Quick Start

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.