CROSSROADS OF THE ELEMENTS Copyright (c) 1992, 1993, 1994 High Velocity Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved LIMITED WARRANTY: This documentation and any related software are sold "as-is", without any warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and loss of profits or other economic damages. High Velocity Software does not warrant that the operation of this software will be uninterrupted or error-free. In no event and under no circumstances will High Velocity Software be liable for any damages in excess of the sum paid by customer for the product to which any claim for damages relates. REFUND POLICY For the thirty (30) day period following the date of sale, High Velocity Software warrants to the customer that the product shall operate in a manner satisfactory to the customer. As the customer's sole remedy under this refund policy, High Velocity Software shall refund to the customer the purchase price of any product the customer returns to High Velocity Software within the thirty (30) day period, provided the product has not been damaged by the customer, all original packaging and documentation, together with the original sales receipt and a written request for said refund, is returned to High Velocity Software. LICENSE: You may: 1. Install and operate this software on a single machine. 2. Make one copy of this software into machine-readable or printed form, for backup or archival purposes in support of your use of this software. This software is licensed to a single corporation or person, for operation on a single machine only. Once licensed, the license to use this software is NOT TRANSFERABLE to any other person or corporation, without the express, written permission of an officer of High Velocity Software, Inc. YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, MODIFY, MERGE, DISASSEMBLE, OR TRANSFER THIS SOFTWARE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THIS LICENSE. Violation of any parameter of this license will result in the immediate forfeiture of said license. DOCUMENTATION: This documentation contains sections on: INTRODUCTION ............................................. 3 - What is Crossroads? INSTALLATION ............................................. 4 - How to get Crossroads working on your system. PLAYING CROSSROADS ....................................... 5 - What to do, and how it gets done. QUESTS ................................................... 6 - Quests users can undertake in the game. USER/USER COMBAT ......................................... 7 - When a user meets a user, coming through the Realms. SYSOP COMMANDS AND INFORMATION ........................... 8 - Sysop only commands for Crossroads. CONFIGURATION ............................................. 9 - CNF options for Crossroads. APPENDIX A: QUESTABLE MONSTERS ........................... 10 - Monsters you can use in quests. FILE LISTING ............................................. 12 - Files that come with Crossroads. TECHNICAL SUPPORT ........................................ 13 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ........................................ 14 DOCUMENTATION ADDENDUMS .................................. 15 - Release changes and notes. INTRODUCTION: Crossroads of the Elements is an interactive, text-based adventure game which revolves around puzzle solving and character building. The game begins in the main city of Crossroads, set in the middle of a Neutral area, which in turn is surrounded by four elemental realms: Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. Users start by choosing one of the four elements. Their character then becomes an elemental of that Realm, endowed with the special skills and abilities native only to that element. Beginning in the city of Crossroads, with no gold, no weapon, and only a single spell, the user is free to try to advance his character and make his fortune. Character development happens mainly through combat. A user can opt to fight using either weapons or magic, and his character will develop accordingly. Should the user choose to cast only spells, his character will become an increasingly strong magician, able to cast higher and higher level spells. The user might also choose to arm himself with a trusty blade and a hardy suit of armor and rely upon his strength and agility in a fight. Then again, a combination of both physical and spell abilities may suit the user the best. Whichever way the user decides to build his character, the varied creatures of the land will provide him with a difficult challenge. If a user becomes strong enough in the game, he can embark on a quest to unite the four elemental Talismans, and have himself immortalized in the game (until someone else does it!). The game also has the capability to allow the user to embark on SysOp created quests. SPECIFICATIONS: Crossroads of the Elements is designed to run on version 6.11x and higher of The MajorBBS. INSTALLATION: 1) Insert the Crossroads disk into your BBS computer. 2) Type "A:INSTALL" at your DOS prompt to begin installation. 3) The installation program will begin running: A) The install program will try to determine where it should install Crossroads. B) It will then bring up a dialog box and ask you to verify where Crossroads is to be installed. Make sure that the directory specified is the directory of your actual MajorBBS executable program. C) The install program will then verify that you have enough disk space for installation. D) If you decide to install the source code, the installation program will create an HVS subdirectory for all the source code for Crossroads. 