GEMini Atari/GEMini_Atari_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1993.iso/files/bbs/thieves/sysop.doc

Text File | 1993-03-08 | 12KB | 260 lines

                +---======*** The Thieves Guild ***======--+
                        -=[[ Sysop Documentation ]]=-

                           [UNREGISTERED VERSION]

The following files should have been in the archive:

           EDITOR.TOS - This is the Editor, used to install new games, edit
                        the THIEVES.SET file, and delete/edit players.

          THIEVES.TOS - This is the main executable file.

            SYSOP.DOC - This documentation.

          THIEVES.DOC - This is the game documentation file.

         REGISTER.DOC - Information & Order Form to Register your copy of TG!

          THIEVES.DAT - This is the file where player's information is kept.

          THIEVES.SET - This is an ASCII text file where paths are set for
                        events files, and game files.  This is also where you
                        tell Thieves' Guild what BBS Software you are using.
                        This may be edited with EDITOR.TOS, or with any ascii
                        text editor.

          THIEVES.SCR - This is the VT52 intro screen.

            TOWNS.DAT - This is the file that stores all vital town info.

* BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD TG_EMUL.LZH & PUT IT ON YOUR BBS FOR USERS TO DOWNLOAD! *

  -=*******************=-
    | Getting Started |
  -=*******************=-

         If there is anything missing from the archive, or if you have any
problems with installation, feel free to call our support BBS.  We will answer
all email within 24 hours.

         This program is SHAREWARE, which means you are free to use it for a
limited time.  *MANY* features have been stripped from this program, in fact,
the Registered version is *150K* larger than this program!  If you would like
to take a look at the Registered version in action, call our support BBS at
[phone].

         The Unregistered version was not meant to be used permanently.  A
list of Registered features are found at the end of this documentation.  This
game is the product of years of effort, planning, programming, testing, and
many late nights at the keyboard.  Your support would be GREATLY appreciated.

         If you and your users enjoy the world of Thieves' Guild, please print
out the file REGISTER.DOC, and fill out the form.

         We very much enjoy comments from those who use our software!!  We
encourage you to call & let us know what you think!  At any rate, please enjoy
this program and give copies to your friends!

         Be sure to also download TG_EMUL.LZH if you haven't already done so.
Put a copy of it on your BBS for users to download.  The emulator makes
Thieves' Guild come alive even more with spectacular Graphics, Animation,
Speed, & Sound!  A copy of it should be available at the same place you
obtained this program.  The Emulator is public domain so feel free to
distribute it at Computer User's Groups, or in ShareWare libraries.

          ** QUALITY SHAREWARE CAN ONLY EXIST WITH -YOUR- SUPPORT!! **

  -=****************=-
    | Installation |
  -=****************=-

         Step #1: Decide on a Path/Folder which will hold all your Thieves'
                  Guild files.  On my system I use C:\FOREM\THIEVES\ ...
                  Create the new folder and copy ALL the files included with
                  this archive into it.

         Step #2: Create another folder (preferably inside the folder you just
                  created) to hold all the "Events While Gone" files.  I use
                  C:\FOREM\THIEVES\DATA\.

         Step #3: Now load EDITOR.TOS on your Hard Drive in the Thieves Path.
                  The Editor program makes installation easy, and makes game
                  maintenance clean & simple.  With it you may also edit
                  entries in the setup file THIEVES.SET; it stores information
                  such as Paths, ascii data filenames, and BBS type.

                  DON'T BOTHER CHANGING THESE LINES YET, YOU WILL BE PROMPTED
                  TO ENTER EACH OF THEM WHEN YOU [I]NITIALIZE NEW GAME.

            The lines in THIEVES.SET are as follows:

               Line 1: Data Path -- (ie C:\FOREM\THIEVES\DATA\)

                       This is the path you chose, & created
                       for the "Events While Gone" files.

               Line 2: Thieves Path -- (ie C:\FOREM\THIEVES\)

                       This is the path you created for all
                       the Thieves' Guild files.

               Line 3: Events Path & filename -- (ie C:\THIEVES\EVENTS.TXT)

                       This is an ASCII file for viewing the game Events which
                       have transpired today.

               Line 4: Yesterday Events Filename --(ie C:\THIEVES\YEVENTS.TXT)

                       This is an ASCII file for viewing Events from
                       Yesterday.

               Line 5: Scores Path & Filename -- (ie C:\THIEVES\SCORES.TXT)

                       This is an ASCII file containing a list of all current
                       players with skill, scores, religion, and current Guild
                       Master.

               Line 6: Guild Masters Filename -- (ie C:\THIEVES\MASTERS.TXT)

                       This is an ASCII file listing all Guild Masters from
                       past months.

