Jump to page:
Sponsors:
HARPOON I FAQ v1.0
Last updated: 17 June 1994
COMPILED BY IAN COATES
COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK
EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU
FOR THE CZ MAILING LIST
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CURRENT HARPOON STATUS
3. GENERAL HARPOON QUESTIONS
4. HARPOON II (COMPUTER)
5. HARPOON v1.X (COMPUTER)
5.1 GAME FEATURE QUESTIONS
5.2 SYSTEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
5.3 OTHER QUESTIONS
6. THE SCENARIO EDITOR (COMPUTER)
6.1 GENERAL USE
6.2 OTHER QUESTIONS
7. MINIATURES GAME
8. TACTICS
9. QUESTIONS STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
***************
1. INTRODUCTION
***************
I wrote this FAQ in response to the continual posting in the CZ mailing
list of beginners type questions. I know it's probably a bit late for this
to appear seeing as though Harpoon has been out for about 5 years now, but
hopefully with this in place it will be easier to keep track of questions
for Harpoon II. Three-Sixty were due to check the FAQ for accuracy, but
after holding it for three weeks this proved not possible as they are too
busy with Harpoon II - I apologise for the delay this has caused !
The FAQ has been produced by going through past issues of the CZ mailing
list and noting down questions and the answers they attracted. Therefore
I do not claim to have covered every single question, or every single
answer to be definitive - they are just the subjective opinions of
subscribers to CZ. It also means that I can not be 100% sure about the
information they give (although I can't find anything wrong with it !), so
be warned ! I also do not claim to be the world's greatest expert on
Harpoon - I'm just the guy who actually bothered to do something ;-) Please
note that any opinions expressed here are the opinions of the people
writing them only, and not any organisation (eg the US military) they
represent.
(BTW, if any one has any problems with anything I've attributed to them
then let me know. I apologise beforehand if this is the case.)
If there is anything else people wish to see in the FAQ then let me know.
I had planned to do a full list of known bugs/failings in both the computer
and miniatures versions, but no one has yet responded to my requests for
information. I only own the PC version of Harpoon, and thus can't cover
everything by myself !
As for Harpoon II - when this is released it is going to clash with my
finals and so a new FAQ is not likely to appear when it is most needed !!!
Also my computer is not powerful enough to run Harpoon II (I will be
upgrading soon) so anything I do produce will be a collection of other
peoples comments (similar to this). I would be willing to let someone else
take over the FAQ for Harpoon II. If you want to, then get in touch.
For further help in playing computer Harpoon, a good source is the Harpoon
Battlebook which provides answers to many other questions and provides data
the computer uses but is not in the manuals (although they are now in the
ASCII data files that came with v1.30). I have avoided simply copying out
questions and answers from the Battlebook due to copyright. The battlebook
is extremely useful (IMHO) for Harpoon beginners.
Extra copies of this FAQ can be obtained by E-mailing me at:
o COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK (account will be deleted after 31/7/94 though)
o EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU (use after 31 July 1994)
Alternatively it can be downloaded via anonymous FTP:
o from CZ's archive site, SUNBANE.ENGRG.UWO.CA (129.100.100.12), in
the /PUB/HARPOON directory
o BSP208.STAFFS.AC.UK in the directory /PUB/HARPOON.
It is also available on the MONOCHROME BBS for people with accounts there,
the keypath is [S][D][I][G][H] from the main menu.
This FAQ is freely distributable for individual use only (please leave this
introduction intact). Anyone wishing to use it commercially should get in
touch with me at the above E-mail address. If you wish to post it on a BBS
then let me know so I can send updates directly there. I plan to
continually update/correct this list as and when it is needed, and post it
in the various places described above.
Get in touch with me if you have any comments (or I might think this was
all a waste of time !) at the addresses below. Anyway, I hope you find this
FAQ useful.
Ian Coates June 1994
London School of Economics, London, UK.
Internet: COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK
EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU
"If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a
conclusion" - George Bernard Shaw (still my favourite quote (being
an economist and all that) ;-)
=============================================================================
*************************
2. CURRENT HARPOON STATUS
*************************
Harpoon is modern naval warfare game, enabling virtually any possible naval
engagement (large or small) to be modelled. The original version appeared
as paper based game in 1981, written by Larry Bond. It is currently
published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW).
