Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac 1993 September/September 93.iso/Archives/Games/Cheats⁄hacks⁄hints/missionthunderbolttips.txt

Internet Message Format | 1993-06-29 | 34KB

From: J. D. S. Babcock <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 12:37:58 -0500


Dear Macintosh Archivers,

   I present to you a list of tips for the macintosh game:
Mission Thunderbolt.  You may wish to archive it as:

/mac/misc/documentation/MTBtipsI.txt

or

/mac/games/documentation/MTBtipsI.txt
   31    11/16/92   Text
   A list of tips, tricks, and techniques for the Macintosh game:
   Mission Thunderbolt.  This 581 line list provides tips of game play
   put together from many posts to news groups and one board discussion
   with the author.  Please note that there are MANY spoilers in this
   hint sheet, so do not get it if you dislike spoilers.  Sections on:
   Monsters, Objects (Devices, Armor, Weapons, Pills, Things), The Player,
   Facilities, Messages, Hacks, and General Hints.  Version 11/17/92.

This is version 11/17/92 of the list and I don't expect any further editions.
Note that I have numbered it MTBtipsI since it is rumored that Casady and
Greene will be comming out with MTB II, and perhaps III and IV.  I figured
this would help your future organization of the files.

Please let me know when this is available for people to FTP and where you
decide to put it.  I have posted the list before, but it has doubled in size
since my last post and I figured it would be better to post a short notice
saying where the file is available.

           Sterling
---- CUT HERE ----
Dear MTB player,

Below I include my much improved list of hints for Mission Thunderbolt.
Please do not read this if you don't want spoilers.  Note that this edition
contains spoilers from a board discussion with the author!  SPOILERS!

My thanks go to all the people who posted this information.  I did not credit
each person since there were so many and it would take up space.  Some of the
hints were added by me.

           Sterling

                                                               ___
 _____                                                        (o o)      _____
( ___ )-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=w=-U-=w=-=-( ___ )
 |   |  Mission Thunderbolt I:    Version 11/17/92                       |   |
 |   |                                                                   |   |
 |   |  A compilation of hints, tips, and techniques from many users     |   |
 |   |  posts to news groups.                                            |   |
 |   |                                                                   |   |
 |___|  Please send any hints or corrections to: [e-mail]    |___|
(_____)-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-(_____)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  General Information  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NOTE: All hints presented here are from players experiences.  Therefore they
      are NOT guaranteed in any way shape or form.  That player may have lied,
      been mistaken, or the information may not have been correctly
      transcribed.  I take no responsabilty if your player is killed.

NOTICE! NOTE! ATTENTION:  Any reference to 'I' in ALL of the following text
does NOT mean Sterling Babcock.  These notes were collected from many posts.
Each 'I' refers to a different person and as such represents the advise of
many different people.  I don't remember who contributed what.

> What is Mission Thunderbolt? A few reviews:
Mission T-bolt is a game similar in play to the classic UNIX game NetHack.
Instead of NetHack's character-graphic interface, Mission Thunderbolt has
a fairly nice graphic interface.  It's no 3-D shoot-em-up, but rather a
turn-by-turn sci-fi role-playing/adventure game.

The graphics are not spectacular but are very nice and effective.  Actually
they fit the game rather well.  The sounds are excellent (even if they aren't
async).  The game is very playable, with some of the commands being identical
to those in NetHack.  The game world is _huge_, as are the variety of weapons,
armor, and creatures you encounter along the way.  The game is very addictive-
and you can play it for around 2 hrs. a day for 3 weeks and not finish solving
it.  Also, each time you play a new character, a different world is generated.
The game also has a great sense of humor, with creatures named things like
icky lumps, two-headed radioactive swamp creatures,  and giant tentacular
horrors.  I highly recommend it.

One thing I really like about the game is the fact that your movement is not
a race against time.  Each move is a unit of time, so if the phone rings I can
leave the game without fear of something killing me.

