xref: /netbsd/games/phantasia/phantasia.6 (revision bf9ec67e)
1.\"	$NetBSD: phantasia.6,v 1.5 2002/02/08 01:25:14 ross Exp $
2.\"
3.Dd April 1, 2001
4.Dt PHANTASIA 6
5.Os
6.Sh NAME
7.Nm phantasia
8.Nd an interterminal fantasy game
9.Sh SYNOPSIS
10.Nm
11.Op Fl abHmpSsx
12.Sh DESCRIPTION
13.Nm
14is a role playing game
15which allows players to roll up characters of various types to fight
16monsters and other players.
17Progression of characters is based upon gaining experience from fighting
18monsters (and other players).
19.Pp
20Most of the game is menu driven and self-explanatory (more or less).
21The screen is cursor updated, so be sure to set up the
22.Ev TERM
23variable in your environment.
24.Pp
25The options provide for a variety of functions to support the game.
26They are:
27.Pp
28.Bl -tag -width aaa -offset indent
29.It Fl a
30Get a listing of all character names on file.
31.It Fl b
32Show scoreboard of top characters per login.
33.It Fl H
34Print header only.
35.It Fl m
36Get a monster listing.
37.It Fl p
38Purge old characters.
39.It Fl S
40Turn on wizard options, if allowed, if running as
41.Dq root .
42.It Fl s
43Invokes
44.Nm
45without header information.
46.It Fl x
47Examine/change a particular character on file.
48.El
49.Pp
50The characters are saved on a common file, in order to make the game
51interactive between players.  The characters are given a password
52in order to retrieve them later.  Only characters above
53.Em level
54zero are saved.  Characters unused for awhile will be purged.
55Characters are only placed on the scoreboard when they die.
56.Sh AUTHOR
57Edward Estes, AT\*[Am]T Information Systems, Skokie, IL
58.Sh PARTICULARS
59.Ss "Normal Play"
60A number of the player's more important statistics are almost always
61displayed on the screen, with maximums (where applicable) in
62parentheses.
63.Pp
64The character is placed randomly near the center of a cartesian
65system.
66Most commands are selected with a single letter or digit.
67For example, one may move by hitting 'W', 'S', 'N', or 'E',
68(lower case may also be used, at no time is the game case dependent).
69One may also use 'H', 'J', 'K', 'L',
70for movement, similar to
71.Xr vi 1 .
72To move to a specific (x, y) coordinate, use the
73.Ic move
74('1') command. The distance a character can move is calculated by
751 plus 1.5 per
76.Em level .
77Moving in a compass direction will move the player the maximum
78allowed distance in that direction.
79.Pp
80A player may see who else is playing by using the
81.Ic players
82('2') option.  One may see the coordinates of those who are the same
83distance or closer to the origin as he/she.
84.Em Kings ,
85and
86.Em council of the wise
87can see and can be seen by everyone.  A
88.Em palantir
89removes these restrictions.
90.Pp
91One can talk to other players with the
92.Ic talk
93('3') option.  In general, this is a line or so of text.  To remove a current
94message, just type \*[Lt]return\*[Gt] when prompted for a message.
95.Pp
96The
97.Ic stats
98('4') option shows additional characteristics of a player.
99.Pp
100One may leave the game either with the
101.Ic quit
102('5') option.
103.Pp
104One may rest by default.  Resting lets one regain maximum
105.Em energy level ,
106and also lets one find
107.Em mana
108(more is found for larger levels and further distances from the origin).
109.Pp
110One may call a monster by hitting '9' or 'C'.
111.Pp
112Use 'X' to examine other players.
113.Pp
114One may quit or execute a sub-shell by hitting interrupt.
115Quitting during battle results in death for obvious reasons.
116.Pp
117Several other options become available as the player progresses in
118.Em level
119and
120.Em magic ,
121or to other stations in the game (
122.Em valar ,
123.Em council of the wise ,
124.Em king ) .
125These are described elsewhere.
126In general, a control-L will force the redrawing of the screen.
127.Pp
128Other things which may happen are more or less self-explanatory.
129.Ss "Fighting Monsters"
130A player has several options while fighting monsters.  They are as follows:
131.Bl -tag -width skirmish -offset indent
132.It Ic melee
133Inflicts damage on the monster, based upon
134.Em strength .
135Also decreases the monster's
136.Em strength
137some.
138.It Ic skirmish
139Inflicts a little less damage than
140.Ic melee ,
141but decreases the monster's
142.Em quickness
143instead.
144.It Ic evade
145Attempt to run away.  Success is based upon both the player's and
146the monster's
147.Em brains
148and
149.Em quickness .
150.It Ic spell
151Several options for throwing spells (described elsewhere).
152.It Ic nick
153Hits the monster one plus the player's
154.Em sword ,
155and gives the player 10% of the monster's
156.Em experience .
157Decreases the monster's
158.Em experience
159an amount proportional to the amount granted.
160This also increases the monster's quickness.
161Paralyzed monsters wake up very fast when nicked.
162.It Ic luckout
163This is essentially a battle of wits with the monster. Success is based
164upon the player's and the monster's
165.Em brains .
166The player gets credit for slaying the monster if he/she succeeds.
167Otherwise, nothing happens, and the chance to
168.Ic luckout
169is lost.
170.El
171.Ss "Character Statistics"
172.Bl -tag -width quickness -offset indent
173.It Em strength
174determines how much damage a character can inflict.
175.It Em quickness
176determines how many chances a character gets to make decisions while
177fighting.
178.It Em energy level
179specifies how much damage a character may endure before dying.
180.It Em magic level
181determines which spells a character may throw, and how effective those
182spells will be.
183.It Em brains
184basically, the character's intelligence; used for various fighting options
185and spells.
186.It Em mana
187used as a power source for throwing spells.
188.It Em experience
189gained by fighting monsters and other characters.
190.It Em level
191indicative of how much experience a character has accumulated; progresses
192geometrically as
193.Em experience
194increases.
195.It Em poison
196sickness which degrades a character's performance (affects
197.Em energy level
198and
199.Em strength ) .
200.It Em sin
201accumulated as a character does certain nasty things; used only rarely
202in normal play of the game.
203.It Em age
204of player; roughly equivalent to number of turns.
205As
206.Em age
207increases, many personal statistics degenerate.
208.El
209.Ss "Character Types"
210Character statistics are rolled randomly from the above list, according
211to character type.  The types are as follows:
212.Bl -tag -width "experimento" -offset indent
213.It Em magic user
214strong in
215.Em magic level
216and
217.Em brains ,
218weak in other areas. Must rely on wits and magic to survive.
219.It Em fighter
220good in
221.Em strength
222and
223.Em energy level ,
224fairly good in other areas.  This adds up to a well-equipped fighter.
225.It Em elf
226very high
227.Em quickness
228and above average
229.Em magic level
230are
231.Em elves
232selling points.
233.It Em dwarf
234very high
235.Em strength
236and
237.Em energy level ,
238but with a tendency to be rather slow and not too bright.
239.It Em halfling
240rather quick and smart, with high
241.Em energy level ,
242but poor in
243.Em magic
244and
245.Em strength .
246Born with some
247.Em experience .
248.It Em experimento
249very mediocre in all areas.  However, the
250.Em experimento
251may be placed almost anywhere within the playing grid.
252.El
253.Pp
254The possible ranges for starting statistics are summarized in
255the following table.
256.TS
257l c c c c c c
258l c c c c c c.
