            M.A.R.S. -  M.ultiple A.dventure R.oleplaying S.ystem
                 Created By Stephen S. Morgan, XrSoft Inc. 
                       (c) 1996 All Rights Reserved

                    Special Thanks to the M.A.R.S. Team:
            Grey Wolf, Nightcrawler, Moskva, Lady Hawk, Red Lion, 
                     Smeechuachon, Knocker, and Gambit!

Preface from the Creator.....
 
 I created this to offer you the player the ability to play something more
then just a Hack 'n' Slash type Rpg game. Everything is done with you, the
player, in mind. What can be done to make you ,the player, be able to do more?
Let you portray many new and different characters from out of your imagination.
This game will be much more than you can expect from a TBBS game. I don't stop
an Avatar anywhere from changing anything. High Avatars or Avatars alone, can
develope any type RPG game you can imagine. Anything from Star Trek, TNG and
Star Wars to fantasy like LEGENDS (TM). From MechWarrior to a 20's Detective
game. Everything is configurable by your Avatars and Sysops. Configurable down
to what type of money is used in the game. If you want new Races, Classes,
Dual Classes, Mechanicals, Npcs, Power(spell) abilities, you want to play or
Avatar this game.

                                     

CHAPTER           WHAT EACH CHAPTER COVERS                          
===========================================================
  I           -     Player Characteristics defined...
 II           -     How to create a character...
III           -     About multiple characters... 
 IV           -     What are MECHANICALS?
  V           -     Powers, Skills, & Spells explained...
 VI           -     Ranges: Shooting & casting ranged.
VII           -     Commands explained...
   
                

CHAPTER I   -   Players Characteristics defined...
     Your character's statistics are made up of seven attributes. These seven
attributes make your character what it is. How strong, how intelligent, or 
even how good looking. The following are the seven characteristics:     
    
     STR:  Strength is the player's ability to damage, lift, or carry. 
     AGL:  Agility is the player's ability to dodge blows or use thievery.
     TGH:  Toughness is the player's ability to withstand damage or resist.
     I.Q:  I.Q. is the player's ability to use mental powers or spells.
     WIS:  Wisdow is the player's ability to master and control such power.
     APP:  Appearance is the player's ability to use their looks to barter.
     SPD:  Speed is the player's quickness and how well they do things fast.

     LIFE POINTS : Life points is the number of points of damage that can be 
                   taken before death.
     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     * Death is not permanent, BUT you do not automatically appear for     *
     * ressurection in the healers. You lie on the ground unable to do any *
     * commands other then, CT, CHANGETO, ONLINE, QUIT, SEND, NC, and      *
     * SUICIDE. Also when a character is dead and lying on the ground any  *
     * other character can steal his/her items or money with the STEAL     *
     * command.                                                            *
     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     POWER POINTS: Power points is the measurement of energy one has to use on
                   powers, spells, or skills.
     HITADJ      : Hitadj is the plus or minus given to your ability to hit.
     DEFADJ      : Defadj is the plus or minus given to an enemy's ability to
                   hit you.
     POWADJ      : Powadj is the plus given to your Power points upon getting
                   a level.
     LIFADJ      : Lifadj is the plus given to your Life points upon getting
                   a level.
     REGADJ      : Regadj is the number of lost Life or Power points you gain
                   on each ones cycle of healing. Basically your healing rate.


CHAPTER II   -   How to create a character...

    When you go in to generate a character you have the option of three 
methods of getting your stats. You can just roll with a 3-18 dice roll. Roll
with extra points when 3-16 is the dice and 10 is the number of extra points.
Lastly you can do a points system base with 10 base for all characteristics
and 40 points to spread between them. 
    After getting your characteristics rolled up you then must choose a name
for the character. 
    Now you must choose a Race and Class. Both will modify your attributes in
one way or another. Then you must choose Handedness Right or Left. Handedness
deals with weapons. If a weapon is a Right handed weapon and you are left
handed, you will not be able to use it. This is also true vise-versa. Then you
choose your Alignment for your character. Alignment can be controlled by what
class you are. Then go on to choose your weight, height, and age.
 

CHAPTER III   -   About multiple characters...
    
    If you have generated more then one character you are able to online up
to five characters, your maximum, and have them all online at the same time. 
You can also control each additional character by using that characters number 
(2-5) before the beginning of the command.

