=for image banner.png =head1 CFPlus - a Crossfire+ and Crossfire game client. =head2 What's Crossfire+ - Basic Game Concepts In the words of Frank Tore Johansen, the author of the original Crossfire game: "Crossfire is a multi-player graphical arcade and adventure game made for the X Windows systems environment. It has certain flavours from other games, especially gauntletand the rogue-like games. Any number of players can move around in their own window, finding and using items and battling monsters. They can choose to cooperate or compete in the same world." In the years of development that have followed, Crossfire has grown to encompass hundreds of monsters, thousands of maps to explore, an elaborate magic system, over 15 character types, a system of skills, and many, many artifacts and treasures. Crossfire+ is freely distributed under the General Public License (GPL) and the code may be obtained from L. =head1 Getting Started First of all, don't be daunted by the apparent complexity of Crossfire - in reality, Crossfire is quite easy to play and character generation is simple. Later on, when you have some experience playing the game, you may wish to read the full manual. =head2 User Interface Basics # very short description of all ui elements =head2 Start Playing When starting the client you will see a window in the middle of the screen: =for image sc_login.png There are several settings there: =over 4 =item B In the I entry you can enter the server hostname followed by a colon with the port. The port is per default 13326 if you just enter the hostname. Below the entry there is a button I. If you click on it you will get a server list: =for image sc_login_srvlist.png You can choose from the aviable servers there. (B At the time of this writing (2006-07-23) only I supports all features that are offered by CFPlus). =item B Here you have to enter the character name you would like to play with. If you are playing for the first time, type any name you like; this will be your character name for the rest of the life of that character. As you don't have a character yet you have to create a new character. It will be explained below at the L. =item B Next, type in any password. Remember: you will need to remember the same password again to play that character again! You can use B (see the buttons on the top of the window) to save your settings, including name and password, but if it gets lost recovery is difficult, so remember your password or write it down at a safe place. One more note: it's not a good idea to use "real" passwords to your computer accounts! Doing so may make your system vulnerable to unscrupulous Crossfire server administrators. =back Enter the desired I and I and click on I now. =head2 Character Creation =for item sc_char_create.png Your next step will be to generate random (primary) stats for your character (to see the stats, you might have to open the B using the button at the top of the screen). Hover with the mouse cursor over the stats (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Pow and Cha) to see what they mean or what they do. Or look at L. You can let the dices reroll your stats with the I button, you can I. You aren't limited to the number of times you can roll your stats - so have fun. Notice that the stats are always arranged that the B stat has the highest value, the B stat has the lowest. You may rearrange the order of these values when you decide that you have rolled some decent stats. Two points: you can never roll a character with better stats than an average of straight 15's, and you can't roll higher than 18 in a stat. Finally click on I stats when you think they are fine. The next you will see after accepting the stats will be the race selection: =for image sc_char_create_race.png On the top right a text is displayed that explains the current selected race. If you rearrange the windows like this: =for image sc_char_create_race2.png You will also see the face of the selected race. Click on I and read all the descriptions until you find the right race for your new character. Keep in mind that the races also affect the L. After you clicked I you will see this: (I chose a Halfling for now) =for image sc_new_char.png The dragon on the right is another player that is currently logging in or creating his character. Now go to the south (you can move your character by with the keypad or the cursor keys). You will enter a hall similar to this: =for image sc_new_char_hall.png Step onto the first cell before the teleporter and the description of the character class will be displayed in the message window: =for image sc_new_char_class.png While each class has its particular strengths and weaknesses, in summary its just a fact that some classes are easier to play than others. For beginning players, the "simple fighter" characters are the easiest to play successfully. The B, B, and B are among good earlier choices. As you gain experience with using Crossfire+ you may wish to branch out into other "fighter" characters such as the B or B, or try your hand at playing "spellcaster" characters like the B, B, B or B. The "exotic" races (e.g. B, B and B) and the B class are the hardest classes to master. One more note: You will probably find any character class that has a low natural B (for example, the B class) will have a fairly difficult time at higher levels. Skills, and most importantly, spells, will be more difficult learn. Plan to spend a lot of loot on grimores, prayer books and skill scrolls. If you found a class that you like step on the teleporter. =head2 The first dungeons Next you will land in the nexus: =for image sc_new_char_nexus.png Read the signs by stepping on them and read what they say. These signs automatically display what they have to say in the message window. Other signs you have to read by applying them. You apply something by middle-click it in the floorbox: =for image sc_new_char_floorbox_apply.png Or you can use the I to apply the topmost thing you see in the floorbox. For now go to the north into the newbies house. Read all signs there and follow their instructions. If you see NPC's there, click on them and you will enter the NPC dialouge: =for image sc_newbiew_npc_dialog.png The buttons on the right are options of what you can say to the NPC. You can also click on the links in the text to ask the NPC about