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Text File | 1989-12-08 | 35KB | 846 lines

SysOp DOCUMENTATION for Tradewars Release 10_00_TW Released 12/17 1989 Tradewars by Chris Sherrick (c) 1986 Release 4.0(and greater) Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 by: Co-Author, John Morris All Rights Reserved * ******************** ********************** * * ********************* ** ** * ***** *** *** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** * ***** ***** ***** *** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *** ***************** ** ****** ****** * RADE **** **** ** ** * * ARS Copyright & License Info ------------------------ TradeWars is Copyrighted by Chris Sherrick and I (John Morris). This means that we are the -owners- of TradeWars. This means that our rights to the program are protected under National Law, and International Treaty! Most people shouldn't be concerned with all of that. But there are a few who insist on tweaking our old code aorund and putting their own name on it. That practice is Unlawful, Unethical, and just plain theft. All users of TradeWars are granted a limited license to use, copy and distribute TradeWars any way they see fit as long as a few rules are obeyed: 1. You may use the program for any commercial, or non-commercial purpose. Use it on your company, private or school BBS, or just about anything else, I leave it up to your imagination. 2. You may copy and distribute as many copies of this program as you like, as long as you don't charge money for the program itself. A small fee is allowed (for copying, handling, mailing, and the diskette carrying the copy) is allowed, BUT this amount is not to exceed the real costs. (in other words, you may NOT make a profit!) 3. The program is used, and/or distributed unmodified, wih complete documentation. Warranty -------- Warranty?? Are you nuts? There is no warranty of ANY kind given on the operation of TradeWars! This program is provided AS IS! ** READ THESE DOCS .. who knows there may be something important in here! ** ALSO check appendix A for some current TW2 gossip! ** SEE appendix B for info on how to interface to TradeWars 10.0 Welcome to the world of Tradewars ][! And thank you for using an Authorized release of Tradewars! Speaking of Tradewars, There are a bunch of Tradewars clones which go by various names, and some which are distributed under the name of Tradewars! . There is only ONE Tradewars Version 2. There is NO such thing as Tradewars 500, or Tradewars 1000, or TW1K or whatever. There is only Tradewars Version 2. Because of the size of the files needed for Tradewars to run, they are distributed in three ZIP files: TW100EXE.ZIP - contains Tradewars Executable files & documentation. TW100EXE.ZIP contains the following files: ------------------------------------------ SYSOP .DOC - This file TW2 .EXE - TW main executable file TWINSTR .DOC - Tradewars player instructions TWOPENC .DAT - ANSI graphics opening screen TWOPENA .DAT - TEXT opening screen TWEDIT .EXE - TWEDIT executable file TWEDITOR.DOC - Tradewars Editor SysOp documentation. TWRI .EXE - Pseudo random init program PORTINIT.TW2 - Port info used by TWRI TEMPLATE.TW2 - Template of map used by TW2 ******************************************************************* **The following is a list of files used by TW2 at run-time: ----------------------------------------------------------- (These files MUST exist on the same drive/path as TW2) Program files: TW2 .EXE - Plays Trade Wars. TWEDIT .EXE - The Trade Wars Editor. TWMAINT .EXE - TW2 Maintenance program TWRI .EXE - TradeWars Random Initialization program for Trade Wars Ver. 2. Sets up the following data files. Data files: TWMAIN .DAT - Main game options for Trade Wars Ver. 2. TWPLAYER.DAT - Contains current player info. TWSCTR01.DAT - Contains sector warp info. TWSCTR02.DAT - Contains info on what each sector contains. TWPORT .DAT - Contains info for each port. TWPLANET.DAT - Contains info on each planet. TWTEAM .DAT - Contains Team Info. TWNEWS .DAT - Contains Galactic Newspaper and Sysop messages. TWPMESS .DAT - Contains info on messages to players. TWRMESS .IDX - Contains radio message index info. TWRMESS .DAT - Radio message data file. Text files: SYSOP .DOC - This file. TWEDITOR.DOC - Documentation for TWEDIT.EXE (the editor.) TWINSTR .DOC - The instructions for TW2.EXE (the game.) This file is used by TW2. I also recommend putting this up for download by the players. TWOPENA .DAT - The opening message. You can change this to what ever you want, but