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These are some of the most common technical and game questions asked about
Wages of War.
Canceling interface commands:
Anytime you click on any action that requires you to indicate a target
(shooting, grenades, fist aid, exchanging, etc.), you can cancel that
command by simply clicking on the same button again.
Carrying wounded mercs:
Downed mercs (dead or incapacitated) can be carried off the field by their
comrades. Move the healthy merc directly over the downed one and go to the
actions menu, then click the button with the pictographs of the stick
figure picking up the other stick figure (middle left) and you will pick up
the other merc. Note that you can only walk and may not shoot while
carrying another merc. You will also have to put them down in order to open
any doors. When you reach a valid exit area, you will be asked if you wish
to evacuate your wounded partner If you say yes, you will then be asked if
you wish to leave. In this way a merc can carry off a downed comrade, and
then return to the fight.
Crew weapons:
The M-60 and the PKMS machine guns are considered crew weapons. The
mercenary firing the weapon (the Gunner) is unable to reload it himself.
The ammunition must be carried and loaded by a second merc (the Loader). In
order to reload, move them adjacent to each other, both must be alive and
functional. During the Gunner's turn select the reload button. You will be
asked to select the Loader (the cursor will turn into an ammo belt), click
on the Loader and the reload will be complete. Note that this action takes
AP's from both mercenaries, so make sure that the Loader has positive AP,
or the load will fail.
Game speed:
Smaller processors (486's) can sometimes get pretty slow during some
missions. One way to speed things up is to copy the "wow\anim" folder from
the CD into your Wages of War directory. This takes a lot of hard drive
space, but can be a big help.
Exchanging and dropping items:
A merc may drop any item that he is carrying at any time by clicking on the
actions (!) menu and then clicking on the button with the hand and gun
(upper right corner). You will be shown a list of everything that merc is
carrying, and you can select which one you would like to drop. A mercenary
may exchange items with any other merc or any dead enemy. Move merc
adjacent to the person you wish to exchange with and click on the drop item
button. Your cursor will change into a hand, and just click on the person
to exchange with. If you click on yourself, you will get the
drop item list. To pick up a dropped item, move directly over it and click
the
drop item button. To quickly drop an item, a handy shortcut is to right
click on the merc's portrait in the interface.
Improving mercenaries:
Mercenaries will gradually improve in skill as they go on more missions. A
mercenary who has been on many missions will often have improved
considerably. Generally the more skilled a merc, the more they cost, but
mercenaries who have improved up to the level of other mercs will always
cost less than their equivalent. This encourages players to use the same
people often, and to keep them alive. It is also satisfying to see a merc
improve dramatically after several missions.
Initiative and reaction fire:
Each turn, the computer determines the order of initiative for that turn,
based primarily on the EXP and WIL of each combatant. Reaction fire can
occur any time two combatants spot each other during movement. You can
react to an enemy moving into your field of view if you have a positive
number of AP, AND you are ahead of them in the initiative sequence. Of
course, the same is also true for you moving into an enemy's view.
Office detail level:
In the options menu from the main menu, there is a high/low detail toggle.
This actually refers to the level of involvement in the office segment of
the game. In high detail, the player must handle all contract negotiations,
travel, intelligence spending, and training. In low detail, the contracts
are done automatically, and the player need not worry about deadlines or
training. In this way players can decide how much of the business end of
battle they want to handle.
Quick Targeting:
Pressing the "Tab" key during combat will toggle the view through all the
enemies that your merc can see. Hit the "Tab" several times during each
merc's move, just to stay aware of enemies around you.
Rolodex:
For personal information about individual mercs, clicking on the face of
their rolodex card reveals a little bit about their history and skills. The
rolodex card will update after each mission with skill improvements and
possible changes in status (KIA, WIA).
Overhead Map:
Clicking on the map button below the mini-map changes the view to a full
screen overhead map. The overhead shows not only the locations of visible
enemies, but architecture that cannot be seen from the angle of the normal
battle screen (doors and windows), and the entrance and exit points for
most missions.
Setting explosives:
In order to set a satchel charge, you must also have an explosives timer
(without the timer, you may still throw it like a grenade). To set the
charge go to the actions menu and click on the clock button. You will be
shown an LED timer, set the amount of time desired (note that one game turn
is roughly 30 seconds), click "Arm", then "Done." If you do not click
"Arm", the charge will not go off. Setting a charge costs 34 AP.
