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Firestaffs Of Ra
Version 0.00 (Beta & Demo)
- Legal Information -
***************************************************************************
Firestaffs Of Ra is a freely distributable program, you do not have to pay
anything to use it. Firestaffs Of Ra may be copied and uploaded to
wherever you want as long as you do not make any changes to the program or
the acompanying files.
***************************************************************************
Firestaffs Of Ra may not be sold for profit without the express permission
of the author.
***************************************************************************
The author of Firestaffs Of Ra can not be held responsible for any damage
that this program or the acompanying files may cause. If you are using
Firestaffs Of Ra, you will do so at YOUR OWN RISK.
***************************************************************************
- Blatantly Untrue Claims -
* Play Firestaffs Of Ra and live forever
* Firestaffs Of Ra improves your sex life
* Play Firestaffs Of Ra and become instantly rich
* The MOD has developed a *real* Firestaff Of Ra
* Firestaffs Of Ra, the best computer game ever written
* Even the Queen plays Firestaffs Of Ra
- Files Included -
Firestaffs Of Ra Version 0.00 consists of the files.
FORDemo the program itself (run this to play)
FOR.Shapes graphics data
FOR.Doc program documentation
Stars.Pic graphics data
Title.Pic graphics data
- Loading Instructions -
*IMPORTANT* : Firestaffs Of Ra does *not* load from Workbench.
To load FOR run the program "FORDemo" from the CLI.
For it to load correctly the current directory must contain the files
"FOR.Shapes","Stars.Pic" & "Title.Pic". In addition the program must have
access to the Commodore maths libraries.
- Tournaments -
Games of Firestaffs Of Ra take the form of tournaments between 2-4
human players. The winner of a tournament is the first player to win a pre
determined number of matches.
- Matches -
In FOR matches are played on a "chequer board" 10 squares wide and
8 squares high. Players control wizards who can hop from square to square
or set squares on fire with their fabled "firestaffs of Ra". The winner of
a match is the player controlling the last surviving wizard. The aim of
each player in a match is to kill all the other wizards so that he/she is
the last surviving wizard.
Firestaffs must be "charged". Once they have been charged they may
be used to fire streams of flame. These streams of flame may be directed
towards your opponent. The distance a stream of flame may travel depends
upon how much charge your staff contained when it was fired. Streams
cannot be directed through squares which are themselves on fire.
Wizards die when the square in which they are standing is of a
certain type or is on fire.
- Controls -
When stood on a square...
Push in a direction to hop in that direction.
Hold fire to begin charging your staff.
When charging a staff...
Push in a direction to fire your staff.
Release fire to cancel charging your staff.
When firing a staff...
Push in a direction to direct your flames.
Release fire to stop firing.
- Menu -
Upon loading FOR and after each tournament you are presented with a
menu screen containing many different icons. These icons allow the user to
quit the game, start a new tournament, or change the parameters of the next
tournament.
These icons are as follows.
- Rounds To Win Icon -
The icon consists of a trophy overlayed with a number. The number
represents the number of rounds required to win a tournament. This number
can be changed by clicking on the icon. Valid options are 1,3 and 5.
- Random Placement Icon -
This icon consists of a question mark which may or may not be
crossed out. If the question mark is crossed out "random placement mode"
is turned off. If the question mark is not crossed out "random placement
mode" is turned on. Random placement mode can be toggled on and off by
clicking on the icon.
If random placement mode is turned on wizards at the start of a
match wizards are positioned randomly on the board.
If random placement mode is turned off wizards are positioned in
the four corners of the board.
- Clear Map Icon -
This icon consists of a chequer board which may or may not be
crossed out. If the chequer board is crossed out then "clear map mode" is
turned off. If the chequer board is not crossed out then "clear map mode"
is turned on. Clear map mode may be toggled on and off by clicking on the
icon.
If clear map mode is turned on an empty chequer board will be used
for all matches.
If clear map mode is turned off one of 30 pre defined maps will be
chosen at random for each match. These boards may contain a number of
different types of square. Some of these squares have special properties.
- Movement Speed Icon -
This icon consists of a rightwards pointing arrow. The size of the
arrow represents the movement speed of wizards. The size of the arrow may
be changed by clicking on the icon. A small arrow represents slow wizards
a large arrow represents fast wizards.
- Jump Height Icon -
This icon consists of an upwards pointing arrow. The size of this
arrow represents the height wizards will jump when they move from square to
square. The size of the arrow may be changed by clicking on the icon. A
small arrow represents wizards who don't jump. A large arrow represents
wizards who jump very high.
