xref: /netbsd-src/games/phantasia/phantasia.6 (revision 479d8f7d843cc1b22d497efdf1f27a50ee8418d4)
1.\"	$NetBSD: phantasia.6,v 1.13 2009/05/26 01:34:32 dholland Exp $
2.\"
3.Dd April 1, 2001
4.Dt PHANTASIA 6
5.Os
6.Sh NAME
7.Nm phantasia
8.Nd an interterminal fantasy game
9.Sh SYNOPSIS
10.Nm
11.Op Fl abHmpSsx
12.Sh DESCRIPTION
13.Nm
14is a role-playing game that allows players to create characters of
15various types to fight monsters and other players.
16Progression of characters is based upon gaining experience from fighting
17monsters and other players.
18.Pp
19Most of the game is menu-driven and more or less self-explanatory.
20The screen is cursor updated, so be sure to set up the
21.Ev TERM
22variable in your environment.
23.Sh OPTIONS
24.Bl -tag -width aaa -offset indent
25.It Fl a
26List all character names on file.
27.It Fl b
28Show scoreboard of top characters per login.
29.It Fl H
30Print header only.
31.It Fl m
32List monsters.
33.It Fl p
34Purge old characters.
35.It Fl S
36Turn on wizard mode, if allowed.
37(Wizard mode is restricted to the super-user.)
38.It Fl s
39Skip printing the header.
40.It Fl x
41Examine/change a particular character on file.
42.El
43.Sh PARTICULARS
44.Pp
45The game is multiplayer and game data is saved in a shared common
46location.
47Characters are password-protected to prevent abuse.
48Only characters above
49.Em level
50zero are saved.
51Characters that are left unused for sufficiently long will be purged.
52Characters are only placed on the scoreboard when they die.
53.Pp
54The world is based on a Cartesian coordinate system.
55New characters are placed randomly near the origin (center).
56.Ss Normal Play
57A number of the player's more important statistics are almost always
58displayed on the screen, with maximums (where applicable) in
59parentheses.
60.Pp
61Most commands are selected with a single letter or digit.
62For example, one may move by hitting
63.Sq W ,
64.Sq S ,
65.Sq N ,
66or
67.Sq E .
68Lower case may also be used; the game is not case-sensitive.
69One may also use
70.Sq H ,
71.Sq J ,
72.Sq K ,
73and
74.Sq L
75for movement, as with
76.Xr vi 1 .
77To move to a specific (x, y) coordinate, use the
78.Ic move
79.Pq Sq 1
80command.
81A character can move a maximum distance of
821 plus 1.5 per
83.Em level
84at once.
85Entering a compass direction will move the player the maximum
86allowed distance in that direction.
87.Pp
88The
89.Ic players
90.Pq Sq 2
91command shows who else is playing.
92The exact position is shown for those who are a similar distance or
93not as far from the origin.
94.Em Kings
95and
96.Em council of the wise
97can see and be seen by everyone.
98A
99.Em palantir
100removes these restrictions.
101.Pp
102One can talk to other players with the
103.Ic talk
104.Pq Sq 3
105option.
106This sends a line of text to everyone.
107To remove the current message, just type
108.Aq return
109when prompted for a message.
110.Pp
111The
112.Ic stats
113.Pq Sq 4
114option shows additional characteristics of a player.
115.Pp
116The
117.Ic quit
118.Pq Sq 5
119command exits the game.
120.Pp
121One may rest by default.
122Resting lets one regain maximum
123.Em energy level ,
124and also lets one find
125.Em mana .
126More mana is found at larger levels and further distances from the origin.
127.Pp
128One may call a monster by hitting
129.Sq 9
130or
131.Sq C .
132.Pp
133Use
134.Sq X
135to examine other players.
136.Pp
137One may quit or execute a sub-shell by hitting interrupt.
138Quitting during battle results in death, for obvious reasons.
139.Pp
140Several further commands become available as the player progresses in
141.Em level
142and
143.Em magic ,
144or to other stations in the game
145.Em ( valar ,
146.Em council of the wise ,
147.Em king ) .
