Readme file for the scenario:

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The Great War: Highway to Hell

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A Civ2 scenario by Stephan Sander a.k.a. jim panse, April/May 2004

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Content:

(1) Basic Background Information

(2) Basic Gameplay Information

(3) Information on Generic and Specific Units

(4) Information on City Improvements and Wonders

(5) Roll of Honour

(6) Additional Stuff

(7) Dedication

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(1) Basic Background Information:

Is it the war to end all wars--or war without end? What began as a conflict in Europe, when Germany unleashed a lightning assault on its enemies, soon spreads to North America, as a long-simmering hatred between two independent nations explodes in bloody combat. Twice in fifty years the Confederate States of America had humiliated their northern neighbor. Now revenge may at last be at hand.

Into this vast, seething cauldron plunges a new generation of weaponry changing the shape of war and the balance of power. While the Confederate States are distracted by an insurgency of African Americans who dream of establishing their own socialist republic, the United States are free to bring their military and industrial might directly to bear--and to unleash the most horrific armored assault the world has ever seen. Victory is at hand. But at a price that may be worse than war itself . . .

(2) Basic Gameplay Information:

The MAP is only partly stackable. The Mountain terrain is not stackable. The Sea/River squares are stackable. Therefore MP/PBEM players have to follow this HOUSE RULE: Disband troops loaded upon a sunken transport. (Yeah, this scenario is designed as a MP/PBEM scenario but someone could always play it in SP mode too.)

You will be able to build AIRBASES once you discover the technology of Radio Communications. Be advised that you must pillage the stackable terrain before being able to construct an airbase (save on Mountain squares).

Please note that in TURN 1 (July 1914) you are onl able to move one respective two units (in the case you are playing the Central Powers). This shall help you to get organised in the beginning.

One last SIDENOTE:

For those who are used to the real story of World War One: As the Central Powers you have an easier time since the United States are on your side but even though you should try to stick to the book. There are five armies ready to break through Belgium to carry out the Schlieffen Plan.

As the Entente cordiale you MUST get the B.E.F. from the British Isles to the European mainland to avoid a serious defeat of France.

CIV-SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGIES are also included into this scenario.

To AVOID AIR-PROTECTED STACKS all ground units were give the 'fighter flag'. This means that your ground units can attack air-protected stacks without problems. Thus, disabling those damned air-protected stacks but another problem rises: The AI will not understand it. Please be careful when you play this scenario in SP.

TERRAIN KNOWLEDGE might prove more than vital to you war effort. The different terrain types have all different effects on the defence and attack power of your units. I aimed to recreate a more than bloody stalemate, so watch WHERE you position your troops!

All NOT-MAJOR POWERS in this scenario are represented by Barbarian cities which seem to make them easy targets and victims. Seem to. Be advised that the some of those cities - representing the really neutral nations in World War One - are very difficult to take and might cause a very high number of casualties.

(3) Information on Generic and Specific Units:

Some more or less GENERIC UNITS like the ones noted below are standard units. They are buildable without restrictions - save the general unit limit, of course. Those units have a fair attack value but might loose against each other when the defending unit is on a terrain square with a good defence bonus.

Engineers
Monoplane
Biplane
Improved Biplane
Siege Artillery
Freighter
Destroyer
Cruiser
Battlecruiser
Battleship
Armed Freighter
Poison Gas
Garrison
Supply Convoy

CIV-SPECIFIC STANDARD UNITS are listed below. They are buildable without restrictions - save the general unit limit, of course. Those units have a fair attack value but might loose against each other when the defending unit is on a terrain square with a good defence bonus.

French Conscripts (Entente cordiale only)
Arme Francaise (Entente cordiale only)
British Troops (Entente cordiale only)
Italian Troops (Italia only)
Austrian Troops (Central Powers only)
German Army (Central Powers only)
C.S. Army (Confederate States only)
Russian Troops (Russian Empire only)
U.S. Army (United States only)
Canadian Troops (Entente cordiale only)
Ottoman Army (Ottoman Empire only)

Other, more SPECIFIC UNITS, are only buildable with certain restrictions and are listed below. Those units have either a fair attack value like the ones above but some of them are civ-specific units and therefore usage might be limited.

