~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=
~f                    A WORD ABOUT MULTINODE ACTION  
~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=

~2   Death Masters is a fully capable internode game.
   If you are playing the game on a BBS with several telephone lines
   (~fmultinode BBS~2) you will be able to interact with other humans (~9chat,
   pages, fights, etc.~2) in ~4real-time~2.  You will receive notification of
   many events by automatic system pages. If someone sends you e-mail you will
   know about it ~4inmediately~2.  If someone enters or leaves the game you'll
   also be notified ~4right away~2.  However, If you use the ~fP~eage~2 feature
   in the ~fM~eessage~2 menu and find your self sending and receiving pages
   left and right, ~cSTOP~2 and go to the chat room.  If you decide not to go to
   chat, and are doing nothing but staring at the screen waiting for somebody
   to page you, help the game by ~9scrolling up or down~2 once in a while. 
   If you don't, you still receive your messages but it takes a bit longer to
   process than if you "helped out."


~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=
~f                      PLAYING SMART FROM THE BEGINNING  
~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=

~2   Death Masters is a very intuitive game as far as the interface goes.
   Developing a winning strategy however, is a different story.

   One very important factor is defense (~aMaybe even more than attack!~2),
   so it is recommended you buy a ~fShield~2 as soon as you join the game!
   In case your modem messed up and you couldn't read the previous line,
   I'll tell you again: buy a ~fShield~2 as soon as you join the game!
   There is an added benefit to doing that:  At the beginning of the game,
   you have a weapon and an armor, but not a shield.  Having a shield on
   hand is important when you face one of the random encounters at the end
   of a fight.  If you answer this encounter's question correctly, he will
   replace your armor with a better one ~fand~2 if you have a shield, you
   will also have it replaced with a better one!

   Now, what you should do is buy the best shield you can.  ~9Remember this
   is only at the beginning of the game. ~2A few days later, you should
   concentrate on keeping a good stash of money in the bank.  The bank
   pays ~c8%~2 daily, so your money can go up rather quickly.

   At this time, don't engage in ~fchallenges.~2 ( Note that ~eFights~2 and
   ~eChallenges~2 are not the same. )  If you do challenge someone, you are
   likely to die... ~9UNLESS~2 your enemy is of the same level as you.

~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=
~f                       A FEW DAYS LATER...               
~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=

~2   Once you are familiar with the game, you should change your strategy.
   But, don't throw caution out the window.  Keep an eye on your ~cHitPoints
   ~2indicator when you are fighting.  If you are dying, don't hesitate to
   ~e<~fB~e>eg for mercy! ~2If you die, you won't be able to play until the
   next day.   However bad begging for mercy is, it is a very good 'meter'
   of the capacity of your weapon.  Get a clue and buy a better one.  Get 
   another clue: ~cNever fight if you have no money on hand!~2

   By now, you ~fSHOULD~2 engage in a couple of challenges daily.  The ~cEXP~2
   points you get from challenges can be your ticket to quick level raises.
   You get ~f10%~2 of your foe's experience plus the money if you win.  If you
   loose, you loose the ~f10%~2 and your enemy gets it, so be careful...

~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=
~f           STABLISHING YOUR SELF AS THE MASTER OF THE BBS
~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=

~2   ~do~2 Kill every human on sight! 

   ~do~2 If you can't kill them, use the advanced communication routines of 
     the game to make friends... ~9until~2 you are stronger than they!

   ~do~c THE PUB!~2  Use it and abuse it.  Find out why anyone would waste
     money buying drinks for the pub-keeper.  You must also know what effect
     the liquor has on you (don't drink too much though).  Take a leak
     every now and then and instigate fights amongst the other players (who
     is gonna know it was you ~f:)~2).  And always sleep here!

   ~do~f USE YOUR LETHAL MOVES WISELY.  ~2If possible, keep them for the end
     of the day or until you find some monster too strong for you.  And, use
     them ~9DAILY!~2  Lethal kills are the key to mutating!

   ~do~2 If you have enemies, ~fQuit~2 the game after you are offered steroids
     (if you got pretty beefed-up, that is), so your enemies have a nasty
     surprise when coming for you!

   ~do~2 Get the answers right when you are asked questions by the Masters!
     The rewards can be inmense!  So, hit the books if you always miss!

   ~do~2 Have fun.  Don't get mad if you get killed.  ~cGET EVEN!~2

   ~do~2 Don't play all your turns in one shot!  If you have enemies they'll
     see you played and will try to kill you.  If they succeed, you can come
     back the same day and get the score settled. 

   ~do~c D E M O T E ~2those players that are too powerful!
     The game will tell you what is your chance to demote a player ~9AFTER~2 
     you pay for the service.  So, before you do, look at the score of the 
     enemy you want to demote (~awrite it down if you must~2), and try to find
     out how that number relates to your probability of success.

   ~do~2 Lastly, don't believe in rumors.  There is no such a thing as ~cPOWER
     NAMES. ~9 Or is there?

~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=
~f                             MUTATING
~e=--------------------------------------------------------------------------=

~2   Mutating gives you an opportunity to carry more weapons.  Once you have
   mutated at least once, buy weapons for you free hand (not the armed one).
   A mutated foe is always a dangerous one, and unless they tell you or you
   challenge them, there is no way to know who has mutated and who hasn't.
   But if you must guess, a level 5 enemy is very likely mutated, as well as
   a level 10 one.



~c Well, I won't spoil it for you, so go kill something... ~for somebody ~c>:) 
~8 DISCLAIMER: I mean in the game!!  Don't go on a rampage and say I told you!