259Type	Strength	Quick	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
260_
261Mag. User	10-15	30-35	50-100	30-45	60-85	5-9
262Fighter	40-55	30-35	30-50	45-70	25-45	3-6
263Elf	35-45	32-38	45-90	30-50	40-65	4-7
264Dwarf	50-70	25-30	25-45	60-100	20-40	2-5
265Halfling	20-25	34	25-45	55-90	40-75	1-4
266Experimento	25	27	100	35	25	2
267.TE
268.\" .Bl -column "Experimento" "Strength" "Quick" "xxxxxx" "Energy" "Brains" "Magic"
269.\" .It Sy Charactertype	Strength	Quick	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
270.\" .It "Magic User"	10-15	30-35	50-100	30-45	60-85	5-9
271.\" .It Fighter	40-55	30-35	30-50	45-70	25-45	3-6
272.\" .It Elf	35-45	32-38	45-90	30-50	40-65	4-7
273.\" .It Dwarf	50-70	25-30	25-45	60-100	20-40	2-5
274.\" .It Halfling	20-25	34	25-45	55-90	40-75	1-4
275.\" .It Experimento	25	27	100	35	25	2
276.\" .El
277.Pp
278Not only are the starting characteristics different for the different
279character types, the characteristics progress at different rates for the
280different types as the character goes up in
281.Em level .
282.Em Experimentoes Ns '
283characteristics progress randomly as one of the other types.
284The progression as characters increase in
285.Em level
286is summarized in the following table.
287.Pp
288.TS
289l c c c c c
290l n n n n n.
291Type	Strength	Mana	Energy	Brains	Magic
292_
293Mag. User	2.0	75	20	6	2.75
294Fighter	3.0	40	30	3.0	1.5
295Elf	2.5	65	25	4.0	2.0
296Dwarf	5	30	35	2.5	1
297Halfling	2.0	30	30	4.5	1
298.TE
299.Pp
300The character type also determines how much gold a player may
301carry, how long until
302.Em rings
303can overcome the player, and how much
304.Em poison
305the player can withstand.
306.Ss "Spells"
307During the course of the game, the player may exercise his/her
308magic powers.  These cases are described below.
309.Bl -tag -width "all or nothing" -offset indent
310.It Ic cloak
311.Em magic level necessary :
31220 (plus level 7)
313.br
314.Em mana used :
31535 plus 3 per rest period
316.br
317Used during normal play.  Prevents monsters from finding the character,
318as well as hiding the player from other players.  His/her coordinates
319show up as '?' in the
320.Ic players
321option.  Players cannot collect
322.Em mana ,
323find trading posts, or discover the
324.Em grail
325while cloaked. Calling a monster uncloaks, as well as choosing
326this option while cloaked.
327.It Ic teleport
328.Em magic level necessary :
32940 (plus level 12)
330.br
331.Em mana used :
33230 per 75 moved
333.br
334Used during normal play.  Allows the player to move with much more freedom
335than with the
336.Ic move
337option, at the price of expending mana.  The maximum distance possible
338to move is based upon
339.Em level
340and
341.Em magic level .
342.It Ic power blast
343.Em magic level necessary :
344none
345.br
346.Em mana used :
3475 times
348.Em level
349.br
350Used during inter-terminal battle.  Damage is based upon
351.Em magic level
352and
353.Em strength .
354Hits much harder than a normal hit.
355.It Ic all or nothing
356.Em magic level necessary :
357none
358.br
359.Em mana used :
3601
361.br
362Used while combating monsters.
363Has a 25% chance of working.  If it works it hits the monster just enough
364to kill it.  If it fails, it doesn't hit the monster, and doubles the
365monster's
366.Em quickness
367and
368.Em strength .
369Paralyzed monsters wake up much quicker as a result of this spell.
370.It Ic magic bolt
371.Em magic level necessary :
3725
373.br
374.Em mana used :
375variable
376.br
377Used while combating monsters.  Hits the monster based upon the amount
378of
379.Em mana
380expended and
381.Em magic level .
382Guaranteed to hit at least 10 per
383.Em mana .
384.It Ic force field
385.Em magic level necessary :
38615
387.br
388.Em mana used :
38930
390.br
391Used during monster combat.  Throws up a shield to protect from damage.
392The shield is added to actual energy level, and is a fixed number, based
393upon maximum energy.  Normally, damage occurs first to the shield, and
394then to the players actual
395.Em energy level .
