home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Amiga Collections: The Best of Public Domain
/
Best of Public Domain, The Nr.38 (19xx)(Garfield, Andi)(DE).zip
/
Best of Public Domain, The Nr.38 (19xx)(Garfield, Andi)(DE).adf
/
doce
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1989-10-23
|
24KB
|
876 lines
DEEP SPACE DOX
brought to you by Device Driver
2/9-13/87
Deep Space is an interstellar adventure encompassing warfare and
exploration. You take charge of a STRIX fighter, an advanced long
range raider in which you embark on a journey to find fame and
fortune.
Working for the Agency as a freelance buccaneer you venture forth
to earn Credits for you daring deeds and with them purchase the
energy and weapons to enable you to tackle some of the most deadly
adversaries in the known universe.
Negotiate meteor clusters and storms, clear minefields, steal
communication satellites from out of their orbits, dog fight with
Kogon interceptors, encounter the awesome Vexon mothership. These
and other adventures await in DEEP SPACE.
Deep Space was produced by Psygnosis in assembly language especially
for 68000 computers.
AGENCY GUIDE FOR FREELANCE OPERATORS
BRIEFING: Stardate 97-81-24
Following the recent antics of certain persons all operators must
note that the agency will under no circumstances tolerate the
following:
Star Trek groupies.
Do-gooders.
The stranded & impoverished bumming energy drones.
Idiots who burn up skimming fuel from gas giants.
Anyone who earns too many credits.
Xenophobes.
Mirfaks.
Any of the above silly abhorrent aberrations will results in
immediate termination.
Automatic bounty allocators have now been fitted to all ships. All
have been calibrated so any claims for extra credits because of
inaccuracy will not be accepted. Anti personnel devices have been
fitted to them so tampering must be a deep philosophical decision
for anyone contemplating interference.
Agency scientists can now confirm that the indiscrimate firing of
QUARK bombs through Stargates into alien systems serves no useful
purpose as no damage ever appears to be inflicted. The agency is
therefore not prepared to pay bounties for this feat.
For those who consider alien observation posts to be easy target
practice 1500 cedits each, the Agency would hasten to remind you
that their purpose is observation and they do have sub-ether coms
links.
The Agency is currently extremely keen to examine captured aliens.
A bounty of 500 credits will be paid for any specimens. Operators
are expected to clean their own scoops.
Alien satellites are the subject of intense Agency interest. Bounties
of 1000 credits will be paid for communication equipment, 2000 credits
for observation equipment and 4000 credits for military hardware.
Recent reports now indicate that civilised worlds now have this
technology.
Alien skirmishers have been messing up the star lanes with mines
again. A bounty of 500 credits will be paid for each one destroyed.
Recent analysis has shown that ramming, whilst being effective is
not the most efficient method of mine clearance. The Agency will
under no circumstances pay extra bounty to those heroes who attempt
to clear homing mines or those with long-range proximity fuses.
__
_______\ \ The Agency recommends that all rookie operatives
/\ \
/ /~~~~~~~~\_\ should operate entirely within the Al-Nair system.
\/__________|
\_\ Vexon scout ships are now pretty obsolete in their
weapons technology and carry a bounty of 2500 credits.
__
________\ \ An increasing number of Vexon fighters have been
|\ ~~\
\ \_________\ reported in the Giobek system and some even in the
\|________\_\
\|| Al-Nair system. It is believed these heavier crafts
are using a system of disposable fuel pods to increase
their effective range. Vexon fighter ships are worth
5000 credits each to the Agency.
__ A number of Vexon Killer class ships found operating
/\_\
/\/_/-------\ in the Kogon system have been found to be fitted
/\/_/--------->
\/_/---------/ with anti-matter screens. This class of craft is
only surpased by interceptor class star ships
____
_______/\___\| which have so far not ventured beyond the Inogal
/\________\___\|
\/________|\___\ system. Killer class ships are worth 7500 while
\|___|
\_\ Interceptors earn a bounty of 10000 credits.
