Description

MF Conquer the Island (MFCTI) turns the game into a Real-time Strategy.  There are two sides:  West and East.  Each side consists of one commander and eight teams (Alpha - Hotel).  Each side is able to build bases, troops, vehicles, and stationary defenses.  The game is augmented with AI.  If a player does not take a role then the AI will.  AI players will take towns and AI commanders will create a base and reinforce AI teams.  A human commander can issue orders to any of the AI teams such as moving to a waypoint, taking towns, defense, boarding transports, search and destroy, etc.

Versions

There are currently two versions of MFCTI: the Addons version and the Public Server version which is labeled PS after the version number.  The addons version requires an addon to play and offers many enhanced features.  The Public Server version is just a mission file and can be played without any special addons.  It is highly recommended you use the PS version if you want to host a public server.  This manual covers features present in both versions.  Anything specific to the Addons version will be in it's own section and labeled as such.

The Goal - Winning the Game

To win the game one side must destroy the opposing team's ability to produce troops and wage war.  This is done by destroying all production facilities (Barracks, Light Vehicle Factories, Heavy Vehicle Factories, Aircraft Factories, and the Mobile HQ).

The Basics

At the beginning of the game each team consists of one member.  This is the team leader of that group and will always respawn after death.  A player team leader may purchase troops and vehicles for his/her team (a max of 12 members).  A Commander must purchase troops and vehicles for any AI teams or switch them to independent mode so they can purchase their own.  This can be accomplished by creating base structures such as barracks for troops or the appropriate vehicle factory.  Each player team has it's own income.  Income can be viewed by selecting score from the action menu.  Income is increased by controlling towns and earning non-combat points.  Immediate resources are gained by salvaging vehicles and collecting bounties (taking towns and destroying vehicles).  The larger the town the more income it will provide and the bigger the bounty.  To maximize a town's income troops must be present in it's immediate vicinity.  The exception to this rule is for a game running with west and /or east enhancement which would allow maximum income for merely owning the town.  Towns are usually defended at the beginning of the game by resistance groups.  If a town's flag is taken but most of the resistance are left untouched they will attempt to retake the town.

Choosing Your Role

When you enter a game you have two choices:  which side and what role.  Which side you chose should be obvious but your role may not be.  There are two roles, you can control a team or you can be the commander of your side.  The Command position is the BOTTOM slot.  It is the only position labeled as an Officer.  If no one chooses the Command role then the AI will do it for your team.  The commander position has a steep learning curve.  It is STRONGLY recommended that you practice this role before jumping into a multiplayer game as a commander.  The AI commander can be a good tutorial.  Just watch what it does.

Game Types

MFCTI has been designed primarily for multiplayer.  However, it also functions quite well as a single player game.  To play in single player, just start a multiplayer game and chose your role.  AIs will take control of the rest.  A fast system is highly recommended.

Missions may have the following suffixes:

PS - Public Server.  These versions require no addons to play.  Useful for serving public games but there are less units and features.
HR - Heavy Resistance.  An HR mission spawns resistance at towns when a player gets near instead of using prebuilt units.  In these versions there is more resistance at each town.
MP - Multiplayer.  The MP version has different options to enhance MP games.  Included are victory conditions (take x towns, earn x points, etc.), and a Fast Game parameter.
Coop - Cooperative.  These missions are meant to be run with all players on one side working against the AI.  The AI difficulty may be set.

Certain mission types may be combined.  For example a mission named "MFCTI 1.1 PS HR Everon" would require no addons and spawn large amounts of resistance at each town.

Server Options

Consult the Readme.txt for more detailed information.  Here is a list of the parameters that can be set for a game:

Enhanced East and/or West - A side starts with extra resources and does not have to occupy a town for maximum income (just has to take it).  It is recommended to enable on both sides for a fast game.  If you want to play a co-op against the computer enable it for the AI side for better results.
More income - Income received for towns is doubled.  This is applied to both sides.
No AC Rockets  - Aircraft have no FFARs.  This is applied to both sides.
Weather - Adds random weather to the mission.
Night - Starts the mission at night.
Accelerated time - Greatly increases the speed of time passage.  Allows day & night missions.  Does not affect unit's speeds, etc. 

Recommended Requirements

The game is quite playable on a modern system.  It is recommended to run this on a dedicated server for maximum speed.  MFCTI is fairly demanding on system resources and can slow down a game running as a server and player.  If your system cannot handle this game playably it is recommended to try to find a dedicated server that is running it.  If you just want to practice then try to find an empty server and let the AI control the other roles.

Structures

A player accesses a structure's options by moving up to it.  An action choice will then be available to open it's menu.  Some buildings, such as the Control Center, cannot be accessed by anyone except the commander.  The commander will also have more choices for each structure.