               Line 8: BBS Program -- (ie FOREM/RATSOFT, EXPRESS, or OTHER)

                 Thieves' Guild is written to work with Forem's DORINFO1.DEF
                 file, or EXPRESS's method of passing the username in.  Mainly
                 because almost all other BBS programs are compatible with
                 either of these two methods.  If your BBS program is NOT
                 capable of this, then select [O]ther.  The game will then
                 run with password.  If you go by [O]ther then it will be
                 possible for users to have more than one character in the
                 game; so by all means only use the password system as a last
                 resort!

                 If you are using RATSOFT then install as if you were using
                 Forem; details are below.

               Line 9: Forem Data File -- (ie C:\FOREM\DOORS\DORINFO1.DEF)

                       If you are using forem, this is the location & filename
                       which holds the username information.  Inside the file,
                       the user's first name is on line 7, last name is on
                       line 8.

                       With RATSOFT, you may just as well have this file in
                       your THIEVES directory.

                       If you are not using FOREM then this line of the .SET
                       file is ignored, and doesn't even need to be there.

           You may want to make the ASCII files (Events, Yesterday Events,
           Scores, & Guild Masters) viewable on your BBS somewhere.  Players
           may view them from within the game as well, however...

           More about the Editor later, for now just select [I]nitialize
           new game.  This option is for first-time installation only.
           You will sequentially be asked for paths & filenames which will
           be used by the game; so have an idea of where you want them.

         Step #4: After answering all the questions, press 'Q' to quit the
                  editor, BE SURE to save all the changed information.
                  Next, copy the now modified THIEVES.SET file to the
                  path/folder your BBS is executed from.

         Step #5: Thieves' Guild is now Installed!!  The only thing you need
                  do now is add it to your BBS's DOORS menu.  You will also
                  need to pass in the parameter "LOCAL" for the game to run
                  while executed locally (not over the modem).  For Forem, the
                  entry in your FDOORS.DAT file would look something like
                  this:

                       -=* The Thieves' Guild *=-
                       10
                       C:\THIEVES\THIEVES.WEL
                       C:\THIEVES\THIEVES.TOS
                       C:\THIEVES\THIEVES.TOS Local
                       C:\THIEVES\THIEVES.EXI

                  If you chose EXPRESS as your BBS type then you must pass in
                  the user's name after the LOCAL parameter.  Remember only
                  pass in the LOCAL parameter for games NOT being played over
                  the modem.

  -=**************=-
    | The Editor |
  -=**************=-

         Apart from editing the THIEVES.SET file, the editor is capable of a
few other things.  Use "[C]reate a new game" to reset the game in progress.

         If your THIEVES.DAT file ever happens to go corrupt for some strange
reason, you can have the editor create a new one by just deleting the old one
and running the editor.

         You also have the option of editing a player (no, not to cheat :).
If you change the user's name on the BBS, then you also need to change the
player's BBS name with the editor so Thieves' Guild will still recognize them.
You may also change a player's game name, or delete a player.

         There is an option of setting a player's "last play day to today".
This you can use to prevent a user from being deleted due to inactivity (a
nice thing to do for one of your user's that is going on vacation).  The
inactivity limit is 10 days, if a user does not play for 10 days straight,
they are deleted to free up slots.

  -=**********************=-
    | Registered Version |
  -=**********************=-

Following are just a fraction of the Registered Only features:

   [*]  26 slots available for players (8 are in the Unregistered version)

   [*]  SysOp "Hot-Keys" allow the Sysop to take part in the game while a
        user is playing.

   [*]  Bartender Chat -- Sysop gets to play the role of the Bartender, it
        may take users some time before they realize they are actually
        talking to a human!

   [*]  A complete array of Quests for Thieves' to solve along their
        Journey.

   [*]  3 different Religions to join, each accompanied by 7 additional
        Wizard's Guild spells.

   [*]  Many special magic items may be obtained, serving a wide variety of
        purposes.

   [*]  Hidden "words of power", objects, places, and creatures all await
        discovery through rumours & exploration.

   [*]  All "special town features" are enabled.  These are facilities that
        make each town unique.  Buildings, places to explore, many of them
        are involved in quests.

   [*]  Interaction with NPC's (Non-Player Characters), this is a great way
        for thieves to learn about quests & special hidden places or features.

   [*]  Guild Rumours.  Players may tell rumours which will be presented at
        random to others.

   [*]  Pick-Pocketing on the streets.  Probably one of the #1 ways to earn
        gold.

   [*]  Complete weaponry & combat routines with those of the realm.

   [*]  Thieves' Guild is unique and truly has a mind of it's own because
        of the many possible random twists & turns.  Most of the random
        events have either been removed or inhibited in the Unregistered
        Version.

   [*]  Takes complete advantage of the Emulator's features.  Much of the
        graphics & animation will only come to life with the Registered
        version.  Combat, magic items, special places of interest, and
        quests are an example of these.

   [*]  Many others!  Feel free to call our Support BBS & take a peek!