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1992-01-18
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=====================================+===================================
Space Trader Elite
Originally By Jurgen Van Den Handel 1988
Modified for BBS Express! ST
Version 3.0.0
By R. Sanchez, 29 December 1991
=====================================+===================================
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Welcome to Space Trader Elite. The purpose of this game is to amass
as large an empire as possible, whether through legal trade or by
smuggling, bribery, or deception. Up to 50 players can play. You are a
commander with a space fleet at your disposal. When you first start, you
will have a fleet that consists of:
A. One Invasion Ship.
B. Two Sub Commanders
C. A Warp Factor of 2.
D. 200 Credits of Intergalactic Currency.
E. 10 Cargo Transporters with 50 empty Cargo Holds.
F. Two each, 100Ton Transporters carrying 100 Fighters and 100
Soldier Troops.
2. Fighters are used to protect yourself from pirates, the police (if
you are engaged in illegal activities!), to defend any planets you might
obtain, and to attack other players.
3. Soldier troops are used for defending and attacking a planet's armed
forces. You actually take control of a planet by simply leaving soldiers
on the planet.
4. Cargo transporters are used to transport cargo holds. Your Convoy
can carry a maximum of 40 Transporters, and each transporter can carry 5
units of cargo.
5. You have a limit of 50 turns per day.
6. When you are new to the game you will be awarded a protection
agreement with the ELITE empire. This will protect you from any attack
for the next 250 moves (5 days). If you attack someone else or invade a
planet your protection will expire.
7. Your warp factor determines how many turns it takes your ship to move
from location to location. The warp factor is the number of spaces you
can move per turn; thus, if you had a warp factor of 2, and wanted to
move to a location that was 9 spaces away, it would take you 5 turns.
8. The maximum allowable warp factor is 5.
9. The Intergalactic Currency is Credits.
10. Your forces are mercenaries and expect to be paid every day. If you
fail to pay them, then some of them may decide to go elsewhere.
11. There are other intelligent beings hovering around in space,
such as pirates, Thargoids (hostile aliens), and pirate vessels, police
vipers as well as other players.
12. Watch the growth of the Thargoid Empire. If there are too many of
them they will start showing up on the Map (courtesy of Space Naval
Intelligence) Just keep the number of thargoids very, very low. Apart
from destroying your planetarian forces they do A LOT of damage to a
planet's economy.
13. When the average productivity of a planet reaches a certain level
the planet type will change from POOR to AVERAGE, or if it's already
AVERAGE it'll become a RICH planet. Productivity will go down because of
this transition. It can also go the other way: If the average
productivity is too low then planet type will drop from RICH to AVERAGE
to POOR... So watch the percentage of taxes you set for your planets
because it is the factor which sets the decrease of productivity. Once
again, the richer a planet is the HIGHER the Taxes that you'll receive.
14. As you progress, your status will increase from Harmless to Average
to Above Average to Competent to Dangerous to Deadly and finally (after a
lot of battles) *** ELITE ***
=====================================+===================================
II. MAIN MENU
1. In the main menu there are several possible options. What you see
may be different than below, not all options are available at all times:
Available
----------
3 A = Attack
1 D = Dock
1 2 L = Land
1 2 K = Destroy planet
4 C = Colonize planet
1 2 3 4 W = Warp
1 N = Computer Network
1 2 3 4 S = Sector Report
1 2 3 4 X = Status
3 P = Porting
1 2 3 4 H = Help
1 2 3 4 Q = Quit
Availability:
-------------
1 When a Space Station is in the same sector.
2 When a Planet is in the same sector.
3 When an other Player is in the same scetor.
4 When the sector has no planet in it.
2. [A = Attack]
A. This option allows you to attack an other player or their planet
forces which is in the same sector. You can not attack a Space Station
or a Planet with this option.