The computer version was converted by Three-Sixty Pacific Inc to the PC
(1989), Mac and Amiga (1990) platforms. Version 1.1 was originally packaged
with the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK gap) battleset. Over the years has
released various program upgrades and add-ons:
o v1.2 released in 1990 (distributed direct from Three-Sixty)
o v1.30 released in 1992 (distributed with HDS1)
o v1.32a released in 1993 (distributed via Internet and from 360)
o Scenario Editor (SE) (1989) - Allows the player to create their own
scenarios for any battleset that they own, which can then be loaded
in to the main Harpoon program to be played out as either side.
o Battlesets NACV (1989), MEDC (1990), IOPG (1991): Extra sets of
scenarios based in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Indian
Ocean/Persian Gulf respectively, including many new platforms in
each.
o Harpoon Designers' Series I (HDS1) (1992): Up to 4x12 new scenarios
(12 for each of the four original battlesets owned), with an
expanded platform database for user created scenarios. The upgrade
to v1.30 was included.
o Harpoon Designers' Series II (HDS2) (1993): The same format as HDS1,
with about 48 completely new scenarios, using the same expanded
database of platforms as HDS1. Note HDS2 does not need HDS1 to work.
IBM PC version:
Current version: 1.32a
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE, HDS1, HDS2
Scenario editor current version: 1.01
Mac version:
Current version: 1.21
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE, HDS1, HDS2
Scenario editor current version: 1.02
Amiga version:
Current version: 1.1
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE
Scenario editor current version: 1.1
QU: WHAT NEW FEATURES DOES THE LATEST VERSION OF HARPOON (v1.3x) HAVE OVER
THE PREVIOUS VERSION (v1.2x) ?
ANS: o Bases and radars can repair themselves.
o You can now order individual or Group ASW aircraft to drop sonobuoys
wherever you want to, without interrupting their normal search
pattern.
o You can load user scenarios from the scenario selection screen.
o Double-clicking is now supported on a lot of selection screens.
o Anti-Radiation Missiles are just that: anti-radiation. Don't expect
HARMs to destroy airbases any more, nor will they destroy ships
o Torpedoes work much more realistically now. Torpedoes now have to
acquire their targets independently of the launching platforms.
o ARMs no longer kill bases. Neither do Harpoons. Also, land attack
missiles (such as the Tomahawk TLAM-C) can't attack ships.
o SAM missiles are modeled better, in that the guiding radar has to
have a lock on the target before the missiles will fire, and if
applicable, the missiles will only impact if there is still a lock
on the target.
o New missile modelling: Missiles (especially Phoenix) now use
inertial guidance and after their radar turns-on can hit *any* plane
in the area. Phoenix missile hit problem at Vlow is also fixed.
o Realistic Rates of Fire have been implemented for missile and
torpedo launches.
o A new sonar model
o You can have your aircraft jettison their ordnance to live to fight
another day.
o The Scenario Editor can make text files of orders for both sides,
and these will be displayed in the program. In other words, when you
select a user scenario, a box will come up containing the orders for
your particular side.
- Mark Lam (lam@mozart.cs.colostate.edu)
NOTE: In the list below references will be to PC versions. So v1.3x is
equivalent to v1.21 on the Mac (no corresponding upgrade was produced for
the Amiga).
Miniatures version:
Current version: Unknown
Add-ons available: Unknown
Useful addresses:
Three-Sixty Pacific Inc:
2105 S. Bascom Ave,
Campbell, CA 95008, USA
2402 Broadmoor, Building C, Suite 101,
Bryan, TX 77802, USA
Phone: (+1) 407-776-2187
(Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm, Central Time)
E-mail: 76711.240@COMPUSERVE.COM
Compuserve: 76711,240
GEnie: THREE-SIXTY
America On-Line: ThreeSixty
Prodigy: KHFB18A
BBS: (+1) 409 774 4246
Electronic Arts:
90 Heron Drive,
Langley, Berkshire. SL3 8XP. UK
Phone: (+44) (0)753 549442
E-mail: EA@CIX.COMPULINK.CO.UK
12 Rue du Chateau d'Eau
96410 Champagne au Mont d'Or, Lyon. France.
Phone: (+33) 72170783
Postfach 1553, 33245 Gutersloh,
Deutschland/Germany
Phone: (+49) 524124307
****************************
3. GENERAL HARPOON QUESTIONS
****************************
QU: WHERE ON THE INTERNET IS HARPOON REGULARLY DISCUSSED ?