> What version is available now?
Mission Thunderbolt is up to version 1.0.6.  However, unless you have problems
with the copy protection not working, you probably only "need" to get 1.0.3
(1.0.1 and 1.0.2 fixed game problems).

Version:1.0   - RELEASE VERSION
        1.0.1 - Fixed a Vending Machine problem
        1.0.2 - Fixed a Small Generator problem
        1.0.3 - Consolidated copy protection information to a single window
        1.0.4 - Fixed a creature name bestowing problem
        1.0.5 - Automatic correction of inconsistent data in earlier versions
        1.0.6 - Fixed installation window centering for 9" screens
                Menu bar now disabled while saving character
                Added "Request replay" preference to simplify game relaunch

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Unanswered questions  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Anybody found monsters that can be befriended by tossing them items OTHER
  than the dogs, snagglepi, and troglodytes?
> What to the "sweet" and "sour" pills do?
> How can towels be used to wipe off armor/paint?
> If you shoot a cybercop with a paint pellet, why doesn't it become visible?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Monsters  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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> FRIENDS: Making friends
o You have to know what the monster wants before you can give it to him.
  I only know of a couple beasts that can be tamed by gifts.
  The snagglepus likes cookies and the dogs like bones.
o If you have enough charisma, you can befriend troglodytes with cookies.
o Use Put/Toss into adjacent location to give them the item.
o The best way to make friends is to use a little electrical stimulation.
  The stimmer is a short range weapon which sometimes requires several
  applications to change a monster into a friend, sometimes whacking them
  upside the head before stimming helps.

> STIMMERS: What animals are susceptible to stimmers?
o Becomes friendly: Giant Tentacular Horrors, Tentacular Horrors, Snagglepus,
                    Wild dogs, fangwings (a wonderful "friend" to have!)
o docile: floating eye, radioactive swamp monsters?, flutterbangs?
o Not: robots

> ICKY LUMPS - reproduction
o They will reproduce when you get near, even when you are near in a region
  past where they are.  They don't multiply if you're not close to them.
o If an infestation is only on part of a region, and you don't have the tools
  to destroy them, use holocubes or a door (they can't open them) to close
  them off.
o Lumps *will* fall through holes and down stairs and step on teleport
  traps (including the kind that teleport you to other regions), so it's
  important to get rid of infestations that are near any of these things.
o Never rest near lumps. Never rest in another region near the lumps.

> ICKY LUMPS - killing with weapons
o They are easy to kill and carry money.
o Icky Lumps are best killed from a distance, with a laser rifle.
o Close up work requires good weapons (antique sword or vibra knife) and
  good armor (Mark X Forcefield Pack plus Macro metal Armor). In a pinch,
  properly placed land mines and grenades can help out somewhat. Advice:
  leave 'em alone until you get good weapons/armor.
o Find a vibra-knife possible. They kill lumps better than a macro-metal knife.
o Failing a vibra-knife, get lot's and lot's of large powercells,
  a laser rifle and start blasting the little lumps to oblivion.
  BTW - the vending machines do not have an unlimited supply of powercells.
  Be sure to go to that region with full hit points and NEVER, NEVER
  rest in the same region as the lumps. That seems to cause them to
  multiple rapidly. Always leave the region and rest in a region that
  has no lumps in it.
o Poison gas cannisters will kill quite a few, but it has a limited range.
o You can also use a cameleon circuit if you can find one.  It makes you
  invisible to most monsters, including lumps.  They don't multiply or
  attack you while you're invisible (well, they attack by accident every
  once in a while).  The c.c. is like a forcepack - requires charges.

> ICKY LUMPS - killing with friends
o Befriend a tentacular horror and let if follow you to the icky lumps.
  Once there, the 'lil horror will do most of the work for you.
o Even better, befriend a Giant Tentacular Horror who will clean things
  up in short order.
o Friends are always good.  The best anti-lump technique is to get a
  "friend" with a big "activation radius" (the distance from you that a
  friendly monster will consider an unfriendly monster to be a threat,
  and go after it), like a snagglepuss, and go to the lump region.
  Get close enough to the lumps so that the snagglepuss will go kill them,
  but far enough away so that the lumps don't multiply.  This makes very
  quick work of lump infestations.

