MDickie Wrestling Empire v1.2.6 Instruction Manual

Wrestling Empire v1.2.6
Instruction Manual
Mat@MDickie.com

Menus

Any device with a touch-screen or a mouse can instantly access any option, pressing either side to change its value where possible. When using a controller, it is the directions that highlight an option and the or buttons change its value, with used to go back in most situations (although this command may be reversed on some controllers!). On screens with multiple tabs, use the L or R shoulder buttons to browse through those. Any controller can become the “host” at any moment with their input. Upon using a controller on PC menus, the mouse cursor will be hidden until you click to reclaim it.

Controllers
Any controller could be connected to a PC, so it’s important to help the game distinguish between Xbox and Playstation button maps. This screen appears automatically when you boot up with a controller for the first time, and your preferences will be saved, but you can always seek it out manually in the “Cast” tab of the options (or by simply pressing the C key at the titles). For best results, please ensure any controllers are connected BEFORE launching the program. Also, note that Windows 10 is assumed, so drivers older than Xbox One may not be recognized.

Resolutions

The game is designed to start fullscreen and high resolution by default, but you can switch to windowed mode at any moment by pressing CTRL + W (as well as the standard ALT + ENTER). Please note that resizing the window in real-time may have undesirable results, so consider exiting the current screen at the nearest opportunity (or restart the game entirely). After resizing the window, going fullscreen again will use that resolution – which may improve performance.

Casting
When setting up a match, there are some additional commands to be aware of. At the “Cast” screen, the + icon (or button) will add a random character to the scene whereas the – icon (or back button) will remove one. Tapping a character will allow you to replace them with another of your choice, whereas holding the command with a direction allows you to reposition them. Placing them inside the ring casts them as a wrestler, whereas placing them outside gives them a secondary role (such as an announcer in the top right!). Placing them to the rear center of the ring casts them as a referee. In team matches, placing wrestlers on either side of the center separates them into teams – otherwise, this distinction is irrelevant. Cast members can swap places instantly if they are dropped over another.

Scripting

When giving the cast a “Script” to perform, you can swipe from one character to another to specify who should start the conversation and who should be on the receiving end of it. On a controller, this can also be accomplished by pressing the or back buttons respectively.

Multiplayer

When you are ready to proceed at the “Play” screen, each controller can now use their directions to choose a character and press any button except back to commit to them (or click them directly). While there is still time, pressing the back button will cancel this choice (or opt-out of the match entirely if pressed again). Choosing a character before anybody else has even started browsing will assume that you are in a rush to start alone, so consider showing some restraint in multiplayer setups! Controllers may still join a match once it has started by pressing the + button to opt-in. They will then be randomly assigned a character that they can change by holding one shoulder trigger while pressing the other (see “Game Controls”). If you press the “Play” tab again, you can choose to watch the match instead of participating. In other modes, the control method you use to proceed will automatically be assigned – so only click through on PC if it is your intention to use keys.

Editing
On screens with a color palette, such as the costume or ring editor, navigating to the left (or clicking it directly) will change the color of the last material you interacted with. To make multiple changes more quickly, you can “Copy” and “Paste” the same color by pressing those commands (or the left/right shoulder triggers respectively). To preview your changes, you can swipe the model directly or use the right stick to rotate them. Each character has 3 separate outfits – so make sure you are editing the intended one by selecting it first from the “Costumes” home page. You can always return to a tab’s home page by selecting the tab again (or pressing the back button). If one costume should resemble another, you can clone the existing one by holding over the corresponding arrow (or either shoulder trigger).

Character Selection

At character selection screens, you highlight a name box once to investigate it and then press it again to choose it (where possible). Pressing either shoulder button (or clicking either side of the logo) allows you to instantly browse through all 11 rosters. You can re-rank the characters in a roster by pressing to change the criteria or click it directly – such as by name, health, contract, or any stat. Holding the select command over a character slot until they become unplugged allows them to swap places with another, which may help to organize your thoughts. The characters are also color-coded for this purpose, with green indicating a “Face”, purple indicating a “Heel”, pink indicating a female, and black indicating a non-wrestler. Notice that some of the characters are locked by default until you encounter them in career mode! The back arrow or button can be used to return to the previous screen at any time.

