-.\" $NetBSD: phantasia.6,v 1.4 2001/04/02 22:41:43 wiz Exp $
+.\" $NetBSD: phantasia.6,v 1.13 2009/05/26 01:34:32 dholland Exp $
.\"
.Dd April 1, 2001
.Dt PHANTASIA 6
.Op Fl abHmpSsx
.Sh DESCRIPTION
.Nm
-is a role playing game
-which allows players to roll up characters of various types to fight
-monsters and other players.
+is a role-playing game that allows players to create characters of
+various types to fight monsters and other players.
Progression of characters is based upon gaining experience from fighting
-monsters (and other players).
+monsters and other players.
.Pp
-Most of the game is menu driven and self-explanatory (more or less).
+Most of the game is menu-driven and more or less self-explanatory.
The screen is cursor updated, so be sure to set up the
.Ev TERM
variable in your environment.
-.Pp
-The options provide for a variety of functions to support the game.
-They are:
-.Pp
+.Sh OPTIONS
.Bl -tag -width aaa -offset indent
.It Fl a
-Get a listing of all character names on file.
+List all character names on file.
.It Fl b
Show scoreboard of top characters per login.
.It Fl H
Print header only.
.It Fl m
-Get a monster listing.
+List monsters.
.It Fl p
Purge old characters.
.It Fl S
-Turn on wizard options, if allowed, if running as
-.Dq root .
+Turn on wizard mode, if allowed.
+(Wizard mode is restricted to the super-user.)
.It Fl s
-Invokes
-.Nm
-without header information.
+Skip printing the header.
.It Fl x
Examine/change a particular character on file.
.El
+.Sh PARTICULARS
.Pp
-The characters are saved on a common file, in order to make the game
-interactive between players. The characters are given a password
-in order to retrieve them later. Only characters above
+The game is multiplayer and game data is saved in a shared common
+location.
+Characters are password-protected to prevent abuse.
+Only characters above
.Em level
-zero are saved. Characters unused for awhile will be purged.
+zero are saved.
+Characters that are left unused for sufficiently long will be purged.
Characters are only placed on the scoreboard when they die.
-.Sh AUTHOR
-Edward Estes, AT&T Information Systems, Skokie, IL
-.Sh PARTICULARS
-.Ss "Normal Play"
+.Pp
+The world is based on a Cartesian coordinate system.
+New characters are placed randomly near the origin (center).
+.Ss Normal Play
A number of the player's more important statistics are almost always
displayed on the screen, with maximums (where applicable) in
parentheses.
.Pp
-The character is placed randomly near the center of a cartesian
-system.
Most commands are selected with a single letter or digit.
-For example, one may move by hitting 'W', 'S', 'N', or 'E',
-(lower case may also be used, at no time is the game case dependent).
-One may also use 'H', 'J', 'K', 'L',
-for movement, similar to
+For example, one may move by hitting
+.Sq W ,
+.Sq S ,
+.Sq N ,
+or
+.Sq E .
+Lower case may also be used; the game is not case-sensitive.
+One may also use
+.Sq H ,
+.Sq J ,
+.Sq K ,
+and
+.Sq L
+for movement, as with
.Xr vi 1 .
To move to a specific (x, y) coordinate, use the
.Ic move
-('1') command. The distance a character can move is calculated by
+.Pq Sq 1
+command.
+A character can move a maximum distance of
1 plus 1.5 per
-.Em level .
-Moving in a compass direction will move the player the maximum
+.Em level
+at once.
+Entering a compass direction will move the player the maximum
allowed distance in that direction.
.Pp
-A player may see who else is playing by using the
+The
.Ic players
-('2') option. One may see the coordinates of those who are the same
-distance or closer to the origin as he/she.
-.Em Kings ,
+.Pq Sq 2
+command shows who else is playing.
+The exact position is shown for those who are a similar distance or
+not as far from the origin.
+.Em Kings
and
.Em council of the wise
-can see and can be seen by everyone. A
+can see and be seen by everyone.
+A
.Em palantir
removes these restrictions.
.Pp
One can talk to other players with the
.Ic talk
-('3') option. In general, this is a line or so of text. To remove a current
-message, just type <return> when prompted for a message.
