DOORMUD v0.95   [Win32 -- Beta3]
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Copyright 2000 Evan Elias.

This version of DoorMUD is a special Win32 build that will run only on 
Synchronet boards.  If you are not using Synchronet as your BBS software,
please download the standard DOS verion of DoorMUD instead.

This is a beta release.  If you find any bugs, please e-mail rhythmnp@aol.com.

*** If you currently have a DOS version of DoorMUD installed on your BBS, and
*** you want to upgrade to this Win32 version, please consult UPGRADE.TXT!!!


==============================================================================


Introduction 
~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the past, the only decent BBS MUDs (multi-user dungeons) were ridiculously
expensive and ran exclusively on MBBS/Worldgroup boards.  They were geared
solely towards professional, pay-for-access BBS's.  Meanwhile, no lower-cost
alternatives were available.

DoorMUD aims to change all that.  It is an affordable, high-quality MUD game
that will run on any BBS software capable of running doorgames.  DoorMUD's
features include real-time multi-node player interaction, a text-style command
interface, and a huge room-based game world for players to explore.  It is
actively supported, with new versions coming out on a regular basis.  Several
add-on products for the game are also currently being developed to expand the 
game world and add new features.


==============================================================================


Contents
~~~~~~~~
1. Support features
2. Disclaimer
3. Setup
4. Running CONFIG.EXE
5. Registration
6. Getting your users to play
7. Misc


==============================================================================


1. Support Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- 32-bit Windows version made exclusively for Synchronet -- runs much faster
  than the DOS version, and allows for features such as inter-node paging.
- Real-time multinode interaction -- players can easily communicate with each
  other on-line, and can join up in teams to defeat more difficult monsters.
- Lots of innovative sysop-friendly features to make your life easier, 
  including automatic daily backups and the ability to un-do game resets.
- Demo version allows training up through level 7, allowing users to get a 
  good feel for the game. Registration for the full version costs only $20.


==============================================================================


2. Disclaimer - Agreement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Users of this program must accept the following:

DOORMUD is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or 
consequential, which may result from the use of DOORMUD.

You may not modify or disassemble this software, in whole or in part.  Use of
decompilers, hex editors, etc on DOORMUD is strictly forbidden.


==============================================================================


3. Setup
~~~~~~~~
In order to set up DoorMUD, perform the following steps:

Step 1:  Create a new directory just for DoorMUD, and copy all of the DoorMUD
         files to this directory.  (You may have already done this.)

Step 2:  Run CONFIG.EXE in DoorMUD's directory.  More info on CONFIG.EXE
         can be found in the next section.  Just use the default settings for
         all config options for now.

Step 3:  Run SCFG by selecting BBS -> Configure in the Synchronet console.
         In SCFG, select External Programs -> OS/2 Program List and hit the
         insert key on your keyboard.  Type "DMUD32" and then hit enter.
         Select "No" for the "Comm Port" toggle (this should be the default).

         Then, go to External Programs -> Online Programs -> Games ->
         Available Online Programs and hit the insert key.  Use "DoorMUD" for
         the program name and internal code.  Now, configure DoorMUD as
         follows:

         ----------------------------------------------------------
          Name                       DoorMUD                      
          Internal Code              DOORMUD                      
          Start-up Directory         C:\DOORMUD   <<- Replace w/ proper dir
          Command Line               dmud32                       
          Clean-up Command Line                                   
          Execution Cost             None                         
          Access Requirements                                     
          Execution Requirements                                  
          Multiple Concurrent Users  Yes                          
          Intercept I/O Interrupts   No                           
          Swap BBS out of Memory     No                           
          Modify User Data           No                           
          Execute on Event           No                           
          BBS Drop File Type         Synchronet      XTRN.DAT     
          Place Drop File In         Node Directory               
          Time Options...                                         
         +----------------------------------------------------------+

         
After these steps have been completed, refresh the board's config data by
hitting the stop button on the telnet server, then hit the play button to
turn the telnet server back on.  (If you don't do this, DoorMUD may not be
immediately visible on your board's menu)


--> If you encounter any difficulties trying to install DoorMUD, please feel
    free to e-mail me at rhythmnp@aol.com and ask for help.  I will very 
    gladly assist you with whatever you need.                  


==============================================================================


4. Running CONFIG.EXE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first time you run CONFIG.EXE, you will be prompted for your real name.
The game needs this for registration purposes.

From CONFIG.EXE, you can change the following game settings:

1. Dropfile location:  This is not used in the Windows version of DoorMUD.
   You don't need to modify it.

2. Monster Fights per Day:  Controls how many monster fights a player gets
   per day.  Every time a player kills a monster, one monster fight is used up.
   Once a player runs out of monster fights, they can still continue to kill
   more monsters if desired, but they won't gain any experience or gold for 
   it.  The default is 35 monster fights per day, which will entertain an
   experienced player for about 15 to 25 minutes per day.  

   When a player is killed by monsters, he/she loses a certain number of 
   monster fights as a penalty.  At low levels, a player loses only a fourth
   of their daily allowance upon dying; at higher levels, they lose a half.

3. Maximum Accumulated Fights:  Unlike most other doorgames, unspent monster
   fights in DoorMUD add up from day to day.  This way, your users do not have
   to play every single day in order to maintain a high ranking.  This setting
   controls how many unused fights a player can accumulate; the default is
   100.  It is recommended that you set it to about 3 times as high as the
   daily fights setting.  But if you wish to just turn off fight accumulation
   entirely, set it to the same number as the daily fights setting.

4. View Preregistration code:  This is used for registration purposes.  Please
   see section 5 for information on registration.  If you have already
   registered DoorMUD, then you can also select this option to enter
   activation codes for any add-ons which you have purchased.

