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TWHELP70.ZIP
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DOCMAPER.TXT
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1993-09-21
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Trade Wars Helper
Documentation for the
Universe Mapping Feature
of Release 7.0
Copyright 1993
Just FUN Software
All Rights Reserved
An additional program module has been included in the ZIP file named
TWHMAPER.EXE. This module utilized the course plotter on the Crai
computer and a method know as Level Diagramming to assist in creating a
map of the TW universe without having to explore each sector.
This is an extra charge feature requiring a special registration key to
activate. It can not be activated by itself without the standard
program being registered. Registered users need only send in the
REGMAPER.TXT form while unregistered users need to send in both the
REGISTER.TXT and the REGMAPER.TXT forms to activate it. As there are no
provisions for trying this module before registering, read the following
carefully to be sure you want to register it. There can be no refunds
once the key has been given out.
The universe mapping feature serves two purposes. First is to locate
the Stardock in those games where it is not announced on the game status
display. Second is to find as many "edges" as possible so Ether probes
can be sent to pass thru the maximum number of unexplored sectors. An
edge is simply the link between a sector and one of sector it warps to.
To use the universe mapping feature in a new game, you would generally
enter the /U command while still in sector one. The program would then
run thru it's phases and, when done, produce a list of sectors with the
highest number of potential one-way warps. The Stardock and the other
two class 0 ports are generally in sectors with several outgoing one-way
warps. You would then move to these sectors to see if any of them are
the Stardock.
If the Stardock was not located in the first pass, or you want to find
more edges before sending off E-probes (two to three passes are
recommended), enter the /U command again but with a "root" sector
following the /, for example, /23U. If known, use the Stardock's sector
as the root sector. Otherwise use a sector with several warps (one or
two-way) that is also some distance from sector one. Those listed after
the first pass would be good candidates.
Once you've located the Stardock and have found sufficient edges, use
your turns to generate credits to buy E-probes. Then go to the
stardock, buy the probes, and enter the /6E command to launch E-probes.
The destination sector will be chosen so the probe will move through as
many unexplored sectors as possible. The more edges found, the more
effective the /6E command will be. If the number of new sectors TWH
expects to explore frequently differs from the number actually found,
then another pass using a different root sector would be advisable. The
Stardock should always be used as a root sector before sending off
probes.
Also available is the /7E command which works much like the /6E command
only faster and the TW Computer's I and R commands are not issued after
each probe. If you use the /7E commands, you MUST issue the /k command
when done probing to update the database with the warp to and port
information for the newly probed sectors. You can launch hundreds of
probes and then issue the /k afterward.
After using the universe mapping module, the many unexplored sectors
will appear on the graphics map in the color red. Depending on the
number of edges found, many will also appears to be isolated sectors.
This can be deceiving since they have not yet been explored and it is
quite possible they warp to more than just one sector. Note also the
mapping feature will automatically mark orphan sector as inaccessible
to the E-probe routines.
The universe mapping module will take roughly 15-25 minutes per pass
depending on the speed of the BBS computer. You can interrupt the
process at anytime by pressing the SPACE BAR key or if it hangs up for
some reason, the ESC key. Just enter /U (without the root sector) to
resume at the point where interrupted. If you know where the Stardock
is located, doing a single pass using the Stardock as the root sectors
is fairly effective.
The probing phase will take at least as many probes as there are
isolated sectors to map the entire universe. A rough estimate is 350 to
400 probes to fully map a 1000 sector universe although over 50% of the
universe will be mapped with the first 100 probes.