    FOR EXAMPLE: If you want your main character to look you would just type
LOOK...if you wanted the second character to look you would type 2LOOK and you
would get what that character sees even if they are in a different room.
If you wanted the third character to look type 3LOOK, the fourth character
4LOOK and the fifth character 5LOOK. Making it possible to see what is going
on in 5 different rooms. If someone is speaking in another room and you have 
that character online you will see: (2) Marcus says "Hello", if your second 
character is in the room with Marcus. The same with other commands like 
2ATTACK, 5SHOOT, 3TAKE ALL, 4YELL.


CHAPTER IV   -   What are MECHANCIALS?

    A mechanical can be a car, a horse, a boat or anything that can assist a
player in traveling. They can have water breathing, flying, and invisible
abilities. They can have a cockpit in which you, the player, can get inside
the mechanical or not in which case you, the player, can get on the mechanical
They can ready weapons and attack and they can be killed or become damaged in
which case they would be like a dead character unable to do anything.


CHAPTER V   -   Powers, Skills, & spells explained...

    It is possible for any class to have a spell, skill, or power but this is
not neccessarily true in all cases. Some classes will get spells, skills or
powers, upon creation of the character.
    Spells, skills, and powers are not learned on the fly. You must go to your
class's particular Guild to learn your class's abilities. This not meaning
that there would not be more then one location to learn your class's abilities.
    There are many special abilities that spells, powers, or skills can do.
Here is a brief summary of what to expect from them in the game.

       BLESS: Bless will bless the target with one of these many things:

              Add to Maximum Life points
              Add to Maximum Power points
              Add to Strength
              Add to Agilty
              Add to Toughness
              Add to I.Q
              Add to Wisdom
              Add to Appearance
              Add to Speed
              Add to Armor Class
              Add to Life point Adjustment
              Add to Power point Adjustment
              Add to To hit Adjustment
              Add to plus to damage
              Add to Regeneration(Healing) rate
              Add to Maximum Weight
     
       BLIND: Blind will blind the target for a time period. This will make 
              you to where you can't see no matter what.
      
       CURSE: Curse will curse the target with one of these many things.

              Subtract from Maximum Life points
              Subtract from Maximum Power points
              Subtract from Strength
              Subtract from Agilty
              Subtract from Toughness
              Subtract from I.Q
              Subtract from Wisdom
              Subtract from Appearance
              Subtract from Speed
              Subtract from Armor Class
              Subtract from Life point Adjustment
              Subtract from Power point Adjustment
              Subtract from To hit Adjustment
              Subtract from plus to damage
              Subtract from Regeneration(Healing) rate
              Subtract from Maximum Weight
       
       DAMAGE: Damage will hurt the target for a specified number or a random
               amount depending on the spell, skill or power used. It can:
            
               Subtract from Experience
               Subtract from Money Type 1
               Subtract from Money Type 2
               Subtract from Power points
               Subtract from Life points
       
       DETECT: This gives the user the chance to detect a certain type of
               trap set up within a room in the game. Each kind of trap has a
               type therefore different skills may be needed to cover various
               trap types.

       DISARM: This gives the user the chance to disarm a certain type of 
               trap set up within a room in the game. This is used with the
               trap number reveiled with the detect ability. Each kind of
               trap has a type therefore different skills may be needed to
               cover various trap types.

       ENTANGLE: Entangle will entangle the target for a certain amount of
                 time. Entangles keep the target from moving and for npcs it
                 keeps them from attacking as they will attack the entangle in
                 an attempt to destroy it.

       FLYING: Flying will give the target the ability of flight. Thus
               allowing them to go to areas marked AIR(FLYING) only.
       
       HEAL: Heal will heal the target for a specified number or a random
             amount depending on the spell, skill, or power used. It can:
           
             Add to Experience
             Add to Money Type 1
             Add to Money Type 2
             Add to Power points
             Add to Life points
            * Can also be set up as a ressurrect spell.
             
       INVISIBLE: Invisible will give the target invisibilty. Thus others will
                  not see you within a room. But can see you talk, yell or
                  manipulate items.
       
       LIGHT: This will produce light allowing the ability to see in rooms
              that are dark.
       
       MORPH: This will let the player change their name, race, class, etc to 
              something different. Thus making the character look and feel
              like a completely different character, npc, or mechanical.

       MULTIPLE: This gives the user the ability of multiple attacks with
                 attack or shoot. The number can range, depending on the 
                 System and Sysop allowing from 1 - 99 attacks with one use.