5. Reset the game:  Totally resets the entire game, deleting all players and
   returning all items to their original location.  This option is not 
   available the first time you run CONFIG.EXE; there is no need to select it
   when you first install the door.

6. Undo previous reset:  A handy feature if your users start complaining after
   you reset the game <grin>  This option is only available if the game has
   been reset before.


==============================================================================


5. Registration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DoorMUD is shareware.  In the unregistered version, players may not advance 
past level 7, and can only explore about 600 of the 1350+ rooms in the game 
world.  If you register the game, your users can advance to any level
and can access the entire game world.  Registration costs $20 US.

There are two ways that you can receive your registration file.  The first
option is by Internet E-mail.  This requires that you have an e-mail account
*capable of receiving small file attachments*.

The second option is to receive your registration by standard mail.  This
method takes longer to process.  Your registraion file will be mailed to you
on a disk.

HOW TO REGISTER:
1.  Print and fill out the registration form (REGISTER.TXT).  If you do not
    have a printer, you may handwrite the information.  Be sure to include
    your "preregistration code".  This can be found by running CONFIG.EXE
    and selecting option 4.  Copy it EXACTLY as it appears.  
2.  Include a check or money order for $20 US.  If using a check, make it
    payable to "Evan Elias".
3.  Put the payment and registration form in an envelope and mail it to
    this address:

      Evan Elias
      100 Crestwood Drive
      Lansdale, PA 19446-1702
      USA

When I receive your registration, you will be sent a registration file, along
with instructions on how to install it.  If you pay with a money order, the
registration file will be sent to you the same day that I receive payment.
If you pay with a check, I will probably wait for the check to clear, so that
may take slightly longer.

Upon putting your registration in the mail, if possible please e-mail me
(rhythmnp@aol.com) to let me know you've sent it.  That way, I'll know to
expect it in the mail soon.

DoorMUD add-on products are now also available at an additional charge.  
Please see ADDONS.TXT for more information.  


==============================================================================


6. Getting Your Users to Play
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DoorMUD is a powerful, large-scale doorgame.  It has the potential to be very 
successful on your BBS, but only if your users know about it.

It has become common for sysops to install dozens and dozens of doorgames on
a single BBS.  Because of this, new large-scale games like DoorMUD are often 
lost in the shuffle of countless puzzle games and Red Dragon clones.  Please,
do something to make DoorMUD stand out from the rest.  Mention it in your
message bases or bulletins, or perhaps offer contests for high-ranked players.
Please try to make sure your users know DoorMUD is a fresh new game that was 
just released and is still actively supported by its author.

The file DMUDAD.ANS, included with the game, is an ANSI advertisement for
DoorMUD.  Please consider posting it somewhere on your BBS for a short time.


==============================================================================


7. Misc
~~~~~~~

Maintenance:
  DoorMUD's maintenance routines are run automatically once per day.

User license:
  This version of DoorMUD allows up to 3 simultaneous users/nodes to play the
  game at once.  This should be sufficient for most hobbyist boards.  But if
  you run a larger MUD-oriented BBS, you may be interested in the DoorMUD 
  Professional add-on, which allows for up to 10 simultaneous users.  Please
  see ADDONS.TXT for more information.

Monster Fights:
  There is intentionally no setting to allow for unlimited monster fights.
  However, you can set the Daily Monster Fights setting as high as 1000 if
  desired, which would allow for many hours of gameplay per day.  Setting it
  anywhere near this high is definitely NOT recommended though, unless you
  are using the DoorMUD Professional add-on to increase the experience point
  tables.  Otherwise, high Monster Fight settings will allow players to gain
  levels much too quickly.  In the basic version of DoorMUD, it is HIGHLY
  recommended that you leave the Monster Fights at the default setting of 35
  per day.

Automatic Backups:
  DoorMUD automatically makes backups of its vital data files on a regular
  basis, usually once per day.  If your data files ever become corrupted, 
  copy the three *.bak files (CREATURE.BAK, ITEM.BAK, CONFIG.BAK) over the
  *.dat files of the same name, to revert to the backups.  These backups are
  made just as a precaution; data file corruption is extremely rare.

USERINFO.TXT:
  This text file lists the real name of each user in the game, and shows how
  many days it has been since the user last played.  It is updated daily, when
  the game runs maintenance.  This is not a score file; it is intended to
  provide the Sysop with information as to which users are playing the game.

Command line options:  
  The Windows version of DoorMUD has no command line options.  There is no way
  to run the game locally; to test it out on your own computer, you must telnet
  into your own Synchronet BBS.

Local window:
  This version of DoorMUD is a 32-bit Windows console application.  Because it
  is a console application (instead of a GUI), the local DoorMUD window looks
  similar to a DOS window.  However, please be assured that it is NOT a DOS
  program.  It is a full-fledged 32-bit console door, much like Synchronet
  BBS List and Synchronet Blackjack.


Support:
-=-=-=- 
Please consult one of the following sources if you are having difficulty setting
up the game or if you have any questions, comments, ideas, etc --

 - Visit the official DoorMUD webpage:  http://dmud.thebbs.org
 - E-mail the game's programmer:        rhythmnp@aol.com

The web page contains many resources for players and sysops alike.  You may
want to give the Sysop FAQ a look if you are having difficulty with the game.
Be sure to check out the Upcoming Releases page for information on future
DoorMUD add-ons.  There's also a web message board that I check on a daily
basis.


Thank You's:
-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Brown, Barry Bogart, Ed Williams, Bryan Housel, Jeff Miller, Matt Becker,
Jacob Hartman, David Rosenblatt, Rob Swindell, Mike Counts, Mike Ehlert, and 
Outworld Arts.


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