396.It Ic transform
397.Em magic level necessary :
39825
399.br
400.Em mana used :
40150
402.br
403Used during monster combat.  Transforms the monster randomly into one
404of the 100 monsters from the monster file.
405.It Ic increase might
406.Em magic level necessary :
40735
408.br
409.Em mana used :
41075
411.br
412Used during combat with monsters.  Increases strength up to a maximum.
413.It Ic invisibility
414.Em magic level necessary :
41545
416.br
417.Em mana used :
41890
419.br
420Used while fighting monsters.  Makes it harder for the monster to hit,
421by temporarily increasing the player's
422.Em quickness .
423This spell may be thrown several times, but a maximum level will be reached.
424.It Ic transport
425.Em magic level necessary :
42660
427.br
428.Em mana used :
429125
430.br
431Used during monster combat.  Transports the monster away from the
432player.  Success is base upon player's
433.Em magic
434and
435.Em brains ,
436and the monster's
437.Em experience .
438If it fails the player is transported instead. 60% of the time, the monster
439will drop any treasure it was carrying.
440.It Ic paralyze
441.Em magic level necessary :
44275
443.br
444.Em mana used :
445150
446.br
447Used during monster combat.
448.Dq Freezes
449the monster by putting its
450.Em quickness
451slightly negative.  The monster will slowly wake up.  Success is based
452upon player's
453.Em magic
454and the monster's
455.Em experience .
456If it fails, nothing happens.
457.It Ic specify
458.Em magic level necessary :
459none
460.br
461.Em mana used :
4621000
463.br
464Used during monster combat only by
465.Em valar
466or
467.Em council of the wise .
468Allows the player to pick which monster to fight.
469.El
470.Ss "Monsters"
471Monsters get bigger as one moves farther from the origin (0,0).  Rings of
472distance 125 from the origin determine the size.  A monster's
473.Em experience ,
474.Em energy level ,
475and
476.Em brains
477are multiplied by the size.
478.Em Strength
479is increased 50% per size over one, and
480.Em quickness
481remains the same, regardless of size.
482.Pp
483Also, nastier monsters are found as one progress farther out
484from the origin.  Monsters also may flock.  The percent chance of that
485happening is designated as
486.Em flock%
487in the monster listing.  Monsters outside the first ring
488may carry treasure, as determined by their treasure type.
489Flocking monsters, and bigger monsters increase the chances of treasure.
490.Pp
491Certain monsters have special abilities; they are as follows:
492.Bl -tag -width "Assorted Faeries"
493.It Em Unicorn
494can only be subdued if the player is in possession of a
495.Em virgin .
496.It Em Modnar
497has random characteristics, including treasure type.
498.It Em Mimic
499will pick another name from the list of monsters in order to
500confuse.
501.It Em Dark Lord
502very nasty person.  Does not like to be hit (especially nicked),
503and many spells do not work well (or at all) against him.
504One can always
505.Em evade
506from the
507.Em Dark Lord .
508.It Em Leanan-Sidhe
509also a very nasty person.  She will permanently sap
510.Em strength
511from someone.
512.It Em Saruman
513wanders around with
514.Em Wormtongue ,
515who can steal a
516.Em palantir .
517Also,
518.Em Saruman
519may turn a player's gems into gold pieces,
520or scramble her/his stats.
521.It Em Thaumaturgist
522can transport a player.
523.It Em Balrog
524inflicts damage by taking away
525.Em experience ,
526not
527.Em energy .
528.It Em Vortex
529may take some
530.Em mana .
531.It Em Nazgul
532may try to steal a
533.Em ring
534or neutralize part of one's
535.Em brains .
536.It Em Tiamat
537may take half a player's
538.Em gold
539and
540.Em gems
541and escape.
542.It Em Kobold
543may get nasty and steal one gold piece and run away.
544.It Em Shelob
545may bite, inflicting the equivalent of one
546.Em poison .
547.It Em Assorted Faeries
548These are killed if attacking someone carrying
549.Em holy water .