+.Pq Sq 3
+option.
+This sends a line of text to everyone.
+To remove the current message, just type
+.Aq return
+when prompted for a message.
.Pp
The
.Ic stats
-('4') option shows additional characteristics of a player.
+.Pq Sq 4
+option shows additional characteristics of a player.
.Pp
-One may leave the game either with the
+The
.Ic quit
-('5') option.
+.Pq Sq 5
+command exits the game.
.Pp
-One may rest by default. Resting lets one regain maximum
+One may rest by default.
+Resting lets one regain maximum
.Em energy level ,
and also lets one find
-.Em mana
-(more is found for larger levels and further distances from the origin).
+.Em mana .
+More mana is found at larger levels and further distances from the origin.
.Pp
-One may call a monster by hitting '9' or 'C'.
+One may call a monster by hitting
+.Sq 9
+or
+.Sq C .
.Pp
-Use 'X' to examine other players.
+Use
+.Sq X
+to examine other players.
.Pp
One may quit or execute a sub-shell by hitting interrupt.
-Quitting during battle results in death for obvious reasons.
+Quitting during battle results in death, for obvious reasons.
.Pp
-Several other options become available as the player progresses in
+Several further commands become available as the player progresses in
.Em level
and
.Em magic ,
-or to other stations in the game (
-.Em valar ,
+or to other stations in the game
+.Em ( valar ,
.Em council of the wise ,
.Em king ) .
These are described elsewhere.
In general, a control-L will force the redrawing of the screen.
.Pp
Other things which may happen are more or less self-explanatory.
-.Ss "Fighting Monsters"
-A player has several options while fighting monsters. They are as follows:
+.Ss Fighting Monsters
+A player has several options while fighting monsters.
+They are as follows:
.Bl -tag -width skirmish -offset indent
.It Ic melee
Inflicts damage on the monster, based upon
.Em quickness
instead.
.It Ic evade
-Attempt to run away. Success is based upon both the player's and
-the monster's
+Attempt to run away.
+Success is based upon both the player's and the monster's
.Em brains
and
.Em quickness .
This also increases the monster's quickness.
Paralyzed monsters wake up very fast when nicked.
.It Ic luckout
-This is essentially a battle of wits with the monster. Success is based
-upon the player's and the monster's
+This is essentially a battle of wits with the monster.
+Success is based upon the player's and the monster's
.Em brains .
The player gets credit for slaying the monster if he/she succeeds.
Otherwise, nothing happens, and the chance to
.Ic luckout
is lost.
.El
-.Ss "Character Statistics"
-.Bl -tag -width quickness -offset indent
+.Ss Character Statistics
+.Bl -tag -width energyXlevel -offset indent
.It Em strength
determines how much damage a character can inflict.
.It Em quickness
-determines how many chances a character gets to make decisions while
-fighting.
+determines how many chances a character gets to make decisions while fighting.
.It Em energy level
specifies how much damage a character may endure before dying.
.It Em magic level
.Em age
increases, many personal statistics degenerate.
.El
-.Ss "Character Types"
+.Ss Character Types
Character statistics are rolled randomly from the above list, according
-to character type. The types are as follows:
+to character type.
+The types are as follows:
.Bl -tag -width "experimento" -offset indent
.It Em magic user
strong in
.Em magic level
and
.Em brains ,
-weak in other areas. Must rely on wits and magic to survive.
+weak in other areas.
+Must rely on wits and magic to survive.
.It Em fighter
good in
.Em strength
and
.Em energy level ,
-fairly good in other areas. This adds up to a well-equipped fighter.
+fairly good in other areas.
+This adds up to a well-equipped fighter.
.It Em elf
very high
.Em quickness
and above average
-.Em magic level
-are
-.Em elves
-selling points.
+.Em magic level .
.It Em dwarf
very high
.Em strength
Born with some
.Em experience .
.It Em experimento
-very mediocre in all areas. However, the
+very mediocre in all areas.
+However, the
.Em experimento
may be placed almost anywhere within the playing grid.