148These are described elsewhere.
149In general, a control-L will force the redrawing of the screen.
150.Pp
151Other things which may happen are more or less self-explanatory.
152.Ss Fighting Monsters
153A player has several options while fighting monsters.
154They are as follows:
155.Bl -tag -width skirmish -offset indent
156.It Ic melee
157Inflicts damage on the monster, based upon
158.Em strength .
159Also decreases the monster's
160.Em strength
161some.
162.It Ic skirmish
163Inflicts a little less damage than
164.Ic melee ,
165but decreases the monster's
166.Em quickness
167instead.
168.It Ic evade
169Attempt to run away.
170Success is based upon both the player's and the monster's
171.Em brains
172and
173.Em quickness .
174.It Ic spell
175Several options for throwing spells (described elsewhere).
176.It Ic nick
177Hits the monster one plus the player's
178.Em sword ,
179and gives the player 10% of the monster's
180.Em experience .
181Decreases the monster's
182.Em experience
183an amount proportional to the amount granted.
184This also increases the monster's quickness.
185Paralyzed monsters wake up very fast when nicked.
186.It Ic luckout
187This is essentially a battle of wits with the monster.
188Success is based upon the player's and the monster's
189.Em brains .
190The player gets credit for slaying the monster if he/she succeeds.
191Otherwise, nothing happens, and the chance to
192.Ic luckout
193is lost.
194.El
195.Ss Character Statistics
196.Bl -tag -width energyXlevel -offset indent
197.It Em strength
198determines how much damage a character can inflict.
199.It Em quickness
200determines how many chances a character gets to make decisions while fighting.
201.It Em energy level
202specifies how much damage a character may endure before dying.
203.It Em magic level
204determines which spells a character may throw, and how effective those
205spells will be.
206.It Em brains
207basically, the character's intelligence; used for various fighting options
208and spells.
209.It Em mana
210used as a power source for throwing spells.
211.It Em experience
212gained by fighting monsters and other characters.
213.It Em level
214indicative of how much experience a character has accumulated; progresses
215geometrically as
216.Em experience
217increases.
218.It Em poison
219sickness which degrades a character's performance (affects
220.Em energy level
221and
222.Em strength ) .
223.It Em sin
224accumulated as a character does certain nasty things; used only rarely
225in normal play of the game.
226.It Em age
227of player; roughly equivalent to number of turns.
228As
229.Em age
230increases, many personal statistics degenerate.
231.El
232.Ss Character Types
233Character statistics are rolled randomly from the above list, according
234to character type.
235The types are as follows:
236.Bl -tag -width "experimento" -offset indent
237.It Em magic user
238strong in
239.Em magic level
240and
241.Em brains ,
242weak in other areas.
243Must rely on wits and magic to survive.
244.It Em fighter
245good in
246.Em strength
247and
248.Em energy level ,
249fairly good in other areas.
250This adds up to a well-equipped fighter.
251.It Em elf
252very high
253.Em quickness
254and above average
255.Em magic level .
256.It Em dwarf
257very high
258.Em strength
259and
260.Em energy level ,
261but with a tendency to be rather slow and not too bright.
262.It Em halfling
263rather quick and smart, with high
264.Em energy level ,
265but poor in
266.Em magic
267and
268.Em strength .
269Born with some
270.Em experience .
271.It Em experimento
272very mediocre in all areas.
273However, the
274.Em experimento
275may be placed almost anywhere within the playing grid.
276.El
277.Pp
278The possible ranges for starting statistics are summarized in
279the following table.
280.TS
281l c c c c c c
282l c c c c c c.