that. Another note about entering commands: In crossfire most things are command driven. You can enter commands in two ways: =over 4 =item B =for image sc_chatbox.png If you plan longer chat sessions you maybe prefer this. =item B =for image sc_command_completer.png Read the tooltip that occurs when you hover the mouse above the entry. This completer can speed up commands a lot. =back Ok, I assume now that you finished the newbies house and you are back in the nexus. Now walk to the left, to the exit to I, the main town in the world. It's the main meeting place for most people on the server and it offers newbie dungeons for the beginners. If you walk into the exit you will be teleported to scorn: To the west you see the two beginner houses. Step onto the first one: =for image sc_scorn_beginners_house.png Press spacebar to apply it to enter the house. Like the newbies house in the nexus read all signs and follow their orders: =for image sc_inthe_beginners_house.png After you finished that house, enter the second house and finish it. After finishing those two houses there are multiple dungeons for newbies. The best for you to start is the I: =for image sc_scorn_newbie_tower.png To the north there is the I a well that you can enter. The first parts of the dungeon there are also very nice. =for image sc_scorn_drinking_fountain.png Explore Scorn, there are many dungeons in the houses. Be careful when meeting new monsters, ask questions on the server via the I command and read the documentation here for further information about some topics. Before doing further exploration you maybe want to know how to see your progress and where to see what level you are and what your current stats are. =head2 Displayed information The most important dialog is the I, it can be opened by clicking on the I button on the top of the window or by pressing I. There are also shortcuts to them on the keys I to I. (I brings up this help). Here is a quick explanation what all main information elements in the client gui mean: =over 4 =item B =for image sc_gauges_and_floorbox.png These are the gauges that display your Health, Spellpoints/Mana, Grace and Food. Please hover the mouse cursor above them and read the tooltips. On the bottom of the gauges the maximum value is displayed and on the top the current value. Below the gauges there is the experience and level displayed. The level is increased once you reached a certain amount of experience points. Below that there is the range slot. It displays the currently selected range weapon that you can fire with ctrl+. This could be a bow or a spell. =item B =for image sc_statusbox.png It displays all the current status messages that occur while playing. For example what you hit, if you gained experience, if someone entered the game or if someone said something. The status messages will disappear over time. B Most status messages are also displayed in the message window, for example chatters and if someone entered/left the game. =item B If you press I or open the playerbook via the I button on the top of the window and select the I tab, you will see this: =for image sc_skill_list.png It displays all the skills you have and displays the experience points and level you gained in each. =item B If you want to see what stats and resistancies you currently have, go to the I tab in the I (for example by pressing I). =for image sc_statistics.png Resistancies protect you from a certain type of attack. =item B If you want to see what spells you have learned yet, go to the I tab in the I (for example by pressing I). You wont see there any spell if you just started, but if you learn a spell, it will show up there. If you have learned some spells it should look like this: =for image sc_spellbook.png =back =head2 After playing If you are tired or want to take a break from playing, you have to find a I. The I is the best place to find such a bed for a newbie: =for image sc_wanderers_inn.png Go into it and find a I: =for image sc_bed_to_reality.png If you apply it your character will be saved. Your score will also be displayed and your rank on the hiscore list. =for image sc_score.png =head1 Getting Started (old) =head2 How to create a new Character When you start up Crossfire, you will be asked for a character name and a password (you may need to open the B dialog for this using the button at the top of the screen). If you are playing for the first time, type any name you like; this will be your character name for the rest of the life of that character. Next, type in any password. Remember: you will need to remember the same password again to play that character again! You can use B to save your settings, including name and password, but if it gets lost recovery is difficult, so remember your password or write it down at a safe place. One more note: it's not a good idea to use "real" passwords to your computer accounts! Doing so may make your system vulnerable to unscrupulous Crossfire server administrators. Your next step will be to generate random (primary) stats for your character (to see the stats, you might have to open the B using the button at the top of the screen). You aren't limited to the number of times you can roll your stats - so have fun. Notice that the stats are always arranged that the B stat has the highest value, the B stat has the lowest. You may rearrange the order of these values when you decide that you have rolled some decent stats. Two points: you can never roll a character with better stats than an average of straight 15's, and you can't roll higher than 18 in a stat. When you roll your character, the stats displayed are the stats you will get as a human (which are unmodified). When satisfied, you can step through a number of races, each with special bonuses in stats. The manual shows how your basic stats will be changed by choosing a different race. The difference between the natural stat limit and 20 indicates the bonus/penalty assigned to rolled primary stats. For example, a troll has a maximum strength which is 5 higher than 20-that means he will begin with an additional 5 points added to his strength roll. On the other hand, a troll can never get above 15 in intelligence. This means that your rolled character will have 5 less in intelligence if you choose that race. You should also note that any bonus to an ability can't raise