.El
.\" .El
.Pp
Not only are the starting characteristics different for the different
-character types, the characteristics progress at different rates for the
+character types, but the characteristics progress at different rates for the
different types as the character goes up in
.Em level .
.Em Experimentoes Ns '
is summarized in the following table.
.Pp
.TS
+nokeep ;
l c c c c c
l n n n n n.
Type Strength Mana Energy Brains Magic
can overcome the player, and how much
.Em poison
the player can withstand.
-.Ss "Spells"
+.Ss Spells
During the course of the game, the player may exercise his/her
-magic powers. These cases are described below.
+magic powers.
+These cases are described below.
.Bl -tag -width "all or nothing" -offset indent
.It Ic cloak
.Em magic level necessary :
.Em mana used :
35 plus 3 per rest period
.br
-Used during normal play. Prevents monsters from finding the character,
-as well as hiding the player from other players. His/her coordinates
-show up as '?' in the
+Used during normal play.
+Prevents monsters from finding the character,
+as well as hiding the player from other players.
+His/her coordinates show up as '?' in the
.Ic players
-option. Players cannot collect
+option.
+Players cannot collect
.Em mana ,
find trading posts, or discover the
.Em grail
-while cloaked. Calling a monster uncloaks, as well as choosing
-this option while cloaked.
+while cloaked.
+Calling a monster uncloaks, as does choosing this option while cloaked.
.It Ic teleport
.Em magic level necessary :
40 (plus level 12)
.Em mana used :
30 per 75 moved
.br
-Used during normal play. Allows the player to move with much more freedom
-than with the
+Used during normal play.
+Allows the player to move with much more freedom than with the
.Ic move
-option, at the price of expending mana. The maximum distance possible
-to move is based upon
+option, at the price of expending mana.
+The maximum distance possible to move is based upon
.Em level
and
.Em magic level .
5 times
.Em level
.br
-Used during inter-terminal battle. Damage is based upon
+Used during inter-terminal battle.
+Damage is based upon
.Em magic level
and
.Em strength .
1
.br
Used while combating monsters.
-Has a 25% chance of working. If it works it hits the monster just enough
-to kill it. If it fails, it doesn't hit the monster, and doubles the
-monster's
+Has a 25% chance of working.
+If it works it hits the monster just enough to kill it.
+If it fails, it doesn't hit the monster, and doubles the monster's
.Em quickness
and
.Em strength .
.Em mana used :
variable
.br
-Used while combating monsters. Hits the monster based upon the amount
+Used while combating monsters.
+Hits the monster based upon the amount
of
.Em mana
expended and
.Em mana used :
30
.br
-Used during monster combat. Throws up a shield to protect from damage.
+Used during monster combat.
+Throws up a shield to protect from damage.
The shield is added to actual energy level, and is a fixed number, based
-upon maximum energy. Normally, damage occurs first to the shield, and
-then to the players actual
+upon maximum energy.
+Normally, damage occurs first to the shield and then to the players actual
.Em energy level .
.It Ic transform
.Em magic level necessary :
.Em mana used :
50
.br
-Used during monster combat. Transforms the monster randomly into one
-of the 100 monsters from the monster file.
+Used during monster combat.
+Transforms the monster randomly into one of the 100 monsters from
+the monster file.
.It Ic increase might
.Em magic level necessary :
35
.Em mana used :
75
.br
-Used during combat with monsters. Increases strength up to a maximum.
+Used during combat with monsters.
+Increases strength up to a maximum.
.It Ic invisibility
.Em magic level necessary :
45
.Em mana used :
90
.br
-Used while fighting monsters. Makes it harder for the monster to hit,
-by temporarily increasing the player's
+Used while fighting monsters.
+Makes it harder for the monster to hit, by temporarily increasing the player's
.Em quickness .
This spell may be thrown several times, but a maximum level will be reached.
.It Ic transport
.Em mana used :
125
.br
-Used during monster combat. Transports the monster away from the
-player. Success is base upon player's
+Used during monster combat.
+Transports the monster away from the player.
+Success is based upon player's
.Em magic
and
.Em brains ,
and the monster's
.Em experience .
-If it fails the player is transported instead. 60% of the time, the monster
-will drop any treasure it was carrying.
+If it fails the player is transported instead.
