HPAVC/HPAVC CD-ROM.iso/pc/TEOS201B.ZIP/SYSOP.DOC

Text File | 1997-01-07 | 16.5 KB | 426 lines

             ░▒▓ PLANETS: THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE V2.01 BETA ▓▒░

                      Also known as TEOS.  (tee-ose)

                 Written and programmed by Seth A. Robinson

                 ANSI:  Cat Spencer, Terry Kingry, Jamie Lee
         TEAM DDPLUS:  Scott M. Baker, Steve Lorenze and Bob Dalton
                 ADDITIONAL TEXT IN GOSSIP.DAT: Dan Oliver

                    BUG REPORT GOD: Jeremy Stewart
                    BUG REPORT PRINCE: Niko Nirvi

 KILLER BUG REPORTS:  Sid Purvis, Shawn Teal, Michael Van Ham, Jonathan Duke
                      Sam & Dawn Evans

               (c) Copright 1992,1997 : Robinson Technologies, Inc.
                Home Page:  http://www.teleport.com/~sethable
          -->        Internet mail: [e-mail]
          |- (send here for comments, questions and tech support)

                 RTSoft *IS* Seth A. Robinson and Shawn Teal.



                             ░▒▓ INDEX  ▓▒░

               *1*         .................      About the game
               *2*         .................      Game Installation
               *3*         .................      Sysop Info/Tricks
               *4*         .................      Game Registration

  To access parts of this document fast use the find feature in your text
  editor.  (like "find *3*" for section 3)


                    ░▒▓ SECTION *1* About the game  ▓▒░

  TEOS is a space trading game.  It developed loyal fans soon after its
  release in 1992.

  An update was promised - but always taking second seat to the LORD upgrades.
  But now its time has come to grow.

  V2.00 is NOT finished.  We are allowing anyone who wishes to test it
  however - and help make it a better game via bug reports and suggestions.

  It is a space oddessy that allows players to shape the game like no other.

  ANSI games are becoming a relic of the past - falling to new graphically
  oriented games and BBS clients, but there is still something magical about
  how simple and complex a text game can be when inside a world that allows
  you to take player interaction to the max.

  * Supports 200 players.
  * Multinode interactive (some options only appear when 2+ are playing!)
  * From RTSoft, the makers of the hit door game LORD
  * Team play - up to 10 players per 'cartel'.  Up to 200 teams
  * Support for team allys - up to 20
  * Support for up to 99 planets
  * Up to 32,000 ship types, comes with 16
  * Player, World, Ship, NPC editors are inside PLANCFG.EXE!  (note: a
    registered game is required to change values)
  * Support for most drop files
  * Copy setup from LORD option (if you can run LORD, you can run this)
  * own planets and get daily reports, taxes, news
  * be good (Alliance), evil (Maraken) or neutral
  * Alliance and Maraken each have a home planet and base players can land
    on
  * Comprehensive player and team rankings
  * Players can see if their teamates have played yet today/how much
  * In game email of unlimited length
  * 'mass team mailing'
  * `%Sansi `2color `%codes!!
  * Players can customize their planets after they own them
  * IGM Support!  Each planet can have up to 8 IGM's.  Players must be on
    the planet to see 'em
  * "Game Info" feature shows players what the settings are, what IGM's are
    installed and where they are.  (unless the IGM tells TEOS not to)
  * Smart NPC's that have custom texts, stats, likes and dislikes and
    remembers every encounter with every player they meet.  NPC's can be
    edited and added
  * IGM's are strictly controlled - because IGM authors use the TEOS Kit
    by Seth A. Robinson, you know they will be compatible - PLUS extras like
    all IGM's can handle mail and communication all automatically (new!)
  * Players can put chatwalls up on their own planets
  * Players can pretty much have the time of their lives
  * New flavors including new Planets, Item Settings, Ships, Enemies and
    Gossip files are/will be available for download for a unique game, or
    just make your own!
  * Actually fun to play!   <-- The most important feature


                    ░▒▓ SECTION *2* Game installation ▓▒░

  Those familiar with how LORD:  The setup is identical.  There is also a
  'COPY NODE SETUP FROM LORD' option inside PLANCFG.EXE.

  To install:

  Unzip into an empty dir.