Training effects:
Training can temporarily improve each mercenary's skills for that specific
mission. The level of improvement is not large, but it can give your people
an edge. Weapon training affects each merc's WSK, while Mission training
affects EXP and WIL, and Tech training affects TCH.
This section is a list of keyboard shortcuts that are not listed in the
manual.
Interface:
Center On Current Merc Home
End Turn End
Game Options Esc
Center On Enemy Tab (cycles through visible enemies)
Emulate Left Mouse Click Delete
Move Cursor Arrow keys
Move/Fire:
Stand Alt + S
Kneel Alt + K
Prone Alt + P
Open/Close Door Alt + D
Reload Alt + L
Throw explosive Alt + T
Walk Alt + W
Run Alt + R
Crawl Alt + C
Fire Weapon Alt + F
Hand to Hand Attack Alt + H
Actions:
Sight Mortar Ctrl + M
First Aid Ctrl + A
Cut Fence Ctrl + F
Carry Merc Ctrl + C
Review Intelligence Ctrl + I
Inventory Ctrl + V
Sound/Music:
Sound Volume Down -
Sound Volume Up +
Music Volume Down [
Music Volume Up ]
Music On/Off F2
This section is a list of each mission with a little information to get
players started in each. Most of what is here can be gleaned from reading
each intelligence brief, but we thought a more concise listing might be
helpful to people who are getting stuck.
Mission 1:
Your mission is to find and rescue Lizza Montague. She appears on the
mini-map as a blue dot and on the main screen in a white blouse and blue
skirt. You may start your team along any edge of the map. In order to
rescue Lizza, you must first neutralize the guard nearest her then move one
of your mercenaries nearby. You will be given a message saying that you
have rescued the hostage. From this point on, she will be under your
control. Move her and your team off any edge of the map and you win. Be
careful though, once the enemy is aware of your presence, they will try and
escape with her. One last thing, once you rescue the girl, the enemy will
consider her a target...
Mission 2:
You are in the dead zone looking for a briefcase at one of two wreckage
sites. There are a couple important things to keep in mind. First, if you
spend to much time in the area (15 min or more), your mercs will start
taking damage from radiation. Second, the area is infested with hostile
mutants. Funny thing about mutants is that they have a habit of scavenging
things from wreckage sites. Once you have the briefcase, return to the
helicopter to exit.
Mission 3:
Government missions don't pay well, but they generate a lot of prestige, so
it's important that you do well here. That said, this mission is pretty
straight forward. Your mission is to land on the beach, then penetrate into
the enemy bunker, locate the stinger missiles inside, blow them up and go
home. Be very careful fighting inside the bunker. The enemy often puts up a
pretty good defense. When you do find the stingers, the safest thing is to
set satchel charges and clear the immediate area. Make sure you destroy all
the missiles, then exit at the boat.
Mission 4:
In mission four, you have to crack a safe to recover a set of blueprints,
so it is vital that you have at least one merc with an excellent tech skill
rating. The safe can be in several different locations on the map, and the
enemy are scattered around, so search thoroughly, and take your time. When
you find the safe, move your tech with the safecracker kit in front of it,
and go to the actions (!) menu on your interface, and then click the button
that looks like a finger pushing a button. Cracking the safe takes several
turns, but once you open it, your tech will automatically pick up the
blueprints. Exit any edge when finished.
Mission 5:
This hostage mission is not unlike mission one, except that there is a
second
civilian on the map. David McCallom, your hostage, is wearing a blue shirt.
Exit the hostage and your team from the southwest corner where you entered.
Mission 6:
Your objective here is to destroy the oil pumping station, which is the
large circular object inside the enemy compound. You can enter along any
point on the edges of the map, so a wide range of approach options are
possible. Bear in mind, though, that the enemy here will by far be the best
equipped and trained you have encountered. Destroying the pump usually
takes about two satchel charges set next to it. Exit any edge.
Mission 7:
We won't kid you, this mission can be very difficult. You have to make a
night time paradrop into the center of an enemy position, destroy two
different objectives, then exit all of your mercs from the distant west
side of the map. Each merc can only carry limited equipment on the drop, so
it is essential that you buy a parachute canister and that you get your
people to it on the ground quickly. Ii is highly recommended that you
equip as many of your mercs as possible with night vision goggles.
Mission 8:
You have been hired to assassinate three businessmen staying at the
familiar Salvatore hacienda. You can enter and exit from any edge, so feel
free to experiment with different tactics, but watch out, the guards are a
lot better this time.
