High Voltage Shareware/high1.zip/high1/DIR11/TADEMO.ZIP/TA.DOC

Text File | 1993-12-03 | 13KB | 293 lines

                        Total Automation
                       (C) Copyright 1993
                       by Michael S. Hogg

                           VERSION 1.6

     Total Automation is a QModem script for use with Tele-Arena
4.0. The script was designed for experienced players to automate
repetitive aspects of the game. It is highly recommended that you
learn to play the game well before attempting to run the script.

                           REGISTERING

     A demo version of Total Automation has been released as
Shareware. I believe anyone who is knowledgeable enough to use
Total Automation is also familiar with Shareware and the
Shareware concept. Therefor, I will not bore you by explaining it
again. All I am asking is $10 for registration. In return you
will get the latest version, and you will save a lot of time and
money. It will more than pay for itself. No future versions will
be released as shareware. The shareware version is much slower
and will only fight in the arena. The demo version does not use a
map file, and has a different config file setup.

     To register, send a check or money order to:

                          Michael Hogg
                          P.O. Box 8055
                          Hampton, Va.
                          23666

     New versions will be available via Paradigm BBS. I will NOT
mail out disk. When I receive your check I will send you a pass-
word that can be used to download the newest version. If there is
enough interest, I will write a version for Tele-Arena 5.0 as
soon as Paradigm has it.

Paradigm BBS Phone Numbers: [phone] (2400 lines)
                            [phone] (14.4 lines)


                     USING TOTAL AUTOMATION

     It is recommended that you keep all the map files in the
script directory. Also, make sure QModem is listed in your DOS
path. You have to run QModem from the script directory in order
for the script to function properly.

     The script uses a secondary file, called a .MAP file, to
control your character. The map file is a standard ascii text
file. The file can contain anything you want to be sent to the
game, as well as script commands. All instructions in the map
file must be on a single line by themselves, in lower case. If
you want to send something other than a direction or script
command, then it must be followed by a ^M. The following is an
example of what a map file might look like:

NP2MINO.MAP                        MINO.MAP

a0                                 a1
nw                                 cond
b ration^M                         The minotaur is to the south!
b waterskin^M                      l min
b torch^M                          s
w                                  s
d                                  n
a1                                 n
w                                  wheal
w                                  newmap
w                                  mino.map
sw
newmap
mino.map

     If the above map is executed from the N. Plaza in the game,
it would go into the equipment shop, attempt to buy a ration,
waterskin, and torch. If you do not have enough gold, or can't
hold anything else, the script will still continue without an
error. It then moves your character to two rooms above the
minotaur and executes another map file named mino.map. The second
map file waits for the minotaur, kills it, heals you completely,
and does it all again. A brief summary of the map commands are
listed below:

Command   Description
-----------------------------------------------------------------
a0        Will not attack any monsters in room.
          (Mainly used for quick moving and in town)

a1        Will start attacking monsters in every room you enter.

cond      Will check for a condition. Requires 2 more lines:
{cond}    The condition you are waiting for.
{command} What to send the game until the cond is met.

follow    Will follow the player listed on next line.
{player}  The name of the player to follow.

health    Check your health to insure you are ok.

logoff    Closes the map file and send an =x.

newmap    Closes the current map file and starts running new one.
{xx.map}  Name of new map file to run.

repeat    Sends specified string a set number of times.
{x}       Number of times to repeat string.
{string}  The string you want repeated. (ring gong for example)

wait      Halts the script for specified amount of time.
{x}       Amount of time to halt in 10 sec increments.
          (ie, 1 = 10, 2 = 20, etc)

wheal     Halts the script until your character's vitality is at
          it's max.

     All the map commands must be in lower case only, or the
script will not recognize it as a command. When using the cond
command make sure the condition you are waiting on is EXACTLY
like what the game sends or it will not work. This includes upper
and lower case and any punctuation. When using the newmap
command, make sure to include the .map extension on the new map's
filename. Sample map files have been included.

     The map file can send anything you want to the game. Certain
things will have to be followed by a ^M. None of the map commands
(listed above) or their parameters require ^M. Directions,
including up and down, do not require ^M. Anything else you send
however, does require a ^M at the end of the line. The following
is an example of things you can send other than map commands:

Example 1:               Example 2:

se                       down
s                        n
push stone^M             get ruby^M
s                        drink vervain^M
s                        heartstone^M
=YourName: I made it!    e

     To run the script, enter the game and go to the room your
map file is set to start from. Type [alt]-f and type: ta[enter]
You will then be prompted for parameters. The parameter format is
as follows: mapname.map split beep

     Split and beep are either "on" or "off", for example:

            np2mino.map off on

     If you do not specify the on and offs the default is split
off, beeps on. Split uses split screen to help if you are trying
to type. While the script is running, you may only type during
pauses without messing up the script. Split mode also cuts off
ANSI colors because they will not work with a split screen. Beeps
are used to inform you of a pause. The first beep is to start
typing, the second is to end. This is a major drawback to running
the script, but there are enough pauses to be able to talk global
and answer pages.

     Before the script is run, you need to edit the config.ta
file. The config.ta file sets specific variables the script needs
to run. For example, you can set it to heal you when you get
below xxx vitality.

     To make the script more flexible for other classes or for
low level players, you can define alternate actions instead of
casting a spell. For example: "use levinblade" for the attack
spell, "drink rue^M" for the heal spell, "drink verbena^M" for
the cure poison spell. *VERY IMPORTANT -> If you have it do
something besides cast a spell and that action does not use a
name afterwards, then make sure to add "^M" to the end of that
line in the config file. The script automatically adds a monster
name to attack spell and your name to the heal and cure spell. If
you add "^M" you will send an immediate return after your action,
so it will work. The script will end up sending the name on a
line by itself, which may not look pretty, but it will not hurt
anything either. Normally, you want the monster's name after an
attack action, so "use levinblade" would work fine w/o the "^M".
But say you don't have an attack spell or levinblade and you want
to make your attack action "drink rowan^M", then it requires the
"^M".

The config.ta file should look like this:      Example:

UserName                                       JoeWarrior
Lowest Allowable Max Mana                      0
Lowest vitality before heal spell              200
Lowest vitality before running                 100
Lowest vitality can be to use attack spell     0
Heal spell                                     drink anemone^M
Attack spell                                   use levinblade
Cure poison spell                              drink verbena^M
Number attacks you have                        5
Use a heartstone if something happens (yes/no) yes
Maximum times to use heartstone, 0 = no limit  5

     A value must be entered for every line of the config.ta,
else a script error will occur. If you have it set to use
heartstone it will use it if your mana is drained below what you
set, your vitality is too low, or if there is a problem with the
map file. Anytime it tries to heartstone and you don't have one,
it will /x out the game. If you do have one, it will immediately
close your current map file and execute TEMPLE.MAP. If you have
your config.ta file set to not heartstone, it will /x out the
game.

     The program keeps count of what line of the map file you are
currently using. If for any reason it has to /x out the game, you
will be sent a telegram telling what line was last read from the
map file.

     The first time you run the script you will need to calibrate
your character. Calibrate will optimize the waiting times after
spells, and attacks. It then writes the values to a .cal file.
You only have to use calibrate one time in order to create the
file. You can run calibrate as often as you like. This is useful
for when you get new spells or increase in level. To run
calibrate you must go to either of the arena's and type [alt]-f,
ta, and when prompted for the parameters simply type: cal[enter]

     Calibrate will run for a minute and /x out the game when it
is done. Don't worry if it looks strange or like it is not
working, that's just how it works. It's best to calibrate your
character when the arena is empty. Also, =b would be helpful. The
calibration routine is sensitive and too many foreign messages
could reduce the accuracy.

     You will also need to edit the temple.map to reflect your
user name in the telegram. Make sure you have temple.map the way
you want it because this will be run if you heartstone.

                        POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

     If your map file is inaccurate and tries to move in a
direction that does not exist, the script with either exit the
game or heartstone. If there is a board pause (generally caused
by logoffs) of more than one minute, it will either exit the game
or heartstone. Which it does is dependant upon how you have your
config.ta file set.

     The script was designed for use with higher level players.
Make sure to set your config file carefully. If you don't set the
run vitality high enough you could get killed before health is
checked. This is especially true for low level players. If you do
not know the game well, do NOT use this script. Furthermore, make
sure and watch the script execute all of a map file several times
before letting it run that map unsupervised. Although I have
tried to take every precaution to keep your character alive, it
is still possible to get killed while running the script. USE AT
YOUR OWN RISK.

                          DEMO VERSION

     The demo version is very limited. It will sit in the arena
and fight for you. It will keep you healthy as long as you have
enough food and water. I would not recommend leaving the demo
version running for long periods of time unsupervised. If you run
out of food or water, it will not exit the game or replenish. To
start the demo version make sure your config.ta file is set up
and go to the arena. Type [alt]-f, and ta[enter]. You can only
define two parameters, split and beeps. Both are either on or
off. (See above for more info on split and beep) An example
parameter line might be: on on[enter].

Demo Version Config.ta Format:                    Example:

User name                                         Joe User
Lowest vitality before heal action                200
Lowest vitality before exit                       100
Lowest vitality and still use attack action       225
Heal action                                       cast kusamotu
Attack action                                     cast giteka
Cure poison action                                cast dobudani
Number of attacks                                 5

     Even if you are only running the demo version, please read
all of this file. There are things you will need to know that are
not mentioned here.

                           DISCLAIMER

     The author makes no warranty of any kind, either expressed
or implied, including but not limited to any warranties of
merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose with
respect to this software and/or accompanying documentation. The
author shall not be liable for any damages, whether direct,
indirect, special or consequential arising from the use or
inability to use this program.

     If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, you may
leave email to "Freebird" on Paradigm BBS (numbers listed above),
or via CompuServe at [72066,3122].