Action pure/ACTION PURE (Art&Play)(1995).iso/gladiato/readme.txt

Text File | 1995-04-24 | 26KB | 594 lines

Gladiator version 3 Readme.txt file.

[0] Installation information

  Gladiator has a simple 'glad.cfg' file which it references for
  the location of graphics and other files.  If you wish to use
  it, rename 'old.cfg' to 'glad.cfg.'  Then, if you install
  everything into one directory, edit glad.cfg with a text editor
  or simply delete the .cfg file completely.  If you wanted to
  put the pix (graphics) files in a subdirectory called graphics,
  for example, change that line in glad.cfg to
  graphics=c:\glad\graphics\ (or whatever yours is)  Don't put
  spaces around the "=" character, please :) (we're not good
  at parsing)

  IMPORTANT NOTE:  At the last minute, we were unable to compile
  our sound code correctly in real mode.  This means that this
  version of Gladiator is running in protected mode, and without
  sound.  We're working to get our sound code working again, and
  hopefully we'll release a quick-fix update very soon.

[1] Keyboard Controls

GENERIC CONTROLS
----------------

 P           : Pause game

 F9          : Reset color palette for windows users

 F10         : Toggle color cycling on or off

 Numeric +/- : Increase or decrease game speed up to max for
               your machine

 ESC         : Exit Gladiator or picker


ONE PLAYER MODE
---------------

 Arrows               : Cardinal movement
 Numeric keypad       : All movement, including diagaonals
 Insert / Numeric 0   : Attack with ranged or melee weapon

 7890                 : Select special if more than one is availible
 Enter / Return       : Invoke special

 Numeric 5            : Call your team to organize around you

 Backspace            : Switch control to next team member

 Right-Shift+Backspace: Switch control to next TYPE of team member


TWO PLAYER MODE
---------------

RIGHT PLAYER:
  SAME AS ONE PLAYER CONTROLS

LEFT PLAYER:

 Q-W-E                : All movement, including diagonals
 A-*-D
 Z-X-C

 1234                 : Select special, when more than one
                        is availible

 Insert / Numeric 0   : Attack with ranged or melee weapon

 Alt                  : Invoke special ability

 1234                 : Select special if more than one is availible

 S                    : Call your team to organize around you

 Tab                  : Switch control to next team member

 Left-Shift+Tab       : Switch control to next TYPE of team member

[2] Overview
  Gladiator is a gauntlet style real-time arcade game where you (red team) must
  set out to destroy all other teams in a variety of scenarios.  Use the picker
  (picker.exe) to select a scenario to play.  Each scenario gives you access to
  a variety of character classes, some with interesting special abilities.
  Your goal in each case, destroy all your opponents with as few team losses
  as possible.  Gladiator features 320*200 256 color graphics, soundblaster
  compatible sound, independent AI control of over 100 characters, and high
  speed animation :).

[3] How to play

A) The Picker
  When you first start a game of Gladiator, you actually run the 'picker'
  (short for "Team Picker") instead of glad(iator) itself.  The picker's
  main menu gives you several choices: Begin a new game, continue with
  your current or saved game, or exit.  For now, select New Game.

  The next screen of the picker allows you to save or load games (not too
  useful yet), edit your current team, view your team, or, finally, buy
  new members for your squad.  Since you don't have any team members yet,
  the first thing to do is "Buy Guys".

  Choosing the "Buy Guys" menu takes you to a screen which will display
  the name/type of a new recruit, his statistics, and the cost to
  purchase him, along with your current cash, which for a new game
  begins at 5000.  From this point you may buy this character, raise
  his stats (and cost) in various amounts, or, using the "NEXT" and
  "PREV" buttons near the top, see what other characters are availible.

  In the unregistered version of Gladiator, the availible troops are:
    * Soldier:  Your basic grunt, can absorb and deal damage and moves
                moderately fast.  A good all-around fighter.
    *     Elf:  Elves are small and weaker, but are harder to hit.
                Elves throw stones, sometimes more than one.
    *  Archer:  Archers are fleet of foot, and their arrows have a
                long range.  Although they're not as strong or healthy
                as fighters, they can also be a good squad backbone.
    *    Mage:  Mages are slow, nearly defenseless, and horrible at
                hand-to-hand combat, but their magical energy balls
                pack a big punch.  All mages, regardless of level,
                posess the ability to teleport out of (or into!) danger,
                providing they've saved enough magic.
    *  Cleric:  Clerics, also, are slow, but have a stronger hand-
                to-hand than mages.  Clerics have the unique ability to
                plant trees which their teammates can pass through, but
                which foes must hack down to pass.  Clerics also posess
                the ability to heal teammates who are standing next to
                them.
    *   Thief:  Theives are fast and stronger of constitution than the
                magic-wielders, though not so potent as the soldier.
                A thief, in addition to throwing daggers, can plant
                a bomb which can take out even the strongest opponent.
                Beware, however -- unlike an archer's arrows, bombs
                do not discriminate in who they destroy!