Universes
The game’s 350 characters across 11 different rosters are liable to get jumbled up from one career to another. In between careers, you can head to the “Universe” options to restore the default universe. Don’t worry about losing any characters you have unlocked, as this will be preserved separately as securely as any other records. You could also take this opportunity to restore a “backed up” universe of your own creation or back up a new one. It is better to get in the habit of doing so in between careers to reduce the amount of tidying up you feel you have to do! Note that you must press these options TWICE to avoid doing so by accident.

Game Controls

The game features an interactive “Training” process that you are advised to play through, but the basic controls are as follows for most controllers:

LEFT STICK / D-PAD = Movement (double tap to dash)

= Attack (on its own to aim low, with a direction to aim high).

= Grapple / Release

= Run (without a direction to charge ahead)

= Pick-Up / Drop (with a direction to throw)

RIGHT STICK = Taunt / Pin / Referee duties
SHOULDER BUTTONS = Switch focus (on a single Joy-Con the R button is used to Taunt) SHOULDER TRIGGERS = Hold one and press the other to control a different character + / – = Pause / Skip entrance

Keyboard:

CURSORS = Movement (double tap to dash)
A = Attack (on its own to aim low, with a direction to aim high).
S = Grapple
Z = Run (without a direction to charge ahead)
X = Pick-Up / Drop (with a direction to throw)
SPACE = Taunt / Pin / Referee duties
SHIFT / CTRL = Switch focus
TAB = Control different character (where possible)
P = Pause
ESC = Quit / Skip
CTRL + W = Toggle windowed mode

Combinations

– Press ATTACK and RUN together to launch a powerful attack.
– Press ATTACK or GRAPPLE while close to the ropes to launch a “springboard” attack (if “Agility” permits).
– Hold RUN while carrying furniture to avoid turning with it.
– Add a direction to FOCUS or PICK-UP commands to make your intentions clearer.
– Retreat from an opponent to increase your chances of blocking.

Grappling
– Press GRAPPLE again without a direction to release a hold (with a direction to whip them off).
– Press the ATTACK, RUN, or PICK-UP commands with any direction (or none) to execute the
corresponding move from the wrestler’s move set.
– Use the FOCUS command in a grapple to change your position (such as turning from front to back or vice versa).
– Use the TAUNT command to prematurely attempt your finisher (with a high likelihood of failure).
– Continue to use directions to move or turn wherever possible (such as getting to or from the ropes to break).
– When grabbing someone in the corner, you can override your default move by holding towards to lift them up or away to drag them out.

Final Destinations

Some moves offer you the chance to immediately transition into another hold or pin. In these instances, make sure you are holding the corresponding command before the movie ends. If your intention is to let the move end naturally, be sure to avoid pressing anything at the moment of impact.
Reversals
Transitions occur based on the “Skill” levels or size difference of those involved, and the direction each is struggling in. Holding the GRAPPLE command during an incoming attack makes it more likely that it will be parried or countered. Notice that you can also press GRAPPLE while on the ground to increase the chances of instantly rising up into a move!
Adrenaline
The thinner yellow meter under a wrestler’s health indicates how much positive momentum they have in the match. When this is filled they experience an “adrenaline rush”, where they temporarily become 10% stronger in every respect – and any move they trigger will either be a special finishing move or a stronger version of an existing move (such as a hold or flying attack).

Careers
After working at each promotion in the career mode, you unlock the privilege of inheriting the status of anyone, anywhere! Until then, you must always work your way up as a trainee with minimal attributes. Each week you are assigned a match that you must win to raise your profile and increase the chances of being offered a deal with a major promotion. You can browse through past or future dates with either a shoulder button (or by touching the calendar directly). Touching your profile (or holding the button) will allow you to preview that of your opponent wherever possible. You can keep an eye on every other wrestler in the universe by either studying the “Rosters” pages or the “Database”, which includes additional information such as promotion ratings and title histories. The control method you use to “Proceed” will automatically be assigned to the star character in a match, so only click it on PC if it is your intention to use keys.

