Use either the mouse, joystick, or cursor keys and CTRL to navigate the
pointer around the menus. On the Main Menu, first go to the options screen
to configure your
controls and audio/video settings. Full screen is recommended for the best play
experience (note that hitting the "Maximize" button on the title bar while in windowed
mode is not the same as switching to full screen mode). If your desktop only has
256 colors, windowed mode may look ugly. If you are using Windows NT, you will
probably have to select Wave-Out instead of DirectSound for proper sound operation.
Once you're through the options screen, select Start a New Game to get
under way. If you have
never played Tiger's Bane before, you should start with the Training
Operation to get a feel for the controls. On the next screen, select a
skill level, and then choose Fly Operation to begin. Remember that you can click
the little "Help" bubble icon that appears over most menus for additional
information.
Once on the Mission Briefing, note the Primary, and if present, Secondary
Targets, along with any other pertinent information. The "Sightings" report
which Enemy and other Friendly forces are known to be present in the mission
area (sometimes the report will be inaccurate though). Selecting Arming will
allow you to choose your helicopters and weapons for the fight. Selecting Skip will
bypass the current mission, most likely failing it.
The first helicopter you select on the left hand roster is the one
you will fly. You can have up to 2 extra Wingmen, and one Air Support Jet
Aircraft along for the ride (you can only fly helicopters). The number beside
the Aircraft is its current condition, with 100% being fully repaired (damaged
Aircraft will be repaired a small amount each day they are at base). To change an
Aircraft's weapons
loadout, select it on the right hand list (if it isn't already selected)
and modify its armaments in the lower right panels. To select a weapon type,
click on it in the Stores area on the left. To place a weapon system on the
Aircraft, click on one of the Hardpoints in the right panel. The type of
weapon that was previously there, if any, will then be selected. Once done,
put on your flight suit and helmet, and click Fly Mission to go kick some butt.
The Flight Controls section contains information on
flying the helicopters in Tiger's Bane, and the Tactics and
Tips section contains general pointers and combat strategies. To get
information on the friendly units, enemy units, and helicopters that are available,
please see the in-game help on the Mission Briefing and Arming screens while
playing the game.
Once you're armed and at your base, you can proceed to take off, complete
the mission objectives, and land back where you started. If your
helicopter gets too damaged to return to base, try to make an emergency
landing on something flat, or eject if all else fails. Breaking a bird and
surviving is better than breaking a bird and getting killed in the process.
To be able to get to the end of the combat operations you may
have to swallow your pride now and then, and get out of a dying bird early
rather than going down in flames trying to take out that one last enemy unit.
After the mission, you will see the Debriefing screens.