1.\" $NetBSD: phantasia.6,v 1.9 2002/09/26 18:32:03 wiz 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 which allows players to roll up characters of 15various types to fight monsters and other players. 16Progression of characters is based upon gaining experience from fighting 17monsters (and other players). 18.Pp 19Most of the game is menu driven and self-explanatory (more or less). 20The screen is cursor updated, so be sure to set up the 21.Ev TERM 22variable in your environment. 23.Pp 24The options provide for a variety of functions to support the game. 25They are: 26.Pp 27.Bl -tag -width aaa -offset indent 28.It Fl a 29Get a listing of all character names on file. 30.It Fl b 31Show scoreboard of top characters per login. 32.It Fl H 33Print header only. 34.It Fl m 35Get a monster listing. 36.It Fl p 37Purge old characters. 38.It Fl S 39Turn on wizard options, if allowed, if running as 40.Dq root . 41.It Fl s 42Invokes 43.Nm 44without header information. 45.It Fl x 46Examine/change a particular character on file. 47.El 48.Pp 49The characters are saved on a common file, in order to make the game 50interactive between players. 51The characters are given a password in order to retrieve them later. 52Only characters above 53.Em level 54zero are saved. 55Characters unused for awhile will be purged. 56Characters are only placed on the scoreboard when they die. 57.Sh AUTHOR 58.An Edward Estes , 59AT\*[Am]T Information Systems, Skokie, IL 60.Sh PARTICULARS 61.Ss Normal Play 62A number of the player's more important statistics are almost always 63displayed on the screen, with maximums (where applicable) in 64parentheses. 65.Pp 66The character is placed randomly near the center of a Cartesian 67system. 68Most commands are selected with a single letter or digit. 69For example, one may move by hitting 'W', 'S', 'N', or 'E', 70(lower case may also be used, at no time is the game case dependent). 71One may also use 'H', 'J', 'K', 'L', 72for movement, similar to 73.Xr vi 1 . 74To move to a specific (x, y) coordinate, use the 75.Ic move 76('1') command. 77The distance a character can move is calculated by 781 plus 1.5 per 79.Em level . 80Moving in a compass direction will move the player the maximum 81allowed distance in that direction. 82.Pp 83A player may see who else is playing by using the 84.Ic players 85('2') option. 86One may see the coordinates of those who are the same 87distance or closer to the origin as he/she. 88.Em Kings , 89and 90.Em council of the wise 91can see and can be seen by everyone. 92A 93.Em palantir 94removes these restrictions. 95.Pp 96One can talk to other players with the 97.Ic talk 98('3') option. 99In general, this is a line or so of text. 100To remove a current 101message, just type 102.Aq return 103when prompted for a message. 104.Pp 105The 106.Ic stats 107('4') option shows additional characteristics of a player. 108.Pp 109One may leave the game either with the 110.Ic quit 111('5') option. 112.Pp 113One may rest by default. 114Resting lets one regain maximum 115.Em energy level , 116and also lets one find 117.Em mana 118(more is found for larger levels and further distances from the origin). 119.Pp 120One may call a monster by hitting '9' or 'C'. 121.Pp 122Use 'X' to examine other players. 123.Pp 124One may quit or execute a sub-shell by hitting interrupt. 125Quitting during battle results in death for obvious reasons. 126.Pp 127Several other options become available as the player progresses in 128.Em level 129and 130.Em magic , 131or to other stations in the game 132.Em ( valar , 133.Em council of the wise , 134.Em king ) . 135These are described elsewhere. 136In general, a control-L will force the redrawing of the screen. 137.Pp 138Other things which may happen are more or less self-explanatory. 139.Ss Fighting Monsters 140A player has several options while fighting monsters. 