Dark Reign Manual

The use of this software product is subject
to the terms of the enclosed Software License Agreement.

You must accept the Software License Agreement before
you can use this product. The Mission Construction Kit
contained in the product is provided strictly for your
personal use. The use of the Mission Construction Kit is
subject to additional license restrictions contained inside
the product and may not be commercially exploited.
For centuries man has viewed the universe

as a series of puzzles. Within the molecule we found the
atom, and within that the proton, and the quark,
and the xion. And deeper we delved, finding another
puzzle within every one we solved, never finding the
answer we sought, but never questioning our
method of searching. We have organised and
compartmentalised our knowledge until it no longer
serves us. Instead we serve it. We study physics and
math and philosophy and religion and never realise
that they are all the same. The monk and the
physicist are searching for the same understanding.
They simply use different tools. In every breath of
the wind, in the graceful ellipse of a planets orbit, in
the precise genetic abacus of DNA, in the awesome
power of a supernova, in all these things I hear the
voice of God. To truly advance human wisdom, we
must learn to see the whole of things. This
Foundation will strive to do just that. I am within
reach of a discovery that will open the very soul of
matter to my control. Together we will bring a new
age to mankind. Together we will transform the
universe and reveal the face of God.
Alpheus Togra, at the dedication of the Togran
Foundation, 2382
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
INSTALLING DARK REIGN
STORY
GAME PLAY
3
8
9
19
30
MAIN MENU
THE BRIDGE
LOADING A MISSION
31
LAUNCHING A MISSION
31
TRAINING
32
ARCHIVE
32
GAME CONTROLS
32
SAVED GAMES
33
AUDIO
33
SPEED
33
OPTIONS
33
BASIC MOVEMENT & COMBAT

GETTING AROUND THE MAP
34
SELECTING & MOVING UNITS
34
TARGETING & ATTACKING
35
GROUPING UNITS
35
UNIT STATUS
35
LINE OF SIGHT & THE FOG OF WAR
36
COMBAT ENGINEERING
Activision is a registered trademark and Dark Reign: The Future of War is a trademark of Activision, Inc.
1997 Activision, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
34
36
BUILDING STRUCTURES
36
BUILDING UNITS
38
FUNDING YOUR WAR MACHINE
39
POWER
40
REPAIRING BUILDINGS
41
SELLING BUILDINGS
42
POWER UP/POWER DOWN
42
TABLE OF CONTENTS
UPGRADING
42
ACCELERATED PRODUCTION
43
THE MINIMAP
44
ADVANCED TACTICS
REPAIRING & HEALING
44
MORPHING
45
PHASING
46
CAMOUFLAGE
46
SABOTAGE
46
STEALING PLANS
47
SHIELDING
48
SELF DESTRUCT
48
MOBILE BUILDINGS
48
DECOYS
48
SPECIAL ATTACKS & MANOEUVRES
49
Attack
49
Attack without Moving
49
Stop
WAYPOINTS
51
51
ORDERS
52
KEYBOARD COMMANDS
55
MODEM PLAY
62
63
INTERNET & LAN
63
MINIMUM INTERNET REQUIREMENTS
63
SELECTING AN INTERNET SERVER
63
HOST CONTROLS
FEATURES & COMMS MENU
TABLE OF CONTENTS
70
COMMON UNITS
71
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS

IMPERIUM UNITS
73
81
BUILDINGS
88
FREEDOM GUARD BUILDINGS
89
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
93
CONSTRUCTION KIT
102
MAKING A MAP
102
ELEVATION
103
OBJECTS
104
BUILDINGS & UNITS
104
ORDERS, PATHS, OBJECTIVES, & AI
105
CREDITS
106
61
SERIAL/NULL MODEM GAME
SELECTING A GAME
UNIT MOVEMENT TYPES
49
Advanced Waypoints
SETTING UP AND LAUNCHING
70
50
Basic Waypoints
MULTI-PLAYER
44
UNITS
64
64
65
67
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR

WINDOWS 95
8
8
A 100% Windows 95-compatible computer system (including

32-bit Windows 95-compatible drivers for CD-ROM drive, video card,
sound card, and input devices).
Windows 95 operating system (English Language Version)
Processor Type: Pentium 90 MHz
16 MB RAM
Hard disk drive with 110 MB of uncompressed space
16 bit colour (640 x 480) VLB or PCI video card with 1 MB

of RAM
100% Microsoft-compatible mouse
100% Sound Blaster-compatible sound card
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Please make sure your computer system is 100% Windows 95-compatible.

Dark Reign is not compatible with Windows 3.1 or other operating systems.
Note: For Dark Reign to operate best, it requires that your system have the
latest Windows 95 drivers for your CD-ROM drive, sound card and video
card. If you have any problems running the program, older sound or video
drivers are the most likely problem.
If you need help on how to obtain the latest sound and video drivers, check
out our Technical Help file. Just press the More button on the Dark Reign
title screen (the title screen displays shortly after inserting the Dark Reign
CD into your CD-ROM drive), then click the Help button. We have supplied a
list
of major computer hardware companies and their telephone numbers.
You can find them listed under Vendor List. This file has a lot of other
helpful information on installation and system setup, as well as game-specific
technical help.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
10
ONLINE HELP
We have supplied a technical help file that can help you to troubleshoot
problems. There are three ways to access this help file:
Right-click on the Dark Reign CD icon and select Help.
From the title screen, click on More and then Help.
After installation, from the Start menu, select Programs/Dark

Reign/Dark Reign Help.
AUTOPLAY
If the Dark Reign title screen does not appear, try performing the following
steps:
1.
Double-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop or right-click

on the icon and choose the Open option.
2.
Select the Refresh option located in the View pull-down menu.
3.
Double-click on the Dark Reign CD icon in the window or right-click

on the icon and choose the AutoPlay option.
4.
After the Dark Reign title screen appears, click on the Install/Play
button.
There are several buttons on the title screen. Click the Install
button to begin the installation process and then follow the onscreen instructions.
5.
If the AutoPlay feature does not function, please check the following:
6.
Make sure the CD is clean and properly placed in the CD-ROM drive.
After the Dark Reign setup is complete, your computer will install the
Microsoft DirectX 3 drivers if you do not already have them. When
DirectX 3 installation is complete, you will need to restart your
computer for the new drivers to take effect. For more information
on DirectX 3, see page 11 of this manual.
7.
Your CD-ROM driver may not be optimised for use with Windows 95.
To verify this, perform the following steps:
Before installing, close all other applications. Also make sure

Virtual
Memory is on (located in your System Control Panel).
Insert the Dark Reign Disc (Install CD) into your CD-ROM drive and
wait a few moments until the Dark Reign title screen appears.
(If the title screen does not appear, please refer to "AutoPlay" in
the Troubleshooting section.)
Now you can run Dark Reign by choosing Programs/Dark

Reign/Dark Reign from the Start menu. Make sure you have the
game disc inserted in your CD-ROM drive. This is required to play
Dark Reign.
a. Open the Windows 95 Control Panel folder and double-click on

the System icon.
b. Click on the Performance tab. If any of your hardware drivers are
not fully optimised for use with Windows 95, they will be listed here
with an explanation of the exact problem and suggestions on how to
fix it.
11
ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PROBLEM
PROGRAM
WONT INSTALL
GAME DOESNT
START
MOVIES DONT
PLAY PROPERLY
SOLUTION
You may have insufficient hard disk space for the

program to copy the files it needs from the CD to
your hard drive. Free up more hard disk space.
This problem may be caused by lost clusters on the

hard drive. Run SCANDISK to determine if this is the
problem. See your Windows 95 manual for more
details on SCANDISK.
12
PROBLEM
GAME FREEZES
NO SOUND,
PARTIAL
SOUND,OR NO
VOICES OR
SOUND EFFECTS
Make sure your system meets the minimum

requirements for the program, especially your
CD-ROM drive. The program requires a CD-ROM
drive with a minimum sustained transfer rate of
600Kbps (a quad-speed drive). If you dont
have a quad-speed CD-ROM drive, you can still
view the movies by doing a Large install. This
will load the movies to your hard drive.
You may not have enough RAM to run movies.
Check to make sure you have sufficient RAM
to run this product. Dark Reign requires a
minimum of 16 MB.
Too many other applications may be running.
Close down other applications (especially DOS
boxes or modem programs) and try again.
We strongly recommend that you not run other
applications while running Dark Reign.
SOLUTION
Make sure your computer has a minimum of 16

MB of RAM.
Make sure you are using Windows 95 with the

latest 32-bit drivers for all your peripheral devices.
Make sure you have a 100% Windows 95 (Sound

Blaster) compatible sound card in your computer.
Make sure your speakers are plugged in correctly

and turned on, and make sure the volume is
turned up to an audible level.
Make sure you are using the latest Windows 95

32-bit sound drivers for your sound card.
Make sure your audio card is properly installed

and that you have the correct audio drivers
installed. Check your audio cards installation and
its setup parameters within Windows to be sure all
is correct. See your cards manual and your
Windows manual for details.
Make sure you are running Dark Reign on a

Pentium 90 or higher system. The game will not
run on a 486 or lower system.
Make sure you have no other applications running

in the background.
GAME TOO
SLOW
13
man with only the humblest of means
will cling to life like a leech on a pigs ass.

But a man with nothing cannot know fear.
Unknown Freedom Guard Soldier
THE DECLINE OF EARTH
n the opening centuries of the third millennium, Earths population

continued to swell at a staggering rate. By 2250 the planet held over
30 billion people. Earths scientists raced to offset the strangling effects
of population. Massive hydroponic agricultural domes dotted the landscape,
increasing food production exponentially. Methods for large scale, economical
water desalinisation were developed. High altitude aircraft hovered at the
crown of the atmosphere, releasing chemicals that slowly built up eroded
areas of the ozone layer. In spite of these advances, the frenetic growth of
humanity continued to strain Earths resources to their limit. Pollution
became unmanageable. Thousands of pounds of nuclear waste were set
adrift in space every year. Air pollution was so severe in many major cities
that in 2267 the European Environmental Council estimated that one of
every nine urban dwellers died by the age of 30 from lung related diseases.
Millions began living in massive urban complexes which contained air filtering
and water purification facilities. These structures, as large as ten miles
square, contained housing, commerce and entertainment for their occupants,
and many people remained inside for years at a time. Wealth had become
extremely polarised, and life was increasingly arduous for the majority of
the populace who could not afford the safe confines of the complexes.
Criminals banded together like small armies and in some areas had more
control over the streets than the police.
In 2314 most of the Earths major nations allied to quell the rising tide of
crime within their borders. The Global Commonwealth established a
rudimentary dome colony on Jupiters moon Io and began shipping violent
criminals there. Heavily armed Commonwealth forces seized criminals in the
streets and poured them into processing facilities. After quick assembly line
trials, those deemed dangerous and irredeemable were shipped to the
penal colony on Io to live out the remainder of their lives. The experiment
was extremely successful politically. An international regulatory body, the
Jovian Detention Administration, was established and granted primary claim
to all prisoners. The JDA also had an autonomous police force that by 2362
was the largest standing army in the world. By 2400 almost a million people
were expelled to Io annually. Additional colonies were added on Callisto
and Ganymede, as well as on Neptunes moon Triton. Although some felt
that the enterprise had little to do with meting out justice and was simply an
escape valve for population runoff, the program was very popular, and the
JDA had come to hold more political and military sway than any single
world government.
DARK REIGN
19
In 2447 a rocket containing nuclear waste for deep space disposal

malfunctioned and crashed near Bombay, killing over four million people
in the first few months. Food stores were contaminated across the continent.
Resulting worldwide famines led to widespread rioting and organised
assaults against fortified urban complexes where food supplies were not
seriously affected. The JDA, which by this time was the de facto global
government, stepped in to suppress the uprisings, but it was becoming clear
to world leaders that the future of Earth was bleak. Interplanetary
colonisation, however, was a dangerous and arduous affair. A large private
campaign to promote colonisation by the Ramsdell Corporation in the early
twenty-third century had resulted in thousands of deaths and only a few
scattered ramshackle societies. The prisoner colonies, while self-supporting,
were barren, desolate outposts. Few private citizens were willing to confront
the hazards of colonisation.
The acting president of the JDA, Edward Dalen, negotiated a deal with the
residents of the four penal colonies. In exchange for exploring and
colonising new worlds for Earths inhabitants, the prisoners would be
granted their freedom. The prisoners were expendable and experienced at
living off-world. Although counting on the off-world prisoners was less than
popular, the citizens of Earth were willing to attempt somewhat desperate
measures. Dalen realised that control of Earths sole implement of
colonisation, in addition to the political and military influence he already
wielded, would place the JDA in a position of near absolute sovereignty.
Dalen also had no intention of ever releasing the prisoners. He knew they
would never be accepted into the societies on the Earth-based colonies, and
they were too independent and well organised to be given their own planet.
They had shown surprising resourcefulness on the prison colonies. Rather
than slipping into violence and chaos as expected, the prisoners had
developed efficient, productive communities with the limited means
provided them. Dalen knew this would make them able pioneers, but he
also realised they would represent a threat to the JDA if ever given their
autonomy.
THE PIONEER AGE
cientists quickly located a number of promising host planets in Earths

sector of the galaxy. The Exploratory Corps, as the prisoner colonists
were called, set out in massive cargo vessels, each the size of a large
city, loaded with provisions, robotic terra-forming machinery, and enough
genetic material to recreate self-sustaining ecosystems. Dalen provided the
prisoners with only enough water for a few years so that if they could not
prepare their planet for habitation within that time they would perish.
Although some worlds proved unable to support life, and thousands of the
Exploratory Corps died, a handful of worlds were soon ready and the first
Earth settlers began to inhabit their new homes. The Corps, when finished
with one planet, were picked up and transported to the next. The JDA
moved into each new world and established themselves as the governing
body and policing force. They assumed control of each planets water supply
and instituted water rationing. Some planets did not have large enough
viable water sources to support their populations, so those worlds with
excess water were required to give up their surplus. In fact, there was more
than enough water, but the JDAs control of water distribution gave them
unchallenged leverage over the individual governments established on each
planet. The JDA began stockpiling the excess water in huge, asteroid-sized
storage tanks orbiting a number of undeveloped worlds.
The Exploratory Corps pushed deeper into the galaxy, with mankind trailing
behind, seeping into every crack the Corps opened. Hungry from centuries of
limited space and resources, the human race devoured the galaxy. Within a
generation a hundred planets were inhabited. Within two generations, a
thousand. The JDA declared itself the official galactic government and was
renamed the Imperium. Although some worlds chafed at the Imperiums
continued dominion over all water supplies, none defied them.
THE MARKED
n 2507 a regiment of Exploratory Corps aboard an Imperium cruiser en

