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IMPERIUM REX - v2.10 Copyright (c) 1989-1995 Brainstorm Software <ONLINE HELP - REXEDIT.HLP> Indexed to REXEDIT.HDX --------------------------------------------------------]------- |PINFO ,K IMPERIUM REX - v2.10 (Technical Information) Copyright (c) 1989-1995 Brainstorm Software The _Imperium Rex Game Editor_ and _Game Player_ were compiled/assembled by Borland C++ 3.1 and Turbo Assembler 3.1. Concept development, programming, and testing by _Glenn Robins_, of _Brainstorm Software_. Concept development, testing, and story writing by _Jens Winslow_. |ESPECS,U Editing Object Specifications (Brief Reference) See off-line documentation for more complete help. _<RB>_ anywhere will end editing _HI_ : Number of hit points when fully functional _DP_ : Damage potential (number of attacks) _FR_ : Fuel range (amount of fuel that can be carried) _PT_ : Production time in turns required to build object _WT_ : Weight of object unless object is a _Transport_ where this is the total weight it can carry _G/M/O_ : Grain/mineral/oil units required to build object _PBH_: Probability of being hit by an attack _POH_: Probability of hitting an object when attacking _AR_ : Attack range _SP_ : Speed - has two meanings depending on _surface_: _LAND_: Total number of movement points for object LAND requires one movement point _Other_: Movement points required to move _from_ this surface to another _SR_ : Scan range of object _POS_: Probability of spotting an enemy object _PBS_: Probability of being spotted by an enemy object |MAINMU,S Imperium Rex Game Manager/Editor (Main Menu) This program can be used to create and edit world maps; build and edit games; and edit object specifications, and game parameters. _The following are some important points to note:_ - Map editing is an independent function, and does not affect any game in progress using the particular map - Editing object specifications or the game parameter table through the main menu will not affect games in progress - they may be changed however for any particular game through the game editing option. - To prevent any player from secretely editing another player's setup, use the _passwords_ option. Note that on-line help is still available when editing object specifications by clicking _<LB>_ in the lower right corner, even though the '?' is not visible. |WMD_MU,P World Map Design (Main Menu) _LOAD_ : Load a world map _SAVE_ : Save current world map _CLEAR_: Clears current world map to WATER _VIEW_ : Produces a full graphical image of the world _<LB>_ exits and brings the region pointed to into full view _<RB>_ just exits _QUIT_ : Quits operation and returns to main program menu (current map is still in memory) Press _<RB>_ anywhere for edit mode A world map of sufficient land mass (5 percent) must be in memory before making a new game. |WMD_ED,T World Map Design (Edit Mode) _<RB>_: Changes current feature for placing _<LB>_: Function depends on where it is pressed: _- Inside map window:_ Places current feature on map (can hold button down for continuous placement) _- Anywhere in World Map Design box:_ Activates main menu _- Anywhere in Map Editing box:_ Activates block placement mode (used to place rectangular blocks of the current feature). Follow instructions in box to place a block - the scroll bar/arrow buttons still work in this mode _- At scroll bar/arrow buttons:_ Random access of map window location/smooth scrolling of map in specified direction (can hold button down for rapid scrolling) _- Grid [ON/OFF]:_ Toggles map grid lines on or off |SURETC,J Confirmation to Clear Current World Map _CLEAR_ : Clears current map in memory to WATER (make sure it is saved first) _CANCEL/<RB>_: Aborts operation - will not clear This confirmation also comes up when loading a new world map while the current one has been modified, in which case _CLEAR_ will proceed with the load operation and _CANCEL_ will abort it. |LOADMP,R Load a World Map Files appearing in the file selection list are all files with length 15000 - it is therefore possible for another file to appear which coincidentally has this length. In mouse mode, the four buttons at the bottom of the selection list can be used to scroll or page up/down. _<LB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: selects world map to load _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK_: loads entered file (assumed to be a map) _- CANCEL_: cancels this operation and returns to current map (even after the clear confirmation) _<RB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: backs out to directory list _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK/CANCEL Options_: selects CANCEL |SAVEMP,R Save a World Map Files appearing in the file selection list are all files with length 15000 - it is therefore possible for another file to appear which coincidentally has this length. In mouse mode, the four buttons at the bottom of the selection list can be used to scroll or page up/down. _<LB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: selects world map to save (overwrite) _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK_: saves to entered file (overwrites) _- CANCEL_: cancels this operation and returns to current map _<RB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: backs out to directory list _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK/CANCEL Options_: selects CANCEL |LOADGM,R Load a Game Files appearing in the file selection list are all files with length 238,000 - it is therefore possible for another file to appear which coincidentally has this length. In mouse mode, the four buttons at the bottom of the selection list can be used to scroll or page up/down. _<LB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: selects game to load _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK_: loads entered file (assumed to be a game) _- CANCEL_: cancels this operation _<RB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: backs out to directory list _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK/CANCEL Options_: selects CANCEL |SAVEGM,R Save a Game Files appearing in the file selection list are all files with length 238,000 - it is therefore possible for another file to appear which coincidentally has this length. In mouse mode, the four buttons at the bottom of the selection list can be used to scroll or page up/down. _<LB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: selects game to save (overwrite) _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK_: saves to entered file (overwrites) _- CANCEL_: cancels this operation _<RB>_: Depends on where it was pressed: _- Files_: backs out to directory list _- Name Box_: accept entry of complete file name _- OK/CANCEL Options_: selects CANCEL |GETBVL,U Selection of a Value The value on the left is the current value. The value on the right is either a 1 or a 10, indicating by what amount the value will be incremented or decremented. _<RB>_: Cancels (keeps original value) _<LB>_: On one of the following buttons: _E_ Allows manual entry of value _«_ Decrements value by amount on the right _»_ Increments value by amount on the right _OK_ Accepts current value on the left _+_ Toggles increment/decrement step (1 or 10) Incrementing and decrementing involves pressing _»_ and _«_ repeatedly - holding the button down has no effect. The maximum value varies according to context, and is discovered (if not known already) when the current value cannot be incremented past this max. value. |ESEXIT,I Save Changes Made to Object Specifications? _YES_: Allows you to choose an entry to replace _NO_ : Exits edit mode without saving changes The specifications are stored in the file _OBJSPECS.REX_. This can be copied somewhere else or renamed if it is desirable to have different sets of specifications available. |EPEXIT,I Save Changes Made to Game Parameter Table? _SAVE/EXIT_: Allows you to choose an entry to replace _EXIT WITHOUT SAVING_: Exits without saving changes The parameters are stored in the file _GAMEPARM.REX_. This can be copied somewhere else or renamed if it is desirable to have different sets of game parameters available. |EPEDIT,M Edit Game Parameter Table The purpose of each parameter and its effect or consequence is detailed in the "off-line" documentation. Parameters starting with a _[P]_ only have an effect on the _game player_, whereas ones starting with a _[D]_ only have an effect on the _game manager_, for the building of new games. _<RB>_ exits the parameter list/edit mode, where the options to save/exit or exit without change are presented, unless editing a table belonging to a game. |FILEOP,I File Operation Error This is a general file OPEN operation error which may occur for the following reasons: _File not found in current path_ (for reading) _Too many files open_ (although not likely given that no files are left open while this program is executing) _Rights violation or file locked_ (if on a network) _Storage medium failure_ (bad disk, etc.) |MGNAME,M Entering player names for new game _For a one player practice game_, you must only enter a name for player 1 (white) and leave the others blank. _For a two player game_, you must enter names for player 1 (white) and player 2 (black), and leave the third name blank. _For a three player game_, you must enter names for all three players. The player colours cannot be changed. |MGPOOL,T Pooled resources option for new game Playing with _pooled resources_ simplifies the game - all cities and settlements share the same resource pool, and all collected resources are added to the same pool. Since there is no need for a resource shipment infrastructure, packing resources into containers is not allowed, and RT schedules are not permitted. The resource pool can only hold 255 units of each type - collection will cease when this limit is reached. It may be wise to begin your first game with this option enabled. Playing without _pooled resources_ is the primary intent of this game and is recommended when you feel that you are ready