+60% of the time, the monster will drop any treasure it was carrying.
.It Ic paralyze
.Em magic level necessary :
75
.Dq Freezes
the monster by putting its
.Em quickness
-slightly negative. The monster will slowly wake up. Success is based
-upon player's
+slightly negative.
+The monster will slowly wake up.
+Success is based upon player's
.Em magic
and the monster's
.Em experience .
.Em council of the wise .
Allows the player to pick which monster to fight.
.El
-.Ss "Monsters"
-Monsters get bigger as one moves farther from the origin (0,0). Rings of
-distance 125 from the origin determine the size. A monster's
+.Ss Monsters
+Monsters get bigger farther from the origin (0,0).
+Rings of distance 125 from the origin determine the size.
+A monster's
.Em experience ,
.Em energy level ,
and
.Em quickness
remains the same, regardless of size.
.Pp
-Also, nastier monsters are found as one progress farther out
-from the origin. Monsters also may flock. The percent chance of that
-happening is designated as
+Also, nastier monsters are found as one progresses farther out from the origin.
+Monsters also may flock.
+The percent chance of that happening is designated as
.Em flock%
-in the monster listing. Monsters outside the first ring
+in the monster listing.
+Monsters outside the first ring
may carry treasure, as determined by their treasure type.
-Flocking monsters, and bigger monsters increase the chances of treasure.
+Flocking monsters, and bigger monsters, increase the chances of treasure.
.Pp
-Certain monsters have special abilities; they are as follows:
+Certain monsters have special abilities, as follows:
.Bl -tag -width "Assorted Faeries"
.It Em Unicorn
can only be subdued if the player is in possession of a
.It Em Modnar
has random characteristics, including treasure type.
.It Em Mimic
-will pick another name from the list of monsters in order to
-confuse.
+will pick another name from the list of monsters in order to confuse.
.It Em Dark Lord
-very nasty person. Does not like to be hit (especially nicked),
+very nasty person.
+Does not like to be hit (especially nicked),
and many spells do not work well (or at all) against him.
One can always
.Em evade
from the
.Em Dark Lord .
.It Em Leanan-Sidhe
-also a very nasty person. She will permanently sap
+also a very nasty person.
+She will permanently sap
.Em strength
from someone.
.It Em Saruman
.Em palantir .
Also,
.Em Saruman
-may turn a player's gems into gold pieces,
-or scramble her/his stats.
+may turn a player's gems into gold pieces, or scramble her/his stats.
.It Em Thaumaturgist
can transport a player.
.It Em Balrog
instead of any shield the player may have thrown up.
This is a very easy way to die.
.It Em Cerberus
-loves metal and will steal all the metal treasures from
-a player if able.
+loves metal and will steal all the metal treasures from a player if able.
.It Em Ungoliant
-can bite and poison. This inflicts five
+can bite and poison.
+This inflicts five
.Em poisons ,
and also takes one from the player's
.Em quickness .
.Em ex-valar .
Fights with
.Em Morgoth
-end when either he or the player dies. His characteristics
-are calculated based upon the player's. The player is given
-the chance to ally with him. No magic, except
-.Ic force field
+end when either he or the player dies.
+His characteristics are calculated based upon the player's.
+The player is given the chance to ally with him.
+No magic, except
+.Ic force field ,
works when battling
.Em Morgoth .
.It Em Troll
.It Em Wraith
may make a player blind.
.El
-.Ss "Treasures"
+.Ss Treasures
The various treasure types are as follows:
.Bl -tag -width "type twelve/thirteen"
.It Type zero
.Pp
All the scrolls except
.Em general knowledge
-automatically call a monster. These preserve any
-spells that were already in effect, but are only in
+automatically call a monster.
+These preserve any spells that were already in effect, but are only in
effect while in battle.
.It Type five
.Em dagger
.It Type nine
.Em golden crown
\- allows the player to become
-.Em king ,
+.Em king
by going to (0,0).
.br
.Em blessing
.Em gems .
These are used at
.Em trading posts
-to buy things. A
+to buy things.
+A
.Em gem
-is worth 1000 gold pieces. Too much
+is worth 1000 gold pieces.
