TN-help for noobs - TTLG Forums

EDDIego on 3/11/2004 at 03:00

First time I heard about TN was on this forum. Since it is a LGS game and I`m not satisfied with today`s gamedesign I`ll give it a try. The demo looked very nice (in terms of gameplay :cheeky: ).<br>Are there any hints and general tips from the veterans to a noob? I`ll search the web myself for a guide, but mostly they are no match to the experience of a devoted player. Getting my copy soon and it should work on my Win98 system like Shock.

Shadowcat on 3/11/2004 at 04:11

hmm... here's something I wrote up years ago, when putting together a compilation of classic Looking Glass games... as such, the installation notes will not all apply (for starters you will likely not have a pre-patched version of the game with changes already made to the .pif files) but it should still make for useful reading. The patch fixes a bug with the random missions generator, btw, so it's not required for the campaign missions, but I recommend installing it anyhow (as random missions are also fun).

I've added a little mark-up to this for easier reading, and removed the bit where I pointed the reader at TTLG :)

Make sure you also read the supplied README.TXT file, of course!

Quote:

Installation

Copy the contents of the CD into a new directory on
your hard disc.

Terra Nova is a DOS game, but runs successfully under
Win98 on my system. (I have altered tn.pif in the
instdata directory of the CD to prevent it from shutting
down to DOS when you play the game.)

Having said that, I am unable to get the _installation_
routine working under Win98, as it sets a screen mode
that my Windows drivers can't handle. You may have more
success than me in this regard, however I have left the
default settings so that when you run Terranov.exe it
shuts down to DOS for the install. Modify and run
tninst.pif if you wish to try installing within Windows.

I suggest NOT letting it build a UniVBE driver when it
asks, as this also caused problems for me under Windows.

If you have a SoundBlaster Live sound card, it will
probably detect a SoundBlaster 16. Click on 'choose new
card' and select SoundBlaster AWE32, and then click on
auto-configure. For music, again click on the 'choose
new card' option and this time select 'General Midi'
and then auto-configure. This combination should give
the best audio for the SB Live.

As the CD is in fact now on your hard drive, choose the
minimal installation option to avoid wasting disc space.

Once the installation is complete, and you are back
in Windows, simply run 'tn' from the directory you
chose during installation to start the game. I recommend
adding a shortcut to this file to the Start Menu.

I have replaced the executable with the version provided
in the v1.09 patch, so no further patching is necessary.

<hr>

Controls

When in the SFC base, holding down TAB outlines the areas
you can click on. Be sure to use your personal terminal to
read up on history, technology, squad members, etc...

The mouse is mainly used to manipulate your Head Up Display
(HUD), and to aim and fire at targets. It does not control
the direction in which you are looking. Specific mouse functions
are covered in the sections below.

Most of the commands below can also be performed via the HUD
using the mouse, but it is well worth learning the keyboard
versions as they are much faster to use in the heat of battle.

You can get a status report for your PBA through the 'status'
button on your HUD. Badly damaged suit systems usually have
a noticeably detrimental effect on your ability to function
in the field. A repair specialist is sometimes a handy addition
to your squad.

Miscellaneous:

Code:

O Options panel (available everywhere!)
? Help screen (during missions)
PAUSE / P Pause
PRINT SCREEN Dump screen shot
CONTROL + ESCAPE Abort mission (also possible via the option panel)
ALT + X Exit game

n.b. Changes made in the options panel are only retained in
saved games. Make sure you select 320x400 resolution, and
set ground detail to 'excellent'. (And hit 'G' at the very
start of each mission to get the best view during the drop :)

The in-mission help screen shows an overview of the HUD and
should be examined carefully to familiarise yourself with
its features and layout. You can also get descriptions of
many features of the HUD by holding the cursor over the item
in question for a couple of seconds.

Movement and vision:

Code:

W Run forward
S Walk forward
A / D Turn left / right
Z / C Sidestep left / right
SHIFT + [movement] Bound (good for running up steep hillsides)
` Crouch
SPACE Use jumpjets

Firing the jumpjets drains both the rechargeable energy supply,
and the limited jumpjet fuel supply. A full energy supply provides
a few seconds of power to the jets. The effectiveness of the jump
jets depends on gravity and the weight of your suit.