route to a new colonisation assignment mutinied, seizing the ship and
abandoning the crew on an undeveloped world. The dissidents then took
refuge on a nearby planet, Teron, whose populace had grown tired of the
Imperiums ever increasing demands on their water supply. An Imperium
fleet was quickly dispatched to the planet and determined the city in which
the stolen ship had landed. Three regiments of Imperium infantry descended
to the planet and seized the city. The ship was located, and the Corps members
20
DARK REIGN
DARK REIGN
21
guarding the ship were tortured until they revealed the location of the rest
of their unit. The remaining Corps personnel were tracked down and all
were killed in an open courtyard. The Imperium left the city intact, but a
sizable force of Imperium troops remained on Teron, and the planets water
ration was halved.
The Imperiums ruling Directorate feared that similar incidents would
continue to occur, and determined to institute a more decisive means of
controlling the Exploratory Corps. Imperium geneticists had been developing
enzyme keys which, when injected into the bloodstream, could crack and
alter the DNA code of every cell in the body in a prescribed manner.
Exploratory Corps personnel had been receiving periodic injections of these
substances to improve their immunity to alien bacteria and other microscopic
life forms encountered while colonising new worlds. In response to the
Teron incident, a new, more ambitious strain of genetic keys were developed
which created a chemical clock in the brain stem that caused life functions
to cease at the age of 25. These agents were systematically introduced into
all Exploratory Corps members along with the standard immunity treatments.
In addition, the changes in the genetic code made the left eye of each member
of the Exploratory Corps completely black. In this way, the Imperium could
easily identify Exploratory Corps members and make it nearly impossible for
them to escape. In addition, the fact that they would only live to the age of
25 would make it difficult to organise any sustained effort at rebellion.
The scheme was more successful than anticipated. Within a few decades, the
Exploratory Corps came to be known as the Marked and began to think of
themselves as cursed. There were no further outbreaks of violence, and the
Marked largely gave up hope of ever being granted their freedom. As the
business of colonising the galaxy became less risky and less vital, the
Marked, who were now viewed as a separate caste from the rest of human
society, were used to perform many of the menial tasks needed by humanity.
In time, many among the Marked did not even believe they deserved to be free.
22
DARK REIGN
THE DAWN OF WAR
n the late twenty-sixth century, an extraordinary boy, Perigil Ilacas, was

born to Marked parents. Living in the household of a noted educator,
Lajos Cardat, for whom his parents worked as servants, young Ilacas
spoke seven languages by the age of five and was versed in a number of
sciences. As the parents approached 25, they made a deal with Cardat, who
was sympathetic to the plight of the Marked, to raise the boy as his own.
Only in this way could Ilacas continue his education. To pass the boy off as a
citizen, his mark would somehow have to be removed, but the marks had
been engineered to be resistant to removal, even by techniques such as tissue
replacement. Once the new tissue was accepted by the body, the enzymes
keys, which remained in the bloodstream of every marked human, would
simply alter the new cells, and the mark would reappear. Cardat arranged
for the boys eye to be removed and replaced with a cybernetic replica, a
procedure that was extremely expensive and, if discovered, would have
resulted in death for all involved. By the age of 19, Ilacas had become a
leading scholar in the field of genetics. Although he never told his adoptive
father, the real motivation behind his study was to uncover the genetic basis
for the mark.
Ilacas eventually found the enzyme keys that were responsible for the differences
in the DNA and deduced that these were man-made agents that had at
some point been deliberately introduced into the Marked population.
However, now age 22, Ilacas feared that he would not be able to discover
how to counteract the keys in the few years he had left and feared also that
if his research was ever uncovered by the Imperium, it would be destroyed.
He decided to make his discovery public in the hope that other scientists
would join his endeavour or even that public knowledge of the fact that the
mark was a manufactured product of the Imperium would force them to
release his people from their genetic bondage.
Within a week of the announcement, Ilacas, Cardat, and all those associated
with his research were dead. However, news of the incident spread, and quickly
small uprisings flared up around the galaxy. The Marked found support on
numerous planets. Some viewed the Marked as mankinds pioneers who had
delivered humanity from their doomed homeland of Earth. Some believed
their subservience was unnecessary. Some simply saw an opportunity to throw
off the yoke of the Imperium and reap the profits of their own bounty.
Imperium warships were hijacked, complexes sabotaged, water convoys
seized. Several planets, including Teron, raged into full revolt. The rebellion
slowly grew more organised, and within a decade the Marked had become
DARK REIGN
23
a dedicated revolutionary army. Calling themselves the Freedom Guard, they

coordinated the efforts of a hundred insurgent worlds into a unified endeavour.
Although outnumbered, technologically inferior and lacking strategic
strongholds, the vastness of the Imperiums domain worked to the rebels
advantage. The Freedom Guard struck at strategic targets and then moved
on, never facing the formidable Imperium war machine head on. After
years of trying to smother the growing tide of insurrection, the Imperium
found itself facing full-fledged civil war.
THE DESICCATOR
n 2618 Imperium general Gregor Trilkin approached the Imperiums

Ruling Directorate and requested permission to develop a new weapon.
Tired of pursuing smaller Freedom Guard forces across the breadth of
the galaxy only to engage them in inconsequential skirmishes, he wanted a
potent new tool to turn the course of the war. Trilkins arms research scientists
had actually already designed a devastating new chemical weapon, a
catalysing compound that sheared the hydrogen atoms from water
molecules. The compound then incorporated the free hydrogen atoms,
thereby reproducing itself and continuing to divide any water molecules it
came in contact with. The effect could be transferred through airborne
water molecules and even through water in living organisms. One molecule
of the compound could therefore consume all the moisture in an entire
planet in a matter of minutes. The Ruling Directorate was hesitant to develop
a weapon whose function was to destroy the very implement of their control,
but Trilkin assured them that they would only need use the Desiccator once.
Once its force was demonstrated, Trilkin claimed, the Freedom Guard would
relent. Trilkin ultimately planned to use the weapon to seize control of the
Imperium. With sole command of the Desiccator, the Ruling Directorate
would have no choice but to submit to his authority. The Directorate
Chairman, Albrach Boas, was aware of Trilkins new weapon from several of
his personal moles in Trilkins command. He also suspected the generals
intentions for the Desiccator, but needed someone to put an end to the war
and knew Trilkin was the best man for the job. Trilkin was a ruthless and
efficient tactician, but a predictable politician, and Boas felt he could deal
with Trilkin after he had put down the Freedom Guard.
24
DARK REIGN
THE TOGRANS
he Togran Foundation was founded in 2382 by molecular physicist

Alpheus Togra, son of Petrak Togra, the third and last Chancellor of the
Global Commonwealth. Petraks assassination in 2356 led to the
Rubicon rebellions and ultimately to the demise of the Commonwealth. JDA
president Grote Reber suppressed the rebellions in four short days without
consulting any of the national governments involved. The JDAs position of
global leadership was cemented. Reber negotiated the dissolution of the
Global Commonwealth and the transfer of its remaining authority, mostly
bureaucratic, to the JDA.
Alpheus, only nine at the time of his fathers death, studied under his mother,
physicist Gisela Togra, who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 2349 for her
neutrino generator. By his early twenties Togra had surpassed his mother in
reputation. His Foundation, which he established at the age of 35, was
dedicated to the development of a new paradigm of human understanding
of the physical universe. Togra rejected the five hundred year old reductionist
approach to science. Togra believed that matter could be easily and
permanently altered at the molecular level and steadfastly maintained that
the necessary knowledge and tools to allow such conversion could be uncovered
in his lifetime. Matter, he claimed, like all of reality, is more than a sum of its
parts. His research focused on element 115, discovered in the outer
planets in the early days of exploration of the solar system. Element 115 was
the only stable member of the very heavy elements. Other elements over
atomic weight of 92 undergo spontaneous fission almost immediately. In
addition, the strong force in element 115, the force that binds the nucleus
together, was unusually powerful and similar enough to gravity that the force
could be tapped and amplified and used to make a gravity drive for
interstellar travel. The drive bent space in the same way that gravity does and
actually pulled the destination point to the traveller. While the peculiar
properties of element 115 were accepted by most scientists, none had been
able to unravel its mysteries. Togra claimed that the element represented
proof that our understanding of the nature of the physical world was flawed,
and claimed that by unlocking the secret of element 115, he could transform
Earth, even the entire galaxy, into a paradise. Although considered one of the
great thinkers of his age, Togras obsession with element 115 was mocked as
yet another megalomanical attempt to turn lead into gold. Togra countered
If I can tame the soul of matter, what need would I have for gold?
DARK REIGN
25
A man of considerable charisma and rare genius, Togra developed a dedicated

following and became a spiritual as well as scientific leader. Togra claimed that
the great scientists were simply discovering what the great mystics had always
known in a less literal way. He believed that inquiry into the metaphysical realm
was as important to mankinds development as scientific advancement. Many of
the worlds leading minds abandoned their own work to join the Togran
Foundation. By 2387, Foundation members numbered nearly one thousand,
and Togras work on matter conversion was making great strides. Togra
became increasingly withdrawn and secretive about the Foundations research.
He suspected that several Foundation members were leaking information to the
JDA. Togra stopped accepting new members and expelled three Foundationers
he believed were selling his secrets. He began working entirely alone, often
fasting and meditating for days at a time. He was rarely seen in public and grew
increasingly paranoid.
In 2391, Togra confided to a few of his closest associates that he had
cracked element 115s secret. Before Einstein it was believed that energy and
mass, as well as linear and angular momentum, were each independently
conserved; that is, none could be created or destroyed. Einstein showed that
energy and mass were in fact interchangeable and united them under a single
conservation law. Through his work with element 115, Togra found that
linear and angular momentum were also equivalent to mass and energy, as
well as charge, quark number, and several other variables. All of these, he
claimed, are aspects of a single essence that obeys a single conservation law.
The unusual nuclear forces of element 115 were due to the fact that the
momentum of the electrons of its atoms were being converted to the strong
force in the nucleus and back at an incredibly fast rate. Based on this
discovery Togra was able, in a small scale reactor, to convert the angular
momentum in the electrons of an atom of hydrogen into mass. He estimated
that a single atom of hydrogen could produce as much matter as a fair-sized
asteroid. He needed only to refine the process to make the reaction produce
the desired element, and build a number of large-scale reactors to allow near
unlimited matter conversion. He was certain, however, that the JDA was
about to seize his research, and he decided to abandon his home planet and
move the Foundation to an off-world colony. Togra claimed to have found a
host planet near the galactic centre on which a habitable ecosystem could be
developed within a few years. Within a generation, he claimed, they could
build their own heaven. Four hundred thirty-seven Foundation members,
some of the worlds foremost biologists, chemists, physicists, mathematicians,
doctors, and philosophers agreed to accompany Togra. Within a few months
26
DARK REIGN
Togra organised a small expeditionary force of cargo vessels with light

warship support. Togra had expected the JDA to resist the endeavour, but
they seemed to view the departure of the Foundation as simply an
opportunity to be rid of some of their most influential, outspoken agitators.
However, as the Togran expedition reached the outskirts of the solar system,
Togras paranoia proved valid. An attack force of JDA ships ambushed the
convoy, engaging the warship escort while cutting off Togras ship and
attempting to board it. Unknown to even the other members of the
expedition, Togra was armed and prepared for the attack. He killed two
JDA agents and placed a small explosive device on the boarding vessel. His
ship was damaged in the explosion, but he managed to escape the skirmish,
leaving the remaining Tograns behind. When the remaining JDA ships
realised what had happened, they disengaged and attempted to follow
Togra, but no trace of him was found. The Togran vessels, without their
leader but unable to return to Earth for fear of the JDA, decided to
continue on to their destination and hope that Togra would somehow find
his way there. A few days later the Tograns received a garbled transmission
from Togra. His ship was damaged beyond repair. His navigation systems
were not functioning, and he had barely managed to ditch the ship on an
unknown planet.
By the time of the Freedom Wars the Tograns were merely a curious anecdote
in the Imperiums Neuro-Historical Archives. However, the Tograns had
flourished on their new home planet. By genetically engineering offspring,
they developed a society of more than one hundred thousand within a few
generations. Most of the subsistence work was done by machines, and the
need for government was minimal. To avoid pollution, the Togran industrial
complex was maintained in massive factory vessels that orbited the planet.
Togran society grew increasingly insular and monastic. The majority of the
societys resources were dedicated to scientific research, and citizens did little
but work, study and pray. With disease all but conquered, the Foundation
members survived for hundreds of years, pursuing the limits of human
knowledge with a dedication approaching madness. However, although
Togran technology far surpassed that of the Imperium worlds, the Foundation
scientists had been unable to reproduce Togras breakthrough in matter
conversion.
DARK REIGN
27
For generations the Tograns scoured the galaxy for their lost leader but
found no trace of him. Togra eventually rose to a mythical status in Togran
society, and his followers stopped searching for him. They believed that their
lost prophet would return to deliver them without need of their
intervention, but as the centuries rolled by, Togra did not appear.
The war between the Imperium and the Freedom Guard raged across the
galaxy, destroying everything in its wake. Eventually the war spread to the
remote Togran home worlds. Although superior technologically, the Tograns
had no experience with warfare and their society was crushed in the
onslaught.
OBJECTIVE
As your planet and all you know is destroyed you escape in a solitary scout
vessel. Adrift in space you encounter a probe sent by Togra himself. The
probe brings you a message from Togra and the ability to transport you
back in time. Centuries earlier the planet on which Togra had crash landed
was consumed by the Imperiums Dessicator weapon. Unable to save himself,
Togra sent out the probe with the hope that one of his followers would happen
upon it and unlock the key that could save him. The probe can open a
dimensional port that will transport you to the moment just before Togra
was killed and provide you with the technology to create an army to defeat
both of the warring factions, but the mechanism can work only once. If you
are unable to accomplish the task, then history will continue unaltered and
Togras fate, as well as your own, will be sealed. The probe contains a
number of recorded battles of the Imperium-Freedom Guard war. These
battles will be presented to you as a series of trials. If you are unable to
conquer them, if you are unable to demonstrate that you are worthy to fight
the final conflict to save Togra, the probe will not transport you back in
time. Togra will not allow his one chance for survival to be wasted.
To save your society. To save your lost messiah. To save yourself. You must
open the dimension door and alter the destiny of a galaxy.
28
DARK REIGN
nly through absolute uniformity of purpose
can victory be achieved. Heroism on the battlefield is as

