Basic Training

**Welcome, Commander!**

There's a lot to get unpacked, so let's get started:

## **What is Mud And Blood?**

Mud and Blood is a top down side-scrolling RTS where you control a section of 6 American soldiers. This latest game is a part of a legacy going back 12 years. The battlefield is a dangerous place and the Germans are ready for you. You have air support? That's nice, so do they. Artillery? Yep. Grenades and Flamethrowers? They have more. Armor and mechanized support? In spades. Experienced and skilled soldiers? They have the edge at the start, but it's up to YOU to make it happen.

#### Urb

Urb is the dev for the Mud and Blood series. He's active on the MnB Discord.

## Game Modes

Currently, there are two main game modes: **Campaign** (sometimes called offense) and **Classic** (or defense).

### Campaign

In Campaign, you'll join men of C Company, 116th Regiment, 29th Division as they fight their way through France and into the heart of Germany, for 330 days. You'll maneuver your squad to the end line of the map as heroes are born and are lost every day, from the beaches of Normandy to the banks of the Elbe.

##### Winning/Losing Conditions

If you move all your troops across the end line of the map, you'll win. As long as some troops make it, you'll be fine. However, if you're routinely losing more than half your squad, you may want to rethink your tactics.

If all of your men are dead or critically injured, you have lost and will be shown a "Squad Lost" screen. If you move your troops back across the start line, you will be shown a "Retreat" screen. In both cases, you'll have to try again. With retreats, however, you'll have the same men, whereas if you lose your squad they'll all be replaced with new recruits.

### Classic

In Classic, you'll hold out against wave after endless of Germans, determined to overrun your position by whatever means necessary, just like the old days of MnB 2. You'll receive Tactical Points (TP) that you can spend on weapons, reinforcements, radio procedures, buildings, and even tanks.

##### Winning/Losing Conditions

The waves of Germans never stop. Your men, try as they might, can only slow the hordes. If 10 Germans make it past your lines, or all of your men are dead, the game will end. If you hold out for more than 50 waves, you're doing alright.

## Game Mechanics

*A full list of mechanics can be found here.*

### Basic Combat Mechanics

#### Cover

Some objects like ruins, ditches, or bunkers can shield your men.

#### Line of Sight

Your men can't be seen or shot at if they're behind buildings or rocks, or in trees.

#### Range

Your weapons can only shoot so far, normally less than a screen length.

#### Status

Your men won't always be ready to fight; they might be stunned or their gun might be jammed.

### Vital Intel

#### Action cycle

The hidden master of the game. It controls aiming, reloading, spotting, panicking, etc.

#### Battle Conditions

Everything from the overall strategic situation to the coffee your men didn't have can affect what happens out there.

#### Profile

Your profile contains your rank, ribbons you've earned, and Skill cards.

#### Commander Skills

Those skill cards let you call up a variety of support options, everything from a barrage of Willie Pete to a B-17 carpet bombing run.

### Fun Things

#### Explosives

Things that go boom, from grenades to panzerfausts to 500 lb bombs.

#### Fire

Things burn; Trees, Molotov cocktails, soldiers. Remember to bring extinguishers.

#### Counter-attacks

If you wait around too long and the Krauts sense weakness, they will try to overwhelm your position. You've been warned: Goldbricking isn't allowed under Gen. Gerhardt.

## Controls

Mud and Blood: Steam is a left-to-right side scrolling game, as such here are some controls: