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- NetHack V2.3 README
-
- This file contains information on the 2.3 release of NetHack. For
- information on previous releases, see the README and README.OLD files. For
- a detailed history of the game, see the README.ORIG file, which contains
- three separate readme files, dating back to the original release of the game
- (then named "hack") by Jay Fenlason.
-
- HOW TO INSTALL THIS RELEASE
-
- To install this release, unpack all of the shar kits. You will find
- you have a bunch of completely new files, a second bunch of files with a
- ".new" suffix (these are all files which have been released fully, since the
- patch file to update them would have been larger than the file itself), a set
- of update patches - context diffs, and finally a shell script to pull every-
- thing together.
-
- Next ***BACK EVERYTHING UP***. I don't want to receive irate mail
- about missing files due to some finger error.
-
- Read "Update.sh". This script will be used once - and only once -
- to perform the copies and cat's required to make the update. Once it has
- been run, all of your ".new" files will be moved onto their corresponding
- ".c" and ".h" files, and the originals will be backed up with a ".orig"
- suffix. All of the files which were shipped in parts will be concatenated
- into one file. And finally Update.sh will be removed.
-
- Next run patch(1) with the file Update.2.3 as it's stdin. This will
- patch the remaining files up to 2.3e standard. Gods help you if you've done
- any patching on your own. It probably won't work in that case. Best bet is
- to start with a virgin 2.2 release.
-
- Finally, copy "Makefile.<whatever>" to "Makefile", modify "config.h"
- to suit and run "make". Install it as you wish.
-
-
- Release Discription
-
- This release of the game contains a large number of bug fixes, as
- well as several new features. There has been a large amount of play-testing
- done on this release. For a detailed list of bug fixes, and additions look
- at the file "Fixes.2.3". I cannot guarantee that every modification done has
- been included, but I have done my best to chronicle the changes and fixes
- made there. Here are the high points:
-
- 1) New flags in "config.h":
-
- SAC Soldiers & barracks code
- SHIRT Hawaiian shirt code
- THEOLOGY Smarter gods & sacrifices
- STOOGES Three wild and crazy guys
- SINKS Kitchen Sinks
-
- SCORE_ON_BOTL Score (not exactly # of exp) on the bottom line.
-
- In addition, in an MSDOS enviornment:
-
- TERMLIB enable use of termcap file c:\etc\termcap
- or .\termcap.cnf for MSDOS
-
- Of the above, I haven't tested TERMLIB. If you find bugs in these,
- send me the reports.
-
- 2) New objects:
-
- Hawaiian shirts (sort of armor - especially for tourists).
-
- Kitchen Sinks - for the dropping of rings, of course...
-
- Wand of Lightning
-
- Ring of Shock Resistance (to balance above)
-
- A named weapon (dagger or short sword) "Sting" a la Tolkien.
-
- Lamps and Magic Lamps
-
- A Badge to identify you as an "Officer".
-
- 3) New Files:
-
- A new makefile for the ATT 3B2
-
- A "Spoilers" manual in mm format and tables for the manual.
-
- The long-awaited documentation on nansi.sys - nansi.doc.
-
- 4) Major game changes:
-
- - Shop generation has been cleaned up. There are now up to four
- different types of object inside. There has also been modifications
- to room generation to make things cleaner.
-
- - A new type of room, the barracks (a lair for soldiers) has been
- added. In addition, the soldier has been made just a little less
- deadly to compensate for the large numbers present.
-
- - A new type of trap, the landmine, (which will be renamed to con-
- form with a fantasy setting in the future) has been added.
-
- - A change to shopkeepers has them getting angry more easily if you
- are wearing a badge, and have robbed them.
-
- - The "dragon" has been split up into several sub-types. They now
- have all sorts of breath weapons - NOTE: a slight bug - eating any
- of the dead dragon types still gives you intrinsic fire resistance.
-
- - A new wand, and compensating ring have been added (Lightning).
-
- - The "Giant Eel" has been replaced with an "Electric Eel".
-
- - The wand zapping code has been re-written (mostly in buzz()) so
- that support for new zap effects will be easier in the future.
-
- - Chameleon shape changes are now dependant on the level for more
- challenge.
-
- - An optional "logfile" has been added for game debugging.
-
- - Some interesting changes to the "pray" code have been added.
-
- - The restmonchn() code has been merged between Unix and MS-DOS.
- This results in a fair sized reduction in size and complexity of
- that particular module. Please send me any bug reports as I have
- only tested it on the Unix side.
-
- - The colour <--> gemstone type code has been fixed so that the
- colour of an unknown stone now approximates the gem type.
-
- - For those who like a little fun, three STOOGES have been added
- (optionally) to the game. They will show up and fight with each
- other, producing more of a disturbance than any serious trouble.
-
- - Lamps have been added. When applied, they will light a room.
-
- - Magic lamps have a djinn inside. Glowing potions may too.
-
- - A new monster, the Gremlin, can multiply in water, and will
- potentially steal your hard won inate attributes.
-
- 5) Minor game changes:
-
- - The fountain code has been modified to allow coins to fall into or
- be recovered from a fountain.
-
- - In wizard mode, the wizard player can now map the level, list all
- of his/her attributes, and can do a detect for all traps and doors.
-
- - When wishing, you are no longer limited by the x3/+3 rule. However,
- you can't be sure that a "greedy" wish will produce the desired
- results, the object might be cursed.
-
- - You can now optionally print your score on the bottom line. The
- score printed is close to what would show up on your tombstone.
-
- - A fix to allow multiple machine play via NFS on a shared playground
- has been made. This won't affect us single machine players.
-
- - The time between prayers is now random.
-
- - Wizard and Medusa levels are now dependant on the MAXLEVEL param.
-
- - The spell list is now displayed in the corner.
-
- 6) Future additions:
-
- See the "Hackers.doc" file. I am going to make the next release
- a major modification of the code (3.0). It will include as many alternate
- OSs supported as I can get patches for. It will also be constrained towards
- a "fantasy" approach to the game.
-
- PLEASE NOTE MY NEW UUCP ADDRESS BELOW!!!
- Mike Stephenson
-
- ps: Sorry this one took so long. I'm going to fix up an alternative
- to handle releases in the future.
-
- Mail: Genamation Inc. Phone: (416) 475-9434
- 351 Steelcase Rd. W
- Markham, Ontario. UUCP: uunet!{mnetor,utzoo}!genat!genpyr!mike
- Canada L3R 3W1
-