> ICKY LUMP FARMING: What is "Icky Lump Farming"?
o Once you have sufficiently powerful weaponry and protective gear, it
  can become quite lucrative to "farm" lumps, rather than killing them
  off.  Let 'em grow, reduce their numbers back down to something
  manageable, and then gather the coinage they've dropped along the way.

> BUG EYED MONSTERS: Bug eyed monsters - What do these guys want?
o Watch out for them -- if they shake your hand, you can lose dexterity.
o In my experience, these guys are beyond redemption. They shake you until
  they injure you or cause you to drop something that either goes off (like
  an activated grenade/canister) or gets damaged in some other fashion.
  Just say no and blow them away.
o I believe bug-eyed monsters are merely monsters with a special attack.
  I don't believe they want anything in particular, though I suppose you
  could say they are asking for a good sword through the teeth.

> MOPPETTS: What's a good way to kill off moppetts?
o These things take your inventory and then disappear.
o Personally I like to shoot them with a blaster rifle.  :-)
o I found that if I hit it initially with my best weapon, he tickles me and I
  drop my weapon, and then I just wail on him with my bare hands until he dies.
  He seems less inclined to pop away if I'm bare-fisted and he gets in too many
  licks if I spend my turns trying trying to pickup/wield some weapon.
  Your mileage may vary depending on your character's characteristics.

> THE SHIMMERING HAZE: What do I do about the shimmering haze?
o Don't touch them, they permanently drain constitution.  They follow you!
o Your best hope is to use the "run" command and get to another floor fast,
  because you can outrun the things.  Best bet, kill them at a distance.
o Kill with a blaster(~3 shots) or blaster rifle(~1 shot).
o Faining a blaster,  try to lead it past traps.  It will be caught in them and
  detained for awhile. A trap that delivers an electric jolt will kill it.
o "friends" can hurt it.
o If you think these guys are bad, wait until you run into a Vampire Mist.

> VAMPIRE MISTS: What does one do about those darned vampire mists?
o These things drain experience points.
o Try using a friendly android, snagglepus, or giant tentacular horror.
o Try using a blaster.
o vampire clouds can be killed with non-light based energy weapons (blaster,
  disflorger, disintegrator, but not laser), and friends.

> DREADNOUGHT: Killing a Dreadnought?
o Well, it takes quite a bit more than 8 grenades, 1 LAWs, 1 landmine and an
  antique sword.  Use a lot of landmines, more grenades, and befriend powerful
  monsters to lead to the dreadnought. Really, though, I didn't find it worth it
  to kill the dreadnought. You may gain a level, but you will use everything up.
  Now, I just lead them to regions that I am finished with and lose them there.
o The only way I've ever seen one die was when I used a panic button:
  instead of teleporting to region 1, once it gave me 5 friendly 'jaunt
  troopers', who demolished the Dreadnought in 3 shots and 2 hits.  The
  jaunt troopers disappear after something like 50 ticks.
o It's not that tough.  First, get an antique sword.  These things kick ass!
  Second, get a pill of speed.  Eat the pill when the dreadnaught is near you.
  Then proceed to whale on him.  You can hit, then backup, then hit, etc.
o If you can get them, either pills of speed or a time dilator work well.
  Befriend TH or GTH (or 3) and lead it to the Dreadnought.
  What you want to do is have the TH soften the Dreadnought up a bit.
  After the "appropriate" amount of time, take a pill or activate the dilator.
  Lob 3 or 4 grenades at Dreadnought.  If you have the dilator, you can now go
  and whack away at the Dread, preferable with an antique sword.
  If you are using pills, take a whack or two and then take a step back.
  You will get hit once in a while, but with a reasonable number of HP you
  should be able to outlast the Dread. If you are using pills, you may do
  better to use a laser rifle instead of the sword.  You can get off a shot or
  two, take a step back, etc. and stay out of reach.
o Saving beforehand is mandatory; this all takes a little practice.
o Carry two loaded gyrojet scatter guns and grenades.  Don't use the
  blaster, use the laser rifle.  Landmines are good things to have the
  Dreadnought run over too.

