CD Fun House 8/CD Funhouse Version 8.0 - Wayzata Technology (7013) (1993).iso/pc/pc/boards/conquest/conquest.doc

Text File | 1990-01-13 | 20KB | 478 lines

                           Conquest Documentation
                           ======================


     About This File
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     This file contains information on how to use the Conquest program.  To
     learn how to play the game of Conquest read the file "gameplay.doc".


     Overview
     ~~~~~~~~

     Conquest is a "conquer the world" strategy game for 2 to 6 players.

     Conquest is played using a simplified map of the world divided into 42
     territories which are grouped into 6 continents.  At the start of the
     game, each player is randomly assigned an equal number of territories
     and given an initial allotment of armies which the players then deploy
     as they see fit.

     Players then take turns attacking their opponent's territories in an
     effort to capture and subsequently control these territories.  Each
     "turn" has three phases: the allotment and deployment of new armies,
     a number of attacks, and a final troop movement.

     The game ends when one player has captured all 42 territories.


     Features
     ~~~~~~~~

     Some of Conquest's features include:

        - hi-res bitmapped maps
        - runs in CGA, MCGA, EGA, VGA, and Hercules video modes
        - easy to use menu driven interface
        - mouse or keyboard input to control game
        - play on two machines connected via modem


     System Requirements
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Conquest will run on any IBM PC or compatible with at least 250K of
     free memory and a graphics card.  Conquest automatically determines
     what type of video card is installed and switches the adaptor into
     graphics mode when the program starts up.  The following video cards
     (or ones that are compatible) are supported:

                 VIDEO CARD                      GRAPHICS MODE USED

        Color Graphics Adaptor (CGA)            640 X 200 monochrome
        Hercules Graphics Adaptor (HGA)         720 X 348 monochrome
        Enhanced Graphics Adaptor (EGA)         640 X 200 16 color
                                                640 X 350 16 color
                                                640 X 350 monochrome
        Video Graphics Array (VGA)              640 X 480 16 color
        Multi-Color Graphics Array (MCGA)       640 X 480 monochrome



     Conquest will work with either a color or a monochrome monitor.  If
     you have a color capable graphics card with a black and white monitor
     you can force the program to use monochrome mode (see next section).
     Even though CGA and MCGA monitors have color capability, Conquest uses
     the monochrome modes for a higher resolution display.


     Starting Up Conquest
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     From the DOS prompt, type:

        conquest <optional video mode number>

     then press the Enter key.

     Conquest is a single executable and requires no additional files in
     order to run.

     When Conquest is run you should see a map of the world divided into
     42 territories which are grouped into 6 continents.  Each continent is
     represented by its own color (or pattern).  Along the top of the
     screen is a menu bar with the commands Action, Message, Status, View,
     and Remote.


     Video Mode Number
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Under normal circumstances the video mode number should not be
     required.  If however, you have 2 graphics cards, or a color card with
     a black and white monitor, you might have to manually select the video
     mode.  "Video mode number" is an optional single digit parameter that
     will force the program to select a predetermined video mode rather
     than autodetecting the type of card in the machine.  The following
     numbers can be used to select their corresponding video modes:

           VIDEO MODE
             NUMBER                             SELECTS

             blank,0                  Conquest selects video mode
               1                      CGA    640 X 200 monochrome
               2                      MCGA   640 X 480 monochrome
               3                      EGA    640 X 350 16 color
               4                      EGA    640 X 200 16 color
               5                      EGA    640 X 350 monochrome
               7                      HGA    640 X 348 monochrome
               9                      VGA    640 X 480 16 colors

     You can add a "-" in front of the video number to "force" Conquest to
     use monochrome mode.  For example -9 selects VGA black and white mode.


     The Conquest User Interface
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     If you are familiar with programs that use pull down menus and dialog
     boxes, you can probably skip this section.

     Selecting Commands - The commands on the main menu can be accessed
     ==================   with the mouse or the keyboard.

     With a mouse, position the mouse cursor on the command to be selected,
     then press and hold down the mouse button.  A menu of options will
     appear.  As you move the mouse cursor down, each option that is
     currently selectable will be highlighted in inverse video.  When you
     release the mouse button on the desired option it will be selected.

     With keyboard only, pressing the first letter of any command (A, M, S,
     V, or R) will "drop down" the options for that command.  Pressing the
     first letter of the desired option should select that option.  In some
     cases where the first letter of an option is not unique, the second
     letter of the option must be pressed as well.

     Options that are not selectable at any given point will be "dimmed"
     and will not be highlighted when you "pull-down" the menu.


     Clicking - Mouse users will be frequently asked to "click" on things.
     ========   To click on an object, position the mouse cursor over top
     of the object then press and release the mouse button.  (NOTE:
     Conquest makes no distinction between the left and the right mouse
     buttons.)


     Buttons - Throughout the game, "dialog boxes" will be used to display
     =======   information and to obtain user input.  "Buttons" are areas
     on these dialog boxes which are user selectable.  They are usually
     positioned in the lower left hand corner of the box and contain a word
     or two identifying the purpose of the button.  You can select a button
     by "clicking" (see above) on it with the mouse, or by pressing the
     first letter of the button's text.


