README.TXT for MtG PBEM Program Version 2.40 6/28/95 Released as Shareware 6/28/95 Permission to distribute, upload or otherwise disseminate this program is given provided the entire contents of the zip, as described below, are included. Version 2.40 is the first version of this program to be released as Shareware, previous versions have been Freeware. I've decided to make this release shareware so I can get some idea of the number of users of this program, and whether my time spent improving it is worthwhile. If you find the program helpful to you in your email magic play and would like to see continued improvements and expansions of its' features please complete the Shareware Registration form at the end of this file and send it along with any Magic The Gathering card of your choice as payment in full for your continued use of the program. Any card is fine with me (common, uncommon or rare) as you feel appropriate to the level of assistance the program has given you in playing Magic The Gathering by Email. Thanks! Howdy, There are 17 files included in the zip, they should all be unzipped into the same directory except for the last 2 files as noted below. mtg_pbem.exe -> The program file. This can be double clicked from within File Manager to launch the program. blkcards.txt blucards.txt grncards.txt redcards.txt whtcards.txt artcards.txt gldcards.txt lndcards.txt -> These files contain the texts of the cards for use by the Deck Creation Module. If desired they can be modified using any word processor that can save in ascii format. Be sure to maintain the structure of 1 card per line enclosed in quotes ("card") and "ENDOFFILE" at the end of the list. allcards.txt -> This file is for use by the Display Card Module. It contains the complete info on all current cards in MtG (thru Ice Age). It can also be edited if desired by maintaining the format of 1 card per line, with each line containing the following card info: "Card Name", "Casting Cost", Card Type", "Card Desc." The last line must remain "ENDOFFILE"," ", " ", " " sample.dck -> A sample Deck file created with the program. sample.mtg -> A sample game in progress using the sample deck. sample.gam -> A sample of the email text file created by the program for transmittal to your opponent. readme.txt -> This file. magic.ico -> An icon of the MtG Pentagram commdlg.dll cmdialog.vbx -> These 2 Windows System files should be copied to your Windows/System directory if they are not present there already. They provide access to the Windows Common File Dialogs. In addition the file VBRUN300.DLL is needed. This file should be placed in your Windows/System sub directory. Due to the large size of this file I haven't included it with the program zip. It is available for download on GENIE in the Windows RT Library as file #1315. Systems running Windows 3.1 or later should have this file present already in the Windows/System directory. 1.0 BASIC INFORMATION The MtG PBEM Program allows an email MtG player to play without the need to use the actual cards. All the info needed to be kept track of for your side of the game is handled by the program. The first screen that comes up is the Game Play Module which loosely corresponds to the tabletop layout of a live MtG game. The various buttons are used to move the cards around on the "tabletop". The "Draw Card from Library" button will pick a Random card from the ones remaining in the Library and place it into your hand. This would equate with drawing the top card from your library in a live game. The "Pick Chosen Card from Library" button is used for the Demonic Tutor type cards. When a card is played that allows you to pick a card of you choice from your library, use the down arrow to the right of the library box to access the list of cards remaining and then click the one you'd like to draw. This will place it into the library box window and a click of the "Pick Chosen Card from Library" button places it into your hand. There is also a button to return a card from your hand to the Library if needed. This is for cards that let you reshuffle your graveyard or hand back into your library. In the case of the graveyard just move the cards back into your hand one by one and click this button to replace them into the library. There is a place to track yours and your opponents LPs if desired. The numbers in the 2 boxes can be changed either by using the sets of arrows below the appropriate boxes or by directly entering the number in the box. You can indicate Tapped cards by double left clicking on them in the Land and/or Card boxes in your Territory. The status will be saved when the game is saved. To Untap a Tapped card double left click on it once again. Tapped cards are indicated by appending "/T". You can get the complete text of any card, by clicking on the "Display Card Text" Button. If you haven't selected one of the cards in play the program will prompt you for the name of the card you'd like to view. If one of the cards in play IS presently selected, but you'd like to view a different card not in play, just click on an empty area of any card window and the selected card will be unselected. Note that Cut and Paste is active in the card description section of Display Card window so you can copy the contents by highlighting it with the mouse and typing to copy it to the clipboard. This is helpful if playing someone without the program so you can give details on cards in your deck they may not own when they first come into play. The button "Put Token Counter into Play" allows the creation of a Token Counter. These Tokens can be used for the various cards that create or make use of them (i.e. The Hive, Spore Flower etc.) or to put reminder notes after cards in play. (Cumulative Upkeep info, etc) The button "Remove Card from Play" can be used to permanently remove cards from the active game. (Disintegrated, Sword to Plowshared, tokens no longer needed etc.) The remaining buttons are used to move cards around the tabletop and should be self explanatory. 