550These are
551.Em Cluricaun , Fir Darrig , Fachan ,
552.Em Ghille Dhu , Bogle , Killmoulis ,
553and
554.Em Bwca .
555.It Em Lamprey
556may bite, inflicting 1/2 of a
557.Em poison .
558.It Em Shrieker
559will call one of its (much bigger) buddies if picked upon.
560.It Em Bonnacon
561will become bored with battle, fart, and run off.
562.It Em Smeagol
563will try to steal a
564.Em ring
565from a player, if given the chance.
566.It Em Succubus
567may inflict damage through a
568.Ic force field .
569This subtracts from
570.Em energy level
571instead of any shield the player may have thrown up.
572This is a very easy way to die.
573.It Em Cerberus
574loves metal and will steal all the metal treasures from
575a player if able.
576.It Em Ungoliant
577can bite and poison.  This inflicts five
578.Em poisons ,
579and also takes one from the player's
580.Em quickness .
581.It Em Jabberwock
582may tire of battle, and leave after calling one of his friends
583.Em ( Jubjub Bird
584or
585.Em Bandersnatch ) .
586.It Em Morgoth
587actually
588.Em Modnar ,
589but reserved for
590.Em council of the wise , valar ,
591and
592.Em ex-valar .
593Fights with
594.Em Morgoth
595end when either he or the player dies. His characteristics
596are calculated based upon the player's.  The player is given
597the chance to ally with him.  No magic, except
598.Ic force field
599works when battling
600.Em Morgoth .
601.It Em Troll
602may regenerate its
603.Em energy
604and
605.Em strength
606while in battle.
607.It Em Wraith
608may make a player blind.
609.El
610.Ss "Treasures"
611The various treasure types are as follows:
612.Bl -tag -width "type twelve/thirteen"
613.It Type zero
614none
615.It Type one
616.Em power booster
617\- adds mana.
618.br
619.Em druid
620\- adds experience.
621.br
622.Em holy orb
623\- subtracts 0.25 sin.
624.TP 1.5i
625.It Type two
626.Em amulet
627\- protects from cursed treasure.
628.br
629.Em holy water
630\- kills
631.Em assorted faeries .
632.br
633.Em hermit
634\- reduces sin by 25% and adds some mana.
635.It Type three
636.Em shield
637\- adds to maximum
638.Em energy level .
639.br
640.Em virgin
641\- used to subdue a
642.Em unicorn ,
643or to give much
644.Em experience
645(and some
646.Em sin ) .
647.br
648.Em athelas
649\- subtracts one
650.Em poison .
651.It Type four (scrolls)
652.Em shield
653\- throws a bigger than normal
654.Ic force field .
655.br
656.Em invisible
657\- temporarily puts the finder's
658.Em quickness
659to one million.
660.br
661.Em ten fold strength
662\- multiplies finder's strength by ten.
663.br
664.Em pick monster
665\- allows finder to pick next monster to battle.
666.br
667.Em general knowledge
668\- adds to finder's
669.Em brains
670and
671.Em magic level .
672.Pp
673All the scrolls except
674.Em general knowledge
675automatically call a monster.  These preserve any
676spells that were already in effect, but are only in
677effect while in battle.
678.It Type five
679.Em dagger
680\- adds to
681.Em strength .
682.br
683.Em armour
684\- same as a
685.Em shield ,
686but bigger.
687.br
688.Em tablet
689\- adds
690.Em brains .
691.It Type six
692.Em priest
693\- rests to maximum; adds
694.Em mana , brains ;
695and halves
696.Em sin .
697.br
698.Em Robin Hood
699\- increases
700.Em shield
701and adds permanently to
702.Em strength .
703.br
704.Em axe
705\- like
706.Em dagger ,
707but bigger.
708.It Type seven
709.Em charm
710\- protects from cursed treasure (used before
711.Em amulet ) ;
712used in conjunction with
713.Em blessing
714to battle
715.Em Dark Lord .