283Type	Strength	Quick	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
284_
285Mag. User	10-15	30-35	50-100	30-45	60-85	5-9
286Fighter	40-55	30-35	30-50	45-70	25-45	3-6
287Elf	35-45	32-38	45-90	30-50	40-65	4-7
288Dwarf	50-70	25-30	25-45	60-100	20-40	2-5
289Halfling	20-25	34	25-45	55-90	40-75	1-4
290Experimento	25	27	100	35	25	2
291.TE
292.\" .Bl -column "Experimento" "Strength" "Quick" "xxxxxx" "Energy" "Brains" "Magic"
293.\" .It Sy Charactertype	Strength	Quick	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
294.\" .It "Magic User"	10-15	30-35	50-100	30-45	60-85	5-9
295.\" .It Fighter	40-55	30-35	30-50	45-70	25-45	3-6
296.\" .It Elf	35-45	32-38	45-90	30-50	40-65	4-7
297.\" .It Dwarf	50-70	25-30	25-45	60-100	20-40	2-5
298.\" .It Halfling	20-25	34	25-45	55-90	40-75	1-4
299.\" .It Experimento	25	27	100	35	25	2
300.\" .El
301.Pp
302Not only are the starting characteristics different for the different
303character types, but the characteristics progress at different rates for the
304different types as the character goes up in
305.Em level .
306.Em Experimentoes Ns '
307characteristics progress randomly as one of the other types.
308The progression as characters increase in
309.Em level
310is summarized in the following table.
311.Pp
312.TS
313nokeep ;
314l c c c c c
315l n n n n n.
316Type	Strength	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
317_
318Mag. User	2.0	75	20	6	2.75
319Fighter	3.0	40	30	3.0	1.5
320Elf	2.5	65	25	4.0	2.0
321Dwarf	5	30	35	2.5	1
322Halfling	2.0	30	30	4.5	1
323.TE
324.Pp
325The character type also determines how much gold a player may
326carry, how long until
327.Em rings
328can overcome the player, and how much
329.Em poison
330the player can withstand.
331.Ss Spells
332During the course of the game, the player may exercise his/her
333magic powers.
334These cases are described below.
335.Bl -tag -width "all or nothing" -offset indent
336.It Ic cloak
337.Em magic level necessary :
33820 (plus level 7)
339.br
340.Em mana used :
34135 plus 3 per rest period
342.br
343Used during normal play.
344Prevents monsters from finding the character,
345as well as hiding the player from other players.
346His/her coordinates show up as '?' in the
347.Ic players
348option.
349Players cannot collect
350.Em mana ,
351find trading posts, or discover the
352.Em grail
353while cloaked.
354Calling a monster uncloaks, as does choosing this option while cloaked.
355.It Ic teleport
356.Em magic level necessary :
35740 (plus level 12)
358.br
359.Em mana used :
36030 per 75 moved
361.br
362Used during normal play.
363Allows the player to move with much more freedom than with the
364.Ic move
365option, at the price of expending mana.
366The maximum distance possible to move is based upon
367.Em level
368and
369.Em magic level .
370.It Ic power blast
371.Em magic level necessary :
372none
373.br
374.Em mana used :
3755 times
376.Em level
377.br
378Used during inter-terminal battle.
379Damage is based upon
380.Em magic level
381and
382.Em strength .
383Hits much harder than a normal hit.
384.It Ic all or nothing
385.Em magic level necessary :
386none
387.br
388.Em mana used :
3891
390.br
391Used while combating monsters.
392Has a 25% chance of working.
393If it works it hits the monster just enough to kill it.
394If it fails, it doesn't hit the monster, and doubles the monster's
395.Em quickness
396and
397.Em strength .
398Paralyzed monsters wake up much quicker as a result of this spell.
399.It Ic magic bolt
400.Em magic level necessary :
4015
402.br
403.Em mana used :
404variable
405.br
406Used while combating monsters.
407Hits the monster based upon the amount
408of
409.Em mana
410expended and
411.Em magic level .
412Guaranteed to hit at least 10 per
413.Em mana .
414.It Ic force field
415.Em magic level necessary :
41615
417.br
418.Em mana used :
41930
420.br
421Used during monster combat.
422Throws up a shield to protect from damage.
423The shield is added to actual energy level, and is a fixed number, based
424upon maximum energy.
425Normally, damage occurs first to the shield and then to the players actual
426.Em energy level .