make sure it exists. TWOPENC .DAT - ANSI graphics opening message. TWCLOSEA.DAT - Tradewars closing message. TWCLOSEC.DAT - ANSI graphics closing message. [*END of file listing*] ******************************************************************** Features of this release of TW2 (or.. if you will, Features of the DoorMerge Include files) ----------------------------------------------------------- [SysOp Functions] Function keys are active in TW2: F1 -- Exit TW2 immediately F2 -- This key will cause TW2 to load a copy of COMMAND.COM over itself type EXIT to return to TW2. NOTE: COMMAND.COM must be present in the same path as TW2 F7 -- Toggle Music on/off F8 -- By pressing F8 you can adjust a users time allotment in that game. It will not adjust the users time as far as the monitor is concerned. You can force the user off-line in this manner by adjusting his time down to a small amount. A prompt will come up asking you the amount of time you wish the user to have. This prompt tells you the current amount of time left. If you change the time, the user will get a warning notice, whether the time limit is less, or more. F9 -- By pressing F9 you will change the current state of 'SNOOP' (local display). This operates in the same manner as SNOOP in RBBS-PC, but will not change the status of SNOOP of the BBS (if any). F10 - By pressing F10 you will engage CHAT mode with the user. Just hit ESC to get back to the game. /B - This tells TWMaint.EXE to run in 'Maintenance Only Mode'.. TWMaint will run in two modes. If you choose not to do external maintenance, TW2.EXE will do maintenance by RUNning TWMaint, and TWMaint will in turn run TW2 when it is done. If you do maintenance externally put the /B after TWMAINT to let it know your are running it during and event period. /C - Tells TW which com port to use. Example: /C1 for COM1. Normally this is NOT USED! /D - Use DOS only for input and output. This will hopefully facilitate redirection (if nothing else works). /F - Force Fossil driver to be used. Tradewars normally searches to see whether or not there is a Fossil driver. If it finds one it tries to use it. If it can't init the Fossil driver, then it will switch to its normal comm routines. /G - command line switch. This will force Ansi color on. (For OPUS sysops only) /L - This release includes a special command line switch /L This will put the programs in 'local only' mode, and NO BBS files of ANY kind need to be present. /P: - Use this one to specify the special info file TW2 will be looking for. (See your special BBS docs below) /S - This one will tell TW that you have a special speed for the modem to operate at. and example: /S19200 or /S38400 This is normally NOT USED! /Txx - This command line switch is also for OPUS sysops. This will tell exactly how long the user is allowed on the BBS for this call. Example: /T45 for 45 minutes allowed from the time user logs on to the BBS /Z - Use DOS for all screen writes. TW normally uses DOS for all local Screen writes except for 'Line 25'. This will force line 25 to be printed using DOS. (NOTE: This does cause some wierd things to appear locally, but the remote user won't notice.) [Other Features] 1. Commands can be stacked. They work in a slightly different manner than RBBS-PC stacked commands, and are extemely useful. For instance in Tradewars 2, Instead of typing: M [enter] (move) wait for prompt.... 174 [enter] (move to sector 174) wait for prompt.... M [enter] (move) wait for prompt.... 176 [enter] (move to sector 176) A user just needs to type: M;174;M;176 or.... M 174 M 176 or... M,174:M 176 etc. stack chars are: ' ' ',' ';' & ':' at the first prompt, and the game will take care of the rest. 3. Another Feature in Tradewars for the SysOp is the 'E' function. Only the SysOp (either remote/local) has access to this function, No one else has access to it. The 'E' function allows the SysOp to run the Tradewars 2 Editor from Tradewars. From the Editor enter 'T' to return to Tradewars 2, or if in Local Mode, you can enter 'X' to eXit to dos, Also the 'Q' command will return you to the monitor. [*END of Other Features*] VERSION INFO -- (All version below 10.0 have condensed history info) ******************************************************************** Features of TW2 release 5.x (5.0 released on 5/01 to 5.24 rel. on 06/19/88) Several parts of the game have been completely (and I mean completely) rewritten to run more logically, and reduce the risks of bugs. Cabal maintenance was one of the areas that went through this. The Cabal are now more