dangerous as cowardice.
Imperium General Gregor Trilkin
GAME PLAY
MAIN MENU
THE BRIDGE
SINGLE PLAYER
Once you have selected Single Player from the Main menu,
you will be taken to the bridge of your ship, where you
can access the data stores of Togras probe and begin your
battle. You will interface the probes computers through
The Cube.
Choose this option to begin Dark Reign. You will be

given the option to start a new game, load a saved game,
or load a custom scenario.
MULTI-PLAYER
To begin a multi-player network, modem or Internet

game, select this option. (See page 61.)
Each face of The Cube provides different information and

options. The main face contains the Encryption Key and is
where you will select a mission.
INSTANT ACTION
Play with up to seven computer opponents. Battle against

your own custom AIs. Game setup functions the same as
Multi-player games except that you will not need to connect
to other players with a LAN or modem.
CONSTRUCTION KIT
To design your own custom Dark Reign maps and missions,

choose this option. (See page 102.)
REPLAY INTRO
To view the intro movie, select this option.

CREDITS
Choose this option to see the names of all the fine people
who brought you Dark Reign.
QUIT
Select this option to exit Dark Reign and return to

Windows 95. Are you sure thats really what you want?
Think it over.
30
GAME PLAY
LOADING A MISSION
Left-click the Options button, and The Cube will rotate.

From the Options screen you can save your game, load a
saved game, or exit Dark Reign.
LAUNCHING A MISSION
Select a mission to play by left-clicking one of

the twelve mission numbers surrounding the
Encryption Key. You must play the missions in
order, but you can play each mission from
either the Freedom Guard or Imperium side.
You can also always play a mission you have
already completed. Each mission you
successfully complete unlocks one section of
the Encryption Key. When you have completed
all the missions, the Encryption Key will
activate and open the dimension door that
will carry you to the final conflict.
Cube with Main Screen
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31
Once you have selected a mission, press the Mission button

at the top of the screen, and The Cube will rotate to the
Mission Background screen. From this screen you will receive
the historical context of the mission and select which side
you want to play the mission from. Select Imperium or
Freedom Guard by left-clicking on the corresponding icon in
order to proceed to the mission briefing screen.
TRAINING
From the main face of the cube you can also launch the
training missions. Basic Training will teach you how to
play Dark Reign. It covers movement and attacking, building
units and structures, collecting resources and using the
game interface. Advanced Training is a tutor for some of
Dark Reigns features that will appeal to the more
experienced gamer. It is recommended that you play Dark
Reign for a while before you go through Advanced
Training. Click the appropriate button to access either
Basic or Advanced Training.
ARCHIVE
SAVED GAMES
To play a saved mission press the Load button, and a list

of saved games will appear. Double-click on the game you
want and that mission will load. To save a mission, enter a
name for your saved mission in the empty slot and left-click
on the Save button. If you want to overwrite a previous
save, select the saved mission and press Save. To delete a
saved mission, left-click on the mission you want to delete
and press the Delete button.
AUDIO
The audio sliders allow you to set the volume levels for
sound effects, music, and voices.
SPEED
You can adjust the speed of gameplay with the game

speed slider. The mouse speed slider adjusts the speed at
which the screen scrolls.
OPTIONS
To access background information on the Dark Reign universe,

press the Archive button.
GAME CONTROLS
Options Menu
Restate Objectives displays the mission objectives for the

current scenario. To restart the current mission from the
beginning, press the Start Again button. Abort ends the
mission and returns you to the Bridge. Press the Exit to
System button to exit Dark Reign and return to Windows 95.
Once you have launched a mission, press the

Menu button to bring up the options Menu.
From this menu you can load and save
games, set sound and mouse options, check
mission objectives, or exit the mission.
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33
BASIC MOVEMENT & COMBAT

GETTING AROUND THE MAP
TARGETING & ATTACKING
With no unit or building selected, you will see a standard

arrow cursor. Move your cursor to the edge of the screen,
and your field of view will scroll in that direction.
To attack an enemy unit or structure, select the attacking

unit and move the cursor over the desired target. Left-click
when you see the Attack cursor, and your unit will attack
the desired target. Most units will continue attacking until
they are redirected or until the target is destroyed.
When you reach the edge of the map, the cursor will
change to indicate that you can scroll no further.
Scroll Cursor
To move around the map more quickly, you can click and
hold down the right mouse button anywhere on the map,
then move your mouse in the direction you would like to
scroll.
SELECTING & MOVING UNITS
No Scroll Cursor
Place the cursor over a unit, and the units status bar will
appear above it. Left-click on the unit to select it. With a
unit selected, move the cursor around the map area. You
will see a Move cursor over areas that unit can move to.
Left-click to move the unit to that spot. Youll see a Cant
Move cursor over areas to which that unit cannot move.
To de-select a unit or group of units, right-click anywhere
on the screen. If you are uncertain of a units identity,
simply place the cursor over the unit for a second and a
label will appear above the unit indicating its identity.
Attack Cursor
GROUPING UNITS
It will often be useful to select more than one unit at a

time. To do this, left-click next to a group of units and
while holding down the mouse button, move the cursor to
draw a box around them. Release the mouse button, and
the units are selected. All units in the group will then
respond to any move or attack command you give.
UNIT STATUS
The physical condition of each unit is measured by its

health status bar. To check on the status of a particular
unit, left-click on its image on the map. A status bar will
appear above it. The bar will display green as long as the
units health is good. As the unit is damaged, its status bar
decreases in size. The status bar also changes colour to
indicate health level. Yellow represents marginal health,
and red indicates critical.
Health Status Bar
Move Cursor
Cant Move
Cursor
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35
LINE OF SIGHT & THE FOG OF WAR
When you start a mission, you will only be able

to see a portion of the map. Unexplored
Unexplored Areas
Fog of War
regions will appear black. As you send units

out to explore, the areas of the map into
which they move will become visible.
Each game unit can only see a limited area around itself.
This area is called line of sight. A units line of sight is
affected by the elevation of the terrain around it. As a
general rule, the higher a units elevation, the more of the
surrounding terrain it will be able to see over. Map
regions that have been uncovered but are not currently in
line of sight of any unit will appear greyed out. Buildings
and terrain features will continue to appear as they did
when they were last in a units line of sight. This is known
as the fog of war. When a unit returns to this area and it
is once again fully revealed, you may find that conditions
are very different from the view that appeared through
the fog of war. An area in which you could only see a
single enemy structure may have, since your last visit,
become home to an entire enemy base.
COMBAT ENGINEERING
on the spot where you want to build it. You can only place
a building in an area with sufficient flat, unobstructed
space. You wont be able to build on sloping hillsides or
on top of terrain features such as trees or boulders. Your
building cursor will appear red over areas where you cant
build. Left-click on the spot where you wish to build, and
your Construction Rig will move to the site and begin
building.
It will usually take a minute or so for your building to go
up, and it wont be operational until its complete.
If you left-click on a building under construction, a status

bar will show you the progress of the job.
Building types that are not yet available
appear red in the build menu. Hold the
cursor over the building and a
text cue will appear telling you
Selected Construction Rig
Build Menu
Scroll Buttons
the prerequisite structures you need before

this building can be constructed. You can
cancel the construction of a building by leftclicking the Sell/Cancel button on the top of the screen
and then left-clicking on the building whose construction
you want to abort.
BUILDING STRUCTURES
In most missions, you will want to build up a base to support

and protect your war machine. Structures are built by
Construction Rigs. To start the building process, left-click
on a Construction Rig unit, and the buildings that are
available to be constructed will be illuminated in the build
menu to the right of the map. Click on the structure you
want to build. An image of the building will now appear
as your cursor as you move back over the map. Left-click
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37
BUILDING UNITS
Once you have laid down a couple of basic buildings, you

can begin to crank out units and wage war against your
opponent. The first thing to build is a Headquarters. Once
you have completed this structure, it will be possible to
produce more Construction Rigs which can
build other structures.
Credits
Headquarters
Training Facility
Assembly Plant
The Training Facility is the structure which

produces all of your infantry. Some
specialised units wont become available until
you upgrade this building. Once your Training
Facility is completed, available infantry units will appear in
the build menu. To produce a unit, simply left-click on the
units image in the Build menu.
Before you can produce vehicles, you will need to build an
Assembly Plant. Available vehicles will appear in the build
menu when the structure is complete. As with infantry, leftclick on the image in the build menu to produce that unit.
If more units are available than can be displayed in the
Build menu, use the arrow buttons below the Build menu to
scroll through all of the available units. You can also rightclick and drag the Build menu to scroll it up and down.
All units emerge from the building that produces them.
As with buildings, when units appear red in the build
menu, you do not have the proper prerequisites to construct
that unit. When a unit appears blue, a building that cant
produce that unit is currently selected. If the latter, de-select
the building, and the unit should become available in the
Build menu.
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GAME PLAY
If you are running low on credits and you want to stop the
production of a unit, right-click on the unit in the Build
menu and its production will pause. Left-click on the unit
to restart its construction or right-click again to cancel
production of the unit. When you cancel a unit in production,
you are refunded whatever money has gone toward building
that unit.
If you know you want to build more than one of a unit,
keep clicking on the unit in the Build menu, and you will
queue up units in the build order. When you click on the
unit the second time, a small number 1 will appear
above the units image in the Build menu. This means one
unit is currently in production, and one more has been
ordered and will be built when the current one is completed.
Keep clicking and more units will be queued up. Watch
your finances, though. Your unit production facilities will
keep cranking out queued units until it has produced all
the units you ordered or you run out of credits. Hold down
the Shift key and right-click on the unit to cancel the queue.
FUNDING YOUR WAR MACHINE
The most precious commodity in the Dark Reign universe

is fresh water. In order to maintain control of
the resource, the Imperium has poisoned all
surface water. The only remaining source of
pure water is underground springs. To fund
Freshwater Spring
Freighter
Water Launch pad
your war machine, you will need to collect

fresh water and transport it to a Water
Launch Pad where it will be shipped offworld for credits. Every Water Launch Pad you build
comes with a Freighter. When the building is complete,
the Freighter will move to the nearest freshwater spring
that is within your line of sight and begin hauling water to
GAME PLAY
39
your Water Launch Pad. When the storage tanks at the

Launch Pad are full, the water will be transported offworld and you will receive your credits. You will usually
want to scout for a spring before you build your Water
Launch Pad. The closer your Launch Pad is to a spring, the
more quickly the water will come in. Each spring begins
with a certain amount of water in its reservoir, and this
amount is slowly replenished. You can quickly deplete a
spring by building multiple Freighters. However, once you
have used up the initial water store, the spring may not
replenish fast enough to keep all of your Freighters busy.
You will want to find the most efficient number of
Freighters, depending on how many springs you are
drawing from and how far they are from your Water
Launch Pad.
If you need credits and cant afford to wait for your
Launch Pad to fill up, you can force a water launch by
pressing the Sell Water button in the Special Functions
menu or by double-clicking on the credits display at the
top of the screen. However, you will be charged a fixed
fee for every forced water launch, so it is much more
efficient to wait for your Launch Pad to fill up.
POWER
One of the first structures you should build

when setting up your base is a Taelon Power
Taelon Power Generators generate power by harnessing

the energy in Taelon. Each Taelon Power Generator starts
with a basic power output level, but this level can be
greatly increased by the addition of more Taelon. To get
more Taelon, you will need to find underground Taelon
resources on the map. Your Taelon Power Generator
comes with a Freighter. When the building is complete,
the freighter will move to the nearest source of Taelon
that is within your line of sight and begin hauling it to
your Generator. As the amount of Taelon in the Power
Generator is increased, the power output increases. Leftclick on a Taelon Power Generator to view its status bar.
The bar indicates the buildings current power output.
If your Taelon Power Generator is at full capacity, and you
still need more power, its time to build another one.
If you have enough power, your Freighter can be diverted
to transport water to your Water Launch Pad.
REPAIRING BUILDINGS
To repair a damaged building, left-click on the Repair

button on the menu bar at the top of the screen, and you
will see the Repair Cursor. Place this cursor over the building
you wish to repair and left-click. The building will be
repaired at a steady rate until it has regained full health.
Repairing costs money. Credits will be deducted from your
account as the repairs occur.
Repair Cursor
Taelon Power Generator
Generator. All of your buildings need power

to function. When your base is underpowered you lose the Minimap view, your
units are produced slowly, and defensive
structures fire more slowly. It is impossible to
function efficiently without full power to all
of your structures.
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41
SELLING BUILDINGS
Sell Cursor
Sometimes you will want to sell structures that you have

built. Left click on the Sell/Cancel button on the menu
bar at the top of the screen, and your cursor will change
to a Sell cursor. Left click on the building you want to sell,
and it will begin to deconstruct. You will receive a portion
of the credits you spent to build the structure, but keep in
mind the deconstruction process, like the building process,
is not instantaneous. If youre planning to get some value
out of a building that is under attack and unsalvageable,
start the deconstruction process early.
POWER UP/POWER DOWN
Power Down
Cursor
If you are running low on power, you may want to turn

