Date : 22 March, 1992 Doc V1.0 +++++++++++ Vaults of Doom Help File ++++++++++ ++++++++++ By Dirk Vandenheuvel 1992 ++++++++++ 1. What is VoD Vaults of Doom is a computer role-playing game where up tot 80 players make their way through dangerous mazes searching for treasure, evading traps and battling monsters and other players. The game can be played as a doorgame or it can be played as a local single player game., though it is more fun if more players participate. 2. Freeware Vaults of Doom is Freeware. This means you can copy it as much as you like as long as you don't change anything to the original program. The following files should be included in VOD12.lzh (or other compression format). - VoD.exe : main executable - Help.txt : this file - Install.txt : notes on installing VoD - Dcreate.exe : vaults creation program - Various .dat files If you like the game and would like to change different parameters (like new races to play, extra traps, different monsters... etc.), you can order for 20 US$ outside Europe or 10 US$ inside Europe (P&P and disk included) the VoD edit extensions which include: - Latest personalized VoD release - Creature editor - Treasure editor - Player editor - Trap editor - Player character editor - Feature editor - Print utility 3. Aim of the game The aim of VoD is quite simple... you must lead a character through the dangerous vaults and search for the treasure chamber. If you find the treasure chamber and defeat it's evil guardian you win the game and make it into the Hall of Fame. Other players continue their quest for treasure and fame. From Beta testing I noticed that a lot of players did not go for treasure or the treasure vault but turned their attention to other players. Killing, stealing and cheating became their aim and they also had a lot of fun. So whether you want to find the treasure chamber or you want to be the strongest dude in the dungeon, the vaults are ready for you... 4. Main menu The main menu looks like this: ******************************************************************** * Q> return to host D> Delete character * * E> Enter Vaults S> Some statistics * * C> Create character ?> Who's inside? * * I> Sysop notes H> How to play VoD * * L> View log file T> View Hall of Fame * * R> Read your mail * ******************************************************************** The different options are quite straightforward. Q> Returns you to the BBS or to DOS depending whether you are playing a local or a remote version. E> Enters the Vaults if you have created a character. C> Creates your character. I> Textfile with some notes or suggestions by your sysop. L> View the log file. VoD logs important events so that you can view what other players are doing and what special events have taken place. R> If you have mail (from other players or from the VoD mail processor) a arrow will appear behind this option indicating that you have mail. If you read your mail VoD will immediately delete it, so remember to read your mail carefully and thoroughly. D> Deletes your character. S> Gives you some statistics like how many players are there in each dungeon (there are 10 dungeons) and which players are to strongest or the richest. ?> This option lets you look at all the players in the game, in which dungeon they are and what their real name is (this way you can contact them via the normal BBS message system). H> Should display this file. T> Some information about the players that have found the treasure chamber. 5. The game The gamescreen is split into five smaller window, each with their own purpose: 5.1 The map window (in upper left corner) This window displays a small map of your surroundings, the following codes apply: Red = Treasures Blue = Creatures Purple = Objects White @ = Your character Green @ = Other players [ ] = Teleporter ? ?? ? = Unexplored terrain $$$$ = Treasure chamber Below this map symbols appear (Red-White). These symbols indicate if there is something on the visible map. The number behind the symbols indicate how many of this "something" there is. C(reature) = There is a creature somewhere on the map $ = There is a treasure somewhere on the map F(eature) = There is a feature somewhere on the map T(rap) = Yea, there is a trap on the map These symbols can be handy for avoiding traps or discovering invisible treasure or creatures. 5.2 The profile window (center top) This window tells you more about the abilities of your character, his/her moves left and the amount of gold he/she has. Attack = The number of times you attack (higher is better). Defence = The number of times you can parry. Life = Your maximum number of hit point (hits you can take). The '+' indicates an extra bonus that you get when your character has earned a lot of experience. Toughness = This modifies the amount of damage your character gets from attacks, magic and traps. A high toughness makes it difficult do receive a lot of damage in one hit. Dexterity = A character with a high dex. will be able to attack first, to flee easier, to avoid traps more effectively and to steal (!) better. Moves left = The number of moves you have left today (moving costs 1 move and stealing costs 2). Current life = The actual number of hitpoints you have left. Experience = The more experience you earn for killing monsters and other players the better your character gets in everything. This is indicated by the '+'. This displays the actual % that your character has improved. Gold = Your fortune. You will have to spend gold to buy spells, bribe other players, heal yourself... etc. + to damage = The extra damage bonus you get for earning experience. 5.3 The commands window (upper right corner) This window displays a selection of commands you can issue inside the vaults. The appropriate key for each command is displayed in green. Quit = Obvious no? Move = You can move with NESW or with the arrow keys on you numeric keypad (with numlock on). Search = To search features. Pick up = To pick up treasures. Magic = To cast spells. Heal = To heal yourself (costs gold). Map = Displays a map of the dungeon (costs gold) Teleport = If you are on a teleport square you can teleport yourself to another dungeon or the another place inside the current dungeon. Buy spell = To buy magic spells (cost gold). Set trap = To set a new trap for other players or to modify an existing trap so that it cannot hurt you any longer (cost gold). ! Redraw = Only available if VoD is played remotely. Redraws the screen. 5.4 The message windows The two bottom windows are the message windows. All information about combat, spells etc. will be displayed in these two window. From time to time these windows will display extra commands but these should be very clear and easy to use. 6. Magic There are a number of magical spells in Vod, each with their own possibilities and effects. If you enter the magic menu, you will see a list of all the spells together with a number indicating how many of each type you have. The following list will explain their use. Boost X = Boost spells increase some of you abilities by 1-3 point. Note that the effects last only for one day. Boosting to much can be dangerous for your health. Polymorph = Changes a monster in a adjacent square into something else. Fireball = Sends a fireball into an adjacent square. Every living being inside that square is hit. See X = Calls forth a magical map that displays extra information. Extra moves = Gives you some extra moves. Telepathy = Sends a magical message to other players (or to all players). Heal = Heals a number of hit points. 7. Tricks and tactics - Take a look at the logfile from time to time. It can tell you which monsters are killers and what some of you fellow players are up to. - Use your boost spells on the beginning of your turn. They last only one day... so make good use of them. - Creatures do not heal hitpoint frequently. So you can attack, retreat, heal and attack again when you encounter a powerful creature. Hit-and- run tactics can be very effective. - If you are low on hitpoints, rest for a few days and you will gains some extra hitpoints. 8. Advanced VoD VoD is more than you think... strange things can (and will) happen and unforeseen events will take place. Consult other players for their experiences so that you will not be surprised when things turn nasty. 9. Thanx to... I would like to thank the following people for their advice, inspiration and know-how: Carl Declerck (for some C advice) Koen De Waele (play testing and complaining that the game was to difficult) David Van Dijck (play testing) Alex Cleynhens (testing VoD on Cormoran BBS) Willy Brepoels (testing VoD on Coco's BBS) Sonja Depret ("some inspiration") Everybody who play tested VoD Everybody who made Nethack (for a great game) 10. The future I'm probably going to add some extra features to future versions of VoD like a better maze system, a shop, weapons and armor and new traps. I'm also going to make a single user (maybe later a network version) of Vaults of Doom for window. The question is: "Will I have the time for all this?". If you have any comments, bug reports or suggestions you can contact me on: Dirk Vandenheuvel Wildenhoge 20 3020 Winksele Belgium. or Netmail to 2:292/500.21511 or (if you don't live on the other side of the galaxy) leave a message on Cormoran BBS +32 (0)15/520279