General

Please clarify gun mount ROF + PH + DP use. Situation Mount in Database: ROF = 6, Tubes =3, Rounds = 120 Weapon in Database: PH = 50%, DP = 18 Mount will fire once per 30 seconds and expend 3 rounds each time per my testing. Does the mount actually fire 3 times once every 30 secs....each with a 50% to hit and doing 18 DPs per barrel that hits? Ie, this mount could hit 0-3 times with every 30 sec firing cycle and do 0, 18, 36, or 45 points of damage (depending on how many of the 3 tubes hit). I notice that each 30 sec firing with the above mount 3 rounds are deducted from the mount magazine....this is why I ask for clarification. This will make a siginifi…

Although I'm sure this info is lurking around somewhere right under my nose, it has defied my attempts to find it, soooo... Could someone kindly direct me to any "operating manuals" that exist and specifically address the "control options" that are available for the HCE, in particular, info about the available Hot Keys, Function Keys, and/or keyboard shortcuts, and their respective functions... as well as info about where to find any game controls or info displays that aren't obviously available via the basic menu options, etc. Also, although not as important, I am curious about what command line switches are available, and when they are needed. TIA!

There is a distinct change in the behavior or characteristics of AI air groups and AA missiles between HCGold (and early versions of the HCE demo) and the more recent versions of the HCE Demo, and I'm trying to get my head around the reasons or rationale for all of this. The first (and most flustering) difference is that my air patrol groups often can just blow up without warning for no apparent reason, even when at extreme distances from any enemy detection platforms. It turns out that the reason is that they were attacked by (an) AI air group(s) - apparently - but this revelation just lead to more puzzlement because when I found out what the culprits were, the resu…

First, the big question: Are P-3 Update II Orions used in the WestPac demo scenarios supposed to be refuelable? Either way, I've been seeing some puzzling behavior, and am curious why: When attempting to launch the P-3s, it generally seems to indicate that they are not refuelable (i.e. - If I attempt to send them beyond their own (unrefueled) range it will just give an error beep and do nothing, or else it will allow the destination, but then a popup will report that they are not capable of refueling. I'm unsure what causes the two different behaviors here, though). In any case, if a tanker is joined to the P-3 group (either a single or multiple P-3s), and m…

When attempting to play the OUBLIETTE scenario in the WestPac Battleset under the HCE Demo (2009.042), I wanted to turn on the Grid Lines in order to find out where the Tennessee's final destination should be, but when I invoked that menu item, I found all settings for Grid Lines were grayed-out (disabled), regardless of the water "color" that was selected. When checking the game configuration settings, I didn't see anything else that seemed like it would affect the Grid Lines, so I'm curious why they are disabled. Also, if Grid Lines are no longer available, what are the (practical) alternative methods of locating specific navigational coordinates on the map?

I have a question and am not sure if is a defect or not. I'm playing the IOPG2003 scenario 10. After start-up, I use the Formation editor to set-up my air patrols for all my units. With the carriers, I usually set up my range circles so that the outer 2 rings are AEW, EW, ASW, and fighter patrol's. After my aircraft get to their formation zones, I'll set my air and surface radars to mixed. I then turn on only the ASW and Picket rings and keep the AAW and Main radars off. I have noticed that after several minutes of game time, the ASW and Pickets radars will turn themselves either off or to intermittent. I'd like to know if this is supposed to happen, or if there is…

I found a useful tanker trick that I haven't seen posted here I'd like to share. It comes in handy for real long range missions that takes a couple of refuels to make. Attach a couple of tankers to a F-15, send them out for the long range mission. Make sure your game time is running in real-time (1 second game-time equals 1 second game-time) for the next step. Select the group after takeoff and split 1 tanker from the group. When you are prompted to set a course for the new group, select yes then cancel the next menu item. Now go into the join menu and join this tanker to the other 2 aircraft. Later on, when you refuel, only one tanker will refuel your unit. If you…

I played Harpoon back in the good ol' DOS days in the 1990's and was thrilled to discover that it is still in development. I downloaded the demo for HCE and saw the GUIK scenario I used to play for hours. Well, I decided that that was enough for me and bought it. Bought it online, was sent my serial number, copied and pasted it in and . . . . nothing. I get an error that there is a problem with my serial number and to contact support (support@matrixgames.com). I've sent three e-mails this week to them and have gotten no response back. I'd really like to play my game that I spent $40 on, but at the very least I'd like for someone who receives money when I pay them to ackno…

How does the GE/A.I handle ASM/SSM attacks as it pertains to SAM's? Using this example: Platform A: Center of formation; SAM's with a 50nm range Platform B: 25nm from Platform A; SAM's with 35nm range Platform C: 40nm from Platform A, 15nm from Platform B; SAM's with 25nm range (assume ships are positioned in a straight line from Platform A to C) A missile is inbound and is headed for C (assume it's origin is Point D which is 100nm from C on the same bearing) Which ship will launch to intercept?