to handle all aspects of sustaining an empire (or if you just want to jump right into the game head first - but be sure to wear a helmet!). All cities and settlements maintain their own resource pools. Note that all world market transactions occur at your HQ. |MGREGI,Q Regions option for new game The _regions_ option can be used to shorten the development time of your empire, as it allows players to select regions of the map that are known to them at the start of the game. Once regions are selected, you are launched into the game editor where your HQ can be moved to a more profitable position. Playing without _regions_ is the primary intent of this game and is recommended when you are prepared to engage in a lengthy conquest. In this case, your HQ is placed randomly on the map and is surrounded by four resources. In either case, you may enter the game editor once the game is designed, and give yourselves objects using the recommended point system. |MGCONF,D Confirm game settings If the player names, player number, and play options are set correctly, confirm this with OK. |MGDREG,R Define known regions _<LB>_ in any of the region boxes toggles through the list of options for that region: _Home n_ must only be selected once per player, as it indicates where your HQ will be placed ('n' - player) - this region will of course be known to player 'n'. _Known n_ indicates that this region will be known only to the player specified by 'n'. _All Know_ indicates that this region will be known by all players. _UNKNOWN_ indicates that this region is unknown to all players. '_Known_' means that all territory and all resources will be known, as well as the locations of all NP cities. The _Neutral Player_ (NP) knows the entire world. |EGPLAP,T Place objects with point system This provides a means for restricting the quantity and quality of objects placed by each player. All players are assigned a specified number of points to start with, and as objects are placed, their point values are subtracted from their totals. A point can be thought of as a MegaCredit (¢) and each object has its own price associated with it. If you answer _YES_ to this prompt, it will then ask you for the number of points that each player receives. The number of points assigned is not saved with the game, so all placing of objects must be done up front before finally saving the game in the editor. If at a later point the editor is called up, and the game has not been started yet, this prompt will appear again. |GEDITM,S Game editing - Main menu _Select player_: Allows you to choose a player to edit. _Passwords_: Enable and enter passwords if currently disabled; or disable if currently enabled. (√ beside this option -> enabled) _Edit object specs_: Edit the object specification table associated with this game. _Edit game parms_: Edit the game parameter table associated with this game - changing [D] parameters will have no effect. _Save changes_: Save changes made to this game including all those made under this menu. _Quit_: Quit game editing and return to main program menu. If the game has not been saved (even if it has not been modified) you will be prompted to confirm quitting - it is of course not necessary to save if no changes were made but this program does not check for changes. |QEWSFC,K Quit without saving first This does not mean that you have made changes and that the game should be saved. It is just a notice that you have not chosen the game save option since entering the game edit mode. This is just a precaution in case this option was chosen by accident and changes have indeed been made. Any changes made to the object specs or game parms will be lost, as well as password option changes. |GESPLR,K Selecting player to edit All players are listed, including the _Neutral Player_. After selecting a player, player edit mode will immediately commence and the player's map will appear. Therefore, be careful when selecting a player so as not to accidentally (or otherwise) cheat. _Neutral Player_ editing is restricted to viewing, and moving of objects. No NP objects may be created or killed. |PEDITP,W Main player options _View scan range, attack range, surveyed area_ options will produce a highlighted map showing the corresponding ranges - clicking in the large empty box on the right will produce a graphical map showing highlighted areas. _Objects, Known Resources, Infrastructure_ options will produce a graphical map using colours to denote particular information corresponding to the displayed legend. In mouse mode, a pointer will appear - _<LB>_ will exit this view and return to normal map viewing, but will center the view on the location selected. _<RB>_ will exit the world view. _Object Symbols_ produces a screen showing tactical object symbols and names. _Tactical, Logistical, City Status, General Status, Satellite Stats_ options will call up the corresponding reports. _<RB>_ will enter object editing mode. |OEDITM,J Object editing mode You can either click on one of the object icons in the top