Code:

Q / E Glance left / right
R / V Look up / down
F Centre view
+ / - Zoom view in / out
G Toggle full-screen view
TAB Toggle MFDs in full-screen view
I Toggle infra-red vision
B Toggle '360 degree vision'
F8 View mission objectives

Weapons and targets:

Code:

1 - 4 Select weapon slot 1 - 4
5 Use ASF
Left Mouse Button Fire
Right Mouse Button Lock target
T / Y Cycle targets

Map:

Code:

M Toggle map view
< / > Zoom map in / out (MFD only)
N Recentre map (MFD only)
F9 Toggle squad info
F10 Toggle sensor range
F11 Toggle weapon range
F12 Toggle mission info
Left Mouse Button Place nav marker
Right Mouse Button Drag the map

Communications:

Code:

F1 - F3 Call Squadmate 1 - 3 (brings up comms menu)
F4 Call entire squad
RETURN Call for the dropship

The following hotkeys send the associated command to the entire squad:

Code:

ALT + A Aggressive attack
ALT + C Find cover
ALT + D Cautious advance
ALT + F Resume formation
ALT + H Hold fire
ALT + M Follow me
ALT + N Go to nav marker
ALT + P Go to pickup point
ALT + R Retreat
ALT + S Status check
ALT + T Attack my target

CONTROL + Right Mouse Button Attack this
CONTROL + Left Mouse Button Quick comm menu (offers the commands
above, minus 'F' and 'T')

Drones:

Code:

CONTROL + [movement/view] Control the drone
CONTROL + PAGE UP Raise drone altitude
CONTROL + PAGE DOWN Lower drone altitude
CONTROL + HOME Recall drone

Use the 'view' button on the drone MFD and the normal
'full screen' feature to get a full-screen view from
the drone in place of the MFD view. You can zoom the
drone's view with the + / - keys as usual.

That won't help you with your tactics, but I gather some versions of the game don't come with a manual anymore, so it should at least give you a foot in the door in figuring out what the heck you're doing :)

Dam on 3/11/2004 at 09:23

From my experience (then again what do I know, took me 6 years to complete the game, check the thread, beat the tree count :laff: ), the NPC/A.I. controlled teammates do pretty well as long as you don't expect any rocket science from them. I tended to do the crucial bits myself with a wingman to cover/soak up some enemy attention, but if you send all 3 to fight some enemies they should kick ass. Advancing cautiously is a good way to stay alive in all LGS games. Although missions have time limits, they are lenient, so you can take your time getting a good position and order your teammates around.

EDDIego on 3/11/2004 at 15:36

That`s enough stuff for the start. Thanks a lot :thumb: !<br> Looks like one can deploy many tactics here...must be a great game. Why don`t they make such games today? And when does the postman arrive with my copy?

Shadowcat on 3/11/2004 at 22:41

It is indeed a great game, but in all honesty for practical purposes it's less tactical than it might seem. You have a lot of orders you can give, but like Dam said you can't really organise a complex plan and expect to execute it flawlessly (or rely on them not getting themselves half-killed for no good reason :). I tend to keep it simple for the most part. Just remember... when your beautiful plan just isn't panning out on the battlefield, sometimes it pays to just forget about commanding the squad, and go it alone.

Having said that, the harder you make things for yourself, the more important tactics become. If you choose the "World War" difficulty level (which I do not recommend for starters), you do need to think more tactically, and will often need to have a reasonable control over your squad (especially when wearing weaker armour). They may not be the smartest cookies, but you'll still be grateful when they save your butt in a firefight :)

So once you've finished the game, go back and increase the game's difficulty level and see how you manage. If that's too easy, start downgrading your squad's hardware as well. With a combination oif the two you can usually make make things sufficiently challenging :)

Dam on 9/11/2004 at 10:39

Hey, EDDIego, the postman been by yet? Any chance you'd do some kind of a progress report for people to read :thumb: ?