3. [D = Dock]
A. Can only be chosen at a location containing a space station.
B. See the section "III. DOCKING" for a detailed explanation.
4. [L = Land]
A. Land on a planet. Can only be chosen at a sector containing a
planet. Your turns will be decreased by 1, your ship will land on the
planet, and the Trade Menu will appear. You will be taken to the Trade
Menu which has the following possible commands:
D = Defense Menu
O = Take Control
M = Show market prices
B = Buy merchandise
S = Sell merchandise
C = Collect Taxes
I = Increase Productivity
L = Liftoff
X = Show status
B. For additional details of the Trade Menu command, see the section
"IV. TRADE MENU".
5. [K = Destroy planet]
A. To destroy a planet you need at least two nukes.
6. [C = Colonize planet]
A. You will be asked for a name for the planet you wish to colonize
(create). The cost will be between 50000 and 60000 Credits.
B. There can be no other planet on the sector.
7. [W = Warp]
A. You may warp to another location by entering the desired X and Y
coordinates, separated by a "," (comma). The X coordinate runs left to
right, and the Y coordinate runs bottom to top. You also have the
commands:
(1). [M = show Map] Will show you a sector map and location of
other planets as well as your location.
(2). [H = Help] Will show you what the symbols on the Sector
Map mean.
(3). [Y = show Your planets] Shows all your planets and some
statistics about them.
(4). [A = show All planets] Shows you all the planets and
statistics about them.
8. [N = Computer Network]
A. The "U-NIKS Network" is only available while orbiting above a
Space Station. An Alien Telepathic & Transmission system is being
researched by genetic deviants, which will allow space travelers to reach
out and touch someone from greater distances if they have an approved
credit card.
B. Features available from the U-NIKS are:
H = High scores
P = Police records
G = GalCorp Index
S = Stock Market
I = Info on planets
R = Read newspaper
X = Show status
Q = Quit computer
C. For more details of the U-NIKS system see the section "V.
COMPUTER NETWORK".
9. [S = Sector Report]
A. Gives a description of sector.
B. Information such as the location coordinates, the planet name and
who is control of the planet. You will also be told who else is in the
sector and how many fighters they have.
10. [X = Status]
A. Shows your status. See Section "V. SHOW STATUS" for more
detailed information.
11. [P = Porting]
A. Porting allows you to transfer Fighters, Soldiers or Credits to
another player in the same sector.
12. [H = Help]
A. Help from this menu shows you this documentation, one page at a
time.
13. [Q = Quit]
A. Allows you to quit the game.
=====================================+===================================
III. DOCKING
1. [D = Dock]
A. Can only be chosen at a location containing a space station. It
is accessed from the Main Menu by [D]ock from a location containing a
planet.
B. You will be given the oportunity to buy equipment or enter
Elite's Casino Land.
C. Due to the sparse space conditions, Elite's Casino Land is a
simple betting game where you choose the odds and how much you wish to
bet. Many a rich space traveler has left the casino broke. There has
been space rumor that an elaborate casino and possibly space brothel was
under construction.
D. The equipment you can purchase are listed below. Prices, even in
space change, so they are not listed:
1 Fighter
2 Soldier Troops
3 Sub Commander
4 Covert Agent
5 Cargo Transporter
6 Cargo Scoop
7 Escape Pod
8 Warp Engine
9 Defense Station
10 Nuclear Armament
11 Military Laser
12 100Ton Transporter
13 Invasion Ship
B. Here is a description of the equipment and their capabilities:
1. FIGHTERS: You need these to defend your ship or to defend
the planet where they are left. The number of fighters which you can
carry depends on the number of fighter transporters in your convoy.
(Each Fighter Transporter can carry 100 Fighters).
2. SOLDIER TROOPS: These Mercenaries are specialised in
defending a planet, without them your forces on a planet won't last for
long. (Each Soldier transporter can carry 100 troops).
3. SUB COMMANDERS: These highly qualified Mercenaries are able
to lead your forces in an efficient way. In space you use Sub Commanders
to lead your Fighters. When invading or defending a planet you use them
to lead your soldier troops only. Each Sub Commander can handle a 100
fighters or soldier troops. Beware!: Not having enough sub commanders on
a planet or on the mothership WILL seriously damage your defensive force.
4. COVERT AGENT: You can hire these men to spy on a planet's
forces.