427.It Ic transform
428.Em magic level necessary :
42925
430.br
431.Em mana used :
43250
433.br
434Used during monster combat.
435Transforms the monster randomly into one of the 100 monsters from
436the monster file.
437.It Ic increase might
438.Em magic level necessary :
43935
440.br
441.Em mana used :
44275
443.br
444Used during combat with monsters.
445Increases strength up to a maximum.
446.It Ic invisibility
447.Em magic level necessary :
44845
449.br
450.Em mana used :
45190
452.br
453Used while fighting monsters.
454Makes it harder for the monster to hit, by temporarily increasing the player's
455.Em quickness .
456This spell may be thrown several times, but a maximum level will be reached.
457.It Ic transport
458.Em magic level necessary :
45960
460.br
461.Em mana used :
462125
463.br
464Used during monster combat.
465Transports the monster away from the player.
466Success is based upon player's
467.Em magic
468and
469.Em brains ,
470and the monster's
471.Em experience .
472If it fails the player is transported instead.
47360% of the time, the monster will drop any treasure it was carrying.
474.It Ic paralyze
475.Em magic level necessary :
47675
477.br
478.Em mana used :
479150
480.br
481Used during monster combat.
482.Dq Freezes
483the monster by putting its
484.Em quickness
485slightly negative.
486The monster will slowly wake up.
487Success is based upon player's
488.Em magic
489and the monster's
490.Em experience .
491If it fails, nothing happens.
492.It Ic specify
493.Em magic level necessary :
494none
495.br
496.Em mana used :
4971000
498.br
499Used during monster combat only by
500.Em valar
501or
502.Em council of the wise .
503Allows the player to pick which monster to fight.
504.El
505.Ss Monsters
506Monsters get bigger farther from the origin (0,0).
507Rings of distance 125 from the origin determine the size.
508A monster's
509.Em experience ,
510.Em energy level ,
511and
512.Em brains
513are multiplied by the size.
514.Em Strength
515is increased 50% per size over one, and
516.Em quickness
517remains the same, regardless of size.
518.Pp
519Also, nastier monsters are found as one progresses farther out from the origin.
520Monsters also may flock.
521The percent chance of that happening is designated as
522.Em flock%
523in the monster listing.
524Monsters outside the first ring
525may carry treasure, as determined by their treasure type.
526Flocking monsters, and bigger monsters, increase the chances of treasure.
527.Pp
528Certain monsters have special abilities, as follows:
529.Bl -tag -width "Assorted Faeries"
530.It Em Unicorn
531can only be subdued if the player is in possession of a
532.Em virgin .
533.It Em Modnar
534has random characteristics, including treasure type.
535.It Em Mimic
536will pick another name from the list of monsters in order to confuse.
537.It Em Dark Lord
538very nasty person.
539Does not like to be hit (especially nicked),
540and many spells do not work well (or at all) against him.
541One can always
542.Em evade
543from the
544.Em Dark Lord .
545.It Em Leanan-Sidhe
546also a very nasty person.
547She will permanently sap
548.Em strength
549from someone.
550.It Em Saruman
551wanders around with
552.Em Wormtongue ,
553who can steal a
554.Em palantir .
555Also,
556.Em Saruman
557may turn a player's gems into gold pieces, or scramble her/his stats.
558.It Em Thaumaturgist
559can transport a player.
560.It Em Balrog
561inflicts damage by taking away
562.Em experience ,
563not
564.Em energy .
565.It Em Vortex
566may take some
567.Em mana .
568.It Em Nazgul
569may try to steal a
570.Em ring
571or neutralize part of one's
572.Em brains .
573.It Em Tiamat
574may take half a player's
575.Em gold
576and
577.Em gems
578and escape.
579.It Em Kobold
580may get nasty and steal one gold piece and run away.
581.It Em Shelob
582may bite, inflicting the equivalent of one
583.Em poison .
584.It Em Assorted Faeries
585These are killed if attacking someone carrying
586.Em holy water .
