Empire Reborn Imperial Officers' Manual

(Note: This chapter is geared at commanding officers of the Imperial Navy and Imperial Army. Officers not in command of units are not required to review this chapter).

Overview

Reviewing pilot files is a simple process, if one knows of the common errors that can arise during review...

Since any officer can utilise any supported game (regardless of their primary platform), it is important that all commanding officers know how to correctly process mission files for each. This chapter will provide the required knowledge.

Reviewing TFR Files

All GE custom TIE Fighter missions overwrite the Battle 1 slot and nothing else... Upon opening the TFR (it is recommended that the GE Pilot Viewer be used for this purpose), or within the TIE Fighter game itself, make sure that sections other than 'Battle 1' are displaying scores of zero. Pilot files with more than one Simulation flown on them are not eligible for credit.

If the TFR is for a several-mission battle, add up the individual mission scores with a calculator as a second-check if your editor does not do so automatically. Compare this number to the total score on the TFR.

Ultimately, if the total of all scores for missions in Battle 1 equals the total score for the TFR, prepare a Flight Performance Report (FPR), as detailed in Mission Completions.

Reviewing XvT/BoP PLT Files

Nearly all GE XvT and BoP custom missions will be installed into the Imperial Single-Player Training section of their respective game. Regardless of whether the original mission was designed for XvT or BoP, a pilot should always submit their XvT pilot file (*.plt), and never their BoP pilot file (*.pl2). (Because the Imperial Single-Player Training section exists in both games, the scores obtained there get "mirrored" across both files.) Always sending in the PLT ensures the file can be opened in any XvT pilot editor, and can be reviewed by a commander who does not own BoP.

The critical difference between reviewing TFRs and PLTs is that the total score of a PLT cannot be used as the total score on a Flight Performance Report, even for one-mission battles! XvT increases the total score each time a mission is flown. If a pilot first fails a mission with a score of 5000, and then completes it with 10000 on their second try, the PLT displays a total score of 15000, but 10000 is the correct 'Total Score' for the FPR. Using the PLT's total score will result in erroneous High Score reports.

It is recommended that the GE Pilot Viewer be used to review the file, though it may also be done within the game.

To review a PLT, open the file, switch to 'Imperial' alignment and then view 'Mission Achievements'. You should see "Best Score" & "Best Time" columns holding one entry for each mission in the battle, and nothing else. Pilot files with more than one Simulation flown on them are not eligible for credit.

All listed mission scores should generally be underneath the Imperial Single-Player Training heading. Also, all missions must have adequate performance or better or the pilot may not obtain credit! Reject a pilot file with a reprimand or no rating plaque on any mission (even if scores are present, the pilot has failed to complete his objectives).

Also note that the names of the missions you see displayed probably won't correspond to the name of the battle you are reviewing. Regardless of name, the first score corresponds to the first mission of the battle that was flown, the second score to mission 2, etc. (If you are using an editor from the Central Imperial File Database, the same applies once you're viewing the Imperial Single-Player Training section. The first training mission -- Gunnery Training -- is actually the score of Mission 1, the second training mission -- Proton Torpedoes -- is that of Mission 2, etc.)

If the pilot file is consistent with the above criteria, prepare a Flight Performance Report (FPR), as detailed in Mission Completions.

Reviewing XWA PLT Files

Nearly all GE XWA custom missions will be installed into the mission #55 slot, which follows the XWA Campaign "Battle of Endor" missions. A pilot should always submit their XWA pilot file (*.plt), using the one that is provided in the mission. (Because the Office of Tactical Co-ordination prepares a special pilot file to allow completion of the custom mission without needing to fly the single-player campaign.)

The critical difference between reviewing TFRs and PLTs is that the total score of a PLT cannot be used as the total score on a Flight Performance Report, even for one-mission battles! XWA increases the total score each time a mission is flown. If a pilot first fails a mission with a score of 5000, and then completes it with 10000 on their second try, the PLT displays a total score of 15000, but 10000 is the correct 'Total Score' for the FPR. Using the PLT's total score will result in erroneous High Score reports.

Pilot files with more than one Simulation flown on them are not eligible for credit.

It is recommended that the GE Pilot Viewer be used to review the file.

Also note that the names of the missions you see displayed probably will not correspond to the name of the battle you are reviewing. Regardless of name, the first score corresponds to the first mission of the battle that was flown, the second score to mission 2, etc.

If the pilot file is consistent with the above criteria, prepare a Flight Performance Report (FPR), as detailed in Mission Completions.

Reviewing GB Screenshots

A GB screenshot should clearly display the total score for the mission completed. Verify that the mission was a victory for the Empire; credit is not granted for a mission that was unsuccessful. Inspect the file for signs of image manipulation.

If the pilot file passes the above criteria, prepare a Flight Performance Report (FPR), as detailed in Mission Completions.

Reviewing Empire at War Screenshots

An EaW Screenshot does not explicitly tell you the score of the mission. The score must be calculated by the reviewing officer before it is processed. It is highly recommended that the GE Pilot Viewer be used to review the file, since this program will perform the calculations; all that the reviewer needs to do is input the data. Verify that the mission was a victory for the Empire; credit is not granted for a mission that was unsuccessful. Inspect the file for signs of image manipulation.