PC Gamer 5.1/1999-10_Disc_5.1.bin/SEPTERRA/SEPTERRA.EXE/readme.txt

Text File | 1999-07-28 | 16KB | 400 lines

Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator

Contents:

Setting Up The Demo
Known Issues
General Gameplay and Controls
Title Screen
Exploration Mode
Inventory
Subscreen Mode
Shops
Keyboard Short Cuts
Statistics And Hints
Ordering Information


Setting Up The Demo
To set up the demo, you will need approximately 105 MB of
free hard disk space.  Extract the files from the zip file
to a directory on your hard disk.  To play the game, run
scdemo.exe

In order to play back movies Septerra Core also requires
Quicktime 4 to be installed (download from
http://www.quicktime.com).  If Quicktime is not installed,
the game will simply skip playing back the movies.  Follow
the directions on the Quicktime Web Site to install
Quicktime.

Known Issues
The armored crabs in the desert have a fairly strong attack
and extremely good defenses, so you should kill them as
quickly as possible, and be prepared to heal your characters
with spells or items.

It is possible to cause the game to lose its cursor in
certain situations.  If this happens to you, Alt+F4 should
exit the game, and you can start again from your previous
save game.

It is possible to cause a "Panic" (fatal error detected by
the game engine) if you attempt to equip a gadget or gun
component by double clicking the item to be equipped without
selecting a "destination" box for it on the large character
image.  Selecting the box first will keep this from
happening.  Once the "Panic" has happened, the game will
exit and you must start again - either a new game or loading
a saved game.

General Gameplay and Controls

Welcome to the world of Septerra.  You will start your
adventure with one player character, named Maya.  She is the
main character of the Septerra Core story, however, during
the demo you will have the opportunity to gain two other
companions, Grubb and Runner.  We have included the entire
first chapter of the game, and added several skills, spells
and effects from later chapters.  Enjoy!


The following is a general overview of the interface and
gameplay.

Title Screen:
     New Game: Select New Game to begin a new game.

     Continue: If you have previous save games, select
     Continue to reload the most current game.

     Options:  Select Options to go to the options screen
     and load a specific save game, or change any other
     options.

     Quit: Select Quit to exit the program.


Exploration Mode
     Whenever Maya and her companions (The Party) are not
     engaged in combat or conversation, they are free to
     explore their surroundings.

     Use your mouse to:

     Walk
     Left Click once to make the party walk to a desired
     location.  Left Click and hold to make the party walk
     and continue to follow the cursor.  The arrow keys can
     also be used.

     Run
     Double Left Click to make the party run to a desired
     location.  Left Click and hold to make the party run
     and continue to follow the cursor.  The arrow keys with
     the shift key can also be used.


     When the cursor is moved over areas in the game that
     are explorable, it will change to show you what your
     party will do if you click the left mouse button.
     These are some of the exploration icons that you will
     see:

     Look (An Eye):  Clicking will allow the party to
     examine the object in question.  Most of the time you
     will then see a picture of each of your current party
     members at the bottom of the screen.  You may click
     these portraits to have each member of your party
     examine the object using his or her own area of
     expertise.  For example, Grubb has much technical and
     scientific knowledge that may come in handy.

     Talk (A Word Balloon): This option is just like
     examining objects, but works on people.  It is usually
     best to start off a conversation using the character
     icon at the far left of the interface bar.  Try having
     each of your characters talk to the townspeople and
     other Non Player Characters.

     Use (A Hand): Clicking this icon will allow you to use
     various objects and / or pick them up.

     Exit (A Gold Gate): This cursor will take you through
     an exit to the next environment.

     World Exit (A Globe Icon): This cursor will take you
     through an exit to a World Map.  From World Maps you
     can travel across larger distances and visit new
     locations.

     The players Core Energy Bar and Current Health Points
     are displayed when the mouse cursor is moved into the
     interface section at the bottom of the screen.  Core
     Energy is a measure of how much "Magic" energy the
     party has, and is a combined pool of points that the
     entire party can use.

Inventory
     The party inventory appears at the bottom right of the
     screen when the mouse cursor is moved into the lower
     interface area.  There are two buttons that can be used
     to switch between Heal Items and Key Items.  Heal Items
     are all of the items that the party can use to refresh
     their Health, Core Energy or otherwise help their
     current status, especially in combat.  Key items are
     items that may come in handy in exploring the world
     around you, or in solving puzzles.

