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1995-04-08
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*************************************
* ARROWBRIDGE I - Quest for the Orb *
* V1.12 SYSOP DOCUMENTATION *
*************************************
1. PREFACE
Welcome to the land of Arrowbridge. This game is has evolved over seven years
due to a passion that I have for medieval culture and lands of fantasy.
Arrowbridge was first released to the public in early 1993 and has since grown
in popularity. The game has been designed so as to allow the player to
deviate from his/her normal life and enter a new world, one of excitement and
mystique.
- 1 -
2. DISCLAIMER
This product is completely (C)opyrighted by Mark Sinclair of Legend
Electronics. The program can be freely distributed as shareware without any
modifications to the object code. Unauthorised modifications could result in
an abnormal function with the program, in which the author bears no
responsibility from the user.
This program shall be used by the user with no guarantee to the user or
liability against the author. If there is any doubt about the program's
integrity then do not run it!
No refunds will be granted after 7 days of receipt of any registration code.
- 2 -
3. INTRODUCTION
Arrowbridge is a ANSI Dungeons and Dragons style online game with over 230000
locations, 40 dungeons, castles, cities, towns, armies, hundreds of monsters,
special missions, magic items and much much more. Combat routines feature
movable icons with ANSI graphics. The game is * BIG * and has been designed
to present a SERIOUS challenge to all players - hints are available in all of
the taverns, but note that the game is a "thinking person's game" and will
take several months to complete due to the many complex puzzles that must be
solved.
3.1 Operating Environment
This version has been thoroughly tested on Remote Access V2.0x and PCBoard but
should work on any BBS that creates a DORINFOx.DEF or DOOR.SYS file! Another
important fact is that Arrowbridge will use a Fossil driver if it is resident
in memory. Arrowbridge has been designed to run under MSDOS and 4DOS/NDOS but
several bulletin board systems have reported success with OS/2.
A FOSSIL driver is required if you are using baud rates in excess of 9600 baud
or if you have your system running at a locked baud rate. Arrowbridge should
function with all fossils adopting the fossil standard, including X00 and BNU.
Arrowbridge can also be played on a multi-node basis! Make sure that
SHARE.EXE is resident if you intend to run several copies of Arrowbridge at
once - failure to do this could result in file degradation
*** A note for DOS users ***
Arrowbridge uses standard dos directory calls and has been known to pause
(awaiting a keystroke) with some dos setups. The problem can be fixed by
checking the autoexec.bat file for the following statement:
SET DIRCMD=/P/A...etc
The '/P' entry causes the directory listing to pause when the screen fills.
This entry should be removed if Arrowbridge is to be used in an Inter-BBS mode
of operation.
- 3 -
4. INSTALLATION
Installing Arrowbridge is very simple.
A De-compress the file into a directory that is to contain all of the
Arrowbridge files.
B Set up a BBS door and batch file as follows:
* REMOTE ACCESS & EZYCOM SYSTEMS
Create a door exit (Type 7) in your BBS menu to run the Arrowbridge batch
file that is to be created in the following step.
eg. Command Line :
*C /C C:\RA\ABRIDGE.BAT *M *N
Create a batch file to run ABRIDGE with the BBS node number as a
parameter.
eg. Sample batch program for Remote Access (%1 = node number)
COPY DORINFO1.DEF DORINFO%1.DEF
CD \RA\ABRIDGE
ABRIDGE.EXE /NODE%1
CD \RA
Note: Arrowbridge will look for RBBS compatible DORINFOx.DEF (where x=Node
number) and DOOR.SYS drop files. Systems that only produce DORINFO1.DEF
files must rename the file according to the current Line of the BBS as
shown in the first line of the batch file above.
* PCBOARD SYSTEMS
Enable DOOR.SYS in the doors setup, call 'arrow' as your batch file
Choose (S)wap out of PCB
----[ arrow - modify as necessary for your drive/path combo ]-----
@echo off
d:
cd\abridge
abridge.exe /node2
c:
cd\pcb\node2
@echo off
------------------------
D Run ABTOOLS SETUP & enter the information as describe in Section 5.
E Change into the Arrowbridge directory that you have created and run
ABTOOLS CREATE
- 4 -
This will create all of the files and the 'MAPS' directory necessary for
Arrowbridge to run successfully.
F You are ready to play! (Try ABRIDGE.EXE /LOCAL)
- 5 -
5. SETUP OPTIONS
ABTOOLS SETUP allows you to customise the game as discussed below.
5.1 BBS Details
* BBS Name
This tells Arrowbridge what system name the game is registered to and the
registration code is checked against that name. Note that the rego check is
not case sensitive.
* Sysop Name
This tells Arrowbridge what sysop/user name the game is registered to and the
registration code is also checked against that name. Once again, the rego
check is not case sensitive.
* Registration Code
Enter your registration code here.
* Drop File Type
Arrowbridge supports two drop file types which are compatible with most BBS
systems - DOOR.SYS and DORINFOx.DEF. Please select the drop file that is
applicable to your BBS software.
* Line Information (maximum of 9 lines)
Each node of the BBS must be defined in the game setup. This is important so
that Arrowbridge is able to lock the appropriate baud rate and can locate the
drop file for that node. Each active node must enter the following
information:
Is the line active - If the node is not used then it should be inactive
Drop File Path - The full path of the drop file for that line
Locked Baud - Enter the value of the locked baud rate (0=Not
Locked). See section 6.1 for valid locked rates.
5.2 Game Options
* Seasons follow date?
If you wish the seasons to follow the current calendar date then answer 'Yes'.
If not, the seasons will change monthly.
- 6 -
* Hemisphere (N/S)
If you wish the seasons to follow the date then select the hemisphere you wish
to follow. That is, in January, the northern hemisphere is in Winter and the
southern hemisphere is in Summer.
* Number of Characters per Player (default 4, maximum 9)
Each player may be able to control up to nine separate characters. The
default is set to four to enable each player to control a character of each of
the four classes.
* Maximum Time per Character (default 60 mins, maximum 199 mins)
The time per character is determined by this setting. Note also that the time
of day progresses in accordance to the time taken that day and the maximum
time available. The result of setting this figure too large will be the fact
that it remains sunrise/morning for too long and the day never progresses.
* Number of Turns per Character (default 400, maximum 9999)
The number of turns per character is determined by this setting. Note that
this figure applies to Knights, Wizards and Rangers. The setting for Thieves
is this figure multiplied by 2!
* Display Rego Name?
This determines if the Sysop or User Name that the game is registered to, is
displayed when a user exits the game.
5.3 Inter-BBS Options
* Mailer Type
The front end mailer type must be defined as either:
Frontdoor/D'Bridge
Binkley
None
The "None" setting will produce a file in the OUTBOUND directory but it will
not produce a .MSG file (used with other types of front end mailers).
* League Tag
The league tag is the individual Arrowbridge league identifier. I must be two
characters in length. See the Inter-BBS sections for more information.
- 7 -
* BBS Address
This is the address that is matched with the NODES.ABR file to determine if
your system is operating in an Inter-BBS environment. See the Inter-BBS
sections for more information.
5.4 Paths
* Arrowbridge Path
This is the full path that points to your Arrowbridge directory. It MUST be
defined for successful operation. The trailing backslash (\) is optional.
eg. C:\RA\ABRIDGE
* Inbound File Path
This is the full path that points to your inbound file directory and is only
required if you are operating in Inter-BBS mode. The trailing backslash (\)
is optional.
eg. C:\FD\FILE
* Outbound Mail Path
This is the full path that points to your outbound mail directory and is only
required if you are operating in Inter-BBS mode. The trailing backslash (\)
is optional.
eg. C:\FD\MAIL
- 8 -
6. COMMAND LINE SWITCHES
6.1. ABRIDGE.EXE [Command]
/LOCAL Play Arrowbridge locally (Default Node 0 unless specified)
/LOCKED=[baud] Lock the baud rate at 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, 19200 or 38400.
This function should be used if your modem uses a locked baud
rate. If you wish to lock the rate at higher values then
lock the rate at 38400 using the /locked=38400 switch and the
fossil SHOULD automatically adjust this to the rate at which
it itself is locked. This switch overrides the "line"
options in SETUP and, in fact, is actually not required if
the locked information has been entered into ABTOOLS SETUP.
eg. /LOCKED=19200
/NODEx Used for multi-node operation. "x" denotes the Line number
of the BBS. The default value for remote operation is "1".
Do NOT run multiple copies of Arrowbridge without using this
switch!
6.2. ABTOOLS.EXE [Command]
CREATE Create/reset Arrowbridge
EDIT Delete players, Edit Names and move players back to the
Arrowbridge castle. When players are deleted, a lower case
'x' shall appear in the player data file to indicate that the
player no longer exists.
INBOUND Processes inbound network files (Inter-BBS operation only).
This will check the inbound directory for "ABxxyyzz.???"
files where xx=League Tag (as per ABTOOLS SETUP), yy=Origin
BBS System number, zz=Destination BBS System number,
???=unique file id and process these files.
OUTBOUND Processes outbound network files (Inter-BBS operation only).
New outbound files are created on a daily basis (soon to be
configurable).
SETUP Change game setup.
- 9 -
7. SYSOP OPTIONS
ALT-C - CHAT Mode
Chat with users while online. ESC will abort the chat mode.
ALT-F10 - Summon Zombre Bryan
During gameplay, the sysop has the ability to summon Zombre Bryan by pressing
ALT-F10. This will result in Zombre appearing in the next combat round and
will most likely lead to the demise of the user online at the time. Note:
Zombre will also appear randomly during the game!
- 10 -
8. INTER-BBS PLAY
Arrowbridge can also be run on an Inter-BBS basis. At the moment, the
following functions are supported :
* A top 100 Inter-BBS player list featuring the top players based on their
experience.
* Send assassins to other systems to terminate players.
* Send a Destructor to another system. This Destructor is a level 15 assassin
which will attack all players on the destination BBS until it is destroyed.
* Inter-BBS messaging
- 11 -
9. NODES.ABR
In order start an Inter-BBS network, you must create a NODES.ABR file which
will contain all of the network information for each BBS.
Note: This version of Arrowbridge will only function with Frontdoor/D'Bridge &
Binkley compatible front end mailers.
Here is an example of a NODES.ABR file:
(First line is shown on the line below)
1
Arrow Entertainment System
3:711/520
2
death by chocolate...
3:632/360
3
Coastal Communications
3:411/906
4
Fireburners BBS
1:3418/2
etc.
Note that there is a blank line after every system entry, a maximum of ninety-
nine systems may be included and no point systems may be entered in the
nodelist. Make sure the first line features the first system number.
Ensure that the address of your system in the NODES.ABR file directly matches
that contained in the SETUP options.
Also, you must assign a League Tag, ie. a 2 character ID for your Arrowbridge
league so that systems may run multiple leagues without contention. All
systems in your league must have the same Tag entered in the ABTOOLS SETUP
routine. If multiple leagues are to be run, then ensure that each Arrowbridge
game runs ABTOOLS INBOUND & OUTBOUND from within each directory - failure to
do this may result in network files being over-written by other league games.
- 12 -
10.ROUTE.ABR
Outbound files may be routed via other systems by creating a ROUTE.ABR file.
The file can contain the following statements:
ROUTE * via [BBSNUM]
eg. ROUTE * via 3
This command will route ALL outbound files via the BBS [BBSNUM]. This command
should be used typically in the first entry of the route file as it will
override ALL previous entries.
ROUTE [BBS#1] via [BBS#2]
eg. ROUTE 6 via 2
This command will route files for BBS#1 via BBS#2. Once again, this command
will override all previous routing entries for BBS#1.
Note that the routing commands will be processed in the order in which they
appear. The "Route *..." command should appear on the first line of the
routing file (if it is necessary) and then all exceptions should appear after.
A sample file, ROUTE.SAM is available for further explanation.
- 13 -
11.SPECIAL THANKS
Many people have contributed to Arrowbridge over the years and I would like to
thank you all for your help and suggestions. Special thanks must go to the
following people who have spent thousands of hours playing and promoting the
game since 1987 when it all began on a Commodore 64 :-
Nick Takkos (Lord Voodoo), Ben Kwan, Jeff Sharland, Barrie & Tim O'brien, Tony
& Helen Terbizan, David Byrne, Carla & Julian Perry, Gordon Christie and Don
Bindley.
- 14 -
12.REGISTER TODAY!
This game is distributed as Shareware. The game is totally playable in its
unregistered state, and feel free to use it for an unlimited period, but a few
functions have been disabled:
* Players will not be able to start their second mission for advancement to
level ten
* Riders and Knights will not be purchasable.
Registration is inexpensive and will encourage me to add more functions to the
game. A game this size is not created overnight and many thousands of hours
have gone into its development. Your registration code will function with ALL
versions of Arrowbridge I - Quest for the Orb.
Fill in the registration form (REGISTER.DOC) and send it to the address shown
or Crash Mail it with an attached message to Arrow Entertainment System (FIDO
3:711/520).
After the registration form is received, you will be sent a registration code
by post. This will be dispatched within 24 hours of receipt, and as a result,
you should receive it within 10 working days worldwide!
Alternatively, call one of the International Arrowbridge Registration Sites
listed below to register the game (for BBS or private registration only).
Once you receive your rego code, simply add it to the game using ABTOOLS
SETUP. Your BBS name should be then displayed in the Arrowbridge title
screen. Note that your registered copy may only be installed on one PC at any
point in time.