Mobile HQ

The Mobile HQ is a unique vehicle that allows the commander to build a base as long as s/he is within range of it.  It is capable of building any structure and can produce workers to build up a placed structure or to repair a destroyed one.  Players can log on to the Team Camera from it.  It cannot be replaced or repaired if it is destroyed completely.  Each side has one from the game start and it should be defended at all costs.

Barracks

Trains infantry, allows a player to equip with different weapon loadouts, and can be used as a respawn point.  With the Infantry Upgrade it can produce more troop types.  The BlackOps Upgrade allows BlackOps to be trained here as well.



Light Vehicle Factory

Produces cars and trucks.  Can be used as a respawn point.  With the Light Vehicle Upgrade it can produce AA vehicles such as Vulcans or Shilkas.  Additionally it can produce the M113 for the west side.




Heavy Vehicle Factory

Produces APCs and basic tanks.  Can be used as a respawn point.  With the Heavy Vehicle Upgrade it can produce better tanks.




Air Vehicle Factory

Produces helicopters and can be used as a respawn point.  With the Aircraft Vehicle Upgrade it can produce more powerful helicopters.  Additionally it can then build fixed wing aircraft.




Ammo Depot

Provides a few ammo/weapon crates for players to equip weapons/ammo from.  Produces ammo trucks.  Reloads any nearby stationary guns when they run out of ammo.




Repair Depot

Produces repair and salvage trucks.  Automatically repairs nearby damaged vehicles (must be manned).  A commander can also produce Independent Salvagers.  These will automatically travel to and salvage any east or west vehicles that have been destroyed nearby.



Field Hospital

Troops can receive medical attention here.  Additionally, players may choose to respawn at the nearest hospital after death.




Control Center

Only accessible by the commander.  This will allow a commander to purchase upgrades and reinforce AI teams.  Note that this structure allows the commander to remotely access all barracks, light, heavy, and air factories for the purpose of adding units to AI teams.  A Control Center also defines a base.  If units are ordered to defend a town/base they will proceed to the nearest Control Center or town.  Provides Radar if upgraded (enemy aircraft will show as red dots on the map).


The Options Menu
The options menu may be accessed from your action menu.  The top of the menu displays your personal resources and your side's Player Pool (percentage of total income that goes to the players).

Option menu options:

Respawn Point - This is the area you respawn at if killed.  Default value is the MHQ.
Online Help - Brings up the help menu for in-game info on how to play.
Play Music - If this is turned on game music will be played at random intervals.
Transfer Resources - This will bring up the Resource Management menu.  From there you can transfer funds to other players.  This is useful if two players wish to pool their resources to buy a vehicle.
Set WP to Current Position - This will set your waypoint marker to your current position.
Set Waypoint To - This will set the your waypoint marker to the coords in the right boxes (example: B5).  This is to set a quick and general location.
Set Waypoint To - This is located below the first Set Waypoint button.  It has 4 boxes and can set a much more precise location (example: Bb54).
Build Queue - The Build Queue keeps track of any troops or vehicles that need to be built when the respective barracks/factory is available.
Delete - Deletes selected item in Build Queue.
Delete All - Deletes the entire Build Queue.

The Map

A lot of information can be gathered from the map.  Every town that has been taken will be labeled.  If a town is currently occupied by friendly troops it will have a green circle around it.  If a town has been taken from the resistance it will have a flag on it.   If a town has been taken from the opposing side it will have a target on it.  All team leaders and the commander are marked on the map and visible to everyone on the same side.  Additionally the Respawn Point (Mobile HQ) will be labeled.  All vehicles on the player's side will have a green dot on the map.  If a vehicle is destroyed it will be displayed with a green x.




The Loadouts Menu

Team Camera

From the Mobile HQ you can log on to the Team Camera.  This links with a satellite to provide an overhead view of all the teams.  You can also access the unit's camera remotely to get a close view of the situation.  Next and previous cycle through the teams and zoom in and out increases and decreases the magnification when in the satellite view.  Commanders have additional options.






Description

There are eight player teams per side.  They are designated Alpha - Hotel.  If a team is not controlled by a player then an AI will substitute (unless disabled).  If the commander doesn't intervene, the AI players will proceed to the nearest hostile towns and attempt to capture them.  A player receives a percentage of the total resource income earned.  The starting value is 30% for the player pool.  This means that 30% of all income earned will go to the player pool.  This resource income is then divided equally amongst the players and transferred to their budget.  For example, if there is 1 player on a side s/he will receive 30% of the total income.  If there are 3 players on a side they will each receive 10% (30% / 3).  Note that AIs DO NOT RECEIVE a percentage.  If there are no players on your team then the percentage can be ignored.  Additionally, players also earn an income from a player award pool.  The percentage can be adjusted by the commander and has a default value of 10%.  This percent of the total income is divided amongst player's based on their non-combat  score.  The more points you have earned, the more of this you will receive.  A player may view his/her income, current resources, and non-combat points by choosing score from the action menu. A player may also view the Player Pool percentage at the top of the options menu.  A commander may raise or lower the player pool/award pool percentage or transfer funds from the his/her budget to an individual player.  Non-combat points are also added to a player's total game score.  