right corner box, which would enter object placement mode, or you can select an object on the map to edit. _<RB>_ will exit object editing mode. All scrolling techniques apply in this mode for map viewing. |ABOUTP,T Object placement mode Using the _<LB>_, click at the location on the map where you want to place this object. The surface type must be compatible with the object. Objects cannot be placed into transports as if loading them on - loading must take place in the game player. Objects may be placed in cities. Once a location has been selected, a 3x3 area should be highlighted and the location selected should be flashing. This is intended as a confirmation that this is where you want the object to be placed. To confirm this, click again at the same spot (which is flashing). If this is not where you want the object, clicking _<LB>_ at any other location will move the highlighted area to the new spot where you may intend to place the object. _<RB>_ exits object placement mode. |OCLICK,V Object selection/editing _Cities/Settlements_: You can change the number of guards (of no meaning in settlements), the amount of resources in its pool (of no meaning if playing _pooled resources_ unless it is object number 0 (HQ) you are editing), or you can move or kill the object. A city must be empty before moving or killing it. _Spy Satellite_: You can move this object, or kill it. _Other_: You can change the number of hits, or amount of fuel. You can move or kill the object. The _Orders_ of an object can be _N - None_, _S - Standby_, _M - Moving_, _L - Loaded_ (an RT showing _L_ means that it is following a schedule). _<RB>_ skips to next object at that location until there are none left. |REPCIT,Q City production status report _<RB>_ Exit report, or select a city from the list to center the map on the city. _C_ Either City (C) or HQ (H). _TAH_ Tech-levels in order of Terra, Aero, and Hydro _ON_ Object number. _Name_ Name of city. _G, M, O_ Resource stock at this city. _Producing, T_ Object being produced and number of turns left before completion. _GD_ Number of guards in city. _Fuel_ Total fuel units of all fuel depots in city. There are as many extra lines per city as necessary to list all objects being produced. |REPTAC,N Tactical report _<RB>_ Exit report, or select an object from the list to center the map on the object. _Object_ Type of object. _ON_ Object number. _Name_ Name of object. _Orders_ Current orders of object. _Hits_ Number of hits left. _Fuel_ Fuel units left. _Wt_ For transports, this is the weight capacity left. All movement and attack-associated objects are listed. |REPLOG,U Logistical report _<RB>_ Exit report, or select an object from the list to center the map on the object. _Object, ON, Name_ Type, number, and name of object. _G, M, O_ Resources packed if container, or resource stock if settlement. _Fuel_ Fuel left if depot, or fuel in settlement. _Hits_ Number of hits left if settlement. _Orders_ Orders of object. Settlements, fuel depots, and resource containers are listed. Also, the following information is provided: _SCANNED RESOURCES_ Collected and uncollected. _LOADED BOMBS_ Total bombs loaded on all bombers. _RAIL SECTIONS_ Total sections of your placed rail. _ROAD SECTIONS_ Total sections of your placed road. _MINES_ Total active number of your mines. _DETECTORS_ Total number of your placed detectors. _CANAL SECTIONS_ Total sections of your built canal. |REPSAT,P Satellite status report _<RB>_ Exit report, or select a satellite from the list to center the map on the satellite (surface flashes). _ON, Name_ Number, and name of satellite. _Present Location_ Coordinates of satellite. _Orbit/Stat_ Moving, Stationary, or Inactive (not launched). The easiest way to locate a satellite to open its object window (since the actual object is not visible on the map) is to view this report and select the particular satellite. This will center the map on it and show its location by flashing the surface. You may then enter _Tactical Mode_ and select that location. |MOVARO,K Observation (Tactical) Mode You may use the standard scrolling methods to observe the world map and the highlighted areas. _<RB>_ Exit observation mode. _<LB> in big empty box on right_ Graphical world map. Pressing _<LB>_ in this mode will center the map view at the location of the mouse pointer, or _<RB>_ will just exit the graphical view. |FORCEC,S Force HQ's to be coastal If responded _YES_, it will not quit until all players' HQ's are randomly placed on a coast line (make sure your map has water!). A coastal city is that which has at least one piece of water beside it, but is not completely surrounded by water. It may help at the start of the game to be able to build and move ships outside your HQ. If your HQ happens to be inland, its hydro-tech production will be useless unless a canal is built from the city to a body of water, which could take a lot of time as well as being potentially dangerous. If responded _NO_, it may be coastal or inland. Either way, the HQ is always placed