587These are
588.Em Cluricaun , Fir Darrig , Fachan ,
589.Em Ghille Dhu , Bogle , Killmoulis ,
590and
591.Em Bwca .
592.It Em Lamprey
593may bite, inflicting 1/2 of a
594.Em poison .
595.It Em Shrieker
596will call one of its (much bigger) buddies if picked upon.
597.It Em Bonnacon
598will become bored with battle, fart, and run off.
599.It Em Smeagol
600will try to steal a
601.Em ring
602from a player, if given the chance.
603.It Em Succubus
604may inflict damage through a
605.Ic force field .
606This subtracts from
607.Em energy level
608instead of any shield the player may have thrown up.
609This is a very easy way to die.
610.It Em Cerberus
611loves metal and will steal all the metal treasures from a player if able.
612.It Em Ungoliant
613can bite and poison.
614This inflicts five
615.Em poisons ,
616and also takes one from the player's
617.Em quickness .
618.It Em Jabberwock
619may tire of battle, and leave after calling one of his friends
620.Em ( Jubjub Bird
621or
622.Em Bandersnatch ) .
623.It Em Morgoth
624actually
625.Em Modnar ,
626but reserved for
627.Em council of the wise , valar ,
628and
629.Em ex-valar .
630Fights with
631.Em Morgoth
632end when either he or the player dies.
633His characteristics are calculated based upon the player's.
634The player is given the chance to ally with him.
635No magic, except
636.Ic force field ,
637works when battling
638.Em Morgoth .
639.It Em Troll
640may regenerate its
641.Em energy
642and
643.Em strength
644while in battle.
645.It Em Wraith
646may make a player blind.
647.El
648.Ss Treasures
649The various treasure types are as follows:
650.Bl -tag -width "type twelve/thirteen"
651.It Type zero
652none
653.It Type one
654.Em power booster
655\- adds mana.
656.br
657.Em druid
658\- adds experience.
659.br
660.Em holy orb
661\- subtracts 0.25 sin.
662.TP 1.5i
663.It Type two
664.Em amulet
665\- protects from cursed treasure.
666.br
667.Em holy water
668\- kills
669.Em assorted faeries .
670.br
671.Em hermit
672\- reduces sin by 25% and adds some mana.
673.It Type three
674.Em shield
675\- adds to maximum
676.Em energy level .
677.br
678.Em virgin
679\- used to subdue a
680.Em unicorn ,
681or to give much
682.Em experience
683(and some
684.Em sin ) .
685.br
686.Em athelas
687\- subtracts one
688.Em poison .
689.It Type four (scrolls)
690.Em shield
691\- throws a bigger than normal
692.Ic force field .
693.br
694.Em invisible
695\- temporarily puts the finder's
696.Em quickness
697to one million.
698.br
699.Em ten fold strength
700\- multiplies finder's strength by ten.
701.br
702.Em pick monster
703\- allows finder to pick next monster to battle.
704.br
705.Em general knowledge
706\- adds to finder's
707.Em brains
708and
709.Em magic level .
710.Pp
711All the scrolls except
712.Em general knowledge
713automatically call a monster.
714These preserve any spells that were already in effect, but are only in
715effect while in battle.
716.It Type five
717.Em dagger
718\- adds to
719.Em strength .
720.br
721.Em armour
722\- same as a
723.Em shield ,
724but bigger.
725.br
726.Em tablet
727\- adds
728.Em brains .
729.It Type six
730.Em priest
731\- rests to maximum; adds
732.Em mana , brains ;
733and halves
734.Em sin .
735.br
736.Em Robin Hood
737\- increases
738.Em shield
739and adds permanently to
740.Em strength .
741.br
742.Em axe
743\- like
744.Em dagger ,
745but bigger.
746.It Type seven
747.Em charm
748\- protects from cursed treasure (used before
749.Em amulet ) ;
750used in conjunction with
751.Em blessing
752to battle
753.Em Dark Lord .
754.br
755.Em Merlyn
756\- adds
757.Em brains , magic ,
758and
759.Em mana .
