home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
BBS Toolkit
/
BBS Toolkit.iso
/
doors_1
/
e1901_18.zip
/
READ.ME
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-05-03
|
10KB
|
307 lines
To the Sysop
============
Thank you very much for acquiring and using this copy of Empire 1901. Full
documentation for the game can be found in the Instructions section of the
game's main menu; these docs are on installation, sysop functions and error
codes only. Please see the final page of this file for information on regis-
tration and copyright.
Contents:
Installation and Sysop Mode - Page 2
Error Codes - Page 4
Registration - Page 5
- 1 -
Installation of Empire 1901 is a simple process. Simply place all files in
this ZIP archive in a subdirectory of your hard-drive, such as C:\EMP1901.
Empire 1901 may be called by your BBS with a BBS Door Information File, or with
command line parameters. To use a BBS Door Information File, have your BBS
issue the following command:
EMP1901 switch path
Where switch is one of the following:
/WC - WildCat! BBS format
/QB - QuickBBS format
/DW - DoorWay format
/GD - Generic DOOR.SYS format, first proposed by the Limited Release
Software Group 3/14/88
And path is the full path to the Door Information File on your drive, INCLUDING
the file's name and extension.
If your BBS program is not supported in this version, you may have it call
Empire 1901 with command line parameters. Create a batch file which, when
called from your BBS program's DOOR function, does the following:
CD \EMP1901
EMP1901 comport baudrate timeleft playername
The four command line variables are defined as follows:
comport - This number specifies the communications port to which your
modem is connected. As such, this number can range from 1-4,
representing COM1: to COM4:. Use a 0 for this number to play
Empire 1901 from the local console, with no modem output.
baudrate - This number specifies the baud rate, or the rate of data trans-
fer, at which your modem is presently online. Typical values
for this variable are 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, and 19200.
In local console play, the value of this variable is ignored
(though a value, such as 0, must be given).
timeleft - This value specifies the time in minutes which the user has
remaining on the board. When the user has one minute remaining,
(s)he is logged out of the game automatically. A value greater
than 255 here will cause an error.
playername - This is the players name; it may be of any length, though it
will be truncated by the game at 35 characters. It may contain
spaces. Note that case is important. Marc Sherman and marc
sherman are not the same user according to Empire 1901.
- 2 -
As well as the actual game, the daily event procedure must also be installed.
The following line should be added to your BBS's daily event routine batch
file:
EMP1901 /ND
This routine takes a few minutes to run, and does not take the modem off line;
if this is desirable, it should be handled by the BBS program or other support
software.
In the registered version of the game, Sysop Mode may be entered by issuing the
following command from DOS:
EMP1901 /SM
This mode offers the Sysop features such as an extended list of all players,
including those with no points on the scoreboard, the ability to eradicate
games in progress, and the ability to view all games as an observer. You may
change the maximum number of games allowed per player, which defaults to 1.
Also, Sysop Mode allows you to configure the names of yourself and your BBS.
If you do not configure these options, you will be reminded to do so in the
game's main menu. Future versions of Empire 1901 will give the Sysop more
commands for greater control over the game.
- 3 -
Error codes reported by the game are as follows:
1-255: These errors are programming errors, and should be reported to the
author, as soon as possible. If possible, please quote the error
number and code address as given by the program. The address can be
found in the section on Registration.
256: This error indicates that the Player file is corrupt. A complete
reset of the game must be done, by issuing the following DOS command:
DEL *.EMP
257: This error indicates that the Player file is full; no new players may
join Empire 1901. In future versions, the Sysop Mode will give the
Sysop the ability to delete inactive players, and compress the file
to make room for new players.
258: This error indicates that no Player Name was passed to Empire 1901 on
the command line. Check your calling batch file.
259: This error indicates a corrupt Game file. A complete reset must be
performed, as delineated above.
260-289: These errors are programming errors, and should be reported to the
author, as above.
290: This error indicates a bad comport parameter passed to the program on
the command line. This number must be in the range from 0-4.
291: This error indicates a bad baudrate parameter. This number cannot be
negative, or in excess of 65535.
292: This error indicates that the program could not access the specified
Communications port. Check that the number given is the same port to
which the modem is connected.
293: This error is not applicable in this or future versions of EMP1901.
294: This error indicates that the timeleft parameter is not in the range
of 2-65535.
295: This error indicates that the specified Door Information File could
not be found.
- 4 -
Registration
Empire 1901 is (c) 1990 by Marc Sherman, and is NOT in the public domain. The
game is being distributed on the Shareware principle, whereby a Sysop may
download the non-registered version from a BBS and try it on his or her own BBS
for up to a month. After this time, if the Sysop decides to keep the game up,
it must be registered. The registered version may NOT be made available for
public downloading.
Registration costs $15 (Canadian OR US funds), plus $5 for materials, postage,
and handling, on a personalized registered game disk. The registered version
of the game is registered to a BBS's phone number; if the phone number changes,
the game must be re-registered. However, if the board changes its name or
Sysop, simply send the new information with $5 for MP&H, and a new personalized
disk will be sent.
The unregistered version of the game only allows one game of Empire 1901 to be
played at a time. In the registered version, as many as 255 games may be
played consecutively, and each player may play in as many different games
consecutively as the Sysop allows.
Also, the registered version of the game gives the Sysop a special Sysop mode,
which allows him or her to reset unplayed games, so as to unclutter the game
list, as well as other functions to be added in future releases. Registered
users also have guaranteed support from the author, Marc Sherman, or the
registration fee will be refunded (less the $5 for MP&H). As far as I know,
this game is 100% true to the Diplomacy rules, except for the lack of chain
convoying; please report any other deviations from the Diplomacy rules you or
your users may find, as well as any programming errors and such, to the author.
This program is to be used at your own risk. Neither Marc Sherman nor any
persons in any way related to Marc Sherman shall be held liable for any damages
caused through use of this program, beyond the refunding of any registration
fees paid (not including the $5 MP&H fee).
Please mail all cheques or money orders, as well as any suggestions or error
reports, to Marc Sherman
217 Delhi Ave.
Room 101
Downsview, Ontario
M3H 1A9 CANADA
A final note: I am pleased with the game as it is now. I have received a few
more suggestions for future versions, from the players at my Beta site. These
include: a message system for private diplomatic communication; implementing a
form of protection against players who sign up for games and cease playing,
such as allowing new players to take the place of lapsing players, at a penalty
to the outgoing player; and a game editor in Sysop mode, which of course would
not be used for cheating. Any implementations of these or other additions to
the game will only come about as a direct result of YOUR feedback and registra-
tion. If you like the game, and your BBS's users like it, please tell me, by
registering.
- 5 -