PC Collector 13 - Disc 4/Destiny.bin/README.TXT

Text File | 1996-12-10 | 23KB | 543 lines

DESTINY v1.138 README
Interactive Magic 12/10/96

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Late Breaking News!!!

Come check out the Destiny Academy for the latest patches, as well as
information on strategies and gameplay!

http://www.imagicgames.com/destiny.dir

Fixes:
1) Movement and firing in turn based has been fixed
2) I reenable the intercept order for friendly forces
3) It won't allow command mode movement in pause or turn based mode
4) The scroll bars should be a lot smoother

Features:
1) Notify dialogs for natural disasters
2) Better COH navigation (buttons in the window to allow scrolling between
        COHs)
3) You can minimize COH windows
4) Dialogs start below the toolbar
5) Only 1 notify for multiple facilities built of the same type
6) Added a button to Sell All of a certain type of facility
7) A brand new discovery chart with descriptions
8) Limited terrain names in higher difficulty levels
9) Added population, unemployment, homeless, and starving to construction
        window
10) Added a List Control to the Production Screen so you can sort by type
        and by status
11) You are more likely to have an AI tribe on the same continent as you
12) The AI is more "outgoing" (i.e. will respond more often)

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This file contains the latest information available about Destiny.
The information in this readme file supplements the standard game
documentation, and updates it only when necessary.


INSTALLATION & SETUP

The Destiny Setup program allows four installation options.

A 'compact' installation puts the basic game executable and AI files
on your hard disk. This installation requires about 7 Mb (megabytes)
of hard drive space.  Performance during gameplay may be hampered
in this installation level, by access to the CD-ROM drive for game
graphics and sounds.

You can also select a 'minimal' installation, which places the
core game, world data, and sound files required to run Destiny on your
hard drive.  This option requires about 48 Mb of hard disk space, and
delivers good game performance.

The 'maximum' option is recommended for excellent game performance.
It transfers the core game files, and all of the files necessary for
a typical game session to the hard drive.  It requires 145 Mb.

The 'full' install option, provides the best game performance by
transferring the full game, including animation files to your hard
drive. It requires about 185 Mb of available hard disk space.

Note:  Install sizes may vary slightly depending on the formatted
capacity and cluster size of your hard drive.   In general you should
expect a slightly larger install (not exceeding the sizes mentioned
above) for hard drives in the range of 1 Gb (gigabyte) or greater, and
a slightly smaller install for hard drives below 1 Gb.


OPTIMUM SYSTEM SETTINGS

Although Destiny will run in any Windows 95 configuration, it is
optimized to run best at 640 x 480 screen resolution in 256 colors.
Most of the windows in the game have been designed for normal font
sizes.  If your system font or video card settings increase these
sizes, you may experience incorrectly scaled windows.

In addition, a 4x or greater CD-ROM drive will improve video playback
and accelerate file transfers during the game, if you have done a
'compact' or 'minimal' install.  A sound card and a Pentium processor
are also strongly suggested, but not required to run the game.

While the full game Destiny will run perfectly well on a 486DX 66
with 8Mb RAM we would recommend that you compute battles rather
than entering the battlefield.


AUTOPLAY

Destiny is designed for Windows 95, and features an AutoPlay enabled
CD-ROM.  AutoPlay simplifies installation of multimedia and gaming
titles under Windows 95, by providing instant access to the most
common options for a particular product.

Destiny's Autoplay menu allows you to install the game, play the
game (once installed), or view a number of playable and preview demos.

To exit out of the AutoPlay program at any time, click the 'Quit'
button.  To disable the AutoPlay feature hold down the 'Shift' key on
your keyboard while the CD-ROM is being inserted into your CD-ROM
drive.


DIRECTX

Destiny offers high speed graphics and robust sound and music, while
running under Windows 95.  'DirectX' is the core component of the
Windows 95 gaming experience, that enables support for your PC's
specific hardware.

During the install of Destiny, you may notice the DirectX setup
program updating your video and/or soundcard drivers.  It may also
prompt you for driver replacement, or to reboot your machine after
the install is complete.  These are normal operations of the DirectX
setup and will ensure your PC's full functionality with Destiny.

Under most circumstances, DirectX will have the appropriate driver
available for your video and audio cards.  However, because audio and
video cards continue to evolve, you may already have a newer version
of DirectX driver than the one provided by the Destiny install.  If a
newer version of DirectX driver is already present on your system,
it will not be replaced during Destiny setup, unless the driver version
can not be correctly detected.  You can always manually detect what
version of drivers are available on your system by right-clicking on
the Destiny CD icon in 'Explorer' or 'My Computer' and then selecting
'(Un)Install DirectX' from the option menu.