Note: the only setting that has any real effect on the game is the
minimum setting using which wizards don't jump when moving between squares.
This can make it difficult to tell when a wizard is in the air and thus
invoulnerable to fire.
- Burn Time Icon -
This icon consists of flames overlayed with a number. The height
of the flames and the magnitude of the number overlayed represents the
amount of time fires will burn during matches. The higher the flames and
the number, the longer fires will burn before they go out. The height of
the flames and number may be changed by clicking on the icon. Low flames
represent fires which go out quickly. High flames represent fires which
burn a long time.
- Maximum Charge Icon -
This icon consists of a staff with a glowing tip. The brightness
of the glowing tip represents the maximum amount of charge staffs may hold
at any one time during a match. The brighter the tip, the more charge a
staff may hold. The brightness of the tip may be changed by clicking on
the icon.
- Charge Speed Icon -
This icon consists of a staff overlayed with a stopwatch. The
stopwatch setting represents how long staffs take to charge to their
maximum capacity. The longer the time shown of the stopwatch the longer
they take. The time may be changed by clicking on the icon.
Note: At it's minimum setting staffs charge to full capacity
instantly.
- Fire Delay Icon -
This icon consists of flames overlayed with a stopwatch. The time
on the stopwatch represents how much time a wizard has to change the
direction of his fire stream. The longer the time on the stopwatch the
more time he has. The time may be changed by clicking on the icon.
Note: The longer the amount of time a wizard has to change the
direction of a fire stream the more controllable the firestream but the
slower the fire stream is.
- Go Icon -
This icon consists of... the word go.
Clicking on this icon starts a new tournament.
- Quit Icon -
You don't want to know about this.
- Player Control Icons -
Each of the four players has two icons.
The leftmost icon consists of a trophy which may or may not be
crossed out. If a trophy is crossed out they will not participate in the
next tournament. The setting can be changed by clicking on the icon.
The rightmose icon shows either a joystick with a number one, a
joystick with a number two, or cursor keys. It represents the chosen
control method of the player. Joystick one is the mouse port. Joystick
two is the joystick port. Cursor keys represents keyboard controls. The
exact keyboard controls for each player are shown next to their name.
- Square Types -
When not in clear map mode one of 30 pre defined maps is chosen for
each match. These maps may contain a number of special squares. These
quares are listed below.
- Water Squares -
These blue squares are wet, don't set on fire and wizards die when
they jump in them.
- Skull Squares -
These squares are black with skulls on them. They burn but so do
wizards when they step on them.
- Arrow Squares -
Consist of arrows on gray slabs. They move the wizard in the
direction they point.
- Teleport Squares -
Consist of question marks on grey slabs. They send the wizard to a
random square on the board.
- Hints & Tips -
Because fire streams cannot move through burning squares you can
use your own fire streams to block those of your enemy.
Random placement mode without clear map mode is a dangerous
combination.
Good play involves a combination of a good offence and defence.
Don't become too preoccupied with either.
If a wizard is becoming too preoccupied with directing his fire
streams it may be possible to get round his streams and nip in to fry him
at close range before he can respond.
- Future Improvements -
Future versions of Firestaffs Of Ra will feature...
* music & sound effects :)
* more special squares
* more maps
* map designer?
This is only a demo version of Firestaffs Of Ra. As yet it is
without sound effects or music. If you think you can help in either
department please contact me. Also feel free to contact me with bug
reports or suggestions.
I can be reached via netmail on Dreamline BBS.
Since this version of the game won't go very far out of Hull I
won't bother looking up the netmail address :).
- About "The Blurb" -
Blurb is the background information provided with most games.
Usually it is meaningless drivel attempting to give some kind of meaning to
a game which has none. The Blurb in Firestaffs Of Ra is no exception.
Since most sane people skip the Blurb anyway the Blurb for Firestaffs Of Ra
is conveniently placed at the back of the manual, making skipping it that
*little* bit easier ;).
- The Blurb -
A long time ago in the mystic realms of carnage there was a small
sleepy kingdom going by the name of Umbogoland. The ruler of Umbogoland
was good King Kevin. The king had a beautiful queen called Gabrielle,
mostly in secret whilst her husband was away. Together they secretly had
two children, but luckily no one found out. One night Gabrielle's husband,
King Tim, slayer of the purple dragon of ultimate doom and holder of the
sacred chalice of spam, found King Kev and Gabby in bed together. A duel
was quickly arranged for the next day the top brass from both Kingdoms
turned up to watch the spectacle. The duel began and an epic battle
ensued. For seven days and seven nights it raged. It could have been over
in two minutes but King Tim wanted to give the fans their money's worth.