141They are as follows: 142.Bl -tag -width skirmish -offset indent 143.It Ic melee 144Inflicts damage on the monster, based upon 145.Em strength . 146Also decreases the monster's 147.Em strength 148some. 149.It Ic skirmish 150Inflicts a little less damage than 151.Ic melee , 152but decreases the monster's 153.Em quickness 154instead. 155.It Ic evade 156Attempt to run away. 157Success is based upon both the player's and the monster's 158.Em brains 159and 160.Em quickness . 161.It Ic spell 162Several options for throwing spells (described elsewhere). 163.It Ic nick 164Hits the monster one plus the player's 165.Em sword , 166and gives the player 10% of the monster's 167.Em experience . 168Decreases the monster's 169.Em experience 170an amount proportional to the amount granted. 171This also increases the monster's quickness. 172Paralyzed monsters wake up very fast when nicked. 173.It Ic luckout 174This is essentially a battle of wits with the monster. 175Success is based upon the player's and the monster's 176.Em brains . 177The player gets credit for slaying the monster if he/she succeeds. 178Otherwise, nothing happens, and the chance to 179.Ic luckout 180is lost. 181.El 182.Ss Character Statistics 183.Bl -tag -width quickness -offset indent 184.It Em strength 185determines how much damage a character can inflict. 186.It Em quickness 187determines how many chances a character gets to make decisions while fighting. 188.It Em energy level 189specifies how much damage a character may endure before dying. 190.It Em magic level 191determines which spells a character may throw, and how effective those 192spells will be. 193.It Em brains 194basically, the character's intelligence; used for various fighting options 195and spells. 196.It Em mana 197used as a power source for throwing spells. 198.It Em experience 199gained by fighting monsters and other characters. 200.It Em level 201indicative of how much experience a character has accumulated; progresses 202geometrically as 203.Em experience 204increases. 205.It Em poison 206sickness which degrades a character's performance (affects 207.Em energy level 208and 209.Em strength ) . 210.It Em sin 211accumulated as a character does certain nasty things; used only rarely 212in normal play of the game. 213.It Em age 214of player; roughly equivalent to number of turns. 215As 216.Em age 217increases, many personal statistics degenerate. 218.El 219.Ss Character Types 220Character statistics are rolled randomly from the above list, according 221to character type. 222The types are as follows: 223.Bl -tag -width "experimento" -offset indent 224.It Em magic user 225strong in 226.Em magic level 227and 228.Em brains , 229weak in other areas. 230Must rely on wits and magic to survive. 231.It Em fighter 232good in 233.Em strength 234and 235.Em energy level , 236fairly good in other areas. 237This adds up to a well-equipped fighter. 238.It Em elf 239very high 240.Em quickness 241and above average 242.Em magic level 243are 244.Em elves 245selling points. 246.It Em dwarf 247very high 248.Em strength 249and 250.Em energy level , 251but with a tendency to be rather slow and not too bright. 252.It Em halfling 253rather quick and smart, with high 254.Em energy level , 255but poor in 256.Em magic 257and 258.Em strength . 259Born with some 260.Em experience . 261.It Em experimento 262very mediocre in all areas. 263However, the 264.Em experimento 265may be placed almost anywhere within the playing grid. 266.El 267.Pp 268The possible ranges for starting statistics are summarized in 269the following table. 270.TS 271l c c c c c c 272l c c c c c c. 273Type Strength Quick Mana Energy Brains Magic 274_ 275Mag. User 10-15 30-35 50-100 30-45 60-85 5-9 276Fighter 40-55 30-35 30-50 45-70 25-45 3-6 277Elf 35-45 32-38 45-90 30-50 40-65 4-7 278Dwarf 50-70 25-30 25-45 60-100 20-40 2-5 279Halfling 20-25 34 25-45 55-90 40-75 1-4 280Experimento 25 27 100 35 25 2 281.TE 282.