________________________________PBEM HELP*
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_____It is MOST important to remember that when playing a secure PBEM game that the game files CANNOT be moved from the game they were started in. This means you CANNOT start a secure PBEM game on your home computer then play out a turn on your laptop. If you wish to play that way you will need to set up the game as unsecured.
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If you have NOT read the PBEM section in the GAME GUIDE yet, please go there and read it before starting your first PBEM game. The game Guide lives in the \Game Notes folder, it is an HTML document - read with your browser.  Refer to Section 3 "Playing The Game" (click on the menu on the left hand side) - sub-menu "Playing by EMAIL".*
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_____It is also advisable that both players use a consistent numbering system when sending turns back. A good example of a useful and simple "code" would be 1ABC05.zip. Where "1" is the slot number, ABC is your initials and 05 would be the game turn. This avoids confusion as to which turn has been sent or played and by who. It is also advisable to make a habit of extracting turns you have received to the 'PBEM Games' folder as soon as you receive them even if you don't intend to play the the game right away. This eliminates questions such as "what turn is in there now"
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_____In secure PBEM both players MUST use the EXACT same OBATs and they must STAY the same though all turns of the game.
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_____The game guide gives detailed instructions on PBEM, however, here are some points that may help you
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1]The "BLUE arrow" button ENDS your turn. After you have pressed that button and the game saves your move, ZIP up the three game files and send them to your opponent. If you wish to finish your turn later then press the RED "up" arrow just above the BLUE one. This will allow you to finish your turn later. DO NOT SEND a turn ended with the RED arrow to your opponent!. Using the RED up-arrow now prints out a REMINDER that this game turn is not yet completed, as it seems several players were 'suspending' the game with the RED up-arrow key, then sending the suspended (still their turn!) turn to their opponent, which is an error.** REMEMBER - complete your turn with the BLUE ARROW, before sending the now completed game turn to your PBEM opponent !.**
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2]If you DO forget to extract your opponents turn and try to start the game you will get a message that reads "Security alert - Player 1 (or 2) has already played this turn?". When you see this, don't panic! All you need to do is extract your opponents last turn to the 'PBEM Games' folder then restart the game. This is why a consistent turn numbering system comes in handy especially if you are playing more than one person at a time.**
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3]VERY IMPORTANT!! You CANNOT play out a game with one opponent, save the files someplace else then start up another game with another opponent in the same game slot. If you do you will cause a security violation on the first game and it WILL be lost. DO NOT do this**
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_________________Here is a quick rundown of the PBEM procedure
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1]Player 1 prepares the game by setting all the buttons in the battle screen to HUMAN player, purchase and deploy) after agreeing on battle size or preferences options etc. with player 2. After that is set up, press CONTINUE**
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2]Player 1 can now purchase formations. When you have made all your purchases press DONE**
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3]You will now be in the security screen, If you wish to play a SECURE PBEM game then press PASSWORD and enter a password then press ENTER on your keyboard. THEN press CONTINUE. If you do not want to play a SECURE PBEM game then just press CONTINUE.**
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4]You will now be at the save game screen. If you are playing SECURE PBEM then you are restricted to the first 5 slots available. If you are playing an UNSECURED game then you may pick any of the save slots. Type in a name for your game and press ENTER on your keyboard.**
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5]After step 4, go to your  'PBEM Games' game folder and zip up the two files that are in the slot you picked and send them to your opponent. It is VERY important that after step 4 you DO NOT click on the saved game slot after you have saved the game or you will be presented with your opponents purchase screen. If you do that you WILL need to set up the game all over again.**
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6]When player two receives the turn it should be extracted to the  'PBEM Games' folder. Player 2 starts the game and clicks on the saved game and they will be presented with the purchase screen. Player two can purchase their formations then click on DONE. Player 2 will then be asked to provide a password and should enter it as detailed above for player 1.**
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7]Player 2 will now be able to deploy their units and plan any artillery bombardments. Once the formations are all deployed, press the RED up arrow button to "Quit the deployment menu". Once that is done, you will be back to the deployment screen. Press QUIT DEPLOY. The game will be auto saved. Zip up the three files and send them back to player 1. This is the LAST time you will end a turn with the RED arrow button. Once a game is in progress always use the BLUE arrow button**
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8]When player 1 receives the files and unzips them to the 'PBEM Games' folder they can now select the proper save slot with the cursor then click on START at the bottom of the screen. Player 1 will now be asked for their password. Type in your password then press ENTER on your keyboard. You may now press one of the deploy options and deploy your formations. Once you are finished deploying press the RED up arrow key to "Quit the deployment menu". Once that is done, you will be back to the deployment screen. Press QUIT DEPLOY. You will then be asked for your password again and once typed in you may begin turn 1. When you are finished moving your units, press the BLUE arrow button to END your turn. Zip up the three files and send them to your opponent.**
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9]After player 2 unzips the files to their 'PBEM Games' folder and clicks on the saved game slot and then clicks on START you will be asked for your password. Once that has been entered you may play out your turn. Once again, the BLUE arrow button us used to end you turn.**
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10]The game follows the same pattern for both players as detailed in [9] to the completion of the game.**
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11]  When you see the end game results you can review the battlefield - also, as long as you have NOT restarted a game in this PBEM save slot, you can re-open this file and review the battlefield once more. HOWEVER, re-opening the slot after the game is over will confuse the computer, so IMMEDIATELY  at game end, zip up the files and SEND TO YOUR OPPONENT, so that he receives the end game review with the correct 'ownership' of the game ending. After that, you are free to reopen the saved PBEM game and look at the review in order to gloat (or not! ), as the case may be, as many times as you like.**
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12]During turn execution in secured PBEM games, press the 1 key to see statistics on how many loads , quits and FAILS of the game were done by both sides.**
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NOTE: If you wish to set a game length other than what is displayed on screen it must be PLAYER TWO who sets it during their deploy phase (step 7 ). To change game length you must be deploying your units. Press the "." ( period ) key on your keyboard and you can then enter whatever game length the two players have agreed on.**
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NOTE: Scenarios can be played as secure PBEM but both players must enter their passwords first. Player 1 would set both sides to HUMAN then enter a password then zip up the game and send it to player 2. Player 2 would enter their password then the game goes back to player 1 to start.**
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NOTE: If, for whatever reason, you cannot finish your initial deployment of a secure PBEM game  follow these steps......**
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1]  Deploy your units. When you have completed as much of the deployment you have time for click on the "save game" button or press 'S' and save the game in the SAME slot it is saved in now ( just click on that slot and press Enter on your keyboard)
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2]  Press the RED up arrow "Quit the deployment Menu" button.
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3]  Press EXIT GAME ( do NOT press Quit Deploy !! ). Press 'Y' when the blue bar on top asks you if you want to end the game.
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You can then exit the game completely ( if you wish) . When you restart, click on the saved PBEM and you will be brought back to the password page. Enter your password, press "Enter" on your keyboard then press the "Human  Deploy" buton and continue your deployment. When you are completely done your deployment THEN you press "Quit deploy" .**