       POISON: Poison will poison the target. This poison can either poison
               your life points or power points. Thus taking damage to that
               particular stat every other round until the spell is exhausted
               or cured.
           
       RECHARGE: Recharge will recharge the target item of light rounds or
                 spell uses depending on if the item has one or the other and
                 also depeneding on the spell, skill, or power.
       
       SILENCE: Silence will silence the target. This will keep you from 
                casting spells, talking, or yelling.

       STONE: Stone will turn the target to stone. When turned to stone you
              can't do anything more then you could if dead.
       
       SUMMON: Summon will summon a npc specified within the spell. This npc
               will be under the caster's control until it wears off. You
               must have an opening in your five online character slots.

       SURESHOT: Gives the user an attack or shoot with their normal weapon
                 but with pluses to their chance to hit. Sometimes at high
                 levels and depending on the ability this can cause auto-
                 matic hits and possibility of automatic criticals.

       TELEPORT: Teleport will teleport the player to a specified memorized
                 location memorized with a spell, skill, or power using the
                 thirdeye ability(SEE BELOW).

       THIRDEYE: Thirdeye is the counterpart to teleport. This memorizes the
                 location the player is within as to let them teleport back
                 later. You will be able to title the location in your memory
                 slots. You have up to 10 slots to memorize in.

       UNLOCK: This will attempt to unlock a locked passage or door. 
       
       WALL: Wall will put an invisible force over the target passage. Thus
             stopping characters from traveling thru the passage. The force
             will not dissapate and can only be destroyed. It will have a
             life point counter like an npc.

       WATER: Water will give the target the ability of water breathing. Thus
              allowing them to go to areas marked WATER(for WATER BREATHING).
       
       PERLEVEL: makes the effects per the level of the user. Thus all rolls
                 or preset numbers will be multiplied by your characters level
  
       TRANSFER: will make damage or heal effects transfer the points from the
                 target to themselves or from themselves to the target.
  
       GROUP: will make the effect go through everyone in the room, npcs,
              mechanicals, and players. The player is prompted on which they 
              want the effect to be used on.

       CONE: will make the effect go up or done thru the ranges(SEE NEXT
             SECTION) depending on your choice.

       AREA: will make the effect go thru everyone in the room etc just like
             a group spell except the player ISN'T prompted.


CHAPTER VI    -  Ranges: Shooting & casting ranged.

       To make this simple to understand seeing its a little different then
  a lot of people are used to lets imagine a room broken down into 9 areas.
  When you enter a room you are automatically set at 0'. Think of this as the
  beginning of the room. Monsters can be at any range from 0'-90'. To attack
  in MELEE combat you must be at the same range as whatever/whomever you wish
  to attack. If you wish to attack something ranged take the targets range
  and your range and subtract the smaller number from the larger. This will
  give you the range difference which in turn is the range between. You would
  of course need a weapon/spell/skill/power that has that much range to reach
  the target.

  EXAMPLES:
                              Room's 0'-90' areas

                                   - 90'
                                   - 80'
                (NPC) Giant Bat -> - 70'  <- (PLAYER) Slayer
                                   - 60'
                                   - 50'
                                   - 40'
                                   - 30'
                                   - 20'  <- (PLAYER) You
                                   - 10'
                                   -  0'

  EX.1- For "You" to attack the "Giant Bat" you would need something with
        the range of 50' or more as this is the distance between the 2 ranges.
  EX.2- For "Slayer" to attack the "Giant Bat" he can attack in MELEE as they
        are at the same range.



CHAPTER VII   -   Commands explained...

@ENTER (@E) - this enters the built in message base allowing you to enter a
              message to other players privately or to all in general.

@READ (@R) - this enters the built in message base allowing you to read your
             characters private messages and all public messages.

@SCAN (@S) - this enters the built in message base allowing you to scan the
             message base for new messages to your characters.

2-5 - used in conjunction with a command enabling you to control another of  
your characters. (see chapter III)

? - used to ask a question of an npc. For Example: if you wanted to ask about                                            
the staff of power:    ? staff of power

ACT (/) - allows you to show emotion or act out an action. If John was your                                       
          character and you typed "act is hopping mad" it would say:

          John is hopping mad

ADVANCE(RETREAT) - These command are used to move you around within the ranges
                   of the room. Advance will advance you 10' in the range
                   slots. Retreat will retreat you back 10'.

