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Text File | 1990-10-17 | 52.9 KB | 1,156 lines

1.) INTRODUCTION - It is the year 2658 (why not? or, if you prefer, 3428, or 2954, or...) and man has been exploring space for decades, starting up colonies, and creating huge centers of learning and progress... Then, there was the Great Wars... tired of being pushed around, and subject to laws and economic constraints put upon them by earth, the outer colonies rebelled, leading to violent bloodshed... By the end of the wars, some 23 years later, neither side emerged victorious, and the entire state of mankind was in choas. Eventually, some order was restored, and the few remaining worlds, with some exceptions, bound together, and formed another Federation, led once again by Earth. But this was a different federation, for they preferred to remain in peace, and semi-isolation, refusing to get involved in any more wars, after the horrible destruction brought about in the last wars. Some of the more remote colonies, which had long since lost contact with Earth, and other colonies, which still wished to have no part in the federation since the wars, began vying for power amongst themselves, with the occasional faction breaking off and forming yet another empire to add to the struggle. Allies were formed, broken, worlds were colonized, conquered, lost, destroyed, in the great battles between the empires. Finally, the federation began to see what was happening again, and desided to bring an end to it... spending the next years building up a HUGE army, they went forth among the galaxies, and attempted to bring peace, cooperation, and trade among the empires... To some extent they succeeded, setting up Intergalactic foodstores and banks, but the empires still continued to war amongst themselves. Whats more, they were not alone in the universe - another alien race, the XXyborg, was come across in galactic exploration, and they weren't exactly pleased with the interruption, and declared war among all other lifeforms in the galaxy namely humans. But there were other galaxies as well.......... (well, you wanted an Intro, didn't you?) 2.) GAME DESCRIPTION - Dark*Storm is a multi-player, possibly inter-bbs (if your sysop enables that option) game, in which players control their own empire, in an attempt to become the strongest and most powerful empire in the galaxy. But the evil XXyborg race also is included in this - and they perform all kinds of nasty, dastardly deeds like stealing your food, planets, performing terrorist bombings, and attacking with their military forces... But, like the other players, they too can be attacked, and ultimately destroyed, if you have the bravery and will to take them on. That, in a paragraph, is Dark*Storm. Because of the multi-player interaction, Dark*Storm is pure strategy - and what strategies and methods may have worked in one game, may not necessarily work in the next. The idea for Dark*Storm came from an game called S.E. (Space Empire) by Jon Radoff, quite a good game. However, wishing to bring this game to the IBM world, as well as adding graphics, and zillions of features, I programmed Dark*Storm... and in the process totally redesigned a lot of formats, and added TONNES of new features, as well as TOTALLY changing the strategies required. If you liked S.E., and want more of a challenge, Dark*Storm is your game 3.) GAME HISTORY - V.0.01 Beta : First version, not released to the public (Hmm... this version come to think of it... then again, not anymore..) V.0.02 Beta : A corrected First version, again not released to the public (huh?) V.0.03 Beta : Fixed a bug in the battle sequence that prevented the attacker from losing any forces. Added registration Key Added the groundwork of Inter-Galaxy support V.0.03A-Z Beta : Fixed various bugs, in the comm. routines, error trapping routines, added some new things V.0.04 Beta : This version, fixed another error trapping bug, fixed a serious error involving EOF's... V.0.05 Beta : Well, umm... V0.04 didn't quite work (:-)), and so, I fixed input errors, comm. errors, and error which caused the players to stop getting turns, lottery errors, file display errors, etc... V.0.059 Beta : Fixed up D*S, so that it would work at speeds higher then 9600 Baud. V.0.06 Beta : Fixed up Lots of bugs in messages, and other places... Finished the groundwork for inter-galactic stuff... 4.) NOTES ON INSTRUCTIONS/DOCUMENTATION - In order to preserve some of the fun, some exact details will be left up to you, the players, to find out. In addition, it is impossible to describe and explain all the possible strategies, and methods possible, so this will just tell you how to play the game, basically. Throughout the instructions, examples from the game will be shown, not all of which will first be available/accessable when you first start the game.... Well, since these are the first instructions I have ever written, here goes!... Oh yeah, THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE WRITTEN ONLY TO HELP YOU TO GET ALONG A BIT!!! 5.) DARK*STORM - THE GAME: ---------------------- When you first load up the game, from the BBS, this is something like what you would see (the sysop names, and BBS names would be changed of course.): =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Welcome to Dark*Storm Version 0.02 Beta For The Dark*Storm BBS sysop: Nemesis 1) Play Dark*Storm 2) Read Today's News 3) Read Yesterday's News 4) Dark*Storm Scores T) Top Scores.... EVER! L) Last Month's Scores The documentation for Dark*Storm should be in your BBS's file section for your downloading fun. (heh-heh) X) Exit to BBS What would you like to do? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The options should appear self-explanatory, but in case they aren't, here is what each option does: 1) Play Dark*Storm: This, when selected, actually starts the main game! 2) Read Today's News: This display's today's newspaper, full of interesting facts about what's happening in the game, and if you're lucky, might reveal stuff about other empires! 3) Read Yesterday's News: This display's yesterday's newspaper... basically the same type of thing as the above, for those of you that missed it the day before. 4) Dark*Storm Scores: This displays the number of planets, and the individual scores of all the empires in the game. T) Top scores.... EVER!: This displays the 'Dark*Storm Hall Of Fame'. If you are still the emperor at the end of the month, you automatically get entered in here L) Last Month's Scores: This displays the final scores from last month... and finally... X) Exit to BBS: This tell's Dark*Storm, you wanna go back!! When you pick number one, the game will begin. If you are a new player, you will be asked for an alias to be used. This can be anything you want to use, even your real name if you so desire. If the alias feature is turned off by the sysop, though, you will be forced to automatically use your real name as it is on the BBS... Also, remember that only 20 players (in this version) can play at one time, so if a full 20 players are playing, you will have to try again the next day. After passing through a brief intro/title screen, the following will be shown... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Found! The following happened to you since the last time you were on: nothing Please press(space) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This is where you can read all the messages left for you to read, and where you are also informed of all the events that have happened to you since your last time on, just like your own personal newspaper. At this time though, you can only read - not reply or interact in any way. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Daily Diplomatic Relations... ══════════════════════════════ 1) Neutrality/Peace Treaty 2) Free Trade Agreement 3) Minor Alliance Pact 4) Total Defensive Pact 5) Break Treaty 6) View Relations 0) Done ══════════════════════════════ Which one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This is one of the more important functions that you can preform each day... Here you can make alliances, (or break them), and view your current relations with all the other empires. Having the right treaty at the right time can mean the difference between prosperity and death!.. Of course, beware of having too many treaties! 1) Neutrality/Peace Treaty : If you propose this to another player, and they accept, you are prevented from attacking each other for the duration of the treaty. In addition, trading routes are opened with that empire. When you proposed the treaty, you set the duration, from 1 to 14 days. After this time, the treaty is still in effect, until either you attack them, or they attack you. 2) Free Trade Agreement : This has all the features of the Neutrality/Peace Treaty, but in addition each empire is payed around 130 credits PER TURN for each million people their partner has in population. This promotes peace between Empires, by allowing them to profit from cooperation. 3) Minor Alliance Pact : This treaty has all the features of the neutrality/peace treaty, but in addition if either your partner or you is attacked by another empire, the other partner sends around 20% of his forces to aid in your defense! the other empire sends approximately 4) Total Defensive Pact : This treaty is exactly like the minor alliance pact, except it is on a larger scale. This time, over 40% of the other partners forces are sent! Remember - the treaty doesn't actually take affect until the empire which you proposed the treaty to accepts. But, they also have the option of rejecting it as well!! 5) Break Treaty : This allows you to formerly issue a declaration of war to another empire. If you have a treaty signed, which normally cannot be broken, the other empire will be informed, and upon confirmation, the treaty will be broken. But beware - this can allow them to get in the first shots!! 6) View Relations : This displays a list of all the other empires and your relations with them, in addition to the duration remaining (if any). 