760.br
761.Em war hammer
762\- like an
763.Em axe ,
764but bigger.
765.It Type eight
766.Em healing potion
767\- sets
768.Em poison
769to -2, or subtracts two from
770.Em poison ,
771whichever is better.
772.br
773.Em transporter
774\- allows finder to move anywhere.
775.br
776.Em sword
777\- like a
778.Em war hammer ,
779but bigger.
780.It Type nine
781.Em golden crown
782\- allows the player to become
783.Em king
784by going to (0,0).
785.br
786.Em blessing
787\- cuts
788.Em sin
789to 1/3, adds
790.Em mana ,
791rests to maximum, kills
792.Em Dark Lord
793with a
794.Em charm ,
795and gives bearer first hit on all monsters.
796.br
797.Em quicksilver
798\- adds to
799.Em quickness .
800.It Type ten
801.Em elven boots
802\- adds permanently to
803.Em quickness .
804.It Type eleven
805.Em palantir
806\- allows one to see all the other players; used by
807.Em council of the wise
808to seek the
809.Em grail .
810.It Type twelve/thirteen
811.Em ring
812\- allows one to hit much harder in battle, etc.
813.El
814.Pp
815Any treasure type 10-13 monsters may instead carry a type nine treasure.
816.Pp
817A monster may also be carrying
818.Em gold
819or
820.Em gems .
821These are used at
822.Em trading posts
823to buy things.
824A
825.Em gem
826is worth 1000 gold pieces.
827Too much
828.Em gold
829will slow a player down.
830One may carry 1000 plus 200 per
831.Em level
832of
833.Em gold .
834A
835.Em gem
836weighs one half a gold piece.
837Monsters of treasure type 7 or higher may carry
838.Em gems .
839.Pp
840The chance of a cursed treasure is based upon treasure type.
841The more valuable treasures have a greater chance of being cursed.
842A cursed treasure knocks
843.Em energy level
844very low and adds 0.25
845.Em poison .
846.Ss Rings
847.Em Rings
848are only carried by
849.Em nazguls
850and
851.Em Dark Lords .
852They come in four different flavors.
853All
854.Em rings
855rest the player to maximum and cause him/her to hit much harder
856in battle with monsters (assuming the
857.Em ring
858is being used for battle.)
859.Pp
860Two types of
861.Em rings
862are cursed and come either from
863.Em nazguls
864or
865.Em Dark Lords .
866After a few times of using these types, the player falls
867under the control of the
868.Em ring ,
869and strange, random things will occur.
870Eventually, the player dies, and gives his/her name to a monster
871on the file.
872Dying before the
873.Em ring
874is used up also renames the monster.
875.Pp
876The two remaining types of
877.Em rings
878are much more benign.
879The one from a
880.Em nazgul
881is good for a limited number of battle rounds, and will save
882the player from death if it was being used when he/she died.
883The one from
884.Em Dark Lord
885is the same, except that it never is used up.
886.Em rings
887disappear after saving someone from death.
888In general, cursed
889.Em rings
890occur much more often than normal ones.
891It is usually not a good idea to pick one up.
892The only way to get rid of a
893.Em ring
894is to have a monster steal it.
895.Ss King
896A player may become
897.Em king
898by finding a
899.Em crown
900and going to (0,0).
901Players must have a
902.Em level
903in the range of 10 to 1000 to be able to find a
904.Em crown .
905When a player with one or more
906.Em crowns
907reaches
908.Em level
9091000, the
910.Em crowns
911are converted to
912.Em gold .
913.Pp
914Once a player is king, he/she may do certain things while in
915the Lord's Chamber (0,0).
916These are exercised with the
917.Ic decree
918('0') option.
919.Bl -tag -width "collect taxes"
920.It Ic transport
921This is done to another player.
922It randomly moves the affected player about.
923A
924.Em charm
925protects from transports.
926.It Ic curse
927This is done to another player.
928It is analogous to cursed treasure, but worse.
929It inflicts two
930.Em poison ,
931knocks
932.Em energy level
933very low, and degrades the maximum energy.
