=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 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
("A") 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 and Marc A. Lehmann.