Monster Media 1994 #1/monster.zip/monster/BBS_GAME/ASNPC108.ZIP/ASNSYSOP.INS

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 275 lines

ASSASSIN (C) Copyright 1993, 1994 by Kevin MacFarland
             MasterTech Software ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SYSOP INSTRUCTIONS

    This file contains all the information that is needed to setup and
    run Assassin PC on a Bulletin Board System(BBS) or as a standalone
    game.

NOTE:
    If you are upgrading from a version prior to Assassin 1.07, Version
    1.08 will require a complete re-initialization of your game.  Read
    the instructions below for Setup, Initializtion, and Registration
    information.

System Requirements...

    The minimum requirements needed to run Assassin and its utility are
    fairly simple.

    * IBM PC or compatable with at least 512K of memory.
    * MS-DOS version 3.1 or later
    * A Fossil Driver such as X00, BNU, or OpusComm for remote
      communication (Not required for Local operation).

Multitasker Support...

    Assassin directly supports Desqview and Windows multitaskers.


Command Line Parameters...

    Assassin supports a large number of command-line parameters.  These
    are used to tell Assassin the user and system information it requires.

    /Local         -- Ignore Dropfiles, Local Login
    /Drop=filepath -- Full Path and Filename of Drop file
                      This take priority over drop file types in the
                      ASNPC107.SET file (See Below)
    /User=username -- Full User Name
    /Port=#        -- Comm Port Number (0 = LOCAL)
    /Baud=#        -- Baud Rate (0 = LOCAL)
    /Time=#        -- Number of minutes left
    /Help or /?    -- Help Screen

NOTE:
    One of the most important things here is the Dropfile.  If you do
    not give a full filepath on the command line to the type of drop file
    you select (See Setup Menu), Assassin will search through your
    computer's ENVIRON path (As set by the DOS SET PATH= command)
    and the Assassin Data directory for the Drop file.

Local Sysop Keys...

    These keys will allow you, the sysop, to directly affect the operation
    of Assassin and the User that is currently playing it.

        ALT-Q   Exit Assassin.  This will close all game files, remove the
        ALT-X   Inuse flag, and returns the user to the BBS.

        Alt-H   Hang Up on User.  Same as above, but drops carrier on the
                user so they are logged off the BBS.

        Alt-C   Built-in Chat Mode.  Self explanitory.

        Alt-S   Status Bar Display.  Pressing this will toggle the display
                of the status bar on the local screen.

        Alt-D   Jump or Drop to DOS
        Alt-J



Running The Utility...

The actual utility functions are broken down by menus.  The options
on each menu are fairly self explanatory.

Main Menu Commands

S) "Setup Menu"
     This will give you a menu that lists the parameters you need
     to set up for ASSASSIN.  It will also create the necessary SET file.

R) "Registration Info"
     This will ask for your for the serial number and the passkey that
     we provide when you register.  Otherwise pay no attention to it.

I) "Initialize Files"
      This will write the necessary files:
         ASNGUILD.DAT (Guild Data File)
         ASNPLYR.DAT (Player Data File)
         ASNNEWS.LOG (List of all news)
         MESSAGE.IDX (Index of Assassin Message Base)
         MESSAGE.DAT (Data for Assassin Message Base)
         and a few others.

  Use this after you have Set the parameters with the "S" option above.

P) "Player Editor"
      This will allow you modify information in the player data files
     such as Endurance, Turns left, and Activity.  Please though, use it in
     discretion only.

     (You are NOT suppose to be a divine being controlling the lives of the
     players, their actions and the computer should be the ruling forces in
     this game.)

M) "Message Base Editor"
    This will allow you to view and edit every message in the Assassin
    Message database.

L) "Location Info Editor"
    This option will let you change the names of the guilds to suit your
    tastes, or to remove an offending name that a user gives to a guild.
    If the game is registered, you can even change the name of the city.

C) "Color Editor"
    This editor will let you set four of the colors used in Assassin and
    ASNUTIL.  You can set Menu Text Color, Menu Selection Colors (hilited
    selection characters), and the color of local and remote characters
    for the Chat Mode.

A) "Add More Players"
    This will increase the maximum number of players in case you
    under estimate the interest of the game.  This will not
    modify the game in any other way.

Q) "Quit"
    This of course will return you to DOS or wherever you called ASNUTIL
    from.


SETUP Menu
    (The commands are in order of appearance, however you don't
       necessarily have to do it in this order.)

