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- General Operating Instructions for STELLAR EXPLORER v1.00
-
- Copyright (c)1992 by Stephen J. Bigelow -- Dynamic Learning Systems
- P.O. Box 805, Marlboro, MA 01752
-
- The following ASCII text file is intended to supply basic operating
- instructions to STELLAR EXPLORER for the general shareware population. This
- is, by no means, a comprehensive instruction. To receive a complete, fully
- illustrated "User's Manual and Operations Guide", as well as the very latest
- edition of STELLAR EXPLORER, you must register this software. This can be
- done by sending your $15 registration fee to Dynamic Learning Systems, P.O. Box
- 805, Marlboro, MA 01752. The README_1.DOC file explains registration in more
- detail.
-
- 1. Moving your character -
- You are represented by a single brown circle with a green outline. Your
- character always remains in the center of the Overhead View Screen. You
- move your character using the number keypad on your keyboard. The Number
- Lock (or 'Num Lock') indicator must be lit for the keypad to be active.
- The number position on the keypad corresponds to the direction of movement.
- For example, the number 4 moves your character to the left, while the number 9
- moves your character right AND up, and so on. Other characters are represented
- by bright green circles.
-
- 2. Talking to other characters -
- Press the 'c' key on your keyboard. A green box will appear over your
- character. Use the number keypad to position the green box over the
- desired character. Press the 'c' key AGAIN to initiate speech. You may
- speak to any character as many times as you wish. Some characters may ask
- you questions, allow you to ask questions, or engage you in trade during the
- course of your conversation. Talking is often a prime source of valuable
- clues and information that will help you resolve the game's senerio.
-
- 3. Scanning -
- Press the 's' key on your keyboard. A red box will appear over your
- character. Use the number keypad to position the red box over the desired
- item, terrain, or character. Press the 's' key AGAIN to initiate a scan.
- All items and terrain will be identified. This is a powerful and useful
- function. Feel free to use it generously.
-
- 4. Setting a target -
- During instances of combat, you must specify a target before you are able to
- fire a weapon. Press the 't' key on your keyboard. A red box will appear over
- your character. Use the number pad to position the red box over the desired
- character. Press the 't' key again. The red box will become a small white
- box over the desired target. If you move out of visual range of the target,
- it must be reset once the target comes back into sight. New targets may be
- selected at any time. Press the <SPACE BAR> to fire the selected weapon.
-
- 5. Drop Item -
- Drop Item serves two functions:
- a> it allows you to drop any item in your posession.
- b> it allows you to SELL any of your items to another character.
-
- Press the 'd' key on your keyboard. A listing of your posessions will
- be scrolled through the text box. If you do NOT wish to drop the item shown,
- press 'n' for no, otherwise, press 'y' for yes. If you change your mind or
- pass by a desired item, press 'esc'. This cancels the mode and lets you start
- again.
- To sell an item, walk OVER the desired character, then press the 'd' key
- on the keyboard. The selling sequence will engage automatically. Remember
- that the character you try to sell to may not want the item you wish to sell.
-
-
- 6. Pickup Item -
- Pickup Item serves two functions:
- a> it allows you to pick up any item available in your loaction.
- b> it allows you to BUY an item from another character.
-
- Press the 'p' key on your keyboard. A listing of available items to
- pick up will be scrolled through the text box. If you do NOT wish to pick
- up the item shown, press 'n' for no, otherwise, press 'y' for yes. If you
- change your mind or pass by a desirable item, press the 'esc' key. This
- cancels the mode and lets you start again.
- To buy an item, walk OVER the desired character, then press the 'p' key
- on the keyboard. The buying sequence will begin automatically. Remember
- that the character you try to buy from may not wish to sell you the items
- you want.
-
- 7. Use an Item -
- This is the most interactive control of the game. Its effect depends on
- just what object you wish to use. To USE an item, press the 'u' key on the
- keyboard. A listing of items in your posession will scroll through the
- text box. If you do NOT wish to use a item displayed, press 'n' for no,
- otherwise, press 'y' for yes. If you are able to use the selected item,
- it will be utilized, and a confirmation note will appear in the text box.
- If you are unable to use the selected item, a warning note will appear in
- the text box.
- The illustrated User's Manual for STELLAR EXPLORER contains a fully
- detailed description of how to use all the items in this game. You can obtain
- a User's Manual by registering this shareware product as outlined in the
- README_1.DOC file.
-
- 8. VAS System -
- The VAS (Visual Augmentation System) allows you to see an extended layout
- of the terrain. It also displays icons of important items when you use them.
- The VAS may be toggled on and off by pressing the 'v' key on the keyboard.
-
- 9. Viewing your items -
- You can review your current posessions at any time by pressing the 'i' key
- on your keyboard. This activates the Item List function. You may have up to
- 16 items at any one time. Items that are picked up or bought are added to
- this list, and items that are dropped or sold are removed from this list.
-
- 10. Identifying the terrain -
- You can call up a map listing at any time by pressing the 'm' key on your
- keyboard. This presents an illustrated index of the various parts seen in
- the overhead view screen.
-
- 11. File Options -
- You can access file options at any time by pressing the 'f' key on your
- keyboard. Once the File Option screen appears, you may perform several
- different activities:
- 1. Save the current game in progress and continue.
- 2. Recall the saved game and continue from there.
- 3. Save the current game, then exit to DOS.
- 9. Start a brand new game (erasing any saved game), then continue.
- Q. Quit and return to DOS right there without saving.
-
-
-
- Feel free to direct any questions or comments to Stephen J. Bigelow - Dynamic
- Learning Systems, P.O. Box 805, Marlboro, MA 01752.