It is generally accepted that HCE is more user-friendly than H3/ANW/HUE. It is based more on a windows than H3 so it is often more familiar for new players. Some commands are easier to employ in HCE than in H3, but H3 gives overall more player control.
It is true that most of the AARs on the channel are for H3, but there is help available for HCE and even non-Harpoon games. We help all who ask. If you need help with HCE, there are some videos already available and we can make more as requested along with HCE AARs.
We deliberately made the Thanh Hoa bridge AAR so that new users could compare the game-play between HCE and H3 versions. In fact, there are many HCE scenarios that were re-made for H3. So, a player can try an HCE scenario, then re-try it in H3, then ANW, and, finally, HUE. This allows him to find the version he enjoys most.
There is a nice little manual from Amazon, but I don't know if they have any more copies. Harpoon II: The Official Strategy Guide by Ed Dille and Tom Basham
Harpoon Battlebook: The Official Strategies & Tactics Guide by James Degoey published in 1991
Much of them are covered in the Harpoon3 v3.6.3 manual already included with the game so you don't have to pay for more.