o The Convergence Zone electronic mailing list is dedicated to the
discussion of both computer and the miniatures versions of
Harpoon. Details can be obtained by sending E-mail to the moderator
of the list, Tom Comeau, at CZ-REQUEST@STSCI.EDU
o The USENET group COMP.SYS.IBM.PC.GAMES.STRATEGY often discusses
Computer Harpoon
o The USENET group REC.GAMES.MINIATURES often discusses the miniatures
version of Harpoon
o The USENET group SCI.MILITARY may also be of interest, discussing
anything military related. US Navy News and US Dept of Defence News
regularly appear in this group
o On CompuServe in the Gamers forum (GO GAMERS), Section 3 (War
Games), and in GAMAPUB Section 15 (run by Three-Sixty Pacific)
o On America OnLine, in the Three-Sixty Area, Harpoon folder
QU: WHERE CAN I DOWNLOAD USER CREATED SCENARIOS AND OTHER HARPOON RELATED
FILES ?
INTERNET FTP SITES:
o SUNBANE.ENGRG.UWO.CA (129.100.100.12)
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/PUB/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
o FTP.CS.VU.NL (192.31.231.42)
/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
/HARPOON/MAC/SCENARIO_CONVERTER.CPT.HQX
PC to Mac scenario convertor
/HARPOON/HARPOON.FMT Description on how to edit Amiga
data files
o JUMI.LUT.FI (157.24.10.9)
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/PUB/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
o NIC.FUNET.FI ()
/PUB/MSDOS/GAMES/HARPOON/*.* User created scenarios
o WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU ()
/PUB/MSDOS_UPLOADS/GAMES/PATCHES/HARP132A.ZIP
Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
o IRZ.INF.TU-DRESDEN.DE ()
Last updated: 17 June 1994
COMPILED BY IAN COATES
COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK
EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU
FOR THE CZ MAILING LIST
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CURRENT HARPOON STATUS
3. GENERAL HARPOON QUESTIONS
4. HARPOON II (COMPUTER)
5. HARPOON v1.X (COMPUTER)
5.1 GAME FEATURE QUESTIONS
5.2 SYSTEM SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
5.3 OTHER QUESTIONS
6. THE SCENARIO EDITOR (COMPUTER)
6.1 GENERAL USE
6.2 OTHER QUESTIONS
7. MINIATURES GAME
8. TACTICS
9. QUESTIONS STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
***************
1. INTRODUCTION
***************
I wrote this FAQ in response to the continual posting in the CZ mailing
list of beginners type questions. I know it's probably a bit late for this
to appear seeing as though Harpoon has been out for about 5 years now, but
hopefully with this in place it will be easier to keep track of questions
for Harpoon II. Three-Sixty were due to check the FAQ for accuracy, but
after holding it for three weeks this proved not possible as they are too
busy with Harpoon II - I apologise for the delay this has caused !
The FAQ has been produced by going through past issues of the CZ mailing
list and noting down questions and the answers they attracted. Therefore
I do not claim to have covered every single question, or every single
answer to be definitive - they are just the subjective opinions of
subscribers to CZ. It also means that I can not be 100% sure about the
information they give (although I can't find anything wrong with it !), so
be warned ! I also do not claim to be the world's greatest expert on
Harpoon - I'm just the guy who actually bothered to do something ;-) Please
note that any opinions expressed here are the opinions of the people
writing them only, and not any organisation (eg the US military) they
represent.
(BTW, if any one has any problems with anything I've attributed to them
then let me know. I apologise beforehand if this is the case.)
If there is anything else people wish to see in the FAQ then let me know.
I had planned to do a full list of known bugs/failings in both the computer
and miniatures versions, but no one has yet responded to my requests for
information. I only own the PC version of Harpoon, and thus can't cover
everything by myself !
As for Harpoon II - when this is released it is going to clash with my
finals and so a new FAQ is not likely to appear when it is most needed !!!
Also my computer is not powerful enough to run Harpoon II (I will be
upgrading soon) so anything I do produce will be a collection of other
peoples comments (similar to this). I would be willing to let someone else
take over the FAQ for Harpoon II. If you want to, then get in touch.