+Too much
.Em gold
-will slow a player down. One may carry 1000 plus 200 per
+will slow a player down.
+One may carry 1000 plus 200 per
.Em level
of
.Em gold .
The more valuable treasures have a greater chance of being cursed.
A cursed treasure knocks
.Em energy level
-very low, and adds 0.25
+very low and adds 0.25
.Em poison .
-.Ss "Rings"
+.Ss Rings
.Em Rings
are only carried by
.Em nazguls
All
.Em rings
rest the player to maximum and cause him/her to hit much harder
-in battle with monsters (assuming one has chosen to use the
+in battle with monsters (assuming the
.Em ring
-for battle.)
+is being used for battle.)
.Pp
Two types of
.Em rings
are cursed and come either from
.Em nazguls
or
-.Em Dark Lord .
+.Em Dark Lords .
After a few times of using these types, the player falls
under the control of the
.Em ring ,
The only way to get rid of a
.Em ring
is to have a monster steal it.
-.Ss "King"
+.Ss King
A player may become
.Em king
by finding a
.Em crown
-and going to (0,0). Players must have a
+and going to (0,0).
+Players must have a
.Em level
in the range of 10 to 1000 to be able to find a
.Em crown .
.Em gold .
.Pp
Once a player is king, he/she may do certain things while in
-the Lord's Chamber (0,0). These are exercised with the
+the Lord's Chamber (0,0).
+These are exercised with the
.Ic decree
('0') option.
.Bl -tag -width "collect taxes"
.It Ic transport
-This is done to another player. It randomly moves the affected
-player about. A
+This is done to another player.
+It randomly moves the affected player about.
+A
.Em charm
protects from transports.
.It Ic curse
-This is done to another player. It is analogous to cursed treasure,
-but worse. It inflicts two
+This is done to another player.
+It is analogous to cursed treasure, but worse.
+It inflicts two
.Em poison ,
knocks
.Em energy level
-very low, and degrades the maximum energy. It also
-removes a
+very low, and degrades the maximum energy.
+It also removes a
.Em cloak .
A
.Em blessing
.Em gold .
The energy void disappears after being hit.
.It Ic bestow
-This is also done to another player. The king may
-wish to reward one or more loyal subjects by sharing his/her
+This is also done to another player.
+The king may wish to reward one or more loyal subjects by sharing his/her
riches
.Em ( gold ) .
-Or it is a convenient way to dispose of some unwanted
-deadweight.
+Or it is a convenient way to dispose of some unwanted deadweight.
.It Ic collect taxes
Everyone pays 7% tax on all
.Em gold
may also
.Ic teleport
anywhere for free by using the origin as a starting place.
-.Ss "Council of the Wise, Valar"
+.Ss Council of the Wise, Valar
A player automatically becomes a member of the
.Em council of the wise
-upon reaching level 3000. Members of the council cannot have
+upon reaching level 3000.
+Members of the council cannot have
.Em rings .
Members of the council have a few extra options which they can exercise.
These are exercised with the
.Ic intervene
-('8') option.
+.Pq Sq 8
+option.
All
.Ic intervene
options cost 1000 mana.
.Ic intervene
option is to
.Ic heal
-another player. This is just a quick way for that player to be rested
+another player.
+This is just a quick way for that player to be rested
to maximum and lose a little
.Em poison .
The main purpose in life for members of the council is to seek the
.Em palantir
under the
.Ic seek grail
-option. The distance cited by the seek is accurate within 10%, in order
+option.
+The distance cited by the seek is accurate within 10%, in order
not to make it too easy to find the grail.
A player must have infinitesimally small
.Em sin ,
flag set.
All
.Ic intervention
-options which affect other players age the player
-who uses them.
+options which affect other players age the player who uses them.
.Em Valars
are essentially immortal, but are actually given five lives.
If these are used up, the player is left to die, and becomes an
Only one valar may exist at a time.
The current valar is replaced when another player finds the grail.
The valar is then bumped back to the council of the wise.
-.Ss "Wizard"
+.Ss Wizard
The
.Em wizard
-is usually the owner of the game, and the one who maintains
+is usually the owner of the game and the one who maintains
the associated files.