5. CARGO TRANSPORTER: Transporter for cargo storage you can
handle a maximum of 40 Transporters. (1 transporter = 5 Cargo Units).
6. CARGO SCOOP: When a cargo scoop is attached you can suck up
merchandise floating around in space after battle.
7. ESCAPE POD: When the mothership gets blown away you'll be
able to save your ass with the escape pod. Insurance will cover
everything but your cargo. The more equipment you have, the more you'll
have to pay for the insurance.
8. WARP ENGINE: Increases your warp factor by 1, maximum warp
factor is 5.
9. NUCLEAR ARMAMENT: This weapon will come in handy to destroy
a planet, Thargoids or Forces that are left on a planet for protection.
You may also deploy it on a planet for protection against your fellow
traders. Next to destroying the enemy, the blast also damages a planet's
economy and political profile. So don't nuke a big fat juicy economy to
a cloud of dust.
10. MILITARY LASERS: These weapons are extremely useful in
space battle especially when attacked by pirates or police...
Unfortunately they are *VERY* expensive.
11. DEFENSE STATIONS: Excellent ground-to-air missile base,
especially effective against attacking Fighters. Beware, there is a
maximum number of defense stations you can effectively deploy on a
planet, (+-30).
12. 100Ton TRANSPORTER: Each can transport a 100 fighters and
or soldiers.
13. INVASION SHIP: You need these ships to be able to attack a
planet. Each Ship can carry 200 soldiers or fighters.
=====================================+===================================
IV. TRADE MENU
1. Accessed from the Main Menu by the Land Command from a location
containing a planet. Players turn will be decreased by 1. The Trade
Menu has the following possible commands:
D = Defense Menu
O = Take Control
M = Show market prices
B = Buy merchandise
S = Sell merchandise
C = Collect Taxes
I = Increase Productivity
L = Liftoff
X = Show status
2. [D = Defense Menu] The Defense Menu is only availlable when in
control of a planet. It offers you the following options:
A. [D = Defense Report] The defense report is a complete status
of your planet. Statistics shown are; Tax Percentage, Acces Tax
Percentage, number of Defensive Nuclear Armaments on planet, DEFCON
Status, number of Defense Stations, Fighters, Soldier Troops, Sub
Commanders, Covert Agents, and Alliances with other players.
B. [M = Make/Break Alliance] Make or break alliances, an
alliance strengthens you when your planet is attacked because your ally
planet will send reinforcements.
C. [L = Leave Defensive Forces] Allows you to leave Fighters,
Soldier Troops, Sub Commanders, Nukes and Covert Agents on the planet.
D. [T = Take Defensive Forces] Remove Fighters, Soldier Troops,
Sub Commanders, Nukes and Covert Agents from the planet.
E. [S = Set Taxes] The services you provide are largely funded
by taxes paid by the colonists of that planet and Acces Tax-Percentage
paid by traders on products they sell. You set both taxes.
(1). The taxes paid by the colonists of that planet which
are a Tax Percentage influence the planet average productivity. A higher
the tax percentage causes the average productivity to drop.
(2). The Acces Tax-Percentage is paid by traders on products
they sell on your planet. A small Acces Tax-Percentage can attract
traders which would increase productivity due to the increase trading.
F. [E = Edit Nuclear Status] You will be asked for a status
of your nukes that are positioned on the planet. The following DEFCON
(Defense Condition) status which you may select are:
0 = "Disarmed". Use of nuclear weapons will be avoided.
1 = "Nuclear Counter-Attack only". Nuclear weapons will be
authorized only after you have been subjected to nuclear attack first.
2 = "Full Alert". Use of nuclear weapons are authorized
when attacked by fighters or when subjected to nuclear attack by an
opposing force. NOTE: Your nuclear weapons will only be launched if
there are more fighters attacking you than there are on the planet, or
when you have only 10 fighters positioned on the planet.
G. [X = Show Status] Shows your status. See Section "V. SHOW
STATUS" for more detailed information.
H. [Q = Quit] Returns you to the Main Menu.
3. [O = Take Control]
A. To take control over a "free" planet, you must have at least 25
soldier troops to control the population.
