Harpoon ANW Manual Strategy Section

MarkShot · 08-13-07, 10:58 AM

I got a copy of the PDF manual for this game and was reading the naval warfare background section (less than 100 pages).

Some of the best reading on naval warfare for the lay person outside of the SC/DW community. Highly recommended if you can find a copy.

PS: I think the same material is more or less included in earlier versions of the manual which a freely floating around the net.

OneShot · 08-13-07, 11:29 AM

Do you refer to the individual sections (ASW, AAW, ..) of the H3 ANW manual? Because I got the manual and it only has 104 pages (according to my PDF reader) all in all. Those parts are good read nevertheless, but I'm curious if you maybe have got a different manual.

Cheers
OS

Bellman · 08-13-07, 11:44 AM

MS: ''....freely floating around the net.''

Original H3 Manual here: http://www.harpoonhq.com/?page_id=39

+ Utilities like a TOT planner.

MarkShot · 08-13-07, 11:56 AM

Sorry, I got so many Harpoon manuals (when I went looking for them that I got them confused). It's the Harpoon II manual beginning on page 167 to 260. Really great read for novices.

Blacklight · 08-13-07, 01:05 PM

Harpoon III Advanced Naval Warfare has to be the best overall computer naval sim that I've ever played and not only the manual, but the whole game itself is an EXCELLENT exercise in modern naval tactics. I can even say the same for the tabletop miniatures version of the game.
As a matter of fact, the manual for the miniatures tabletop version.. (Called Harpoon4 now) is such an educational read that I definitely reccomend it for learning about almost everything involved in modern naval warfare. It's funny because the manual is so long and intimidating looking. The game system is actually pretty simple, but they pack so much information about naval warfare into the manual that it appears more complicated than it is. I think it's actually a lot more informative than the videogame version's manual. I learned a lot more about modern naval warfare from reading that manual than almost everything else I've read on the subject. The game costs, but it's well worth it if you really want something educational to read and a good game as well. Harpoon4 is part of the Admiralty Series.. basically super accurate tabletop miniatures versions of naval warfare going from WWI to modern. All the manuals for the three games are fantastic educational studies in naval warfare of the periods covered.
http://www.clashofarms.com/miniatures.html

Even though these games rarely make it to my game table, I still found them to be excellent and educational reads.

captcav · 08-14-07, 08:49 PM

Silly question maybe, but i've never played Harpoon, i've always passed it off as an old school naval sim with nothing really more to add. With ANW though im now contemplating getting it.

Does H3 ANW have a 3d view of the assets your using in the game? obviously it's not going to go into so much detail as DW with the visuals, but is there a 3d window that allows you to see your vessels in 3d?

Captcav

Blacklight · 08-15-07, 11:12 AM

I would never say that Harpoon has nothing new to add. It's an excellent learning tool that often surprises me with it's challenges.
Harpoon III ANW does not have 3D graphics. It's not designed to be a graphicly intense sim. It's more designed to simulate what a naval commander at the Pentagon would see on his screens. See the screenshots linked off this page:

http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=323

There are also reviews linked off the page.
Also.. the subsim link to the review from The Wargamer:
http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/harpoonanw/

If you're looking for a graphicly intense game full of explosions, this is not it. However, if you're a hardcore wargamer and want the naval sim with the highest accuracy and number of platforms/weapons to command (And you don't mind a learning curve) This is your game. Where it really shines is it's databases that have accurate stats and information about pretty much every naval ship/weapon/sensor/aircraft out there. The Peoples Database project adds a ton more.

If 3D graphics and explosions are a must yet you still want some accuracy, check out Fleet Command in Sonalysts Naval Combat Pack.

http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/NavalCombatPack/

It's easier to master than Harpoon, has 3D graphics (It's an older game so it's not up to modern standards but it's decent), and has explosions. It has nowhere NEAR the database that Harpoon has but it's also not quite as hardcore a sim. I'd reccomend this over Harpoon to the casual gamer because getting a casual gamer to wrap their head around Harpoon is a daunting task.

You can also check out Global Conflict Blue which is a freeware open source project that's in the works that's trying to basically do Harpoon but make the appearance more similar to Fleet Command. It's a slow work in progress.
I havn't been able to run it properly on my computer but I've read other people here say that what they have so far with it it decent.

http://gcblue.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

None of the above games have anywhere NEAR the database(s) that Harpoon III ANW has. (Can you tell I love my Harpoon ?

)

I would suggest reading the reviews linked off the Harpoon III ANW page. They pretty accurately describe the sim and who would/wouldn't like it. This sim along with Dangerous Waters, Silent Hunter III, Conquest of the Agean, and The Operational Art of War III never leave my hard drive. I'm always running at least ONE of these games.

There's also a rumor kicking around (I don't know how authentic it is) that after SEVERAL starts, stops, cancellations, etc.. that there is a Harpoon 4 computer game in the VERY early works. As I said... it's a rumor. Can anyone out there verify this ?

08-13-07, 10:58 AM	#1
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Harpoon II Manual Strategy Section I got a copy of the PDF manual for this game and was reading the naval warfare background section (less than 100 pages). Some of the best reading on naval warfare for the lay person outside of the SC/DW community. Highly recommended if you can find a copy. PS: I think the same material is more or less included in earlier versions of the manual which a freely floating around the net. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)! Last edited by MarkShot; 08-13-07 at 11:57 AM.