    In general, each character has at least one 'special ability,' and
    some have more than one, although it sometimes requires gaining
    several levels before these other special abilities become
    availible.

    You will also come up against other foes -- undead such as skeletons
    and ghosts, magical beings such as elementals and faeries, and others,
    but these types are not availble for purchase in this version, although
    some may join your team at certain times.

    The statistics from which you can choose to modify here are:

    *     Strength: Strength affects your melee (hand-to-hand) combat,
                    as well as things like your weapon range.

    * Constitution: Constitution increases your hitpoints and rate of
                    healing, and also affects other combat-related
                    skills.

    *    Dexterity: Dexterity helps improve your ability to dodge,
                    your weapon's accuracy, your speed, and other
                    related skills.

    * Intelligence: Intelligence controls the amount of 'magic' power
                    you have, how fast this power regenerates, and
                    the success of your special abilities.

    *        Armor: Armor is like shielding; the more you have, the
                    less damage you will take from a given blow.

    *        Level: Your character's level is determined by his
                    experience (currently 0), visible on the right
                    of the screen.  Level affects all stats, and
                    affects what special abilities your character can
                    perform.  While it may look very expensive to buy
                    a level for your character, it can be useful when
                    you're "almost there" and want the increase, as the
                    cost decreases the closer you are to the next level.


  So, from the "Buy" menu you may purchase whatever type(s) of men you
  choose.  You can edit their stats before you buy them, or, if you
  prefer, switch to the "Edit" menu instead.  The edit menu appears
  similar to the purchasing menu, but the NEXT and PREV buttons will
  take you through your already purchased men.  When you use the "LESS"
  and "MORE" buttons for changing their stats, notice that you do not
  actually pay (and thus make your changes permanent) until you click
  the "ACCEPT" button; this will purchase the changes, provided you have
  the funds, and record your character's stats.

  When picking a team, only about the first 25, at most, will appear in
  a scenario; the others are not lost, but will show up on the next level.
  Thus, it is generally best to limit your team to 10 to 20 characters,
  which is normally quite sufficient.

  After you have purchased and edited your team, or any time during
  this phase, you can choose to "VIEW TEAM." This will display a
  screen listing the number of each type of character you have, and
  what "scenario" number you will be attempting next (currently 1).
  This screen also contains a "GO" button:  this will start that
  scenario.

  Before hitting go, this time, press (or click) "ESC" several times
  until you get to a point where you can save the game.  Don't worry if
  you go out to the main menu; simply press "continue game" from there;
  all your team members will still be there.  When saving a game, you
  have a choice of 5 slots.  Your current game is always saved by the
  computer as game number 0, and is loaded each time you enter the
  picker.

  After saving your game, you're ready to go!  Find the "GO" button
  (such as from the "VIEW TEAM" menu), click it, and you're off!

B) The Scenarios

  You've just hit the "GO" button from the picker.  After Gladiator
  loads, you'll see the main screen, which consists of a viewport
  area, where the action takes place, and a grey score panel, which
  lists various important information.

  When the level first begins, another button with introduction text
  should appear in the center of the screen.  This text will often
  tell you about the current level, and may list any special goals or
  hints.  You can use the arrow keys or the page up/down keys to
  scroll through the text.  When you are done reading it, hit ESC to
  continue.

  The score panel lists several important items.  At the top should
  be listed the name or designation of your current character, such
  as "COMMANDER."  Below that are numbers and bar graphs indicating
  your current hitpoints and spellpoints.  Be careful -- when your
  hitpoints go to zero, you're dead!

  Below these numbers should appear "SC: 123."  This is your score
  for the current level, which will start at zero and go up as you
  wreak havok.  The word "CHARGE" which appears beneath this simply
  tells you that you're in normal combat mode; GUARD would imply
  you were just hanging out.

  The numbers following "TEAM" and "FOES" are the number of members
  left alive on your team, and the number of foes left, respectively.

  Finally, "EXP" or "LEVEL" will list your current experience or level.

