Hi everyone,

This is in reply to email from *many* people responding to my reviews of
Warlords II scenarios.  I thought I'd answer all questions at once, and
maybe even start a FAQ file about Warlords II.

1. Everybody wants to know "where do you get the scenarios??"  Well, I
   originally got several of them from a certain online service I won't
   name, but since I was forced to agree that "neither member nor its
   designated users may reproduce, redistribute, retransmit, publish or
   otherwise transfer, or commercially exploit, any information, software
   or other content which they receive through the Service" in order to
   be allowed to use it, I'm not allowed to tell anyone.  :-)

   Besides, you can get them all for *FREE* via FTP at lupan.byu.edu,
   directory /site/ibmstuff/Games/Warlords_II (note subdirectory New).
   I hope that posting this info won't result in this site closing down.
   Take it easy with the "mget *" ok?  You can't play them all at once
   anyway, so just get them one or two at a time.

2. A few people asked "Ok, I got the SZP file, now what?"  If you don't
   know what to do with the SZP file, then you don't have the right
   program.  You have to have at least version 1.11 in order to be able
   to run the scenarios.  There are two ways to upgrade to that version:
   send a (nice) letter to SSG requesting the patch disk.  Their address
   is easily found in the documentation that came with the game you own.
   (If you don't *own* Warlords II, don't bother me until you buy it.  I
   don't care to help anyone who rips off my friends at SSG.)

   The second way is to buy the Scenario Builder itself, which will update
   your copy of Warlords II so you can play scenarios.  Plus, it includes
   24 new scenarios (that you're not allowed to distribute, them being
   part of the product and all).

   Once you have either the patch disk or the SB installed, run ADDSCEN
   and name the SZP file, e.g. "addscen norse" to install Norse Mythology.

3. Why do I suggest hidden map the first time you play a scenario, then
   not hidden thereafter?  My reasoning is this: it's more fun to discover
   a new world a bit at a time, and the suspense enhances the play.  If
   you just load it and look all around the map on turn 1, read all the
   signs and descriptions, there won't be any surprises left.

   But once you know the world, all the ruins and city locations (or at
   least a vague idea), it puts the computer players at a disadvantage
   for you to fly straight to their cities, or straight to the ruins while
   they wander around in the dark.  Hidden map spoils the challenge in a
   scenario the second time.

4. Who created all these scenarios?  Just regular people who own Warlords
   and the Scenario Builder.  They're not getting paid for any of this,
   they do it for fun and for appreciation.  One author said "I must say
   that making this scenario was not a job of mine.  I certainly saw no
   money for it or anything".  In fact, the license for the SB allows the
   creator of a scenario to distribute that scenario freely, but not
   commercially.

5. Some people asked "When are you going to do a review of ____?"  When
   I get a round tuit.  Don't expect more than one review posted every
   couple of days, on the average.  I still have to have time to play,
   and ya know, other basic life necessities.  Suggestions about your
   favorite scenario that you think I should review next are welcome.

6. Some wanted to know if my reviews are available via WWW or FTP, and
   others asked for permission to make my reviews available via WWW or
   FTP.  I have no objections to anyone making them available, but ask
   that anyone doing so please notify me and tell me how to access their
   site, so I can pass the info along to others who ask.  Also, please
   observe the restrictions I, as the copyright holder, place on charging
   for accessing my reviews.

It seems a lot of people appreciate the reviews, so I say:

        Thanks for the "thanks!" !

Dirk Pellett
dirk@gorn.iuma.com
27 Jan 1995