4) When the installation program is done running, return to your main BBS directory, if you are not there already. 5) Type "BBS" at the DOS prompt and add Crossroads to your menu structure. 6) Use the configuration utilities to customize Crossroads for your own system. For a list of these options, see the information about MESSAGE FILE CONFIGURATION. 7) Run your BBS! Crossroads should be all ready to go! PLAYING CROSSROADS: In the four compass directions lay the Elemental Realms, each with its own unique properties. The element of Air is to the north and is an ethereal realm of magic. Air elementals are often physically weak as a result, but magicians of Air can command the most powerful magic, such as invisibility and teleportation. The element of Water is to the east and is largely a defensive realm. The denizens are both physically and mentally strong, and branch out equally in fields of weaponry and magic, but find it difficult to attack and usually only do so when forced. The element of Earth is to the south and is the physical realm. It has power over the material, and produces the best warriors of any element. Even still, those who have the patience and devotion to attain magical mastery in Earth have spells no other element can match. The element of Fire is to the west and is mostly an offensive realm. Those who follow the way of Fire are quick to attack with every power at their disposal. Their defense is their greatest vulnerability. When a player gains a level, his attribute (strength, dexterity, intelligence, and ego) bonuses will be influenced by his element and the type of level gained (spell or physical). Players may advance a total of 30 levels in the game. This can either be all physical, all spell, or any combination of the two. The best spells and weapons are reserved for higher levels of the "pure" classes, which are also the hardest to reach. When players fight monsters, combat is determined by the speed of the combatants. If a monster's speed is three times higher than a player's, the monster will generally hit back three times every time it is attacked. If two players are fighting each other, then they are placed on a "combat timer" when they attack. The lower the player's speed, the longer he will be on the combat timer. When a player is on the combat timer, he will get the message "Not right now you don't" if he tries to do something that he shouldn't do while on the timer. This prevents low level players from "macro-killing" higher players, and forces everyone to fight on equal footing. The game provides many different paths for character development to follow, and a number of different puzzles for users to solve along the way. This, along with the main goal of uniting the elemental talismans and the ability to have Sysop creatable quests will provide your users with many, many hours of fun. QUESTS UNITING THE TALISMANS There is a Talisman corresponding to each element housed in the elemental citadels. The citadels are small but heavily guarded buildings in the deepest parts of each realm. If a user can get inside of the citadel and obtain the Talisman, he will possess the powers of the Talisman for as long as he carries it. The Earth Talisman heals you faster, the Air Talisman regenerates your spell points faster, the Fire Talisman gives you an attack bonus, and the Water Talisman gives you a defense bonus. If a user can get all of the Talismans in his possession, and bring them to the center of Crossroads, he will become the Immortal in the game. His name will be displayed in the High Score list, and his image will be displayed on the fountain and several other areas in the game. Uniting the Talismans will NOT be a simple task. Only the user who removes a Talisman from its pedestal may actually carry it. If he gives it to another user or drops it, it will disappear and return to its pedestal. Also, if a user exits the game while carrying a Talisman, the Talisman will leave his inventory and return to its pedestal. The unification must occur during a single session of the game WHILE the user is in the game. If a user successfully unites the Talismans, a message will be printed to the Audit Trail. SYSOP QUESTS In addition to uniting the Talismans, the Sysop may create a quest in each Element for users to undertake. Using the command: SYS QUEST (EAFW) the Sysop can create a "quest object" for any element and give it to a monster in the game. (EAFW) is the element of the quest item to produce, and is the monster to give it to. When a user kills the monster carrying the item, brings it to the center of Crossroads, and drops it, the Sysop will get an Audit Trail message telling him the user solved the quest. The "prize" for solving a quest is left totally up to the Sysop. The Sysop could even make several quest objects, and require that they be dropped into the fountain in a certain order. The elemental quest items are: Earth, stone flower; Air, moon orchid; Water, frost blossom; Fire, flame rose. USER/USER COMBAT Users often like to kill other users in the game. This can cause some problems if a