Mission 9:
You are supposed to hack a computer, so bring a few technicians on this
mission. The whole map is one big building, and the computer could be in
any of a half dozen or so places. Make sure you take a good look at the
photo of the computer in the intel brief, the whole place is full of
different computers, but you are looking for a very specific one. Your tech
can begin working on the computer the same way as the safe in mission four,
only you don't need any special tools. Once you have accessed the computer,
exit from the same place you came in.
Mission 10:
This parachute mission is a lot like mission seven, except that it's
daytime. Once you land, a large number of enemy soldiers will begin moving
towards you from the south. You will need to take out any enemies already
at the crossroads, plus all the ones coming at you, then exit your team to
the north.
Mission 11:
You have been hired to capture a munitions factory (and we mean capture!).
Destroying any part of it could cause you to fail the mission. Once you
have neutralized all of the enemy, the area will be considered secured, and
the mission will end. This is a night mission, so equip accordingly.
Mission 12:
The Romanian government has hired you to attack the Russian supply lines to
help them in their war. The mission is reasonably straight forward. Take
out all defending forces and destroy the bridge, and the mission will end.
But be careful. These Russians are very well armed and quite numerous. The
mortar is available for this mission, and you owe it to yourself to have
fun with it. Destroying the bridge takes at least two satchel charges.
Don't set them too close together, or they won't have the same effect.
Mission 13:
Your mission is to recover a laser rifle prototype from the research
compound.
The laser can start out in a couple of places, but the enemy has a bad
habit
of moving it during the battle, so be thorough. Once you have the laser,
exit with it to the south.
Mission 14:
There are two possible missions you can go on for mission 14. Which one you
will be taken on will be determined by events in previous missions. You
will not know which it is beforehand. Either way, your objective is to
eliminate all enemy, at which point the mission will end.
Mission 15:
This is the final mission, and as you might expect, it has the potential to
be quite difficult. You are finally being sent to take out Salvatore
himself. He has made a few changes to his hacienda, so you will need some
explosives to get in (instead of fence cutters). As soon as he is aware of
you, Salvatore will try to escape, so you must move quickly. You may enter
and exit from any edge.
--
Shawn M. Bryan
Director of Quality Assurance
Network Administrator
Random Games, Inc.
sbrandom@mindspring.com
Wages of War.
Canceling interface commands:
Anytime you click on any action that requires you to indicate a target
(shooting, grenades, fist aid, exchanging, etc.), you can cancel that
command by simply clicking on the same button again.
Carrying wounded mercs:
Downed mercs (dead or incapacitated) can be carried off the field by their
comrades. Move the healthy merc directly over the downed one and go to the
actions menu, then click the button with the pictographs of the stick
figure picking up the other stick figure (middle left) and you will pick up
the other merc. Note that you can only walk and may not shoot while
carrying another merc. You will also have to put them down in order to open
any doors. When you reach a valid exit area, you will be asked if you wish
to evacuate your wounded partner If you say yes, you will then be asked if
you wish to leave. In this way a merc can carry off a downed comrade, and
then return to the fight.
Crew weapons:
The M-60 and the PKMS machine guns are considered crew weapons. The
mercenary firing the weapon (the Gunner) is unable to reload it himself.
The ammunition must be carried and loaded by a second merc (the Loader). In
order to reload, move them adjacent to each other, both must be alive and
functional. During the Gunner's turn select the reload button. You will be
asked to select the Loader (the cursor will turn into an ammo belt), click
on the Loader and the reload will be complete. Note that this action takes
AP's from both mercenaries, so make sure that the Loader has positive AP,
or the load will fail.
Game speed:
Smaller processors (486's) can sometimes get pretty slow during some
missions. One way to speed things up is to copy the "wow\anim" folder from
the CD into your Wages of War directory. This takes a lot of hard drive
space, but can be a big help.
Exchanging and dropping items:
A merc may drop any item that he is carrying at any time by clicking on the
actions (!) menu and then clicking on the button with the hand and gun
(upper right corner). You will be shown a list of everything that merc is
carrying, and you can select which one you would like to drop. A mercenary
may exchange items with any other merc or any dead enemy. Move merc
adjacent to the person you wish to exchange with and click on the drop item
button. Your cursor will change into a hand, and just click on the person
to exchange with. If you click on yourself, you will get the
drop item list. To pick up a dropped item, move directly over it and click
the
drop item button. To quickly drop an item, a handy shortcut is to right
click on the merc's portrait in the interface.
