Guns Of Fort Defiance (Apple II, CBM Pet, Atari 8-Bit and TRS-80, Cassette) Avalon Hill - 1981 USA, Canada Release

From Eli's Software Encyclopedia
Guns Of Fort Defiance
Product ID AVALN0057
Platform(s) Apple II, CBM Pet, Atari 8-Bit and TRS-80
Packaging Retail Box
Media Cassette
Copyright date 1981
Publisher(s) Avalon Hill
Category(s) Entertainment, Simulation, Wargame, Napoleonic Wargame
Country of Origin United States of America

Description from the packaging.

From your elevated position in the watchtower you observe the enemy in the distance organizing for the assault. As they begin to advance toward you briskly bark down orders for your gunners to ready the cannon.

The date is 8 November 1812: Fort Defiance is a half-completed stockade, blocking the path of an invading army. Your artillery piece guards the weakest point in the fort's defenses: a large gap in the still unfinished stockade wall. Your performance here will determine whether the fort will stand or fall.

The enemy may attack with infantry, cavalry or artillery of their own. However, the narrow path they must follow through the forest to reach your side of the fort will usually limit them to attacking with one company or howitzer at a time. A further point in your favor is that the attackers will have to cross over 500 yards of open ground to reach the fort from the edge of the woods. You have plenty of ammunition, too, including some of the new spherical case shot- tricky stuff to use, but very effective when it works right.

Your biggest problem may be your gunners- local militiamen whom you have given only a few days hasty training. They are liable to run for cover if an enemy soldier or shellburst comes too near.

The game puts you in command of a Napoleonic era artillery piece and its crew attempting to repel a series of attacks by infantry, cavalry or artillery. Not just another "shooting gallery" to test your reflexes, this game requires you to master the "gunner's art" as practiced in the early 19th century. As your crew goes through the steps of the actual drill involved in loading and firing, you will have to determine

  • a type of ammunition appropriate for the target
  • the correct fuse length for shell or spherical case
  • the elevation adjustment corresponding to the range for direct or rolling fire
  • the deflection needed to put each shot where it will do the most good

Multiple levels of challenge are provided by a handicapping system which ensures that every attack which is repelled will be followed by another, more determined effort. High handicaps can produce more complicated multiple-wave and combined arms attacks with a greater variety of targets and problems for the defender.

System Requirements

Atari 8-Bit
Required RAM 32K
Apple II
Required RAM 48K
CBM Pet
Required RAM 16K
TRS-80
Required RAM 16K

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