off the power to one or more of your buildings. This
allows you to shut down buildings you are not currently
using until you can provide more power to your base.
Left-click on the Power Up/Down Button on the menu
bar at the top of the screen. When your cursor changes to
a lightning bolt, move it over the building that you wish to
turn off and left-click. To restore power to a building you
have temporarily shut down, just repeat the process.
UPGRADING BUILDINGS
To be able to build many of the advanced

units, you will have to upgrade several of
your buildings. The HQ, Assembly Plant,
Training Facility and Phasing Facility are the
only upgradable structures. Like constructing
or tearing down a building, the upgrading
Left-click the Upgrade button below the Build menu, and

the structure will begin upgrading. A building cannot be
upgraded while it is producing a unit, and cannot produce
units while it is upgrading.
ACCELERATED PRODUCTION
You can produce units faster by erecting multiple construction

facilities. Cut the time it takes to produce vehicles in half
by building two Assembly Plants. The rate of increase in
production for multiple buildings diminishes as you build
more multiples of a given structure. For example, five
Assembly Plants will not make vehicles five times as
quickly. If you have more than one of a structure, units
will emerge from the primary facility, which you select by
double-clicking on the building you want to be your primary
facility.
If you dont have a building selected when you left-click
on a unit in the Build menu, the unit will be produced at
the primary facility and all facilities of that type will
contribute to the units construction. However, you can also
instruct multiple facilities to simultaneously produce
different units. Select one of your unit production facilities
and left-click on the unit you want produced in the build
menu. Construction of the unit will begin and all
structures of that type will contribute. Now select another
facility and left-click on a different unit in the build menu.
The facility will now begin producing the second unit, and
all unoccupied structures will split their production
between the two units. You can continue selecting structures
and assigning them each a different build order if you
want. All facilities without a specific build command will
contribute its production resources evenly to all structures
of the same type that are currently building a unit.
Upgrade Button
process takes time. To upgrade a building,

select it. If that building can be upgraded,
the price of the upgrade will appear over the building.
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43
THE MINIMAP
The Minimap appears in the bottom right of

the screen as long as you have a functioning
HQ. The Minimap provides a view of the
entire battlefield. This allows you to more
efficiently control your forces once your
domain has expanded beyond an area you
can see within the main map. Left-click on
Hospital or by the Field Medic. Repairing vehicles and

healing infantry are free, so it is a very valuable tactic. The
Amper is similar to the Field Medic in that it will boost the
health level of an injured infantry unit to its maximum.
However, the Ampers effect leaves the unit poisoned, and
it will slowly die unless it receives an antidote from a Field
Medic or Field Hospital.
Repair Bay
Morphing
Minimap
any spot on the Minimap and your main map view will
shift to the corresponding location. The white box on the
Minimap indicates the area of the battlefield currently in
view on the main map.
The locations of your buildings and units and your opponents
buildings and units are displayed on the minimap as dots
and squares of the appropriate colours. Whatever units
you currently have selected will appear white on the
Minimap. The Minimap allows you to simultaneously track
the movements of your units and those of your opponent
in far-flung areas of the battlefield. You can even move
units or groups of units on the Minimap by selecting them
and then left-clicking on the desired destination on the
Minimap.
ADVANCED TACTICS
Repair and Healing
Field Hospital
44
Several units can take the shape of other objects or units

to camouflage themselves. The Scout and the Sniper can
morph into natural objects such as rocks and trees in
order to maintain a concealed position behind enemy
lines. This allows the Scout to provide intelligence on
enemy activity or serve as a spotter for artillery. The Sniper
can pick off straggler infantry units without being spotted.
The Infiltrator can morph into enemy units in order to
sneak into an opponents base.
Morph Cursor
Double click on the morphing unit to activate the function.

Then put the cursor over the enemy unit or object you
want the unit to morph into. When you see the Morph
Cursor, left-click and your unit will assume the appearance
of the selected object. You may also activate the morphing
function from the special function menu or by hitting the
I key. The Scout and Sniper can only morph into objects
of roughly the same size. The Infiltrator cannot morph
into vehicles. Double-click on the unit or press the
Unmorph button in the Special Function menu to return
the unit to its standard appearance.
The health status of a damaged unit can be raised in

several ways. Vehicles and flyers can retreat to a Repair
Station or be repaired by a Mechanic. Select a vehicle and
order it to enter a Repair Station. The unit will be repaired
at a constant rate until its health returns to maximum.
A Mechanic unit can be ordered to repair units or will
automatically repair any damaged vehicle that is nearby.
Infantry units can be healed in the same way at the Field
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45
Camouflaged
R.A.T.
Phasing
Stealing Plans
Once the Freedom Guard Phasing Facility is

constructed, the Raider, Mercenary, and Phase
Tank can create a phased energy shield which
converts the earth around them into a semiliquid form. This allows these units to
suspend themselves underground indefinitely
to hide their location. The phased units
cannot move while underground and must
surface to fire, but they take only minimal
damage when fired at while they are phased
underground. Double-click on the phasing
unit or press the I key with the unit selected
to make it submerge or resurface. Or you can use the
Phase button in the Special Functions menu. All phased
units will automatically surface if your Phasing Facility is
destroyed.
The Infiltrator is able to steal plans for enemy units and

buildings. A stolen plan allows you to produce that enemy
unit or building. The unit can take plans for buildings
from any HQ. The Infiltrator can morph into enemy
infantry units in order to sneak into the enemys base (see
page 46). Unit plans can be stolen from enemy Training
Facilities or Assembly Plants. Select the Infiltrator and
place the cursor over any of these buildings. You will see
the Infiltrate cursor. Left-click and the unit will enter the
building, and a menu of the plans available from that
building will appear in your build menu. Select the plan
you want, and the Infiltrator will begin the process of
obtaining it. This work takes time, and the longer the unit
remains in an enemy structure, the better the chance of
his being detected. More valuable plans take longer to
steal. When the plan has been obtained, the Infiltrator can
leave the building or attempt to steal another plan.
However, all stolen plans must be returned to the players
HQ before the ability to construct that unit or building is
acquired. While the Infiltrator is in an enemy HQ, the player
will have access to that players line of sight.
Camouflage
The Rapid Armoured Transport blends with the
surrounding terrain to conceal its position. The unit will
appear normal to the player who owns it. It is
camouflaged only to enemy players.
Sabotage
Infiltrate
Cursor
46
The Saboteur can reduce the health of any building to

half of its maximum. With the Saboteur selected, place
the cursor over an enemy building and you will see the
Sabotage Cursor. Left-click on the building, and the
Saboteur will move to the building and tinker with it for
several seconds, leaving it with only half of its maximum
health. The Saboteur can never reduce a building below
50% of maximum functionality, so sabotaging a building
that is already below that threshold will have no effect.
GAME PLAY
While the Infiltrator is inside, there is a chance he will be

discovered and an alarm will sound. The Infiltrator will
remain in the building and continue stealing whatever
plan he is taking until the player who owns the unit or the
player who owns the building double-clicks on the building.
This will eject the Infiltrator from the structure, whether
he has finished stealing the plan or not. The same alarm
will also sound when an Infiltrator leaves a building after
successfully stealing a plan. This alerts the owner of the
building, giving the owner a chance to stop the Infiltrator
before he can deliver the plan to his own HQ. When the
Infiltrator exits a building, he is automatically unmorphed.
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47
Shielding
The S.C.A.R.A.B. can enclose itself in a retractable
armoured exoskeleton for defensive purposes. Double
click on the unit to activate or deactivate the shell. The
S.C.A.R.A.B. cannot move or fire while encased in its
armoured sheath.
Shielded
S.C.A.R.A.B.
Self Destruct
The Tachion Tank has the ability to self destruct, causing
severe damage to all nearby units. If the vehicle is
damaged, cornered and outnumbered, select the unit and
click the Self Destruct Button in the Special Functions
menu. This way you can be sure to take some of them out
with you.
Mobile Buildings
Base Mover
Are Plasma Tanks crashing through the yard? Artillery fire

ruining the roof? Pack up and move. Select the building
or buildings that are in the line of fire and click
Pack/Unpack Building in the Special Functions menu.
The structures will load up into big moving vehicles so you
can take them and set them up somewhere else. Buildings
do not function while being moved. Base Mover vehicles
are much easier to destroy than buildings, so your moving
convoy wont hold up long under enemy fire. Only
Freedom Guard structures can be moved.
Decoys
You can produce decoys in order to deceive your
opponent. The Freedom Guard is able to erect decoy
buildings while the Imperium can build decoy units. Decoy
buildings are cheap to produce and require no power.
However, they are easier to destroy than normal buildings
and serve no function except to draw the enemies
attention away from your real structures. Decoy units are
48
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holographic projections of vehicles. They are cheap, but

cannot fire and last for a limited time. Decoy units can be
useful in diversionary attacks or convincing your enemy
that your defensive force is stronger than it really is.
SPECIAL ATTACKS AND MANOEUVRES
When you place the cursor over an enemy unit, you will
see the Attack Cursor. However, there will be situations
when you want to attack a target that does not present
you with the Attack Cursor. For example, you do not see
the Attack Cursor when you target allied or neutral units.
You can attack an ally by left-clicking the Attack button at
the top of the screen. You can then left-click on an allied
unit, and your troops will attack it. You can also use the
Attack button to fire on trees and rocks or to attack the
ground where you believe phased units may be hiding.
Attack
Often when you give your units an order to attack, they

will move to close on the target or will pursue a target
that moves out of range. You may want your units to
attack without breaking their position. If you have an
established defensive position you dont want to move
from or you dont want your units to move nearer to the
enemy and get picked off, you can use the Attack without
Moving button at the top of the screen. This will give you
an Attack Cursor and allow you to target units as normal.
However, when you left-click on the target, your unit will
only attack if the target is within range. Your troops wont
close to fire on targets out of their range or pursue fleeing
units. They will simply hold their position and attack if an
enemy is within range. This attack is particularly useful for
artillery units.
To make a unit or group of units abort an order, left-click
the Stop button at the top of the screen. This is handy
when you need to quickly abort a command.
So youve organised your troops into formation, and now
you need to move them. Select the group of units and leftclick the Formation Move button in the Special Functions
GAME PLAY
49
menu. Now issue a move order, and the units will move to
their destination and regroup in the original formation.
Turn Cursor
If you think you know which direction an attack is coming

from, you can turn your units toward the imminent
assault. This will help them to get off their first shot as
quickly as possible. The effect is not great, but in battle
every second counts. Select the units and press the T key.
You will see the Turn cursor. Left-click on the point on the
map you want your units to face, and they will turn in that
direction.
If you get tired of scrolling back to your production
facilities to get new units and bring them into the action,
you can set an exit point for your unit production
buildings (i.e. Training Facility and Assembly Plant).
Select a building and then press the Set Exit Point button
in the Special Functions menu. Left-click on the spot on
the map where you want new units to go. Thereafter, all
units produced in that building will immediately move to
that location after they emerge from the production
facility.
WAYPOINTS
When a unit is ordered to move, it will travel

the quickest path to its destination, taking
into account elevation and terrain effects. In
Waypoints
Paths Menu
50
some situations, however, you might want to

give your units a specific route to their
destination. Want to sneak your Scout around
an enemy base? Is there an enemy
encampment between your Freighter and a
freshwater spring? Need to set up a patrol
around the perimeter of your base? You can set up a path
for your unit(s) to follow while you tend to more
important matters. Select a unit or group of units and hit
the Paths button, and the Paths menu will appear. There
GAME PLAY
are two levels of Path management, basic and advanced.

You can switch between these modes with the tabs at the
top of the menu.
BASIC WAYPOINTS
Press the Add Waypoint button to lay down waypoints.

Then click on a spot on the map where you want the unit
to move first. This is the first waypoint of the path and the
number 1 will appear next to it. Click again where you
want the unit to move next, and a second waypoint will
appear. Continue adding waypoints until the path leads to
your desired goal. If necessary, you can move a waypoint
you have placed by clicking and dragging it to where you
want it. Now press the Go button, and the unit will travel
along the path you set and stop at the last waypoint. If
you make a mistake in laying out your path, click the
Delete Path button and start again.
You can lay out waypoints more easily by using the Tab
key. With a unit or units selected, press and hold the Tab
key. This will put you in Add Waypoint mode. Lay out your
path and let go of the Tab key, and your unit will
automatically execute the path.
ADVANCED WAYPOINTS
If you want to really customise your paths, flip the toggle

on the Paths menu to Advanced, and a number of new
buttons will appear.
Delete Point removes the last waypoint you laid down. Or
you can select a waypoint and delete it by pressing this
button. You must then press G again to have your units
adjust to the new path.
The Path Direction toggle determines whether the unit
will move to the end of
One Way
the path and stop, move
Patrol
back and forth along the
Looping
path continuously or loop
GAME PLAY
51
around the path. One way paths are the default and are
used for Basic Waypoints.
If there is a critical route on a map that you frequently
send units along, make a permanent path that you can
save and assign to any unit when needed. Press the Save
Path button and lay out a path as usual. The name of the
path will occur in the Current Path window. To rename
the path, click on the Current Path window and type in
the new name. To assign a unit or group to one of your
saved paths, select the unit(s), then click on the name of
the path in the window in the bottom right corner of the
Paths menu and click Go.
ORDERS
You can assign a variety of orders to your

units that they will carry out on their own.
Select a unit or group of units and click on
the Orders button. This will bring up the
Orders menu.
UNIT ORDERS
Orders Menu
Units assigned Scout orders will explore the

map to uncover uncharted regions but will
not engage opponents they encounter. This is
useful early in a mission to uncover the map
without taking time to guide your units around manually.
Harass will cause your units to make hit and run attacks.
Your troops will search out the enemy and launch a brief
attack then fall back. This tactic is particularly effective
when your units have longer range than the enemy as they
will attack and then move before the enemy can close to
firing range.
When you assign Search & Destroy orders to a unit, it will
hunt the map for enemies and destroy anything it can
find.
52
GAME PLAY
To cancel any of these orders, de-select the appropriate