08-13-07, 11:29 AM	#2
OneShot Grey Wolf Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 956 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Do you refer to the individual sections (ASW, AAW, ..) of the H3 ANW manual? Because I got the manual and it only has 104 pages (according to my PDF reader) all in all. Those parts are good read nevertheless, but I'm curious if you maybe have got a different manual. Cheers OS __________________ All the things you always wanted to know about Dangerous Waters but never dared to ask!

08-13-07, 11:44 AM	#3
Bellman Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,945 Downloads: 220 Uploads: 0	MS: ''....freely floating around the net.'' Original H3 Manual here: http://www.harpoonhq.com/?page_id=39 + Utilities like a TOT planner. __________________ Liberty, Equality, Fraternity

08-13-07, 11:56 AM	#4
MarkShot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,134 Downloads: 93 Uploads: 0	Sorry, I got so many Harpoon manuals (when I went looking for them that I got them confused). It's the Harpoon II manual beginning on page 167 to 260. Really great read for novices. __________________ War games, not wars! --- Only a small few profit from war (that should not stand)!

08-13-07, 01:05 PM	#5
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	Harpoon III Advanced Naval Warfare has to be the best overall computer naval sim that I've ever played and not only the manual, but the whole game itself is an EXCELLENT exercise in modern naval tactics. I can even say the same for the tabletop miniatures version of the game. As a matter of fact, the manual for the miniatures tabletop version.. (Called Harpoon4 now) is such an educational read that I definitely reccomend it for learning about almost everything involved in modern naval warfare. It's funny because the manual is so long and intimidating looking. The game system is actually pretty simple, but they pack so much information about naval warfare into the manual that it appears more complicated than it is. I think it's actually a lot more informative than the videogame version's manual. I learned a lot more about modern naval warfare from reading that manual than almost everything else I've read on the subject. The game costs, but it's well worth it if you really want something educational to read and a good game as well. Harpoon4 is part of the Admiralty Series.. basically super accurate tabletop miniatures versions of naval warfare going from WWI to modern. All the manuals for the three games are fantastic educational studies in naval warfare of the periods covered. http://www.clashofarms.com/miniatures.html Even though these games rarely make it to my game table, I still found them to be excellent and educational reads. __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !" Last edited by Blacklight; 08-13-07 at 01:19 PM.

08-14-07, 08:49 PM	#6
captcav Loader Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 83 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Silly question maybe, but i've never played Harpoon, i've always passed it off as an old school naval sim with nothing really more to add. With ANW though im now contemplating getting it. Does H3 ANW have a 3d view of the assets your using in the game? obviously it's not going to go into so much detail as DW with the visuals, but is there a 3d window that allows you to see your vessels in 3d? Captcav

08-15-07, 11:12 AM	#7
Blacklight Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,507 Downloads: 145 Uploads: 0	I would never say that Harpoon has nothing new to add. It's an excellent learning tool that often surprises me with it's challenges. Harpoon III ANW does not have 3D graphics. It's not designed to be a graphicly intense sim. It's more designed to simulate what a naval commander at the Pentagon would see on his screens. See the screenshots linked off this page: http://www.matrixgames.com/games/game.asp?gid=323 There are also reviews linked off the page. Also.. the subsim link to the review from The Wargamer: http://www.wargamer.com/reviews/harpoonanw/ If you're looking for a graphicly intense game full of explosions, this is not it. However, if you're a hardcore wargamer and want the naval sim with the highest accuracy and number of platforms/weapons to command (And you don't mind a learning curve) This is your game. Where it really shines is it's databases that have accurate stats and information about pretty much every naval ship/weapon/sensor/aircraft out there. The Peoples Database project adds a ton more. If 3D graphics and explosions are a must yet you still want some accuracy, check out Fleet Command in Sonalysts Naval Combat Pack. http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/NavalCombatPack/ It's easier to master than Harpoon, has 3D graphics (It's an older game so it's not up to modern standards but it's decent), and has explosions. It has nowhere NEAR the database that Harpoon has but it's also not quite as hardcore a sim. I'd reccomend this over Harpoon to the casual gamer because getting a casual gamer to wrap their head around Harpoon is a daunting task. You can also check out Global Conflict Blue which is a freeware open source project that's in the works that's trying to basically do Harpoon but make the appearance more similar to Fleet Command. It's a slow work in progress. I havn't been able to run it properly on my computer but I've read other people here say that what they have so far with it it decent. http://gcblue.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page None of the above games have anywhere NEAR the database(s) that Harpoon III ANW has. (Can you tell I love my Harpoon ? ) I would suggest reading the reviews linked off the Harpoon III ANW page. They pretty accurately describe the sim and who would/wouldn't like it. This sim along with Dangerous Waters, Silent Hunter III, Conquest of the Agean, and The Operational Art of War III never leave my hard drive. I'm always running at least ONE of these games. There's also a rumor kicking around (I don't know how authentic it is) that after SEVERAL starts, stops, cancellations, etc.. that there is a Harpoon 4 computer game in the VERY early works. As I said... it's a rumor. Can anyone out there verify this ? __________________ Be my friend or be a mushroom cloud. "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes !" Last edited by Blacklight; 08-15-07 at 03:54 PM.