Brian Howarth's Mysterious Adventures:
--------------------------------------

The virtual disk file MYSTADV.DSK contains the data files of the
eleven "Mysterious Adventures" which were written by Brian Howarth
between 1981 and 1983. Actually, I don't know whether these adventures
were available for the TRS-80, at least I wasn't able to find any one of
them on Ira Goldklang's site, which is definetely *the* site for TRS-80
software. (http://www.trs-80.com) The files were collected and put into
the IF-Archives by Paul David Doherty. (Please see below the appendix.)

Since the Howarth data files are very closely related to the Scott Adams
data files, it took me very few modifications to get them running with
the standard adventure interpreter ADVENTUR/CMD, which can be found on
many .DSK files containing Scott Adams Adventures.

I had to do three modifications:

1. I needed to reformat the datafiles found in the IF-Archives.
(ftp://ftp.gmd.de/if-archive) Those are intended for the use with the
Scottfree interpreter and have CHR 10 as a end-of-line marker. The
TRS-80 needs CHR 13 as EOL, the Scott Adams database sometimes uses CHR
10 inside strings as a LF. A small Pascal program did the trick for me.

2. After copying the files to a virtual disk, ADVENTUR/CMD gave me first
a "bad security" error message and returned to the Newdos prompt. This
problem was a bit more complicated, but solvable thanks to the very
detailed description of the Scott Adams format which comes with the
"Adventure Editor" by Bruce Hansen and Allan Moluf. The program can be
found on Ira's site. Apparantly the driver for the Howarth database does
not use the security checksum which is necessary for the Adams driver.
The three last lines in a database, which follow the remarks for the
action table, give the version, the adventure number and the security
checksum. The interpreter calculates an own checksum by adding the
number of objects (line 2, counting from 1) and 2*number of actions
(line 3) plus the version. If the number doesn't match with the number
found in the database, the program simply stops. I was able to correct
the checksums by hand, using a pocket calculator and an ascii-editor.
(I really couldn't be bothered with writing a program for this little
task :) )

3. Another apparant difference between the Adams and the Howarth drivers
is that the Adams driver needs information to allocate string space.
Line 1 (counting from 1) in a database gives in KB the combined space
needed for the text of verbs, nouns, messages, room descriptions and
object descriptions. The Howarth databases contain a 0 at this position,
therefore the Adams driver finds that it has allocated too little memory
and drops out with an error message. Again, I was able to change the
databases by hand, allocating about 6KB for each adventure which seems
enough for the interpreter.

I have quickly tried out every adventure and they seem to run perfectly
well. I haven't played them through yet, so if anybody should have
problems, I would be grateful if they contacted me at my momentary
email-address (abels@stud-mailer.uni-marburg.de)

Cheers and happy adventuring,

   Nele


Appendix:

The following is the fully quoted Readme-file which accompagnies the
collection put by Paul David Doherty into the IF-Archive. Many thanks to
Scott Adams for inventing his ingenious file-system in the first place,
to Brian for allowing the redistribution of his great programs, and to
Paul for the troubles he took to get the permission and to make the
files accessible. Without people like you, nerds like me would find less
excuses to pointlessly play around rather than busily writing their PhD
theses, as they really should do instead :)

>Mysterious Adventures 
>---------------------
>
>Brian Howarth wrote his eleven "Mysterious Adventures" in 1981-83,
>originally as text-only games (the way they are presented here).  Later
>versions (Spectrum, C-64) had line-drawing graphics.  To play the
>adventures in this archive you will need the interpreter "ScottFree".
>You can get it from the Interactive Fiction Archive at ftp.gmd.de.
>
>All datafiles are conversions from Spectrum/C-64 versions of the games
>(but minus the graphics, as "ScottFree" does not support graphics at
>the moment).  Brian Howarth gave his permission to upload the games
>to the IF Archive.  Have fun, and happy nostalgia!
>
>
>Conversions:  Paul David Doherty <h0142kdd@rz.hu-berlin.de>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>#1:  The Golden Baton
>
>Your mission is to recover the Golden Baton, a priceless artefact that
>holds within it a kind of life force that maintains the equilibrium between
>good and evil.  Stolen from the Palace of King Ferrenuil, the kingdom is
>already beginning to feel the effects of drought and pestilence.
>
>#2:  The Time Machine
>
>Trapped in a thick fog on the moors whilst searching for the house of Dr
>Potter, you begin to wonder just what sort of a story will unfold for your
>newspaper about the strange goings on that have been witnessed at this
>home... that's if you ever find it.
>
>#3:  Arrow of Death Part 1
>
>Although restored to its rightful place in the throne room over 5 years ago
>the Golden Baton which usually shines brighter than normal gold has suddenly
>become tarnished, at the same time gloom and despair settles over the whole
>kingdom.  Find the source of this evil influence before it is too late.
>
>#4:  Arrow of Death Part 2
>
>Having successfully completed Arrow of Death Part 1, you now have the
>components to make a magical arrow with which you will be able to destroy
>Zerdon, the evil accomplice of the Wizard Akyrz, the real mastermind behind
>the evil that has befallen the Golden Baton.
>
>#5:  Escape from Pulsar 7
>
>As last surviving crew member of this ill-fated space freighter you must
>somehow manage to make your escape in the frail shuttle craft without being
>eaten by the mutant monster now roaming free.
>
>#6:  Circus
>
>What appears to be a circus in full swing from the distance suddenly becomes
>as silent as the grave as you open the gate into the field.  Never the less
>you must find some petrol for your car, so here goes...
>
>#7:  Feasibility Experiment
>
>A human guinea-pig for a race of super intelligent beings that have no
>bodily form.  Plucked from your bed in order to satisfy their craving for
>life force that will sustain them.  A warrior that can live up to the image
>of Alexander the Great.
>
>#8:  The Wizard of Akyrz
>
>Twice defeated by a mere mortal it has taken the evil wizard some time to
>recover his powers.  Now he forms a new plan to trap and utterly destroy the
>earthly being that dares to thwart him.
>
>#9:  Perseus and Andromeda
>
>Take on the role of Perseus, son of Zeus and Danae.  Bring back the head of
>Medusa the gorgon, whose very glance can turn a man to stone.  Otherwise
>King Polydectes will have his wicked way.
>
>#10:  Ten Little Indians
>
>A train journey begins your quest for the golden idol left by Major
>Johnston-Smythe when he died.  Other treasure hunters have tried before you,
>most of them have never been seen again...
>
>#11:  Waxworks
>
>A nightmare comes true, you must find your way out of the wax works factory
>in which all the exhibits mysteriously come alive.
>
>
>(c) 1981,82,83. All games written by Brian Howarth. #5-7 co-written by 
>    Wherner Barnes, #8 and #11 co-written by Cliff J. Ogden.

