutorial we can't do ****.

**Siven** · May 31, 2013, 10:39 AM

A well made tutorial and well made tooltips/unit info are far better ways than the big manuals of old.

Problem is most games have poor tutorials/tooltips/unit info.

**King Philip II** · June 02, 2013, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by Siven

A well made tutorial and well made tooltips/unit info are far better ways than the big manuals of old.

Problem is most games have poor tutorials/tooltips/unit info.

That I can agree with. The information should be at your fingertips and while I personally like a hardcopy manual, then an integrated comprehensive help/game information feature would be much better. It could even be implemented within the lore of the game, for example, "Dispatches from the Curule Aedile regarding province bonuses", "Important scroll from a consular senator on army replenishment" etc.

**Soveriegn** · June 02, 2013, 05:32 AM

I would point out that any person who's played Risk or something similar can have the basic understanding of how this game works. It's the same principles, just grown up along a more realistic scale. If the lad doesn't understand, he's going to have a hard time balancing his check book when college comes around.

**King Philip II** · June 02, 2013, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Soveriegn

I would point out that any person who's played Risk or something similar can have the basic understanding of how this game works. It's the same principles, just grown up along a more realistic scale. If the lad doesn't understand, he's going to have a hard time balancing his check book when college comes around.

I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you saying that the generation born with the internet and computer/console games have so much intuition that they don't need a manual/tool tips/wiki/whatever to understand how to use game features?

**Soveriegn** · June 04, 2013, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by King Philip II

I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you saying that the generation born with the internet and computer/console games have so much intuition that they don't need a manual/tool tips/wiki/whatever to understand how to use game features?

Yes I would say that with tutorials and advice, it is a piece of cake to understand this game from whatever generation you are in. Total War Games are Risk+balancing the books+RPS at its most basic level. As long as you actually read the tool tips when you hover over buildings you're absolutely set, and there is no problem with any confusion.

**King Philip II** · June 06, 2013, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by Soveriegn

Yes I would say that with tutorials and advice, it is a piece of cake to understand this game from whatever generation you are in. Total War Games are Risk+balancing the books+RPS at its most basic level. As long as you actually read the tool tips when you hover over buildings you're absolutely set, and there is no problem with any confusion.

Thanks for the clarification. Now I get it, but I disagree. If you play many computer games then it's probably not that difficult to get into a new one, but new gamers and ppl new to the TW concept might need a little more information in the beginning. At leasts that's my experience when introducing TW to friends/family.

**Sharpe** · June 02, 2013, 09:12 AM

That is what the tutorial is for.

The Shogun 2 one was excellent, covered most everything.

**osros** · June 06, 2013, 06:37 AM

Well also agree the tutorial was enough for me, but also for TW the advisor was there to guide you with every new step and the info for each unit or building was always good stuff. I do miss those manuals tho something to study when not at the game and made the game purchase have value.

But the most important thing of all is: 200 POSTS! Yay