     Simply select an item from your inventory to make it
     the mouse cursor.  Try using it on things in the
     environments, or if a Heal item, use it on the portrait
     of a party member to heal them.  To put any unused
     inventory items back and return to the explore icon,
     click the Right Mouse button or hit Escape.


Subscreen Mode
     The subscreens allow you to examine the statistics of
     your characters, use skills outside of combat, and
     equip new items.

     Enter the subscreens by clicking the Subscreen button
     in the main interface (Or hit the space bar).  On the
     left is a portrait of each of your current party
     members.  You can click these portraits to examine each
     one in turn.  In the lower left are some Options icons
     that can be selected to examine specific areas of the
     characters.

     Skills (A Sword Icon): Displays the Skills that the
     current character has.  Some Skills can be used in the
     subscreens (such as GrubbÆs Repair Skill).  Simply
     select the Skill and then target a player character to
     use it on.  Remember that some Skills require Core
     Energy to use, even when not in Combat (See below).

     Fate Cards (A Card Icon): This option can be used to
     build Spells from the various Fate Cards that you have
     collected.  Spells can be built just as in combat (see
     below).  The only Spells in the Demo that can be used
     in the subscreens are Heal, Heal + Summon and Heal +
     Summon +All.  Remember that Spells cost Core Energy
     even outside of Combat (See Below).

     Inventory: (The Backpack): This works just as in
     Exploration Mode above.

     Equipment (The Gloved Fist): This option can be used to
     change the equipment of your characters.  Each
     character has several open slots that can be assigned
     different equipment, and some characters can share
     equipment.  If you select a character equipment slot, a
     list of the equipment that can be used in that slot is
     displayed at the bottom of the screen, along with the
     number owned.  Grayed out items are already equipped.
     To change equipment, simply select a slot and then
     double click the item you want to equip into that slot,
     (or press the Equip Icon that lights up).  Notice any
     changes in a characters stats are displayed before you
     actually click (Green Stats will go up in power, Red
     Stats will go down in power).  Use this information to
     select the right equipment choices for each character.

     While some skills are learned when a character advances
     in level, some characters gain new skills based on the
     equipment they have.  For example, MayaÆs rifle has an
     upgradable power source called an Engine.  This
     component draws in energy from the world and converts
     it to ammunition for various attacks.  However, Maya
     can also upgrade her gun with Components that give her
     Beam attacks, Grenades, and Napalm, to name but a few.
     Once these items are equipped, their related skills
     appear in MayaÆs skill list and can be used in combat.
     The Demo includes several goodies, so donÆt forget to
     experiment.

     Form Party (A Triple Sphere): Not available in the
     demo.  This option is used to change the current make
     up of the party when you have more than three
     characters to choose from. (In the main game you will
     have NINE total characters to choose from thoughout the
     game).

     Exit (A Red Arrow): Use this (Or spacebar) to return to
     the Game.

     You may also get to the Options Screen from the
     subscreens (A picture of a CD), and from here you may
     Save, Load, Adjust Audio Settings or Quit.

Shops
     Shops work very much like the subscreens.  Each item
     for sale is displayed with a price.  Each character is
     represented by a portrait, just as in conversation
     mode.  Select an item, and then a character portrait to
     see what it will do to your characters if you were to
     buy it and equip it.

     To buy an item, select it and change the quantity
     number to the number that you want to buy, then simply
     select the Accept icon to confirm the sale.

     You may also sell your items back to shops by selecting
     the Sell icon.


Combat Mode
     While the party never gets attacked on World Maps, once
     they enter a location environment they are in danger of
     being spotted by hostile characters.  If they see you,
     combat will begin.

     Each character in combat has a meter called the
     Endurance Bar located just below their portrait on the
     left hand side of the screen.  This meter is split into
     three sections and gauges the relative speed of the
     characters, telling you when they can act.  A character
     cannot be activated until at least one third of a bar
     has been allowed to fill.  At this point, he can be
     activated by clicking his portrait. This stops the
     progression of time and allows you choose his action.
     However, the more sections of a characterÆs Endurance
     Bar you allow a character to fill up, the more lethal
     their attacks are, and the more Skill options become
     available.