ruthless that ever before, and to keep things interesting all 20 Cabal groups are active at least as long as the maintenance program is running. Some groups won't survive the maintenance program, but they are active while it is running. Cabal Regeneration now means what it says, so be careful how high you set the regeneration per day. Before, there was 'sort of' a limit on how many total Cabal were wandering around in the galaxy.. This is no longer so. Features of TW2 Release 6.1 (10/23/88) --------------------------- The Cabal are now totally configurable. you can set the amount of groups (up to 50). The Cabal are still VERY ruthless in the game, and it really takes a good player, or good team to make it up high in the rankings. You can set the Cabal difficulty ratio, which you'll find in the [G]eneral edit area of TWEDIT. This level can be from 1 to 10, and a good setting is 3 or 4.. You can also set the sectors the Cabal can reside in! no more 83-85 restriction! This really makes the game interesting. There are 8 Cabal sectors in all. Release 6.2 (01/08/89) ----------------------- Most important feature added in 6.2 is true record & file locking using DOS's SHARE. If you specify Network in the TW2.DAT file, SHARE must be loaded in every partition you plan to run TW in! Along with the file locking a couple real time mods were added. When you are playing the game and run into another 'actively playing user' you will see a '*' in front of their name! The game also checks to see if the user has been attacked by an active player, and will kick 'em out if they were killed! Release 6.3 (04/09/89) ------------------------ Added more ANSI graphics with the addition of a third 'graphics mode'. The first mode is plain text, second mode is ANSI colored text, and third is ANSI color/graphics. Only the higher speed modem users will want to use this mode (unless they are suckers for punishment). Also cleared up are a few ambiguities and/or irregularities. Added is an appendix explaining how you can interface to TW from your BBS system (if it does not already have an interface built in.) Release 6.31 (05/30/89) ------------------------ Some minor bug fixes to 6.30.. but still, as it turns out, on the buggy side. Releases 7.x 8.x 9.x (4/01/89 to 7/01/89) ----------------------------------------- Internal ONLY releases of the new TW in C.. These versions led to: Release 10.0 (12/17/89) (First used by my TW players 7/10/89 or so) ----------------------- First release of TradeWars in the C language. Some former 'features' were nuked in favor of new techniques to be used in the future. For instance, graphics are gone until a suitable method (in other words: a FAST method) is completed. Added is support for more BBS types, Dynamic Cabal (they can move *while* the user is on-line), and internal support for a wide variety of future options. The game is much faster in many areas.. and about the same in others. The EXE file is currently 60K smaller than the last BASIC version (and 40K in the current EXE file is support for a wide variety of communication options including FOSSIL, Non/FOSSIL support w/ BPS rates of up to 57600). (so, I'm thinking ahead..) Also, The C version is uncrashable when you think in terms of 'Hit any key to return to system' seen when a BASIC program encounters something it doesn't like. Any possible error should result in a graceful exit. Getting started with TW2 ------------------------ Notes TW2 by Chris Sherrick: ---------------------------- I recommend using this game with a cache program. Since this game was designed to survive if people hung up on it, it makes frequent use of the disks. You will save your disk some usage if you're using a cache. You should make changes in the program, I ask that you don't change any of the program files when you distribute them. Make it into another file and distribute it along with the program, but I ask that you keep the original programs intact. This program is copyrighted. The reason I wrote this program is because I always wanted to play a good multi-player strategy game. I'm too poor to afford a subscription to something on a national level (like Compuserve) so I never got to play those games. One day I decided that since no one had a good multi-player, I'd write one. Unfortunately I don't get to play the game (since I run it and I usually get accused of cheating - I'm a good player! - Someone please write another multi-player game so I can play it!) Now for the begging. This game is distributed as "Shareware." My attitude is that