2.0 MENU ITEMS AND DECK CONSTRUCTION The File Menu is used to save and load the game record files. All game files saved without being given an extension have .mtg added. The Deck Menu is used to load in a previously constructed and saved deck into the Game Play Module. It also gives access to a new screen, the Deck Creation Module, that allows for the creation of Decks for use by the Game Play Module. It was designed to make it as visually intuitive as possible but a few points are worth mentioning. The number of cards you'd like to place into the deck is limited to a range of 40-255. The slider controls this number but can be changed during the deck creation process if you're original estimate changes. The various buttons allow access to the database for that type of card or to move cards into or out of the deck under construction. Note that cards can be removed from the deck at anytime, it's not necessary to have the corresponding color/type card file in the Card Set Box. Once complete, the deck can be saved using the File menu, if no extension is given .dck is added. You may also load in previously saved decks for modification if desired. A new feature in the Deck Creation Module for Version 2.40 is the ability to get statistics on the current deck loaded. A new window will come up and give complete information on the number and percentage of the various Card Types (Summons, Enchants etc.) in your deck. Upon exiting the Deck Creation Module the program prompts if you'd like the current deck to be transferred to the Game Play Module. This allows you to get right into game play with the current deck if desired. The Email menu is used to create a ascii text file that will contain a snapshot of the current board position in the following format: <<<>>> Email Game: Note: The name assigned is the name of the ascii file created Number of Cards in Library: # Number of Cards in Hand: # Land: "A line by line listing of the current cards in the Land Box and their Tapped or Untapped Status" Cards: "A line by line listing of the current cards in the Cards Box and their Tapped or Untapped Status" Graveyard: "Contents of the Graveyard" Note: to indicate cards in the graveyard unavailable for return to play (Disintegrated etc.) put them into the Graveyard in the Tapped (/T) state. If desired such cards can be permanently removed from the game using the "Remove Card from Play" button instead. Your LPs: # Opponents LPs: # Current Date Current Time <<<>>> This file can then be pasted into your return mailing to your email opponent. The email game files are saved with a default extension of .gam. A new feature in Version 2.30 is the ability to view ascii text files in a small window overlaying the program title area. While the resulting text box is optimized for loading of a *.gam file, that your email opponent sends to you, it can be used to view any ascii text file that is less then 30,000 bytes in size. Files created with word processing formatting codes in them may cause unexpected results and should be avoided. Note: The text box is active and the text present may be edited using the standard Window procedures. Cut, Copy and Paste to the Clipboard is also active and can be invoked using the keyboard commands, Ctrl-X, CTRL-INS, and SHIFT-INS as normal. At this time no option to save these changes are provided so if the text box contents are to used to create your email file the text should be copied to the Clipboard before exiting the program by selecting the text and using the Control-Insert keyboard command. The file can then be pasted as normal into your preferred Windows word processor. 3.0 GETTING STARTED Basically that's all you need to know to use the program. A step by step procedure for starting a new email game would be as follows. 1. Start the mtg_pbem.exe program under Windows. 2. Choose the Deck Menu, then go to Deck Creation. 3. Create your Deck from the Deck Creation Module, Save it as a deck file so it can be used in future games without having to be reentered. 4. Exit the Deck Creation Module, and choose YES when asked if you'd like this deck transferred to the Game Play Module. 5. On your first turn, click the "Draw Card from Library" button to draw your starting cards and use the other buttons to play them to your territory as desired and allowed. 6. Transfer your turn events, (Play Land, Summon Creature, Attack, etc.) to the text file you'll send to your email opponent as if you had played the turn out using the actual cards. 7. Create and Copy the Email *.gam text file into your mailing which will give your opponent a snapshot of your board situation as it was at the end of your turn. 8. Choose Save Game from the File Menu to save the current status of your territory. The default extension is .mtg Your game is now saved and can be returned to once your opponents email letter is received by reloading the program, choosing Load Game from the File Menu, and repeating steps 5 thru 7. 4.0 FINAL NOTES & COPYRIGHT NOTICES Since the program makes use of the full text of the cards the following notice is required by Wizards of the Coast. This listing is composed of copyrighted material from Magic: The Gathering, a product of Wizards of the Coast Inc. Wizards of the Coast{R}, Deckmaster{tm}, Magic: The Gathering{tm}, Magic{tm}, Arabian Nights{tm}, Antiquities{tm}, Legends{tm}, The Dark{tm}, Fallen Empires{tm}, and Ice Age{tm} are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc. There, now the legal types can go back to playing Magic{tm}. Planned enhancements if interest is great enough are... 1. The ability to create "sealed decks" conforming to the random distributions of Wizards of the Coast prepared Starters, 8 card boosters, and 15 card boosters. 2. Further expansion of the info given in the Deck Statistics window. Let me know what deck information you'd like to see here. Please feel free to send any and all comments my way regarding any aspect of the program. GENIE address is M.STACHOWSK1. INTERNET address MLStack@AOL.COM USPS address is Michael Stachowski 8817 Heath Rd. Colden NY 14033 I generally respond to my email 2 or 3 times a day. I can also be reached at 716 941 5716 after 4pm EST. Good Gaming! Later, Mike S. SHAREWARE REGISTRATION FORM Names and Addresses will be used only to provide updates on new versions, card database errata and bug fixes/workarounds. No commercial use of the information will occur. Mail To: Michael Stachowski 8817 Heath Rd. Colden NY 14033 =======================CUT================HERE======================== Version 2.40 6/28/95 Name: _________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ EMail Address: ________________________________________________ How did you receive this program?: < > Downloaded from GENIE < > Downloaded from AOL < > Downloaded from MSN < > Downloaded from Internet ftp site Please list the ftp site _________________________ < > Downloaded from WWW Site Please list the WWW site _________________________ < > Other Please list _________________________ Would you like to be kept updated on new versions of this program?: < > YES! Specify via < > Email Address < > Mailing Address < > NO Comments: =======================CUT================HERE=======================