  * Run "PLANCFG.EXE" from the dos prompt.  (it will create the GAME.DAT file)

  * Exit it.


                                 -=-=-=-=-=-

  To play without a BBS or for testing purposes:

  * Type "START" from the directory TEOS is in.  You are now playing the game!

  (quick tip - to advance the day one and put the game into debug mode, type
   "START MAINT" This is a LOCAL ONLY switch for testing ONLY!!!)

                                 -=-=-=-=-=-
  To setup on your BBS.

  Run "PLANCFG.EXE" and choose the (S)etup a node option.  You can now setup
  up to 999 node configurations, including drop file type & path, com port,
  locked port rate and more.

  ** YOU MUST RUN START.BAT FROM THE DIRECTORY IT IS IN! **
  ** If you wish, you can edit the top of the START.BAT  **
  ** file to switch to that directory - that works too.  **


  Examples of command lines to run the game from your BBS:

  CALL START 1

  (to run configuration 1)

  CALL START 13

  (to run configuration 13)

  For trouble shooting, check TROUBLE.DOC.

  If you run just START with no parm, it will default to 0.  When you unzip,
  NODE0.DAT comes with it, setting node 0 to local node.  You CAN change
  this if you want to run your BBS on node 0, in PLANCFG's (S)etup a node
  option enter 0 for the node to edit.



                    ░▒▓ SECTION *3* Sysop Info/Tricks ▓▒░

  Q. LOOKS COOL - IS IT CRIPPLED?

  A. <sigh> Yes - players cannot buy new ships or use torpedos.  IGM's
     that change these values not function correctly.

     HOWEVER - Its still a fun game.  (until you lose your ship and have to
     come back in a garbage scow!! <G> )

     Registering also allows you to use the many editors in PLANCFG.EXE,
     unregistered you can VIEW everything but not change 'em.

     * WHEN YOU DECIDE ITS A ROCKING GAME AND A BARGAIN AT $15 *

     $15 on your Visa/MC on our voice registration line can have you
     registered in minutes.  (we give you a code that unlocks this copy!)

  Q. DOES TEOS HAVE RIP SUPPORT?

  A. No.  I just didn't see RIP being popular enough to warrant that much
     time into development.

  Q. HOW CAN I GENERATE SCORE FILES FOR MY BULLETINS?

  A. ANSI and ASCII score files are called SCORE.ANS and SCORE.ASC defaultly,
     you can change this in the (G)ame Options section in PLANCFG.EXE.

     The files are generated after someone PLAYS the game, then quits.

     TIP:  Enter a blank line to not generate files.

  Q. WHAT THE HELL?  THERE IS NO PLANETS.DAT OR ENEMIES.DAT FILE!!??

  A. Duh.  If they don't exist they will be created the first time you play
     or use PLANCFG.EXE. They are copied from PLANETS.ORG and ENEMIES.ORG.
     Planets and NPC's change throughout the game.  NPC's grow stronger, buy
     holds, items and develop likes and dislikes.

     The .ORG files are the 'fresh' versions and are never changed - keep
     in mind some NPC's will hate people right off the bat because of their
     alliance or they are just mean.  Some NPC's have a low 'intelligence'
     and trade and build slower than others.

  Q. DOES TEOS HAVE IGM SUPPORT?

  A. Yep.  As of this writing I have written one called Landfill.  Its fun!
     (its LANDF100.ZIP on my BBS and webpage)

     IGM's in TEOS are special - they can directly communcate with the game
     in many ways unprecedented in door history - they can move themselves
     from planet to planet, add planets, destroy planets, add players, npcs,
     quests, change other IGM's and handle reading and writing mail as if
     they were in TEOS itself.

  Q. WHAT THE DING DONG DOES IGM STAND FOR, ANYWAY?

  A. (I)n (G)ame (M)odule.  A term created by RTSoft for another door called
     LORD a few years ago.

  Q. HOW MANY IGM'S CAN I PUT IN TEOS?

  A. Each planet can hold up to 8.  They will show up on the main console
     menu.  Don't forget that the Alliance/Maraken Headquarters/Bank/Dreamor
     temple count as IGM's, even though they are internal.  They can be
     removed in PLANCFG.EXE though.