I'd rather have people having a good time playing the game than for me to get rich; but if you could, please send $35.00 to the address below: TW2 c/o Chris Sherrick 1515 Ridgeland Dr. Sparks, NV 89431 If I get something, I'll try to write back, but I can't guarantee anything; I'm a busy college student. That's all I have to say in this letter. I hope you fully enjoy Trade Wars to you fullest. The only problem with it is people tend to spend their time playing TW2 and not posting, but oh well, you can't have it all. P.S. Call The Reno RBBS - Sysop John Morris / 702-746-1364 DATA 702-746-1365 DATA 702-746-1358 VOICE This BBS and sysop has been very helpful to me in play testing and modifying this version. If it wasn't for John Morris, this game wouldn't be available for any BBS. Also, he has the latest and newest releases of this program. [Getting started] ----------------- First unpack the TW2 .ZIP files using PKZIP 1.01(or greater). Copy these files to your drive/path where you wish to put the game. For first time users, run TWRI.EXE to initialize the game. This will create a sector galaxy, and several other files. If you are using a monitor pgm, add TW2 to your GAMES.DOR file, along with a desription (anything you like). Then just run the game from the monitor, like any other Door game. If you aren't using the door monitor, add the name TWARS2 to your MENU5 file, and create a batch file called TWARS2.BAT. The contents of the batch file are as follows (assuming you are using the pgm WATCHDOG): WATCHDGx OFF (or whatever WATCHDG program you are using) TW2.EXE %1 (%1 signifies the node in use, it is passed on by RBBS NOTE:* if you run a single node, do not add the %1 after TW2.EXE) and thats it. ** NOTE! ** WATCHDOG (or any carrier monitor program MUST NOT be loaded or active when running TW2! TW2 does its own carrier monitoring.) Now a user just needs to enter TWARS2 when asked for the door, and they are beamed over to the Tradewars galaxy. Getting started with the Multi-BBS Interface in TW2 --------------------------------------------------- There has been several problems with writing Tradewars over the past couple of years. The most prominent is the fact that a different interface had to be written for each separate BBS type. This led to some BBS types to have a -newer- version of Tradewars than another. This usually upsets the users, and eventually the SysOps as well. It was decided that Tradewars will now be released as a SINGLE program to be compatible with many different BBS types. This should solve any problems with obsolesence. As you will see below, 4 out of the supported BBS types use the DORINFOx.DEF file to pass info onto Tradewars (or any door program) So far this is the most supported standard, and though that really isn't saying much at the moment, I hope some more BBS program authors choose this means eventually. I don't really expect that to happen but it would be nice. NOTE: There is an official version of Tradewars Ver. 2 for TBBS users. TBBS operates much differently so a different program must be used. Contact Gary Funk at 1-501-442-8777 for the TBBS version. You must first begin by setting the BBS type when you are asked about it by the init program. The BBS types are as follows: 0 - RBBS (17.x default) (DORINFOx.DEF & MESSAGES) 1 - PCBoard (14) & Searchlight (PCBOARD.SYS) 2 - OPUS (LASTUSER.BBS) 3 - QBBS & FoReM & TPB & T.A.G. (DORINFOx.DEF) 4 - Wildcat (CALLINFO.BBS) 5 - GTPowercomm (GTUSER.BBS) 6 - Phoenix (INFO.BBS) 7 - GAP (DOOR.SYS) 8 - Spitfire BBS (SFDOORS.DAT) RBBS mode: ---------- TW2 now uses RBBS' DORINFOx.DEF file to get info from the BBS, and uses the messages file only for getting the current status of snoop. The MESSAGES file can also be specified. The messages file can be located anywhere you want it. The DORINFOx.DEF file MUST be in the same directory as TW2. If you are using GMon, you can tell TW to return to it (bypassing the MONITOR1.EXE program). You can tell TW to look for it when you initialize the program, OR you can always change it using the TradeWars Editor. RBBS SysOps, TW does not file and record lock like RBBS! DOS 3.1 (or greater) must be used, and DOS SHARE must also be loaded in each node. PCBoard/SearchLight Mode: ------------------------- *NOTE* Tradewars 2 release 6.1(and above) will interface only to PCBoard 14! /P: - PCBoard SysOps, use this command line switch to specify the PCBOARD.SYS file which this copy of TW is supposed to use. Example: /P:C:\PCB2\PCBOARD.SYS Also allowable is: /P C:\PCB2\PCBOARD.SYS Tradewars will