Eventually King Tim, slayer of the purple dragon and holder of the sacred
chalice of spam was forced to end the duel when a bored spectator shot him.
Overjoyed Kev and Gabby were married the very next day.
A year later Queen Gabrielle gave birth to twins, one well built
Austrian and one fat American. They didn't like the fat American so they
threw him in a river. Twenty years later the Austrian went off to Mars to
discover his true identity and the fat American reappeared having spent his
childhood being raised by penguins. Disappointed by this turn of events
the King and Queen decided to adopt. They scoured the kingdom for a boy
and a girl they could adopt and crown as prince and princess. Eventually
they found two suitable candidates. Unfortunately they already had
parents, but this problem was soon rectified with the help of a huge blunt
axe.
Years later the king was growing old. In his old age the King was
a stereotypical old man, with an ugly face and a long Santa Claus like
beard that children used to pull for a laugh. The princess had grown into
an attractive adult but had still not married. The King and Queen agreed
that this was an intolerable state of affairs and called a meeting outside
the castle. Majestically he stood on the castle balcony with his family
and addressed his kingdom.
"I will give the hand of my daughter to any man who can defeat all
her other suiters in a duel to the death!" announced King Kev to his loyal
subjects. "If ye think ye worthy then stand and be counted" he muttered.
Men as far as the eye could see looked over Princess Madeline, a slim,
attractive, blonde, young, sophisticated woman. Then they saw her breasts
were so large you could open them as dry ski slopes. They all stood up.
Kev stood for a minute confused. The queen shrugged to him. "Err... I
did say "duel to the *death*" said repeated Kev.
There was much murmouring and whispering amongst the huddled masses
stood below. Systematically every head in the vast crowd turned to stare
at four guys wearing garishly coloured cloaks. Then they all sat down.
The king looked the four guys wearing garishly coloured cloaks over. There
was four of them. They wore cloaks. The cloaks were brightly coloured,
almost garishly coloured. They held long wooden staffs.
"Who be you people that command such fear amongst my subjects?"
said Kev to the wizards. "Pardon?" inquired red wizard. "Who are you?"
clarified Kev. "We are the ancient wizards of *RA!*" boomed red wizard
putting an overly dramatic emphasis on the word "RA". "And we carry the
powerful yet handy FIRESTAFFS of Ra!" he yelled. He thrust his staff aloft
and people as far as the eye could see dove for cover.
"It's just a stick." said Kev unconvinced. "No it's not." said red
wizard. "Yes it is." said Kev. "NO IT'S NOT!" said red wizard angrily.
"Okay then. If it's not a stick what is it?" inquired Kev. "I've told
you, it's a powerful but handy FIRESTAFF of Ra" red wizard he yelled again.
"It's a powerful but handy stick" insisted Kev. "LOOK." said RW in a
serious tone of voice. He pulled the hood off his head and looked Kev in
the eyes "Do you want me to torch some peasants? Eh? Do you?". "What,
with a stick?". "I'm warning you.". "Go on then.". `I will you know!'.
"Bollocks.". "Don't push me!". "Stick, stick, stick, stick..." taunted
Kev.
Red wizard looked pretty annoyed. "Right." he said. He turned
away from Kev to face the crowd cowering behing him. They looked up at him
from their positions on the floor with fearful eyes. Red wizard's eyes
narrowed as he looked for someone nerdy to incinerate. He had entered
*battle* *mode*.
Terrified beyond description a small child about 30ft away leapt to
his feet and ran off crying. With the reactions of a leopard he pointed
the staff at the kid and sent a trail of fire about 5 ft wide screaming
along the ground towards the kid. The child and 25 innocent bystanders who
happened to be in it's path screamed in agony and slumped smouldering to
the ground.
"Oops." said red wizard.
"Well done." said Kev.
The King laughed heartily and signalled his underlings. They ran
out and started clearing away the corpses. "Friends you have proven
yourself worthy. Tommorow you shall be taken to the royal chequer boards
of doom. There you will participate in a duel to the death with your
amusing staffs.". The populace cheered. "There will of course be an
enterance fee" reminded Kev. The populace groaned. "But free tickets for
any widows and orphans!" said Kev. The populace cheered, their faith in
their king restored.
Now as one of the wizards of Ra you must battle your compatriots in
a duel to the death on the royal chequer boards of doom. The prize, the
hand of the princess. The weapons of choice.
Firestaffs of Ra.