Cease The Ships

Introduction

Welcome to Cease the Ships! We are thrilled to have you embark on this nautical adventure. This manual is designed to help you navigate through the game with ease, understand its intricate mechanics, and fully immerse yourself in the strategic challenges that await. Whether you're defending your flagship or launching a daring offensive, this guide will provide you with the knowledge you need to succeed. Prepare to dive deep into the world of naval warfare, master your ship pieces, and enjoy every moment of your adventure in "Cease the Ships."

Game Overview

Cease the Ships is a captivating turn-based board game set on the vast, unpredictable ocean. In this strategic maritime adventure, players take on the role of a Commander, a skilled tactician leading ship pieces to victory. The mission is to outmaneuver, outthink, and overpower opponents by capturing their flagship while protecting your own.

The game offers both Player vs. Player and Player vs. Environment modes, with the latter featuring three difficulty levels: Easy, Moderate, and Hard. Each ship piece has unique attributes and abilities, essential for balancing offense and defense in your strategy.

Adding to the challenge, Cease the Ships includes a features called Calamities and Weather System, which can act as either an advantage or a disadvantage to both players, introducing unpredictable twists to the game. The ocean grid serves as the battlefield where players make strategic moves each turn, positioning ships and launching attacks to control the tides of battle.

Installation Instructions

To get started with Cease the Ships, follow these simple steps to download and install the game on your device. Before you begin, ensure that your device meets the following recommended system requirements for optimal performance.

Recommended System Requirements

• Platform: Mobile
• Operating System: Android 12, Android 13, or OxygenOS 14.0
• RAM: 4.0 GB, 8.0 GB, or 12.0 GB
• Processor: Snapdragon 450 (14nm), Snapdragon 732G Mobile Platform Octa-core (Max 2.30GHz), or Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa-core
• Storage: 64 GB and above
• Language: English

Step 1: Search and Download

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. In the search bar at the top, type "Cease the Ships" and press Enter.
3. Look for the game in the search results, identified by its official icon and name.
4. Tap on the Cease the Ships listing to open the game's page.
5. Click the "Install" button to begin downloading the game. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth download.

Step 2: Install the Game

1. Once the download is complete, tap the "Open" button that appears on the Google Play Store page or find the downloaded file in your notification bar.
2. Follow the on-screen installation instructions. You may need to grant certain permissions for the game to function correctly.
3. Wait for the installation process to complete. This may take a few moments, depending on your device's performance.

Step 3: Launch the Game

1. After installation, find the Cease the Ships icon on your home screen or in your app drawer.
2. Tap the Cease the Ships icon to launch the game.
3. Enjoy navigating the seas and commanding your game pieces as you dive into the strategic world of Cease the Ships!

Getting Started

Learn the basics to start playing Cease the Ships and dive into the strategic depths of naval warfare.

Launching the Game

1. Launch Cease the Ships from your home screen or app drawer.

Main Menu

You will be directed to the main menu. Here, you will find several options:

• Deploy: Start a new game and enter the gameplay.
• Load Game: Access and continue your saved games.
• How to Play: View tutorials and learn the game mechanics.
• Quit: Exit to the main menu or close the game.

Additionally, you can click the Music Icon on the top right of the screen to turn it on/off as well as the Settings icon to adjust the sound effects and background music to your preferences.

Starting a Game: Deploy

1. Click the Deploy button to begin setting up a new game.
2. In the Deployment Settings, select your preferred game options:
   • Avatar: Choose your preferred Game Avatar and put your desired name.
   • Handicap: Adjust the difficulty or any advantages/disadvantages for players.
     
   • Preferred Color of Game Pieces: Choose your desired color for your game pieces.
     
   • Game Timer: Choose the duration of the game.
3. Once you have configured all settings, click the Deploy button to start the game.
4. Enjoy the strategic gameplay and remember: Protect your Flagship at all costs!

Controls and Interface

Understanding the controls and interface elements of Cease the Ships is essential for smooth and efficient gameplay. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the game:

Main Menu Controls

• Retreat Button: Tap the back button to return to the previous menu or exit the current screen.
• Deploy Button: Start a new game and enter the main gameplay.
• Load Game: Browse and play your saved games.
• How to Play: Access tutorials and learn about game mechanics.
• Settings: Adjust background music, sound effects, and other game preferences.
• About: View information about the game and its developers.