get all the info it needs from the PCBOARD.SYS file. Such as Graphics mode, Bps rate, Com port, etc. You do not need to use any extra command line options, just /P. SearchLight SysOps ------------------ First, you will need a program I have written called: 12TO14.EXE This will be used in a batch file we'll create below. You should have 12TO14.EXE in your SearchLight BBS directory. (You can find 12TO14.ZIP on my system) In your DOORS.DEF file you will need a line similar to the line below: 0;0;0;?;TradeWars 2 Rel. 10.0;C:\SLBBS;TW2 /P:PCBOARD.SYS Where 'SLBBS' is your SearchLight BBS directory and The '?' is the security level needed to run TW. These will vary from system to system. The last parameter must run TW and point to the correct PCBOARD.SYS file to use. You must then specify a filename in General Configuration option number 19. This is the filename used for the PCBOARD.SYS file. For example, to use the above example you'd enter C:\SLBBS\PCBOARD.SYS in parm # 19. Next create a batch file called TW2.BAT It should look like this: 12TO14 C:\DOORS\TW2\ CD\DOORS\TW2 TW2 %1 CD\SLBBS EXIT C:\DOORS\TW2 is your TradeWars directory C:\SLBBS is your SearchLight directory 12TO14 will convert your C:\SLBBS\PCBOARD.SYS into a proper format and write it as C:\DOORS\TW2\PCBOARD.SYS. Opus mode: ---------- To run TW2 under Opus you will need to use several command line para- meters. The first is the '/P:' parameter. Use this to specify the LASTUSER.BBS file like so: /P:C:\BBS\LASTUSER.BBS Also, you need to specify the com port in a similar manner, for COM1 use a line like this: /C1 COM2 would be: /C2 etc.etc. If you have a high speed modem, and you have it 'locked' at a certain rate (usually 19200, or 38400) specify that speed like so: /S19200 /G will turns ANSI color/graphics on (default is off) /Txx will set the time limit allowed to this user this call. /T45 would set the total time limit for this call to 45 mins. For instance, Say a user logs on and receives 45 total time. They spend 30 minutes in the BBS then decide to play TW. They will receive 15 minutes to play the game. QBBS & FoReM & TPB mode: (05/01/88) ------------------------ In the QBBS mode, TW2 will read the DORINFOx.DEF (same as RBBS) file. (it must be in the same directory as TW2.EXE.) Make sure you tell TWRI that you are running BBS type 3. (You can use TWEdit to do the same thing. ** NOTE: The TPB people apparently don't want to have anything to do with doors. They won't support their own door interface, so, call me if you have problems, and I will TRY to help. I know nothing of TPB other than that it creates an 'almost' correct DORINFOx.DEF file. WildCat mode: ------------- /P: - Wildcat SysOps, use this command line switch to specify the CALLINFO.BBS file which this copy of TW2 is supposed to use. Example: /P:C:\WCAT\CALLINFO.BBS Also allowable is: /P C:\WCAT\CALLINFO.BBS Tradewars will get all the info it needs from the CALLINFO.BBS file. Such as Graphics mode, Bps rate, Com port, etc. You do not need to use any extra command line options, just /P. TW2 will read in the name of the CALLINFO.BBS file then read it to get the current users parameters. Make sure you tell TWRI that you are using Wildcat. (you can use TWEDIT to do the same thing.) GT Powercomm mode: ------------------ To run TW2 under GT you will need to use several command line para- meters. The first is the '/P:' parameter. Use this to specify the LASTUSER.BBS file like so: /P:C:\GT\GTUSER.BBS Also, you need to specify the com port in a similar manner, for COM1 use a line like this: /C1 COM2 would be: /C2 etc.etc. If you have a high speed modem, and you have it 'locked' at a certain rate (usually 19200, or 38400) specify that speed like so: /S19200 Phoenix BBS mode: ----------------- To run TW under Phoenix you simply need to have one command line parameter: the /P: parameter. Use it to specify which INFO.BBS file to use like so: C>TW2 /P:C:\BBS\INFO.BBS GAP (Door.Sys mode): -------------------- To run TW under GAP you need to specify which DOOR.SYS file to use like so: C>TW2 /P:C:\GAP\DOOR.SYS Spitfire mode: -------------- To run TW under Spitfire you need to specify which SFDOORS.DAT file to use like so: C>TW2 /P:C:\SP\SFDOORS.DAT Switching over to the new version of TW2. ----------------------------------------- When switching over to version 10, you will need to completely re-init the game. The data files have been totally overhauled. They contain more room for more info, but take up about 2/3 the disk space. Use TWRI to do the initing process. It will