0) Done : (You can also hit return anywhere in the game where there is a "0) Done" option to have the same effect.) This brings you to the next section of the game - Note: The diplomatic menu is only accessable once per logon! One you are finished with the daily diplomatic relations section of the game, you go on to the main status display. Here is a sample: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ 31000 credits of ore mined. You collect 19998 in taxes. Your nations statistics... ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Test empire's Nation Turns: 7 Score: 1920 Credits: 50998 Food: 10000 megatonnes Population: 100 million Intel. Agents: 0 insurgencies: PEACEFUL Flagship: 0% Completed Military: [Troops=100] [Fighters=0] [Defense Platforms=0] [Cruisers=0] [Plasma Torpedoes=0] [Generals=2] [Transporters=1] [Effectiveness=100%] Planets: [Ore=2] [Food=0] [Soldier=0] You have 20 turns of protection left. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Most of these, such as population, should be self-explanatory, except for the actual "Playing" pieces, such as your military... Your empire is built completely around one thing - Planets. Of these there are three types - ORE, FOOD, and SOLDIER. Planets can be gained by colonization (if there are any habitable planets available!), or by successfully attacking other players. ORE planets produce your income - you should have the most number of these - if you don't, your empire will collapse in sheer poverty! SOLDIER planets are for training soldiers - the number depends on several factors, and they are added at the beginning of each turn. FOOD planets quite simple produce FOOD - essential for feeding your people. You may also note that both food and soldiers can be bought seperately, but food can run out, and if that happens, you will be forced to rely on your own supplies. Be careful though - too many soldier planets, and not enough food planets and you will end up with hordes of starving troops which will throw you into civil war! Likewise, if you don't have enough ore planets, you might end up with all kinds of underpaid soldiers, and not enough money to pay for food!. Keep one more thing in mind: Planets cost money. Both money to colonize, and money to maintain. 1) Turns: The number of turns you have left today. (Note: These can be stored if you wish to leave early, and be used again later on in the day, but they cannot be added to the NEXT day's turns.) In addition, if you have used up all your turns, you may still log-on again, and see your current empire status, as well as leave messages. 2) Score: Your empires score. This is calculated on several factors, but beware : if you use this to get an estimate of the defensive or offensive power an empire you wish to attack, it may not necessarily be accurate! 3) Credits: These are the standard units of currency for the entire galaxy, they can be used to buy almost anything and everything. 4) Food: Food is necessary and essential for feeding your people and troops... more on food will be explained later... 5) Intelligence Agents: Also known as covert agents, these people make up your entire intelligence agency! Without them, you are more vulnerable to enemy intelligence operations, and are unable to perform any operations. Generally, the more you have, the harder you are to be infiltrated. However, there are exceptions, it's up to you to find them out.... 6) Insurgencies: This measures the internal unrest, and general status and opinion of your people, ranging from PEACEFUL to UNDER COUP. Normally, your empire should be at a PEACEFUL state, but should the insurgencies be raised (by failure to provide for your people/military), or by terrorist activites, or even by other players, they could have EXTREMELY disasterous results!!!! They can be fought off by paying a certain amount of money in order to lower them a notch... but it could be quite costly, and doesn't always work! 7) Flagship: This is the orbiting flagship of your military. It is vital to your military's attacks - without it, any attacks you make are seriously weakened. In addition, it helps protect you from enemy attacks! Once you pay an initial fee to begin construction, construction is completed at a rate of 5% each turn. Watch out though - enemy attacks will damage your command ship, eventually destroying it. 8) Troops: These are the basic components of your military - without any troops, your not going to get far with any plans of conquest! But beware, they require food to feed them, money to pay them, and in order to invade far away planets and empires, you've got to move them somehow, not to mention commanding them! 9) Fighters: These are short-range fighters. Their extremely quick scramble time, and maneuverability make them highly effective in terms of defence, but in order to attack long range, they need to be transported and thus lose some effectiveness! 