  Q. CAN I MAKE AN IGM FOR IT?

  A. At this time, I think I'm only going to give the 'TEOS IGM KIT' to
     certain people.  I hope this improves the quality of the IGM's and in
     the long run makes the sysops job easier.

     If you wish to develop - contact me and send me a copy of a program
     you have written.  This will prove to me you know what you're doing and
     this isn't your 1st project.

     The IGM kit contains many TPU's from TEOS itself, and can only be used
     in Turbo Pascal 7.0.  (Sorry C devs!!!)  It's SOOO darned easy!

  Q. CAN THIS GAME BE FINISHED?

  A. No.  This will probably be added as an IGM set - IGM's can actually
     do this now, and even reset the game and post screens depicted the
     last winner/ect for people in the next game to see.

  Q. I JUST INSTALLED THE CRAPPIEST IGM ON EARTH - HOW DO I GET RID OF IT?

  A. Two ways - One is use the CFG program it came with, (it should have a
     uninstall option) or use the IGM Control option in PLANCFG.EXE.  Switch
     to the planet it is on then move the curser to the IGM line it is on
     and pres the <DELETE> key.

  Q. I like the IGM Control area, but what is NOSHOW and NOLOCATION mean?

  A. Setting NOSHOW means this IGM does not shop up in (G)ame Stats at all.
     Setting NOLOCATION means the IGM 'name' shows up but not which planet it
     is on.

  Q. WHY WON'T IT LET ME KILL SOMEBODY WHO IS ONLINE?

  A. We tried it both ways, and it seems this is the more 'fair' way for
     those playing.  No one likes being killed while they are trading and
     uncloaked simply because they were on while someone else was.

  Q. WHAT THE?? WHERE IS GOMAR'S GUNS AND THE SCHOOLOR LIBRARY, ECT?

  A. I know a few planet descriptions reference places to go that are not
     there, I hope that these will be added by myself or someone else later
     in the form of an IGM.  They aren't essential anymore, ie, Phaser units
     were taken out.

  Q. HOW DO I DISABLE/ADD TO OR MODIFY THE 'PROFANITY CHECKER'?

  A. The file is called BADWORDS.DAT - use any text editor. To disable it,
     comment out everything or delete the file.

  Q. HOW CAN I SET THE TIME TO DELETE INACTIVE PLAYERS?

  A. TEOS defaults to delete inactive players after 15 days.  You can change
     this in PLANCFG.EXE. (Game options)

  Q. HOW CAN I FORCE TEOS TO DISPLAY A TEXT SCREEN I MADE TO PEOPLE?

  A. Name the file NEWS.TXT.  TEOS will display it after the intro ansi. Very
     handy to notify them of a coming reset or beg for money.

  Q. HOW CAN I RESET THE GAME?

  A. To reset the players delete TRADER.DAT.  To reset the planets delete
     PLANETS.DAT.  To reset the NPCs delete 'ENEMY.DAT'.  You can reset these
     all together or in any combination.

     Use PLANCFG.EXE's (R)eset Game option to reset everything for you.

  Q. IF I RESET, WILL I HAVE TO REINSTALL MY IGM'S?

  A. No!  The IGM??.DAT files in the mail dir will remain intact - these
     hold the IGM info.  The ?? is the planet #.  Your IGM's will all still
     be there after resetting!

  Q. WHERE ARE THE PLAYER MAIL FILES KEPT, I WANT TO LOOK AT 'EM!

  A. TEOS creates a directory called MAIL.  They as well as IGM data
     data files are kept there to keep the main dir clean.

  Q. HOW MANY PLAYERS CAN BE IN A GAME AT ONCE?

  A. The max player accounts in a game at once is 200.  The max amount of
     players that can be online simultaneously is also 200.

  Q. IT SAYS A PLAYER IS 'ON NOW' BUT THEY AREN'T! WHAT DO I DO?

  A. TEOS will fix this at maintenance.  (midnight)  Or the next time that
    player logs on, whichever is first.

  Q. TEOS SAYS 'BAD TRADER.DAT FILE' I THINK ITS CORRUPTED. NOW WHAT?

  A. TEOS makes a backup copy called TRADER.BAK once a day.  Rename it to
     TRADER.DAT and you may save your game.

  Q. I HATE YOUR MENUS, I WANNA CHANGE 'EM.

  A. Thanks.  Use ADDANSI.EXE to extract or put ansi files in the PLANTXT.DAT,
     INTROTXT.DAT.  Type ADDANSI without any parms to see the format for use.