SYSTEM DRIVERS

There are several system files that need to be installed in order to
play Destiny correctly.  If your system does not have these files
already available, they will be installed and registered during the
'Destiny Setup' process.  Depending on which files are required you may
be asked to reboot your computer at the end of the installation.  This
is a normal operational requirement of Windows 95 and ensures your
system's full functionality with Destiny.


ONLINE MANUAL

In addition to the Destiny manual hardcopy, there is online manual
with additional gameplay tables, available on the Destiny CD-ROM.  To
access this manual, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows
installed.  The reader is also available on the CD-ROM.

To install the reader, you must run 'D:\manual\windows\acroread.exe'
assuming that 'D' is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.  After the reader
is installed you can return to the CD and open the Destiny online
manual.  The manual is file 'D:\manual\destiny.pdf' provided that 'D'
is the letter for your CD-ROM drive.

Further information regarding the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader, can be
found in the reader's help file, which available after the reader
has been installed.


NETWORK & MODEM PLAY

The hardcopy documentation included with Destiny has a few minor
corrections with regard to network and modem play.

In the game menus 'network' play is often referred to as 'multiplayer'
play.

For modem play, it is strongly advised that you turn off data
compression, and turn on error correction.  This will dramatically
improve game performance, especially under noisy line conditions.

You can change these settings permanently in the Windows 95 modem
control panel, or temporarily using the Destiny DirectPlay setup menu.
However, these settings must be changed in the modem control panel if
you wish to initiate a modem-based network game.

For further information regarding modem and network setup, refer to
your Destiny manual and/or Windows 95 documentation.


INSTANT BATTLE FEATURE
The first time you run the game it will automatically take you to an
Instant Battle either when the Introductory Sequence ends or if you
hit Esc during the Introductory Sequence.

THIS FEATURE CAN BE TURNED OFF FOR SUBSEQUENT GAMES FROM THE SETTINGS
MENU.

If you enter the Instant Battle and do not want to fight it out you
can end it quickly by hitting Esc  to abort the battle, clicking on
the White Flag Icon to surrender, or clicking on the Calculator Icon
to calculate the Battle. Any of these will bring up the Main Menu.


AUTO SAVE
Destiny features an Auto Save function.
You can adjust the time period at which it saves in the Settings Menu.

QUICK START FEATURE
Selecting Quick Start will begin a game ready for you to follow the
Tutorial. If you have not played the game before we recommend this
the first time you play.

EXPANDED VIEW FEATURE
You  can expand and contract the view window by right clicking on
the display window and selecting Maximize or Restore.

NEW FEATURES
There is a new feature "Transfer Resources" included in the Storage
Section of the COH Window. This allows you to move resources between
friendly COH's that are not within each others transport range by
first "Transferring" the resource to an intermediary COH.  Think of
it as moving the resources from one Regional Storage Area to another.
Select The COH you wish to Move the resources to, set the type and
amount and Select "Perform".

In the Influence Section of the COH Window there is now a
Gray Colored Dot as well as the Red Colored Dot mentioned in the
Manual. The Red Dot shows what areas are being exploited by the COH
currently open. The Gray Dot shows areas that are being exploited by
another COH.

On the Discovery Chart (accessed via the Discovery Window)
discoveries that you have already made are marked with  **

Facilities that can perform only one task will automatically start producing.
You can turn this feature off in the Construction Section of the COH Window.

You can hire a Governor to manage the more mundane tasks of population
management such as feeding, housing, education level, and health conditions.
This is available in all difficulty levels except Extreme.  In Easy level, the
Governor is automatically hired and doesn't cost you anything.  In Medium and
Hard levels, it requires a Local Administration Building and costs Revenue to
hire (and keep employed) the Governor (the total population times the current
age (1 for Stone, 2 for Iron, etc.)).  To utilize this function look in the
Administration section of the COH Window.

ORDERS CHANGE
The "Enter" order to move forces into friendly COHs has been removed.
Use the "Join" order instead.

A new order "Support" has been added.
It acts in a similar way to Combat Guard but instead of attacking an enemy
the supporting force will "Bombard" it. The supporting force is also
counted towards Long Range Support if you enter the battlefield.

UNIT LIST
The Bronze Age Light Spear is sometimes referred to as
Bronze Age Thrusting Spear, these are the same Unit Type.

ENHANCED TERRAIN
The Settings menu includes an Enhanced Terrain option.  This will
load new tiles that are less blocky.  These new tiles take up more
memory, so if you notice a significant slowdown, you can always turn
it back off.