> TWO-HEADED MUTANT RADIOACTIVE THINGS.
o Don't carry pills near them unless in a CLOSED container.
o VERY VERY painful. It takes about 4 grenades and 30 gyrojets to kill.
o These monsters seem quite vulnerable to laser rifles.
o Grenades and landmines are good, too.  Sometimes stimmers work, as well.
o Just stay out of range and attack from distance.
o Don't go into warrens until you have good weapons and a forcefield pack.

> FANGWINGS
o These will poison when you get close and they hide in the dark and
  behind doors
o I usually do have something like a gyrojet rifle so I shoot them from far.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Objects  - Devices  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> STRANGE DEVICE: How do i figure out what a "Strange Device" is?
o Go to a Library.  (I think 100 coins per an item from you bank account).
o Here's what I do when I get a strange device.
   1. I inspect it.
   2. I try and wear it.
   3. I try to charge it.
   4. I activate it.
   5. If I can't wear it and it will activate, I throw it far away from me.
  Usually one of these actions will tell me of what exactly the strange device
  is.  It's not a perfect routine though, I accidently broke a chronograph,
  when I threw it. Try this at your own risk.

> time dilator
o The time dilator is terrific, but so short lived and non-rechargible as to
  make it not worth carrying.

> FORCE FIELD PACKS: What are Force field packs?
o It improves your armor class.  Don't forget to charge it and wear it.
  The packs come in different flavors, offering different levels of
  protection.  I've heard it claimed they lessened the damage you take on
  the electrical traps, but I haven't tried to verify this yet.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Objects  - Armor  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> FIX/REPAIR: How do you fix: Armor?
o My friendly (healthy) mech will sometimes repair my battered armor.
  I suggest saving before trying since the mech often destroy the armor
  in the 'fixing' process.

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Objects  - Weapons  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Is a vibra knife better than a macro metal knife? They have the same
  weapons class.
o I found it to be a better weapon. Remember that weapon class is not
  really a measure of how much damage a weapon does, but a measure of
  how likely you are to hit with the weapon.
o The vibro-knife seems to be better at killing things.

> NEEDLES: What are needles for?
Needles can be loaded into the needler (a weapon).

> DISCOMBOBULATOR: Anybody find any use for the discombobulator?
o It 'confuses' monsters so that they start attacking other monsters.
  Try it on a fangwing or a snagglepuss.  I use the discombobulator to kill
  shimmering hazes.  Just shoot another monster with the discombobulator
  and it will start killing the shimmering haze.  It is kind of like a
  temporary stimmer.

> LAWS Rocket
o The LAWS Rocket looked like it would be fantastic when I tried it out outside
  the factory and blew half the floor away.  I then toted two of them down to
  the 16th region (dropping almost everything else to be able to carry them),
  but found the walls there were so tough that it didn't do nearly the damage
  I had hoped for.

> LANDMINES: Landmines:
o If found that if the landmines are side by side, then when one blows up, it
  destroys all adjacent landmines. The adjacent landmines did not appear
  to add to the damage points of the exploding landmines, and thus were wasted.
o Thus, I put the mines down in an every other square fashion, and then entice
  the dreadnaught to cross the mine field to reach me.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Objects  - Pills  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> How do I find out what a pill does?
o collect several pills. Save your character.  Write down ALL your status.
  Eat the pills you have.  Take notes of on which pills do what including
  changes to your HP, constitution, etc.  Restore the 'saved' character.
  Decide what pills to eat now, save for later, or drop.
o Note that some pills will seem to do nothing. These are likely to be pills
  that cure poison, restore hit points, cure illnesses, etc. So, you might hang
  onto them and try them will ill, poisoned, low on hit points, and so on.
o A library will tell you what anything is for a price.

