This software is Freeware, and you MAY DISTRIBUTE this game freely.
The game and all files must be distributed in their original form and any
alteration of the files by any means is forbidden.

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                                FREE COMBAT v1.1

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Contents
1. System requirements
2. Known problems
3. The game
 3.1 The Story
 3.2 Setup
 3.3 The game
 3.4 Gameplay tips
4. Trademarks
5. Update and contacting information

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1. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

- 500KB of free memory
- 3MB of disk space
- VGA card & display
- Mouse (for editor only)
- Keyboard
- Pentium or equal. Absolute minimum is a fast 80486 (probably 100 MHZ)

Optional:
- Sound Blaster sound card

When you run the program first time the machine speed is checked and the
sound configuration is checked. Choose No sound if you haven't got SB card.

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2. KNOWN PROBLEMS

- CT-VOICE.DRV 4.05 doesn't work. Version 3.07 works better. This version
  is included in SND folder.
- Sound Blaster 64 PCI doesn't work. And I guess no other PCI cards either.
  This is not my fault, since PCI cards' DOS support is inadequate.
- The sounds play probably only with genuine SoundBlaster cards, since
  100% SBPro compatible card doesn't work.

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3. THE GAME

3.1 The Story

Because of the growing unrestlessness around tomorrow's world USA has began
to give licences to mercenary firms. You are a new mercenary in the
Mercenary Organization. The MO does professional jobs, not just simple
assassination jobs. The MO gives you missions which you complete. Or fail.


3.2 Setup

First you must create a character. This is done in SETUP program. When you
run the game first time you find yourself in Setup. Later you can run this
program by selecting Setup & character from main menu.

Scroll the menu with up & down keys

- Sound Setup

- Create character
   + You must deliver all points to skills. Use arrow keys and PgUp/PgDn
   + N lets you to write the name to your character
   + Press Enter when ready. If red text appears on the bottom of the screen,
     check that item. Press Y to save the character, N to discard it.

- Edit character: keys, face, game delay, mission directory, campaign file

 CAMPAIGN
  The player may choose to go into a campaign which consists of number of
  consecutive missions. During the campaign other missions are unavailable.
  The campaign may be ended from this same menu.

- Exit (to Dos or to the game)

- C to view credits

- S for Speed test


3.3 The game

Scroll the menu with up & down keys

- Select character
   + If your character is wounded, pressing space speeds time up. Character
     gets better but may lose some skill points.
   + Press Enter when ready to return to main menu

- Missions: You must have a character selected to enter this section

- Setup & character: Runs the Setup program

- Exit

Follow onscreen helps. They explain a lot.

During the game following keys are always the same:

F1   Decrease delay (=faster)
F2   Increase delay (=slower)
F3   Toggle Field Of Vision
F4   Show keys
F5   Show mission description and IR view of mission area
Esc  Cancel/End game

Wounds
 When your character gets hit, the edge of the screen flashes red. The
 background of the hitplace (e.g. L ARM) turns red when it is bleeding. To
 stop bleeding, press 'Tie wounds' button (H is default key). If the bleeding
 still continues, tie wounds again. In this case the wound is so large that
 it wasn't tied at the first time. First aid kit speeds up the process.

 If you see an 'E' to appear next to your hitplace status it means your
 target is wounded in that position.

Ending missions
 Remember that if the character is lost, it is LOST forever. The only ways
 out of mission are success, failure, or death. Cancel is not an option.

 To end mission correctly go to the End point (shown in F5 display) and
 press Esc. You know that you're on right spot when XY on the right lights up.
 The end point is usually the same as the begin point.

 To end mission succesfully you must complete all tasks and then return to
 end point. Then the word 'Completed' appears on the right.


3.4 Gameplay tips

- Remember the Field Of Vision. Even if you don't see anything there may be
  something. You may see a red square on the black areas. Somebody is in
  that direction.
- Turn your head while moving. The sight area is 180 degrees, but sometimes
  it just isn't enough. When turning your head you see the whole 360 degrees.
- Remember to walk silently. The sound you make depends on surface you are,
  how fast you are going and how good you are at 'Stealth' skill. Don't run
  around - you are easy to spot when you make a lot of noise.
- Walk crouch whenever possible. You are harder to detect when you have low
  profile. Prone is good also, but slows down and reduces Stamina.
- Keep your stamina high. Green color is good, red is bad. The lower the
  stamina the less you have strength. Running depletes stamina. If you fire
  a high-power weapon the kickback is harder when stamina is low, and takes
  more time!
- Select suppressed weapons whenever possible, and avoid using noise-making
  explosives. The enemies will detect you easier if you use loud weapons.
- The enemies have paths that they use when they are not disturbed. You may
  take advantage of that.
- Use shielding. This can be the matter of life and death. One shot may kill.
- Aim in the head. It's harder to hit in the head, but it's the most efficient
  way to knock the enemy out.
- Stairs may be tricky with 'followers' which should follow you. Try reducing
  the 'follower dist' to minimum and go to up/down block but DO NOT press
  Action button yet. Wait until the follower 'disappears' and then go.
- The police will not normally fire towards you if you keep low profile.
  Carrying a rifle is NOT low profile, so keep your total equipment load
  under 5 kg's.

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4. TRADEMARKS

Pentium, 80486          Intel
Sound Blaster           Creative Technology Ltd
Dos/Ms-dos              Microsoft

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5. UPDATES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

If you want to send mail to me, here's the e-mail address:
j.nyman@pp.inet.fi

My homepage is at:
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/j.nyman

Updates and new missions are available at:
http://personal.inet.fi/koti/j.nyman/newfc.htm

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