Loses of Agency operatives haas been highest amongst those who have
penetrated the Vexon system. It is believed that the Vexon have
finally perfect their much heralded mothership. Destruction of this
vessel will be rewarded with 250,000 Credits bounty. Our scientists
assure us that the new QUARK bombs are capable of demolishing
planetary bodies and so this fabled edifice should be no problem
(once it is reached).
STRIX FIGHTER
INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL
The STRIX fighter is a deep space raider produced specifically for
long range seek & destroy operations. It is a highly sophisticated
craft with many specialised functions which require detailed study
and practise to ensure success. This manual is required reading
for all trainees wishing to gain profficiency in the piloting and
efficient use of this machine.
BASIC FAMILIARISATION
The system console is devided into several main sections each with a
major functional use.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
+---------------+---------+-------------------+----------------+---------------+
| | F | | | |
| +---------+ | | |
| +-----------+----+ |
| B | | |
| +---------+----+-+ |
| | | |
| +----------------+ |
| |
| +------------------+ |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| +------------------+ |
| |
| +---+ +-----------+ |
| | | +-----+ | | |
| +---+--------+ +--------+ # +------+ # | | | | |
| | | |oooooooo| # | | # | | ++ | | |
+--+ D +--+========+------#--+ +--#-----+ C +-||-+ E +-+
| | | | ###### | ############## | | ++ | | |
| +------------+ | ## | A +____+ | | | | |
| | ## | +-----+ +-----------+ |
| | ## | === ##### |
+------------------+--------+--------------------------------------------------+
CENTRE CONSOLE (A)
+--------+ # +------+ # The Centre console allows for
|oooooooo| # | | #
+========+------#--+ +--#- positional and speed control. The
| ###### | ##############
| ## | +____+ control column allows for directional
| ## |
| ## | change whilst the speed leaver controls
+--------+
velocity.
STATUS DISPLAY (B)
+-------------------+ The status display shows system messages,
| |
| | current alert status and a readout of the
| |
+-------------+-----+ energy in the ships main storage banks.
| |
+-----+-----+-+
| |
+-------------+
FUNCTION POD (C)
+---------+ The functions pod contains switches for a number
| ### ### |
| | of functions including shields, weapon select,
| ### ### |
| | and vision direction.
| ### ### |
+---------+
SHIPS COMPUTER (D)
+------+ The ships computer is multi-purpose and consists
| #### |
+------+------+ of a head-up display with options for navigation,
| ### ### ### |
| | scoop control, ship status, re-fueling and
| ### ### ### |
+-------------+ communications.
SHORTRANGE SCANNERS (E)
+-----------------+
| \ | / | The short range scanners allow for variable
| \-----+-----/ |
| \ | / | range scanning of the areas immediately around
| +---+---+ |
| | | | the ship and give accurate position information
| | | |
| +---+---+ | on objects detected.
+-+ | / | \ |
| | | /-----+-----\ |
+-+ | / | \ |
+--------+--------+
## ## ## ## ##
MISSON CLOCK (F)
+----------+ The mission clock shows a readout of mission
| ##.##.## |
+----------+ elapsed time.
ACTIVATING CONSOLE SWITCHES
Console buttons and switches may in all cases be activated by
moving the mouse pointer over them and depressing the left
hand button on the mouse. A successful activation will then
always be indicated by a change in the colour or the graphics
of the button. All buttons also have keyboard equivalents. The
table at the end of this manual gives a complete list of key to
command mappings.
ALERTS AND MESSAGES
Messages from the ship which are of such importance that they may
require your attention are imaged on the status display. An
audible warning will announce their presence. The small square
underneath gives an indication of the importance of the messages:
red for "urgent", yellow for "may require action" and green for
"information which may be of interest". The readout below this
is the ships master energy display. If this ever reaches zero
the ship will cease to function and will self destruct.
+---------+ The communications computer, which is selected by
| ## #### |
| #### ## | pressing the central button on the bottom row of
| ####### |
| ### ### | an activated ships computer console, will always give
+---------+
an expanded explanation of status messages as well as any extra
information that is not deemed appropriate to be presented on the
status display.