716.br
717.Em Merlyn
718\- adds
719.Em brains , magic ,
720and
721.Em mana .
722.br
723.Em war hammer
724\- like an
725.Em axe ,
726but bigger.
727.It Type eight
728.Em healing potion
729\- sets
730.Em poison
731to -2, or subtracts two from
732.Em poison ,
733whichever is better.
734.br
735.Em transporter
736\- allows finder to move anywhere.
737.br
738.Em sword
739\- like a
740.Em war hammer ,
741but bigger.
742.It Type nine
743.Em golden crown
744\- allows the player to become
745.Em king ,
746by going to (0,0).
747.br
748.Em blessing
749\- cuts
750.Em sin
751to 1/3, adds
752.Em mana ,
753rests to maximum, kills
754.Em Dark Lord
755with a
756.Em charm ,
757and gives bearer first hit on all monsters.
758.br
759.Em quicksilver
760\- adds to
761.Em quickness .
762.It Type ten
763.Em elven boots
764\- adds permanently to
765.Em quickness .
766.It Type eleven
767.Em palantir
768\- allows one to see all the other players; used by
769.Em council of the wise
770to seek the
771.Em grail .
772.It Type twelve/thirteen
773.Em ring
774\- allows one to hit much harder in battle, etc.
775.El
776.Pp
777Any treasure type 10-13 monsters may instead carry a type nine treasure.
778.Pp
779A monster may also be carrying
780.Em gold
781or
782.Em gems .
783These are used at
784.Em trading posts
785to buy things. A
786.Em gem
787is worth 1000 gold pieces.  Too much
788.Em gold
789will slow a player down.  One may carry 1000 plus 200 per
790.Em level
791of
792.Em gold .
793A
794.Em gem
795weighs one half a gold piece.
796Monsters of treasure type 7 or higher may carry
797.Em gems .
798.Pp
799The chance of a cursed treasure is based upon treasure type.
800The more valuable treasures have a greater chance of being cursed.
801A cursed treasure knocks
802.Em energy level
803very low, and adds 0.25
804.Em poison .
805.Ss "Rings"
806.Em Rings
807are only carried by
808.Em nazguls
809and
810.Em Dark Lords .
811They come in four different flavors.
812All
813.Em rings
814rest the player to maximum and cause him/her to hit much harder
815in battle with monsters (assuming one has chosen to use the
816.Em ring
817for battle.)
818.Pp
819Two types of
820.Em rings
821are cursed and come either from
822.Em nazguls
823or
824.Em Dark Lord .
825After a few times of using these types, the player falls
826under the control of the
827.Em ring ,
828and strange, random things will occur.
829Eventually, the player dies, and gives his/her name to a monster
830on the file.
831Dying before the
832.Em ring
833is used up also renames the monster.
834.Pp
835The two remaining types of
836.Em rings
837are much more benign.
838The one from a
839.Em nazgul
840is good for a limited number of battle rounds, and will save
841the player from death if it was being used when he/she died.
842The one from
843.Em Dark Lord
844is the same, except that it never is used up.
845.Em rings
846disappear after saving someone from death.
847In general, cursed
848.Em rings
849occur much more often than normal ones.
850It is usually not a good idea to pick one up.
851The only way to get rid of a
852.Em ring
853is to have a monster steal it.
854.Ss "King"
855A player may become
856.Em king
857by finding a
858.Em crown
859and going to (0,0).  Players must have a
860.Em level
861in the range of 10 to 1000 to be able to find a
862.Em crown .
863When a player with one or more
864.Em crowns
865reaches
866.Em level
8671000, the
868.Em crowns
869are converted to
870.Em gold .
871.Pp
872Once a player is king, he/she may do certain things while in
873the Lord's Chamber (0,0).  These are exercised with the
874.Ic decree
875('0') option.
876.Bl -tag -width "collect taxes"
877.It Ic transport
878This is done to another player.  It randomly moves the affected
879player about.  A
880.Em charm
881protects from transports.