\" .Bl -column "Experimento" "Strength" "Quick" "xxxxxx" "Energy" "Brains" "Magic" 283.\" .It Sy Charactertype Strength Quick Mana Energy Brains Magic 284.\" .It "Magic User" 10-15 30-35 50-100 30-45 60-85 5-9 285.\" .It Fighter 40-55 30-35 30-50 45-70 25-45 3-6 286.\" .It Elf 35-45 32-38 45-90 30-50 40-65 4-7 287.\" .It Dwarf 50-70 25-30 25-45 60-100 20-40 2-5 288.\" .It Halfling 20-25 34 25-45 55-90 40-75 1-4 289.\" .It Experimento 25 27 100 35 25 2 290.\" .El 291.Pp 292Not only are the starting characteristics different for the different 293character types, the characteristics progress at different rates for the 294different types as the character goes up in 295.Em level . 296.Em Experimentoes Ns ' 297characteristics progress randomly as one of the other types. 298The progression as characters increase in 299.Em level 300is summarized in the following table. 301.Pp 302.TS 303l c c c c c 304l n n n n n. 305Type Strength Mana Energy Brains Magic 306_ 307Mag. User 2.0 75 20 6 2.75 308Fighter 3.0 40 30 3.0 1.5 309Elf 2.5 65 25 4.0 2.0 310Dwarf 5 30 35 2.5 1 311Halfling 2.0 30 30 4.5 1 312.TE 313.Pp 314The character type also determines how much gold a player may 315carry, how long until 316.Em rings 317can overcome the player, and how much 318.Em poison 319the player can withstand. 320.Ss Spells 321During the course of the game, the player may exercise his/her 322magic powers. 323These cases are described below. 324.Bl -tag -width "all or nothing" -offset indent 325.It Ic cloak 326.Em magic level necessary : 32720 (plus level 7) 328.br 329.Em mana used : 33035 plus 3 per rest period 331.br 332Used during normal play. 333Prevents monsters from finding the character, 334as well as hiding the player from other players. 335His/her coordinates show up as '?' in the 336.Ic players 337option. 338Players cannot collect 339.Em mana , 340find trading posts, or discover the 341.Em grail 342while cloaked. 343Calling a monster uncloaks, as well as choosing this option while cloaked. 344.It Ic teleport 345.Em magic level necessary : 34640 (plus level 12) 347.br 348.Em mana used : 34930 per 75 moved 350.br 351Used during normal play. 352Allows the player to move with much more freedom than with the 353.Ic move 354option, at the price of expending mana. 355The maximum distance possible to move is based upon 356.Em level 357and 358.Em magic level . 359.It Ic power blast 360.Em magic level necessary : 361none 362.br 363.Em mana used : 3645 times 365.Em level 366.br 367Used during inter-terminal battle. 368Damage is based upon 369.Em magic level 370and 371.Em strength . 372Hits much harder than a normal hit. 373.It Ic all or nothing 374.Em magic level necessary : 375none 376.br 377.Em mana used : 3781 379.br 380Used while combating monsters. 381Has a 25% chance of working. 382If it works it hits the monster just enough to kill it. 383If it fails, it doesn't hit the monster, and doubles the monster's 384.Em quickness 385and 386.Em strength . 387Paralyzed monsters wake up much quicker as a result of this spell. 388.It Ic magic bolt 389.Em magic level necessary : 3905 391.br 392.Em mana used : 393variable 394.br 395Used while combating monsters. 396Hits the monster based upon the amount 397of 398.Em mana 399expended and 400.Em magic level . 401Guaranteed to hit at least 10 per 402.Em mana . 403.It Ic force field 404.Em magic level necessary : 40515 406.br 407.Em mana used : 40830 409.br 410Used during monster combat. 411Throws up a shield to protect from damage. 412The shield is added to actual energy level, and is a fixed number, based 413upon maximum energy. 414Normally, damage occurs first to the shield, and then to the players actual 415.Em energy level . 416.It Ic transform 417.Em magic level necessary : 41825 419.br 420.Em mana used : 42150 422.br 423Used during monster combat. 