10) Defense Platforms: These are orbiting defense platforms that are used primarily for protecting your empire. Because once in place they aren't mobile, they are more than useless in terms of offence. They are also usefull for launching, and servicing, your fighters! You can never have enough of these, so BUY BUY BUY!!!! 11) Battle Cruisers: These are the big, heavy-duty deep-space battle cruisers of your empire. The most powerful of all space-faring vehicles (with the exception of the flagship), they require no transportation to travel and navigate the reaches of deep space. BUY!! BUY!!! BBBUUUYYYY!!!!! 12) Plasma Torpedoes: There are EXTREMELY POWERFUL and VERY DANGEROUS intergalactic projectiles, housed in planetary-based silos. They can be used once, and once only, and are so powerful they can do mucho damage. But... they can't defend you very well, due to their lack of mobility, and slow targeting systems, so, you may be able to blow away a more powerful empire, but you would never survive the counter attack unless you had a strong backup force. 13) Generals: These are the commanders of your military - their job is to command and direct your soldiers when attacking and defending.... Each one can command up to 50 soldiers. 14) Transporters: These are huge ships used for transporting anything you wanna put in them - people, fighters, food, money... however, the larger the less you can fit. They utilize gigantic orbiting warp-gates, which transport them instantaneously anywhere in the galaxy, or even out of the galaxy in a few days! These are essential for both trading and battles... it's up to you to find uses for them! 15) Effectivness: This is a percentile rating of the effectiveness of your fighters, soldiers, and defensive platforms. It is lost through inactivity/getting your soldiers out of shape, not paying/feeding your troops, enemy actions, loosing battles, just to name A FEW! It can be raised either by winning battles, or by paying a small amount each turn to have it raised a small bit. 16) ARMAGEDDON DEVICE: ???? All I'll tell you is: It's hard to get, It cost's a fortune, and has the potential power to destroy the entire GALAXY!!!.... In short, it's the ultimate weapon... or is it? (heh-heh... better watch it..) 17) ???? There are other items..... and A LOT more are going to be added... you'll have to find out for yourself!! 18) Protection turns: When you start out as a new empire, you have a limited number of turns during which you cannot be attacked, or provoked via intelligence agents. The problem is, you can't do any attacking, etc. yourself without voiding this protection! This ensures the small empires have a slight chance instead of getting demolished in two minutes. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Your army requires 6000 credits. How much do you wish to pay? [6000] 6000 Your planets require 20000 to maintain. How much do you wish to pay? [20000] 20000 Your police agencies require 2500. How much do you wish to pay? [2500] 2500 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This is the section where you distribute your funds amongst your military, pay for planets, fund the police agencies, etc... The above is just a sample (There is more to pay for! It's just an excerpt for space reasons!)... The amount in the brackets is how much you can afford to pay (or wish to pay)... you may have more money, but you don't need to spend it. In order to enter a value, you can either enter it, or just hit return to accept the number given in the brackets. Note: If you don't have enough money to pay for everything, the computer automatically prioritizes everything - but you can re-prioritize manually if you wish... Be careful though, if you don't pay your army, you might lose some of your forces, or other NASTY things. If you don't pay the other stuff, well, I'll leave that up to you to find out! (One thing, you may notice nothing TOO severe happens when you just barely undercut prices, but if you tip the treshold... HAHAHAHA... you might regret it.). And now..... ...The Union Food Market: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Welcome to the Union Food Market! Current amount stock piled is 28860. Food demand is HIGH. You currently have 10000 Do you wish to [b]uy, [s]ell, or [C]ontinue? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Union Food Market is used quite simply to buy and sell food. It doesn't really need much describing, and the choices are self-explanatory. The prices in the food market vary, depending on the supply and demand, and at times, the food may run out completely! When this happens, you're on your own when it comes to providing food, So don't become too dependant on the food market! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Your army requires 2000 megatonnes of food. How much do you wish to give them? [2000] 2000 Your people require 2040 megatonnes of food. How much do you wish to give them? [2040] 2040 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This section is for distributing your food (and other included necessary materials) to your people and army. It's practically identical in format and style to the above segment on paying for your planets, etc., so I won't go into it too much. Just remember - make sure you have enough food, and if you don't, you can always go back to the union food market! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Intelligence/Covert Operations... ════════════════════════════════════════ 1) Send Spy.....................7500 2) Aid Insurgencies.............100000 3) Setup Opponent...............100000 4) Support Dissension...........200000 5) Demoralize Soldiers..........250000 6) Terrorist Bombing............250000 7) Tap Communications...........250000 8) Take Hostages................300000 9) Bribe General................500000 A) Bribe Covert Agent...........500000 0) Done ════════════════════════════════════════ You have 5 agents, and 28092 credits. Which one would you like to do? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Intelligence operations play a major role in the game. Used at the time, intelligence operations can cripple or paralyze a powerful enemy for a short while, permitting you and your allies (if any) to move in and attack. The intelligence operations, with the exception of Send Spy, are not available (and so, not visible) as long as you are under the "New Empire Status" (when you have at least one protection turn left). Also, the intelligence operations menu itself is not visible until you have at least one intelligence agent. When you select an operations (and providing you have enough credits), you will be shown the difficulty rating of the mission when attempting it against that particular empire. The rating ranges from "TINY", which is almost always successful to "VERY IMMENSE", which might as well be impossible (but you might still do it if you are VERY VERY VERY lucky). Note: YOU ARE LIMITED TO THREE OF ANY PARTICULAR OPERATION ON ANY PARTICULAR PLAYER, Send Spy and Aid Insurgencies excluded, (ie. you can only Bomb Mr. X three times, and then QQ three times...etc.). If you succeed at any operation, the other person will be none the wiser as to who did it but if you fail, they, and the whole world, will know!! 1) Send Spy: This selection is one of the most widely used intelligence operations. It is also the only one you can perform while under protection. This lets you attempt to infiltrate the opponent empire, and spy. If successful, you get information on their military status and empire status. This takes effect immediately. 2) Aid Insurgencies: This lets you support rebel factions to cause public unrest, scandals, etc.. This also takes effect immediatly. You can do this as much as you want, over and over, until they reach maximum insurgencies. (UNDER COUP). 3) Setup Opponent: This lets you set up two empires! If successful the victim empire will think that the other empire attacked it! If you're real lucky, a war may start between them! 4) Support Dissension: This lets you corrupt the victim empire's soldiers, causing a fairly large percentage of their soldiers to go AWOL. 5) Demoralize Soldiers: This lets you send in liquor and prostitutes (dirty ones at that) to reduce the victims army effectiveness! 6) Terrorist Bombing: When picked, this gives you a choice of: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1) Military Headquarters: If successful this causes a large percentage of the victims generals to be killed. 2) Logistics Center: If successful this prevents the victim from distributing food (and much of anything) for one turn. 3) Intelligence Headquarters: If successful this causes a large percentage of the victims intelligence agents to be killed. 4) Food Storage Facilites: If successful this destroys the victims food stockpiles. 5) Civilian targets: If successful this causes terrorists to sieze/destroy some civilian target such as bombing an airliner, taking over a section of a city, etc. 6) Communications Center: If successful, this stops the victim from recieving and sending messages, getting information about events that have occured to them, etc. It's up to you to figure out exactly what it does affect... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 7) Tap Communications: If successful, this lets you, well, tap communications (no...!), letting you read messages to them. (useful for detecting sneak attacks planned against you) 8) Take Hostages: This lets you send some terrorists to take hostages. If you are successful, they are forced to pay a large sum to get them back. 9) Bribe General: If successful, their general tells you in advance of any attacks that are going to be made against you. A) Bribe Covert Agent: If successful, the bribed agent fills you in with free information. *** NOTE: Except for Send Spy, and Support Dissension, all of the above *** intelligence operations take place at 00:00 hours, at the midnight maintenance. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Equipment/Resource spending.... Current Prices: ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ # Item Cost Owned ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ 1) Soldiers 1089 100 2) Fighters 1207 0 3) Defense Platforms 1667 0 4) Battle Cruisers 6044 0 5) Plasma Torpedoes 5428 0 6) Generals 14315 2 7) Build Flagship 60075 0 % 8) Colonize Planets 20469 2 9) Covert Agents 5071 0 A) Transporters 15698 1 B) Banking... C) Lottery... D) Gambling Casino... 0) Done... ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ You have 22498 credits, and 6 turn(s) remaining. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The above is an sample of the equipment/resource spending menu. This should be really simple and self-explanatory. Notice that the right-most column shows how many of each you own. The prices will vary depending on the size of your empire, and the amount that you own. I can't really tell you anything about techinques here - it all depends on the situations you face... just go to it, and spend your credits any way you want! One note about planets... you may notice that after a short while after the beginning of the game, you run out of planets to colonize. Each midnight, at maintenance, additional planets are found through space exploration. The number added depends upon the number of players, and the all-around power of the people... BUT as long as you have less than 200 planets, you are GUARANTEED at least enough to get to 200 planets. After that, well.... it depends. The last three options (Banking, Lottery, and Gambling Casino) will be discussed below: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Welcome to the United Galactic Bank ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Today's Bank Interest rate: 2% Deposit/Withdrawl charge: 10% ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Banking menu ─────────────────────────────────────── 1) Deposit Credits 2) Withdraw Credits 3) Projected Bank Income 4) Buy Bank Stock 5) Sell Bank Stock 6) Show Stockholders 0) Done ─────────────────────────────────────── Which one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This is the galactic bank... You deposit money in a bank... You withdraw money from the bank... You get petty interest at the bank... Here you can deposit your money for safekeeping, where no one but you knows how much you have, unlike just holding it, and where no one can steal it from you... at least, not from the other empires in your galaxy... the XXyborg do occasionally rob the bank, and empires from other galaxies might just sieze all bank assets... but that's unlikely. So what's wrong with putting money in the bank? Well, first of all, you get taxed a service charge when depositing money, and when withdrawing money.... but as long as it's in the account you get interest... but that's not all! For you, through the aquisition of shares, can actually own a part of the bank, and share in all the profits from money sized from dead player's bank accounts, lottery and gambling profits, tax profits, you name it! And, if you own the majority of shares (51%), you become the bank President! As president, you can set the tax rate, the interest rate, leave messages to all the patrons, what ever you want! (Not to mention an extra 50% of the profits!)... But, in order to control the president, and stop him from doing nasty things like setting the tax at 0%, the interest at 50%, for a day, (all the empires go "WOW! LOOK AT THAT! LET's DEPOSIT!!!!"), and then changing the tax to 75%, interest 0% the next day (MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!), something has to be built in!.. And so, if the stock price drops below 40% of the stock price the day the president was brought into power, well, he's gotta sell over half of his shares! How do you bring down the share price, you may ask? Well, you can not deposit or withdraw, and collect interest for a while, not play the lottery, not gamble, and sell shares! (or any of the above, or win the lottery, or win at gambling)... That way, if the president does anything like the interest trick, the stock price will plummit! (Unless the players LIKE that, for some reason?!?!?). 1) Deposit Credits: This allows the empire to deposit credits into the account. Accounts are automatically opened when the player first begins. 2) Withdraw Credits: This allows the empire to withdraw credits from the account. 3) Projected Bank Income: This shows you how the bank is running so far, and might give you some idea of tommorrows stock price. 4) Buy Bank Stock: This, quite simply, allows you to buy shares in the bank, earning you part of the banks profits as income, automatically added to your account. 5) Sell Bank Stock: This lets you dump your shares back to the bank. Of course, they can refuse to buy them back if they're losing money... If so, you're stuck with them! 6) Show Stockholders: Gives you a public list of all the empires, and how much of the bank they own. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Welcome to the United Galactic Lottery Co. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Current Prices: Super-8: (250,000 per play / any number of plays per day) Grand prize worth OVER 25,000,000 credits! Galactic-Lotto Lotto: (150,000 per play / any number of plays per day) Jackpot-Lotto: (200,000 per play / any number of plays per day) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── lottery menu ─────────────────────────────────────── 1) Buy Super-8 tickets 2) Buy Galactic-Lotto tickets 3) Buy Jackpot-Lotto tickets 0) Done ─────────────────────────────────────── You have 54155 credits remaining. Which one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Welcome to the friendly lottery, where you can really WIN big! At the moment, there are three types of lotteries (more will be added in later versions). 