882.It Ic curse
883This is done to another player.  It is analogous to cursed treasure,
884but worse.  It inflicts two
885.Em poison ,
886knocks
887.Em energy level
888very low, and degrades the maximum energy.  It also
889removes a
890.Em cloak .
891A
892.Em blessing
893protects from king's curses.
894.It Ic energy void
895The king may put a number of these scattered about
896his/her kingdom as he/she pleases.
897If a player hits one, he/she loses
898.Em mana , energy ,
899and
900.Em gold .
901The energy void disappears after being hit.
902.It Ic bestow
903This is also done to another player.  The king may
904wish to reward one or more loyal subjects by sharing his/her
905riches
906.Em ( gold ) .
907Or it is a convenient way to dispose of some unwanted
908deadweight.
909.It Ic collect taxes
910Everyone pays 7% tax on all
911.Em gold
912and
913.Em gems
914acquired, regardless of the existence of a
915.Em king .
916The king collects the accrued taxes with this option.
917.El
918.Pp
919The
920.Em king
921may also
922.Ic teleport
923anywhere for free by using the origin as a starting place.
924.Ss "Council of the Wise, Valar"
925A player automatically becomes a member of the
926.Em council of the wise
927upon reaching level 3000.  Members of the council cannot have
928.Em rings .
929Members of the council have a few extra options which they can exercise.
930These are exercised with the
931.Ic intervene
932('8') option.
933All
934.Ic intervene
935options cost 1000 mana.
936One
937.Ic intervene
938option is to
939.Ic heal
940another player.  This is just a quick way for that player to be rested
941to maximum and lose a little
942.Em poison .
943The main purpose in life for members of the council is to seek the
944.Em Holy Grail .
945This is done with a
946.Em palantir
947under the
948.Ic seek grail
949option.  The distance cited by the seek is accurate within 10%, in order
950not to make it too easy to find the grail.
951A player must have infinitesimally small
952.Em sin ,
953or else it's all over upon finding the grail.
954In order to help members of the council on their quest, they
955may
956.Ic teleport
957with greater ease.
958.Pp
959Upon finding the grail, the player advances to position of
960.Em valar .
961He/she may then exercise more and niftier options under
962.Ic intervention .
963These include all of the council members' options plus the
964ability to move other players about, bless them, and throw monsters at
965them.
966A
967.Em valar Ns 's
968blessing has the same effect as the treasure
969.Em blessing ,
970except that the affected player does not get his/her
971.Em blessing
972flag set.
973All
974.Ic intervention
975options which affect other players age the player
976who uses them.
977.Em Valars
978are essentially immortal, but are actually given five lives.
979If these are used up, the player is left to die, and becomes an
980.Em ex-valar .
981A
982.Em valar
983cannot
984.Ic move , teleport ,
985or call monsters.
986(An exception to this is if the
987.Em valar
988finds a
989.Em transporter . )
990This is to allow him/her to dispose of excess
991.Em gold .
992Any monsters which a
993.Em valar
994encounters are based upon his/her size.
995Only one valar may exist at a time.
996The current valar is replaced when another player finds the grail.
997The valar is then bumped back to the council of the wise.
998.Ss "Wizard"
999The
1000.Em wizard
1001is usually the owner of the game, and the one who maintains
1002the associated files.
1003The
1004.Em wizard
1005is granted special powers within the game, if it is invoked
1006with the
1007.Fl S
1008option.
1009Otherwise, the
1010.Em wizard
1011plays no different from other players.
1012The
1013.Em wizard
1014abilities are outlined below.
1015.Bl -tag -width "super character type"
1016.It Ic change players
1017When examining a player, (game invoked with
1018.Fl x ,
1019or use 'X' from within game), the
1020.Em wizard
1021may also change the player.
1022.It Ic intervention
1023The
1024.Em wizard
1025may do all the
1026.Ic intervention
1027options.  One extra option,
1028.Ic vaporize ,
1029is added to kill any offensive players.