MOVEMENT
Movement of the STRIX fighter may be accomplished in any one of three
ways. Using the mouse you simply move the pointer over the graphic
of the control column in the direction toward which movement is
desired i.e. left moves the ship left and up moves the ship up.
Movement with a joystick is a case of pushing the stick in
the direction required. The joysticks only function is to fire
weapons or change direction and may be used in parallel with the
mouse and/or keyboard.
Movement from your computer keyboard is accomplished using
the arrow (cursor) keys. Press the key which corresponds to the
direction in which you wish to move.
In all cases the longer you hold a directional change the
faster your ship will move in that direction. Providing the ship
has forward momentum of the control column will always alter the
direction of motion (not just the display window).
+----------+ It is posible to detach the viewing window from the
| /___\ |
| / | | \| direction of motion and look in other directions
| \ |___| /|
| \ / | whilst not disturbing that motion. To achieve this
+----------+
press the top-left button on the pod. When it locks
and the button changes colour, viewing direction will be independent
of motional direction. You may now look around without disturbing
and course which has been set. Clicking the pod button off will
immediately return the window to looking along the direction of
motion. This operation may also be obtained with the keyboard key
+----------+ "W". A further option which is useful in combat
| +-----\ |
| | +---/ | situations is the 'rear-view' button located in the
| | |____ |
| +______| | button right position of the pod. When activated
+----------+
the window is automatically freed and instantly
swung round to point directly away from the current direction of
motion. The 'BACKSPACE' key will also activate the function.
SPEED CONTROL
Speed is controlled using the Thrust lever to the left of the centre
console. Downward movement of this lever causes deceleration,
upward movement acceleration. The display above the level has eight
lights showing graphically the amount of the acceleration/deceleration
being applied and a sliding bar which registers current velocity.
To move the lever simply move the mouse pointer over the lever
and depress the left button. Whilst keeping the button held down move
the mouse in the desired direction - up for acceleration and down for
deceleration.
Alternatively the keyboard may be used. The key labeled
'RETURN' is equivalent to up movement whilst the key underneath will
cause downwards movement of the lever.
+----------+ The shpip can be stopped quickly by pressing the
| /|-- |
| / | |___ | retro thrust button on the pod. This requires twice
| \ |----| |
| \| | as much energy as using the thrust level but is far
+----------+
faster at killing the ships motion.
NAVIGATION
Navigation uses two special computer functions. The long range map
the navigation computer. The map shows all large objects within
the confines of the navigable system and their spatial relationships
with regards to your ships. It also allows a specific location to
be pin pointed. The navigation computer then displays graphical
information to help find this location.
+----------+ The long range map is activated by pressing the
| ## ## |
| ## | ship's computer's top left button whilst it is
| ## |
| ## ## | switched on. Two screens will now be visible
+----------+
framed by a green border. Each screen shows the
same data but from a different viewpoint. Your position is
indicated by a white square in the centre of both screens.
The leftmost screen is imaged as if looking down on your
ship from a great height i.e. objects in from of you are towards
the top of the screen, objects to your left are on the left of the
screen. There is no indication of above/below on this screen. The
other screen shows your ship from behind, with above being towards
the top of the screen and left being to the left of the screen.
All large objects are displayed as dots and positions are updated
in real-time. As your ship moves and changed direction the dots
follow suit. The meaning of the dots is:
Yellow The systems Sun
Shimmering colour Stargates
Pale Red Alien mother-ship
Dark Red Alien space-ship
White Alien observation post
Pale Blue Planet
Dark Blue Planetary moon
Dark Green Energy Drone
Green Repair Drone
Pale Green QUARK Drone
Black Alien missile
There is also a small white cross displayed. This is the destination
point for the navigation computer. Clicking in either screen with
your mouse moves this cross. Click in the left screen to set its
left/right front/back position and in the right screen to set its
up/down left/right position.