button in the Orders menu, or give the units a Stop, Move,
or Attack order.
Unit Behaviours
The Damage Tolerance, Independence, and Pursuit Range
settings function differently from the unit orders. They
assign AI characteristics to your units that affect how they
will react in a variety of combat situations. To access these
variables, you will have to set the toggle at the top of the
Orders menu to Advanced. With a unit or units selected,
click the settings buttons for Pursuit Range, Damage
Tolerance, or Independence to alter that variable for the
selected units.
The Pursuit Range setting determines how far a unit will
go to pursue an enemy that it has not been ordered to
attack. On low setting, the default, a stationary unit will
attack an enemy that is within its range but will not move
to pursue it. Change the setting to medium and your unit
will pursue the enemy for a short distance and then return
to its original position. On high setting your unit will
abandon its position and pursue an enemy it has engaged
until one of the units is destroyed. Keep in mind that these
settings only apply to situations when your unit engages
the enemy on its own. When you command your troops to
attack an enemy, they will always pursue the enemy until
it is destroyed or until it flees from their line of sight.
Damage Tolerance determines how much damage a unit
will absorb before it disengages from a battle and
attempts to return to a facility where it can be healed or
repaired. A unit with a maximum Damage Tolerance
setting will always continue fighting until it is destroyed.
This is the default setting. If you do not change this
setting, units will respond only to your orders and will
have to be commanded to retreat and seek repair.
However, if you change a units Damage Tolerance setting
to medium, it will automatically return to a Field Hospital
or Repair Station when its health bar reaches red. At the
lowest Damage Tolerance setting, a unit will seek repair
when its health bar becomes yellow.
GAME PLAY
53
Independence determines how willing your units are to

disregard an order you have issued to attack an enemy
unit or building. With Independence set on low, your units
will always complete their present order before attacking.
If you issue a move order to a unit, and it encounters an
enemy, it will continue moving and will not fire on the
enemy unit. Once it reaches its destination, it will attack
the enemy unit if it is still in range. In addition, a unit with
minimum Independence will never attack a building
without an attack command from the player. This allows
you to sneak units into an enemy base without them firing
on a building and warning the enemy of your presence. If
you set Independence on medium, your units will continue
carrying out an order that you have given them but will
also attack enemies they encounter. This setting applies
mainly to vehicles with turrets, which are able to fire on
an enemy while continuing to move to the destination of a
move order issued by the player. In addition, stationary
units will fire on buildings that are within range when
their Independence is set to medium. With Independence
set to high, your units will abandon a command you have
issued them to attack enemies that they encounter. If
possible, the unit will return to the original order once the
enemy has been destroyed or has fled.
The Pursuit Range, Damage Tolerance, and Independence
settings affect a units behaviour simultaneously. You can
experiment with the settings to discover combinations you
find effective.
Two preset behaviour setups, Stand Ground and Pursue
Enemies, have been provided if you want to alter the
behaviour variables quickly. You can return units to the
default settings with the Default button. If you find a
combination of behaviour variables you particularly like,
you can make this the default setting with the Set Default
button. All units you produce after changing the default
settings will be assigned your new behaviour variables.
KEYBOARD COMMANDS
Groups
Hitting CTRL and one of the number keys will assign all
currently selected units to a group corresponding to that
number. You may then quickly select the same group at
any time by hitting that number key. Each unit can be in
only one group created with the CTRL key. To create
groups that will allow units to belong multiple groups,
press the ALT key plus a number key.
Build Menu
The Spacebar brings up the Unit Build menu.
Options Menu
Hitting the ESC key brings up the options Menu. This menu
contains the Load/Save Game, Sound Controls, Game
Controls, Restate Objectives, Return to Game, and Quit
Game options.
Paths Menu
The P key brings up the Paths menu. The Tab key will
bring up the Paths menu and automatically enter Add
Waypoint mode.
Orders Menu
The O key brings up the Orders menu.
Comms Menu
Press the C key to bring up the Comms menu. The Enter
key brings up the Comms menu and enters message edit
mode.
Special Functions Menu
Press the Tilde (~) key to bring up the Special Functions
menu.
List Keyboard Commands
The F1 key provides a list of all keyboard functions.
54
GAME PLAY
GAME PLAY
55
Print
Self Destruct
Press the Print Screen button to save an image of the

screen.
With a Tachion Tank selected, hit SHIFT + I to make the

unit self-destruct.
Change Music Track
Move
Use the keypad + and - keys to move through the

available music tracks.
To give a unit a command to move to a location that is

occupied by a unit or building and therefore gives you an
Attack or Select cursor, press the M key. You can then click
on the destination and your unit or units will move there.
Attack
Pressing A allows you to use the Attack command. Choose
and select the unit that will launch the attack, press A, and
then click on the location to be targeted. This function
allows attacks on objects that do not give the player an
attack cursor, such as allied or neutral units, morphed
units, or even spots of ground where phased units are
believed to be.
Attack Without Moving
With units selected, press SHIFT + A and then give an
attack command. Your units will attack the target if it is
within range but will not move to engage the enemy.
Decoy Buildings Menu
Hit D to bring up the Decoy Buildings menu.
Select All
To select all units currently on the screen, press the E key.
Formation Move
Select a group of units and hit F. When you move the
group, they will regroup in the same formation when they
reach their destination.
Centre
The H key centres the map view on your primary HQ.
Initiate special function
Hit the I key to activate a units special function.
56
GAME PLAY
Select Next Unit

Press N to scroll through all of the units in your arsenal
and select the desired unit.
Go to Construction Kit
If you launch a mission from the Construction Kit, you can
edit the map by hitting SHIFT + Q. This will move you to
the Map Editor and automatically load the mission you
were playing. This allows you to move back and forth
easily between building your map and testing it.
Repair/Heal
Press the R key to activate the Repair/Heal functions of
the Mechanic and Field Medic. It will also order any unit
to return to the nearest Field Hospital or Repair Station to
be healed or repaired.
Stop
To cancel an order and stop units from completing their
task, select the units that you want to Stop and press S.
Scatter
Groups of units can be easy prey for area effect weapons
or close combat units like the Shredder. A selected group
of units can be commanded to scatter to avoid an
incoming threat by pressing X. Scattered units will
continue to carry out an attack order. Press X repeatedly
to cause your units to continue scattering.
GAME PLAY
57
ll empires fall. You just have to know

where to push.
Freedom Guard Commander Jeb Radec
MULTIPLAYER
After selecting Multiplayer from the Main

menu, you will see the Multiplayer
Connection Screen. Enter your name at the
top of the screen and select the desired
connection type.
INTERNET
Play with up to four other players over

the Internet.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
(IPX)
Up to eight players on a LAN.

DIAL-UP MODEM
Two players, modem to modem.

SERIAL/NULL MODEM
Two players using a serial cable.
To return to the Main menu, press the Main Menu button.
60
MULTIPLAYER
MULTIPLAYER
61
MODEM PLAY
Modem Connection Screen
(Supports Two Players)
(Supports Two Players)
Dark Reign requires that both players

modems be at least l4.4Kbps. The game will
play at the speed of the slowest modem. To
launch a modem game, select Dial-up
Modem from the Multiplayer Connection
screen. This will bring you to the Modem
Connection screen, where you can connect to
another modem player, modify your list of
players, or change your modem setup.
You must first connect the serial port in the back of your
computer with the other players via a serial cable. You
may need to use a null modem adaptor if your serial
ports have different numbers of pins. Both computers
should be set to the same baud rate.
You must determine which player will dial and which will
receive the call. To make a call and initiate a modem
game, select a player from the list at the top of the screen
and press Dial. To receive the call, press Answer, and your
modem will wait for the other player to call.
To add a player to your list of available
players, left-click the Add Player button. A
window will become active where you can
enter the Players Name and Players Phone
Number. After you enter the information,
left-click the Accept button. To change the
name or phone number of a player, select
the player and press the Edit Player button.
The Delete Player button allows you to
remove a player from the list of available
players.
Modem Connection Screen

with Modem Setup
Window
SERIAL/NULL MODEM GAME
Left-click on the Select Modem button to set up your

modem. A window will appear where you can select your
Modem Type, Com Port, Baud Rate, Dialling Method, and
Modem Init String.
INTERNET & LAN

MINIMUM INTERNET REQUIREMENTS
In order to play over the Internet you will need the

following:
A 28.8Kbps modem.
Winsock 1.1 compliant TCP/IP stack (comes with

Win 95).
An account with an Internet Service Provider.
SELECTING AN INTERNET SERVER
You can choose an Internet server by

pressing the Change Internet Server button
at the bottom of the Multiplayer Game
Selection Screen.
The currently selected server is displayed at
the top of the Internet Connection screen.
You can change the server by selecting from
those available in the Internet Servers
window. Left-click on a server and the server
you select will appear in the Current Server
window. Press the Connect button to connect
to this server.
Internet Connection Screen
For additional multiplayer game information, see the

Readme.txt file on your Dark Reign CD.
62
MULTIPLAYER
MULTIPLAYER
63
SELECTING A GAME
Once you have chosen to play an Internet or

LAN multiplayer game of Dark Reign, you will
either create or join a game on the
Multiplayer Selection screen.
Multiplayer Selection
Screen
Available Rooms and the Current Room are

displayed in the upper left corner of the
screen. Left-click on a room, and all available
games and their type will appear in the
Available Games window. Press the Join
Room button to enter that room. Left-click on
a game, and the players in that game will
appear in the Players window. Once you have found a
game you want to join, left-click on that game in the
Available Games window and press the Join Game button.
You can also create your own game or room with the
Create Game and Create Room buttons.
SETTING UP AND
LAUNCHING A GAME
The Multiplayer Setup screen is where you

will set game options and launch the game.
There are a wide variety of game controls
available on this screen. Some are set by
each player, but many can be changed only
by the game host.
PLAYER CONTROLS:
Multiplayer Setup Screen
Player Colour- Left-click on a colour in the

colour bar at the top left of the screen to
select that colour. You cannot choose a colour that
another player has already selected.
Select Side- Click on the column to the right of the players
list to choose between Imperium, Freedom Guard, and
Togran. Togran allows access to both Imperium and
Freedom Guard units.
64
MULTIPLAYER
Set Alliances- The alliances column allows you to toggle

between Ally (green), Enemy (red), and Neutral
(yellow) for every other player in the game. The large
bar shows your orientation toward each player. The thin
bar above it indicates that players orientation to you. In
Teams mode, the alliances that are set on this screen
cannot be changed within the game.
Select Handicap- This option allows beginning players to
select a modifier that will increase their starting credits.
For example, if the starting credits for a given game were
1000, a player with a 20% handicap would receive 1200
starting credits.
Select Start Location- If this option is allowed by the host,
you can choose your location at the start of the mission by
left-clicking on the desired point on the Minimap on the
bottom of the screen.
View Rules- The Rules/Briefings & Objectives window
shows the mission objectives for the game as well as any
specific rules that the players agree to adhere to, like No
attacking Freighter units or No alliances with anyone
named James.
HOST CONTROLS:
Select Computer Opponents- The host can determine

whether open slots in the player list will be left unplayed
or filled by computer opponents. A pull down menu in
each player slot will give the options: Available, Closed,
Computer Easy, Computer Medium, Computer Hard,
Computer Custom AI, and Kick-out. Kick-out allows the
host to eject a player from the game. The host can also
determine which side the computer opponents will play
and, if appropriate, which team they will be on.
Game Type- The host can choose from Normal or
Campaign mode
MULTIPLAYER
65
Give Allies Money/Units- This toggle will enable/disable

the ability for players to give money and units to their
allies.
View Allies Resources- The host can determine whether
players can view their allies resources by changing this
toggle.
Togran Units- This button allows the game creator to
prevent players from choosing to play the Togran side.
Handicapping- The host can disable/enable handicapping
with this toggle.
Map- Select from all available multiplayer maps. Along
with each maps name is listed its size and the number of
players the map is intended for.
Fog of War & Shroud- The game host can turn on and off
the Fog of War and Shroud with this button.
Set Starting Units- With this button the host can
determine with what units players will start the mission.
Set Starting Credits- Allows the host to determine how
many credits players will begin the mission with.
Random/Fixed Start Locations- With this toggle the host
can determine if start locations on the map will be
assigned randomly or if players can select their start
locations by left-clicking on the map window on the
bottom of the screen.
Show Start Locations- The game host can set whether or
not start locations will be displayed in the map window.
Display Terrain- This toggle allows the host to display the
selected map terrain in the Minimap.
Rules- The game creator can enter any game rules that
the players have agreed to in this text box. These rules will
also be available within the game by selecting Restate
Objectives. For Campaign games this box will display the
mission briefing and each teams objectives.
66
MULTIPLAYER
Launch- Ill bet you thought wed never get to this, didnt
you? When youre ready to go, press the Launch button.
When all players have launched, the game will start. The
small column to the left of the names in the Players list
indicates which players have launched.
MULTIPLAYER FEATURES & THE COMMS MENU
Once you have launched into a game, there

are several gameplay options that exist only
in multiplayer games. These features are
accessible from the Comms menu.
Alliances
You can designate your relationship (Ally,
Neutral, or Enemy) to every other player in
the game. This functions the same as in the
player list on the Multiplayer Setup screen. If
you already set your alliances on the setup
screen before the mission was launched, you
wont need to set them within the game unless you want
to make a change. Alliances cannot be changed in a
Teams game.
Comms Menu
Give Units
If one of your allies is in trouble and is calling for the
cavalry, you can give him some of your units. Select the
units you want to give. Select the player you want to give
them to in the left column of the Comms menu. Then leftclick the Give Unit button. The selected units will shift to
the recipient's team and fall under their control. You can
only give units to players that you have designated as Ally
in the Comms menu.
Give Credits
This works pretty much the same as Give Units. Select the
poor deadbeat player who cant seem to get by without
your help. Enter the donation amount in the window at the
bottom left. Then press Give $.
MULTIPLAYER
67
Messages
You can send text messages to all other players in the
game. The buttons in the bottom right of the menu allow
you to select whom you will send messages to. Select from
All, Enemies, Neutral, Allies or None. You can also select
the players you want to send to manually by checking the
message column just to the right of each players name.
he hand of man can hold the universe in its palm,

if only it can learn to unclench its fist.
Alpheus Togra
68
MULTIPLAYER
UNITS
Dark Reign has a number of different terrain types and
elevation changes that affect unit movement in different
ways depending on the units movement type.
UNIT MOVEMENT TYPES
WALKER
This category includes infantry and machines that walk

with articulated limbs. Walkers are the only units that can
climb the steepest slopes. Walkers cannot cross water
obstacles, but unlike other ground units they can navigate
swamps, although with a significant loss of speed.
WHEELED & TRACKED
All vehicles with wheels or treads are included in this

class. These units cannot cross water or steep slopes, but
they do gain a considerable speed advantage on roads
and paths.
HOVER
These vehicles produce a limited anti-gravity field that

allows them to hover just above the ground. Hover
vehicles can cross water and swamps with no loss of
speed. However, they cant climb even moderate slopes
and dont gain any speed advantage on roads.
FLYER
Flying units are not affected by terrain. They can move

over any map area.
Keep in mind that there are several hybrid units that

combine different aspects of these movement types. These
are detailed in the units descriptions.
70
UNITS
COMMON UNITS
Freighter- These vehicles haul the vital resources that feed

the ravenous war machine. The multi-purpose Freighter is
able to carry fresh water or Taelon.
TYPE
WHEELED
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
NONE
RANGE
N/A
ARMOUR
HEAVY
Hover Freighter- Serves the same function as the