     Data Entry - Occasionally you will be asked to type in some
     ==========   information.  Data entry boxes are white and have the
     familiar "I" beam cursor.  Use the <-- (Backspace) key to correct any
     mistakes while typing in the required information.  Press the Enter
     key when you have finished typing in the text.


     Starting A Game
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Pull down the Action command and select the New Game option.  If you
     are not using a mouse, press the "A" key to drop the Action menu down
     then press the "N" key to select New Game.  A dialogue box entitled
     PLAYERS will appear.


     Enrolling Players
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Conquest requires two pieces of information for each player; a name
     (of up to 15 characters) and the colour that the player wishes to use.
     Each player types his/her name into the first text box then  a colour
     is chosen by typing the colour's number into the second smaller box or
     by clicking on one of the colour blocks at the bottom with the mouse
     cursor.  Enrolling players ends when a blank player name is entered,
     or the "Done" button is clicked, or the user presses the "d" or Esc
     keys.


     Initial Deployment
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Territories are assigned to each player at random.  Each player gets
     an equal number of territories (more or less).  After the players are
     enrolled the world map is redrawn so that territories are rendered in
     the colours of the player that controls them.  A small box showing the
     number of armies in that territory is also added.  Each territory will
     have 1 army placed in it initially.


     Deploying Armies
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     After the initial deployment of armies, players position the remaining
     allotment of armies.  When players have additional armies to place on
     the world map, a small box appears in the lower right hand corner of
     the screen with the number of armies to be deployed.  Each player's
     allotment will be highlighted in the player's colour.

     Each time the player "selects" one of their own territories, an army
     is deposited there and the count of armies in the Deploy Armies
     dialogue box is reduced by one.  The user can also select his/her own
     allotment block (within the dialogue box) and then an owned territory
     to transfer groups of armies.  You can select your allotment block by
     "clicking" on it using the mouse.  With the keyboard you can enter the
     position number of the block that you want to select (ie. 1 for the
     first player, 2 for the second, etc.).  When all of the armies have
     been deployed the dialogue box disappears.


     Selecting Territories
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     A territory can be selected two ways.  With a mouse the player simply
     positions the cursor somewhere inside the territory and clicks.  If no
     mouse is installed, the player can use the keyboard to do the same
     job.  One territory will have a number of armies block that is
     "inversed" (white number on black background).  This is the territory
     cursor.  You can move this "cursor" around with the following keys:

                     KEY(S)                  MOVES TO

                left arrow/back tab      previous territory
                right arrow/tab          next territory
                up arrow                 previous continent
                down arrow               next continent

     To select a territory with the keyboard, move the territory cursor to
     it then press Enter.  In some cases the selected territory colour will
     change to black.


     Attacking
     ~~~~~~~~~

     One player can attack another by selecting an owned territory, then
     selecting an adjacent territory that is controlled by one of his/her
     opponents.  (Keyboard users must choose the Action/Attack command
     between these two operations.)  The attack dialogue box will then
     appear.

     Attackers have the option of a normal "Attack" or a "Blitz" attack.
     If "Attack" is selected the defender can either "Withdraw" from the
     territory (provided there is an adjacent territory controlled by them
     to withdraw to) or "Defend".  If the attacker chooses to "Blitz", the
     defender has no option and "Defend" is selected automatically.

     With a "Blitz" the confrontation will continue until the attacker is
     down to one army, or the defender has been defeated.  Only the result
     of each "roll" of the dice is displayed.

     The "Attack" mode is more controlled.  If the opponent "Defends", the
     first roll of the dice is displayed and the outcome of it determined.
     The attacker must click the mouse button or press the Enter key for
     each subsequent roll.  At any time the attacker can disengage from the
     attack by selecting the "Retreat" button.

     If the attack is successful, one attacker army is automatically moved
     into the defeated territory.  The attacker is then given the option to
     move in additional armies should he/she wish to.


     Moving Armies
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     A player can move armies from one territory to another by selecting an
     owned territory then selecting an adjacent owned territory.  (Keyboard
     users must choose the Action/Move Armies command between these two
     operations.)  The player can then select All, None, or type in the
     number of armies to be moved.  At least one army must remain in each
     territory.


     Ending A Players Turn
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     A player ends his/her turn by choosing the Action/End Turn command.  A
     Conquest card is automatically assigned to the player if at least one
     territory was captured during the current turn.


     Conquest Cards
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Conquest cards can be viewed by the "active" player at any time by
     selecting the Action/View Cards command.  In addition, a player will
     be given the opportunity to "cash in" a set of cards at the beginning
     of any turn in which he/she has 3 or more cards.  If the player has 5
     cards at the beginning of a turn, he/she will be forced to cash in a
     set.  If a player captures another players last territory, the
     defeated player's cards will be automatically assigned to the
     victorious player.  At this point too, the player will be offered the
     opportunity (or forced) to cash in.