Self Improvement
As long as your contract permits, you can change your “Gimmick” by choosing that option. Here you can pay to make changes to your appearance and move set, or approach other characters about joining you as a partner or manager. You may also pour your energy into improving your physical attributes if you find time in your schedule to do so. Even then, focusing on one area of physical development (such as getting stronger) could be to the detriment of others (such as being agile). It is also possible to improve naturally with ring experience. But if you choose to do no exercise at all, you may find that your body deteriorates over time – especially as you get older and gains take more energy to achieve! It is also harder to develop a stat the higher it goes, so it requires extra effort to truly excel.

– POPULARITY is how much of a reaction a wrestler gets from the crowd, which makes them more likely to experience an “adrenaline rush” or miraculous comebacks.
– STRENGTH indicates a wrestler’s ability to inflict damage and perform power moves.
– SKILL determines how likely they are to execute or counter moves successfully.
– AGILITY determines how fast they move and how far they can jump.
– STAMINA indicates how quickly a wrestler recovers health during a match (and after each week),
and how likely they are to be injured or tapped out.
– ATTITUDE is a balance of how agreeable or disagreeable somebody has been in their career thus far. Wrestlers with a bad attitude are more likely to betray you or cause trouble. In the player’s case, attitude can be improved by agreeing to suggestions more often and generally doing the right thing.

Contract Negotiations
If you attract the attention of a major promotion that wants to employ you, a battle of wills takes place to determine how much you will earn. This is basically how much you will be paid per appearance and for how many weeks, but it can also be filtered through “clauses” that are either favorable or unfavorable. It is not likely that you will command a favorable deal unless you are a champion or otherwise one of the most valuable talents in the company. Upon being presented with a proposal, you can change each value at either side like any other option – before committing to it at the signature line. You can press the “X” or the back button to withdraw entirely.

Finances
Each week, your finances are accounted for. Unless your contract states otherwise, you are not likely to be paid your full salary unless you compete (and win!). Meanwhile, you must still come up with weekly “expenses” which are relative to your bank balance or estimated worth. This ensures that even wealthy stars feel the pressure of having to keep it up! Look out for lots of other opportunities to supplement your income, such as working overtime, doing favors, and completing missions. In the absence of anything to legitimately spend it on, your bank balance should be considered a kind of “Hi-Score”.

Meetings
Each week you may be approached by the booker or your fellow wrestlers and can choose to respond positively or negatively to the situation. Generally, agreeing to requests improves your “Attitude” and relationships – whereas being disagreeable does not. You can also approach anybody yourself via the “Roster” option. These open-ended discussions allow you to suggest working with or against somebody (highlighting a date before entering the “Roster” screen will make that your preference). You can also approach managers or partners more directly via the “Relationships” tab of the in-game editor. Whether they agree or not still involves running a gauntlet of possible excuses, so you’re not likely to get your own way without a solid reputation. Also notice that every time you bother someone your “Attitude” goes down a little, so it’s no good pestering everybody on the roster!

Retirement
Unless you are unfortunate enough to die or get fired, it is up to you to choose the right moment to retire from the sport with a career worth remembering in the “Hall of Fame”! If you hold the exit command at the calendar screen, you can inform the promoter that you wish to end your current career. You can only start a new one after doing so. We all have different criteria for success in life, and you can see where you stand in each category – from longevity and wealth to win rates and physical prowess.

Booking
The original game now includes a whole other “booking” mode, where you are challenged to run an entire promotion! This career should run parallel with any existing wrestling career without too much drama, but if any disruption is not desirable consider ending one before starting the other. You can always “retire” at any moment by holding the back button at the calendar screen.

Rosters
Upon taking control of a company, the first thing you’ll want to do is familiarize yourself with the workforce. You can now edit anybody’s gimmick as easily as your own (so long as “Creative Control” or other agreements don’t prohibit you). You can even pour their energy into improving their attributes if you have nothing else planned for them. This health is gradually restored each week based on their stamina, so you must check who is fit and ready to perform. If sorting by the different attributes is not sufficient, you can re- arrange characters by holding over them until they become unplugged and can be swapped with another. Dropping them off the screen (or over the back arrow or company logo) will imply you want to get rid of them entirely – but a compensation package must first be discussed! A roster of 35 people is considered sufficient, so expanding too far beyond or below this is ill- advised.

