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The Catacombs of ASCII Documentation ------------------- Program Version 1.2 COA is an online game designed to be played as a door on PC-Board systems. To play the game, all you need do is open the appropriate door as designated by your SYSOP. If you have not played the game before, the program will ask you for a `Character Name.' In COA, you play someone other than yourself as you wander through the labyrinth. You may type any name that suits you, though you must limit yourself to 15 characters or less. Once you are playing the game, the commands are fairly simple (this list is available while in the game by pressing `?'): C O M M A N D S N,S,W,E - North, South, West, East (Move) 8,2,4,6 - (the same, for keypad users)* U,D - Up, Down 9,3 - (the same, for keypad users)* L - Look at self (Stats...) G - Get Object P - Put Object Down X - Use Special Object (Generic) C - Consume/Conjure with Object M - Read Map, Manuscript, or Markings H - Hands; what they are holding I - Inspect Area Closely T - Talk to Adjacent Enemy/Object F - Fire Crossbow R - Reload Crossbow A - Attack Adjacent Enemy/Object O - Opfire Mode & Quit 1/! - Switch to Non-Graphic/Graphic Mode Q - Quit * Numlock must be on While you are playing the game, the upper-left of your screen will always show your current position in the maze graphically, and beneath the display will appear your number of Turns remaining (T:), current Level (L:) in the maze, your X and Y Coordinates (C:), the icon you are currently standing on ([.]), and the name of any objects in your current position (which you may Get if you like). It is heavily reccomended that you make a map of the maze as you explore it, preferably on a piece of graph paper. COA display diagram: ===================== ╔═════╗ ¥ = Monster --- ║¥··█║ --- = Object █ = Wall --- ║█····║ --- · = Open Space = Stair --- ║█Ω██║ --- Ω = You = Unknown --- ║ █∩┼ ║ --- ┼ = Door (Can't see) ║ █ █ ║ ╚═════╝ | ∩ = Other Player Below the display: ================== T: 120 L: 2 C: 10/ 13 [] Insect \____/ \__/ \_____/ └─────────── Object in current space │ │ └──────────────────── X/Y Coordinates │ └─────────────────────────── Level (depth) in the maze └───────────────────────────────── Turns Remaining Note that the '' symbol is used for the standard, premade objects in COA (weapons, potions, torches, etc...). The sysop/maze designer may create other objects, which will usually have different icons... If you have no torch in either hand, you will see a distance of one space in all directions. If you do posses a torch, and if it is currently in either of your hands (weapon hand or off hand) you will see a distance of two spaces. Each day you will be allocated a set number of turns (the designer of the maze decides this), and each action in the above list has a cost in turns (again, this varies from game to game). Quit, 1/!, and ? always cost 0 turns, and ? will inform you as to the cost of other options. Commands in detail: N,S,E,W and U/D --------------- As long as your way is clear and you have sufficient turns remaining (usually 1) you may move a space in any direction you choose. If you are calling on a PC or compatible, you may use your numeric pad for movement, provided you turn on your NumLock. As you move, your view is constantly updated. -------------------- If you encounter a door and have no objects to help you open it (lock-pick or key), you may try and force it. This may or may not succeed, and it is possible to take damage trying (though unlikely). You may only use the Up and Down commands when at the appropriate stairway(s), obviously. If you have a key you may more freely through all doors. Lockpicks allow you to move through, but at a cost of one extra move turn. With neither of these, you can force doors, but damage (rarely) may occur. If you fail to force a door you may try again. You may move through secret doors freely; it is possible to find them by simply walking into walls a lot. The `I' command works better, though. Again, it is heavily suggested that you make a map as you explore the maze. LOOK ---- You may Look at any time, so long as you have sufficient turns remaining. Look will tell you what you are carrying, how many gold pieces you have, how badly wounded you are, what is in your hands, etc... GET --- You may Get an object provided that A) a Gettable object is in your same space, B) you have room to carry it, and C) you have sufficient turns remaining. A trapped chest will be activated by Getting it. Be aware that some traps are not set, and if you Get these you will have a trap you can lay down for others. A chest with gold in it will add to your gold piece total if you Get it; and the chest will then be empty. You cannot carry more than 30,000 gold pieces. Any excess is lost. PUT --- You may Put an object provided that A) there is not other object in your current space, and B) you have sufficient turns remaining. Usually, Put simply places the item in your space. Putting a trap, however, also sets it. Also note that Putting your torch will reduce your visibility. You must possess an object to Put it. CONSUME/CONJURE --------------- Using this command you may, assuming you have enough