
     These are the Docs for Battle Isle 2 from Bluebyte.

     Battle Isle has honestly been one of my most favorite strategy war
     games to date. The original concept came from a game on the Turbo
     Grafx-16 called Military Madness and evolved into Battle Isle 1,
     Battle Isle 1 scenario disk, Battle Isle '93, The Great War, and NOW
     Battle Isle 2. BI2 continues right where the original BI1 leaves
     off..... In Battle Isle 1, an alien race threatened by another
     conquering race, sends out a computer game to Earth to find the
     ultimate strategist to command their forces in the real war. If this
     sounds like The Last Starfighter then your right, BUT this game is not
     cheesy unlike the movie :) .
     This game delivers more than great special effects. There is real
     substance, replay value, as well as a NEW option to play up to 5 human
     players or have multiple computer opponents as the campaign
     progresses. The controlling interface has been completely refurbished.
     Yes the old familiar icons and graphics are somewhat still there but
     no more play with the joystick (Gravis for the best control), now it's
     completely mouse driven. Also there aren't move phases and then attack
     phases in BI2. It's all one turn for each player, you will move and
     attack immediately after each element (Unit) moves. Sharper hi res
     graphics and sweeter sound support adds to the new and improved BI.
     Unfortunately modem play is not supported :( . This is surely the most
     needed and easily added feature for a game of this caliber and type.
     The two most noticeable improvements in the game are hands down the
     rendered animation (well someone's obviously still learning 3D Studio)
     and the polygon fill battle resolution animations (WOW!)
     which are short and sweet and don't slow down the game (Unlike the
     battle resolution anim's in The Great War). Another nice all original
     addition is the alteration of mission objectives. In the first BI's
     you had to either eliminate every opposing unit OR occupy the enemy HQ
     to win the map, now each map/mission has different objectives
     according to the campaign. Very refreshing to say the least. Did I
     forget to mention the new "Fog of war" feature that "hides" areas of
     the map unless your units can see it? Did I forget to mention that
     there is an active weather system and that lakes freeze over
     temporarily at times to allow passage? Did I forget that sometimes
     enemy special operations forces demolish bridges and roadways? All in
     all in my opinion, BI2 is the superior in it's product line and easily
     delivers solid strategy wargaming for the novice or the old hand.


     ICONS

     Icons are often selected by not only a press of the left mouse button,
     but also by the RELEASE of the left mouse button. As you play the game
     you will learn when and where these selections are made.

     4-WAY ARROWS - This is the icon to select when you wish to move. After
     selecting this, the area the unit can move to will be highlighted.
     Just choose a hex (Hexagon space) to move to by clicking on it. If it
     is in the darkened area then you cannot move that particular unit
     there.

     i - The "i" Icon is for INFORMATION. This will give you a technical
     readout on the unit in question. You will learn the different parts of
     the readout from playing the game.

     EYE - This icon will give you an overview of the battle-map. ANY
     squares of your color on the map are units that have yet to be moved.
     You can also see enemy units.

     LEFT AND RIGHT ARROWS -  This icon allows you to end your turn and let
     the computer/opponents make their moves.

     MENU - The menu icon allows you to make changes to the game settings,
     detail levels, sound, save, load, etc.

     X - This icon allows you to cancel out of a selection.

     BOX - This icon represents "contents". With this icon you can see
     "inside" a depot, factory, HQ, or even a cargo/transport unit.

     A - This is selected to fire "A" class weapons (usually ground to
     ground melee).

     B - This is selected to fire "B" class weapons (Usually artillery)

     C - This is selected to fire "C" class weapons (Usually air weapons).

     WRENCH - This icon is found inside a Depot/Factory. This icon allows
     you to fix/repair a unit.

     OIL DRUM - This icon is used to refuel a unit.

     HAMMER - This icon is found inside factories where you use it to build
     an new unit.

     F1 - Used to access the options menu.