934It also removes a
935.Em cloak .
936A
937.Em blessing
938protects from king's curses.
939.It Ic energy void
940The king may put a number of these scattered about
941his/her kingdom as he/she pleases.
942If a player hits one, he/she loses
943.Em mana , energy ,
944and
945.Em gold .
946The energy void disappears after being hit.
947.It Ic bestow
948This is also done to another player.
949The king may wish to reward one or more loyal subjects by sharing his/her
950riches
951.Em ( gold ) .
952Or it is a convenient way to dispose of some unwanted deadweight.
953.It Ic collect taxes
954Everyone pays 7% tax on all
955.Em gold
956and
957.Em gems
958acquired, regardless of the existence of a
959.Em king .
960The king collects the accrued taxes with this option.
961.El
962.Pp
963The
964.Em king
965may also
966.Ic teleport
967anywhere for free by using the origin as a starting place.
968.Ss Council of the Wise, Valar
969A player automatically becomes a member of the
970.Em council of the wise
971upon reaching level 3000.
972Members of the council cannot have
973.Em rings .
974Members of the council have a few extra options which they can exercise.
975These are exercised with the
976.Ic intervene
977.Pq Sq 8
978option.
979All
980.Ic intervene
981options cost 1000 mana.
982One
983.Ic intervene
984option is to
985.Ic heal
986another player.
987This is just a quick way for that player to be rested
988to maximum and lose a little
989.Em poison .
990The main purpose in life for members of the council is to seek the
991.Em Holy Grail .
992This is done with a
993.Em palantir
994under the
995.Ic seek grail
996option.
997The distance cited by the seek is accurate within 10%, in order
998not to make it too easy to find the grail.
999A player must have infinitesimally small
1000.Em sin ,
1001or else it's all over upon finding the grail.
1002In order to help members of the council on their quest, they
1003may
1004.Ic teleport
1005with greater ease.
1006.Pp
1007Upon finding the grail, the player advances to position of
1008.Em valar .
1009He/she may then exercise more and niftier options under
1010.Ic intervention .
1011These include all of the council members' options plus the
1012ability to move other players about, bless them, and throw monsters at
1013them.
1014A
1015.Em valar Ns 's
1016blessing has the same effect as the treasure
1017.Em blessing ,
1018except that the affected player does not get his/her
1019.Em blessing
1020flag set.
1021All
1022.Ic intervention
1023options which affect other players age the player who uses them.
1024.Em Valars
1025are essentially immortal, but are actually given five lives.
1026If these are used up, the player is left to die, and becomes an
1027.Em ex-valar .
1028A
1029.Em valar
1030cannot
1031.Ic move , teleport ,
1032or call monsters.
1033(An exception to this is if the
1034.Em valar
1035finds a
1036.Em transporter . )
1037This is to allow him/her to dispose of excess
1038.Em gold .
1039Any monsters which a
1040.Em valar
1041encounters are based upon his/her size.
1042Only one valar may exist at a time.
1043The current valar is replaced when another player finds the grail.
1044The valar is then bumped back to the council of the wise.
1045.Ss Wizard
1046The
1047.Em wizard
1048is usually the owner of the game and the one who maintains
1049the associated files.
1050The
1051.Em wizard
1052is granted special powers within the game, if it is invoked
1053with the
1054.Fl S
1055option.
1056Otherwise, the
1057.Em wizard
1058plays no different from other players.
1059The
1060.Em wizard
1061abilities are outlined below.
1062.Bl -tag -width "super character type"
1063.It Ic change players
1064When examining a player, (game invoked with
1065.Fl x ,
1066or
1067.Sq X
1068is used from within game), the
1069.Em wizard
1070may also change the player.
1071.It Ic intervention
1072The
1073.Em wizard
1074may do all the
1075.Ic intervention
1076options.
1077One extra option,
1078.Ic vaporize ,
1079is added to kill any offensive players.
1080.It Ic super character type
1081An extra character type is added.
1082This character starts with the
1083maximum possible in all statistics, selected from the other character types.