For further help in playing computer Harpoon, a good source is the Harpoon
Battlebook which provides answers to many other questions and provides data
the computer uses but is not in the manuals (although they are now in the
ASCII data files that came with v1.30). I have avoided simply copying out
questions and answers from the Battlebook due to copyright. The battlebook
is extremely useful (IMHO) for Harpoon beginners.
Extra copies of this FAQ can be obtained by E-mailing me at:
o COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK (account will be deleted after 31/7/94 though)
o EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU (use after 31 July 1994)
Alternatively it can be downloaded via anonymous FTP:
o from CZ's archive site, SUNBANE.ENGRG.UWO.CA (129.100.100.12), in
the /PUB/HARPOON directory
o BSP208.STAFFS.AC.UK in the directory /PUB/HARPOON.
It is also available on the MONOCHROME BBS for people with accounts there,
the keypath is [S][D][I][G][H] from the main menu.
This FAQ is freely distributable for individual use only (please leave this
introduction intact). Anyone wishing to use it commercially should get in
touch with me at the above E-mail address. If you wish to post it on a BBS
then let me know so I can send updates directly there. I plan to
continually update/correct this list as and when it is needed, and post it
in the various places described above.
Get in touch with me if you have any comments (or I might think this was
all a waste of time !) at the addresses below. Anyway, I hope you find this
FAQ useful.
Ian Coates June 1994
London School of Economics, London, UK.
Internet: COATES@VAX.LSE.AC.UK
EC875@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU
"If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a
conclusion" - George Bernard Shaw (still my favourite quote (being
an economist and all that) ;-)
=============================================================================
*************************
2. CURRENT HARPOON STATUS
*************************
Harpoon is modern naval warfare game, enabling virtually any possible naval
engagement (large or small) to be modelled. The original version appeared
as paper based game in 1981, written by Larry Bond. It is currently
published by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW).
The computer version was converted by Three-Sixty Pacific Inc to the PC
(1989), Mac and Amiga (1990) platforms. Version 1.1 was originally packaged
with the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-UK gap) battleset. Over the years has
released various program upgrades and add-ons:
o v1.2 released in 1990 (distributed direct from Three-Sixty)
o v1.30 released in 1992 (distributed with HDS1)
o v1.32a released in 1993 (distributed via Internet and from 360)
o Scenario Editor (SE) (1989) - Allows the player to create their own
scenarios for any battleset that they own, which can then be loaded
in to the main Harpoon program to be played out as either side.
o Battlesets NACV (1989), MEDC (1990), IOPG (1991): Extra sets of
scenarios based in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Indian
Ocean/Persian Gulf respectively, including many new platforms in
each.
o Harpoon Designers' Series I (HDS1) (1992): Up to 4x12 new scenarios
(12 for each of the four original battlesets owned), with an
expanded platform database for user created scenarios. The upgrade
to v1.30 was included.
o Harpoon Designers' Series II (HDS2) (1993): The same format as HDS1,
with about 48 completely new scenarios, using the same expanded
database of platforms as HDS1. Note HDS2 does not need HDS1 to work.
IBM PC version:
Current version: 1.32a
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE, HDS1, HDS2
Scenario editor current version: 1.01
Mac version:
Current version: 1.21
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE, HDS1, HDS2
Scenario editor current version: 1.02
Amiga version:
Current version: 1.1
Add-ons available: GIUK, NACV, MEDC, IOPG, SE
Scenario editor current version: 1.1
QU: WHAT NEW FEATURES DOES THE LATEST VERSION OF HARPOON (v1.3x) HAVE OVER
THE PREVIOUS VERSION (v1.2x) ?
ANS: o Bases and radars can repair themselves.
o You can now order individual or Group ASW aircraft to drop sonobuoys
wherever you want to, without interrupting their normal search
pattern.
o You can load user scenarios from the scenario selection screen.
o Double-clicking is now supported on a lot of selection screens.
o Anti-Radiation Missiles are just that: anti-radiation. Don't expect
HARMs to destroy airbases any more, nor will they destroy ships
o Torpedoes work much more realistically now. Torpedoes now have to
acquire their targets independently of the launching platforms.
o ARMs no longer kill bases. Neither do Harpoons. Also, land attack
missiles (such as the Tomahawk TLAM-C) can't attack ships.