+----/\----+ The navigation computer is selected by pressing
| /# #\ |
| / \ | the computers top right button. This displays
| \ / |
| \# #/ | a screen with two important components both of
+----\/----+
which are to help reach the destination reach the
destination point set with the long range map.
On the left is an indication of the distance to the point plus
an estimate of the energy units required to reach the point. On
the right are a series of squares. The course you are steering is
correct when all squares line up perfectly. Your destination is
reached when all squares are the same size. The normal colour of
the squares is yellow but if your destination is behind you then they
will be red. The exact course to steer is marked most accurately
by the smallest square which should be followed i.e. if it is to
the left then you should steer left.
SCANNERS
+----/\----+ The Short Range Scanners are activated by pressing
| / \ |
| /_ _\ | the up-arrow button on the right side of the pod.
| | | |
| |__| | This will cause a screen to rise. The scanners
+----------+
will not be active unless one of the range buttons
(labelled 1-5 underneath) is also selected. The scanners may be
de-activated by pressing the same button (now a down arrow) again.
The range of the scan is selected by the buttons (labelled
1-5) which are located underneath the scanner screen with one
being the lowest and five the highest range. Each increase in
range doubles the effective area which is scanned and doubles the
scanners energy consumption.
The scanner screen shows a cube with your ships position signified by
a central white dot. The scan is imaged looking forwards. Any
large object within scanning range will be represented within this
cube by a stalk with a dot on top. The dot is the object whilst
the stalk gives an indication of depth by the position itt joins the
floors of the scanner. All scanned objects have their positions
updated in real time.
DEEP SPACE REFUELLING
Deep Space refuelling of a STRIX fighter is most easily accomplished
through the use of automatic drones. Three types are available and
can be ordered using the ships computer.
An energy drone carries 25000 units of energy.
A repair drone carries all need spare parts to repair or replace any
vital ship functions which may have become damaged or destroyed. It
also carries 10 missiles which automatically replenish ships board
stocks.
A QUARK drone carries 2 QUARK bombs. This is the only way to gain
possession of such weapons.
These drones have to be purchased from the agency who will then
dispatch them on auto-pilot providing that you have enough credits
for the purchase.
+----------+ Drones are ordered through the computer by pressing
| /~~~~\ |
| | |~~| | | the left most button of the computer console whilst
| | |__| | |
| \____/ | the computer is activated. The display shows your
+----------+
current credit rating with the agency. To order
select the type of drone you require by clicking with the mouse on
the required line until it is highlighted. Then click on the order
line. If you have the required credits the cost will be debited
from your account and the drone will be despatched. You must then
use your scoops to retrieve it.
The drone will travel to the location you occupied when you ordered
it. The time the drone takes to reach this position and its cost in
credits are directly proportional to the number of Stargates it
must traverse to reach this position.
For any impoverished and fueless pilot there is another option which
can be taken to replenish energy stocks. This involves scooping
the surface of any nearby gaseous star. This process is hazardous
in the extreme and totally beyond description.
AUTO SCOOPS
+----------+ To retrieve objects from space the auto scoops must
| # # # # |
| # # # # | be used. To activate, first turn on the ship's
| # # # # |
| # # # # | computer and then select the second button from the
+----------+
left on the top row. The screen will show an image
with your STRIX fighter in the centre. The yellow square underneath
is a representation of your extended scoop. All objects in the
vicinity will now register their location on this screen. The nearer
the object is the whiter it will be. Only objects in front of you will
register.
With the scoops extended satellites, drones and even life forms may
be taken within your ship by ensuring that their image falls within
the yellow square whilst it is at its whitest. The scoop will then
automatically detect their presence and tractor beams will draw them
in.
The scoop's imaging system is also a very good aid for negotiating
meteor clusters, mine fields and for dodging enemy fire.
WEAPONRY
Your shields are your most important aid to staying alive. Without
them you will take massive damage and possibly be destroyed by an
enemy weapon. The shields absorb energy and so will protect you
from individual hits from energy weapons but they can be overloaded
by multiple strikes in a short space of time.