1084A
1085.Em super
1086character's statistics also progress at the maximum possible rate, selected
1087from the other character types.
1088.El
1089.Ss Special Places
1090Certain regions of the playing grid have different names.
1091In general, this is only to give the player some idea of
1092his/her present location.
1093Some special places do exist.
1094.Bl -tag -width "Trading Posts"
1095.It Em Trading Posts
1096These are located at |x| == |y| == n*n*100 for n = 1, 2, ..., 1000.
1097Trading posts farther out have more things for sale.
1098Be careful about cheating the merchants there, as they have short tempers.
1099Merchants are dishonest about 5% of the time.
1100.It Em Lord's Chamber
1101This is located at (0,0).
1102Only players with
1103.Em crowns
1104may enter.
1105.It Em Point of \&No Return
1106This is located beyond 1.2e+6 in any direction.
1107The only way to return from here is a
1108.Em transporter
1109or to have a
1110.Em valar
1111relocate the player.
1112.It Em Dead Marshes
1113This is a band located fairly distant from the origin.
1114The first fourteen monsters (water monsters) can normally only be found here.
1115.It Em Valhala
1116This place is where the
1117.Em valar
1118resides.
1119It is associated with no particular coordinate on the playing grid.
1120.El
1121.Ss Miscellaneous
1122Once a player reaches
1123.Em level
11245, the game will start to time out waiting for input.
1125This is to try to keep the game a bit faster paced.
1126.Pp
1127A
1128.Em guru
1129will never be disgusted with your
1130.Em sins
1131if they are less than one.
1132.Pp
1133A
1134.Em medic
1135wants half of a player's
1136.Em gold
1137to be happy.
1138Offering more than one has, or a negative amount will anger the
1139.Em medic ,
1140who will make the player worse (add one
1141.Em poison ) .
1142.Pp
1143The
1144.Em Holy Grail
1145does little for those who are not ready to behold it.
1146Whenever anyone finds it, it moves.
1147It is always located within 1e+6 in any compass direction of the origin.
1148.Pp
1149There is a maximum amount of
1150.Em mana
1151and
1152.Em charms
1153a player may possess, based upon
1154.Em level .
1155.Em Quicksilver
1156is always limited to a maximum of 99.
1157.Pp
1158.Em Books
1159bought at a
1160.Em trading post
1161increase
1162.Em brains ,
1163based upon the number bought.
1164It is unwise, however to buy more than 1/10 of one's
1165.Em level
1166in books at a time.
1167.Pp
1168Players over level 10000 are automatically retired.
1169.Pp
1170A
1171.Em blindness
1172goes away in random time.
1173.Pp
1174Players with
1175.Em crowns
1176are identified with a '*' before their character type.
1177.Ss Inter-terminal Battle
1178When two player's coordinates correspond, they may engage in battle.
1179In general, the player with the highest
1180.Em quickness
1181gets the first hit.
1182If the two players are severely mismatched, the stronger player
1183is drastically handicapped for the battle.
1184In order to protect from being stuck in an infinite loop,
1185the player waiting for response may time out.
1186Options for battle are:
1187.Bl -tag -width "power blast"
1188.It Ic fight
1189Inflicts damage upon other person.
1190.It Ic run away
1191Escape from battle.
1192Has a 75% chance of working.
1193.It Ic power blast
1194Battle spell.
1195.It Ic luckout
1196One-time chance to try to win against the foe.
1197Has a 10% chance of working.
1198.El
1199.Pp
1200Sometimes waits for the other player may be excessive, because
1201he/she may be battling a monster.
1202Upon slaying a player in battle the winner gets the other's
1203.Em experience
1204and treasures.
1205.Em Rings
1206do not work for inter-terminal battle.
1207.Sh AUTHORS
1208.An Edward Estes ,
1209AT\*[Am]T Information Systems, Skokie, IL
1210.Sh BUGS
1211All screen formats assume at least 24 lines by at least 80 columns.
1212No provisions are made for when any of the data items get too big
1213for the allotted space on the screen.
1214