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- WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN
- ==========================
-
- Map: The large central area represents a map of the current
- environment. On it, the highlighted @ always represents the player,
- letters represent monsters, non-highlighted @'s represent other
- humans, and other characters represent either objects or terrain
- features. The map will take up as much of the screen as is possible,
- so if you are running in a windowing system make the omega window as
- large as it can be.
-
- Since the same character can represent different things or entities
- (even in the same environment), a good command to remember is 'x'
- (examine), which will tell you precisely what you are dealing with in
- any situation. This is especially helpful before you have terrain
- types like deep pools and lava pits (!) memorized.... You can use the
- CONFIRM option to avoid walking absent-mindedly into a trap, pool,
- etc. The '/' command will give you more general help, for example
- telling you that the ')' character represents a weapon. The '?'
- command can give you either a command list or this file. The command
- lists will differ depending whether you are in the countryside, or a
- dungeon or city.
-
- Messages: Directly above the map window is a three line area that
- shows current messages from the game describing what is going on.
- The ^p command, or ^o for IBM users, shows old messages.
-
- Location: Directly beneath the map window is a one line description
- of your current location or environment.
-
- Statistics: Beneath the Location line are two lines that show
- the current state of the player's statistics such as strength,
- dexterity, constitution, agility, intelligence, power, mana,
- gold pieces, carrying capacity, etc. When the value given looks
- like number1 / number2, number1 represents the current value,
- and number2 represents a maximum value.
-
- Flags: In the upper right corner of the omega display, below the date
- and time, and phase of the moon, you will see four flags: The top
- describes your food status, the second describes your status with
- respect to poison, the third your health (diseased or healthy), and
- the fourth, your mode of transportation. While you are diseased you
- will not regain hit points naturally. While you are poisoned you will
- take damage periodically until cured or killed (or the poison's effect
- can naturally fade). When your food runs out, and you start starving,
- you will take more and more damage as time passes until finally you
- die of starvation. It's always a good idea to stock up at the
- Commandant's.... If you manage to acquire a horse, your SPEED will
- probably improve (unless you were very fast already). Regardless of
- SPEED, having a horse will save some time in countryside movement, and
- may also help out your combat strength. However, horses tend not to
- enjoy going into dungeons....
-
- Combat Abilities: In the lower right of the display, your current
- combat abilities are displayed. These are:
-
- Hit: is your current chance to hit with the weapon currently wielded,
- the higher the better. This factor varies with your DEXTERITY,
- experience level, and the weapon wielded.
- Dmg: is the maximum amount of damage you can do with a hit. This factor
- varies with your STRENGTH and the weapon wielded.
- Def: is your defensive rating, how hard it is for monsters to hit you. This
- factor varies with your AGILITY and experience level, and with
- the shield being used.
- Arm: is your armor rating, how much damage is absorbed when a monster
- hits you before you take damage. Armor only absorbs normal damage;
- various effects and forms of magic may penetrate armor. This factor
- varies with the armor worn.
- Spd: is a speed factor, how quickly or how slowly you move. This factor is
- calculated about a base of 1.00; 2.00 means you move twice as fast;
- 0.50 means you move twice as slowly as normal. This factor varies
- with your AGILITY and the amount of weight you are carrying.
- Every monster has its own speed factor. The maximum speed is 5.0;
- the minimum is infinitesimal.
-
- Magic spells, special items, and monster effects can affect all these factors,
- positively and negatively.
-