Fokker E.III (Central Powers only)
B.E.F. (Entente cordiale only, NOT buildable)
Airco DH-2 (Quadruple Entente)
Wright Fighting Scout (United States only)
Armoured Car (Central Powers and Allies)
Cavalry (Quadruple Entente)
Cossacks (Russian Empire only)
Cavalry (Central Powers and Allies)
Nieuport No.17 (Quadruple Entente)
Spad S.XIII (Quadruple Entente)
Gotha G.V (Central Powers only)
Airco DH-4 (Quadruple Entente)
Mark.IV Tank (Quadruple Entente)
75mm Field Gun (Quadruple Entente)
150mm Howitzer (Quadruple Entente)
7.7cm Field Gun (Central Powers and Allies)
15cm Howitzer (Central Powers and Allies)
Zeppelin (Central Powers only)
Handley-Page 100 (Quadruple Entente)
Albatros D.Va (Central Powers only)
Martin Monoplane (United States only)
Alpini (Italia only)
Armoured Car (Quadruple Entente)
Tirailleurs d'Afrique (Entente cordiale only)
MG Troops (Quadruple Entente)
MG Troop (Central Powers and Allies)
Sturmtruppen (Central Powers only)
Barrel (United States only)

(4) Information on City Improvements and Wonders:

Please use the Pedia for more specified information on these issues!

(5) Roll of Honour:

Sid Meier - The Godfather of Civilization!
Captain Nemo & Alex the Magnificient - The Founding Fathers of Epic Civilization II Creation!
Harry Turtledove - His Majesty of the Alternative History Reich!
Fairline - The Crown Prince of the Imperial Civ2 Artworks!
Curt Sibling - Reichschancellor of the Imperial Scenario Works!
Pablostuka - Secretary of Advice in the Imperial Government!
Sarsstock - Secretary of Title Artworks in the Imperial Government!
Kruger/Comrade Commissar - Deputy Secretary of Advice in the Imperial Government!
Carl Fritz  - Deputy Secretary of the Navy in the Imperial Government!
John Ellis - Secretary of War in the Imperial Government!
Paliologos/Bomilcar - Deputy Secretary of War in the Imperial Government!
Harry Tuttle - Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Scenario Works!
Yaroslav - Personal Chamber Programmer in the Cabinet of the Emperor!
Our-man - Secretary of Research & Development in the Imperial Government!
Typhoon - Deputy Secretaty of War in the Imperial Government!
Nilat/Stalin II - Liason Officer to the Emperor!
Arthedain - Chief Justice of the Imperial Scenario Works!
ZarD - Secretary of Physical Education & Pre-Military Drill in the Imperial Government!
Mercator/Mercatore Uno - 1st Officer in the Imperial General Staff!
All the fine fellows and Co-Civ2-Addicts at the Apolyton Army Headquarters! 
All the fine fellows and Co-Civ2-Addicts at the CDG Army Headquarters!

AND ... LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Steffen/Sephiroth - General Quartermaster of the Imperial General Staff!

Let me thank him for all the hours of talking about women, beer and other weird stuff without I would have been faster creating this scenario!

If you think you deserve to be called too in this Roll of Honour, please tell me - and I will think about adding you ;-)

(6) Additional Stuff:

You know that section. It is about finding and reporting bugs, etc. You know it all.

You can reach me either at steph_sander@hotmail.com, MSN (same adress), ICQ #201374165 or at Apolyton (www.apolyton.net/civ2) or at CDG (http://www.cdgroup.org/forums/tbs/civ2/), my nichname is 'jim panse'.

And before you ask: No, I will not share my mobile phone number with you!

(7) Dedicated to:

All those brave men and women who suffered in World War One and never lived to see its end.
All those brave men and women who suffered in World War One and were maimed.
All those brave men and women who suffered in World War One and hurt - physically & psychically.

May their memory live on forever.