Freighter, but its hover drive allows movement over a
broader range of terrain types. It is armed with a laser
cannon.
TYPE
HOVER
SPEED
FAST
WEAPON
LASER CANNON
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
HEAVY
Contaminator- This vehicle can pollute and permanently

destroy freshwater springs. It is slow and extremely
expensive, but once you have cut off your enemies
resources, their ruin is inevitable.
TYPE
TRACKED
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
SPECIAL
RANGE
NONE
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
COMMON UNITS
71
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
Construction Rig- The workhorse of any military

operation, this unit constructs all buildings and bridges.
Raider- Stalwart of the Freedom Guard cause, the Raider

is armed with a laser rifle. Once the Phasing Facility is
constructed, the Raider gains the ability to phase
underground.
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
NONE
TYPE
WALKER
RANGE
N/A
SPEED
SLOW
ARMOUR
LIGHT
WEAPON
LASER RIFLE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Infiltrator- The Infiltrator can morph into enemy infantry

and is able to steal plans for enemy units and buildings.
The unit can also observe the opponents Minimap at the
HQ building. Plans for units are obtained at the building
where that unit is produced. The Infiltrator must return
safely to his own HQ with all stolen plans.
Mercenary- Recruited from outside the Freedom Guard

ranks, these paid guns carry a massive shoulder mounted
rail gun. Highly trained and ruthless, the Mercenary is
tougher and deadlier than the Raider. The Mercenary can
phase once the Phasing Facility has been built.
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
MEDIUM
TYPE
WALKER
WEAPON
NONE
SPEED
SLOW
RANGE
N/A
WEAPON
RAIL GUN
ARMOUR
LIGHT
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
Scout- Used mainly for front line surveillance, the Scout is

able to morph into inanimate objects such as trees and
rocks to conceal her position. The Scout is relatively fast
but wears no body armour, so combat is not her specialty.
72
COMMON UNITS
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
NONE
RANGE
N/A
ARMOUR
LIGHT
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
73
Sniper- With a long range electro-magnetic needle gun,

the Sniper is lethal against infantry targets. Like the Scout,
the Sniper can morph into objects for camouflage.
TYPE
WALKER
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
NONE
WEAPON
SNIPER RAIL
RANGE
N/A
RANGE
LONG
ARMOUR
LIGHT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Field Medic- The Field Medic can restore the health of

wounded infantry units and administer an antitoxin to
counteract the effects of the Amper. The Field Medic will
automatically heal damaged units that are nearby or can
be directed to heal a specific unit. The Field Medic has no
attack capability and does not wear body armour.
Martyr- Freedom Guard soldiers who are approaching

their 25th birthday, and therefore certain death, are
outfitted with a high-powered explosive device and then
sent screaming into the enemy to die for the cause.
Sometimes soldiers not popular with their commanding
officers are volunteered for this service before their
25th birthday.
TYPE
WALKER
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
NONE
WEAPON
PLASMA BOMB
RANGE
N/A
RANGE
NONE
ARMOUR
LIGHT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Mechanic- The Mechanic functions similarly to the Field

Medic, repairing damaged vehicles in the field. The
Mechanic has no attack capability.
74
Saboteur- The Saboteur can damage any building to half

its maximum health.
Spider Bike- This all terrain vehicle is the cornerstone of

the Freedom Guard ground force. Fast and inexpensive, it
is able to tackle all types of terrain. Armed with a double
rail gun, it is fairly effective against armour but somewhat
vulnerable to infantry.
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
NONE
TYPE
SPECIAL WHEELED
RANGE
N/A
SPEED
FAST
ARMOUR
LIGHT
WEAPON
RAIL GUN
RANGE
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
75
Skirmish Tank- The Skirmish Tank is the foundation upon

which any successful military outfit is built. Properly
accessorised, the Skirmish Tank can make a splash at an
intimate midnight raid, a small summer skirmish, or even
a full-scale gala massacre.
TYPE
TRACKED
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
MISSILE LAUNCHER
RANGE
MEDIUM
TYPE
TRACKED
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
LASER CANNON
RANGE
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Triple Rail Hover Tank- The pinnacle of Freedom Guard

armour, the Triple Rail uses hover technology stolen from
the Imperium to allow movement over a broader range
of terrain types. Hauling three electro-magnetic projectile
accelerator cannons, or rail guns, this tank is a savage
consumer of Imperium armour.
Hellstorm Artillery- The Hellstorm Artillery fires a longrange, area-effect explosive. Its range is more than four
times longer than any other unit. A battery of Artillery is
capable of single-handedly destroying an enemy base, but,
the vehicle is slow and lightly armoured, so undefended
Artillery is fodder in close combat.
TYPE
HOVER
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
TRIPLE RAIL GUN
RANGE
LONG
TYPE
TRACKED
ARMOUR
HEAVY
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
ARTILLERY
RANGE
EXTREME
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
Tank Hunter- This quick, deadly vehicle emits a massive

short range electric discharge. The Tank Hunter is
devastating in close combat but has no ranged weapon
and is vulnerable in situations where it cannot close on its
prey.
76
Phase Tank- Using limited phasing technology, the Phase

Tank can bury itself underground in order to ambush
enemy units. However, the Phase Tank must surface to
move or fire and can be fired upon and take damage
while submerged. Although the phased energy shield
surrounding the vehicle serves to protect it and minimise
damage, the Phase Tank is essentially defenceless while
underground.
TYPE
TRACKED
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
77
R.A.T. (Rapid Armoured Transport)- The Freedom Guard

troop transport has the ability to camouflage itself to
match the surrounding terrain. The R.A.T. is unarmed, but
is able to carry up to five infantry units at a time and can
move over water, although at a considerably reduced
speed.
TYPE
WHEELED
SPEED
MEDIUM
TYPE
WALKER
WEAPON
NONE
SPEED
SLOW
RANGE
N/A
WEAPON
CHAFF
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
RANGE
LONG
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Phase Transport- Using phasing technology the Phase

Transport can move up to five units at a time
underground. Infantry and vehicles load into the unit at
the Phasing Facility. The transport is then placed in a
phased state in which it can move underground to any
location on the map, although it cannot surface from
under a building or water. There is no time limit on the
phasing effect; however, once its cargo is deployed, the
Phase Transport will automatically return to the phasing
facility to be reloaded.
78
Flak Jack- A revamped Construction Rig outfitted with two

shoulder mounted particle launchers. The Flak Jack
salvages metal from the battlefield and converts it into
microscopic metallic particles that it fires in clouds which
cause sustained damage to air units. The unit has no
defensive capability against ground attack, and should be
protected at all times.
TYPE
UNDERGROUND
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
NONE
RANGE
N/A
ARMOUR
N/A
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
Outrider- This ground attack aerial unit is slower and less

manoeuvrable than the Sky Bike, but considerably tougher
and fires air to ground missiles. Deadly effective against
Imperium armour, it cannot engage other air units and
should be escorted by air defence units. The Outrider has
limited ammunition and must re-arm at the Re-Arming
Deck.
TYPE
FLYER
SPEED
FAST
WEAPON
GUIDED MISSILE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
HEAVY
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
79
IMPERIUM UNITS
Sky Bike- Using a modified Spider Bike chassis, the

Freedom Guard were able to produce cheap, fast aerial
units which could attack enemy ground troops and other
flyers. Although quicker than the Imperium Cyclone, the
Sky Bike is not as heavily armoured and is outgunned in
even combat. The speed of the Sky Bike, however, allows
it to dictate the circumstance of conflict. This unit fires
high-velocity mini-missiles and, like the Outrider, must rearm at the Re-Arming Deck.
TYPE
FLYER
SPEED
FAST
WEAPON
MINI MISSILES
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Shock Wave- A single-use unit that creates an immense

earth wave that travels across the map, causing severe
damage to everything in its wake. The unit is armed by
double-clicking on it and then fired at an enemy target to
determine the direction of the wave. The Shock Wave unit
then embeds in the ground and detonates, self-destructing
in the discharge. The Shock Wave is expensive and slow to
build but well worth the wait.
80
TYPE
TRACKED
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
SEISMIC WAVE
RANGE
SPECIAL
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
FREEDOM GUARD UNITS
Guardian- Known as the Guardians of Order in the

peaceful era before the Freedom Guard uprising, the
basic Imperium infantry unit is armed with a laser rifle
and wears a powered armour suit.
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
LASER RIFLE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Bion- A fearless mechanical killer, the Bion is armoured

like a walking tank. This one-man cyborg death squad
carries a massive plasma rifle, and can fire at both ground
and air units.
TYPE
WALKER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
PLASMA RIFLE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
Exterminator- These infantry units are equipped with antigravity generators which allow them to hover over water.
As infantry, they can also move over steep gradients that
are generally inaccessible to hover vehicles. Exterminators
are armed with chemical grenades that dissolve metal.
They are very effective at attacking armour.
TYPE
HOVER/WALKER
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
CHEMICAL GRENADE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
IMPERIUM UNITS
81
Amper- The Imperiums version of first aid, this lunatic

cyborg fires darts into dying infantry units that boost the
targets health to full, but leave the unit poisoned so that
its health will steadily decrease until the unit dies. The
Amper can also be used as an offensive weapon, bringing
slow death to enemy infantry.
TYPE
HOVER
SPEED
MEDIUM
TYPE
WALKER
WEAPON
PLASMA CANNON
SPEED
SLOW
RANGE
MEDIUM
WEAPON
SERUM
ARMOUR
HEAVY
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Hostage Taker- This diabolical Imperium vehicle snatches

infantry units, lobotomises them and converts them into
Suicide Zombies. Shortly after the infantry unit is run over
and captured, it is released, now under the players control
and with a high-powered explosive strapped to its back.
Enjoy.
Tachion Tank- The Tachion Tank is the largest, most

heavily armed beast on the battlefield. Its a ponderous
mountain of havoc that has the last word in any
argument. When the enemy does manage to overpower
one of these juggernaughts, it has the ability to selfdestruct and take any nearby units down with it.
TYPE
HOVER
SPEED
MEDIUM
TYPE
WHEELED
WEAPON
TACHION CANNON
SPEED
MEDIUM
RANGE
LONG
WEAPON
VIVISECTOR
ARMOUR
VERY HEAVY
RANGE
CONTACT
ARMOUR
HEAVY
Scout Runner- This fast moving hover vehicle is armed

with a laser and is fairly effective against both infantry
and armour. However, it is not very sturdy, and is used
primarily for front line reconnaissance.
Shredder- A huge, hovering nightmare, the Shredder tears

through infantry like a runaway saw. Although it has no
ranged attack, it is fast, heavily armoured, and inflicts
severe damage on any infantry units foolish enough to get
near it.
TYPE
HOVER
HOVER
SPEED
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
WEAPON
BLADES
LASER CANNON
RANGE
CONTACT
RANGE
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
TYPE
SPEED
WEAPON
82
Plasma Tank- Backbone of the Imperium war effort, the

Plasma Tank is tough and packs a formidable plasma
cannon. The Imperium overruns the enemy with endless
waves of these ruinous machines.
IMPERIUM UNITS
IMPERIUM UNITS
83
S.C.A.R.A.B. (Self Contained Armoured Ranged Artillery

Battery)- This long range weapon fires a fragmenting
projectile that breaks into numerous burning particles
over its target. This vehicle is slow and lightly armoured,
but it can enclose itself in a retractable armoured
exoskeleton when it gets in trouble. The unit cannot fire
while this armour is engaged, but can weather a
considerable beating while waiting for reinforcements.
TYPE
HOVER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
ARTILLERY
RANGE
EXTREME
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
Invader Troop Transport- Armed with a laser rifle, the

Troop Transport can carry up to five infantry units at a
time.
TYPE
FLYER
SPEED
MEDIUM
WEAPON
NONE
RANGE
N/A
ARMOUR
LIGHT
Cyclone- The Cyclone embodies the core of the Imperium

aerial force. The unit is fairly rugged and can engage both
air and ground units. However, the Cyclones neutron
cannon has a limited energy source and must recharge at
the Re-Arming Deck.
TYPE
FLYER
SPEED
FAST
WEAPON
NEUTRON CANNON
TYPE
HOVER
RANGE
MEDIUM
SPEED
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
WEAPON
LASER RIFLE
RANGE
SHORT
ARMOUR
MEDIUM
M.A.D. (Mobile Air Defence)- The M.A.D. fires bladed orbs

at enemy air units. Like the Freedom Guard Flak Jack, it
cannot fire at ground units and should be defended
against land attack.
84
Recon Drone- This small unmanned drone is lightly

armoured and has no offensive capability. It is used solely
to scout enemy targets.
Sky Fortress- Death from above. This floating platform of

wreckage houses the largest plasma cannon known to
humanity. Its slow to recharge but makes a lasting
impact.
TYPE
FLYER
SPEED
SLOW
WEAPON
PULSE PLASMA CANNON
TYPE
HOVER
RANGE
MEDIUM
SPEED
MEDIUM
ARMOUR
HEAVY
WEAPON
BLADED ORBS
RANGE
LONG
ARMOUR
LIGHT
IMPERIUM UNITS
IMPERIUM UNITS
85
ven the lowliest of beasts knows order.