group of 30th level players decide not to allow any new users to even get going in the game. If user/user combat becomes a problem, the Sysop can disable it with the XRDCOM option in CNF. On a higher level, there is a scale of justice in the game which is monitored by Queyan, The Neutral God. If a user kills too many players below his level, Queyan will appear and slay the offending player quite nastily. Every user has a "karmic debt" which can change any time he kills another player. If one player kills another, the game checks to see if the difference in their levels is greater than the CNF option XDEDBAND. If it is, then the killing player's debt is changed. So two players that are close in levels can beat each other senseless with no penalty. If the difference in player levels is greater than XDEDBAND, then the killing player's debt is either raised or lowered depend on whether or not he killed someone weaker or stronger than he was. If the player's debt falls below XMAXDEBT, Queyan appears. If the player's debt rises above XMAXOWE (he killed a lot of players stronger than he was), Queyan appears and rewards the user with large gems and total healing. SYSOP COMMANDS AND INFORMATION The Sysop has a number of special commands he can use in the game, all of which are prefaced by the word "SYS". To see a list of all available commands, type "SYS HELP". GOTO xxxx -- Teleport to room xxxx (5000 = city square) GOLD xxxxx -- Add xxxxx gold to inventory SPE x -- Add x spell levels PHY x -- Add x physical levels MAKE -- Create from thin air HEAL -- Restore max hp and sp ALTNAME -- Set your current name ALIAS -- Set your default name VISIT -- Teleport to player PLAYERS -- Show everyone in the game QUEST (EAFW) -- Quest a monster with an item QUERY -- Look up a user's userid (given alias) BECOME -- Become another user (for editing) UPDATE -- Update the user you have "become" SELF -- Return to self ERASE -- Eradicate a player's account (total!) Most of the commands are self-explanatory. The only commands that may prove a little confusing are the BECOME, UPDATE, and SELF commands. To edit a user's character, you need to BECOME him. It does not matter if he is on-line or not. Typing SYS BECOME will give you all of that user's information, which you can edit with the rest of the Sysop commands. Anything you do to that player will be updated to the real player's information if you type the SYS UPDATE command. That takes any changes you have made and overwrites the user's information. If you do not want to save the information, type SYS SELF to "return to your body." CONFIGURATION XSYSKEY Any user with this key is considered a Sysop by the game and has full access to the "SYS" set of commands inside Crossroads. DEFAULT: SYSOP XRDCRD How many credits per minute are consumed in the game. If this value is above 60, users will be charged more than normal time spent at the main menu. If this option is less than 60, users will be receiving a discount while playing. DEFAULT: 60 XRDCOM This option controls whether players will be able to kill each other in the game. If this option is set to NO,players cannot hurt other players. DEFAULT: YES XMAXDEBT This value is the maximum "debt" a player can accumulate by killing lower-level players. If a player exceeds this debt, he is punished for unfair combat. DEFAULT: 35 XMAXOWE This is the maximum "bonus" a player can accumulate by killing players of higher level. Once this is reached, the player is given a bonus for winning in difficult combats. DEFAULT: 35 XDEDBAND This is the "deadband" around XMAXDEBT and XMAXOWE. A player must kill another player at least this many levels higher or lower for the difference to be applied to the killing player's debt or bonus. DEFAULT: 4 APPENDIX A: QUESTABLE MONSTERS The following monsters can be given a "quest" object with the Sysop command "SYS QUEST ". corresponds to one of the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, or Water) and determines which quest object is created. is one of the monsters listed below. You must type out the full monster name, and there must be one of that type of monster currently "alive" in the game. If you try to use a wraith, for example, and someone has killed them all off, you will not be able to use that monster in a quest until one is created by the game. You do not need to use a monster from the same element as the quest object. See "SYSOP QUESTS" for more information. Lvl Earth monsters Lvl Air monsters Lvl Water monsters --- -------------- --- ------------ --- -------------- 3 rat 3 bat 3 water snake 4 ram 4 owl 4 water skipper 6 cougar 6 harpy 5 crocodile 7 bear 7 wind walker 6 nixie 8 skeleton 8 eagle 7 sea otter 9 orc 9 banshee 8 seal 9 zombie 9 gargoyle 8 sperm whale 10 bugbear 10 storm giant 9 lionfish 11 ghoul 11 wyvern 9 sea lion 12 troll 11 wraith 9 jellyfish 13 cobra 12 spectre 10 octopus 14 ogre 14 ghost 12 ropeworm 14 giant grasshopper 15 griffon 13 eel 15 giant beetle 17 pegasus 14 reef shark 15 giant centipede 19 couatl 15 sister 16 xorn 21 star lion 15 dolphin 17 giant ant 22 bull 16 giant squid 18 umber hulk 23 cloud dragon 17 tangler 19 centaur 24 chimera 18 nymph 20 ettin 25 sorcerer 20 mermaid 22 golem 26 star dragon 22 merman 23 sphinx 26 archer giant 24 seahorse 25 lich 27 roc 26 triton 25 giant earthworm 28 aerial servant 28 killer whale 27 gorgon 29 Zeus 29 