                          Percy: The Text File  
                        ͼ

  E-Mail:   Graham_Lally@o14amiga.demon.co.uk               
      Or:   Laz500@aol.com                                  
                                                            
     WWW:   http://www.kingston.ac.uk/~lr_s536/Qbasic.html  
ͼ

Now look. I know this text file looks long, but best to read it...
Especially read FURTHERMORE... :)                  

                  PERCY: A GAME OF TACTICS AND SKILL.

In Percy, you become your very own general, and take control of the entire 
military forces of your nation. (OK, so you've got two tanks.) Use these
tanks to blow your enemy out of the sky, I mean, what could be simpler.

2-4 generals can take part in the war. But enuff babble, here's the stuff
you need to know.

Don't forget to change that path in the program before running it...
On running the game (by pressing Shift-F5), the ID logo will load, and 
the game will load in its graphics. Then you will see a title screen, with
some options, each of which is pretty straightforward - just click on the 
option.

OPTIONS
=======
    This screen presents you with the, uh, options, strangely:
        PLAYERS: Number of generals to take part. (2-4)
        TANKS: Number of tanks each general has (1-2)
        ARMOUR: Number of hits that each tank can take (1-10)
        OBSTACLES: Number of indestructable blocks in the arena. (0-50)
        BATTLES: Number of battles to play.
        DEPLOYMENT: Fixed deployment will always put the tanks in the
                    same place, while Random make it random :)

        SAVE AS DEFAULT: So that these options are loaded automatically.
        DEFAULT: Restore options to original ones.
        PLAY: Play the game.
        EXIT: Exit to main title screen.

THE GAME
========
    Before starting the war, each general needs to put their name in. Easy.
After this, you are presented with a possible arena - press "Y" to keep
this setup, "L" to Load a predesigned level (see THE EDITOR), or any other
key to change the arena.
    Once you have found a nice place to fight, you will be asked for inputs.
Every general puts their orders in simultaneously, using the keys shown
by clicking on INFO at the title screen. Each tank takes five orders, to
be executed in order.
N.B. Where available, the first five orders will belong to the darker tank of
your colour.
    Once everybody has put all their orders in, the tanks will move 
accordingly. There is an order to which they are processed, thus:

    1. Computer decides an "Initiative Order" - as indicated by the colours
       shown in the top-right corner when processing.
    2. Pay attention now...
        a. First order of first tank of first colour.
        b. First order of second tank of first colour.
        c. First order of first tank of second colour.
        d. First order of second tank of second colour.
        e. Etc etc,I'm sure you get the idea.
        f. Until all orders have been processed.
    3. Get orders again, and again etc etc, until one colour is left...

The armour left for each tank is shown as pixels below the message line,
in the arena wall.
The best way to understand all of this is to get in there and play it...

THE EDITOR
==========
    Here, we can design custom levels to fight in. The editor is fine if
you don't abuse it, so read these instructions...

    I suggest you play a few games using random blocks before designing
your own level, to get an idea of what's what.

At the top of the screen, we can see two yellow boxes, and a bar of different 
colours. There is also a blank arena.
The yellow boxes show what is placed by clicking the corresponding
mouse button. We can select what is placed by clicking in the bar with
the desired mouse button. For instance, to make it so that a block is 
placed every time you press the right mouse button, click on the block
in the central bar with the right mouse button, and then try pressing the
right button in the arena.

To place the starting positions of each tank, select one of the colours
(red, green, blue, light or dark, etc.) and then press either 8,4,6 or 2 
(i.e. use the Numpad) to choose the direction, or any other key to have a 
random direction.
It is advisable to place exactly one of each colour, i.e. end up with 
eight, different coloured starting points. I don't know what happens if
you have more or less, I don't want to know.

These are the important keys you need:
L - load a level
S - save the current level
C - Clear the arena
X - Exit the editor

To play a saved level, start a game as usual, and when asked if the level
is OK, press "L", and then the filename.

N.B. When loading and saving levels, just type in up to 8 letters. Don't 
include file extensions (eg .LEV), as these will be added automatically.

Example: to edit the level provided with this game, go into the editor,
press "L" and type in LAZLEVEL. It loads! To play this level, start a game
and press "L" when prompted, followed by LAZLEVEL.

FURTHERMORE...
==============
    There are various improvements I would love to make to Percy. I have
some new graphics I would like to add, but then the graphics file becomes
too big, and the like. Maybe one day, when I'm rich and famous, I'll return
to Percy, and do a Version 2.
    
    PERCY is, like Good to Firm v1.1, both Noteware and Chainware. 
Noteware: If you like this game, why not drop me a line at the e-mail
          address above, or drop by my homepage.
Chainware: You must give copies of this to two more people, or else bad
           luck will befall you, or something. :)

If you think Percy is good, why not send me some money?
IF you're a nice person, send any "gifts" to...
    
    Insanity Dreams and Friends,
    41 Kings Road,
    Kingston Upon Thames,
    Surrey.
    KT2 5JA
    England.

About 5 (sterling) is a nice sum, but anything will do (preferably in
pounds sterling, natch). If you include your e-mail address, I'll send you
a compiled version (i.e. PERCY.EXE) if you want...

INSANITY DREAMS
===============
    Great name, great logo, Great programs. Ahahahahaaaaaa... Sure matey.

                                    FIN