1030.It Ic super character type
1031An extra character type is added.  This character starts with the
1032maximum possible in all statistics, selected from the other character types.
1033A
1034.Em super
1035character's statistics also progress at the maximum possible rate, selected
1036from the other character types.
1037.El
1038.Ss "Special Places"
1039Certain regions of the playing grid have different names.
1040In general, this is only to give the player some idea of
1041his/her present location.  Some special places do exist.
1042.Bl -tag -width "Trading Posts"
1043.It Em Trading Posts
1044These are located at |x| == |y| == n*n*100 for n = 1, 2, ..., 1000.
1045Trading posts farther out have more things for sale.
1046Be careful about cheating the merchants there, as they have short
1047tempers.
1048Merchants are dishonest about 5% of the time.
1049.It Em Lord's Chamber
1050This is located at (0,0).  Only players with
1051.Em crowns
1052may enter.
1053.It Em Point of \&No Return
1054This is located beyond 1.2e+6 in any direction.
1055The only way to return from here is a
1056.Em transporter
1057or to have a
1058.Em valar
1059relocate the player.
1060.It Em Dead Marshes
1061This is a band located fairly distant from the origin. The first
1062fourteen monsters (water monsters) can normally only be found here.
1063.It Em Valhala
1064This place is where the
1065.Em valar
1066resides.  It is associated with no particular coordinate on the
1067playing grid.
1068.El
1069.Ss "Miscellaneous"
1070Once a player reaches
1071.Em level
10725, the game will start to time out waiting for input.
1073This is to try to keep the game a bit faster paced.
1074.Pp
1075A
1076.Em guru
1077will never be disgusted with your
1078.Em sins
1079if they are less than one.
1080.Pp
1081A
1082.Em medic
1083wants half of a player's
1084.Em gold
1085to be happy.  Offering more than one has, or a negative amount
1086will anger the
1087.Em medic ,
1088who will make the player worse (add one
1089.Em poison ) .
1090.Pp
1091The
1092.Em Holy Grail
1093does little for those who are not ready to behold it.
1094Whenever anyone finds it, it moves.
1095It is always located within 1e+6 in any compass direction of the origin.
1096.Pp
1097There is a maximum amount of
1098.Em mana
1099and
1100.Em charms
1101a player may posses, based upon
1102.Em level .
1103.Em Quicksilver
1104is always limited to to a maximum of 99.
1105.Pp
1106.Em Books
1107bought at a
1108.Em trading post
1109increase
1110.Em brains ,
1111based upon the number bought.
1112It is unwise, however to buy more than 1/10 of one's
1113.Em level
1114in books at a time.
1115.Pp
1116Players over level 10000 are automatically retired.
1117.Pp
1118A
1119.Em blindness
1120goes away in random time.
1121.Pp
1122Players with
1123.Em crowns
1124are identified with a '*' before their character type.
1125.Ss "Inter-terminal Battle"
1126When two player's coordinates correspond, they may engage in battle.
1127In general, the player with the highest
1128.Em quickness
1129gets the first hit.
1130If the two players are severely mis-matched, the stronger player
1131is drastically handicapped for the battle.
1132In order to protect from being stuck in an infinite loop,
1133the player waiting for response may time out.  Options for battle are:
1134.Bl -tag -width "power blast"
1135.It Ic fight
1136Inflicts damage upon other person.
1137.It Ic run away
1138Escape from battle.  Has a 75% chance of working.
1139.It Ic power blast
1140Battle spell.
1141.It Ic luckout
1142One-time chance to try to win against the foe. Has a 10% chance of
1143working.
1144.El
1145.Pp
1146Sometimes waits for the other player may be excessive, because
1147he/she may be battling a monster.  Upon slaying a player in battle
1148the winner gets the other's
1149.Em experience
1150and treasures.
1151.Em Rings
1152do not work for inter-terminal battle.
1153.Sh BUGS
1154All screen formats assume at least 24 lines by at least 80 columns.
1155No provisions are made for when any of the data items get too big
1156for the allotted space on the screen.
1157