AREAS - Gives a list of all the areas currently in the game.

ATTACK - this is the command to attack monsters or players.
         ex: ATTACK RAT

BIO - allows you to change your bio.

BUY - allows you to purchase items in a store .

CANCEL - cancels abilities from spells like flying, water breathing, night
vision when the ability can be cancelled.

CAST (POWER,SKILL) - allows you to use certain powers or skills you may have. 

CHANGETO (CT) - allows you to change into a different character.

CHARS - gives you your current list of characters you can use or change to.

CHAT - takes you into the games built in chat room.

CLOSE - allows you to close doors or hatches etc.

DEPOSIT - allows you to deposit your funds into the treasury when in the
treasury.

DROP (DROP ALL) - allows you to drop an item.
                  ex: drop dagger

EQUIP (WIELD,READY) - allows you to ready your armor or weapons for battle.
                      ex: equip sword

EXAMINE - allows you to examine an item.
          ex: examine sword of Sabath.

GETIN - allows you to get inside a mechanical when the mechanical has a 
cockpit.

GETOFF - allows you to get off a mechanical.

GETON - allows you to get on a mechanical.

GETOUT - allows you to get out of a mechanical with a cockpit.

GIVE - allows you to give an item to someone.

HEAL - heal will heal you when you are in a healing shop.

INVENTORY (INV) - lists all items currently in your inventory.

JOIN (NOJOIN) - allows you to join someone which makes you automatically
                follow them if they move. NOJOIN will unjoin anyone joined
                to you and block anyone else from joining.

LOCK - allows you to lock a door or storage area on a mechanical when you
have the key.

LOOK (LOOK AROUND) - look allows you to look at the current room, look around 
allows you to see what is around you.

LOSE - this will remove anyone joined to you thus leaving them in the room.

M (MECHANICAL) - used with other commands to control a mechanical.
   Commands useable with M are: ATTACK, SHOOT, TAKE, DROP, INV, STAT, SAY, " , 
   ' , / , and ACT.        Example: MATTACK or MINV

NC (NEWCHARACTER) - allows you to create a new character.

NOTES - this enters your personal characters notes memo. You can use this to
        hold any notes you feel needed to remember for later use.

OFFLINE - allows you to take a character offline.

ONLINE - allows you to bring a character online.

OPEN - allows you to open a door or storage area on a mechanical.

PROFILE (PRO) - This gives a full information profile on your character.

SAY (") (') - allows you to speak in the game.

SCORES - gives you the current listing of scores.

SELL - allows you to sell when in a store that carries that type of item.

SEND (WHISPER) - allows you to send a private to someone in game.
                 ex: send Brian "do you have the key?

SHOOT - allows you to attack at a distance when you have a range weapon 
equipped.

SPELLS (POWERS,SKILLS) - lists spells or powers or skills you currently have.

STATCOM - enables a status bar.

STATHUD - enables a status hud.

STATUS (STAT) - gives only the status of your character.

STEAL - allows you to steal items from dead players.

STORE - allows you to store items in a compartment on a mechanical.

TAKE (TAKE ALL) - allows you to take an item from the ground. TAKE ALL will
take everything within the room if you can carry it.

TIME - gives you the time of day it currently is within the game. Time comes
out to approximately 1 min. 15 sec. equals an hour within the game.

TITLE - allows you to add or change your title Ex: The Destructor ...would
make you look like: Gregor, "The Destructor" is here.

TRAIN - allows you to train your character at a specified guild for getting
        levels.

UNEQUIP (UNWIELD,UNREADY) - allows you to unequip an item from readiness in
                            your possesion.

UNLOCK - allows you to unlock a door, storage area of a mechanical, or cockpit
of a mechanical if you have the key that corresponds to it.

UNSTORE - allows you to take an item out of the storage compartment of a
mechanical if its within the mechanical.

USE - allows you to use an item that has some special ability about it.

      Exp: USE MAGIC LAMP ON GREGOR

      This will use that items special ability on Gregor.

WHO - gives you a list of all playing within the game at that time including
all alternate characters online at the time. It gives character name, race,
class, and level.

WITHDRAW - allows you to remove money from the treasury when you are within 
a room set as a treasury. This will list how much you have deposited if any.

YELL (;) - this allows you to yell throughout the realm so as to let all
playing see what you have typed.