12.1 COMMERCIAL REGISTRATION
Commercial registrations are available to those who wish to operate
Arrowbridge in a commercial environment. These must be obtained directly
through Legend Electronics of Australia. Please consult the REGISTER.DOC file
for more information.
- 15 -
REGISTRATION SITES:
The cost and procedures of registering Arrowbridge vary according to each
registration site. Choose the site closest to you. Consult the corresponding
registration file included in this package.
* AUSTRALIA and Commercial Registrations *
System : Arrow Entertainment System
SysOp : Mark Sinclair
Location: Australia
Phone : +61-2-876-5779
Address : FIDO 3:711/520
Reg File: REGISTER.DOC
* ASIA *
System : NITS BBS
SysOp : Wong Qc
Location: Singapore
Address : FIDO 6:600/247
Reg File: ASIA.REG
* CANADA & USA *
System : FireBurners BBS
SysOp : Don Bindley
Location: USA
Phone : +1-503-336-4538
Address : FIDO 1:3418/2
Reg File: US_CAN.REG
* EUROPE *
System : The Matrix Harbour
SysOp : Michael Grigutsch
Location: Germany
Phone : +49-4451-861114
Address : FIDO 2:2426/5020
Reg File: EUROPE.REG
If there are any problems encountered with registering at any of the
registration sites then please let me know.
- 16 -
13.HELP & SUGGESTIONS
An Arrowbridge echo area is available on the Australian and US Fidonet
backbones which will report all future releases of Arrowbridge, give plenty of
hints and tips and allow you to let me know of bugs that you encounter. Any
suggestions that you may have for the game would also be appreciated as the
game functions are only limited by our imagination. Please keep in mind that
I have to read through hundreds of messages per week and, as a result, I may
not have enough time to reply to them all. I will do my best though!
- 17 -
14.MORE POPULARITY?
In order to make Arrowbridge popular on your system, try the following:
* Post the PROMO.ANS file in your daily bulletin - this file will let the
users know (in bold ANSI) that you are running Arrowbridge!
* Run a competition where the first person to reach a certain level in the
game will be declared the winner and receive a prize
* Avoid playing the game yourself - users are often disheartened by a sysop
who is winning the game and can see every move they make
Happy Arrowbridging !(??)
Mark Sinclair
- 18 -
ARROW ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
All rates up to V34/VFC!
Phone Australia (02) 876-5779 [INTL +61-2-876-5779]
Fidonet 3:711/520
Adventurenet 169:3269/1
Coastlink 9:800/100
Gamelink 90:1100/100
Echo Areas : ARROWBRIDGE (Fidonet)
AN_ARROWBRIDGE (Adventurenet)
File Request the very latest public version of Arrowbridge (24 hours a day)
Filename : "ABRIDGE"
- 19 -
DISTRIBUTION SITES:
Distribution sites have the latest public release version of Arrowbridge
available for File Request using the magic filename "ABRIDGE".
SYSTEM ADDRESS LOCATION
Millenium BBS FIDO 3:620/265 Australia (ACT)
Death... by chocolate FIDO 3:632/360 Australia (VIC)
Empire BBS FIDO 3:632/530 Australia (VIC)
999 Planes of Hell FIDO 3:633/253 Australia (VIC)
MMC BBS FIDO 3:640/322 Australia (QLD)
Far Northern News FIDO 3:640/531 Australia (QLD)
Wize Crack's BBS FIDO 3:670/401 Australia (TAS)
Byteline BBS FIDO 3:690/245 Australia (WA)
The RPG & Comics Network FIDO 3:711/930 Australia (NSW)
NetRunners FIDO 3:712/537 Australia (NSW)
Midnight Cowboy's BBS FIDO 3:800/843 Australia (SA)
Adventure CCS FIDO 1:342/509 Canada (AB)
Virtual Oasis FIDO 1:259/128 Canada (ON)
The Junkyard BBS ADVN 69:6969/200 Canada (AB)
The Matrix Harbour FIDO 2:2426/5020 Germany
Assist-On-Line FIDO 2:332/116 Italy
Enterprise IV FIDO 3:770/190 New Zealand
The Hobbyhorse BBS FIDO 3:771/1220 New Zealand
Phantom BBS FIDO 2:259/26 Scotland
NITS BBS FIDO 6:600/247 Singapore
On-Site PC Services BBS FIDO 1:105/1010 U.S.A (OR)
Frozen Zone BBS FIDO 1:114/404 U.S.A (AZ)
RabbitLand II FIDO 1:124/7013 U.S.A (TX)
Genesis FIDO 1:124/8021 U.S.A (TX)
FlashPoint FIDO 1:139/635 U.S.A (WI)
Mountain Source BBS FIDO 1:207/220 U.S.A (CA)
Private Stock BBS FIDO 1:264/1011 U.S.A (VA)
The Crypt FIDO 1:301/36 U.S.A (NM)
Midnight Run FIDO 1:363/290 U.S.A (FL)
FireBurners BBS FIDO 1:3418/2 U.S.A (OR)
The Game Palace FIDO 1:3550/544 U.S.A (AK)
The Lost Child FIDO 1:3651/5 U.S.A (SC)
*** International Distribution Sites Wanted ***
If you do not have a distribution site in your country and if you are prepared
to call Australia or the US to pick up the latest public version prior to it
official release then send me a netmail message! Also, if any of these
systems do not have the latest version available then please let me know!
- 20 -
Beta Test Team:
Thank you for all of your support and patience!
John Breen The Wombat's Burrow BBS 3:690/398
Tony Carpenter MMC BBS 3:640/322
Gordon Christie Millenium BBS 3:620/265
Matthew Clements Empire BBS 3:632/530
Denis Coleman 999 Planes of Hell 3:633/253
Robert Fairlie-C The RPG & Comics Network 3:711/930
Tony Frank Neptune II 3:632/553
C & J Perry death... by chocolate 3:632/360
Andrew Stephen Byteline BBS 3:690/245
Tony Terbizan Hunter Connection BBS 3:622/403
Paul Zagoridis NetRunners 3:712/537
- 21 -
Appendix A - Common Error Codes
===============================
Here is a brief list of the common error codes associated with Arrowbridge.
Please let me know if you discover any more.
Error # 5
Illegal function. Please report this immediately.
Error # 6
Overflow error. Please report this immediately.
Error # 7
Out of Memory. Increase the memory of the Arrowbridge window. Make sure the
BBS swaps out and frees up as much memory as possible. Arrowbridge requires
at least 350kB free for execution.
Error # 9
Subscript error. Please report this immediately.
Error # 53
File not found. Check the paths in ABTOOLS SETUP are valid and correct.
Unpack the ABRIDGE archive into the Arrowbridge directory, to refreshen the
data files if required.
Error # 61
Disk full. Free some disk space!
Error # 64
File name invalid. Check the paths in ABTOOLS SETUP to ensure that all path
names are legal for MS-DOS and contain no illegal characters.
eg. "/" is illegal where "\" is legal.
Error # 70, 71 & 72
Drive permission problems. Check the functionality of the Arrowbridge drive!
Error # 76
Path not found. Check the paths in ABTOOLS SETUP are valid and correct. Also
check that MAPS and OUTBOUND (for inter-bbs operation only) subdirectories
exist off the main ABRIDGE directory.
- 22 -
INDEX
4DOS..........................................................................3
ABRIDGE
/LOCAL......................................................................9
/LOCKED=....................................................................9
/NODEx......................................................................9
ABTOOLS
CREATE......................................................................4,
EDIT........................................................................9
INBOUND.....................................................................9,
OUTBOUND....................................................................9,
SETUP.......................................................................4,
BBS name......................................................................6
Binkley.......................................................................7,
BNU...........................................................................3
characters per player.........................................................7
Chat mode.....................................................................10
D'Bridge......................................................................7,
DOOR.SYS......................................................................3
DORINFOx.DEF..................................................................3
drop file.....................................................................6
drop file path................................................................6
Error Codes...................................................................22
Ezycom........................................................................4
FOSSIL driver.................................................................3
Frontdoor.....................................................................7,
hemisphere....................................................................7
installation..................................................................4
Inter-BBS
address.....................................................................8
Assassins...................................................................11
Destructors.................................................................11
inbound path................................................................8
league tag..................................................................7
multiple leagues............................................................12
options.....................................................................7
outbound path...............................................................8
player List.................................................................11
point systems...............................................................12
routing.....................................................................13
league tag....................................................................7,
locked baud...................................................................6,
mailer type...................................................................7
MSDOS.........................................................................3
multi-node....................................................................3,
NDOS..........................................................................3
NODES.ABR.....................................................................8,
OS/2..........................................................................3
paths.........................................................................8
PCBoard.......................................................................3,
PROMO.ANS.....................................................................18
registration..................................................................15
registration code.............................................................6
rego name.....................................................................7
Remote Access.................................................................3,
resetting.....................................................................9
ROUTE.ABR.....................................................................13
ROUTE.SAM.....................................................................13
- 23 -
seasons.......................................................................6
SHARE.EXE.....................................................................3
sysop Name....................................................................6
time..........................................................................7
turns.........................................................................7
X00...........................................................................3
Zombre Bryan..................................................................10
- 24 -