Garbo/Garbo.cdr/mac/games/nh30j.doc

Text File | 1991-05-20 | 7.8 KB | 177 lines

Macintosh NetHack 3.0 Manual (patchlevel 10)
last modified May 13, 1991
(A fixed width font is recommended for this document, Courier 10)


Please read the NetHack license (from within the game) for details on
distribution and usage of Macintosh NetHack 3.0.  The NetHack license
must accompany the official Macintosh NetHack 3.0 binaries contained
in these archives.  These binaries were created from the NetHack source
code (circa February 1991) which was updated later to fix two bugs:
(1) a rare and mostly inconsequential configuration bug and (2) a
memory management bug.  The original source may be obtained anonymously,
from various sources, which includes "uunet.uu.net" (192.48.96.2) under
the archive directory "comp.sources.games".  Bugfix details can be
obtained from the developer's address listed at the end of this manual.

For convenience, this document, "nh30j.doc", should also accompany the
Macintosh NetHack 3.0 Binary package.


Unpacking Macintosh NetHack 3.0
================
To avoid problems, older versions of Macintosh NetHack should be removed
from your hard disk.  This includes old "save" and "bones" files from
versions prior to patchlevel 9 and the "NetHack prefs" file which may be
in your system folder.  This distribution contains a fully self-contained
game which does not rely on files from previous versions.

You'll need approximately 2MB of hard disk space to unpack Macintosh
NetHack 3.0 from the encoded archive.  A BinHex 4.0 decoder is needed to
decode the binaries into Compact Pro self-extracting archives.  Running
the self-extracting archive playground.sea will create a "Playground" folder
which contains the Dungeon folder and 3 files:

nh30-10.doc [Manual]        {original pl10 manual, now outdated}

Dungeon
    12 auxiliary files: cmdhelp, data, help, hh, history, license,
    MacHelp, news, opthelp, oracles, record and rumors
    5 special level files: castle, endgame, tower1, tower2, tower3
    transient files: various bones and save files
    and a dummy reminder file to add the actual game here!

Guidebook                   {NetHack primer}

Open NetHack                {special auxiliary file}

"Open NetHack" can be used in two ways: (1) to completely reset the
scoreboard duplicate "Open NetHack", name the copy "record" and replace
the old record file with the new copy.  (2) to start NetHack without
opening the Dungeon folder simply double-click on "Open NetHack".

You will also need to unwrap one of the two game binaries, nh30j.hqx
or nh30j+.hqx (a memory management bugfix version for some machines
and system software versions, see README.mac).  The unwrapped game
should then be placed into the Dungeon Folder.

The System Folder will also contain a file "NetHack prefs" which stores
the current options shown on the "Set Options ..." dialog.  Level files
generated during play will also be stored in the system folder.


BinHex 4.0
================
BinHex 4.0 decoders can be found in various flavors.  The applications
Stuffit, and more recently Compact Pro have an option to decode BinHex
and there's also the desk accessory BinHqx 1.02 amongst other choices.
The application BinHex 4.0 can be obtained in binary form via ftp:

ftp sumex-aim.stanford.edu        {or 36.44.0.6}
login: anonymous
password: guest
cd info-mac/util
binary
get binhex4.bin
quit

Macbinary transfer "binhex4.bin" from your host machine to the mac in
order to recover the application, BinHex 4.0 .


Starting a game
================
Read the guidebook to become familiar with NetHack.  Within the game there
is a Macintosh-specific help section accessed by the "?" help command.

If you chose nh30j.hqx then NetHack will run in a minimum 750kB partition
under MultiFinder, however you may notice increased disk access on "busy"
levels.  Therefore a larger partition, if possible, would be better and
the default actual MultiFinder partition is 800kB to reduce the need for
more frequent disk access.  For 1MB Macs, running only the Finder, you
should remove custom INITs and cdevs to free up memory.  There should also
be at least 1MB of free disk space each time you play NetHack to provide
room for the temporary files that NetHack creates during the game.
NetHack 3.0 pl10 is "32bit Clean".

If you chose nh30j+.hqx then NetHack needs a 3MB MultiFinder partition.
The other behavior is the same for both versions with the minor exception
that nh30j+.hqx will run slightly faster since all the code is always in
memory (unless you're using virtual memory).

The application can be launched in the traditional Macintosh ways.
Additionally, the application can be launched by double-clicking on any
Macintosh NetHack 3.0 auxiliary file.  If the clicked-upon auxiliary file
was not a "save"-type file then you'll be presented with a startup dialog
box where you can enter your character name, character preference, gender
and a few other starting options.  Double-clicking on a "save"-type file
bypasses this startup dialog.

The dungeon maintainer may keep the "Dungeon" folder hidden (and perhaps
invisible).  In this instance the "Open NetHack" file can be placed
anywhere on the hard drive and be used to alternatively launch the game.


Explore-mode play
================
Under this option your progress is not recorded on the scoreboard and you
can repeatedly refuse to die.  This option allows you to explore the
dungeon and devise strategies for surviving in the real dungeon.  If you
start a game under explore-mode then your inventory will include a wand of
wishing with 3 charges which you can use to acquire desirable magic items:
a blessed luckstone
3 blessed scrolls of charging
a blessed +3 long sword named Frost Brand
and so on.  Use the command <ctrl>-x to see your intrinsics at any time.


Wizard-mode play
================
Wizard-mode gives the user additional powers for debugging the game.
Abusing the privileges of wizard-mode will spoil your game.  Therefore you
should reserve using this mode only for debugging purposes.  Wizard-mode,
normally inaccessible, has commands appropriately documented under the "?"
help command.  To activate wizard-mode you have two options: 1) express or
2) traditional access:

express access:
Hold down 3 of the 4 modifier keys (control, option, shift or command)
while launching NetHack (pl10 only).  Release the keys when the "About"
dialog finally appears.  If there is no saved wizard file then a random
character type will be chosen for you.

traditional access:
1) Start a normal game.
2) Change the default name in the "Set Options..." entry of the File menu
    to "wizard".  Click "Save" to record the change.
3) Quit (or save) the game and start another game (not from a save file).
4) Use the name "wizard" in the starting dialog box.  The normally hidden
    wizard-mode check box will now be revealed.  You can also choose a
    character type on the opening dialog.
5) During wizard-mode play remember to change your name on the "options"
    dialog back to your default preference for subsequent normal games.


Incompatibilities
================
NetHack 3.0j+ should run without problems in all standard Macintosh
enviroments but it requires a 3MB partition.  NetHack 3.0j runs in
a smaller 800kB partition but is known to crash on some machines
and/or system software versions.  The vast majority of users have
no problems running NetHack 3.0j.  Those users that do experience
problems should try 3.0j+ if they can afford the extra memory
requirements.

It is possible that 3rd party enviroments a/o inits may also problems.
In particular, the LaserFix 2.0 Init will cause a crash if you twiddle
the "Fruit Name" edit text field on the "options" dialog.  We seek your
help and ask that you report other conflicts you may find.


Support
================
Problems, comments, and so on should be directed via e-mail to
"[e-mail]", Subject: Mac NetHack pl10.  The
Macintosh NetHack Development Team has worked hard on Mac NetHack and we
trust that you will enjoy the game.