turns left, consume any potion you may have, or conjure with an Orb if you posess one. The effect of a potion varies with its type (you'll just have to find out!). What an Orb does will also be known to you only if you find one and try it. Note that while potions are identified by color, there may be more than one kind of potion with a given color... Consume/Conjure may work on special items as well. Perhaps you may find a lump of food, or a glass of champaign. Experiment! You must possess as object to Consume/Conjure it. X - USE SPECIAL OBJECT (Generic 'Use') ---------------------- X will work only with specially designed objects that have been set up to respond to this command. When in doubt, try it. This is like commanding an object to 'work', if you think it may be magical, etc... You must possess an object to use the X command on it. READ MAP, MANUSCRIPT, OR MARKINGS --------------------------------- If you have a map you may read it, providing you have sufficient turns remaining. If your terminal program has screen-capturing capabilities, you may find it wise to capture copies of maps you find so that you do not have to continue carrying them. Other objects may or may not be readable as well. You must possess an object to use the M command on it. HANDS ----- The Hands command allows you to decide which of your objects will be in your weapons hand, and which will be in your off hand. Note that a weapon must be in your weapon hand to be used, while a torch may be in either. Also note that potions amd the orb do not have to be in a hand to be used... **Important: A torch in your possesion but not in a hand will do absolutely nothing for you.** Also note that sysop-designed objects may or may not need to be in your hands to be effective, depending on the designer's wishes. INSPECT AREA ------------ By Inspecting the area you can find out just what those objects you see are (within limits); the identity of other players and monsters in your view will be revealed to you as well. Also, any secret doors in your view will be revealed. This is a very useful command, and should be relied upon heavily. TALK ---- If another player is directly adjacent to you, you may talk to him/her, provided you have enough turns remaining. When that player logs in next time, they will get your message as "Fred said: Hi there Joe..." You cannot Talk to monsters... usually. You CAN talk to objects, from time to time. FIRE ---- You must have a crossbow in your weapon hand, and must posess at least one bolt before you can Fire. Bolts will travel *until they hit something*, whether it be stone or flesh, and always inflict one point of damage if they hit another player. Once you fire, your crossbow will be unloaded. Crossbow bolts ignore armour. Events/Special objects can sometimes be triggered by firing at them. RELOAD ------ Generally a very expensive (turn cost) option, Reload allows you to load your crossbow after firing it. If you do not reload your crossbow, it will be reloaded for you automatically by the time the next day rolls around. ATTACK ------ If you are armed (have at least a dagger in your weapon hand) and are adjacent to an enemy player or monster, you may Attack him/her/it. The Attack is played in rounds, with each of you hitting and doing damage to the other until one of you is dead or until you (successfully) retreat. If your opponent posesses a weapon(s) but does not have it in hand, he will automatically bring the (best) weapon `to hand'. If your opponent is another player and you win the battle, you will get whatever gold pieces he/she possesed. If the opponent was a monster, you will get a certain number of gold pieces dependant on how tough the monster was. You can attack some objects, with varying effects. There is a small chance you will do damage while defending barehanded. OPFIRE ------ Opfire stands for Opportunity Fire, and allows you to be active during the time between calls. If you select Opfire, your turns will be reduced to 0, so *only* choose it as a last option for the day. You must have a crossbow in your weapon hand, it must be loaded, and you must posess at least one bolt. Once you enter Opfire `mode', your game is over for the day. In other words, Opfire is a way of ending your turn for the day... and makes you dangerous to other players during their turns. When you enter Opfire mode, you can select a direction (1-8) or choose return fire. If you select a direction, this means that if another player moves into your view in the direction you specify during *his* turn, your character will automatically fire. You will stay in Opfire mode until you play again, are attacked with a melee weapon, or run out of bolts. If you specify 9 (return fire) as your dirction, then any time another player fires a crossbow at you during *his* turn, you will automatically return the fire (any direction). Again, you will remain in Opfire mode until one of the conditions listed above is met. If you are Attacked (melee) while in Opfire mode, you will automatically switch weapons if you have an appropriate weapon in your posession, and you will exit Opfire mode. 1/! --- If you are calling on a PC, it is strongly suggested that you use the (default) graphics mode as