> PILLS IN TOXIC WASTE: How do you save your pills when thrown into toxic waste?
o Put the pills in a chest and *close* it.

o Pill of:     Affects:
  good health  +Hit points
  invigoration +Constitution
  dexterity     Cure klutzyness


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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Objects  - Things  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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> CROWBARS: Always carry a crowbar.
o MT tip for the day: always carry a crowbar.  This item can do triple
  (or even quadruple) duty.  First, in the very early stages of the game,
  it may be your best hand to hand weapon.  Second, you can carry it
  instead of all those crazy keycards and use it to open locked doors and
  boxes.  Third, you can use it to deactivate traps on boxes.  And
  finally, you can use it to tear down walls (albeit slowly) - don't use
  your main weapon to do this, as tearing down walls dulls weapons quickly.

> STEPLADDER: What in the world is a stepladder good for?
o If there is a hole in the ceiling above you, placing a stepladder under
  it greatly improves your chance of success when trying to go up.
o Suppose you have a region with dangerous things by the stairwell.  Well,
  don't use the stairwell!  Go to to a corner of the map.  Dig a hole and
  go down there.  Carry a stepladder and drop it after you get to the new
  region to remind you where to go up and to make an escape route.
o The stepladder is ideally suited for moving between floors when you are
  heavily encumbered.  You can go up or down through holes in the floor
  without fear of falling.

> SOFT PILLOW: Has any figured out what to do with the soft pillow?
o This can be used for helping you go down stairs, and for dropping objects
  down through holes without fear of doing them harm.
o If you rest on a square that has a soft pillow, you heal faster.  This
  can be important for minimizing the number of "crackling energy fields"
  or "mysterious power drains" during the game.  It doesn't seem to help
  if you carry the pillow; it's got to be on the floor.  I've also only
  tried this with "rest soundly" - I assume it works for "rest".

> FLARE: Is there some way to toss a flare so that it illuminates a region?
o Yes.  Try throwing it somewhere where it won't land in liquid.

> TRASH CAN: What are the trash can and trash can lid for?
o You can wear the trash can lid for +1 armor protection.
o I use the can as a repository to hold a lot of stuff in one place.
o Try putting something in the can near a utility bot.

> SKULLS:
o I've seen skulls used as weapons by snaglepusses and have heard
  mention that it is effective agains other humans (terrorist
  collaborators i think)

> TOWELS: Can towels be used to wipe off armor/paint?
o You can wear them for an extra armor point.
o You can wear up to four.

> SECURITY PASSES: How useful are security passes?
o If you are wearing the pass corresponding to the region number
  then the cyber cops will not attack you.
o Not very. However, when you enter a security zone (klaxon goes off)
  and a cybercop goes after you, it will not attack if you have the
  correct security badge.

> HOLOCUBES: What are holocubes for?
o The holocubes can be useful for penning up things when they get out of hand.
  Especially icky lumps and Zzyts in regions which you've taken a pill of
  perception and can see that there's nothing interesting in some area.
o There does not seem to be any way to deactivate them.
o Beware: You may need to get rid of all the Zzyts in region 16.

> FIX/REPAIR: How do you fix: Generator?
o A sonic screwdriver will fix a generator (and many other things too)).
o Try a mech if you dare.

> ODDLY SHAPED COINS: What can the oddly shaped coins be used for?
o Get money for them at the reclamation center.
o throw them at things that collect coins (I only know one thing that this
  works for...it is a creature that chortles and giggles a lot)
o the oddly shaped coins are for use in possible future Mission #4, also known
  as Mission: BLUEJAUNT.  If it ever comes out you may want to have saved
  those coins.

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  The Player  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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> Poisoned?
o If you are at max hit points, often you will survive.
o Try a cure poison pill, or an Auto Doc, or a pill of healing to wait it out.

> Fixing klutzyness?
o Try finding a water fountain and taking a drink.
o Try an AutoDoc or eat a pill of dexterity.