Order is the purpose of intellect.
Imperium Ruling Director Grote Reber
BUILDINGS
COMMON BUILDINGS
Water Launch Pad- Freighters deliver their water cargo

to the Water Launch Pad, where it is shipped off
planet and sold. The Water Launch Pad comes with a
Freighter.
Headquarters- The HQ is the fundamental building in a

base. It produces Construction Rigs, which allow the
building of other structures, and provides the Minimap
view. The HQ can be upgraded twice to allow
production of advanced buildings and units.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Taelon Power Generator- These structures provide

power to all other buildings. Each Taelon Power
Generator holds a small amount of Taelon when
constructed. More Taelon can be added to increase
power output. The Power Generator comes with a
Freighter.
Training Facility- The Training Facility is where all
infantry units are trained. The building can be
upgraded once to allow production of advanced units.
Multiple Training Facilities reduce the amount of time
required to train infantry units.
Level 1
Level 2
Camera Tower- This structure provides extended line

of sight. Because of its height, the Camera Tower can
provide line of sight over some hills that other
buildings and units cannot see over.
88
COMMON BUILDINGS
89
Level 1
90
Assembly Plant- Vehicles

are produced in this
structure. Like the
Training Facility, the
Assembly Plant can be
upgraded once, and
multiple buildings allow
for faster production of
units.
Level 2
Re-arming Deck- The Sky Bike and Outrider, have

limited ammunition weapons that must be re-armed at
the Re-arming Deck. The structure can only outfit one
unit at a time, so multiple Re-arming Decks may be
needed to quickly re-arm a large number of air units.
Field Hospital- Damaged infantry units can be healed

at this building. Only one unit can be healed at a time.
Air Defence Site- These small structures provide an

effective stationary defence against aerial attack. The
Air Defence Sites rapid pulse laser will bring down any
air unit that lingers too long in its neighbourhood.
Repair Station- This facility repairs damaged vehicles

and flyers. Like the Field Hospital, the Repair Station
can repair only one unit at a time.
Bridges- Use these structures to span liquid barriers.
91
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
Laser Turret- This basic defensive structure provides

fortification against ground attacks.
Headquarters- The HQ is the fundamental building in a

base. It produces Construction Rigs, which allow the
building of other structures, and provides the Minimap
view. The HQ can be upgraded twice to allow
production of advanced buildings and units.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Heavy Rail Platform- Primarily an anti-armour

installation, the Heavy Rail Platform is armed with
multiple gatling rail cannons and makes short work of
vehicles that wander into its territory.
Training Facility- The Training Facility is where all

infantry units are trained. The building can be
upgraded once to allow production of advanced units.
Multiple Training Facilities reduce the amount of time
required to train infantry units.
Level 1
92
Phasing Facility- This

building is required for
all unit phasing
functions to be enabled.
If the structure is
destroyed, units lose the
ability to phase until
another Phasing Facility
is constructed. The
facility can be upgraded
to allow use of the
Phase Transport.
Level 2
Level 1
Level \2
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
93
Level 1
94
Assembly PlantVehicles are produced

in this structure. Like
the Training Facility, the
Assembly Plant can be
upgraded once, and
multiple buildings allow
for faster production of
units.
Level 2
Re-arming Deck- The Cyclone has a limited

ammunition weapon that must be re-armed at the Rearming Deck. The structure can only outfit one unit at
a time, so multiple Re-arming Decks may be needed to
quickly re-arm a large number of air units.
Field Hospital- Damaged infantry units can be healed

at this building. Only one unit can be healed at a time.
Air Defence Site- These small structures provide an

effective stationary defence against aerial attack. The
Air Defence Site fires bladed orbs at any air units in its
vicinity.
Repair Station- This facility repairs damaged vehicles

and flyers. Like the Field Hospital, the Repair Station
can repair only one unit at a time. You will be charged
for all repairs.
Bridges- Use these structures to span liquid barriers.
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
95
Plasma Turret- Useful for base defence, the Plasma

Turret discharges a plasma cannon at any enemy unit
within its range.
Rift Creator- This structure creates a void in space that

can be projected anywhere on the map. The Rift
Creator uses technology similar to the Temporal Gate,
but rather then moving units from one area to
another, it simply drags any unit or building in its
radius into nothingness. Once used, the Rift Creator
must recharge before it can be employed again.
Neutron Accelerator- This advanced defensive

structure fires a devastating blast of accelerated subatomic particles.
Temporal Gate- The Temporal Gate produces a portal

in the fabric of space that can transport up to three
units anywhere on the map. The effect is slow to
recharge but occurs continually once the building is
constructed. Units enter the Temporal Gate structure
and can then be transported when the gate is charged.
96
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
IMPERIUM BUILDINGS
97
Rift Creator
HQ (Level 3)
Advanced
Training
Facility
Air
Defence Site
Training
Facility
Re-Arming
Deck
Plasma Turret
Field Hospital
IMPERIUM BUILDING
PREREQUISITES
Camera Tower
Decoy
Buildings
Laser Turret
99
Neutron
Accelerator
Advanced
Assembly Plant
Repair Station
HQ (Level 2)
Decoy
Buildings
Temporal Gate
Assembly Plant
Decoy Buildings
Water Launch
Pad
Training
Facility
HQ (Level 1)
HQ (Level 2)
Field Hospital
Water Launch
Pad
Assembly Plant
Camera Tower
HQ (Level 1)
Phasing
Facility
Air Defence
Site
FREEDOM GUARD
BUILDING
PREREQUISITES
Heavy Rail
Platform
Advanced
Training
Facility
Re-Arming
Deck
Repair Station
Advanced
Assembly Plant
HQ (Level 3)
Phasing
Facility
(Level 2)
Taelon Power
Generator
Taelon Power
Generator
98
t is better that all should die than one

should live in slavery.
Perigil Ilacas, at his execution
CONSTRUCTION KIT
The Dark Reign Construction Kit allows you to create your
own game maps, as well as set mission objectives, assign
orders to units, set unit values, and develop Artificial
Intelligence Personalities for computer players. You can
launch the Construction Kit from the Dark Reign Main
menu.
MAKING A MAP
The first step in making a mission is laying out the terrain.

Left-click the Terrain button on the top of the screen.
There are a number of different tilesets you can use to
create your map. Each creates a different look for your
map. Choose a tileset with the arrow buttons in the Tileset
box. Now you can apply ground tiles to your map. Select
the tile you want by left clicking on one of the boxes in
the Tile box on the right side of the screen. The tile will
highlight to indicate it is selected. Left-click and hold on
the map and paint the tile on the map by moving the
cursor. You can change the shape of your paintbrush by
selecting one of the icons in the Paintbrush box. You can
also increase or decrease the size of the paintbrush with
the arrow buttons in the Paintbrush box. Use the In and
Out button in the Zoom box to move the map view closer
or farther away.
Every tile you lay down has an altitude. You can set the
altitude by left-clicking on one of the levels in the Altitude
box. Whatever tiles you place will then be at that altitude.
Keep in mind that elevation differences in your map affect
unit movement and line of sight. If you want to lay down
tiles without affecting altitude, left-click the Altitude
button. You can also turn off the Terrain button, which
allows you to change altitudes without affecting the
ground tiles you have already placed.
102
CONSTRUCTION KIT
Every tile has an outline, or mask. There are four available

masks, which you can select in the Mask box. The
differences in masks are visible only between two
different tiles. Some of the masks have jagged outlines
and are good for organic shapes. Others are more regular
and suited to making borders that appear man-made like
roads.
There are a number of slightly different variations of each
tile. If you lay down a large area of the same variation,
the pattern will repeat and look unnatural. Set the slider
in the tile variation box to R, and it will randomly place
one of the variations for each tile. You can also select a
certain variation with the slider. Using Random mode for
both Tile Variation and Mask is the easiest way to make a
natural looking map.
ELEVATION
There are two tiles in every tileset that are used to indicate
changes in altitude. These tiles are not available to you in
the Tile box. They are used only to mark elevations. When
you are finished making your map, go to the File menu
and press the Auto Ridge button. This will apply the
altitude change tiles to all changes in elevation that need
them. Dark Reign uses three levels of altitude change that
affect unit movement in different ways. Changes in
altitude of five levels or less are passable to all units and
are not indicated by a tile. Altitude changes of six to eight
levels cannot be crossed by hover units. Nine level
elevation changes are passable only to infantry and the
Spider Bike (and of course flying units, which are not
affected by terrain). It is important to use the Auto Rim
Elevations feature, as elevation changes will affect unit
movement whether they are properly designated or not. If
you do not mark elevation changes, players will be unable
to see where they can or cannot move on your map.
CONSTRUCTION KIT
103
OBJECTS
Each tileset has a number of objects such as plants and

rocks that you can put on the map to make it look more
realistic. Press the Objects button at the top of the screen,
and a menu of available objects will appear on the right
side of the screen. Left-click on an object to select it, then
left-click on the map to place that object.
The first two objects on the menu are the game resources,
so where you place them will determine how the map will
be played. For example, on a multiplayer map, if you do
not give all players fairly equal access to resources, then
some players may be severely handicapped when playing
that map.
begins. You can move buildings and units that you have
already placed on the map by left-clicking and holding on
the unit and then dragging to where you want it.
ORDERS, PATHS, MISSION

OBJECTIVES, & ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE PERSONALITIES
You can assign Orders and Paths to units you place on the
map, change unit and building variables, set custom
mission briefings and objectives, and design AI
Personalities for computer players. For details on these
functions, see the Readme.txt file on your Dark Reign CD.
When laying down objects on your map, keep in mind

that most have some tactical value. Units can hide behind
trees and rocks. Some objects are impassable, and can be
used to block off areas of the map. Scouts can only
morph into objects that are roughly the same size as the
unit, so Scouts would be unable to disguise themselves on
a map that had no objects of the right size.
BUILDINGS & UNITS
To place structures on your map, left-click on the

