Software Vault: The Games Collection 1

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Text File | 1993-08-03 | 21KB | 387 lines

P S I O N I C S by Adam Stanchos (C) Copyright 1993 Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Psionics: The focusing of brainwaves to achieve a physical result. Psionics is a futuristic Role Playing Game set aboard a space lab called, Nexus. You have been taken to this space station to undergo numerous tests on your psychic potential. The purpose for these tests were so that the researchers and you could better understand the mental abilities which you possess. You will find that the Psionics game system, though similar to other computer role playing games (CRPGs), is unique in its own way. To best understand how the game works, it is recommended that you read through the entire documentation. Psionics' Interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Psionics is designed to work with a mouse. However, if you don't have one, you can use the keyboard. To select an option with a mouse, simply move the cursor over the command you wish to give and press the left mouse button. Anything you select in the game is done by clicking the left mouse button. When using the keyboard, a good rule of thumb is to press the first letter of the option you wish to use. For example, if you are in combat and wish to select "Psionic Attack", type the letter "p". The game only accepts lower case letters. If you start the game with your Caps Lock on, the game will deactivate it at the beginning. In The Beginning ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To play Psionics, make sure all the game files are in the same directory. Then type, "psionics", and hit enter. The screen should reveal the name of the game, followed by three options to select from: Start a new game - To begin a new game. If you are playing for the first time, you'll need to select this option. To select this option, simply move the mouse cursor over this box and click the left mouse button. Or using the keyboard, press the letter "s". Play a saved game - If you have saved a game from a previous session and would like to continue that game from where you left off, move the mouse cursor over to this box and click the left mouse button. Or using the keyboard, press the letter "p". Quit to DOS - If you do not wish to play Psionics, you can return to your operating environment by selecting this option. To select this option, move the mouse cursor over this box and click the left mouse button. Or using the keyboard, press the letter "q". (Note: As described, when using the keyboard, simply press the first letter of the option you wish to use.) Character Generation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- If you're playing Psionics for the first time, you will need to create a character. After selecting "Start a new game" from the opening screen, you will begin the process of creating your character for which to play in the game. When the Character Generation screen opens up, you will see a list of four attributes. These four basic attributes each have an effect on how powerful your character is. They are: Strength - Your overall effectiveness in combat. Having a score of a 9 or greater increases the odds at which you'll hit an opponent in combat. Intelligence - How many additional PSI points you will be given. Having a score of 9 or greater increases the number of PSI points you will have in the game. Agility - Affects your character's Defense rating. A 9 or greater will begin adding bonuses to your Defense rating. Endurance - Affects your character's Hit points. A 9 or greater adds bonuses to your character's hit point total when he/she advances up a level. Each of the above will have a random number ranging from 1 to 10. The higher the score, the better. If you are not happy with the scores for your attributes, you can reroll them by clicking the "Reroll" option below the scores with your mouse, or type "r". In which case, the computer will randomly generate a new set of numbers. Once you are satisfied with your attribute scores, move the cursor over to the "Accept" box, or type "a". The large center box will then present two new options, asking what you'll want your character's sex to be. Move the mouse cursor over the appropriate box and click the left mouse button to select it. If you are using the keyboard, select "m" for Male, or select "f" for Female. The large center box will then present three boxes, each containing a character portrait. The center box that has the arrow above and below it is considered the portrait of your choice. You can scroll through the available portraits to choose from by clicking on the left or right arrow boxes with your mouse, or using the arrow keys on your keyboard. When you have found the character portrait of your choice, make sure it is in the middle box, then move the mouse pointer to the "Accept" and click the left mouse button. Or, using the keyboard, type the letter "a" to accept. Finally, you will be asked for your character's name. Your character's name can be no longer than 27 letters long(including spaces). Type in your character's name and press the ENTER key. Now you're all set! Game Setup ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The main game screen is set up with three boxes. The upper left box displays a first person, 3-dimensional view of the space station. The upper right box is the message area. This will contain descriptions of areas and often present sub menus at times. For example, when in combat, the menu of options for combat will appear here. The box at the lower right, beneath the message area, contains all the information on your character. Here, you'll see your character's portrait, statistical information, and his/her inventory(which can be seen when selecting the "Inventory" option underneath this boxed area.) Also on this screen is a compass to assist you in exploring. Plus there are additional options available to you by pointing the mouse cursor to the particular box and clicking the left mouse button. Or by pressing the first letter of the option. The menu of options on this screen are: The 3 arrow boxes - These are used to navigate yourself around the space station. By pointing your mouse cursor to one of these three boxes and clicking the left mouse button, you will be making a move. The left arrow box turns you 90 degrees to the left. The middle arrow box moves you one square forward in the direction you are facing. The right arrow box turns you 90 degrees to the right. If you are using the keyboard, simply use the arrow keys or the keypad's arrow keys to turn left, right, and move forward. Save Game - Select this option to save your game so that you can resume it later. Keep in mind that each time you save your game, any previous saved game is overwritten with the new saved game. To use this option, simply move the mouse cursor over it and click. If using the keyboard, press "s". New Game - Select this option if you want to start over. By selecting this option, the game is reset and you are taken to the opening screen where you're once again given the main menu of options (For details on the main menu see, "In The Beginning", earlier in this documentation). To use this option, simply move the mouse cursor over it and click. If using the keyboard, press "n". Quit to DOS - By selecting this option, you end the game and return to the operating system. This does not save your game! Make sure that if you wish to continue from the point you are at later, that you select "Save Game" first. Then "Quit to DOS". To use this option, simply move the mouse cursor over it and click. If using the keyboard, press "q". Inventory (and Statistics) - By selecting "Inventory", the "Inventory" option will change to "Statistics". The purpose for changing is to return to your statistical information when you are done working with your inventory. When selecting "Inventory" you will be given a list of items you are carrying. Plus a sub menu consisting of three additional options will be presented (See "Working With Inventory for more details.) Point the mouse cursor to the "Inventory"/"Statistics" box and click to toggle between these two. Or using the keyboard, press "i" for "Inventory". Press "s" for "Statistics". Working With Inventory ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When you select the "Inventory" option, you will be given a list of items that you are carrying, if any. You are also presented with a sub menu consisting of three additional options. These options are used so that you can manipulate the items that you have picked up during the course of the game. These three options are: Equip - To ready an item in your inventory. When you select this, you will be asked which item you want to equip. Move the mouse cursor over the item and click the left mouse button to equip it. To tell you that the item is equipped, a diamond will appear next to it. If a diamond does not appear next to the item, then you are either attempting to equip an item that cannot be equipped, or you have another item of its type already equipped. Items do not go into affect until they have have been equipped. You are allowed to only have one item of its type equipped at a time. For instance, you can only have one armor equipped at a time. Keyboard users, type "e" to select the "Equip" option then the number of the item you wish to equip. Unequip - To unready an item in your inventory. Suppose you find a weapon that is possibly more powerful than the one you currently have and you want to equip it. Since you can only use one weapon at a time, you will need to unequip the older weapon you have been using so that you can equip the new one you found. Keyboard users type "u" to select this option then the number of the item you wish to unequip. Drop - To remove an item from your inventory. It is possible that you will have filled up all 6 spaces in your inventory and will come across something that you want to pick up. Select this option to make room by dropping an item you are carrying. You will not be able to drop an item that is equipped until you unequip it first. Be sure that want to drop an item! If you drop an item, it will be lost forever! Keyboard users type "d" to select this option then the number of the item they wish to drop. If you have selected "Equip", "Unequip", or "Drop", and change your mind about doing that action, you can abort out of it by either selecting a blank space in your inventory or by pressing the ESCape key. The sub menu will then reappear. Once you are done working with your inventory, select "Statistics". This will allow you to continue further with the game, such as moving around or selecting a different option not involved with inventory. Keyboard users type, "s". Items Obtainable In Psionics ---------------------------------------------------------------------- There are a variety of weapons, armor, and miscellaneous items that you may find in the game. Weapons can not only do additional damage, but may increase the odds of hitting an opponent in combat. Armor increases your Defense score, making it more difficult for opponents to hit you. You will need to experiment and compare items to find out which is more powerful than the other. First Aid Kits are very valuable to you. When equipped, they increase your current hit points by 5, but will not increase your current hit points over the maximum hit points you can have. Say you're fighting 3 Zandorian Lizards. Your Hits read: 6 / 9. In other words you are wounded and currently have 6 hit points out of a maximum of 9. You can select to equip a First Aid Kit while in combat and increase your Hits to read: 9 / 9. Though First Aid Kits raise your current hit points by 5 each time, it only raised it by 3 because you cannot be healed beyond your maximum number of hit points. A First Aid Kit can only be used once. After you equip one, it disappears from your inventory list. And though there are several lying around the space station, use them wisely. It is best to use a First Aid Kit during combat where it looks as though you may not survive without some healing. Combat ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Quite often you will enter combat. Random encounters consist of 1 to 4 creatures that you may face. When you have an encounter, you will be presented with a sub menu consisting of 3 options: Fight - To attack physically. The computer rolls a random number from 1 to 20 and calculates the result with your Strength score, any bonuses to a particular weapon if equipped, and your opponent's Defense score. If you achieve a high enough number, then you hit! The amount of damage you inflict is then determined. If you do not have a weapon equipped, you will inflict 1-2 points of damage to your opponent. If you have a weapon equipped, the damage is likely to be greater. Keyboard users type, "f". Psionic Attack - To attack an opponent by focusing your mental energies on its mind. There is no such thing as "missing" with this kind of attack. The damage inflicted is determined by taking your Experience Level and multiplying that by a factor of 2. Thus, if you are a level 1, then you will do 2 points of damage. If you are a level 2, you will do 4 points of damage. And so on and so forth. The number of Psionic Attacks you can use is revealed on your character's stats, labeled as PSI. Once you have a 0 for your current PSI, you will not be able to use this attack again until you have recuperated from the mental strain for a short period of time. Keyboard users type, "p". Run Away - To attempt to flee from the encounter. You have a fifty fifty chance of escaping. Keyboard users type, "r". Besides the options above, you can also access your inventory by selecting the "Inventory" option at the bottom of the screen. Each time you kill an opponent, you will receive a certain amount of experience points that will be added to your EXP score. Tougher opponents give more experience than weaker ones. Obtaining Levels ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Engaging in combat, doing certain things, and making it to certain points will increase your EXP score. When you have enough experience points, you will automatically gain a level in experience. Characters start off at level 1 and rise upward to a maximum of level 10. When you gain a level, you will receive 2-11 additional hit points to your current and maximum total Hits score. You will also receive an additional point added to one of your four attribute scores. Plus you will gain all the benefits of having that attribute raised. For example, you have an Intelligence score of 10, in which case you'll have a maximum of 2 PSI points. You then gain a level and receive a +1 in Intelligence. Your Intelligence score is now 11 and your maximum PSI points are now 3, a result of your Intelligence score being raised. The following is a chart detailing the amount of experience needed to gain a level: Level Experience needed ----------------------------- 1 0 2 1000 3 2000 4 4000 5 8000 6 16000 7 32000 8 64000 9 128000 10 256000 Conclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Your main goal is to escape from Nexus. With all the nasty critters running about and possible villains to deal with, this won't be a simple task! Good luck and have fun! ====================================================================== CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS SOFTWARE MAY BE DISTRIBUTED: Individual users may freely copy this software and share it with friends and family. Groups, BBS's, and Distributors may distribute this software subject to the following conditions: 1) The files on each disk may not be modified or adapted in any way. All the files provided on the disk must be distributed together. Individual files or groups of files may not be sold separately. Additional files may be added and this software may be combined on a disk with other programs. 2) This software may not be represented as anything other than shareware. The fact that this is shareware must be include in any ad or packaging that is used to market or display the disk. 3) If the files are to be zipped for modem transmission, then the files should all be included in the file "PSI10.ZIP". The following command will do this if you have PKZIP installed on your computer and you are in the correct directory. PKZIP PSI10.ZIP *.PSI *.NAC *.EXE *.DOC 4) You must immediately stop selling or distributing copies of this program upon notice from the author(Adam Stanchos) or Nachos Software. ====================================================================== Though not necessary, you may register this software. By sending $10.00 US dollars to the author's address at the end of this document, you will receive: - The latest version of Psionics on disk. (Specify 3.5" or 5.25" disk. Also specify DS or HD disk capacity.) - A Printed Manual. - And a clue booklet, detailing the levels of Nexus and a list of monsters and items. ====================================================================== Programed by Adam Stanchos. Thanks to Jason Duke for some valuable playtesting. This game was written in Microsoft QuickBasic 4.5. If you wish, you can reach the author on the following: The Academy VSBBS (915)598-3080 - Screen Name: Adam Stanchos 1503 America Online - Screen Name: AdamS60982 Or write: Adam Stanchos 6232 Constellation El Paso, TX 79912