     Cashing In
     ~~~~~~~~~~

     Each conquer card is numbered 1, 2, or 3.  In addition there are two
     "wild cards" numbered 0.  A set can be formed with three of a kind, or
     a 1-2-3 combination.  A "0" card and any other two Conquest cards also
     make up a set.  You select the cards to cash in (from the appropriate
     dialogue box) by "clicking" on the desired cards.  With the keyboard
     you can select the cards by entering the position number of the cards
     that you want to use.  The leftmost card is in position 1, and the
     others are numbered (from left to right) 2, 3, and so on.

     Saving a Game
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     The Action/Save Game command will save the current status of the game
     to a file.  Action/Load Game can be used to restart the game from the
     point at which it was saved.


     Player's Status
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     When you select the player's name from the Status command, the status
     for that player will be displayed.  Each player's status is also
     displayed at the beginning of their turn.


     Views
     ~~~~~

     The map can be viewed at three resolutions.  A "world" view shows all
     of the territories.  View/Continent will show the Continent that the
     currently selected territory is in.  View/ Territory will show the
     selected territory and all of the territories to which it is
     "adjacent".  In addition View/Name will display the name and continent
     of the currently selected territory.


     Remote Connection
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Before you attempt to remotely connect two computers to play Conquest,
     you should first set up in advance the following:

        1) Which computer is going to "call" or dial.  The other machine
           will have to be set up to "answer".

        2) The baud rate that you will use (300, 1200, or 2400).

        3) The order in which you want to "enroll" the players.

     The first step is to establish a link between them the two computers.
     Pull down the Remote command and select the Connect option.  If you
     are not using a mouse, press the "R" key to drop the Remote menu down
     then press the "C" key to select Connect.  A dialogue box entitled
     REMOTE CONNECT will appear.

     Having set up in advance which machine is going to dial and which
     machine is going to wait for the call, at the "Connect Mode:" prompt
     one machine will select "Call" and the other machine will select
     "Answer".  (NOTE: Even if the machines are direct connected via null
     modem, one must still be the "caller" and the other an "answerer".)

     Conquest supports two serial ports COM1 and COM2.  At the next prompt
     "Com Port:" select "One" or "Two" depending on which communications
     port your modem is attached to.

     Next the "Baud Rate" is entered.

     Finally, if you are the caller you are prompted for the command to
     dial the other computer (usually ATDT999-9999).  The answerer would
     typically type in ATS0=1 to put the modem into "auto answer" mode.

     Both users should wait for the CONNECT 1200 (or whatever) message from
     the modem and then select the Done button by clicking on it or by
     pressing the "d" key.  Directly connected users can select "Done"
     immediately after entering the baud rate.


     Synchronization
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     In two machine mode, if the connection is broken, it is possible that
     one machine could get "out of step" with the other.  The Remote/
     Synchronize command can be used to get them back on track.  The
     machine that invokes the command will (in a few seconds) be updated
     with the other machines current values.


     Verification
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~

     The Remote/Verify command will check to make sure that the two
     machines are synchronized.

     Messages
     ~~~~~~~~

     When playing on two connected computers, messages can be sent between
     them.  Select the player's name from the Message command, and then
     enter the message when prompted.  When you press the Enter key or
     click on the "Send" button, the message will be transmitted to the
     other computer.


     Licensing
     ~~~~~~~~~

             The programs and documentation in this archive are
                    Copyright (c) 1990 by Useful Software

     Conquest is a shareware game.  This means that you only pay for it if
     you decide to continue using it.  If you don't think that it is worth
     the asking price, delete the program, or better yet give it to someone
     who might have fun with it.  However if you do decide to keep Conquest
     after a 2 week trial period, please send $10 (see REGISTRATION FORM on
     next page) to:

        Useful Software
        340 Dale Crescent
        Waterloo, Ontario
        Canada, N2J 3Y3

     The shareware fee pays for the unlimited use of Conquest by a single
     person.  You are allowed (and encouraged) to give away copies of
     Conquest with the understanding that each person receiving a copy is
     under the same obligation as you are to send in the shareware fee if
     they decide to keep it.  You can upload Conquest to other computer
     systems, either free or commercial, as long as this archive remains
     intact, with the copyright and shareware notices unchanged.

     No guarantee is made as to the functionality of this software; however
     it has been tested quite thoroughly by a large number of people.  If
     it doesn't do what you want, don't keep it and send no money.

     Please support the shareware concept.  Shareware means useful (and
     fun) programs at a fraction of the cost you might pay for them
     commercially.  You can "try before you buy", and you are not subjected
     to copy protection or other atrocities that many software vendors
     inflict on their customers.  Software updates can also be distributed
     much faster than is possible through normal channels.

     Any questions, suggestions, or bug reports, can be mailed to the above
     address.  Enjoy.


     Useful Software


     REGISTRATION FORM
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


     TO:                      FROM:

     Useful Software             Name: ___________________________________
     340 Dale Crescent
     Waterloo, Ontario        Address: ___________________________________
     Canada, N2J 3Y3
                           City,State: ___________________________________
                               (Prov.)

                            Telephone: ___________________________________



     I would like to register my copy of Conquest for single person use.
     Please find enclosed $10.00.


     Signature: _______________________________