Hiring
If you select a character from another roster, you can discuss signing them to your brand. Any existing agreements would have to be bought out, however, so it’s better to catch them between contracts. Although you now see negotiations from the other side, it’s the same premise of trying to get a deal that’s good for them but great for you. On top of financial expectations, bigger stars could also have any number of personal reservations that you must try to overcome. Your existing talent will automatically negotiate a renewal when the time comes, so they’re yours to lose if you choose not to meet their new demands. Rival promoters may also try to buy them from you if you dare to accept their increasingly high bids without getting greedy!

Entertainment
What makes a “good” match is subjective, of course, but the game tries to make sense of it in a 5-star rating. Every little action or dramatic moment increases the score based on the combined “Popularity” of those involved, which also dictates how much patience the audience has for the presentation – as the score can also go down over time. It’s not impossible for unpopular talent to have a good match, but they must work harder to achieve the same result. This basic formula is further influenced by the following factors that are indicated by icons:
Skull = How much “hardcore” violence has been seen. The more solid this lights up, the more you’ll see diminishing returns from weapons as the audience becomes desensitized to it. It goes back down over time if you stop relying on gimmicks for a while to prove you can wrestle.
Clock = By the time this lights up, the audience may be losing their patience so it’s time to consider “going home”! Only the more popular performers or the most spectacular action can continue to impress after this point. If you pay attention to the hands of the clock, you can see exactly how bored they are by how close it is to midnight. Notice that there is no boredom in the final minute of a time limit, so reaching that point is a sound strategy.

Chemistry = Telling a story requires a conflict between good (the “Faces” with green meters) and evil (the “Heels” with purple meters), so choose wisely when pitting characters against each other. Without this basic chemistry, it’ll be harder to engage the audience (but not impossible). Notice that this chemistry can be further “enflamed” by a rivalry! Competing for a title or some other consequence can also enhance their enjoyment of the presentation.

Balance = How “close” the contest is currently considered to be. Fans are excited by the idea that anybody could win at any moment and will have less interest in a one-sided “squash” where one person has significantly more health (or scored more falls) than the other. Although “shining up” a victim for a similarly one-sided comeback is also a viable strategy, as this ensures each person will entertain the crowd with their finisher!

You can toggle how much of this detail is visible (if at all) in the “Display” options tab or by tapping it in-game. Match ratings may also adapt slightly to accommodate the “Match Length” or “Difficulty” options you play with, so try to find a setting that works for you.

Storylines
Some changes to a character – such as their allegiances and relationships – can only be communicated through a “promo” selected at the “Script” tab of a match. Here you get to choose a topic and exactly who it concerns – with green outward arrows indicating who will start the conversation and red inward arrows indicating who is on the receiving end. You can swipe from one
character to another to intuitively change this, or press the and back buttons respectively on a controller. This is significant because, in addition to becoming enemies, the aggressor in a conversation will “turn heel” while the victim “turns face” if they were not already different! In this sense, promos can indirectly add to the success of a match and should be a regular part of a top show. Delivering a promo that doesn’t make any sense may do more harm than good, however, so choose wisely!

Results
Although you can “Simulate Result” at any time or opt-out of controlling a character, the spirit of this game is to act out each match and use your human ingenuity to influence proceedings. You can change which character you are controlling by tapping either side of the health meter, or by holding one shoulder trigger while ressing the other on a controller. In this manner, you should be able to influence who wins and when – either because your gameplay is so strong or because it is so weak that you “do the job”! This is significant because whoever wins scores a “Popularity” increase, whereas the loser loses more than just a match. The circumstances of a win can also magnify these effects. For instance, winning a match convincingly or against the odds is better for the winner but more shameful for the loser. Winning a large match is an accomplishment for the winner but an embarrassment for the first person to be eliminated, etc. Title changes and high-profile PPV spots also further magnify these gains. In this manner, a thoughtful booker can create stars or keep them shining with as little damage to their opponents as possible. The best way to achieve that is to simply ensure that whatever happens as part of an entertaining segment.

Cards
Each show consists of up to 10 segments for a big “Pay-Per-View” event or just 6 for a regular “TV Taping”. If you simply press over the segment you want to perform, you will be taken to the match setup process where you can play it there and then. Matches are only prepared in advance in rare instances where promises were made. Otherwise, it’s better to simply “call it in the ring.” Although you can play them in any order, they are designed to progress from the “Under Card” to the “Main Event” – where each spot is more significant to the final rating the higher you go. This ensures you’re free to make mistakes and develop talent on the undercard so long as you deliver where it counts! You do not need to fill all segments to press on the tape to broadcast what you have, but the final product will be judged as if you did. You can view previous cards by touching either side of the date or pressing the shoulder buttons. You can then recap the full description of any match by pressing over it.

