Dirk Vander Wilt's KASIA
Version 1.0 - GAME MANUAL
** SHAREWARE VERSION **
-------------------------

THIS IS THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR KASIA. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU AT
LEAST SKIM THROUGH IT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.

This version of KASIA is sharware! Please register it to obain the
complete, full game! The cost is only $10! See the ORDERFRM.TXT file
for more information!

=====  [ INTRODUCTION ] =====
                                               
Whew! Its finally finished. For over a year, I have been designing and
programming this game. Dozens of drafts have been attempted. Hours and hours
of programming, graphic design, and story creation before I arrived upon
the final product that you now possess. I hope you enjoy playing the game,
for I sure enjoyed making it for you!

The story behind the game: My all-time favorite game, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA for
the Nintendo Entertainment System, was a huge inspiration for KASIA. The
overhead fighting style, several of the items and treasures, and the "Player
Select" screen all are a reflection of this inspiration. Other elements in
the game, such as the storyline itself, most of the items, and other aspects,
were of my own creation. Overall, its a great mix of classic gaming and fresh
ideas.

Once again, I hope you enjoy playing Kasia. It was a real pleasure making
it for you. The rest of this manual explains how to play the game, along
with some special features that will make your experience more
enjoyable. You don't really HAVE to read the manual if you have played a
ZELDA-style game before, just so long as you remember that the arrow keys
control your character, the space bar swings your sword, and the ESC key
quits the game in progress.

NOTE: This version of the game is shareware! That means that if you enjoy
playing, you should register with the author. Cost is only $10, and you
will get the FULL VERSION of this game (this shareware version contains
only a small part of the complete game!). For more information, see the
ORDERFRM.TXT file.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR QUEST!


==================
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
==================

        I. GAME OBJECTIVE

       II. HOW TO PLAY
                A. STARTING YOUR GAME
                B. PLAYING / YOUR CHARACTER

      III. THE FOUR ISLANDS OF KASIA 

       IV. GAME ELEMENTS
                 A. ITEMS
                 B. ENEMIES
                 C. CAVERNS, HOMES, ETC.
                 D. CASTLES
                 E. GAME GIMMICKS

        V. WINNING AND LOSING
                A. DEATH AND DYING
                B. WINNING THE GAME

       VI. TECHNICAL SUPPORT / COMMENTS / QUESTIONS

      VII. THE CHEAT CODE
 	
     VIII. CONCLUSION

================== 
HERE IS THE REST OF THE MANUAL. ENJOY!

                                               
I. ===== [ GAME OBJECTIVE ] =====
                                               
You are mysteriously transported to an unusual land. The only thing
important to you, now, is to get back home!! How will you do it? Rumor
has it that the dragon, Malewicka, that lives in the large castle, has
the power to return you to your homeland. However, being the evil son-of-a-
gun that he is, Malewicka confined himself in his castle, with no apparent
way in! However, there is a mysterious object, called the Katarzyna, that
gives its possesser the power to enter Malewicka's castle. This Katarzyna
has been broken into three smaller Kasias. Each of these Kasias has been
hidden in a different, smaller castle.

Your goal? You must find the three Kasias, enter Malewicka's castle, and
somehow get home! Good luck!

                                              
II. ===== [ HOW TO PLAY ] =====
                                              
STARTING YOUR GAME
==================
After you have installed the game into the appropriate directory (as
you have already done), simply type KASIA to begin playing! You
will be presented with a menu of three choices; start the game, view
the game's introduction, or quit. To select one of these options, use
the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the cursor to your desired
selection, and press the ENTER key.

You will definitely want to view the introduction at least once before
you make your journey. It has important plot elements to present to you,
plus it introduces most of the items that you will need to collect
as you travel.

Select START GAME to begin. If this is your first time playing, you will
need to create a character. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor to
the CREATE PLAYER option. Press ENTER. You will then need to select one
of the three slots (represented by three pictures of the character you
will be playing). Choose your Character by pressing ENTER. Now you will
need to type in a name for that character. You MUST type in a name! Not
doing so will void that character! Make sure the name is not so long that
it will run onto the next line on your screen. Once you have entered in
a name, press ENTER once again. Now select FINISHED, and you're back at
the main menu! To begin your game, select your new character, and press
ENTER! There! You are now ready to begin your explorations.

If you have visited the game before, then your character will already
be created when you choose the START GAME option from the main menu. Simply
select the character, and press enter. You can have up to three saved games
at one time!