Structure Options

A player has a few choices at a vehicle factory.  S/he may purchase an empty vehicle and take control or order troops in.  Alternately, a player can purchase a manned vehicle.  It will then come with a complete crew if the player has not reached his/her max allowable troops (12).  For example, a truck or jeep will be constructed with a driver.  A tank would have a driver, gunner, and commander.  If a player wishes to change his/her personal weapon loadout s/he can go to a barracks and choose from the list or create a custom loadout.

Special Vehicles

Mobile HQ
Anyone near a Mobile HQ can log on to it's satellite link to view the Team Camera.  This will allow and overhead view or unit-camera view of all the side's team leaders.

Ammo truck
These work just like in a regular OFP game; access reload vehicle from the action menu.  Additionally if one is near a stationary gun it will reload it if empty.  Note that this is much slower than having an ammo depot in range.  Additionally, an ammo truck has mines, satchel charges, AT/AA launchers and some firearms if you need to resupply.

Repair trucks
A player can use a repair truck to fix a vehicle or nearby building and create defensive structures.  To fix a vehicle use the action menu like you would in a standard OFP game.  To repair a building drive up near it and remain in the truck until the repairs are complete.  Note that anyone from the right side may be present in the driver seat to administer repairs so a player can order a soldier to the driver's seat as well.  For further repair truck options refer to the Commander section of this document.

Salvage vehicles
A salvage vehicle can be used to salvage destroyed vehicles for resources.  To use it simply drive up to the salvage target and wait.  After a while the target will disappear and the resources will be deposited in the pool.  A commander may build independent salvagers which actively seek destroyed vehicles.  Salvage income is divided equally among the players.  However, if a player uses the salvage vehicle s/he will earn 50% of the salvage and earn points.

Tips and Tricks

If your vehicle is destroyed you can wait around for a salvage vehicle to appear.  If it is on your side you can hop in and catch a ride back to the nearest friendly town or base.  If it is on the enemy's side you can blow the driver's head off and take it back yourself...;)

If a location of interest is found use the Set Waypoint from the options menu or alt-click on the map.  Do not mark text on the map since this can be visible to BOTH sides if you are accidentally in the global channel.

Get a complete weapon loadout from the Barracks.

If you want to increase your income then increase the teams'.  Take over towns or order your troops to defend any nearby friendly towns that are not occupied (no green circle around them on the map).

Earn bounties by taking over towns, destroying vehicles, and salvaging wreckage.

Above all else, protect your base!






Description

The commander is responsible for constructing the base and reinforcing/ordering the AI teams.  Additionally, the commander can manage the player budget, transfer funds to a specific player, and purchase upgrades.

Priorities and Base Management

A commander has many more responsibilities than a regular player.  The role can be so involved that a commander might only perform a management role the entire game.  Usually if a commander is leading an assault into battle it is because the team is either doing very well or very poorly.  It is highly recommended that you practice this role alone before jumping into a multiplayer game as one.  Your teammates rely heavily on your ability to play this role effectively.  At the beginning of a game a commander's first duty is to find a suitable location for the base.  Often times you may start at such a location but it is random.  A good location should be defensible and very flat for the buildings.  You should not create structures on terrain that isn't very level.  Buildings should also not be constructed too closely.  The AI can get stuck navigating through a tight base.  This takes practice, preferrably offline practice.  ;)

Once a suitable location has been found, a good choice for your first structures would be a Barracks and Control Center.  Do this by opening the Build Menu.  Note that when you first place a structure it is destroyed.  This is normal and it must be 'built up'.  Do this by adding workers from the Build Menu.  The more workers the faster the work gets done but keep in mind you are on a tight budget early on.  As soon as your Control Center is complete you can access it's menu (walk up to it, select Control Center Options from the action menu).  At this point upgrade Infantry to get more troop options at the Barracks.

Your strategy from here on is up to you.  A Light Vehicle Factory would be a good choice so players can purchase cheap vehicles to move about the map.  At this point you will not have much money left.  It is recommended to use the time to order AIs and devise a strategy.  As you gain money you should create base defenses.  A few troops and guns should always be present.  And always keep in mind your player requests.  A good commander needs to balance the needs of his/her team and the needs of the base.  As the base nears completion a commander should consider raising the player pool percentage (from the Option menu's Transfer Funds menu or Command menu's Resource Management menu) so players can purchase more equipment.

Structure Options