> PAINT SPLATTERED: Does it matter if you're paint spattered?
o Get a utility 'bot to 'scrub you vigorously'.
o I don't believe it hurts to be splattered, but the chances of your friendly
  monster remaining friendly are related to his ability to recognize you.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Facilities  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> MECHS: Can they fix things?
o Sometimes.  Sometimes they break them (thus the "oops!" sound).
  The robots have a 50/50 (?) chance of fixing things

> UTILITY BOTS: What are they for?
o Why they keep the regions (and player) neat and tidy!
o What's the deal with the group of bots at mid region that aren't activated?
  Well, that is formally called a "Utility Closet", and is where
  MegaCorp stores it's un-needed Utility 'bots.  Kind of on call.
o Can they be activated?
  Yep, As with everything else in the game, there is at least a little
  logic behind the solutions.  In this case, what do those 'bots
  typically do?  They clean up the place.  So ... just toss a
  deactivated 'bot a bit of rubbish, and he'll wake up all anxious
  to help you do some house cleaning (can be a REAL PAIN at times!)

> JAUNT TROUPERS: What are Jaunt troupers.
o I get the impression that a jaunt trouper is a player that finished the
  game.
o A panic button will occasionally summon several friendly 'jaunt troopers',
  who will demolished your enemy.  They disappear after about 50 ticks.
o When these friendly jaunt troopers appear via panic button, can they be
  killed and disarmed (it's a cruel world)?
  Sure ... but let me explain ... Dem's duh good guys, just like you!
  Only lots tougher, and VERY busy, so they pop in briefly to lend a
  hand, and then jaunt out again.  Heavily armed and armored.  Sure,
  you can attack them to steal their gear, but be ready for a DEADLY
  battle if they decide you have turned against the Terran Freedom Forces!!!
o Do you only see the friendly commandos with use of the panic button?
  yes, the 'porting in of the JauntTroop Hunter Killer team is directly tied
  to the panic button, the state of the current battle, and how injured you
  are.  You can't really count on them ever coming, but they're
  hell on wheels when they arrive!

> JAIL: What do I do when thrown in jail?
o What you do is while your still tied down in a chair, you just hit yourself
  against a wall.  After a while, the chair will splinter.  Then use the rubble
  from your chair and throw at the door repeatedly to break the door.  Then You
  have to find a way out (explore the lower region completely). Don't worry,
  in any game you only go there once (you get killed after the first capture).
  If it seems like their is no exit, try banging on a wall (with the
  appropriate utensil).
o If I ever get thrown in jail, I quit.  It's not worth trying to get
  out.  Once you get thrown in jail, you lose access to your bank account
  because "the bank thinks you're dead" and you have to open a new account
  with no balance!

> FACILITIES: What facilities are there?
o data port, reclaimation center, library, autodoc, hospital?, bank,
  store?, factory outlet, transmat booth.

> RECLAIMATION CENTERS: reclaimation centers
o Dead CyberCops have great resale value at the reclaimation centers.

> FACTORY OUTLET: How does the factory outlet inventory change?
o Who's stocking the machine?
  Why ...Sly MegaCorp service personnel ... of course.
o The outlet will restock itself at various times based on various
  factors ... including refilling empty slots/shelves.  Savy players
  learn how to force the machine to restock to give them good turnover
  for selection purposes (yet another freebie hint).
  What would cause a store to restock its inventory? That's the answer.
o The outlet will close for a time while restocking; you can set the alarm on
  the Chronograph (one of the strange devices) to alert you when it reopens.
o So I can expect to find better stuff based on my skill level????
  (I see, buy the cheap stuff first)

> VENDING MACHINES: Do vending machines ever get restocked?
o Yes, they get restocked either by happenstance or by design
  ... and you can cause it to happen.
o An officially designated MegaCorp Service Agent (Mech) can restock the
  vending machine before/after it happens to empty.  Find one and lead him
  to the machine needing servicing.

> BANK: Bank information:
o If you are thrown in jail the bank will think you are dead.
  Start a new bank account with a balance of 0.
  If you can find a reclamation center, you can live without a working bank.