NOTE: If you wish to erase a game, then follow the same process as the
CREATE PLAYER process, but instead choose ERASE PLAYER. Press the ENTER
key when the cursor is on the player you would like to delete. Press
FINISHED when done. 


PLAYING / YOUR CHARACTER
========================
When the actual game screen appears, you are ready to begin! On this
game screen, there are two parts: the main screen is where you control
your character, and where all the action takes place. It is where you
do all your playing. The panel to the right of the main screen displays
your character's vital statistics, such as energy, items, and actions that
you can perform (such as digging). It is very, very easy to read and
follow. If you have an item in possession, then it appears on this side
panel. If not, well then it won't be there.

To control your character, use the arrow keys on the keyboard, in the
direction that you want to move. The SPACE BAR will allow you to swing your
sword only in the direction that you are facing! If you have a shovel in
your possession, then press the "D" key to dig where you are standing. If
you have a book, press "R" to read the book. It just could not be
any easier!

The game screen itself also could not be any easier. It is a bird's eye
view of the surrounding land! Just walk around and explore! If you touch
the bottom of the screen, a new screen will appear that is a continuation
of the previous screen. Don't worry... it will make sense when you
play the actual game. 


                                
III. ===== [ THE FOUR ISLANDS OF KASIA ] =====
                                 
The world that you are exploring is divided into four islands. You begin
each game on the first island, in its northwesternmost corner. In order
to get to any other of these islands, you must somehow obtain a raft. Once
you get the raft, you can only launch it from a dock extending out into
the water. These docks can be found all over the land. If you have the
raft, and want to push off from a dock, simply walk onto the dock, and
you will automatically get onto your raft!

Three of the four islands each contain a castle with a piece of the
Katarzyna in it. The third of these islands also has Malewicka's castle
on it! Needless to say, you must master the secrets of each island in
order to successfully complete the game!


                                              
IV. ===== [ GAME ELEMENTS ] =====
                                            
Not only is walking around and exploring the game an essential part
of playing, but you must also learn how to interact with the various
things you might come across. Check out the GAME GIMMICKS section to
learn how everything works!

ITEMS
=====
Items are scattered around the the islands, waiting for you to find
and use! All you have to do, if you see an item, is to run into it
to pick it up! It will automatically appear on your side panel,
indicating that you are now in possession of it. Items include, but
are not limited to: a raft, a magic wand, a book, coins, and keys!
With COINS, you can purchase other items. With KEYS, you can open
doors that lead to other areas of the islands. These two aformentioned
items are the ONLY items that you can collect more than one of, and that
can be taken away from you. Each of the other items, once gotten, are
yours forever (until you erase your game).

There are four different "categories" of items that you can find in the
world of KASIA. Following is a complete list of those categories, items,
and uses of items. NOTE: You should be able to find out about these items
without reading this section... this is just offered to help you along
your way.


ITEMS THAT DESTROY - These items will make a block disappear from your
                     path. In other words, if there is something in your
                     way, and you possess a certain item, you may
                     be able to destroy the object on the screen.

                     Here are the items that "destroy":
                     HAMMER - You can break rocks that are already
                              partially cracked.
                     AXE - You can cut down small trees.
                     MAGIC WAND - You can destroy the red blockades.   


ITEMS THAT MOVE - You cannot destroy anything with these items, but you
                  can move something, either an object on the screen or
                  yourself.

                  Here are the items that "move":
                  RAFT - Walk onto a dock protruding into the water
                         and you will automatically board your raft,
                         if you possess it.
                  BRACELET OF STRENGTH - Push the large, man-made blue
                                         spheres out of your way.


ITEMS THAT NEED INITIATION - These are the items that you have to need
                             to press a button on your keyboard in
                             order to use. If you possess one of these
                             items, the panel on the right will tell
                             you which button to press.

                             Here are the "initiatable" items:
                             SWORD - You have this item at the start of
                                     the game. Push the SPACE bar to
                                     swing your sword.
                             BOOK - Push R to read it.
                             SHOVEL - Push D to dig where you are
                                      standing. If you uncover a secret
                                      chamber, you will automatically
                                      be transported there.


COLLECTABLE ITEMS - These are the items that you can collect more than
                    one of, and can be used! These are the only items that
                    you can get rid of! Everything else, once you obtain,
                    you have for the rest of the game, but not these!