TV Ratings
Upon submitting a broadcast, the rating of your promotion will change based on the quality of it – along with every other promotion in the world, so you can see where you rank. The expected results follow this pattern:

1-star = 60%
2-stars = 70%
3-stars = 80%
4-stars = 90%
5-stars = 100%

You may only climb a notch closer to your new score on a weekly basis, so success is about consistent results. PPV events are twice as impactful, so it’s important to get those right for a higher climb instead of a sharper drop! Notice that a 5-star show is not necessarily full of 5-star matches, as perfection is not on the cards for any promotion. A good show may only need 4-star matches in all the right places.

Finances
The main reason to broadcast all available segments is that you can charge higher ticket prices for larger cards. The base ticket price is $4 + $1 per segment, for a total cut of $10 per TV taping and $14 for PPVs. This is then multiplied by how many fans you drew to the show. A slight departure from real life is that only HALF of your fans turn up based on the reputation of the company and its champion. The remaining half has to be earned through the quality of your performances, so look for the attendance to gradually build throughout the show! How many fans a segment adds is relative to how entertaining it was filtered through the popularity of those involved – as well as the reach of the company itself and its champion, who is literally the face of the brand and must be “thanked for the house”! Firing on all of these cylinders is therefore key to continued success, as even the most entertaining match is wasted if fewer eyeballs were on it. And yet you must also balance how much star power you throw at a show because you have to pay each talent per appearance. They claim their full fee for each match they wrestled, whereas only appearing as a manager or referee would be
half that. There may also be other miscellaneous “expenses” every week, which are taxed as a percentage of your wealth – and may also be higher relative to how many territories you have to maintain.

Territories
This game introduces a new territorial twist, where you have to travel from one territory to another to set an attendance record there and claim it as your own! Any territory you currently own is highlighted by the color of that brand. By holding over one such home territory and releasing over a neighboring one, you can charter a flight to it. If you’d prefer to stay at the currently selected territory, simply press the back arrow to get on with the show. You can zoom in or out for a better view by pinching the screen, scrolling the mouse wheel, or pressing a controller’s shoulder buttons. You must tap a territory to highlight it, as holding over the map will scroll instead. On a controller, you can scroll further in any direction with the right stick.

As in real life, each region has its own likes and dislikes that challenge you to adapt your style of wrestling if you want to succeed elsewhere. Some also have other strategic advantages, such as higher revenues in Arabia, etc. Each wrestler also has a home territory where they are more welcome and would rather be. Invading a rival territory is an aggressive act because success there will improve your show’s ratings and damage theirs! Neglecting your existing territory is not advisable, however, as a brand’s following slowly wanes over time if they do not revisit to replenish it. Any brand that tries to spread itself too thin will discover this the hard way, as they grow weaker on numerous fronts while chasing each new gain! Success is more about having a strong presence in the world rather than ruling every single inch of the map.

Invasions
Invading a rival territory risks triggering a very real inter-promotional war! If you don’t back down when confronted, this could either result in a backstage brawl or a public showdown in the ring. These consist of 6 matches against preset opponents of their choosing. Although the relevant champions are automatically put forward for each round, you can change who fights for you as easily as any other match. The only exception is that you cannot control anyone who doesn’t work for you. Entertainment is no longer the goal here, as each wrestler will be fighting hard to win! Each win raises the profile of that brand and damages the loser, so it’s possible to score significant gains with a clean sweep. The winning brand will also seize control of the territory – regardless of the attendance. After stealing too many territories, you may find that the victims are less enthusiastic about doing business with you – so it’s hard to make progress without making enemies!

Further Reading
I regret that there is more to this game than I could ever explain here, so I hope you enjoy figuring some things out for yourself! Or you can keep an eye on social media for more hints and discussion:
www.facebook.com/MDickieFans
www.twitter.com/MDickieDotcom
www.youtube.com/MDickieDotcom

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