FORCE/FACILITY FILTER
There is now a check box on the Force screens and Construction screen
in the COH dialog.  These enable you to filter outdated elements from
the list.

CURRENT TASK
In the Influence screen in the COH dialog, there is now a field to
display the current task being performed in the terrain square you
clicked on.  Also, if it is a facility task, you can press the
"Move" button to try to relocate it to another terrain square.

NOTIFY AUTO-DISMISS
The Notify dialogs now auto-dismiss.  The time settings are available
in the Settings/Notifications/Timeout section of the menu.  The
options include Infinite (never timeout), 5 Sec, and 30 Sec.

COH FINDER
The Find/COH menu brings up the COH Chooser.  We have added a "Dialog"
button which will bring up a COH dialog.

COMMON GAME TROUBLESHOOTING & QUESTIONS

The game seems to have frozen, I can not select anything.
    The most common reason for this is that one of the forces
    is calculating a route. Look at the bottom left of the screen
    on the Status Bar it will say "computing route". If this is
    the case wait for a few seconds and it should clear.

The manual, on-line manual and in-game text sometimes contradict each
other.

    This is because changes were made to the game, particularly
    the Costs of construction and effects of Discoveries after
    the Manual had to go for printing. The On-Line Manual was
    "frozen" later and the In-game Text even later. The In-game
    Text therefore has the latest changes.

The 'Enter' key does not seem to work on certain menu selections.

    Some menu items are selected and used with the 'space' bar.

Sometimes when I start a New Game the speed setting is at Fast other
times it is at Medium.

    When You Quit a Game it will remember the settings you had
    and starts the next game with the same settings.


I am making an Offer of Resources in order to boost my chances of
success in Diplomacy, Or I am putting together a Trade Deal
The Resources I am allocating are not being deducted from the
available list.

    Both the Diplomacy and Trade Windows are not updated in Real
    Time only when the resources have been deducted and you can
    not use more than you have, the amounts will have been
    deducted if you leave the screen and return.

I made an Offer of Resources in order to boost my chances of success
in Diplomacy, My Offer was rejected and I have not got my resources
back.

    Rejected resources are not placed back in the COH they come
    from but in the COH that shows when you first Click on the
    COH Icon.

No discoveries are listed to be made.

    You have made all the discoveries that can be made without
    increasing your tribe's education level.
    Or
    You are playing Military Victory conditions, have an Education
    Level of 6 and have made all the Discoveries but you have
    not wiped out all opposition.

My Income as shown in the Local Government Window is lower than it
should be.

    Depending on your government type, level of control and
    governmental facilities    there is a potential for
    corruption / waste which may result in a lower income.

My Budgeted outgoings as shown in the Local Government Window are
higher than they should be.

    Depending on your government type and level of control there
    is a potential for corruption / waste which may result in a
    greater expenditure.

I have been playing the game and now I can not move my forces.

    Pause Mode is turned on.

My forces refuse to follow my instructions.

    Auto play Mode turned on.

My force did not enter the COH I sent it to.

    Gave it "Report" Order instead of "Join" Order

I am in Follow Mode watching a force which is over land but the
status bar reads over Shallow Sea.

    The Status Bar records the location of the camera.

I have upgraded my cattle farm to a livestock farm and despite
the fact that it shows grazing land it can not produce.

    Grazing land is a general term, not all terrain can
    support the higher grades of farms. Check Available Tasks
    in the Influence Window before building or upgrading.

Why have all my mechanized forces disappeared?

    If you are playing at hard or extreme level the loss of
    all your Military Headquarters also results in the loss
    of all forces that relied on them. The same sort of thing
    applies to air units with airfields, and naval units with
    harbors or ports.

Why can't I put a force on a boat?

    Each land unit has a size rating and each navy unit has a
    cargo capacity. If the Land force is too big you can not
    load it on the naval force. Remember that when you build
    merchant fleets they default with some escort ships so you
    may have less capacity than you think unless you customize
    your navy.

Why don't the troops on the battlefield use the correct period tactics?

    This is a strategy game not a historical battlefield
        simulation.

When I am in Battlefield Mode the terrain becomes a black area at the
edges.

    This area designates the retreat zone. If any units move into
    it they have left the battle and cannot come back.

Why do I sometimes have to click on the map when changing views and
sometimes not?

    If you are zooming out the view remains centered on your
        current location, but if you are zooming in you have to
        choose a location.

The Notify Messages can be really annoying.

    You can modify which messages you receive during the game, and
    change these options during the game.  The notifications option
          appears under the settings menu.

Not All The Local Control Options Appear

    The options that can be carried out vary with your government.
    You may not have enough Revenue to conduct the task.
    Some options may not be carried out until after the
    effects of a previous option have expired.