Shouldn't the demo be linked/downloadable from this site? http://www.matrixgames.com/products/325/do...r%27s%20Edition

I just purchase HCCE from matrix games and I cannot access the scenario edito or the orders writing software on my windows vista laptop. Is there a work-around to this problem? best regards John

(I apologize if this topic duplicates info found elsewhere... but I could't turn it up, so I'm asking here). The HCE seems to be undergoing constant development and "repair", so my question is, are there "Service Packs" or other such updates available, and if so, what is the best procedure for keeping current with the fixes and upgrades? Currently, I can use only the Demo program (as I haven't yet been able to obtain the released full version). I see there are frequent updates to the Demo, although I guess the only way to get them is to check back here periodically? Are the updates and fixes that appear in the demo also applied to the purchased version? If…

Since everyone is screwing Tony, I figured I could too. Why do AI planes head north when their base is destroyed instead of looking for alternate airfields? BTW, is there a way to make a base more resilient?

Being new to Harpoon using armor as anything other than air targets, I promptly ran into trouble while trying to direct them to attack other ground targets... so, I'm wondering where I went wrong. Specifically what happened was that I had some groups consisting mainly of M1 tanks, and I was trying to attack an AI group of T-72 tanks. Each time I tried to order them to attack the T-72s, it would simply inform me that my range was 2nm, and the target group was, say, 9nm away. (There was no typical dialog asking whether I wanted them to close and attack). Meanwhile, they continued trundling on towards the enemy tanks, and pretty soon the T-72s started "plinking" my M…

I don't know how to create a saved game for this, but I'll report the observation, FWIW: It appears that some of the totals reported in the Status Report do not register correctly - or something. I've seen numbers that didn't "look right" in the past, but wasn't able to tell for sure because I typically don't keep my own tally of platforms damaged or destroyed. However, in a recent play of the BACKYARD II scenario from WestPac Battleset under 2009.042, I saw some stuff that definitely was not correct: At the end of the game, it reported 20 Red subs destroyed plus 4 Red subs damaged. In reality, at least 16 Red subs were in fact destroyed in the action, but ther…

We're trying to gather as many of the DOS Harpoon 1/Classic versions as possible for inclusion in the 20th Anniversary of the game. If you have old disks, an old install, etc. please consider uploading it for posterity and those lucky people who get to buy a copy of the 20th Anniversary edition. Time is tight, grab your files and head to http://www.harpgamer.com/HC20/upload.php ASAP! Thank you on behalf of HC3, AGSI, and Matrix Games

I was wondering if others also have problems with the staff assistant recommending turning on radar. I wouldn't mind one recommendation, but the staff assistant keeps badgering me. If I have many groups that are effective, this really makes a busy situation almost unplayable. For surface groups, turning on the radar normally provokes a missile attack, which can be overwhelming. Often the group is protected by AEW aircraft which allows me to judge when it is necessary to turn on the radar. If it is a distant aircraft that is loitering, the staff assistant badgering can go on for quite some time. For air groups, I would rather not have a warning that another group i…

I bought HCE a few weeks ago and have been transfixed. I since discovered your incredible site. I like playing with the units in the database of the current latest version, my question (and I'm sure it's really obvious) is this: if I were to download and overwrite with one of the fictional DB's available here, would I keep all the platform I already have and gain some new fan-created ones, or would I lose some of the platforms I have currently? Much obliged Also, I've begun learning how to mod and add ships to my current database (am being cautious and have not exported any frakenstein type platforms yet), is it simple to create a "clone" of a platform (ship)…

With the advent of the original ASROC , somewhere around 1968, dual ship attack procedures disappeared from the books. Does anyone still have the procedures including the plastic template and the communications procedures? I was the tactical communicator on the USS Morton (DD 948) in 63' and 64' and Tom Slattery let me run attacks. But, I have forgotten the crucial parameters for determining direction of turn and rotation, along with the flow of attack. Anyone know how to play old fashioned ASW with depth charges, hedge hogs and MK 46s?

Operation "Redundancy" has been completed. Operation "Sunday Morning" will again be in effect.