WIZARD WARS Version 2.1 (c) 1991 made exclusively for WWIV. by N. P. Bucknell AKA The Binary Beast with special help from James Matzdorff AKA Master Skeeve. [This game is constantly being upgraded. To obtain the most recent version, call our BBS at the number listed later in this file. All new users have full access to our board. Just check out The Phantasm Brigade file transfer section for the latest version of WIZARD WARS. Because of our new copy protection scheme, even registered users can upgrade their version this way.] PLEASE NOTE: The Phantasm Brigade is not a real company. It is just an assumed name that a group of authors release their products under so that those that register will be able to get discounts on future products from authors belonging to The Brigade. Thank you for registering WIZARD WARS. You've already earned yourself 10% off (or maybe more if you've registered any of our other products) on your next Brigade product. We appreciate your business and your honesty. Please encourage others to be as honest.... IMPORTANT NOTE: Although Version 1.0 data files are different than 2.x's, 2.x will convert old data files. Therefore, an old game of 1.0 DOES NOT have to be restarted when you upgrade to 2.x. If, for some reason, you decide you ever want to restart a game, simply delete "messages.war" or any of the other data files. Also, when you use WWIV Chainedit to install WIZARD WARS, be certain to specify that WWIV is supposed to use DOS interrupts. I believe it is option "F." If this is not set, the game will run fine locally, but for remote players, the screen will be blank. Be sure that when you set the file name for the game with WWIV Chainedit that you include the path to the game as part of the name and also pass the game a "%1". Hence, it should look something like this: c:\wwiv\doors\games\wizwars\ww.exe %1 The "%1" tells the game the name of your "chain.txt" file. If it is not passed, then the game assumes by default that the file is called "\wwiv\chain.txt". I have heard that in certain, older versions of WWIV, the BBS will not write out a "chain.txt" file if the "%1" is not passed. So, it is a VERY GOOD idea to just type the extra three keystrokes. BEFORE YOU CAN RUN WIZARD WARS you need to create a file in your "gfiles" directory called "togame.war". This file points to the DIRECTORY, NOT THE FILE NAME ITSELF, that WIZARD WARS is located in. If you ever get an error that says something like "WelcomeY.war missing! This game cannot be played without giving credit to the authors," it means that your "togame.war" file is probably pointing to not only the game directory, but also the executable file itself. A correct "togame.war" file would look as follows: c:\wwiv\doors\games\wizwars\ DO NOT FORGET THE FINAL SLASH OR YOU WILL get the aforementioned error. The first time WIZARD WARS is run, it will create all the necessary files. WIZARD WARS will also restart the game after every game is concluded, so after this initial set up, no further maintenance is required. However, if you ever want to restart a game in progress, simply delete the "messages.war" file and the game will restart itself the next time it is run. Our new Super Font mode greatly enhances the player map. To install it on your end, just run the batch file called "wwfont.bat". These files are also in a separate directory if you received WIZARD WARS on a disk. The files in the "wwfont" directory are the same thing but they are intended to be zipped, arced, (or what have you) and put up for players to download. If you find that you like the Super Font, please read the file called "vgamax.txt" for information on sending donations to the author. It is important to remember that even though the Super Font may be installed, it still must be engaged from the game's main menu with the "+" command, otherwise, the map will look no different. I have developed a new copy protection scheme for the game. The registered version and the unregistered version are now one in the same. If you already have a registered copy of 1.0 then EMail me (I am 10@9654) or write me (my address is provided below) and I will provide you with the contents of your "license.war" file. You will be given a checksum number. The game checks this number against your name, bbs, phone, registration date, and registration number. If the number matches then the game can be played just as if it were registered. If the number does not match then the game can still be played but is unregistered. We strongly advise that you register WIZARD WARS. The unregistered version has many features disabled that make the full game very complex and intriguing. The following is a list of crippled functions in the unregistered version: The Stellar Alignment of Portals can only range from 1 to 10 instead of from 1 to 11,111. This really makes Constructing a Portal dangerous because there is a FAR GREATER chance of someone else accidentally tapping into your Portal network. Artifacts can be dug up, but not used. The Dead cannot be Animated to Create Skeletons. Hell Hounds cannot be Summoned. Demons cannot be summoned. If you register the game, everything will work. The best way to decide whether it is worth it to register WIZARD WARS is to ask your users directly in the Voting Booth on WWIV. If they become frustrated by the game because they cannot Summon Demons and such, they will probably ask you to register the game. Suggest to them that they send you donations. Registering WIZARD WARS is easy and can also save you money on future Phantasm Brigade products that you register. We keep track of all our customers; for every Brigade product that you register, you get a cumulative 10% off on any future Brigade product you register. For example, if you register, WIZARD WARS now, you would get 10% off on Lands of Lore II: The Battlegrounds. Then, after registering these two Brigade products, if you decide to register The Final Battle, you will get 20% off. Once you've registered EVEN ONE product with us, you will be able to get ALL OUR FUTURE PRODUCTS for a LOWER price. This discount can become as HIGH AS 50% off. To register simply print out and fill out the following application. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE EXACTLY CORRECT. We may call you by phone to confirm everything. Once we have received your order, you will be mailed the latest version of WIZARD WARS. The game itself may be distributed freely as public domain, but the "license.war" file is for your eyes only. Do not give it to anyone else and do not use someone else's. Running WIZARD WARS with someone else's "license.war" file is foolish. The registration information is always printed out to the screen everytime the game is run; any fool can tell if the BBS number or name printed on the screen is the one he or she called. WIZARD WARS is FULLY protected by all FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS. Giving your "license.war" file away to friends is a FELONY. To register, fill out the following application and mail it to us at: The Phantasm Brigade 1031 Arbutus Chico, CA 95926 (We supply the disk and return postage; speed has first priority.) Enclose a CHECK for $19.99. DO NOT SEND CASH. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We will keep track of all discounts and mail you back your rebate with your disk; each previous product you have registered will save you ten percent. Thank you for your time and watch for future products. Coming soon: The Final Battle: Defender of the Empire. I, The Binary Beast, can be reached on the WWIV board known as Mesopotamia: Mirage Works (#916-891-3546). I am user 10 @ 9654. Coming soon (hopefully): The Final Battle: Defender of the Empire and Lands of Lore II: The Battlegrounds Thanks, The Binary Beast AKA N. P. Bucknell PS- In the first release of WIZARD WARS, it was not made clear that The Phantasm Brigade was not a company. For this reason, many people have made their checks payable to The Phantasm Brigade; such checks cannot be cashed by us. Please tell anyone you know that is interested in registering that the check should be made out to Neal Bucknell. ############################################################################# #****MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO NEAL BUCKNELL, NOT THE PHANTASM BRIGADE.****# ############################################################################# # WIZARD WARS REGISTRATION APPLICATION # # # #FULL REAL NAME: # # # #HANDLE (EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS IN WWIV INIT FILE): # # # #FULL NAME OF BBS (EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS IN WWIV INIT FILE): # # # #EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU HAVE ONE (ie. 10 @ 9654): # # # #BBS PHONE NUMBER: # # # #VOICE PHONE NUMBER: # # # #RETURN ADDRESS: # # # #DISK PREFERENCE (CIRCLE ONE): 5.25" 3.5" # # # #############################################################################