In-Game Controls

• Move Ship: Tap and drag the ship to the desired grid location. Ensure that the movement complies with the game's mechanics and rules.
• Destroy: Select your ship, then tap and drag to target an enemy ship for attack.
• Undo Buttons: Tap to undo your last move or action if you need to make changes.
• Avatar Buttons: Players can access the Destroyed Ships, Game Logs, Game Phases, Prefabs, and In-game Settings.

Additional Interface Elements

• Weather System Indicator: Tells what weather is present in the game.
• Game Timer: Displays the time remaining for each turn. Make sure to complete your moves within the allotted time.

Game Modes

Cease the Ships offers engaging game modes to enhance your experience. Explore the available options and choose the mode that best suits your playstyle:

Battle Mode

Cease the Ships features two Battle Modes: Player vs. Player and Player vs. Environment.

• Player vs. Player: This mode allows two players to compete against each other turn-by-turn, testing their skills and strategies directly.
• Player vs. Environment: In this mode, players can choose from three difficulty levels—Easy, Moderate, or Hard. Each difficulty level consists of 10 distinct levels, providing a progressive challenge to enhance gameplay.

Characters

Understanding the various characters (ships) in Cease the Ships is essential for developing effective strategies and mastering the game. Each ship has unique movement and attack capabilities, as well as specific roles in your fleet. Here is a detailed overview of each:

Airplane Carrier

• A piece that can only move in an "L" shape that jumps on pieces. The Airplane Carrier has 3 skills that have 3 shared charges with a cooldown of 2 turns each charge. This ship has a value of 8.

• Skills:

• Skill 1: Strike that inflicts burn debuff on targeted enemy ships except light cruisers, submarines, and flagship that consumes 3 skill points upon usage.
• Skill 2: Plane Reconnaissance that reveals ships inside the smoked grid that consumes 4 skill points upon usage.
• Skill 3: Aerial Support that deploys aircrafts on a targeted area providing Aerial Support buff that gives allied ships immunization to debuffs for 2 turns that consumes 3 skill points upon usage.

Destroyer

• On the destroyer ship's first move, it can move 1 or 2 grids forward, backward, leftward, and rightward. If it was already moved, then it can only move 1 grid forward, backward, leftward, and rightward. This piece serves as a mixture of pawn movement in chess and games of the generals piece movement, capturing enemies one grid diagonally forward, to left or right. This ship has a value of 3.
• Skill: Targets a location anywhere on the board to deploy a smoke that can hide ally ships from the enemy that consume 4 skill points upon usage. The smoke lasts 3 turns of each player and only has 2 charges with a cooldown of 2 turns per charge.

Destroyer with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Just like a destroyer, a destroyer(ASW) can move 1 or 2 grids forward, backward, leftward, and rightward, capturing enemies one grid diagonally forward, left or right. This ship has a value of 4.
• Skill: It deploys a depth charge that gives enemies a revealed debuff, allowing any allied team to destroy other ships for a specified amount of turns that consume 4 skill points upon usage. Example, if a submarine is hit by the depth charge it can be destroyed by a destroyer or any ship that does not have anti-submarine warfare. The effect lasts 3 turns of each player and only has 2 charges with no cooldown.

Dockyard

• A dockyard is a non-movable game piece but is also an important piece in the game. Allowing the enemy flagship position itself on the dockyard will result in losing the game. It provides support to allied ships allowing them to cleanse all of the active debuffs and supply them with skill charges. The dockyard has 2 skills. This ship has a value of 15
• Skills:
  • Skill 1: Uses Repair ship skill removes enemy debuffs on allied ships

• Skill 2: Uses Resupply ship skill that provides charges to allied ships that resets their skill charges to its maximum value. Both of the skills consume.

Flagship

• Just like in chess, a flagship is similar to a king losing the flagship will result in losing the game. This ship has a value of 999.
• Skills: Uses Tactical Reposition that allows the Flagship to jump on a safe location. This skill can only be used once per game, consuming 10 skill points and has no cooldown.