D) Type of BBS Drop File

    This option allows you to set the type of dropfile that Assassin reads
    from your BBS.  A dropfile is a file created by a BBS to pass System
    and User information to an external program, such as Assassin.
    The currently available Drop File types Assassin recognizes are:

        0: "No Dropfile - Use Command Line parameters"
        1: "DORINFO#.DEF"
        2: "Wildcat or Generic DOOR.SYS (31-53 line version)"
        3: "Remote Access DOOR.SYS(6 line version for RA version before 2.00)"
        4: "Wildcat   CALLINFO.BBS"
        5: "Genesis   CALLINFO.BBS"
        6: "WWIV      CHAIN.TXT"
        7: "Spitfire  SFDOORS.DAT"
        8: "TriBBS    TRIBBS.SYS"


A) Assassin File Path
    This is where the program will put Player files, Guild data,
    message bases and a few other files.  This is also the place
    where the instruction files and, if registered, your registration
    key must be placed.

    This is a DIRECTORY, not a filename.

N) News Path and Name
    If you want this file to be readable from a Text section, you can
    set the FILENAME into that directory.  This IS a full FILENAME,
    not just a directory or folder.  Reason why we emphasize FOLDERS and
    FILENAMEs is to help you make it work the first time.

S) Score Path and Name
    If you want to show a short screen with player names and ranks,
    in a text section, fill in the info just like the news (Different name
    of course).  If you don't want this option, type 'NONE' as the
    FILENAME.

G) Guilds
    This is a number between 5 and 15.  Unless you really need to
    conserve memory, you should set this at a minimum of 10.  You will
    NOT be able to change this once the database files are initialized.

P) Players
    This is the number of players you will allow to play Assassin.
    It can range from 10-50.  If you don't wish to use a lot of memory,
    it is safe to start at 10 since you can always A)dd players later.

E) Maximum Endurance for New Players
    This will allow you to set the amount of damage your characters
    can take before they are killed when you first begin.  Its value can
    range from 50-250. (100 is recommended)

D) Daily Turns
    This is a number from 10-50.  Turns are removed for certain
    things i.e. an assassination will expend approximately two turns.
    10 allows very little progress, 50 allows a lot of progress, some times
    too much progress.  A good number to set it at is 20 or 25.

B) Backlog of News and Messages
    Backlog for news and messages can be individually set.  This
    holds all old news for a certain amount of days. It also affects
    messages, specifically public messages in the Pub and the Guilds.
    I would say no longer than a week should be stored.

M) Message Anonymity
    Setting this to TRUE will allow your users to leave anonymous
    messages in the Pub, Inn, or Guild.

H) Handles or Assumed Names
    Setting this to TRUE will allow users to play with assumed names
    in the game.  Setting it to FALSE will force users to play under their
    BBS name or handle.  On OTHER type boards, the name they sign the
    register with is the name they will use.

I) Inactivity of players
    This will allow you to set the number of days of inactivity
    before your players are auto-deleted.  This applies to both the living
    and the dead.  With this option, both days can be set individually.


Once you exit the set-up, if you have modified any of the above options,
ASNUTIL will ask you if you wish to save the SET file.  If you want to save
the changes, enter Yes.  Otherwise, the options will return to the current
SET file settings (or defaults if no options have been set).


     After the FILES ( and Assassin directory if necessary ) have been
created, place the files ASSASSIN.IN1 to .IN4 into the Assassin Data
directory you specified in the setup screen.  This will enable your players
to read the instructions on how to play ASSASSIN before the game starts.

FOR REGISTERED SYSOPS:

     Rename the ASN???.KEY file to ASSASSIN.KEY and place it in the same
     directory as the Assaassin File Path you entered above in the Setup
     menu to make your registration valid.
     You must still enter the serial number and passkey into the
     Registration section of the utility and save this new SET file.

Now ASSASSIN is ready to be played by you and your users.

Questions and Answers...

Q:  Assassin says that it can't find a data file.
A:  Run the utility before you play the game, set the game options("S"),
    and initialize the files ("I").

Q:  Assassin or the Utility says "Assassin is currently in use by another
    player", and I know that this is not true.
A.  Just go into the Assassin Data directory and remove the file
    ASNINUSE.FLG, which is a zero byte semaphore file.  If you have a
    repeated problem with this, please put "DEL ASNINUSE.FLG" in the batch
    file that runs Assassin and report the circumstances to me.

Q:  Assassin works fine locally, but my remote users don't see a thing.
A:  Check the Status of the Fossil driver, or install one if you don't
    have one running already.  Assassin sends all remote information through
    a Fossil driver.

Q:  I get a Drop File/Drop Type Mismatch alert on the screen.
A:  Make sure that the dropfile you give on the command line is the same
    as the kind you specify in the configuration file (set in Utility).
    If running the utility locally, use the /LOCAL command line parameter.

PLEASE also read
     UPDATE.TXT  (For a list of new features and fixes )
     README.NOW  ( For general info regarding ASSASSIN )

DISCLAIMER...

I (Kevin MacFarland) do not assume any responsiblity for any damage
to equipment or loss of data that may occur to your system.  You are free
to distribute this archive as long as none of the files are changed or
omitted, and you can not charge for distribution of this archive except for
reasonably incurred media and transmission costs.