1) Super-8: This lottery is a bit like Lotto-649.. You pick 8 numbers from 0 to 500... if you match any, you win! the more you match, the more you win! I can't really say what the grand prize is, but the third prize is 250000000 credits!!! (2.5 billion!!!). 2) Galactic-Lotto: This lottery is a slightly different type of lottery compared to the first. In this one, you buy tickets, as many as you want... Each night, a series of ticket numbers are picked... if you have the right ticket, you win! There are assorted prizes, based on the standard scheme of lotteries (50 Small, 25 medium, 5 large, 2 super, 1 Grand prize, for example...) 3) Jackpot-Lotto: This lottery is very interesting. At the beginning of the game, a secret 4-digit number is picked. Any profits from tickets you buy go into the jackpot! So, the stakes rise and rise.... starting jackpot: 10000000 credits!!!!.. If you match the 4-digit number, you win the jackpot!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Welcome to Jason's Gamblin' Casino ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Gamblin' Menu ─────────────────────────────────────── 1) Coin Flip (50/50 chance) 2) Guess-the-Number More to be coming soon! 0) Done ─────────────────────────────────────── You have 54155 credits remaining. Which one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- For those of you who love to risk your fortune at the wheel of chance, well, here's your chance! (LOTS more GOOD things will be added later...) 1) Coin Flip: In this 'game' you first bet money, up to 10,000 credits. Then, a coin is flipped. If it's heads, you win! If it's tails, you lose... This pays back twice what you bet... 2) Guess-the-Number: This one seems easy at first - a number is picked... you put down a bet (up to 200,000 credits!)... you have five chances to guess the number. We tell you if it's too low, too high, or (darn!) if you win. Here's the hard part... the numbers from 1-1000! Here's the good part: It pays back 4 times back whatever you bet, if you win! And now.... the part we've all been waiting for.... WAGE WAR!!!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Battle stage: ═════════════ Which player? [A-T, '?' for list] List players... List of players/scores... Name No. P Score ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════ A The XXyborg 8 2670 B Return of the Dead 256 53385 C Nemesis 63 15060 D Mr. Happy 540 109620 E THE MASTER 4 3100 F Hordes of Cthulu 938 189580 G The Dart 49 10553 ═════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Which player? [A-T, '?' for list] The XXyborg Are you sure you want to attack The XXyborg? [y/N] Yes With 2 general(s), you can command 100 soldier(s). You have 101 soldier(s). With 5 transporter(s), you can carry 500 fighters(s). You have 5 fighter(s). You have 5 battle cruisers. You have 5 Plasma torpedoes. How many soldiers to deploy? [1] How many fighters to deploy? [1] How many battle cruisers to deploy? [1] How many plasma torpedoes to launch? [0] [C]onventional, [n]uclear, or [b]io-warfare attack? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The battle stage is probably one of the most important stages in the game! All the details and intricacies in this section would take eons to mention, so I'll just explain the different types of attacks. Just one thing... always be careful when attacking... what may look small could be decieving... and that empire could have VERY powerful allies! [C]onventional: This is just your standard attack - if your successful, you get a percentage of their planets as your own to colonize. Nothing really special about this one, but probably the most widely used and useful attacks. [N]uclear: This is the nasty attack - it does several things. First of all, it increases your attacking power SLIGHTLY. If you attack successfully, and the victim empire has over twenty-one planets, twenty of their planets are irradiated (and thus made worse than useless)... If they have under twenty - you automatically irradiate 0 planets... Why you may ask? Because your attacks either hit useless sections of planets, or uninhabited planets. The problem with this attack is the other empire has the ability to De-Rad the planets, and return them to a functioning state! There are other things that this does (very important things...) but I'll let you figure that out! [B]iological: An Outlawed attack, for those nasty, despicable people who don't care for laws or treaties. This POISONS (permanantly!) a lot of the target empires food planets.... and their people, killing of vast amounts of population! The problems... figure them out for yourself. The good points... you'll have to figure that out too! A note about winning and loosing battles: If you attack an empire, and you have protection remaining, IT IS VOIDED!... If you attack an empire, and have a treaty signed (but the time for strictly obeying is up), you are automatically enemies! And finally, loosing battles has a serious effect on your armies effectiveness - and likewise winning has a good effect on your armies effectiveness. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- You have 10 irradiated planets. ════════════════════════════════════════ [1] Pay for de-radiation treatment [2] Dump them [3] Deal with them tomorrow ════════════════════════════════════════ Which one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This menu is shown to you at the beginning of each logon, if you have any irradiated planets (caused by a successful nuclear attack). The options are as follows: [1] Pay for de-radiation treatment: This allows to (if you have the money) return all or some of your irradiated planets back to a functioning status. Note that this costs considerably less than buying them anew. [2] Dump them: This quite simply says: "GET RID OF THEM!!!". This is used either when you don't have enough money to pay for de-rad treatment, or can't afford to keep them around until you do have enough money! [3] Deal with them tomorrow: This lets you keep them, until tommorrow, where you have this menu again. Careful - they cost extra to maintain, because you have to keep people away, control emitted radiation, etc. So, it costs more in the long run to put them off until tommorrow! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Do you wish to do any trading? [y/N] Yes Which player? [A-T, '?' for list] Might Meeky Trading established... ════════════════════════════════════════ # Item Number ════════════════════════════════════════ 1) Soldiers 100 2) Fighters 4 3) Defense Platforms 2 4) Battle Cruisers 2 5) Plasma Torpedoes 1 6) Generals 2 7) Credits 4892 8) Food 0 9) Covert Agents 7 A) Transporters 1 0) Done ════════════════════════════════════════ Which one to port? Credits... With 1 transporters, you can port 1000 credits. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This section of the game allows you to port things to your allies. In order to port anything, you need three things: Something to port, Something to port with, and at least a Neutrality/Peace Treaty. In short, you can port pratically anything (except for planets, command ships, armageddon devices, etc.), as long as you have enough transporters to move them. There are several times when this is a VERY important menu, for example, when one of your allies has been heavily attacked, and has very little defenses left, you can port him any extra defense platforms, etc, that you have. Or, if your ally is having a serious food crunch, and there is no food left in the union market, you can send them your food, if you have surplus... Of course, there are MILLIONS more uses... among them, you can send trade convoys to distant galaxies (but it takes a few days for them to go there, and come back), providing the sysop has enabled that option. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- After this, all you really have left, is the end-of turn display, where you are informed of any population gains/losses, miscellaneous occurances in your empire, etc. This is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't go into it... Messages: After you have completed playing, (or have logged on again when you are out of turns...) you have the option of sending messages to other empires. The message editor is pretty simple (for now, in later version it will be improved). You just type whatever you want to say, and then enter "/S" to save, or "/A" to abort. A note about selecting players: you can either send to a specific empire, to everyone, or to everyone except... The last one is very useful for coordinating large-scale secret attacks upon one or more empires. *** **THOUGHTS ABOUT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE**: - More Gambling options, More Stock options, more weapons, additional colonization options (i.e. prison planets), more treaties, and the use and enforcing of embargoes, and...... INTER-GALACTIC (Inter-BBS) PLAY - This feature, as of yet , hasn't been incorperated yet, but when it comes, it will BLOW you away! Imagine..... extending your realm out of your galaxy.. up to hundreds of other games like yours... send messages... contact alien presences... form treaties with other distant empires.. make deals, and get distant powerful armies at your command.. crush your own galaxy... preform all kinds of NEW terrorist operations... form raiding parties among empires... send scounts... become lord of the UNIVERSE!! and that's just the beginning........ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (-- and tips! --) Well, no one has actually played yet, so.... there aren't any. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= In case of any questions you may have, and/or comments, bug reports, etc.... I can be found at the following BBS: File request's may also be made there.. (at 2400 Baud, sorry...) Betelguese Five - (416) 293-7618 2400 Baud, 24Hrs Fidonet 1:250/636 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=