424Transforms the monster randomly into one of the 100 monsters from 425the monster file. 426.It Ic increase might 427.Em magic level necessary : 42835 429.br 430.Em mana used : 43175 432.br 433Used during combat with monsters. 434Increases strength up to a maximum. 435.It Ic invisibility 436.Em magic level necessary : 43745 438.br 439.Em mana used : 44090 441.br 442Used while fighting monsters. 443Makes it harder for the monster to hit, by temporarily increasing the player's 444.Em quickness . 445This spell may be thrown several times, but a maximum level will be reached. 446.It Ic transport 447.Em magic level necessary : 44860 449.br 450.Em mana used : 451125 452.br 453Used during monster combat. 454Transports the monster away from the player. 455Success is based upon player's 456.Em magic 457and 458.Em brains , 459and the monster's 460.Em experience . 461If it fails the player is transported instead. 46260% of the time, the monster will drop any treasure it was carrying. 463.It Ic paralyze 464.Em magic level necessary : 46575 466.br 467.Em mana used : 468150 469.br 470Used during monster combat. 471.Dq Freezes 472the monster by putting its 473.Em quickness 474slightly negative. 475The monster will slowly wake up. 476Success is based upon player's 477.Em magic 478and the monster's 479.Em experience . 480If it fails, nothing happens. 481.It Ic specify 482.Em magic level necessary : 483none 484.br 485.Em mana used : 4861000 487.br 488Used during monster combat only by 489.Em valar 490or 491.Em council of the wise . 492Allows the player to pick which monster to fight. 493.El 494.Ss Monsters 495Monsters get bigger as one moves farther from the origin (0,0). 496Rings of distance 125 from the origin determine the size. 497A monster's 498.Em experience , 499.Em energy level , 500and 501.Em brains 502are multiplied by the size. 503.Em Strength 504is increased 50% per size over one, and 505.Em quickness 506remains the same, regardless of size. 507.Pp 508Also, nastier monsters are found as one progress farther out from the origin. 509Monsters also may flock. 510The percent chance of that happening is designated as 511.Em flock% 512in the monster listing. 513Monsters outside the first ring 514may carry treasure, as determined by their treasure type. 515Flocking monsters, and bigger monsters increase the chances of treasure. 516.Pp 517Certain monsters have special abilities; they are as follows: 518.Bl -tag -width "Assorted Faeries" 519.It Em Unicorn 520can only be subdued if the player is in possession of a 521.Em virgin . 522.It Em Modnar 523has random characteristics, including treasure type. 524.It Em Mimic 525will pick another name from the list of monsters in order to confuse. 526.It Em Dark Lord 527very nasty person. 528Does not like to be hit (especially nicked), 529and many spells do not work well (or at all) against him. 530One can always 531.Em evade 532from the 533.Em Dark Lord . 534.It Em Leanan-Sidhe 535also a very nasty person. 536She will permanently sap 537.Em strength 538from someone. 539.It Em Saruman 540wanders around with 541.Em Wormtongue , 542who can steal a 543.Em palantir . 544Also, 545.Em Saruman 546may turn a player's gems into gold pieces, or scramble her/his stats. 547.It Em Thaumaturgist 548can transport a player. 549.It Em Balrog 550inflicts damage by taking away 551.Em experience , 552not 553.Em energy . 554.It Em Vortex 555may take some 556.Em mana . 557.It Em Nazgul 558may try to steal a 559.Em ring 560or neutralize part of one's 561.Em brains . 562.It Em Tiamat 563may take half a player's 564.Em gold 565and 566.Em gems 567and escape. 568.It Em Kobold 569may get nasty and steal one gold piece and run away. 570.It Em Shelob 571may bite, inflicting the equivalent of one 572.Em poison . 573.It Em Assorted Faeries 574These are killed if attacking someone carrying 575.Em holy water . 