Light Cruiser

• Moves as many squares as it likes forward or backward diagonally (as long as it is not being blocked). This ship has a value of 7.
• Skill: Deploys High Explosive (HE) Ammo Barrage that inflicts burn effects on affected ships that consume 3 skill points upon usage. Ships that have a burning effect cannot use their skills and crippled their movement by -1 grid for 2 turns. This skill only has 3 charges with a cooldown of 2 turns per charge.

Submarine

• Represents as the rook in chess and also a spy in games of the generals. The submarine can destroy a ship and can only be destroyed or located by a specific ship named Destroyer(ASW). This ship has a value of 12.
• Skill: It deploys a torpedo with a range of 2 grids front, back, left, or right. The torpedo moves 1 grid every turn towards the assigned direction that consume  6 skill points upon usage. Enemy or allied ships that are hit by the torpedo will receive a Flooding debuff. A flooding debuff will make a ship sink when it is not moved in 2 successive turns. The torpedo only has 2 charges and a cooldown of 3 turns per charge.

Strategies and Tips

Helpful tips to improve your gameplay.

• Defense is Key: Always prioritize defense to protect your game pieces, especially your Flagship. Be mindful of the movement and attack capabilities of your opponent's ships to avoid losing crucial pieces.
• Mind the Submarine: Non-ASW equipped ships cannot destroy submarines. Avoid attacking a submarine unless you have a ship equipped with ASW capabilities.
• Preserve Your Pieces: Avoid losing all your ships, as this can lead to defeat. Strategically use your ships and anticipate your opponent's moves to maintain a strong fleet.
• Adapt to Your Opponent: Pay close attention to your opponent's strategy and adapt accordingly. Flexibility and the ability to adjust your tactics can give you the upper hand in the game.
• Control the Board: Aim to control key areas of the board to restrict your opponent's movements and create opportunities for strategic maneuvers.
• Utilize ASW Ships: Use ASW-equipped ships effectively to counter submarines and protect your fleet from the attack of submarine.
• Plan Ahead: Think several moves ahead and anticipate possible outcomes. Develop a long-term strategy while remaining flexible to adapt to changing circumstances.

Troubleshooting

Solutions to common issues you might encounter

• Game Crashes:
  • Issue: The game crashes unexpectedly.
  • Solution: Ensure that your device meets the minimum system requirements for the game. Check for any updates for your device's operating system and the game itself. If the issue persists, try restarting your device and relaunching the game.
• Game Freezing:
  • Issue: The game freezes or becomes unresponsive.
  • Solution: Close any background applications that may be using a lot of resources. Ensure that your device has enough storage space and memory available to run the game smoothly. Restart the game and see if the issue is resolved.
• Game Lag:
  • Issue: The game is lagging or running slowly.
  • Solution: Close any unnecessary applications running in the background to free up resources. Lower the graphics settings in the game to improve performance. Ensure that your device is not overheating, as this can also cause lag. If the issue continues, consider upgrading your device or contacting the game's support team for advice.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, please contact our support team for further assistance. When contacting support, provide detailed information about the issue you are experiencing, including:

• Your device model and operating system version.
• A description of the problem and any error messages you have encountered.
• Steps you have already taken to try and resolve the issue.

Our support team is dedicated to helping you have the best possible experience with Cease the Ships and will respond as quickly as possible to address your concerns.

Credits and Acknowledgements

These individuals and entities played a crucial role in the development of Cease the Ships, contributing their skills, expertise, and support to bring the game to life.

Development Team

UI Designer: Aljohn Baguis

3D Modeler: Aljohn Baguis and John Vincent Peñafiel

Front-end and Back-end Programmer: Andrei Molina

Researcher: John Vincent Peñafiel

Business Analyst: John Vincent Peñafiel and Andrei Molina

Tester: John Vincent Peñafiel

Special Thanks

Comments and Suggestions: Prof. Era Marie Gannaban, Prof. Mary Ellaine Cervantes

Beta Testers and Supporters: To all our beta testers and supporters

Contact Information

For support and inquiries, please contact us at:

• Email: johnvincentpenafiel4@gmail.com

Connect with us!