ViewVC Help
View File | Revision Log | Show Annotations | Download File
/cvs/deliantra/Deliantra-Client/resources/pod/intro.pod
Revision: 1.5
Committed: Thu May 25 23:32:01 2006 UTC (18 years, 1 month ago) by root
Branch: MAIN
Changes since 1.4: +1 -1 lines
Log Message:
improved intro.pod

File Contents

# User Rev Content
1 root 1.3 =head1 CFPlus - a Crossfire+ and Crossfire game client.
2 root 1.1
3 root 1.2 =head2 What's Crossfire+ - Basic Game Concepts
4 root 1.1
5 root 1.3 In the words of Frank Tore Johansen, the author of the original Crossfire
6     game:
7    
8     "Crossfire is a multi-player graphical arcade and adventure game made for
9     the X Windows systems environment. It has certain flavours from other
10     games, especially gauntletand the rogue-like games. Any number of players
11     can move around in their own window, finding and using items and battling
12     monsters. They can choose to cooperate or compete in the same world."
13    
14     In the years of development that have followed, Crossfire has grown to
15     encompass hundreds of monsters, thousands of maps to explore, an elaborate
16     magic system, over 15 character types, a system of skills, and many, many
17     artifacts and treasures.
18    
19     Crossfire+ is freely distributed under the GNU license and the code may be
20     obtained from L<http://crossfire.schmorp.de/>.
21    
22 root 1.4 =head1 Getting Started
23 root 1.3
24     First of all, don't be daunted by the apparent complexity of Crossfire -
25     in reality, Crossfire is quite easy to play and character generation is
26     simple. Later on, when you have some experience playing the game, you may
27     wish to read the full manual.
28 root 1.1
29 root 1.2 =head2 User Interface Basics
30 root 1.1
31 root 1.2 # very short description of all ui elements
32 root 1.1
33 root 1.3 =head2 How to create a new Character
34    
35     When you start up Crossfire, you will be asked for a character name and a
36     password (you may need to open the B<Server Setup> dialog for this using
37     the button at the top of the screen). If you are playing for the first
38     time, type any name you like; this will be your character name for the
39     rest of the life of that character. Next, type in any password. Remember:
40     you will need to remember the same password again to play that character
41     again! You can use B<Save Config> to save your settings, including name
42     and password, but if it gets lost recovery is difficult, so remember your
43     password or write it down at a safe place.
44    
45     One more note: it's not a good idea to use "real" passwords to your
46     computer accounts! Doing so may make your system vulnerable to
47     unscrupulous Crossfire server administrators.
48    
49     Your next step will be to generate random (primary) stats for your
50     character (to see the stats, you might have to open the B<Stats Window>
51     using the button at the top of the screen). You aren't limited to the
52     number of times you can roll your stats - so have fun. Notice that the
53     stats are always arranged that the B<Str> stat has the highest value, the
54     B<Cha> stat has the lowest. You may rearrange the order of these values
55     when you decide that you have rolled some decent stats. Two points: you
56     can never roll a character with better stats than an average of straight
57     15's, and you can't roll higher than 18 in a stat.
58    
59     When you roll your character, the stats displayed are the stats you will
60     get as a human (which are unmodified). When satisfied, you can step
61     through a number of races, each with special bonuses in stats.
62    
63     The manual shows how your basic stats will be changed by choosing a
64     different race. The difference between the natural stat limit and 20
65     indicates the bonus/penalty assigned to rolled primary stats. For example,
66     a troll has a maximum strength which is 5 higher than 20-that means he
67     will begin with an additional 5 points added to his strength roll. On the
68     other hand, a troll can never get above 15 in intelligence. This means
69     that your rolled character will have 5 less in intelligence if you choose
70     that race. You should also note that any bonus to an ability can't raise
71     the final number above your racial maximum, and no penalty can give you an
72     ability score less then one; the lowest it can ever get is one.
73    
74     =head3 Selecting a class
75    
76     While each class has its particular strengths and weaknesses, in summary
77     its just a fact that some classes are easier to play than others.
78    
79     For beginning players, the "simple fighter" characters are the easiest
80     to play successfully. The B<Dwarf>, B<Human>, and B<Warrior> are among
81     good earlier choices. As you gain experience with using Crossfire+ you
82     may wish to branch out into other "fighter" characters such as the
83     B<Thief> or B<Elf>, or try your hand at playing "spellcaster" characters
84     like the B<Wizard>, B<Mage>, B<Cleric> or B<Priest>. The "exotic" races
85     (e.g. B<Fireborn>, B<Quetzalcoatl> and B<Wraith>) and the B<Monk> class
86     are the hardest classes to master.
87    
88     One more note: You will probably find any character class that has a low
89     natural B<Int> (for example, the B<Barbarian> class) will have a fairly
90     difficult time at higher levels. Skills, and most importantly, spells,
91     will be more difficult learn. Plan to spend a lot of loot on grimores,
92     prayer books and skill scrolls.