576These are 577.Em Cluricaun , Fir Darrig , Fachan , 578.Em Ghille Dhu , Bogle , Killmoulis , 579and 580.Em Bwca . 581.It Em Lamprey 582may bite, inflicting 1/2 of a 583.Em poison . 584.It Em Shrieker 585will call one of its (much bigger) buddies if picked upon. 586.It Em Bonnacon 587will become bored with battle, fart, and run off. 588.It Em Smeagol 589will try to steal a 590.Em ring 591from a player, if given the chance. 592.It Em Succubus 593may inflict damage through a 594.Ic force field . 595This subtracts from 596.Em energy level 597instead of any shield the player may have thrown up. 598This is a very easy way to die. 599.It Em Cerberus 600loves metal and will steal all the metal treasures from a player if able. 601.It Em Ungoliant 602can bite and poison. 603This inflicts five 604.Em poisons , 605and also takes one from the player's 606.Em quickness . 607.It Em Jabberwock 608may tire of battle, and leave after calling one of his friends 609.Em ( Jubjub Bird 610or 611.Em Bandersnatch ) . 612.It Em Morgoth 613actually 614.Em Modnar , 615but reserved for 616.Em council of the wise , valar , 617and 618.Em ex-valar . 619Fights with 620.Em Morgoth 621end when either he or the player dies. 622His characteristics are calculated based upon the player's. 623The player is given the chance to ally with him. 624No magic, except 625.Ic force field 626works when battling 627.Em Morgoth . 628.It Em Troll 629may regenerate its 630.Em energy 631and 632.Em strength 633while in battle. 634.It Em Wraith 635may make a player blind. 636.El 637.Ss Treasures 638The various treasure types are as follows: 639.Bl -tag -width "type twelve/thirteen" 640.It Type zero 641none 642.It Type one 643.Em power booster 644\- adds mana. 645.br 646.Em druid 647\- adds experience. 648.br 649.Em holy orb 650\- subtracts 0.25 sin. 651.TP 1.5i 652.It Type two 653.Em amulet 654\- protects from cursed treasure. 655.br 656.Em holy water 657\- kills 658.Em assorted faeries . 659.br 660.Em hermit 661\- reduces sin by 25% and adds some mana. 662.It Type three 663.Em shield 664\- adds to maximum 665.Em energy level . 666.br 667.Em virgin 668\- used to subdue a 669.Em unicorn , 670or to give much 671.Em experience 672(and some 673.Em sin ) . 674.br 675.Em athelas 676\- subtracts one 677.Em poison . 678.It Type four (scrolls) 679.Em shield 680\- throws a bigger than normal 681.Ic force field . 682.br 683.Em invisible 684\- temporarily puts the finder's 685.Em quickness 686to one million. 687.br 688.Em ten fold strength 689\- multiplies finder's strength by ten. 690.br 691.Em pick monster 692\- allows finder to pick next monster to battle. 693.br 694.Em general knowledge 695\- adds to finder's 696.Em brains 697and 698.Em magic level . 699.Pp 700All the scrolls except 701.Em general knowledge 702automatically call a monster. 703These preserve any spells that were already in effect, but are only in 704effect while in battle. 705.It Type five 706.Em dagger 707\- adds to 708.Em strength . 709.br 710.Em armour 711\- same as a 712.Em shield , 713but bigger. 714.br 715.Em tablet 716\- adds 717.Em brains . 718.It Type six 719.Em priest 720\- rests to maximum; adds 721.Em mana , brains ; 722and halves 723.Em sin . 724.br 725.Em Robin Hood 726\- increases 727.Em shield 728and adds permanently to 729.Em strength . 730.br 731.Em axe 732\- like 733.Em dagger , 734but bigger. 735.It Type seven 736.Em charm 737\- protects from cursed treasure (used before 738.Em amulet ) ; 739used in conjunction with 740.Em blessing 741to battle 742.Em Dark Lord . 743.br 744.Em Merlyn 745\- adds 746.Em brains , magic , 747and 748.Em mana . 749.br 750.Em war hammer 751\- like an 752.Em axe , 753but bigger. 754.It Type eight 755.Em healing potion 756\- sets 757.Em poison 758to -2, or subtracts two from 759.Em poison , 760whichever is better. 761.br 762.Em transporter 763\- allows finder to move anywhere. 764.br 765.Em sword 766\- like a 767.Em war hammer , 768but bigger. 