     Once a character is activated, the following options
     become available:

     Skills (A Sword):  Allows you to select a Skill.
     Skills are usually attacks, but some (like GrubbÆs
     Repair) can help the party.  Skills are divided into
     three columns, one for each level of Endurance that has
     been built up.  This means that you need to build up
     three levels of Endurance to use Skills in the third
     column, and so forth.  Some Skills require Core Energy
     to cast.  The amount needed is displayed on the Core
     Bar at the top of the screen when the Skill is
     selected.

     When a character is first activated he defaults to his
     best Skill that doesnÆt require Core to use.
     Skills that require more Core Energy to cast than you
     have available are grayed out.

     Fate Cards (A Card): This option can be used to cast
     Spells.  Each fate card is a Spell by itself (except
     "All"), and can be cast by simply selecting the card,
     and assigning it to the character you selected by
     clicking it into the gray box next to his portrait.
     Then simply select your target to cast the Spell.

     All three of your characters can work together to cast
     bigger and badder Spells by throwing cards together.
     When a character is activated you will notice that any
     other characters that also have at least one Endurance
     Bar of power built up, also have a gray box ready for a
     card.  If you assign a card to the character you
     selected, any cards that can be used in conjunction
     with the first card are displayed.  Select one of those
     and give it to another character.  Now select a target.
     Both characters use their Endurance and the Spell will
     proceed.

     Remember that you can use the cards as many times as
     you wish, as long as you have enough Core Energy.
     However, some characters are better than others at
     casting Spells, so pay attention to their Core Stat in
     the subscreens.

     Cards that need more Core Energy to cast than the party
     has available are not shown.

     Inventory (A Back Pack): Use these items just as in
     Exploration Mode.

     Exit (A Red Arrow): If you change your mind and want to
     go back to waiting for your characters to build up more
     power, select the Exit icon.

     When your party wins in combat, they will gain
     experience points and money, and sometimes receive
     other items.

     If a character dies in combat, donÆt worry, they are
     really just unconscious, and will get back up when
     combat is over, with 1 Health Point.   However, if ALL
     THREE of your current party members get killed, the
     game is over and you will have to re-load a save game
     to continue.



Keyboard Shortcuts

Q - Select Player 1 in Combat
A - Select Player 2 in Combat
Z - Select Player 3 in Combat

W - Select Skills in Combat
E - Select Fate Cards in Combat
R - Select Inventory in Combat
U - Exit back to real time.
Escape - Exit out of menus for Conversation and Combat, as
well as most scenes.

Space Bar - Enter / Exit Subscreens.
X - Enter Options Screens.
F7 - Quick Save
F8 - Reload your Quicksave.


Statistics And Hints
     Each of the players has five stats that are used to
     govern combat.

     Strike - Measures the ability to hit targets.
     Armor - Measures the ability to absorb damage.
     Power - Measures the damage potential of a character.
     Core -  Measures the amount of Core energy that a
     character adds to the Core Bar, plus the ability to
     cast Spells.
     Speed - Measures the relative quickness of a character.

     These stats are made up from various combinations of
     the other stats that appear on the character
     subscreens.  For example, Vitality is one of the stats
     used to determine Armor, along with the characterÆs
     current equipment.  It is also used to figure out the
     character Health.   If you equip better armor you get a
     better armor score.  However, if you find an item to
     raise Vitality, it will raise your Armor AND your
     Health Points as well.

     Runner is a mostly mechanical character, but he has
     some organic parts as well.  He does not regain as much
     health from normal Healing items as Maya or Grubb.
     DonÆt forget to use GrubbÆs Repair Skill to keep Runner
     in top shape.

     Try using the Bed in JunkerÆs HQ (MayaÆs House) to heal
     and rest up, gaining full Health and Core overnight.
     Also, there are Bread items in UncleÆs fridge that
     might come in handy.


Ordering Information

To order your copy of Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator,
visit the Monolith Website at www.lith.com/septerra

For more information on Septerra Core: Legacy of the
Creator, visit Topware's Septerra Core Website at
www.septerracore.com, or the developer's website at
www.valkyriestudios.com