create the files needed by TW version 10. Having problems? ---------------- I have added in new code to prevent most any error so you won't have a 'hung' system. If any files are missing, TW2 will recover from the error gracefully. If you see what looks like an error message, right down exactly what it says, if you can fix the problem (for instance an opening screen file is missing) by all means do so. Otherwise, let me know the EXACT message it prints. Other problems that creep up also are usually files missing. Make sure That all files listed above in the 'run-time list' are on the same drive/path as TW2.EXE. Along with MESSAGES, DORINFOx.DEF. (If you are using RBBS-PC) or the files associated with the other BBS types. NOTICE: TW2.DAT has been eliminated in release 10.0 (or greater) More problems you say? ---------------------- If you seem to have found a bug, I highly recommend sending me capture file of the problem. Usually just a note with an explaination just can't help me fix a thing. A note AND a capture file is best. The capture file should be of the complete session, and should have the Tradewars version number in the file, ie: Tradewars Version 2 Release 5.24 06/19 (that is usually the first line that Tradewars prints out when it is run) If that isn't in there, or if its an older version, I won't be able to do a thing about fixing your problem. I find I can fix bugs that are explained with a capture file in about 1/100 the time!, no kidding!. Of Course, I can only support the version I release. Any other version I will refuse to support. The reason for this is simple, I know how my code works, and I know it pretty darn good. Some other version is probably written in a completely different programming language, and modified besides. Contact me here at The Reno RBBS: I'm very willing to help SysOps with Door problems. (any problems.. not just with my Door games.) So give me a ring! If you wish to check for the latest in Tradewars releases, Please J)oin the DOORS conference after you log onto The Reno RBBS. Everyone has full access on the first call. Special Thanks to : Chris Sherrick Jim Leenan Andrew Hoag Rick Hines Roger Reesor Paul Waldinger (and everyone else who had a hand in Gary Funk David Friedman this thing!) Eric Carr John Zimmerman Alan Davenport (well sorta..) Some For their help in added mods to make TW2 the best door game known to modern man, and others for their help testing and reporting bugs. John Morris The Reno RBBS 2620 Emily St. Reno, NV 89503 702-746-1364 DATA 702-746-1365 DATA 702-746-1358 VOICE Appendix A: ----------- TW Philosophy (or why the official version 'is the way it is') I get complaints, and ideas sent to me all the time concerning TW2. Most SysOps wishing me to add this or that to the program 'because another version of TW has it'. Though most people won't believe it, there is a method behind my madness. Compare the way you have your game set-up to mine: My players start with 25 fighters, 500 credits and 25 holds. They are allowed 65(!) turns per day, max! Their maximum amount of holds is 50. Believe it or not this is THE best way to set the game up.. The business where a user gets 150-200 turns a day turns TW into a 'playable' game, but it is only playable for a couple of weeks. Lets face it folks, when you allow a user to rape ports and trade for 150 + turns, your ports will dry up in no time at all. Of course the pirate copies of TW try to deal with this with bells and whistles. With my game set up as above, the game ends up being not only more enjoyable in the long run, but it will end up being far and above a more competitive game. I don't believe in allowing ANY player to attack 'ANONYMOUSly' from several sectors away with a battle group.. That is NOT Tradewars. That is wimp wars. The key word which has made TW popular (and will continue to do so) is BALANCE! This balance is achieved by keeping the game from getting out of hand. 150+ turns is out of hand. More than 50 cargo holds is out of hand. I could go on and on. The SysOp should have to set up ZERO planets. (yes, 0!) The users should have this responsibility. Tradewars was designed to be able to run without ANY SysOp intervention. (after setting it up) I think SysOps would be suprised just how well the game does work without any intervention. Of course this all just my opinion. Most SysOps will look at this little message and start hooting and jeering, or just plain laugh.. But don't knock it till ya try it. A little added stuffs (7/89) ---------------------------- I just heard