4. [M = Show market prices]
A. A list of trade items and average prices in Credits is shown.
Below is a sample menu:
ITEM Credits (average price)
----------------------
Food 10
* Slaves 80
Radioactives 30
Liquor/Wines 55
Luxuries 94
* Handweapons 160
* Narcotics 112
Furs 140
Computers 150
Exotic Metals 104
Alien Items 400
* Trading in these items is highly illegal and will result in
police attacks, and your being placed on the Wanted List.
B. You will also get some information on the planet, such as whether
it's an agricultural or an industrial planet, as well as its political
profile. There are 5 different political profiles in this galaxy. The
more dangerous a system is, the more chance to run into some greedy
pirate who takes a liking to your cargo of MAGNUM 357's and
ST-computers. The types of political systems in this universe are
listed below in order of least to most dangerous :
Democracies
Communist states
Dictatorships
Feudal worlds
Anarchies
C. And last but not least the maximum productivity per year. The
amount of merchandise available will depend on the productivity of a
planet.
5. [B = Buy merchandise]
A. If you wish to buy merchandise, just enter the amount you wish to
purchase or press <RETURN> to skip an item.
6. [S = Sell merchandise]
A. Enter 'Y' to sell all the cargo holds of an item you're carrying,
or the number of cargo holds you wish to sell. Press <RETURN> to skip an
item.
7. [C = Collect Taxes];
8. [I = Increase Productivity]
A. Increases the productivity of the planet. Enter the amount of
money you wish to spend on investments. The increase in productivity
will vary depending on the current productivity and political profile.
You can also increase the productivity just by buying a lot of
merchandise.
9. [L = Liftoff]
A. Liftoff from the planet surface. You will be at the Main Menu.
10. [X = Show status] A. Shows your status. See Section "V. SHOW
STATUS" for more detailed information.
=====================================+===================================
IV. COMPUTER NETWORK
1. Connecting with the U-NIKS network will give you these options:
A. [H = Show High Scores] The 10 best players to date and their
status and score is shown.
B. [P = Police Records] You'll get your name on this list if you
carry illegal goodies. If you destroy the ship of someone who is listed
here you'll receive a bounty. If you have a large bounty on your head
and try to escape in your pod, you may be captured by the police. A
trial will then decide over your fate. Also if you have combat with the
police in a sector, you will be remembered. The next time you enter that
sector police vipers can be swarming around your ship like Space Bees.
Over a period of time, their records will be lost, misplaced, or just
given a low priority, so after a while it is safer to enter the sector.
C. [G = GalCorp index] Shows an economical report of the Galaxy,
also shows a list of the 5 wealthiest Planets.
D. [S = Stock Market] This is the place to be when ya wanna buy or
sell stocks from funds, or open a fund yourself (in which case you MUST
be in control of at least 3 Planets). The share prices will depend on
the total productivity of all the planets which belong to that fund, also
the number of planets plays an important role. When you own shares you
will also receive dividends. You can make a substantial sum of money or
you can lose your space shirt...
E. [I = Info on Planets] Will show you information such as wealth,
planet type, planet political profile, distance in turns etc. after
entering its location.
F. [R =Read Newspaper] Shows you the headlines of the "Daily
GalCorp" Newspaper. Todays or yesterdays news may be read.
G. [X = Show status] Shows your status. See Section "V. SHOW
STATUS" for more detailed information.
H. [Q = Quit computer] Returns you to the Main Menu.
=====================================+===================================
V. SHOW STATUS
1. Shows your status, to include, your name, how much cash you have,
your status and kills, Warp Factor, turns remaining, protection
remaining, how many Sub Commanders, 100 Ton Transporters, Free Cargo
Holds, Fighters, Soldier Troops, Invasion Ships and other Special
equipment you may have such as Escape pod, Cargo scoops and Military
Lasers. You are also shown the status of your and your Nuclear Armament
and how many Covert Agents you have.
=====================================+===================================
VI. THE END?
1. Your comments for improvement are encouraged as well as any problems
you may encounter in the game...
R. Sanchez
C&R BBS
717-765-8623
=====================================+===================================