+----------+ The shields may be switched on by pressing the centre
| /------\ |
| | # | | right button on the pod. Unless they are destroyed
| | #### | |
| \______/ | they will automatically repair themselves over a
+----------+
period of time. Shields are heavily energy intesive
whilst in operation and will draw large amounts of extra energy to
deflect potential impacts.
+----------+ Normally standard Pulse weaponry is selected. The
| |
| ## | only limit to how often they are used is again the
| ###### |
| ## | amount of energy you have in store. They are however
+----------+
of limited effectiveness against shielded ships
requiring multiple hits to break down their shields. Missiles which
are selected by the centre left button on the pod have far longer
+----------+ ranges and can pierce shields. The QUARK bombs are
| |
| # #### | the only things able to pierce the shields of alien
| ###### |
| # #### | motherships. QUARKs are selected by activating
+----------+
the lower left button on the Pod. Weapons are fired
with the right mouse button, the keyboard space bar or the joystick
button.
BATTLE DAMAGE
Whenever damage is inflicted upon your ship the damage control
computer will use energy to protect vital areas at the expense of
others. The shields will absorb whatever energy they can if they
are active and not destroyed. The damage allocator then allocates
damage in the following order - scanners, computer, pulse weapons
engines.
+----------+ A visual indication of the ships status may be
| -------- |
| |_O O_| | obtained by activating the right most button on the
| = |__| = |
| = = | bottom row of the computer console whilst the computer
+----------+
is on. The display shows each major area of the ship
and it's percentage functionality. 100% means perfect working order.
Generally things are regarded as damaged and not to be trusted as
reliable when their effectiveness drops below 50%. Also shown are
weapon quantities and current energy consumption.
ENERGY USAGE
All ship functions require energy. Without it your ship will perish.
Energy is used by your ship in the following way:
Basic ship functions - 10 units per second
Shields on - 15 units per second
Pulse weapons - 30 units per firing
Acceleration/deceleration - 5* rate (1-8) units per sec
Scanners - 10 units per second if on
Scanner ranged - 5* range (1-5) per second
Computer - 5 units per second if on
Map computer - 20 units per second
Scoop computer - 10 units per second
Navigation computer - 5 units per second
Drone computer - 10 units per second
Comms computer - 10 units per second
Status computer - 5 units per second
Stargate Entry - 50000 units per passage
Remember also that any damage inflicted will also use energy.
KEYBOARD OPTIONS
All ship control functions may be controlled directly from the
keyboard. The following table summarises the keys to use.
MOVE UP - (UP ARROW)
MOVE DOWN - (DOWN ARROW)
MOVE LEFT - (LEFT ARROW)
MOVE RIGHT - (RIGHT ARROW)
INCREASE SPEED - (RETURN)
DECREASE SPEED - (LEFT-SHIFT)
FIRE WEAPON - (SPACE)
SELECT MISSILE - M
SELECT QUARK BOMB - B
WINDOW LOCK/UNLOCK - W
LOOK BEHIND - (BACKSPACE)
RETRO-THRUST - R
SHIELDS ON/OFF - S
COMPUTER ON/OFF - F1
SELECT MAP DISPLAY - F2
SELECT SCOOP DISPLAY - F3
SELECT NAV DISPLAY - F4
SELECT DRONE DISPLAY - F5
SELECT COMS DISPLAY - F6
SELECT STATUS DISPLAY - F7
SCANNERS ON/OFF - F10
SET RANGE 1 - 1
SET RANGE 2 - 2
SET RANGE 3 - 3
SET RANGE 4 - 4
SET RANGE 5 - 5
PAUSE - (ESC)
GAME OPTIONS - (HELP)
---------
I would like to thank the following for making these dox
possible: my dog, AC/DC, HEART, DOKKEN, Coca Cola Bottling
Company of New England and last but not least MicroEmacs.
Device Driver - President NEAPG,
member 2400AE