Improving mercenaries:
Mercenaries will gradually improve in skill as they go on more missions. A
mercenary who has been on many missions will often have improved
considerably. Generally the more skilled a merc, the more they cost, but
mercenaries who have improved up to the level of other mercs will always
cost less than their equivalent. This encourages players to use the same
people often, and to keep them alive. It is also satisfying to see a merc
improve dramatically after several missions.
Initiative and reaction fire:
Each turn, the computer determines the order of initiative for that turn,
based primarily on the EXP and WIL of each combatant. Reaction fire can
occur any time two combatants spot each other during movement. You can
react to an enemy moving into your field of view if you have a positive
number of AP, AND you are ahead of them in the initiative sequence. Of
course, the same is also true for you moving into an enemy's view.
Office detail level:
In the options menu from the main menu, there is a high/low detail toggle.
This actually refers to the level of involvement in the office segment of
the game. In high detail, the player must handle all contract negotiations,
travel, intelligence spending, and training. In low detail, the contracts
are done automatically, and the player need not worry about deadlines or
training. In this way players can decide how much of the business end of
battle they want to handle.
Quick Targeting:
Pressing the "Tab" key during combat will toggle the view through all the
enemies that your merc can see. Hit the "Tab" several times during each
merc's move, just to stay aware of enemies around you.
Rolodex:
For personal information about individual mercs, clicking on the face of
their rolodex card reveals a little bit about their history and skills. The
rolodex card will update after each mission with skill improvements and
possible changes in status (KIA, WIA).
Overhead Map:
Clicking on the map button below the mini-map changes the view to a full
screen overhead map. The overhead shows not only the locations of visible
enemies, but architecture that cannot be seen from the angle of the normal
battle screen (doors and windows), and the entrance and exit points for
most missions.
Setting explosives:
In order to set a satchel charge, you must also have an explosives timer
(without the timer, you may still throw it like a grenade). To set the
charge go to the actions menu and click on the clock button. You will be
shown an LED timer, set the amount of time desired (note that one game turn
is roughly 30 seconds), click "Arm", then "Done." If you do not click
"Arm", the charge will not go off. Setting a charge costs 34 AP.
Training effects:
Training can temporarily improve each mercenary's skills for that specific
mission. The level of improvement is not large, but it can give your people
an edge. Weapon training affects each merc's WSK, while Mission training
affects EXP and WIL, and Tech training affects TCH.
This section is a list of keyboard shortcuts that are not listed in the
manual.
Interface:
Center On Current Merc Home
End Turn End
Game Options Esc
Center On Enemy Tab (cycles through visible enemies)
Emulate Left Mouse Click Delete
Move Cursor Arrow keys
Move/Fire:
Stand Alt + S
Kneel Alt + K
Prone Alt + P
Open/Close Door Alt + D
Reload Alt + L
Throw explosive Alt + T
Walk Alt + W
Run Alt + R
Crawl Alt + C
Fire Weapon Alt + F
Hand to Hand Attack Alt + H
Actions:
Sight Mortar Ctrl + M
First Aid Ctrl + A
Cut Fence Ctrl + F
Carry Merc Ctrl + C
Review Intelligence Ctrl + I
Inventory Ctrl + V
Sound/Music:
Sound Volume Down -
Sound Volume Up +
Music Volume Down [
Music Volume Up ]
Music On/Off F2
This section is a list of each mission with a little information to get
players started in each. Most of what is here can be gleaned from reading
each intelligence brief, but we thought a more concise listing might be
helpful to people who are getting stuck.
Mission 1:
Your mission is to find and rescue Lizza Montague. She appears on the
mini-map as a blue dot and on the main screen in a white blouse and blue
skirt. You may start your team along any edge of the map. In order to
rescue Lizza, you must first neutralize the guard nearest her then move one
of your mercenaries nearby. You will be given a message saying that you
have rescued the hostage. From this point on, she will be under your
control. Move her and your team off any edge of the map and you win. Be
careful though, once the enemy is aware of your presence, they will try and
escape with her. One last thing, once you rescue the girl, the enemy will
consider her a target...
Mission 2:
You are in the dead zone looking for a briefcase at one of two wreckage
sites. There are a couple important things to keep in mind. First, if you
spend to much time in the area (15 min or more), your mercs will start
taking damage from radiation. Second, the area is infested with hostile
mutants. Funny thing about mutants is that they have a habit of scavenging
things from wreckage sites. Once you have the briefcase, return to the
helicopter to exit.