93    
94     =head2 Playing the game
95    
96     #TODO biggers house, binding keys etc.
97    
98 root 1.4 =head1 Hints for Beginning Players
99    
100     # TODO: you are in the beginners house
101     I'm on the starting map, what do I do now? You should be in a city square
102     with a few sign posts in the middle. Move over the signs and apply them
103     ("A") to read what they say.
104    
105     For beginners, there are several maps designed for them. Find these areas
106     and clear them out. All throughout these levels, a player can find signs
107     and books which they can read by stepping onto them and hitting B<space
108     bar> to apply the book/sign. These messages will help the player to learn
109     the system. Probably the first, best area for a beginning player to start
110     out in is "Beginners." This area is a small house located southwest of
111     your starting location.
112    
113     =head2 Flailing about with spells
114    
115     Some items are perishable. If you shoot a fireball into a room full of
116     scrolls, you will notice them going up in smoke! So be careful not to
117     destroy valuable items.
118    
119     =head2 Tips on surviving
120    
121     Crossfire+ is populated with a wealth of different monsters. These monsters
122     can have varying immunities and attacktypes. In addition, some of them can
123     be quite a bit smarter than others. It will be important for new players
124     to learn the abilities of different monsters and learn just how much it
125     will take to kill them.
126    
127     Most monsters in the game are out to mindlessly kill and destroy the
128     players. Killing monsters will help boost a player's score. When fighting
129     a large amount of monsters in a single room, attempt to find a narrower
130     hallway so that you are not being attacked from all sides. Charging into a
131     room full of Beholders would not be wise, instead, open the door and fight
132     them one at a time.
133    
134     More advice can be found in the Survival Guide
135     L<http://crossfire.real-time.com/guides/survival_guide/index.html>.
136    
137     =head2 Priorities for low-level characters
138    
139     The priority for characters below about 5th level is to gain some basic
140     items. In this regard, better armour and better spells are best. Look for
141     a quest among the various islands that will allow you to obtain mithril
142     mail. Whenever you scrape together ~100-200 platinum pieces go shopping
143     for armour and weapons (or spells). If you are a fighter type, try to have
144     at least a +2 weapon, +2 helmet, +2 suit of armour, and +2 shield before
145     you reach 5th level. For wizards, attempt to recover enough treasure to
146     be able to buy up good attack spells. For priests, first thing to do is
147     worship a god! Try to get the holy word prayer as soon as possible. Make
148     sure your current god allows good potential use of this spell.
149    
150     For all classes, get access to the detect magic incantation as soon as
151     possible. This will allow you to sort through the treasure you find while
152     you're in the dungeon, and will save you time and money at the shops.
153    
154     =head2 Diseases
155    
156     Diseases are, well, diseases. They can be contageous or not, and can be
157     contracted in a number of ways, and they vary greatly in their symptoms
158     and dangerousness.
159    
160     Diseases have "levels". If you contract a disease and recover naturally,
161     you're immune to that disease forever, provided the instance of the
162     disease is of equal or lower level than your immunity.
163    
164     For example, you get a case of the flu cast by yourself at level 15. When
165     you get over it, you're immune to any flu of level less than 16. When you
166 root 1.5 become level 16 and cast the flu again, you are I<not> immune.
167 root 1.4
168     Spells such as B<cure disease> or B<restoration> will remove a disease, but
169     will not grant immunity.
170    
171     When cast as a spell, diseases's severity is level dependent. A 30th level
172     cold is a I<lot> more severe than a level 2 cold.
173    
174     Undead are I<never> affected by any disease.
175    
176     Any priest player who isn't denied the path of wounding may learn and B<cast
177     cause> B<cold>, B<flu>, B<typhoid>, B<anthrax> and B<leprosy> spells.
178    
179     Any priest with a high enough B<Wis> and with a religion that is attuned
180     to wounding may learn to B<cast cause> B<smallpox>, B<white death> and
181     B<red death> by praying at his altar.
182    
183     The I<damage> caused each round varies between 0 and the maximum listed
184     for a disease. So you can inflict a I<mild> case of ebola, which would
185     I<not> kill a monster, or a severe one capable of killing it.
186    
187     # TODO: disease table, but needs heavy reformatting
188    
189 root 1.3 =head1 Authors
190    
191     Parts of this document were originally compiled, edited, and written by
192     Brian Thomas, Klaus Elsbernd, and John W. Klar. Additional information
193     compiled by Maciej Kalisiak, Gorlin, Anton Oussik and Gene Alexander.
194 root 1.1
195 root 1.3 Adapted for use by I<cfplus>, enhanced and corrected by Pippijn van
196     Steenhoven and Marc A. Lehmann.
197 root 1.1