  After hitting ESC to exit the introductory text, the game will begin.
  Gladiator uses an angled, mostly overhead view.  You will see your
  character standing on a field of grass or dirt, perhaps with some
  trees, cobblestone, or water nearby.  Everybody on your team is
  wearing red; the bad guys will wear a variety of colors depending on
  their team (the blue team, the yellow team, etc.).  Normally, when
  you fire, your shots will pass over your teammates and hit your
  enemies; use this to your advantage!

  When you begin Scenario 1, you are a young recruit in a small band
  of warriors.  You, personally (at the keyboard) however, will be
  controlling "Commander."  Commander is an NPC (Non-Player-Character),
  which in this case means that although he is on your team, you are
  not able to buy stats for him or examine him when you are in the
  picker, and he may choose to leave at any time.  There are pro's and
  con's to having NPCs in your group:  they are often somewhat
  stronger than your men, and can help keep you alive against the odds,
  but they DO NOT EARN EXPERIENCE, and will not go up levels, nor can
  you buy their stats up.  For this reason, it is often good to let
  the NPCs control themselves, and go off hunting experience with your
  own men.  You can tell you are controlling an NPC rather than a
  normal character because the score panel will display his level
  rather than his experience.

  For this scenario, switch characters (press BACKSPACE) several times
  until you get out of the officers and into the enlisted ranks --
  your personally bought men.  Try out your ranged attack, if you
  have one, by pressing the fire key (INSERT), while staying away from
  enemies.  Try hitting your special key (ENTER) and see what happens.
  Later, when you have more special abilities, you can select them
  with the number keys (7,8,9,0).  Finally, if you've mastered the
  art of moving around and firing, head up north and look for the
  nasty elves who have been killing the local travelers.

  Don't be too upset if all your men are slaughtered and you lose the
  scenario. There's NO penalty; all that will happen is that you will
  be returned to the picker.  From here, choose "CONTINUE GAME," and
  then just hit the "GO" button to try it again.

  Assuming you're able to overcome the odds and kill all the bad guys
  (the "FOE" count will drop to zero), it's time to look for the exit
  to the next level, which in this scenario is near the top.  Exits
  look like four glowing arrows pointing at each other.  Stepping on
  an exit while there are still enemies left won't help you, but if
  you've completed the scenario, a small window should appear asking
  if you'd like to go on to the next level.  Hitting "Y" will save
  your game and take you to the picker, where you can spend some more
  hard-earned cash before continuing to the next level. A "N" response
  will let you stay on the level.  It's often good to check a completed
  scenario level to see if there are any hidden treasures -- such as
  gold bars or food -- left around.

  On the first scenario, you might notice another exit in the lower
  left corner of the map; taking this exit will jump you to level 10,
  in case you know all about the game and don't need the introductory
  levels to get you started, but it's NOT a good idea to take it when
  you've just started out!

C) Continuing the cycle

  That's it!  Every time you complete a scenario successfully, your
  current game will be saved and you'll head back to the picker.
  Sometimes there will be places you can pass back through levels you
  have already completed.  There won't be any enemies or treasure here,
  but they can serve as passages and rest-stops between areas you've
  been and areas you're going.

  Once you've learned the basics of Gladiator, try two player!  To
  toggle the number of players, just click the appropriate button
  on the main screen.  It won't look like it does anything, but it
  really will, trust us :)

  The Gladiator two-player system is cooperative (you're both on the
  same team), although racing for experience is fun.  Score is
  shared between the team, while experience goes to the character
  who earned it.

  The unregistered version has 15 scenarios to try out; if you'd like
  more scenarios, plus the other benefits, check out the section on
  registering below.

[4] Hints and Tips

A)  Two-player mode can really help make things easier.  Frozen by
    a faerie?  Get your friend to fry him from the side.

B)  Clerics may feel weak at first, but they're great for healing
    wounded team members.  They're also great for building a 'wall'
    of trees to block onrushing foes; call your teammates to you
    while you build a fortress!

C)  Don't forget to use your special!  If you've got the magic to
    burn, it's almost always worth it.

[5] Registering Gladiator (do it do it do it do it)

  We don't want to beg, but .. please, please PLEASE!! If you think
  our game was at all interesting, at least send us mail with your
  comments and feedback!  You can send email to:

    [e-mail]
          or
    [e-mail]

  Of course, if you have any shred of mercy for the four poor starving
  college students who have slaved away over hot computers making
  Gladiator, we'd REALLY be your bestest friends, and for just $10.00,
  you get:
    *  Lots more scenarios (take your guys to incredible levels!)
    *  More special abilities (up to four for each character)
    *  More types of characters, and the ability to purchase all of
       them for your team, including:
         FIRE ELEMENTALS (you see a couple on the last castle level)
         DRUIDS (with cool lightning bolts, and summoning of tree golems)
         FAERIES (freeze your foes!)
         SLIMES (reproduce over and over, and overwhelm your enemies)
         ORCS (an even more powerful grunt)
         GHOSTS (FEAR, fly through walls)
         SKELETONS (really fast!)
    *  Access to the nifty cheat codes. (unlimited money!)
  Feel FREE to send cash in the mail; we don't care!
  (But the post office doesn't reccommend it) Heck, we'd
  even take Visa if we knew how.  Send your payment to:

    Tom Ricket  (heh heh, I'm typing this, so I get the address)
    Gladiator v 3.0
    12645 Cambridge Drive
    Saratoga, CA  95070

  Regardless of whether or not you register, PLEASE take the time
  to let us know what you think.  Our best ideas so far have come
  from our testers (radar, diagonal movement, lots of cool stuff),
  and it's a pretty sure bet that whatever you suggest will be
  implemented.  In fact, if you send us money, we can practically
  guarantee it! (unless it's really, really lame!)

  So now that we've made our plea, you can read on for the credits
  and revision history of glad ...


[6] Credits
  Programmed in Borland C++ 4.02 with Powerpack for Dos by:
(In alphabetical order, and not in any way implying order of importance)
  -- Chad Lawrence
  -- Doug McCreary
  -- Tom Ricket
  -- Mike Scandizzo
  Testing by:
  -- Lara Kirkendall
  -- Lee Martin
  -- Karyn McCreary
  -- Doug Ricket
  -- Stefan Scandizzo
  -- Loki, Ishara, and Mootz (well ... they tested the keyboard, anyway) :)


[7]  Revision history

Since release 2v: (04/20/95)
 * Implemented 'exit' objects into the picker, scenario editor,
   and Gladiator :)
 * Modified Save game format to allow NPC's to have names
 * Made the 'XXX KILLED' display use an NPC's name, if appropriate
 * Re-coded radar::draw for better speed & readability
 * Improved the smoothing in the scenario editor, and added final
   tree edges

Since relase 2u: (04/18/95)
 * Added 'myself' pointer to walkers to help trace down GPFs
 * Fixed walker::transform_to() to correctly remove itself from
   the object map before changing size; apparently helped fix
   bugs :)
 * Added screen::damage_tile() to give ability for tiles to
   be broken.  Tested by having thief bomb damage grass.
 * Added virtualized weap::animate() to weap to allow for faster
   weapon animations, and to fix GPF when ani_type was somehow
   getting set to non-zero (2, in this case)
 * Fixed stats::hit_response() to stop weapons (any non-livings)
   from responding ..
 * Added druid as real character
 * Added magic and invulnerability potions
 * Added walker::center_on(target) to center us on target ..
 * Added screen::find_foes_in_range(), and used it to improve
   the AI..
 * Fixed display bug in magic-point display bar
 * Added 'level' display to non-guy walkers
 * Added living::set_difficulty(whatlevel) to more intelligently
   set the difficulty of non-guy walkers
 * Adjust damage weapons inflict based on their owner's level
 * Set walker's damage to an int instead of a char

Since release 2t: (04/17/95)
 * Fixed bug with eating treasures
 * Added 4th level cleric spell: resurrect team members
 * Added 'effect' object for special effects..
 * Added 'scare' effect for ghosts
 * Added 'bomb' effect for thieves + explosion effect
 * Overloaded screen::add_ob() to take a ,1 as the last argument,
   specifying add to TOP of the list (so object displays below
   everything else on the oblist layer)

Since release 2s: (04/15/95)
 * Added help system and added glad.glp
 * Modified scenarios to version 3, which includes scenario text
   (edit with T), and display at the start of glad
 * Guys now automatically attack when you bump an enemy
 * Removed bloodspots for ghosts and skeletons, and made the
   cleric summon ghosts or undead based on special level

Since release 2r: (04/13/95)
 * Added help system with 'h' (reads glad.hlp)
 * Glad takes parameter ("1" or "2") to determine number of players
 * Added number of players selection to picker.
 * Added 'current_special' and made specials level-dependent
 * Added experience to guys and made levels dependent on this

Since release 2q: (04/10/95)
 * Added death() function to walker
 * Made slimes die to smaller slimes, removed blood spot for fire elem.
 * Modified dying (generate_bloodspot) to move walkers to the
   fx layer, and mark them as bloodspots
 * Used new system to allow clerics to 'raise dead' from any bloodspot
   (temporarily removed healing option)
 * Added new terrain types (paths, cobblestones, etc.)
 * Made fire elementals explode upon death
 * Set shrinking bloodspots to not collide
 * Converted walker class to derived types (living, weapon, treasure)
 * Fixed food-eating problem with treasure objects
 * Made score panel display guy name
 * Added gold and silver bars
 * Added magic potions, ie flight