the screen is much more readable this way. If you are calling on another type of computer, however, these PC- based graphics characters will probably look `garbagey' to you, so a switch to non-graphic characters (1) will most likely be needed. PC owners should note that ANSI is *not* required. QUIT ---- If you Quit with turns remaining, you may use them later during the same day. In any case, please quit using Q, rather than hanging up. If carrier is lost during play, the system will do its best to save your game, but it is not assured. Weapons - The follwing weapons are to be found in the maze; Dagger, Short Sword, Long Sword, Axe, and Crossbow. The Dagger and Short Sword do less damage than the Longs Sword and Axe; the Long sword is capable of doing more damage than the Axe, but is less reliable. The Axe will always do 2 or 3 points of damage while the Long Sword, which can do 4 points at best, may do only 1. Players taking damage equal to their strength are killed. There is armour in the game, and it can protect one from taking damage. Other Objects - Potions, the Orb, and traps can only be understood by encountering them; there are also magic teleporters that can whisk you away at a touch. Chests usually contain gold pieces (the object of the game), and are opened by Getting them. You actually Get the gold pieces and leave an empty chest behind. You cannot Get a secret door. The sysop/maze designer is free to construct other objects which may have various properties. Experimentation is the only way to learn about these. In short, each of them will have one or more 'triggers', or ways in which they are activated. Talking to them, attacking them, consuming them, some- times just picking them up or stepping on them, these and a variety of other triggers can be built in to an object. Experiment! An object can have many, many triggers, so one success does not mean the end of the possibil- ities. The Monsters - There are a variety of monsters in the game, from the lowly Kobold to the mighty Dragon. Killing a monster gives you gold points, plus may allow you to pass into an area rich in treasure (if the maze was so designed). Crossbows do not harm monsters (magical beings, all), but if you fire a bolt into the dark, the sound that returns may tell you what monster lurks there... The General Store - Any time you find an up staircase on level 0, this is a portal to the general store. It is here you can spend your gold pieces for weapons, healing, and so forth. Buying strength points is like increasing your `level' in a more tradition role playing game; strength determines how well you hit and how much damage you can take. Keep in mind that gold pieces also determine your standing in the game, so a carefull balance of spending and saving is the rule... --/--/-- Some general notes on play: -------------------------- Don't stay on level 0. It is more dangerous, usually, than 1 or even 2, as players are `born' on level 0 and you will find them to be the most dangerous hazzard in the game. Especially `Meat Eaters' (right Darryl?). A torch and a key or lockpicks are important. Always keep your torch in your off hand. Not all potions of a given color are the same. Some hurt, some help, some were created by the designer and are `special'. Don't attack other players until you have armour. You are too vulner- able without it. Don't end your turn blocking a corridor. It is a prime motivator to the `Meat Eaters' since they cannot get by you unless they kill you. Even nice guys may have to kill you if you block passage. When you are tough, don't waste your time killing every new player. ANYONE can hurt you, no matter how tough you are. Kill for need, not greed. Besides, new players rarely have much gold. Make maps. Spend your gold on Strength points. They are the most important thing about your character. DECEND! Nobody ever won a COA game or had very much fun by staying on the upper levels. DOWN! DOWN! DOWN! Death is only a temporary ob- stacle! Never assume anything. Some notes on events: -------------------- Events are special objects and places created by your sysop or the maze designer, which are unique and unpredictable. An event might be a Pagan Idol that kills you if you talk to it, or a book that must be read, or perhaps even eaten. Sometimes you must possess one item before another will have its effect; you might need the POCKET KNIFE before you can use the PIECE OF WOOD to create the SCULPTURE, for instance. Events can be obvious, or hidden; they can look like other players, walls, dragons, anything. The best advice is, keep an open mind. Few mazes were designed to be won by a single player who has never died, so don't be afraid to take chances, especially with a new character. --/--/-- Each day you will get a report of the events that transpired while you were `gone' -- this report will be limited, of course, to things that actually happened to your character. The maze can change from day to day; objects may appear, doors may open or close into walls. The SYSOP has the power (and the motivation) to change the maze. Other players, armed with special event objects, might be changing things. Make your maps in pencil... Scott L. Bain The Scanline Remote (619)298-2023