directly on top of land. |GENRP2,M General Status Report (object table) _OK/<RB>_ Acknowledged. This report shows for every object type, the number you have, the number that have died by all causes, and the number you have killed by player. There may be some objects that this report claims you have killed yourself - this occurs in particular cases where for example you drove an object into your own mine, an aero-porter ran out of fuel over water and all loaded objects died as well, etc. |DIFFTP,N Difficult to place cities Given the specified number, type, and spread factors of NP cities in the _Game Parameter Table_, the algorithm is having a hard time placing them on the world map. It is a good idea to retry a few times by responding _YES_, until the attempt seems futile. Responding _NO_ will abort this task, where you will have to clear and reload the world map and then change the parameters. You may also wish to attempt this again without any changes, since the new layout of the first few cities may permit the placement of cities that couldn't be placed last time. |DIFFPH,J Difficult to place HQ Given the layout of the world map, the algorithm is having a hard time placing an HQ. It may be that there is little land in the specified home region for an HQ to be placed on, which hasn't been found yet. It may help to respond _YES_ a few times to retry. If it persists, respond _NO_, where you will have to clear and reload the world map and either modify it, or choose a different home region. |FORCPC,R Force HQ's to be coastal (regions) If responded _YES_, all players' HQ's are randomly placed on a coast line. A coastal city is that which has at least one piece of water beside it, but is not completely surrounded by water. It may help at the start of the game to be able to build and move ships outside your HQ. If your HQ happens to be inland, its hydro-tech production will be useless unless a canal is built from the city to a body of water, which could take a lot of time as well as being potentially dangerous. If responded _NO_, it may be coastal or inland. Either way, the HQ is always placed directly on top of land. |PLAC4R,J Place four resources around HQ's By responding _YES_, four resources will be placed around each HQ as in the non-regions case. You will then be asked if you want these cities to be coastal. By responding _NO_, it is expected that you will move your HQ to a more appropriate position in your known territory in the editor. Given this assumption, you will not be asked if you want them to be coastal. |PASSWD,R Passwords (General) If enabled, the player's password (max. 10 characters) must be entered to begin the turn during game play, and ALL players' passwords must be entered correctly to edit the game. This option is not available for one-player practice games. Passwords may be enabled and entered, or disabled in the _Game Editing_ menu. Passwords may be changed on an individual basis in the _Game Options_ window of the game player. _Do not forget your passwords!_ There is no way to turn off the password option without knowing all passwords, including those belonging to players who resigned or were conquered. See the off-line documentation for more information. |ROENTR,D Read-Only Table Entry This table entry cannot be modified - it is provided as a standard data set for building games. |LCTDET,D Lose changes to table entry? You have chosen to escape the entry selection mode. If you proceed, any changes made to the entry will be lost. |GETPSW,F Enter password Enter the current password for the designated player. The colour scheme was chosen so that the password should not be readable by others during "casual glances". |CHGPSW,F Change password Enter a new password for the designated player. The colour scheme was chosen so that the password should not be readable by others during "casual glances". |CDEFBG,H Select entry to use (OS/GP) for building game Select which data entry to use for building the current game: The object specs will just be copied into the game file for use while playing, but the [D] game parms will be used now. _<RB>_ Aborts game build. |LOGENT,H Load OS/GP table entry Select which table entry to load for editing. If you wish to create a new, custom table entry, you may want to load a read-only table with default settings, modify it, and then save the table in a non-read-only entry. _<RB>_ Aborts edit. |REPENT,M Replace OS/GP table entry Select which non-read-only table entry to use for storing the current data table. All data in the selected entry will be overwritten and lost. The entry that was just loaded for editing has a '_>_' just after the entry number, as a reminder. After selection, you will be prompted to edit the name of the entry, and you are committed to replace it. _<RB>_ Aborts the entire edit and replace procedure. |EDTEDE,F Edit entry description (OS/GP) Enter the new description for this data table entry. _<RB>_ or _<LB>_ will acknowledge the new description and the data table will be saved. <EOF - REXEDIT.HLP>