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The Best of Select: Games 9
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1995-08-04
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MechWar
Equipment Design Module
Version 1.2
Klaus Breuer, 1993
Dedicated to:
Vernon Everett - good friend and great drinker :)
If all else fails, read The Manual
Usually all else failed because you didn't
1 What is this thing?
For all of you who hate manuals that just blurb endlessly on before
explaining what they are all about:
This program is part of the MechWar package. It allows you to design all
kinds of weapon systems, ammo types, and other equipment to be carried on
a Mech.
Without the other MechWar programs (MECH12*.ZIP), it does not really help
you much.
If you don't know much about the BattleTech game, I suggest you don't use
this editor at all - you won't really need it.
2 Legal Stuff
2.1 Copyright
Well, what can I say. I have written to FASA Corporation for permission
to use their names (I simply don't know if there is a TradeMark on terms
like 'Mech, Marauder, and so on), but haven't received any reply yet.
Since I'm not going to sell this program, or ask any money for it, I hope
it's ok. Please tell me if I'm doing something illegal (gasp), then I'll
go about changing names, and the like.
Thus I don't even have a Copyright on the program. I do, however, have a
Copyright on the code itself :-)
2.2 Distribution
Now this is important!
You are very welcome to spread the (unmodified) package about, upload it
to BBS systems, make it available on ftp servers, or whatever.
However, I am imposing two conditions:
o You are not allowed to change the archive (except repacking it in
a different format). Meaning while you can include a BBS-Ad in the
Zip-Comment, you are not allowed to include an ad as a file (how I
hate loosers like that).
o You are not allowed to charge money to distribute this package. At
all! You are not even allowed to charge a copying or handling fee
(shipping is ok, but don't overprice that, either). This program
is free, and I don't want some sleazy, overpriced ShareWare vendor
making money out of my work.
2.3 How to register
Registering won't currently bring you much (except for me to know that I
have your support), and it won't give you anything extra in the future,
either.
- 2 -
I am not going to half-cripple this program to get people to register,
and I'm not writing GuiltWare either.
I am, however, writing CardWare.
So, if you like this program, please send me a post card from your city,
so I know where this program is spreading to. Note that I actually need a
card (as opposed to a letter), as I'm making a collage out of them.
Everyone registered will be added to The Hall Of Heroes, displayed at
startup of the main program.
Note that I release this program as ShareWare, not as Public Domain. That
means, please do copy this program and give it away, but the code is
(C)1992,93 by me.
2.4 Credits
Although I'm the only author of this package, I couldn't have done it
without two groups:
FASA FASA Corporation (P.O. Box 6930, Chicago, IL 60680, USA)
designed the original board game. Obviously, without
them MechWar wouldn't exist :)
You I've had lots of help from lots of people out there,
primarily from the InterNet. That a v1.2 ever came out
is only your fault...
3 System requirements
This program should run on any PC with a CGA card (ugh) and 640Kb RAM,
even on the old 8088 CPUs (yuck).
Note, however, that the rest of the MechWar package will only run on
80386 (or higher) CPUs with about 2MB RAM. Sorry about that, but I need
the protected mode...
4 Usage
Simply start this program by running ED.EXE.
The program is very simple to use. I suggest you run it now, play around
with it and then come back to this chapter if you have any trouble.
You will want to read the other chapters, though :)
4.1 The Main Menu
As soon as you pressed any key to make that title screen go away, you'll
find yourself in the Main Menu. I won't bore you by telling you how to
actually make a selection, so here are the options in detail:
- 3 -
4.1.1 Design New Equipment
Here you can build a new piece of equipment from scratch. The first thing
to know while doing that is that every piece of equipment has a code
number, ranging from 000 to 999 (see list later in the manual). You can
only assign one equipment to every number.
Press [F1] to get help, [F2] to save and [Esc] to abort.
Note that you have three pages - flip between them using the [PgUp] and
[PgDn] keys. As you use the [TAB], Shift-[TAB] and the cursor keys to
walk the input field about the screen, note that the bottom line always
explains what each field is about.
Let me explain them to you in detail, anyway:
Name The name of the weapon - used in the MechDesign Module.
Abbrev A reasonably clear abbreviation, which will be used in
the MechWar game itself (eg. LRM or BAP).
Description Here you can describe just what this equipment is - it
won't be used anywhere else, but everyone will
appreciate hearing just what you had in mind when you
designed that weapon.
Code The unique three-digit code of the equipment. Don't
forget to fill it in, as you won't find your equipment
again otherwise. Have a look at the equipment list near
the end of the document to get an idea of how I use the
code - you might want to do it similarly.
Icon The icon number of this equipment, as created in the
SpriteDesign Module and used in MechWar (to show
equipment lying about the field, for example).
Type What the equipment actually is:
1: Weapon (eg. LRM launcher)
2: Ammunition (eg. LRM)
3: General equipment (eg. Self-destruct mechanism)
4: Special equipment (see next point)
Special Some equipment has to be treated specially:
1: Anti-missile system
2: Anti-personnel Pod
3: Beagle Active Probe
4: C3 Computer (Master)
5: C3 Computer (Slave)
6: CASE
7: ECM
8: TAG
9: Target Computer
10: Narc Missile Beacon
11: Artemis Fire Control System
- 4 -
12: (reserved)
13: Inferno ammunition
14: Inferno Heat: just do an inferno heat roll
15: Hatchet
97: Heatsink
98: Double Heat Sink
99: Jump Jet
Aera This tell the computer from which Aera the equipment
comes:
1: 2750 (does anyone actually use this?)
2: 3025 (yeah!)
3: Inner Sphere (with 3025 access)
4: Clan (with 3025 access)