Since release 2p: (04/07/95)
 * Re-added the floating text to viewscreen(s)
 * Multiplied graphics size by four times ..
 * Improved graphic display window to allow for non-integer
   viewport display width/height

Since release 2n: (04/05/95)
 * Added animation for large slime splitting
 * Fixed HP/SP color bar color problem

Since release 24: (04/01/95 Interim release)
 * Added multiple viewscreens for multi-player mode
 * Added mapped keyboard controls for use in multi-player mode
 * Broke the screen object into a graphics, screen, and viewscreen modules
 * Added 'right-hand-rule' based movement for AI
 * Added transformation function (ie, for slime) and associated cheat-key
 * Reworked slimes and set up full-cycle of growth/replication

Since release 2L: (3/25/95)
 * Added NO_RANGED bit-flag, and used it to make the small
   slimes have no ranged attack (needs to be fixed)
 * Add new bit-flags INVINCIBLE, can't be hurt :) (+ cheat key)
 * Added default and current weapon types, and commands
   set_ and reset_ weapon .. used this to get flaming arrows for
   the archer's special
 * Added 'armor' to the gameplay (subtracts damage done to you)
 * Made magic regeneration based on intelligence
 * Added hitpoint regeneration based on constitution
 * Added treasure 'food' item; can be eaten for hitpoints
 * Added gamma correction (ALT + NUMERIC PLUS, MINUS, & ENTER for default)
 * Integrated with picker better

To do: since 2k (03/23/95)
 * Recompiled in protected mode for bug-fixing
 * Ignore (normal) keyboard input if command-queue exists
 * Find what is crashing glad sometimes (appears to be a NEW, not
   old bug) (apparently was deleting a non-existant radar)
 * Put guy/object display on radar (though not to 'scale')
 * Make the radar bigger (50x50?) (40x40 looked better)
 * Make a nifty graphics border for the radar
 * Add slimes eventually; they have a slime ball ranged attack
 * Make loader use the team list..
   - Now loads a GTL (saved game) file! At last! :)
 * Added colors.h for easy color reference
 * Added Win and Lose cheat keys
 * Winning a level now saves game to savetemp.gtl
 * Put in slime specials: small => medium => large

Since release 2i,j: (3/19/95)
 * Improved movement -- better baby-stepping, diagonals
 * Implemented command 'queue' for better AI
 * Added specials to archer and footman
 * Implemented radar (background only)
 * Implemented full-turning system with single keystroke
 * Implemented fire 'cost' (of MP); can see for mage's fireballs
 * Added diagonal graphics for mage

Since release 2g, h: (3/10/95)
 * Speed enhancements to various graphic routines
 * Code integration of main files with picker, scenario editor
 * Fixed up 'yo' to have delay; deal with foes better
 * Ready for transfer to Mike for now :)

Since release 2f:
 * Made game speed adjustable using numeric PLUS and MINUS

Since release 2e:
 * Faster walkputbuffer
 * Fixed shove bug
 * Optimized auto-walking
 * Cleaned out old error detection code
 * Corrected most warnings

Since release 2d: (3/07/95)
 * Rounded MP/HP display
 * Added slime-type guy (not pictured here)

Since release 2c:
 * HP & Magic point bar display
 * More cheat codes (Flying, Magicpoints, Hitpoints)
 * 'Incremental' movement when blocked

Since release 2b:
 * Can now only push members of same team
 * Implemented slippery walls :)
 * Replaced red flash with fast blood splash
 * Improved speed of screen redraw by about 30%
 * Improved AI on diagonals
 * Added 'yell' command to summon teammates (Y)

Since release 2a:
 * Fixed 'Unknown Blaster Option X' line
 * More 'circular' weapon range

Improvements since Release 2.0:
 * Number of foes remaining display
 * Pause key (P)
 * Red-shifted palette during menus
 * Sped up system (faster horizontal movement)
 * Guys rotate through turns
 * Red flash to indicate damage to controller


Improvements since version 1
  * diagonal movement
  * improved keyboard response
  * larger viewport (with faster rendering)
  * floating text for information
  * more opponent teams
  * new character classes
  * improved maps and scenarios
  * blood splots ;) (it's gorier than doom)
  * animated tiles (flowing water, flickering torches)
  * improved AI
  * better scoring system
  * improved stability (we found some bugs ;)
  * nifty cheats (try and find them)
  * more colorful palette