                    Here are the "collectable" items:
                    COINS - These are scattered all throughout the game,
                            and you need them to purchase items. When you
                            have a coin, the info-panel will tell you how
                            many you have.
                    KEYS - These open doors, either outside or in castles.
                           The info-panel will tell you how many you have
                           if you have any at all.        


ENEMIES
=======
Yes, you have to fight enemies! There are very few enemies in KASIA, and
none of them need any special weapon in order to defeat (all of them must
be killed using your sword). When you are trying to defeat an enemy, walk
up to it, and strike it with your sword. REMEMBER that you can only strike
your sword in the direction you are facing, and you cannot block the
attack of an enemy.

There are a total of five different enemies in the game (not counting
Malewicka himself). The most common, and easiest, of these enemies is
the snake. He can be killed with only two swings with the sword. The
more difficult enemies, which you will discover later, take as many as
TEN HITS! Ouch! When you leave a screen, and travel to another screen,
and return, all enemies will reappear!


CAVERNS, HOMES, ETC.
====================
When you see a black space, or a door, or a hole in the ground,
that means that there is a passage leading somewhere. All you have to do
is enter there, and you will be at some new location... it might be good,
it might be bad. You will have to find out for yourself.


CASTLES
=======
There are four castles in KASIA. Three of these castles hold a piece of
the Katarzyna, and one of them holds Malewicka himself. When you arrive
upon a castle, enter it! You MUST visit ALL castles to win the game! The
castles are labeled in terms of their level. The first castle says "1" on
the outside, etc.

Once you enter a castle, you should do a lot of exploring. Each castle is
like a maze, and you'd better be sure to check every nook and cranny of
the maze, as you would not want to overlook something, and have to come
back!! Items such as keys can be found in castles, along with several other
items as mentioned easlier. 


GAME GIMMICKS
=============
Although what follows you are supposed to learn on your own, while playing
the game, I offer you some great hints on some of the game's features and
puzzles to beat:

        1. If your path is blocked by a dark gray blockade, then you need
           to kill all the enemies on the screen. Once you do, all the
           blockades on that screen will vanish, and you can progress.


                                          
V. ===== [  WINNING AND LOSING ] =====

You know how they say that "it not if you win or lose, its how you play the 
game"? Well, you can just scratch that all out of your memory!                                          

The object of this game, natually, is to win! Unfortunately, many, many,
many, many, things stand in way of your victory. So, you will die many,
many, many, many times before that fateful day when you finally win!


DEATH AND DYING
===============
Yes, you will die. Many times (as clearly stated above)! You will lose
your game when the energy bar on the right panel is empty. What's worse,
in the game, there is no way to restore your health! However, there is
a good side. Every time you die, every item you have is saved for your
character, and you will return to the main menu screen.


WINNING THE GAME
================
It is possible to win. All you have to do is leave the island! When you
win, the game will tell you! Don't worry, you will, eventually.

HINT: The large castle, on the third island, is where Malewicka's castle
is. you will win as soon as you can enter the castle and find the back
way out! There is a dock on the other side which, if you have your raft,
will launch you home!!!

                     
VI. ===== [ TECHNICAL SUPPORT / COMMENTS / QUESTIONS ] =====
    

If you're having a problem with any aspect of the game... anything at all
(even game hints), then don't feel ashamed about sending me an email for
help or technical assistance. I am always glad to help out my fellow
gamers. My email address is below:

                          DirkVW@aol.com

If you wish to order this game, then please see the ORDERFRM.TXT file 
for complete info and details! If you enjoy KASIA, then PLEASE REGISTER!!
See the ORDERFRM.TXT.

Remember: I am always willing to help you with your problems (as long
as your problems are directly related to KASIA or any other game of
mine).

NOTE: If you find a bug in the game, a legitimate error on my part
(NOT counting spelling errors!), then you may recieve the cheat code
for the game FOR FREE!!


VII. ===== [ THE CHEAT CODE ] =====

Embedded within the game is a secret cheat code that allows you to do
a multitude of things including: obtaining any object, go anywhere in
the game, and display a complete game map. In order to get the code,
well, you must PURCHASE it! See the ORDERFRM.TXT for details.

                                               
VIII. ===== [ CONCLUSION ] =====
                                              
Well, thats it for KASIA! If you would like some more games by me,
Dirk Vander Wilt, then please send me an email, or check your
local online service, or AOL. Have a safe trip home, and don't
forget to water your plants.



------- END OF MANUAL.DOC