     Remember, you can use any text editor such as EDIT to look at these
     files also - look for @#<NAME> to see what each ones header is called!

  Q. I WANT TO MAKE A PLANET THAT SELLS HOT DOGS.  CAN I?

  A. Yeah. Use the Item Settings Editor inside of (G)ame Options inside of
  PLANCFG.EXE and find a blank item spot - change the name to "* Hot Dogs".

  (The 1st char is what a player needs to hit to pick it, I used * because
   I know its not being used anywhere else..There are a few letters left too
   though.. If two items start with the same letter/symbol, if they are both
   on one planet, only one can be accessed.)

  Set the price and how many someone can buy at once also.  Leave 0 to limit
  it only by their cargo spaces.

  Next, use the planet editor and edit a planet - edit the trade rates, find
  Hot Dog on the list and set it to a % higher than 0.  100 means the planet
  will sell/buy at the base price.  200 % means twice as much.

  Q. AWESOME!  I CREATED A BUNCH OF NEW ITEMS AND PLANETS, HOW CAN I SHARE
     THEM WITH MY BROTHER IN VEGAS?

  A. Not too hard - take your changed planets.dat file (before anybody plays
     it) and put it in an empty dir.

     Go to the TEOS dir and type "PUTIL MAKE FOOD.PAK".

     Put that in the empty dir too - now (assuming PKZIP.EXE is in your path)
     type "PKZIP FOOD.ZIP".

     Now send it off to your brother!

     Tell him to RESET his game before installing, otherwise when he adds
     your new PLANET.DAT file, any planets owned by his player will be lost!

     Next, have him type "PUTIL ADD FOOD.PAK".  It will update his item
     list with YOUR items.  'course, you could always make an INSTALL.BAT
     for him or whatever also.  If you plan on distributing your 'flavor'
     which could also include enemies, gossip defaults, menues, new planet
     graphics ect, please run a copy by me (Seth) so I can check it out
     1st and make sure it works right.  Thanks!

  Q. I REGISTERED, SO WHAT DO I GET?!

  A. I love you! - you can add and change ships, planets, npcs and users.

     Your players can now buy ships and torpedos and use IGM's that change
     'registered only' values.

    You will also recieve a warm feeling for supporting a quality product
    which allows more of 'em to be made.

    You go to heaven now. ;>


                    ░▒▓ SECTION *4* Game registration ▓▒░


                         -= TO REGISTER THE GAME =-

  NOTE:  We no longer offer any package deals except for one:  2 copies for
  $25 (a $5 discount).  The two copies can both be TEOS, or TEOS and LORD.

  (LORD = Legend Of the Red Dragon, another door we've written)

  To unlock your copy, you need a 'registration code'.  You can register with
  us the following ways:

  U.S. MAIL:  Fill out REGISTER.DOC and send it to the address directed.

  INTERNET:  Hit our site at http://teleport.com/~sethable and use our online
             registration visa/mastercard form if your browser has forms
             support.

  VOICE REG LINE:  Use your visa and mastercard for instant registration at
                   [phone].  10AM to 6PM PST M-F

                   We give your your code over the phone in minutes!

           -= IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED AN OLDER VERSION ALREADY =-

  Due to piracy problems TEOS 2.0+ uses a different registration scheme than
  its predecessor.  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED TEOS 1 or 1.12, THIS IS
  A FREE UPGRADE.

  To get your updated codes fast:

  BBS:

  Call our WG BBS at [phone].  Go to the RTSoft area and choose the
  (P)ickup Registration Code option.

  INTERNET:

  E-mail [e-mail] with your name, address, BBS name, OLD CODES
  and request your TEOS 2.00+ codes.  We will attempt to reply within 24
  hours.

  (you can also do this at our website at http://teleport.com/~sethable)

  U.S. MAIL:

  Same as above, but U.S mail it to:

  ROBINSON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  ATTENTION: TEOS UPGRADE
  761 E ST
  INDEPENDENCE, OR 97351