the final number above your racial maximum, and no penalty can give you an ability score less then one; the lowest it can ever get is one. =head3 Selecting a class While each class has its particular strengths and weaknesses, in summary its just a fact that some classes are easier to play than others. For beginning players, the "simple fighter" characters are the easiest to play successfully. The B, B, and B are among good earlier choices. As you gain experience with using Crossfire+ you may wish to branch out into other "fighter" characters such as the B or B, or try your hand at playing "spellcaster" characters like the B, B, B or B. The "exotic" races (e.g. B, B and B) and the B class are the hardest classes to master. One more note: You will probably find any character class that has a low natural B (for example, the B class) will have a fairly difficult time at higher levels. Skills, and most importantly, spells, will be more difficult learn. Plan to spend a lot of loot on grimores, prayer books and skill scrolls. =head2 Playing the game #TODO biggers house, binding keys etc. =head1 Hints for Beginning Players I'm done with class selection, now there are three ways to go, where should I go? It is a good idea to take the northern path into the teleporter leading you to the beginners house. You can learn some basic skills there before journeying onward. Once you are there, you will get many things explained to you. Make sure you investigate every place in that house. I'm on the starting map, what do I do now? You should be in a city square with a few sign posts in the middle. Move over the signs and apply them B to read what they say. For beginners, there are several maps designed for them. Find these areas and clear them out. All throughout these levels, a player can find signs and books which they can read by stepping onto them and hitting B to apply the book/sign. These messages will help the player to learn the system. Probably the first, best area for a beginning player to start out in is "Beginners." This area is a small house located southwest of your starting location. =head2 Flailing about with spells Some items are perishable. If you shoot a fireball into a room full of scrolls, you will notice them going up in smoke! So be careful not to destroy valuable items. =head2 Tips on surviving Crossfire+ is populated with a wealth of different monsters. These monsters can have varying immunities and attacktypes. In addition, some of them can be quite a bit smarter than others. It will be important for new players to learn the abilities of different monsters and learn just how much it will take to kill them. Most monsters in the game are out to mindlessly kill and destroy the players. Killing monsters will help boost a player's score. When fighting a large amount of monsters in a single room, attempt to find a narrower hallway so that you are not being attacked from all sides. Charging into a room full of Beholders would not be wise, instead, open the door and fight them one at a time. More advice can be found in the Survival Guide L. =head2 Priorities for low-level characters The priority for characters below about 5th level is to gain some basic items. In this regard, better armour and better spells are best. Look for a quest among the various islands that will allow you to obtain mithril mail. Whenever you scrape together ~100-200 platinum pieces go shopping for armour and weapons (or spells). If you are a fighter type, try to have at least a +2 weapon, +2 helmet, +2 suit of armour, and +2 shield before you reach 5th level. For wizards, attempt to recover enough treasure to be able to buy up good attack spells. For priests, first thing to do is worship a god! Try to get the holy word prayer as soon as possible. Make sure your current god allows good potential use of this spell. For all classes, get access to the detect magic incantation as soon as possible. This will allow you to sort through the treasure you find while you're in the dungeon, and will save you time and money at the shops. =head2 Diseases Diseases are, well, diseases. They can be contageous or not, and can be contracted in a number of ways, and they vary greatly in their symptoms and dangerousness. Diseases have "levels". If you contract a disease and recover naturally, you're immune to that disease forever, provided the instance of the disease is of equal or lower level than your immunity. For example, you get a case of the flu cast by yourself at level 15. When you get over it, you're immune to any flu of level less than 16. When you become level 16 and cast the flu again, you are I immune. Spells such as B or B will remove a disease, but will not grant immunity. When cast as a spell, diseases's severity is level dependent. A 30th level cold is a I more severe than a level 2 cold. Undead are I affected by any disease. Any priest player who isn't denied the path of wounding may learn and B B, B, B, B and B spells. Any priest with a high enough B and with a religion that is attuned to wounding may learn to B B, B and B by praying at his altar. The I caused each round varies between 0 and the maximum listed for a disease. So you can inflict a I case of ebola, which would I kill a monster, or a severe one capable of killing it. # TODO: disease table needs heavy reformatting anthrax, anthrax, Godpower arthritis, arthritis, Godpower disease_cold, cold, Godpower creeping_frost, creeping frost, Cold diarrhea, the runs, Physical ebola, Red Death, Godpower egg_disease, egg disease, Physical flaming_fart, flaming farts, Physical flu, flu, Godpower immolation, immolation, Fire incontinence, lack of bladder control, Physical insanity, insanity, Confusion leprosy, leprosy, Godpower bubonic_plague, Black Death, Godpower pneumonic_plague, pneumonic plague, Godpower rabies, rabies, Godpower + Confusion scurvy, scurvy, Physical smallpox, smallpox, Godpower tapeworms, tapeworms, Physical tooth_decay, tooth decay, Physical typhoid, typhoid, Godpower warts, warts, Physical =head1 Authors Parts of this document were originally compiled, edited, and written by Brian Thomas, Klaus Elsbernd, and John W. Klar. Additional information compiled by Maciej Kalisiak, Gorlin, Anton Oussik and Gene Alexander. Adapted for use by I, enhanced and corrected by Pippijn van Steenhoven, Marc A. Lehmann and Robin Redeker.