The following points cover the basics until more detailed help and tutorials are available.
Units are assumed to consist of one or more square based miniatures arranged in rank and file, in a single block.
The following properties define a unit:
Unit Name | This is the units unique name. |
Troop Type | This is the game system's name for the troop type. |
Description | The description can be used for anything, such as equipment carried, special rules etc. |
Label | The label is used to identify the unit on the battle plan. If you do not specify the label yourself then it will be chosen automatically |
Points | This is the number of points for the unit as a whole and not per model. |
Models | The number of models in the unit. |
Files | Each unit is arranged by rank (rows) and file (columns). Only the number of files can be specified. The number of ranks are calculated automatically based on the number of models and number of files. |
Base Size | Choose from the list of popular base sizes, or select custom to define your own. All bases are assumed to be square in this version. |
Color | Units are automatically given their the color of their army. It is possible to select an individual color for any unit. |
Battle Chronicler displays one turn at a time.
The current turn is displayed in the top left of the table. Underneath that is the turn control that allows you move between turns. The turn control fades away when not being used. To activate it just move your mouse over it.
There are two special turns at the start of each game.
The first turn is to lay out the terrain pieces on the table. Terrain can only be selected and moved during the terrain turn, in all other turns it is locked. To place a piece of terrain on the table, first select it in the Terrain list and the click on the table where you want it to be placed. Once placed on the table a terrain piece can be moved by drag and drop with the mouse. To rotate a piece of terrain, firstly select the piece with the mouse, then hold the Alt key down and then click on the table in the direction you want the terrain to face.
In the deployment turn the units from each army can be placed on the table in one of three ways: Double click on the unit in the list. Select the unit in the list then click on the table where it should be deployed. Select the unit and un-tick the 'In The Box' field.
To move a unit drag and drop it with the mouse. The unit will automatically turn to face the direction of movement. The way a unit moves and turns is effected by pressing the following keys with the mouse.
Mouse move | Move and Turn |
Mouse move + Ctrl key | Move Only |
Mouse move + Alt key | Turn Only |
If you find this combination annoying then change it with the Preferences dialog box.
Each turn of the game is recorded independently. When you select the next turn a copy of the previous turn is made, which you can then manipulate. It is possible to go back to any previous turn and make changes, however these changes will not then be copied into later turns as these are already defined. If you get into a mess it is possible to reset turns either one by one or several at once. Use the options on the game menu
In The Box | Units are either on the table or they are back in their box. Ticking this field will remove a unit from the table |
Embedded | Not implemented yet |
In Combat | Green flag indicates engaged in combat |
Shooting | Blue flag indicates engaged in shooting |
Charging | Red flag indicates a charge manoeuvre |
Routed | Yellow flag indicated a routed or broken unit. |
Destroyed | Skull denotes a unit totally destroyed. This is indicated on the table by reducing the units opacity giving it a faded look. It is often better to show a unit as destroyed in the turn it happened in, rather than removing it from the table straight away. |
Models | This is the number of models in the unit remaining in the current turn |
Files | The formation of the unit can be changed in each turn. |