     General Play

        Basically the goal to Battle Isle is to wrestle your opponents into
     a advantageous position to conquer their forces by wither attrition or
     subterfuge via capturing their HQ or target objectives. ONLY Walkers
     (troops) and Rangers can capture a Depot/Factory/HQ. Once you move one
     of these units into a facility, you then control that facility until
     an enemy force captures it. Terrain advantages vary and you can pretty
     much understand them by using common sense. A tank can attack GREAT on
     an open road but is poor to defend on the opponents turn. A walker in
     the mountains is well protected from any attack. Also be sure to
     examine the information on units and new units as they are added to
     the game. A lot of units fire from a distance or have special move
     abilities (e.g. rangers can move, then attack, and then move the
     remainder of it's move points.). Alot of units fire ranged too
     (meaning you do not have to be directly adjacent to an enemy to fire
     at it.). Pay attention to the weather, nothing worse than losing
     troops to "Thin Ice". Pay attention to the units that can transport
     other units, these may offer express solutions in time of need. Fuel
     trucks can be run behind other units to refuel them. When you first
     click on a unit, you will see a display to the lower right showing a
     picture of the unit, a red segmented line (each red segment represents
     and actual thing in that unit, i.e. a tank playing piece would consist
     of 10 tanks represented by a ten segmented red line.), and a
     yellow/blue/red segmented line which represents fuel available to that
     unit. You can refuel OR repair a unit at a depot/factory/city that you
     control, just move the unit onto the facility and then use the oil
     barrel or wrench to refurbish. The name of the game is "Concentrating
     you greatest strength on the opponents greatest weaknesses" (Sun Tsu)
     so keep this in mind when attacking the enemy. You get bonuses for
     "surrounding the enemy" and "hemming in" the enemy unit. This will
     manifest in less casualties when attacking or complete destruction of
     the enemy unit. You also get bonuses for support such as units around
     you but not adjacent to the enemy target. These modifiers also apply
     when defending.
     The game incorporates a "Grey Out" feature so that you know if a piece
     has been moved when it's grey and not the color of your side. In the
     mid game t end game, air/land/sea forces will be obviously very
     segregated and must be used wisely and in concert with each other. An
     all ground force with 0 anti air weapons, no matter how big, is
     completely dead with one air to ground unit attacking them. That's
     something to think about! If all this wasn't detailed enough.... There
     is the one constant that had remained in all the Battle Isles....
     Troop Experience.  Troop experience is awarded to a unit that attacks
     another defends against another or kills another. Basically it's 1 EXP
     for an attack, 2 EXP for a kill and 1 EXP for a defend. The scale is 1-
     10 EXP and. A 10 exp unit repaired to full strength can pretty much
     single handily wipeout the rest of the map. Experience turns rookie
     units into VERY POTENT veteran units.
     The symbols are pretty simple to understand. Dashes from 1-4 then a
     "wings" symbol, then a wings symbol with dashes, finally the great
     "X". If you see a unit with a "X" for experience, RUN AWAY!
     Don't be stupid and let your weakest units get fed upon by the enemy.
     All this does is strengthen the enemies units with experience.
     Basically to win the game, you "gang up" on enemy weak units to gain
     experience and then tackle the more formidable units. Remember to
     attack en mass and to recognize the weakness of your opponents and the
     strengths of your forces. All units have a LOS or Line Of Sight number
     meaning how many hexes radius you can see. This comes into play with
     the "Fog Of War' feature. Unless you have a radar system, you are left
     to explore with units or mobile radar. Beware moving into uncharted
     territory, you can end up in a conflict not of your choosing if you
     land adjacent or upon the enemy. You can right click with the mouse
     anywhere on the map to get info on a unit/building, even if unoccupied
     (neutral) or an enemy holding. Remember that only walkers and rangers
     can capture buildings and in a way become your most protected and
     valued units. As the game progresses, you will be allowed to command a
     greater variety of units. As these units become available, you will
     get a technical readout screen showing the specs and the cost of the
     new unit. Remember that the game is multiplayer and that you can play
     up to 5 human players (This is a rare feature on war games).

        Well that's it for BI2. I could have went into detail on the units
     and all their individual stats but then that takes away from the
     exploration and discovery of the potential of each unit. The game
     provides the basic readout, it's up to you to learn how to utilize
     them. Even the first map can be discouraging at first so don't give
     up. Learn how to muster your forces and apply them efficiently.