o SAM missiles are modeled better, in that the guiding radar has to
have a lock on the target before the missiles will fire, and if
applicable, the missiles will only impact if there is still a lock
on the target.
o New missile modelling: Missiles (especially Phoenix) now use
inertial guidance and after their radar turns-on can hit *any* plane
in the area. Phoenix missile hit problem at Vlow is also fixed.
o Realistic Rates of Fire have been implemented for missile and
torpedo launches.
o A new sonar model
o You can have your aircraft jettison their ordnance to live to fight
another day.
o The Scenario Editor can make text files of orders for both sides,
and these will be displayed in the program. In other words, when you
select a user scenario, a box will come up containing the orders for
your particular side.
- Mark Lam (lam@mozart.cs.colostate.edu)
NOTE: In the list below references will be to PC versions. So v1.3x is
equivalent to v1.21 on the Mac (no corresponding upgrade was produced for
the Amiga).
Miniatures version:
Current version: Unknown
Add-ons available: Unknown
Useful addresses:
Three-Sixty Pacific Inc:
2105 S. Bascom Ave,
Campbell, CA 95008, USA
2402 Broadmoor, Building C, Suite 101,
Bryan, TX 77802, USA
Phone: (+1) 407-776-2187
(Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm, Central Time)
E-mail: 76711.240@COMPUSERVE.COM
Compuserve: 76711,240
GEnie: THREE-SIXTY
America On-Line: ThreeSixty
Prodigy: KHFB18A
BBS: (+1) 409 774 4246
Electronic Arts:
90 Heron Drive,
Langley, Berkshire. SL3 8XP. UK
Phone: (+44) (0)753 549442
E-mail: EA@CIX.COMPULINK.CO.UK
12 Rue du Chateau d'Eau
96410 Champagne au Mont d'Or, Lyon. France.
Phone: (+33) 72170783
Postfach 1553, 33245 Gutersloh,
Deutschland/Germany
Phone: (+49) 524124307
****************************
3. GENERAL HARPOON QUESTIONS
****************************
QU: WHERE ON THE INTERNET IS HARPOON REGULARLY DISCUSSED ?
o The Convergence Zone electronic mailing list is dedicated to the
discussion of both computer and the miniatures versions of
Harpoon. Details can be obtained by sending E-mail to the moderator
of the list, Tom Comeau, at CZ-REQUEST@STSCI.EDU
o The USENET group COMP.SYS.IBM.PC.GAMES.STRATEGY often discusses
Computer Harpoon
o The USENET group REC.GAMES.MINIATURES often discusses the miniatures
version of Harpoon
o The USENET group SCI.MILITARY may also be of interest, discussing
anything military related. US Navy News and US Dept of Defence News
regularly appear in this group
o On CompuServe in the Gamers forum (GO GAMERS), Section 3 (War
Games), and in GAMAPUB Section 15 (run by Three-Sixty Pacific)
o On America OnLine, in the Three-Sixty Area, Harpoon folder
QU: WHERE CAN I DOWNLOAD USER CREATED SCENARIOS AND OTHER HARPOON RELATED
FILES ?
INTERNET FTP SITES:
o SUNBANE.ENGRG.UWO.CA (129.100.100.12)
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/PUB/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
o FTP.CS.VU.NL (192.31.231.42)
/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
/HARPOON/MAC/SCENARIO_CONVERTER.CPT.HQX
PC to Mac scenario convertor
/HARPOON/HARPOON.FMT Description on how to edit Amiga
data files
o JUMI.LUT.FI (157.24.10.9)
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/*.ZIP IBM-PC scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/MAC/*.HQX Mac scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/AMIGA/*.LZH Amiga scenarios
/PUB/HARPOON/PC/HARP132A.ZIP Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
/PUB/HARPOON/CZ/*.Z Past issues of CZ plus a couple of
data annexes for the miniatures
version
o NIC.FUNET.FI ()
/PUB/MSDOS/GAMES/HARPOON/*.* User created scenarios
o WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU ()
/PUB/MSDOS_UPLOADS/GAMES/PATCHES/HARP132A.ZIP
Harpoon upgrade to v1.32a
o IRZ.INF.TU-DRESDEN.DE ()
Jump to page:
Sponsors:
Other files from this game:
- Harpoon FAQ by System on 09/03/2006, 09:50