769.It Type nine 770.Em golden crown 771\- allows the player to become 772.Em king , 773by going to (0,0). 774.br 775.Em blessing 776\- cuts 777.Em sin 778to 1/3, adds 779.Em mana , 780rests to maximum, kills 781.Em Dark Lord 782with a 783.Em charm , 784and gives bearer first hit on all monsters. 785.br 786.Em quicksilver 787\- adds to 788.Em quickness . 789.It Type ten 790.Em elven boots 791\- adds permanently to 792.Em quickness . 793.It Type eleven 794.Em palantir 795\- allows one to see all the other players; used by 796.Em council of the wise 797to seek the 798.Em grail . 799.It Type twelve/thirteen 800.Em ring 801\- allows one to hit much harder in battle, etc. 802.El 803.Pp 804Any treasure type 10-13 monsters may instead carry a type nine treasure. 805.Pp 806A monster may also be carrying 807.Em gold 808or 809.Em gems . 810These are used at 811.Em trading posts 812to buy things. 813A 814.Em gem 815is worth 1000 gold pieces. 816Too much 817.Em gold 818will slow a player down. 819One may carry 1000 plus 200 per 820.Em level 821of 822.Em gold . 823A 824.Em gem 825weighs one half a gold piece. 826Monsters of treasure type 7 or higher may carry 827.Em gems . 828.Pp 829The chance of a cursed treasure is based upon treasure type. 830The more valuable treasures have a greater chance of being cursed. 831A cursed treasure knocks 832.Em energy level 833very low, and adds 0.25 834.Em poison . 835.Ss Rings 836.Em Rings 837are only carried by 838.Em nazguls 839and 840.Em Dark Lords . 841They come in four different flavors. 842All 843.Em rings 844rest the player to maximum and cause him/her to hit much harder 845in battle with monsters (assuming one has chosen to use the 846.Em ring 847for battle.) 848.Pp 849Two types of 850.Em rings 851are cursed and come either from 852.Em nazguls 853or 854.Em Dark Lord . 855After a few times of using these types, the player falls 856under the control of the 857.Em ring , 858and strange, random things will occur. 859Eventually, the player dies, and gives his/her name to a monster 860on the file. 861Dying before the 862.Em ring 863is used up also renames the monster. 864.Pp 865The two remaining types of 866.Em rings 867are much more benign. 868The one from a 869.Em nazgul 870is good for a limited number of battle rounds, and will save 871the player from death if it was being used when he/she died. 872The one from 873.Em Dark Lord 874is the same, except that it never is used up. 875.Em rings 876disappear after saving someone from death. 877In general, cursed 878.Em rings 879occur much more often than normal ones. 880It is usually not a good idea to pick one up. 881The only way to get rid of a 882.Em ring 883is to have a monster steal it. 884.Ss King 885A player may become 886.Em king 887by finding a 888.Em crown 889and going to (0,0). 890Players must have a 891.Em level 892in the range of 10 to 1000 to be able to find a 893.Em crown . 894When a player with one or more 895.Em crowns 896reaches 897.Em level 8981000, the 899.Em crowns 900are converted to 901.Em gold . 902.Pp 903Once a player is king, he/she may do certain things while in 904the Lord's Chamber (0,0). 905These are exercised with the 906.Ic decree 907('0') option. 908.Bl -tag -width "collect taxes" 909.It Ic transport 910This is done to another player. 911It randomly moves the affected player about. 912A 913.Em charm 914protects from transports. 915.It Ic curse 916This is done to another player. 917It is analogous to cursed treasure, but worse. 918It inflicts two 919.Em poison , 920knocks 921.Em energy level 922very low, and degrades the maximum energy. 923It also removes a 924.Em cloak . 925A 926.Em blessing 927protects from king's curses. 928.It Ic energy void 929The king may put a number of these scattered about 930his/her kingdom as he/she pleases. 931If a player hits one, he/she loses 932.Em mana , energy , 933and 934.Em gold . 