Anyone know how to play Foundation?

[Steve]

I have just bought Foundation Gold from Vesalia:


http://www.vesalia.de/e_foundationgold.htm

I have spent the past week trying to work out how to play the damn game but still can't get past level 1. lol. I know the basics about how to build houses and stuff but I can't seem to make enough resources. Should I only build what I need to complete the mission? Help!

Note: I have read the html manual included with the CD but its not very helpful.

[Harry]

I have played only the directors cut, i hope the gameplay is the same.

You have to chose your first buildings very carefully, you need a self-sustained resources cycle. Usually I chose to build a mine and a pump house first, then a foresters hut and a refinery, then a farm house. Mid-term buildings are a laboratory, peasants hut and barracks. If you have these you can build a bakery and brewery. I postpone the military buildings as much as I can. Build everything as closely together as you can, reducing the length your carrying men need to walk. But leave a place free for bakery and brewery between hq and farmhouses.
You must look regularly into your houses if they have at least one resource they need, if not, send a carrying man to replenish.
In the levels with multiple opponents I try to defeat resp. reduce one enemy right at the start. Attack only with all of your soldiers, and send single soldiers back to your territory when they have about half damage. Retreat if you have fewer than a dozen soldiers left.
I need usually 20 h to complete a level, the game develops very slowly. Good luck!

[Steve]

Thanks for the reply. Foundation Gold is simply the Directors Cut and Undiscovered Lands combined together on one disc. So gameplay is definitely the same.

Thanks for the tips but you have put me off slightly... 20 hours to complete a level?? I really hope you mean 20 minutes!