> FLOORS/LEVELS: Just how many regions are there?
o There are 30 floors in each MTB complex.  16 main regions, followed by
  2 detention regions.  There are ? warren regions.
  The 2 detention regions are below the the 16th floor.
  The LAMB is on the 16th region.

> STAIRWELL: Blocked stairwell?
o Stand over stairwell.  Activate grenade.  Drop grenade.  End Problem.

> TRAPS: Floor barriers: Can you get by them?
o One can fix, or rather unfix some of them.

> GRAVITY WELL: How do you get out of gravity wells?
o Try dropping everything.  If nothing (other than yourself) is currently
  on the floor over the gravity well, drop something useless there first,
  so that some useful item doesn't end up trapped over it.  After you've
  dropped everything, you should be able to get away.
o give it the "sonic" screwdriver treatment.
o dig through it (if it is a diggable square).
o use your panic button (if you are in region 1-15).
o Activating a gravbelt will not work.
o Disable the trap with a sharp edged object (very expensive in terms
  of hit points - it can easily suck up 50+ hp.

> FOUNTAINS: What do the water fountains do?
o If you drink from them, they will cure the "fuzzy headedness" you get from
  eating most monster corpses.
o They may cure klutzyness. (or try a pill of dexterity or an autodoc)
o You can fill certain things (milk cartons, but not beer cans, apparently),
  and use it (the water-filled object) as a weapon against the various robots.
  A milk carton, however, isn't enough to even kill a widget.  Maybe a trash can

> TOXIC WASTE: Toxic Waste
o Did you know that it's possible to build a walkway over the toxic lakes if
  you repeatedly dump rubble (or possibly other junk) into them. If you're
  lacking rubble, use you pick axe to make some.  It takes A LOT of rubble to
  fill one pool square.

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Message Meanings  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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>  MESSAGE: You hear a sudden crackling of energy
o An energy storm breaks loose in this region. Everything within it
  gets severely damaged or destroyed (including walls).

>  MESSAGE: You feel a sudden power drain on your equipment
o All your items which carry charges are reduced in charge by one.
  Includes power cells, light globes, lasers, stimmer, panic button, ...

>  MESSAGE: The air is briefly electrified by strange forces

>  MESSAGE: You aren't feeling very well.
o Carrying any rags with you? Drop 'em.

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Favorite Hacks  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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> Creating your own pocket-nukes
o Try activating five grenades, putting them in a small chest (leave the lid
  open) and throwing the chest at something.  By the way, 2 back to back hits
  with these 'pocket-nukes' did NOT take out a Dreadnought, nor did four
  consecutive (preloaded) gyrojet scattergun blasts.

> what is the favorite hack people have encountered ?
o fill an empty milk carton with industrial waste fluids ...
  use it as a hurled weapon ... or dump it on a trap ...

> How do I collect money?
o Take spare items to a reclaimation center.
o See ICKY LUMP FARMING: What is "Icky Lump Farming"?

> Using Warrens as shortcuts:
o Some warrens have holes not only to the region you cam from, but also to
  another region.  At times, that region can be 5 or 6 regions away.  This
  may be a good shortcut and also cut down on security alerts.
o To facilitate this, when I am not strong enough to survive a warren for long,
  I stick my head up and back down, thus "marking" the warren, so I recognize
  it when I get to it later.

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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  General Hints  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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>General Hints/poison
o Always keep you hit points as close to their maximum as possible.
  Don't wander around with low hit points.
o If you're poisoned, and have maximum or near maximum hit points, you'll
  probably survive poisoning. It will often wear off before you reach zero
  hit points.
o Pills of healing will often boost low hit points long enough for the poison
  to wear off.
o There are pills that will cure poisoning.

> Hints on saving the game
o Once you are near winning in region 16, save the game in several different
  files.  I get the impression that once the LAMB is found, you cannot save
  the game.  Also, once you complete the game, your character cannot reenter
  the game.  (I wanted to go back and look at the warrens.)
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