Expert Pool Readme
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Last update to this line: 11 June 1999



The Frontend
------------

The first screen you will see is the Player Selection screen. Here you may
either select an existing player, or create and select a new one. Separate
gameplay statistics are maintained for each player in the list.

After selecting a player, you will see the top level of the frontend. Each
button shown around the central area corresponds either to a game type
(Arcade, Multiplayer, Tournament, etc.) or the setting of options. Select the
button which interests you the most, and you will be taken to a screen which
will allow you to more finely configure your selection.

After configuring global options, and selecting and configuring a game type,
you will enter the main game.


Game types
----------

  Arcade

Simple one-on-one game with a computer player. In the frontend, you may select
the rule set to use, the environment in which the game is to be played, and
your opponent. You can continue playing an arcade game indefinitely with the
same options, or you may choose to return to the frontend to try something
else.

  Amatuer Tournament

One step up from the arcade game, which pitches you against an fifteen other
players of varying ability. Here you may configure almost the same set of
options as the arcade game, but have no control over your individual
opponents. There are two types of tournament: knockout and two-way. Your
current status in the tournament is shown in a tree display between matches.

  Professional Tournament

Here you may play one of a fixed set of tournaments with a selection of
rulesets and tournament formats, in a variety of high-class venues. The
opponents in professional tournaments are significantly more skilled than
those you will find in the Arcade and Friendly Tournament modes.

  Training
Learn new skills and techniques from and X-Pro Pool Player.

  Trickshots
Some light relief from the stressful tournaments

  Multiplayer
3 Formats of Multiplayer are available:
		Local Game - 2 Players on a single machine
		LAN Game   - 2 Players playing via a Local Area Network
		GameSpy    - Use the Expert Pool GameSpy Lite Tool to chat to other players 
			     and challenge them to games

  
In-game controls
----------------

Throughout Expert Pool, game control can almost always be performed using only
the mouse and the spacebar. The usual purpose of each control is listed below

  Space              - Cancel
  Mouse Movement     - Move
  Left Mouse Button  - Select
  Right Mouse Button - Modify

The main views or control modes are as follows


  Shot View

    Mouse movement     - Adjust rotation (left/right) and elevation (up/down)
                         of viewpoint
    Right mouse button - Modifies vertical mouse movement to control zoom: up/down
                         to zoom in/out


  Respot View

    Mouse Movement     - Adjust rotation (left/right) and elevation (up/down)
                         of viewpoint
    Right Mouse Button - Modify mouse movement to control ball position
    Left Mouse Button  - Enter shot view stage 1


  Shot View Stage 1

    Mouse Movement     - Adjust orientation of cue: left/right modifies cue
                         angle, and up/down modifies view elevation (note,
                         view elevation, not cue elevation)
    Right Mouse Button - Modify vertical mouse movement to control zoom: up/down
                         to zoom in/out
    Left Mouse Button  - Enter shot view stage 2
    Space              - Return to respot view (if applicable)


  Shot View Stage 2

    Mouse Movement     - Adjust orientation of cue: left/right modifies cue
                         angle, and up/down modifies view elevation (note,
                         view elevation, not cue elevation)
    Right Mouse Button - Modify mouse movement to control cue tip position
    Both Mouse Buttons - Modify vertical mouse movement to control cue
                         elevation
    Left Mouse Button  - Modify vertical mouse movement to control shot
                         strength: pull back on the mouse and push forward
                         to take a shot
    Space              - Return to shot view stage 1


These controls are all you need to play the game. Some useful, but not
mandatory, controls are provided by the keyboard: see keys.txt for more
details.