935The energy void disappears after being hit. 936.It Ic bestow 937This is also done to another player. 938The king may wish to reward one or more loyal subjects by sharing his/her 939riches 940.Em ( gold ) . 941Or it is a convenient way to dispose of some unwanted deadweight. 942.It Ic collect taxes 943Everyone pays 7% tax on all 944.Em gold 945and 946.Em gems 947acquired, regardless of the existence of a 948.Em king . 949The king collects the accrued taxes with this option. 950.El 951.Pp 952The 953.Em king 954may also 955.Ic teleport 956anywhere for free by using the origin as a starting place. 957.Ss Council of the Wise, Valar 958A player automatically becomes a member of the 959.Em council of the wise 960upon reaching level 3000. 961Members of the council cannot have 962.Em rings . 963Members of the council have a few extra options which they can exercise. 964These are exercised with the 965.Ic intervene 966('8') option. 967All 968.Ic intervene 969options cost 1000 mana. 970One 971.Ic intervene 972option is to 973.Ic heal 974another player. 975This is just a quick way for that player to be rested 976to maximum and lose a little 977.Em poison . 978The main purpose in life for members of the council is to seek the 979.Em Holy Grail . 980This is done with a 981.Em palantir 982under the 983.Ic seek grail 984option. 985The distance cited by the seek is accurate within 10%, in order 986not to make it too easy to find the grail. 987A player must have infinitesimally small 988.Em sin , 989or else it's all over upon finding the grail. 990In order to help members of the council on their quest, they 991may 992.Ic teleport 993with greater ease. 994.Pp 995Upon finding the grail, the player advances to position of 996.Em valar . 997He/she may then exercise more and niftier options under 998.Ic intervention . 999These include all of the council members' options plus the 1000ability to move other players about, bless them, and throw monsters at 1001them. 1002A 1003.Em valar Ns 's 1004blessing has the same effect as the treasure 1005.Em blessing , 1006except that the affected player does not get his/her 1007.Em blessing 1008flag set. 1009All 1010.Ic intervention 1011options which affect other players age the player who uses them. 1012.Em Valars 1013are essentially immortal, but are actually given five lives. 1014If these are used up, the player is left to die, and becomes an 1015.Em ex-valar . 1016A 1017.Em valar 1018cannot 1019.Ic move , teleport , 1020or call monsters. 1021(An exception to this is if the 1022.Em valar 1023finds a 1024.Em transporter . ) 1025This is to allow him/her to dispose of excess 1026.Em gold . 1027Any monsters which a 1028.Em valar 1029encounters are based upon his/her size. 1030Only one valar may exist at a time. 1031The current valar is replaced when another player finds the grail. 1032The valar is then bumped back to the council of the wise. 1033.Ss Wizard 1034The 1035.Em wizard 1036is usually the owner of the game, and the one who maintains 1037the associated files. 1038The 1039.Em wizard 1040is granted special powers within the game, if it is invoked 1041with the 1042.Fl S 1043option. 1044Otherwise, the 1045.Em wizard 1046plays no different from other players. 1047The 1048.Em wizard 1049abilities are outlined below. 1050.Bl -tag -width "super character type" 1051.It Ic change players 1052When examining a player, (game invoked with 1053.Fl x , 1054or use 'X' from within game), the 1055.Em wizard 1056may also change the player. 1057.It Ic intervention 1058The 1059.Em wizard 1060may do all the 1061.Ic intervention 1062options. 1063One extra option, 1064.Ic vaporize , 1065is added to kill any offensive players. 1066.It Ic super character type 1067An extra character type is added. 1068This character starts with the 1069maximum possible in all statistics, selected from the other character types. 