Mission 3:
Government missions don't pay well, but they generate a lot of prestige, so
it's important that you do well here. That said, this mission is pretty
straight forward. Your mission is to land on the beach, then penetrate into
the enemy bunker, locate the stinger missiles inside, blow them up and go
home. Be very careful fighting inside the bunker. The enemy often puts up a
pretty good defense. When you do find the stingers, the safest thing is to
set satchel charges and clear the immediate area. Make sure you destroy all
the missiles, then exit at the boat.
Mission 4:
In mission four, you have to crack a safe to recover a set of blueprints,
so it is vital that you have at least one merc with an excellent tech skill
rating. The safe can be in several different locations on the map, and the
enemy are scattered around, so search thoroughly, and take your time. When
you find the safe, move your tech with the safecracker kit in front of it,
and go to the actions (!) menu on your interface, and then click the button
that looks like a finger pushing a button. Cracking the safe takes several
turns, but once you open it, your tech will automatically pick up the
blueprints. Exit any edge when finished.
Mission 5:
This hostage mission is not unlike mission one, except that there is a
second
civilian on the map. David McCallom, your hostage, is wearing a blue shirt.
Exit the hostage and your team from the southwest corner where you entered.
Mission 6:
Your objective here is to destroy the oil pumping station, which is the
large circular object inside the enemy compound. You can enter along any
point on the edges of the map, so a wide range of approach options are
possible. Bear in mind, though, that the enemy here will by far be the best
equipped and trained you have encountered. Destroying the pump usually
takes about two satchel charges set next to it. Exit any edge.
Mission 7:
We won't kid you, this mission can be very difficult. You have to make a
night time paradrop into the center of an enemy position, destroy two
different objectives, then exit all of your mercs from the distant west
side of the map. Each merc can only carry limited equipment on the drop, so
it is essential that you buy a parachute canister and that you get your
people to it on the ground quickly. Ii is highly recommended that you
equip as many of your mercs as possible with night vision goggles.
Mission 8:
You have been hired to assassinate three businessmen staying at the
familiar Salvatore hacienda. You can enter and exit from any edge, so feel
free to experiment with different tactics, but watch out, the guards are a
lot better this time.
Mission 9:
You are supposed to hack a computer, so bring a few technicians on this
mission. The whole map is one big building, and the computer could be in
any of a half dozen or so places. Make sure you take a good look at the
photo of the computer in the intel brief, the whole place is full of
different computers, but you are looking for a very specific one. Your tech
can begin working on the computer the same way as the safe in mission four,
only you don't need any special tools. Once you have accessed the computer,
exit from the same place you came in.
Mission 10:
This parachute mission is a lot like mission seven, except that it's
daytime. Once you land, a large number of enemy soldiers will begin moving
towards you from the south. You will need to take out any enemies already
at the crossroads, plus all the ones coming at you, then exit your team to
the north.
Mission 11:
You have been hired to capture a munitions factory (and we mean capture!).
Destroying any part of it could cause you to fail the mission. Once you
have neutralized all of the enemy, the area will be considered secured, and
the mission will end. This is a night mission, so equip accordingly.
Mission 12:
The Romanian government has hired you to attack the Russian supply lines to
help them in their war. The mission is reasonably straight forward. Take
out all defending forces and destroy the bridge, and the mission will end.
But be careful. These Russians are very well armed and quite numerous. The
mortar is available for this mission, and you owe it to yourself to have
fun with it. Destroying the bridge takes at least two satchel charges.
Don't set them too close together, or they won't have the same effect.
Mission 13:
Your mission is to recover a laser rifle prototype from the research
compound.
The laser can start out in a couple of places, but the enemy has a bad
habit
of moving it during the battle, so be thorough. Once you have the laser,
exit with it to the south.
Mission 14:
There are two possible missions you can go on for mission 14. Which one you
will be taken on will be determined by events in previous missions. You
will not know which it is beforehand. Either way, your objective is to
eliminate all enemy, at which point the mission will end.
Mission 15:
This is the final mission, and as you might expect, it has the potential to
be quite difficult. You are finally being sent to take out Salvatore
himself. He has made a few changes to his hacienda, so you will need some
explosives to get in (instead of fence cutters). As soon as he is aware of
you, Salvatore will try to escape, so you must move quickly. You may enter
and exit from any edge.
--
Shawn M. Bryan
Director of Quality Assurance
Network Administrator
Random Games, Inc.
sbrandom@mindspring.com