I have built Major Road Constructors, started them operating but when
I go to the Influence window I only have 9 squares under influence?

    If you do not have the stone to maintain your MRCs then they
    will cease working.

The relative bombardment strengths of my forces seem to have different
effects.

    The numbers printed are a logarithmic base which the computer
    then uses in it's calculations.

I have the highest score, under the settings, game status menu but shortly
afterwards I am told I have lost.  Why?

    The score table is totally unconnected to winning.  The score depends
    on what you have built, winning depends on the victory conditions set
    at the beginning of the game.  A higher score does not imply that you
    have been closer to winning in a given game.

Which Discoveries are needed to win the Mini-Scenarios?

    Stone Age - Metallurgy II
    Bronze Age - Metallurgy III
    Iron Age - Gunpowder
    Gunpowder Age - Steam Engine
    Steam Age - Aerodynamics III
    Space Age - Rocketry V

HINTS & TIPS

If when you play without Omni-Resource Terrain you find it difficult
to find and exploit the resources you need try playing with a high
Land Ratio (slider bar to extreme left) and High Resources (slider
bar to extreme left) until you are ready for the greater challenge.

If you like the place you have started a game save the game immediately,
this allows you another go and a chance to improve your score within
a known environment.

If you are finding difficulty handling all your COHs, Discoveries and
Forces use the pause button. You can still order construction and
production and adjust Idea Points although nothing will be activated
until you remove Pause. (Remember you cannot Pause if playing
Networked).

An Alternative to the Pause option is to use the Auto-Pilot for a while.
Be warned, though, that the Auto-Pilot will sometimes make changes  that
you might not want. (Remember you cannot use Auto-Pilot if playing
Networked).

When you are allocating discovery points you can allocate more than the
number of new ideas being generated.  The new ideas will be allocated in
the order in which you entered them.  Any points allocated in excess of
the number of new ideas are put in a queue which moves forward as
something is discovered.  Eg if I have three new ideas available and I
allocate one to Domestication of Livestock, one to Flint Knapping, one to
Adobe/clay Bricks and one to Herbal Lore (in that order), each turn one
will be allocated to Domestication of Livestock, Flint Knapping and
Adobe/clay Bricks and only once one of these has been discovered will
Herbal Lore begin to receive points.

The use of Largesse to stop riots and revolts is a quick and simple
solution. (Handing out Money always cheers people up)

Remember to look in Rain Forest and Jungle for Resources, Hills are
not the only Land type to contain useful things.

Use the On-Line Manual to check the strengths and weakness of the Units
that make up your Forces. Also check their Size when planning to move
them by Sea to ensure they will fit on the Merchant Force you intend
to use. Remember it is possible to build forces with less than ten
units which will allow the inclusion of some escort ships and still
allow you to move by sea.

The bombard numbers in the units' table refer to the campaign map
attack and range strengths, the missile numbers refer to the battle
field attack and range strengths only.

If you want to know what you have already Discovered look at the
Chart within the Discovery Window. Previous Discoveries are
marked **.  Alternatively have a look in the Trade Window,
the Discoveries you have available to trade are the ones you have
already discovered.

Remember that many Facilities which increase your Sphere of Influence
require resources, particularly Stone, to continue operating. Try not
to rely on a location of this resource to provide that operating cost
that can only be reached by Operating the facility it is maintaining.

Under the National Government window you can keep an eye on your
expenditure and income.  Ideally your income should be greater than
the amount budgeted (spent).  You can increase your incoming revenue
by mining gold/silver veins or gems, raising taxes or increasing your
control over the people (the greater control you have the more
efficient your tax collection is).

When you are playing with the "limited resources" box checked you have
a chance of "using up" resources.  Eg if you remove some of  the timber
in a Deciduous Forest it will become a Deciduous Wood, and on depleting
all the wood it becomes Cleared Land.  Similarly when you scrape for
coal it will become depleted but you will be able to dig for coal once
a diggings has been constructed (this can be done by "upgrading" the
scrape site in the production page).

Clearing land in the Influence window will also change the land type.
Eg if you clear Deciduous Forest it becomes Deciduous Wood, which has
less timber available but contains arable land.

An optional victory condition is won by the first tribe to either the discovery
victory or total world domination.  You cannot change to a military victory
after a tribe has won by a discovery victory., nor vice versa.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you have questions or need additional assistance with this or any
other Interactive Magic product, feel free to call our Customer Service
Department at [phone], between 9AM - 9PM EST.

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'Windows 95' and 'Explorer' are registered trademarks of Microsoft
 Corporation.
'Pentium' is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
'Adobe' and 'Acrobat' are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc.