SPACE 1/SPACE - Library 1 - Volume 1.iso/games/126/oldlarn1.doc

Text File | 1985-11-19 | 6KB | 142 lines

These notes describe the version of LARN implemented on the Atari 520 ST.

What is LARN?
---- -- -----
LARN is an adventure game (loosely based on Dungeons and Dragons) in which the
object is to explore a multi-level maze in search of a magic potion for curing
your ill daughter.  Along the way, you will discover things and valuables and
monsters.  You will find many of the former to be useful and many of the latter
to be detremental to your health and well being.  In addition, there is a bank
you can sell gems to and deposit and withdraw savings (no loans are given!).
You can use the money to take courses at the university or to purchase things
at the stores.

Needed Files
------ -----
To begin, you must have the following files:

LARN.TTP: the game program
LARNHELP: a help file
LARNMAZE: the mazes of the various levels (it is cheating to peek)
LARNOPT: a file containing options for running the game
LFORTUNE: a file containing some hints, revealed when you eat fortune cookies

In addition, ENVIRON (a substitute for environment variables) is optional.

LARN will create the following files:

LLOG12: a log of games played
LSCORE12: the scores of the highest games for each user
PLAYERID: a file for converting player names to identification numbers

Some of these files need more detailed explanations.

LARNOPT
-------

LARNOPT contains the some options you can use for tailoring the game to
your own tastes.  You may include the following in it (one entry per line):

bold-objects (to make objects stand out in bold emphasis - this is not
    supported on the Atari 520/1040)
inverse-objects (to make objects appear as light characters on dark background)
no-introduction (skip the welcome screen and get right to the game)
no-beep (don't beep the alarm)
male (male player - default)
female (female player)
name: "your name" (your character's name)
monster: "monster name" (?????)
savefile: "save file name" (the name of the file to save games in)

For further explanation, run the help screen while in the game.

This version of LARN is adapted from one originally written for the UNIX(tm)
Operating System and took some key information from environment variables.
Specifically, it needs either the USER or LOGNAME and optionally, LARNDIR.
Either of the first two provides a string for identifying the player, which
LARN uses to search the PLAYERID file to get a numeric identifier.  The last
variable indicates where the support files and score are kept.  If you play
the game under a shell that allows environment variables (e.g. the
Beckemeyer Micro C-Shell), there is no problem.  Unfortunately, the ST desktop
provides no way of creating environment variables.  To remedy this deficiency,
LARN searches for a file called ENVIRON in the directory it is executed in
for character strings which substitute for environment variables.  Thus, to
set the USER to Joe and LARNDIR to a:games\larn\ do the following:
C-SHELL:
    setenv USER=Joe
    setenv LARNDIR=a:games\larn\
ENVIRON (from the desktop):
    USER Joe
    LARNDIR a:games\larn\
(the final \ is necessary).  The definition of LARNDIR must be 15 characters
or less.  If LARNDIR is not defined, LARN looks in the current directory for
the support files.

How to Run LARN
--- -- --- ----
LARN has a file extension of .TTP, meaning you can give it some parameters.
The valid parameters are:

-s to just show the highest scores
-i to show what the highest scorers had with them when they died
-n to skip the welcome screen (equivalent to placing no-introduction in the
    LARNOPT file)
-<number> (replace <number> with a number) to set the difficulty level of the
    game.  The default is 0, the easiest.
-o<optsfile> (replace <optsfile> with a file name) to tell LARN where to find
    LARNOPT
-c to clear the scoreboard (you must be userid 1 and have the right password
    to do this).  Alternatively, just remove LSCORE12.
-h to see the command line parameters (a repeat of the above)

You need not give it any parameters to play a game.

Once the game has begun (and it has found the USER or LOGNAME), LARN tries to
find its support files (LARNOPT, LARNHELP, etc.).  Eventually, you see a
screen with some letters and the cursor.  Simply move the cursor to a letter
of interest, and follow the directions (hint: E is the entrance to the
cavern).  Once inside the cavern, move the cursor to move or attack a monster.
If you land on something, LARN will ask you if you want to pick it up.

Cursor Movement and Special keys:
------ -------- --- ------- -----
You can move the cursor one square in the following directions:

up: k, up arrow, or 8 on the keypad
down: j, down arrow, or 2 on the keypad
right: l, right arrow, or 6 on the keypad
left: h, left arrow, or 4 on the keypad
up and left: y or 7 on the keypad
up and right: u or 9 on the keypad
down and left: b or 1 on the keypad
down and right: n or 3 on the keypad

You may also move (run) in a direction until stopped by something by holding
shift while typing a letter (e.g. H) or CONTROL while typing a number on the
keypad.

Use . (or 5 on the keypad) to stay in the same place ("rest") and ? or HELP
to get the help screens.

System Requirements:
------ -------------
I have only run LARN on a 520 ST with 1Meg of RAM and TOS in ROM.  It should
run on a 1040 with no problem and on a 520 ST with 512K of RAM.  It might
even run with TOS booted from disk, but this has not been verified.  The
program and support files fit on one disk.  LARN does not write intermediate
files to disk, so a single disk drive is sufficient for running the game.

Acknowledgements:
-----------------

LARN was written by
    Noah

He has released it into the public domain.  It is legal to give this program
away, but illegal to sell it.

LARN was ported to the Atari 520/1040 ST by
    Rodney Black
    149 South Carter Court
    Louisville, CO 80027