tiger shark 27 gold dragon 30 djinni 30 marid 29 Gotik 30 dao Lvl Fire monsters Lvl Neutral monsters --- ------------- --- ---------------- 3 sidewinder 1 slug 5 scorpion 1 pixie 6 camel 1 jackal 7 tiger 1 gremlin 8 imp 1 wild dog 8 initiate 1 gold mouse 10 fire lizard 2 wolf 11 flame giant 2 mirage 12 shade 2 brigand 13 hell hound 2 flame bat 14 salamander 2 green slime 16 basilisk 3 firesnake 18 nightmare 3 snakevine 20 magman 5 giant spider 20 succubus 6 giant toad 22 incubus 6 sea stalker 24 devil 7 minotaur 26 red dragon 7 ethereal warrior 29 hydra 9 wight 30 efreeti CROSSROADS OF THE ELEMENTS FILES: After installation, you should have the following files in your BBSV6 directory: HVSXROAD.MDF -- Definitions required by The Major BBS. HVSXROAD.DLL -- Executable code for Crossroads. HVSXROAD.DOC -- BBSUSER.DOC fragment for Crossroads. HVSXROAD.MSG -- Menus, prompts, configuration, etc. HVSXROOM.MSG -- Map layout. HVSXHELP.MSG -- Help and hints. HVSXROOM.XDA -- Fixed-length map information file. HVSXTABL.XDA -- Fixed-length monster information file. HVSXSTOC.XDA -- Fixed-length shop information file. HVSXSCOR.XDA -- Fixed-length high score file. HVSXPLAY.DAT -- BTRIEVE data file containing all player information. HVSXPLAY.VIR -- Virgin BTRIEVE file used to make HVSXPLAY.DAT. HVSXRSYS.DOC -- Sysop documentation (this file). In addition to the above listed files, each .XDA file has a corresponding .XVI file containing default values for the file. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: All technical support for Crossroads, as well as all bug fixes and updates, will be handled through High Velocity Software's support BBS, The Rock Garden, at (602)220-0001. Create an account on The Rock Garden, if you haven't already, and then follow these instructions: 1) Type "/GO SUPPORT" from the main menu. 2) Select "Crossroads of the Elements" from the list of products, and enter your registration number and the activation code for Crossroads. Do NOT use the activation code for your copy of The Major BBS. Once you enter this information, you will be given access to the support areas for Crossroads of the Elements. 3) For bug fixes and updates, type "/GO HVSTOP" and select "2" for the Crossroads of the Elements Files. 4) For the discussion of Crossroads, and to report bugs and problems, type "/GO HVSTOP" and select "F" for the Support Forum. (This forum is for the discussion of all of our products) This forum is echoed over MajorNet, and has the address "ML@MAJORBBS.DEV.HVS". This is where we will post notices of updates, as well as answering questions about Crossroads of the Elements. When you download an update, be sure to save the contents of your ACTCODE option from HVSXROAD.MSG somewhere (or keep your installation disk handy), since the update will not have an activation code. Once you've downloaded the update, simply un- zip it to a blank floppy disk or an empty subdirectory on your hard drive and run the INSTALL program. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: High Velocity Software is a small development company based in Phoenix, Arizona. We would love to hear any comments, criticisms, questions, or suggestions you have to pass along! You can reach us at: High Velocity Software, Inc. Post Office Box 33455 Phoenix, AZ 85067-3455 Voice: (602)234-2207 BBS: (602)220-0001 - The Rock Garden Email: Sysop@ROK - MajorNet support@garden.com - Internet The authors would also like to take this chance to give some extra special thanks to Kelly Schultz, Deanna Davis, and Joe Abrams for their invaluable help in getting this program working! DOCUMENTATION ADDENDUM: CROSSROADS OF THE ELEMENTS - v1.00a BUG FIXES: Minor bug fixes in healing altar, area effect spells. v1.00b BUG FIXES: Fixed bug with background game events crashing the system. v1.00c BUG FIXES: Modified copy protection to use activation codes. v1.00d BUG FIXES: Fixed spell level hitpoints table. v1.00e BUG FIXES: Fixed command concatenation mishandling. v1.00f BUG FIXES: Fixed occasional random death in special room handling. Due to conflicts with BBSRIDX, many of the Crossroads data files have been renamed to have XDA extensions instead of DAT. These data files are special non-Btrieve files that were being corrupted by BBSRIDX. Note that the Crossroads player data file is a Btrieve file and is unaffected by the change in naming. The files changed are: HVSXSTOC.DAT becomes HVSXSTOC.XDA HVSXQUES.DAT becomes HVSXQUES.XDA HVSXTABL.DAT becomes HVSXTABL.XDA HVSXROOM.DAT becomes HVSXROOM.XDA HVSXSCOR.DAT becomes HVSXSCOR.XDA All of the above files with a .VIR extension are changed to have .XVI extensions. Note that HVSXPLAY.DAT and .VIR are unaffected. The installation program automatically erases your old files and resets them with the .XDA files. The side effect of this is that any items on the ground will be reset to default, as well as the high score list. The high score list is automatically rebuilt at cleanup (you can force one if you want the high score list visible immediately). Your users' player data files are left intact. v1.00g BUG FIXES: Disabled globals while creating characters. v1.00h BUG FIXES: Fixed bug when questing monsters containg empty rooms in their wandering areas. v1.00i BUG FIXES: Added counter to keep guardians from over-summoning. v1.00j BUG FIXES: Modified demo to activate from original game.