Age of Rifles FAQ #1  
 
After 26 months of development, Age of Rifles was released on August 
26th, 1996. The current version 1.4 update was released in late 
April, 1997.

                              IMPORTANT 

The V1.4 update includes a new game.cfg file. This is where your game
options and rules settings are stored. When the update game.cfg is applied
it will overwrite any options that were in effect before the update. 
Be sure to check all of your game and rules settings after installing
the update.
 
The current complete list of command line parameters for Rifles v1.4 is: 

              Official (SSI supported) Command Line Switches
 
"quiet": play with no sound (this session only). 
 
"mono": Monaural sound (this session only). 

            Unofficial (author supported) Command Line Switches

  The following command line options are unofficial. Feel free to experiment with
them, but they intended for use by advanced gamers and are not supported by SSI. 
If you have questions about them post your question in the 
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic or alt.games.wargames newsgroups or contact the 
author directly.

"quick": Turn off all time delays (this session only). This is a 
development option and isn't really intended for use during normal 
play. See FAQ #3 for additional info. 

"fastexit": Allows you to exit the game directly from the menu, without 
having to pass through the "main" screen (this session only). 
 
"debug": Please don't do this... 
 
"reactions+": (Advanced Reaction Fire Range Rules) Allows longer (more realistic) 
ranges for automatic reaction orders. This is a "sticky" parameter. You only need 
to set it once and it becomes part of your standard game configuration. 
 
"reactions-": (SSI supported Default) Sets the standard documented (shorter, and 
according to some, more playable) ranges for reaction orders. This is a "sticky" 
parameter. You only need to set it once and it becomes part of your standard game 
configuration. 
 
"reports+": (Enhanced Reporting Rules) Gives additional numerical information in 
some game report screens and increases the amount information available in the
microview and overview screens. This is a "sticky" parameter. You only 
need to set it once and it becomes part of your standard game configuration. 

                             Effects of reports+:

  *All fire strengths in the unit report panel are given as numerical values
rather than the default verbal descriptions. In fact, numerical values are
substituted for verbal descriptions in almost all displays.

  *Locations of all commanders are hilighted with a flashing red cursor in the
overview.

  *Locations of all commanders assigned to units of the active command are hilighted
with flashing red indicators in the microview at the bottom right corner of the
game screen.

  *All uniform items are listed with their numerical indices in the order of battle
editor.

  *Orders of battle may be saved as text files in the order of battle editor. This is 
controlled by using the "x" hotkey. Follow the prompts. This can generate very
large files, so avoid using it if you don't have a few spare megabytes free on your
hard drive.

  *The "Play/Active Option Info" menu item becomes available, listing the status
of all game options.

  *The sub version number (example:"1.4.01", rather than just "1.4") is shown on the 
credits screen.
 
"reports-": (SSI supported Default) Replaces some numerical information in game 
report screens with verbal descriptions and disables . This is a "sticky" parameter. 
You only need to set it once and it becomes part of your standard game 
configuration. 
 
"showmovecost+": When movement paths are shown, the projected 
cost to enter each hex along the path is shown in the hex. This is a 
"sticky" parameter. You only need to set it once and it becomes part of 
your standard game configuration. 
 
"showmovecost-": (SSI supported Default) Do not show movement cost information 
in movement path displays. This is a "sticky" parameter. You only need to set it 
once and it becomes part of your standard game 
configuration.

"oldrules+": (Experimental Simulation Rules) Decreases killed and wounded and 
replaces them with stragglers and unit cohesion losses. Turns on long reaction 
ranges and advanced reporting options. Increases severity of fire combat, but
additional losses are channeled as stragglers and loss of unit cohesion.
Morale rules are strengthened. Artillery units tend to abandon their guns if 
overrun rather retreating from melee. Units are eligible for frantic fire in 
response to fire attacks by adjacent enemy units. Note: It is extremely difficult
to move units in the face of enemy fire when this switch is on. Assaults are much 
more difficult to launch, and due to the stronger morale rules overall casualties 
for battles are significantly reduced. If you set oldrules+ and wish to return to 
the SSI supported default rules, set "oldrules-" on your command line.

"oldrules-": (SSI supported Default) Restores standard rules and sets reactions-,
reports-, and showmovecost-.

If you run the game from a Win 95 desktop shortcut (my recommendation)
these parameters are entered into the shortcut properties -> program ->
command line, after the name of the program. Example: You would use 
"d:\rifles\rifles.exe oldrules-" to reset all standard SSI rules defaults.
 
Norm Koger 2.0 
nkoger@onr.com
 
August 28th, 1996. 
Modified August 25th, 1997.