Hoplites README ver 1.6.1

	Zak's
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                     / __  / /_/ / /_/ / / / /_/  __(__  )
                    /_/ /_/\____/ .___/_/_/\__/\___/____/
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Index
----------------

[1] Licence & copyright
[2] Requirements
[3] Packaging
[4] Installation & updates
[5] Main differences between Hoplites and GBoH
[6] Troubleshooting
[7] F.A.Q.
[8] Official Hoplites site and selected URLs

*********************************************************************
[1] Licence & copyright
*********************************************************************

Hoplites is a totally free game: this means that You can copy, distribute or publish
the game for any non-commercial purpose as long as you keep this file with the game.

The basic rules of the SPQR game and most of the unit graphics are copyright(c) of GMT.


*********************************************************************
[2] Requirements
*********************************************************************

To play Hoplites you need a PC with Windows 9x or NT, a 800x600 screen resolution capable
monitor and 3M of disk space. You must also verify that You Windows setup is using the 
Small Fonts: if You dont set the font size correctly you will get a very bizarre 
looking interface (see the Troubleshooting paragraph for more details).

To run the game You also need the Visual Basic 6 runtime: if You have a new PC probably
you have it already on Your system, otherwise You can download it from the Microsoft site
or from the Hoplites web site (see paragraph 6 for the web address)


*********************************************************************
[3] Packaging
*********************************************************************

Hoplites is composed of 6 packages (zipped file archives), all of them available at the
support site

	hoplites.zip	REQUIRED	The latest version of the game
	required.zip	REQUIRED	All the cards and armies
	graphic.zip	REQUIRED	Various images used in the game

	manual.pdf	optional	The manual in PDF format
	armyeditor.zip	optional	The army editor

	samurai.zip	optional	The Samurai module 

While being optional the Samurai module is a good addition to the game so i'd rather consider it as "recommened"

I scan the executable for virus each time i download a new version of the game on the web: the antivirus program I use is always up-to-date so i'm doing my best to reduce 
any problem.

*********************************************************************
[4] Installation & updates
*********************************************************************

To install the program first You must download from the Hoplites web site

	- The latest version of the game 
		(http://digilander.iol.it/zak965/hoplites.zip)

	- The required files
		(http://digilander.iol.it/zak965/required.zip)

	- The graphic archive
		(http://digilander.iol.it/zak965/graphic.zip)


Create a new directory where you will save the three zip files; when the
download is finished unzip both files in the directory.
You should now have about 240 files in the directory (you can remove the three zip files now).

Run hoplites.exe to start the game.

To update the game you can follow the same process, overwriting the old files when prompted. 
Please note that the game engine (hoplites.zip), the required files (required.zip) and
the graphical files (graphic.zip) are updated independently, so it is possible that you 
need to download only one of them. 

Generally speaking You'll find the hoplites.zip files more often updated to keep track of
the debugging process and the new features enhancements.


*********************************************************************
[5] Main differences between Hoplites and GBoH
*********************************************************************

Even if Hoplites is stronly based on the GBoH serie there are some noteworty differences in
the mechanics that the SPQR/Alexander habituee's will notice

   1> LG are NOT AS against HI: the legions where "superior" on a broad sense but the Attacker
      Superiority status is too much in my opinion

   2> LG vs HI attack is more powerful than the GMT table's value (8 vs 6) to reflect the 
      "superiority"  of the roman legionary against the standard hoplite (this compensate 
      the loss of the AS)

   3> Samnites LG (Type LG class HI) has been introduced to simulate the army system from which 
      the romans probably got their Legion. This LG cannot use the combined move with VE or PR 
      (this classes do not exist in the Samnite army) but use the LG column for the 
      shock/superiority determination.

*********************************************************************
[6] Troubleshooting
*********************************************************************

<1> When I try to execute the program hoplites.exe i've got one error about some DLL
    missing (MVBVM60.DLL)

    Resolution: please install the Visual Basic Runtime from the Microsoft site or from
                the Hoplites web site.


<2> When I run hoplites.exe the pictures and the messages on the windows are wrongly
    positionated.

    Resolution: probably You're not using the Small Fonts on your Windows Setup.
                To set the Small Fonts do the following:

			a) Press the "Start" button
			b) Select the "Settings" menu item
			c) Select the "Control Panel" menu item
			d) Click on the "Display" icon
			e) Select the "Settings" Tab
			f) click on the "Advanced button"

	In the "Font Size" panel You must select "Small Fonts" on the dropdown list. 
  	This will show the label "Normal size (96 dpi)" label on the same panel.

<3> I've downloaded all the three archives but when i run Hoplites i got the error message

		"Please Download and unzip the graphics file".

	Resolution: possibily you've been using an old unzipping utility. Please note that 
		PKUNZIP cannot be used since it doesn't recreate the file names when are 
		more than 8 char long. You mus use Winzip 7 or greater or some other recent 
		utility: if you still have the same problem please send to me the directory 
		listing so that i can investigate the case.

*********************************************************************
[7] F.A.Q.
*********************************************************************
<Q> Will Hoplites be able to run with all the font sizes ?

<A> The font size limitation cames from the way the Windos GUI is built: i'll try to remove 
    this constraint in the future but at the moment there are no dates.

                      .....

<Q> Can I run Hoplites at 640x480 ?

<A> Not. You must set the screen resolution to 800x600 or better. There are no plans for a
    version of the game for such a resolution.

                      .....

<Q> Are there any plans to port Hoplites to other platforms (Mac, Linux) ?

<A> Not at the moment: i would like to have a way to move all the code from Visual Basic
    to a more "open" environment (like C++) but i didnt' have any plan for it.

                      .....

<Q> It is possible to play Hoplites head-to-head with another player?

<A> Not in the current version, put you can play via email (PBEM) or in "hot seat mode".
    I've planned a version 2.0 in the future with a full multiplayer capability so that
    You will be able to fight against the opponents over the Net but there are no 
    timeline up to now.


*********************************************************************
[8] Official Hoplites site and selected URLs
*********************************************************************

The official Hoplites site is

	http://digilander.iol.it/zak965/hoplites.htm

here you can found the latest version of the game and any additional files.

Very recommended sites

	www.gmtgames.com			The makers of GBoH
	www.grognard.com			The best portal for the serious gamer
	adams.patriot.net/~townsend/gboh.html	A must-see for the GBoH players
	
    --------------------------------------------------------------
        For any problem/comments please contact me via email at

                          zak965@libero.it
    --------------------------------------------------------------


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