The
.Em wizard
.It Ic change players
When examining a player, (game invoked with
.Fl x ,
-or use 'X' from within game), the
+or
+.Sq X
+is used from within game), the
.Em wizard
may also change the player.
.It Ic intervention
.Em wizard
may do all the
.Ic intervention
-options. One extra option,
+options.
+One extra option,
.Ic vaporize ,
is added to kill any offensive players.
.It Ic super character type
-An extra character type is added. This character starts with the
+An extra character type is added.
+This character starts with the
maximum possible in all statistics, selected from the other character types.
A
.Em super
character's statistics also progress at the maximum possible rate, selected
from the other character types.
.El
-.Ss "Special Places"
+.Ss Special Places
Certain regions of the playing grid have different names.
In general, this is only to give the player some idea of
-his/her present location. Some special places do exist.
+his/her present location.
+Some special places do exist.
.Bl -tag -width "Trading Posts"
.It Em Trading Posts
These are located at |x| == |y| == n*n*100 for n = 1, 2, ..., 1000.
Trading posts farther out have more things for sale.
-Be careful about cheating the merchants there, as they have short
-tempers.
+Be careful about cheating the merchants there, as they have short tempers.
Merchants are dishonest about 5% of the time.
.It Em Lord's Chamber
-This is located at (0,0). Only players with
+This is located at (0,0).
+Only players with
.Em crowns
may enter.
.It Em Point of \&No Return
.Em valar
relocate the player.
.It Em Dead Marshes
-This is a band located fairly distant from the origin. The first
-fourteen monsters (water monsters) can normally only be found here.
+This is a band located fairly distant from the origin.
+The first fourteen monsters (water monsters) can normally only be found here.
.It Em Valhala
This place is where the
.Em valar
-resides. It is associated with no particular coordinate on the
-playing grid.
+resides.
+It is associated with no particular coordinate on the playing grid.
.El
-.Ss "Miscellaneous"
+.Ss Miscellaneous
Once a player reaches
.Em level
5, the game will start to time out waiting for input.
.Em medic
wants half of a player's
.Em gold
-to be happy. Offering more than one has, or a negative amount
-will anger the
+to be happy.
+Offering more than one has, or a negative amount will anger the
.Em medic ,
who will make the player worse (add one
.Em poison ) .
.Em mana
and
.Em charms
-a player may posses, based upon
+a player may possess, based upon
.Em level .
.Em Quicksilver
-is always limited to to a maximum of 99.
+is always limited to a maximum of 99.
.Pp
.Em Books
bought at a
Players with
.Em crowns
are identified with a '*' before their character type.
-.Ss "Inter-terminal Battle"
+.Ss Inter-terminal Battle
When two player's coordinates correspond, they may engage in battle.
In general, the player with the highest
.Em quickness
gets the first hit.
-If the two players are severely mis-matched, the stronger player
+If the two players are severely mismatched, the stronger player
is drastically handicapped for the battle.
In order to protect from being stuck in an infinite loop,
-the player waiting for response may time out. Options for battle are:
+the player waiting for response may time out.
+Options for battle are:
.Bl -tag -width "power blast"
.It Ic fight
Inflicts damage upon other person.
.It Ic run away
-Escape from battle. Has a 75% chance of working.
+Escape from battle.
+Has a 75% chance of working.
.It Ic power blast
Battle spell.
.It Ic luckout
-One-time chance to try to win against the foe. Has a 10% chance of
-working.
+One-time chance to try to win against the foe.
+Has a 10% chance of working.
.El
.Pp
Sometimes waits for the other player may be excessive, because
-he/she may be battling a monster. Upon slaying a player in battle
-the winner gets the other's
+he/she may be battling a monster.
+Upon slaying a player in battle the winner gets the other's
.Em experience
and treasures.
.Em Rings
do not work for inter-terminal battle.
+.Sh AUTHORS
+.An Edward Estes ,
+AT\*[Am]T Information Systems, Skokie, IL
.Sh BUGS
All screen formats assume at least 24 lines by at least 80 columns.
No provisions are made for when any of the data items get too big
git.ckatri.com / bsdgames-darwin.git / blobdiff