Buildings button at the top of the screen. A menu of
buildings will appear. Select the building you want and
which team it belongs to. You can have up to eight teams
on a multi-player map. For single player missions, assign
the players units and buildings to team one and the
computers to team two. Once you have the building
selected, left-click on the spot on the map where you want
the building to be placed. Units can be added to the map
in much the same way. Left-click on the Units button at
the top of the screen to bring up the Units menu. Select
the unit and its team and then place it on the map. Keep
in mind that you need only place the units that the player
or AI will start the mission with. Both computer and
human players will build their own units once the mission
104
CONSTRUCTION KIT
CONSTRUCTION KIT
105
CREDITS
CREDITS
DIRECTOR
WRITER
Josh Resnick
Robert Berger
PRODUCER
ADDITIONAL WRITING
Greg Borrud
Joseph Donaldson
Duane Powell
Jennifer Rama
David Stinnett
Greg Tsadilas
QA LEAD TESTER
James Mayeda
SEGUE/OUTRO MOVIE
Curtis Shenton
SHELL ART
Tim Hoffman
Larry Paolicelli
SKETCHES AND
STORYBOARDS
Brad Thornton
LEAD DESIGNER
Trey Watkins
ADDITIONAL SKETCHES
PROGRAMMER
Brad Werth
Equinoxe
LEAD PROGRAMMER
Dr. Ian Davis
SHELL PROGRAMMERS
James Anhalt
John Peck
ART DIRECTOR
Rodney Walden
ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMMING
ASSOCIATE
GAME DESIGNERS
Dan Kegel
Jeff Landers
Dominic Weber
Robert Berger
James Farley
Dave Osper
CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Ron Millar
ASSET MANAGER
Joseph Donaldson
PRODUCTION
COORDINATOR
2D ARTISTS
Franz Boehm
Chris Guzman
Michael Groark
Lateef Priester
Roger Walco
Rodney Walden
3D ARTIST
Paul Waggonner
Matthew Paul
TACTICS ENGINE
Henry Cheng
Andy Chung
Brian Heins
Anthony Phung
Aryeh Richmond
Sean Ro
Trey Watkins
INTRO MOVIE
Blur Studios
Ryan Berg
Steve Blackmon
Cat Chapman
Sam Gebhardt
Juan Granja
Tim Miller
Tim Montijo
Larry Paolicelli
Eric Pinkel
Auran
AURAN WEB
DESIGN/HELP DESK
Rachael Nixon
LEAD PROGRAMMERS
Mike Thomas
James Podesta
PROGRAMMERS
Gordon Moyes
Matthew Versluys
Craig Allsop
Michael Judd
Adam Iarossi
AUDIO
John Murphy
ART DIRECTOR
Jacob Hutson
3D ARTISTS
Lachlan Creagh
Shawn Eustace
Fiona Whipp
Jamie Lack
2D ARTIST
Brad Welch
Scott Gershin
Gregory J. Hainer
SOUND DESIGNERS
Bryan Celano
Bryan Bowen
Peter Zinda
Ron Hill
VOICE OVER
RECORDING
AND PROCESSING
Scott Gershin
Peter Zinda
CINEMATICS MIXING
Melissa Hofmann
ADDITIONAL
SOUND EFFECTS
AND ENGINEERING
Michael B. Schwartz
ORIGINAL
MUSICAL SCORE
Jeehun Hwang
ENGINE
CONFIGURATION
Tristan Mott
AUDIO SUPERVISOR
& SOUND DESIGN
CUT SCENE SCRIPTS
ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMMING
Carl Chimes
Andrew Payne
SOUND DESIGN
Soundelux Media Labs
ENGINE
DIRECTOR/TACTICS
ENGINE CONCEPT
Greg Lane
DIRECTOR OF CROSS
PRODUCTION
Nathalie Deschtres
ASSOCIATE QA
PROJECT LEAD
QUALITY ASSURANCE
TEST TEAM
Eric Baudoin
Chris Keim
Todd Komesu
Daniel Hagerty
Clay Retzer
John Sherwood
Kelly Wand
INSTALLER
PROGRAMMING
Eric Schmidt
INSTALLER ART
Jarett Farmer
HELP FILES
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER,
CROSS PRODUCTION
Adam Goldberg
PRODUCTION
COORDINATOR,
CROSS PRODUCTION
Tanya Martino
LOCALIZATION
CONSULTING
Daryl Pitts
Seth Grenald
SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT
INTERNATIONAL
Bob Dewar
MARKETING
DIRECTOR EUROPE
Janine Johnson
Ronnie Lane
VOICE-OVER TALENT
Kimberly Brooks
(Computer Voice)
Robert Berger
Greg Borrud
Stuart Calof
Joseph Donaldson
Brian Diggs
Hardy LeBel
Ron Millar
Josh Resnick
Reiner Schone
Jay Sosnicki
Mike Vaez
SALES
DIRECTOR EUROPE
John Burns
EUROPEAN
DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER
Simon Harris
MANAGING
DIRECTOR AUSTRALIA
John Watts
GENERAL MANAGER,
LATIN AMERICA
Ernie Maldonado
VIDEO PROCESSING
AND COMPRESSION
Localization Team
Chris Hepburn
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
ENGINE PRODUCER
Brendan Andrews
Tyler Scott
Seth Gerson
AV ASSISTANTS
Brian Bright
Kenny Ramirez
PRODUCTION
COORDINATORS
QA SENIOR
LEAD TESTER
Brian Diggs
Nicky Kerth
Nathalie Dove
ASSET LOCALIZATION
(GERMAN/FRENCH/
SPANISH/ITALIAN)
Frederic Journoud
Tricia McKinley
Janis Shea
Larry Wade
IDOC, Inc.
Marc Turndorf
106
CREDITS
CREDITS
107
AUDIO PRODUCTION
SUPERVISOR
(SPANISH)
Michael B. Schwartz
VOICE DIRECTOR
(GERMAN/FRENCH)
Charles De Vries
International Voice Localization
VOICE DIRECTOR
(SPANISH)
Nancy Mackenzie
Patricia Bolaos
Francisco Colmenero
Ral Aldana
Genaro Vsquez
Yamil Atala
Jessie Conde
Ral De La Fuente
Lurts Pedro Ayala
Lorenzo Ortiz
Ismael Mondragn
Francisco Colmenero
SOUND
ENGINEERING
(GERMAN/
FRENCH/SPANISH)
Bill Black
Big Fat Kitty Productions
Marketing,
Public Relations,
and Packaging
GAMES ANALYST
Eric Gewirtz
Brad Santos
SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT OF STUDIO
Alan Gershenfield
DIRECTOR OF
PRODUCTION
Scott Lahman
DIRECTOR OF QA
AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
Jim Summers
PRODUCT MANAGER
Michael Radiloff
QA MANAGER
David Arnspiger
PUBLICIST
French
Jamey Gottlieb
2ND DIRECTOR
Xavier Nathan
ASSOCIATE PRODUCT
MANAGER
John Heinecke
ASSISTANT TO
VOICE DIRECTOR
Veronique Colas
RECORDING STUDIO
SpringWest
RECORDING STUDIO
(SPANISH)
PACKAGING DESIGN
Erik Jensen
Cindy Whitlock
PACKAGING
ILLUSTRATION
Blur Studio
Jeff Wack
Grabaciones y Doblajes, S.A.

RECORDING ENGINEER
PACKAGING
COPYWRITER
Juan Hendo
Veronica Milito
VOICE TALENT
DOCUMENTATION
Corinne Lorain
Frank Bruynbroek
Mark Eckelberry
Christian Aubert
Xavier Nathan
Michael Rivera
Belinda M. Van Sickle
Spanish
Creative Affairs
SENIOR
CREATIVE EXECUTIVE
Christopher B. Hewish
VOICE TALENT
Victor F. Miffet
Arturo Mercado
Nora Gtirrez
Magdalena Questa
Mayleth Sierra
108
CREDITS
SENIOR GAMES
ANALYST
Jonathan Moses
SPECIAL THANKS
Bill Anker
John Baker
Kirsty Barker
Rick Baumgartner
Dion Brain
Bryant Bustamante
Matt Candler
Elizabeth Capps
Christian Casparian
Sarah Cigliano
Ed Clune
Steve Crane
Scott Culbertson
Eveline Cureteu
Julian Da Silva
Marci Ditter
Graham Edelsten
Kelly Egan
Maria Flagg
Judy Gates
Ashleigh Gibbs
Larry Goldberg
Ron Gould
Andrew Greening
Seth Grenald
Lieutenant Paul Hay
Molly Hinchey
Bob Jensen
Eric Johnson
Catheryn Kanuck
Brian Kelly
Bobby Kotick
Mark Lamia
Teresa Landgraff
Mitch Lasky
Maryanne Lataif
Lava Lounge
Suzette Lavine
Margaret Lawson
Leviticus
Ben LeRougetel
Howard Marks
Tanya Martino
Noel Maxam
Heather Maxwell
Mondo Media
Page Morris
Stephanie O'Malley
Christine Pavlina
Barry Plaga
Jean Powell
Samantha Resnick
Matt Rosenburg
Kelly Rogers
George Rose
Martin Sansing
Ron Scott
Kim Shattuck
David Silverman
Dan Stanfill
David Vonderhaar
Denise Walsh
William Westwater
Steven White
Steve Willsey
Dr. Mark Woodhouse
WAR ROOM
Rachel Lewis
William Liu
Jorge Maldonado
Michael Malone
Thomas Mix
John Nguyen
David Rodecker
Clifton Shaw
Conan Teng
EXTERNAL PLAY
BALANCERS
Mark Agustin
Kevin Amico
Rigel Anderson
Deidre Anderson
Jean-Ray Arseneau
Jon Bachrach
Marc Baime
Nicholas Bali
Kenneth "K.C." Baltz
David Barron
Robert Berger
Andrew Bohne
Chad Bordwell
Michael Brinton
Joey Buck
Jean-Claude "Frenchie" Bureau
Curt Burgess
Stuart Calof
Michele Case
Robert Cashman
Chris Chao
Myron Chen
John Chiu
Anne Marie Clogston
Dave Cohen
Kevin Cohen
Terry Cohen
Kevin Combs
Justin Cooney
Doug Cronkhite
Rick Culler Jr.
Justin Dahlke
Sean Daniels
Todd Dayton
Maxwell DeChant
Kevin Dorsey
Paul Dunlap
Michael Dwiel
Craig Edrington
Steve Elwell
Mark Falk
Jason Feosback
Lance Fernald
Richard Fielder
Steve Flowers
Brian Gartland
Chuck Geary
Shemek Gedek
Rich Gerow
Eric Gewirtz
Michael Gibson
Brian Grapatin
Matthew Gray
John Hamilton
Philip Hansen
Pany Haritatos
Brian Harris
John Harris
Jonathan Hemingway
Jason Henderson
Tom Hepner
Toby Herman
Joel Hills
Randal Hoekstra
Chris Huber
Bill Hutchison
John Ireton
Nic Jansma
Michael Patrick Johnson
Mark Kaelin
Ted Kao
Scott Kasai
Michael Kelly
Adam Kemp
Kenneth Kil
Eddie Klaynberg
Xaeriq Knight
Brad Kohn
Jesse Labrocca
Gary Lapidus
Tom Laverty
Howard Lee
Paul Lee
Jacqueline Lee
Jaret Lehman
Bruce LeSourd
Matthew Lewis
Larry Lieb
Charles Little
Yi Liu
Peter Lolley
Shawn Lovill
Woody Lovill
Derek Lung
Paul Main
David Mank
Irek Markowski
Robert Mason
Karl Mathias
Michael McCart
Gary McCoy
Brad McGraw
Sean McKay
Richard Mi
Eric Michard
Scott Musack
Justin Nafziger
Juan (Giovanni) Negron
Vinh Nguyen
Dean O'Donnel
Karen Oettel
Jared Ong
Richard Payne
Gary Peifer
Alexander Pelton
Ron Pepper
Mike Perla
CREDITS
109
Hoang Pham
Fred Philipp
Roderick Pommier
Alan Precourt
Tony Price
Lonnie Radford
Raevyn Ralphs
Marc Reissig
John Rekalske
David Rekalske
Mark Richards
Tim Richardson
Geoffrey Richcreek
Dan Rodrigues
Joe Ruffolo
Brant Rusch
Todd Sampson
Thevin Sattayatam
Bret Schnepf
Matt Schreiner
Bob Selby
Andy Serwatuk
Joe Shackelford
John Shackleton
Jeff Shaffer
Takeshi Shimamura
Jee Shin
Nathan Shnidman
Carl Sipp
Martin Sleeman
Marc Smith
Dakota Smith
Ryan Smolar
David SooHoo
Brent Southard
Andrew Stein
Jeff Sterck
Matt Stipes
Eric Strandberg
Leo Sutedja
Kevin Swisher
Jeff Sylvan
Dave Thomas
Andy Trapani
Chris Umali
Jack Utley
Aaron Vanek
Joel Vinyard
Brian Wade
Justin Wahlstrom
Yuzo Watanabe
Alan Wexelblat
Scott Wilkins
Todd Wilson
Timothy Wilson
110
CREDITS
Malik Woods
David Wright
John Yan
Mike Zemina
Eric Zolnowski
Jeffrey Zwelling
Jay Adams
Cory Aiken
Anthony Anzalone
Brian Bartlow
Brian Bates
Steven Beigelmacher
Robert Broglia
Brian Brushwood
Marko Buric
Terry Carl, Jr.
John Chapman
Rob Contaldi
Larry Cooper
Aaron Corcoran
Greg Crowder
Bobby Danforth
Mike Darling
Brian Decker
David Drell
Matt Duncan
Stephen Farquhar
Steven Ferreira
Brian Fisher
Jason Gentry
Joe Giddings
John Gingrich
Gary Gong
Jeff Graham
Daniel Grant
Mark Greenberg
Andy Greening
Antonia Harris
Matt Holmes
Lei Hu
David Isenor
Robert Jansen
Christopher Johnson
Darren Jones
William Jordan
Eric Junker
John Karcz
Wayne King
Randal Kinley
Deon Knecht
Eric Kristoff
Brandon LaGrange
Jon Lambert
Stanley Law
Dennis Lee
Mitch Leon
Guy Link
Cris Litvin
Michael Mancini
Todd Manion
Bryan Marshall
James McCutcheon
David Miller
Patrick Neil
Jonathan Nelson
Matt Newman
Danny Osborne
Chris Parson
Steven E. Petty
Jon Robben
Randy Rose
Douglas Roy
Kevin Saba
Dylan Savage
Steven Schulte
Michael Siegel
Joe Spina
Jonathan Taggart
Brian Taylor
Don Tulloch
Victor Vergara
Nick Vertodoulos
Todd Wagner
Nicole Williams
Alexander Wills
BASED ON
DESIGN CREATED BY
Greg Borrud
Chris Hewish
Josh Resnick
Trey Watkins
BASED ON TECHNOLOGY
CREATED BY
Auran
SOFTWARE LICENSSE AGREEMENT
111

Dark Reign Manual

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For centuries man has viewed the universe

BASIC MOVEMENT & COMBAT

SELECTING & MOVING UNITS

TARGETING & ATTACKING

LINE OF SIGHT & THE FOG OF WAR

FUNDING YOUR WAR MACHINE

POWER UP/POWER DOWN

SPECIAL ATTACKS & MANOEUVRES

Attack without Moving

INTERNET & LAN

MINIMUM INTERNET REQUIREMENTS

SELECTING AN INTERNET SERVER

FEATURES & COMMS MENU

FREEDOM GUARD UNITS

FREEDOM GUARD BUILDINGS

BUILDINGS & UNITS

ORDERS, PATHS, OBJECTIVES, & AI

SERIAL/NULL MODEM GAME

UNIT MOVEMENT TYPES

SETTING UP AND LAUNCHING

INSTALLING DARK REIGN

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR

A 100% Windows 95-compatible computer system (including

Windows 95 operating system (English Language Version)

Processor Type: Pentium 90 MHz

Hard disk drive with 110 MB of uncompressed space

16 bit colour (640 x 480) VLB or PCI video card with 1 MB

100% Microsoft-compatible mouse

100% Sound Blaster-compatible sound card

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

INSTALLING DARK REIGN

Please make sure your computer system is 100% Windows 95-compatible.

Right-click on the Dark Reign CD icon and select Help.

From the title screen, click on More and then Help.

After installation, from the Start menu, select Programs/Dark

Double-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop or right-click

Select the Refresh option located in the View pull-down menu.

Double-click on the Dark Reign CD icon in the window or right-click

Before installing, close all other applications. Also make sure

Now you can run Dark Reign by choosing Programs/Dark

INSTALLING DARK REIGN

a. Open the Windows 95 Control Panel folder and double-click on

INSTALLING DARK REIGN

ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You may have insufficient hard disk space for the

This problem may be caused by lost clusters on the

Make sure your system meets the minimum

ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Make sure your computer has a minimum of 16

Make sure you are using Windows 95 with the

Make sure you have a 100% Windows 95 (Sound

Make sure your speakers are plugged in correctly

Make sure you are using the latest Windows 95

Make sure your audio card is properly installed

Make sure you are running Dark Reign on a

Make sure you have no other applications running

ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

man with only the humblest of means