a few days ago that good ol' Alan D. is planning on putting out another version of 'his TW'.. One of the neatest features (I hear) is that there will be computer function which will allow the game to take your turns for you. I don't mean to laugh, but lets face it, that is a joke! As the days go by, the pirate version he puts out becomes more of a mockery than anything else. I don't believe in legal action (it'll hurt TW more than help it) and the guy doesn't listen when I ask him politely to stop putting his own version out. The only way to get the guy to stop is for YOU the SysOp to stop using his version! It's a case of ethics, and Alan Davenport has none. Besides, the game is copyrighted, and he is in constant violation of that copyright. The official release will continue on its current course of keeping the game a challenge. The players will actually have to THINK! (wow! what a concept, huh?) Of course new features will be added. Some will help the player play the game, but most will be invisible to the player, and make the game ever more interesting. For the last three years, TW2 has been a one man operation (ME), and I have a rough time finding time to spread the word on pirate versions versus the official version. I could not tell you how much it would mean to me if you could help me do that. -- John Morris -- Co-Author Appendix B: ----------- How to interface your BBS to TW2 -------------------------------- Your program will need to create a small, simple text file known as the Door Info file. For Single node BBS's this file will be named: DORINFO1.DEF For multi-node BBS's this will be named like so: DORINFO1.DEF for node 1, DORINFO2.DEF for node 2, etc. TW accepts a command line parameter which tells it which node (if any) it is running on. If there is no command line parameter then TW looks for DORINFO1.DEF. If TW sees this: TW2.EXE 2 it will look for DORINFO2.DEF, if it was a '1' then it would look for DORINFO1.DEF.. etc. etc. The format of the file is as follows: BBS Name SysOps First Name SysOps Last Name Com Port Baud and Parity Network Type Current Users First Name Current Users Last Name Current Users City Graphics Security Level Minutes left in session Fossil driver present This file typically looks like this: Example 1: Example 2: ---------- ---------- (remote user at 2400, even parity, (local user, in this case the SysOp 7 data bits, no graphics, and RBBS graphics are on, and a fossil driver is NOT using fossil driver) is present) THE RENO RBBS THE RENO RBBS JOHN JOHN MORRIS MORRIS COM2 COM0 2400 BAUD,E,7,1 9600 BAUD,N,8,1 0 3 JOE SYSOP USER RENO, NV RENO, NV 0 2 5 20 57 119 0 -1 Typical quirks with the DORINFOx.DEF file and TW2 ------------------------------------------------- To get TW to look for a DORINFOx.DEF file, set the BBS type in the TW2.DAT file to 3. 1. A local user is determined when the Com Port is set to: COM0 Also a 'last resort method' is to set the bps rate to 0 (NOTE: this last method is not used in the standard DORINFOx.DEF file). 2. When the sysop is using the game, the current users first name is 'SYSOP' and the current users last name is '' (a null string, the only chars found on the line are a carriage return/line feed combo) Also acceptable is the users first name is the same as the SysOps first name, AND the users last name is the same as the SysOps last name, but this is acceptable only as a last resort. 3. Graphics are off when a '0' is found in the graphics field. Any number above 0 (typically 1 or 2) is considered 'graphics/color ON' by TW. 4. Note the baud and parity field. Whatever the baud and parity it MUST be in the above format. Some more examples: 300 BAUD,N,8,1 1200 BAUD,E,7,1 19200 BAUD,N,8,1 TW parses out the ' BAUD' part of the string.. so it MUST be there. 5. The Fossil driver field is one of two settings: 0 (not present) or, -1 (present) 6. Though TW2 10.0 doesn't use the BBS Name, SysOps first OR last name Network Type, Users City, and Security Level fields, these lines still must be present in one form or another. 7. Everything in this file should be in CAPS, otherwise no telling what will happen. 8. The space in front of the integers doesn't actually need to be present it is just a by product of the way BASIC prints numbers into a file. I personally like this file because of its small size and simplicity. And I wish more BBS programs would adopt it. If this appendix doesn't contain enough info, just call and scream at me, or drop me a line in the mail or on my BBS telling me what I missed.. I'll fix it.. I promise!