1070A 1071.Em super 1072character's statistics also progress at the maximum possible rate, selected 1073from the other character types. 1074.El 1075.Ss Special Places 1076Certain regions of the playing grid have different names. 1077In general, this is only to give the player some idea of 1078his/her present location. 1079Some special places do exist. 1080.Bl -tag -width "Trading Posts" 1081.It Em Trading Posts 1082These are located at |x| == |y| == n*n*100 for n = 1, 2, ..., 1000. 1083Trading posts farther out have more things for sale. 1084Be careful about cheating the merchants there, as they have short tempers. 1085Merchants are dishonest about 5% of the time. 1086.It Em Lord's Chamber 1087This is located at (0,0). 1088Only players with 1089.Em crowns 1090may enter. 1091.It Em Point of \&No Return 1092This is located beyond 1.2e+6 in any direction. 1093The only way to return from here is a 1094.Em transporter 1095or to have a 1096.Em valar 1097relocate the player. 1098.It Em Dead Marshes 1099This is a band located fairly distant from the origin. 1100The first fourteen monsters (water monsters) can normally only be found here. 1101.It Em Valhala 1102This place is where the 1103.Em valar 1104resides. 1105It is associated with no particular coordinate on the playing grid. 1106.El 1107.Ss Miscellaneous 1108Once a player reaches 1109.Em level 11105, the game will start to time out waiting for input. 1111This is to try to keep the game a bit faster paced. 1112.Pp 1113A 1114.Em guru 1115will never be disgusted with your 1116.Em sins 1117if they are less than one. 1118.Pp 1119A 1120.Em medic 1121wants half of a player's 1122.Em gold 1123to be happy. 1124Offering more than one has, or a negative amount will anger the 1125.Em medic , 1126who will make the player worse (add one 1127.Em poison ) . 1128.Pp 1129The 1130.Em Holy Grail 1131does little for those who are not ready to behold it. 1132Whenever anyone finds it, it moves. 1133It is always located within 1e+6 in any compass direction of the origin. 1134.Pp 1135There is a maximum amount of 1136.Em mana 1137and 1138.Em charms 1139a player may posses, based upon 1140.Em level . 1141.Em Quicksilver 1142is always limited to to a maximum of 99. 1143.Pp 1144.Em Books 1145bought at a 1146.Em trading post 1147increase 1148.Em brains , 1149based upon the number bought. 1150It is unwise, however to buy more than 1/10 of one's 1151.Em level 1152in books at a time. 1153.Pp 1154Players over level 10000 are automatically retired. 1155.Pp 1156A 1157.Em blindness 1158goes away in random time. 1159.Pp 1160Players with 1161.Em crowns 1162are identified with a '*' before their character type. 1163.Ss Inter-terminal Battle 1164When two player's coordinates correspond, they may engage in battle. 1165In general, the player with the highest 1166.Em quickness 1167gets the first hit. 1168If the two players are severely mismatched, the stronger player 1169is drastically handicapped for the battle. 1170In order to protect from being stuck in an infinite loop, 1171the player waiting for response may time out. 1172Options for battle are: 1173.Bl -tag -width "power blast" 1174.It Ic fight 1175Inflicts damage upon other person. 1176.It Ic run away 1177Escape from battle. 1178Has a 75% chance of working. 1179.It Ic power blast 1180Battle spell. 1181.It Ic luckout 1182One-time chance to try to win against the foe. 1183Has a 10% chance of working. 1184.El 1185.Pp 1186Sometimes waits for the other player may be excessive, because 1187he/she may be battling a monster. 1188Upon slaying a player in battle the winner gets the other's 1189.Em experience 1190and treasures. 1191.Em Rings 1192do not work for inter-terminal battle. 1193.Sh BUGS 1194All screen formats assume at least 24 lines by at least 80 columns. 1195No provisions are made for when any of the data items get too big 1196for the allotted space on the screen. 1197