[ViewVC] Annotation of: cvs/deliantra/server/doc/experience



   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
   A New EXPERIENCE/SKILLS system for CF
   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

        This patch represents a "developer's" version of the exp/skills 
   system. While I have now achieved all of the objectives
   in sections "B" and "C" of the coding proposal (see README.PROPOSAL) 
   and have play-tested as much of the code as possible, I am sure some 
   big bugs must remain. (One for sure is that exp gained when using 
   rod/horn/wand is wrong.) 

   Below this section I outline 1) coding philosophy, 2) gross 
   description of how the code impinges/interacts within older 
   code. 3) designer's notes on the changes to the code.   

   Comments on any area of this coding would be appreciated. Personally,
   I would like to see the Pow stat and a 2-type system of magic
   come into being. After all of you check out the code, I would 
   like to discuss enhancements/bug fixes/implementation. For instance,
   is it too hard to figure out how to use the code! 

   Sometime tomorrow exp2.tar.gz will be available in pub/thomas on
   ftp.astro.psu.edu.

                                                b.t.


   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
   CODE PHILOSOPHY - 
   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

        To move CF over to a new skills-based experience system. In
   this implementation several kinds of experience will exist. Players
   will gain experience in each kind of experience (or category) 
   based on their actions in the game. The sum of all the various
   categories of experience equals the player "score", from which 
   dam, wc, and hp are determined.

       All experience gaining actions will be through the use of
   certain skills -- so called "associated skills". Associated skills
   are each related to 1 kind of experience. Thus, for example,
   "stealing" is a skill associated with "agility" experience.
   There exists also "miscellaneous" skills which allow the use
   of a unique skill, but which are not related to any kind of 
   experience and whose use does not generate experience points. 

        In this implementation, skills and objects are both treated
   as objects in the inventory of the user. Experience "objects"
   each represent one kind of experience and are always invisible. 
   Skills objects each represent one kind of skill available in the
   game. Skills objects may either be invisible or have an associated
   bitmap (in which case they are "tools").  

       All experience gaining actions will be through the use of
   certain skills -- called "associated skills". Associated skills
   are each related to 1 kind of experience. Thus, for example,
   "stealing" is a skill associated with "agility" experience.

   Both Players and NPC's may only use skills which are in their 
   inventories.  NPC's do not use experience objects.

   A breakdown of the properties of skills and exp objects objects is 
   as follows:

   Object       Property                                NPC use? 
   ------       -----------------------------------     -------
   Experience   Each represents a different kind of      NO
                experience in the game. The object 
                in the player inventory keeps track
                of player experience in that category.
                Always is invisible.

   Skill-       Represents a skill the player may        YES 
     associated perform. May be either invisible or
                visible as a "tool". Successful use 
                of this skill generates experience. 
                Experience is allocated to appropriate
                experience object.

   Skill-       Same as above, *but* this skill is not   YES
     miscell.   related to any experience category, and 
                use of this skill generates *no* 
                experience. 


   Linking of associated skills to experience categories is done
   during initialization of the code (in init()) based on the 
   shared stats of both. 
 
   How skills and experience categories are named and linked may be
   changed by editing the skills/experience object archetypes.


   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
   CODE STRUCTURE and IMPLEMENTATION -
   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

        The most important thing is that I moved most of the code into
   the server/skills.c and server/skill_util.c files. The skills code
   is loosely implemented along the lines of the spell code. This is 
   to say that:

        1. skills use (do_skill) is called from fire(). 
        2. there is a skills[] table similar to spells[].
        3. server files skills.c and skill_util.c parallel
           spell_effect.c and spell_util.c in respective
           functionallity. 

   Particular notes about the implementation are outlined below.
 
   Defines
   -------

        #define MAX_EXP_CAT     maximum number of exp categories. Must
                                be >= number in the game. Always include
                                the "NULL" exp object - EXP_NONE.
        #define EXP_NONE (MAX_EXP_CAT - 1)
        #define NROFSKILLS      Equal to the number of elements in the 
                                skills[] array. See skillist.h for more
                                info.
        #define MAX_EXP_IN_OBJ (MAX_EXPERIENCE/MAX_EXP_CAT) the maximum
                                experience that an experience object 
                                may have. See fuller description in 
                                common/living.c 
                                
   Dump switch
   -----------
        How the experience and skills archetypes are configured in 
   any CF session can be seen by using the "-m5" flag. You must have
   DUMP_SWITCHES defined.


   Global parameters
   -----------------
        Unfortunately, I had to make use of several global parameters.
  These are:
                exp_cat[] -     the default experience objects
                nrofexpcat -    number of exp categories in the 
                                current session.

   New Flags used by the code
   --------------------------
        
        FLAG_IS_WOODED -- needed by the woodsman skill. Should be set 
                          on all "wooded" terrain (eg woods2, swamp, etc.)

        FLAG_IS_HILLY  -- needed by the mountaineer skill. Should be 
                          set on all "mountainous" terrain.

        FLAG_READY_WEAPON -- Code needs this for both players and monsters,
                             and its use differs for each.

        FLAG_READY_SKILL -- Code needs this for both players and monsters,  
                            and its use differs for each.
 
   New structures
   --------------
        A couple of changes to the object structure where made:
        (following excerpt taken from structs.h)

/* These are used by the skills code */
  struct obj *chosen_skill;     /* the skill chosen to use */
  struct obj *exp_obj;          /* the exp. obj (category) assoc. w/ this object */
  uint32 hide;                  /* The object is hidden, not invisible */

        And the 'skill' structure used by the skills[] table is:

typedef struct skill_struct {
    char *name;         /* how to describe it to the player */
    short category;     /* the experience category to which this skill belongs */
    long time;          /* How many ticks it takes to use the skill */
    long bexp;          /* base exp gain for this skill */
    float lexp;         /* level multiplier of exp gain for using this skill */
    short stat1;        /* primary stat effecting use of this skill */
    short stat2;        /* secondary stat for this skill */
    short stat3;        /* tertiary stat for this skill */
} skill;

   Interaction of the skills patch with older code 
   -----------------------------------------------
        Interaction of the skills "patch" with older code is minimized.
   below is an outline of how skills/exp code impinges on older CF
   code (did I miss anything here??)):

        -- in apply() and apply_special() changes were made to allow
        the use of skill "tools" and to better handle the readying of
        combat weapons (swords, bows, etc). 

        -- in hit_player() changes made to allow skills control attacking.

        -- cosmetic changes (as in c_object.c to make pick_up() routine
           monster friendly) Changes in c_wiz.c, input.c fall into this
           category.
 
        -- new commands are inserted into the code 'skills' and 
        'use_skills'.

        -- In init() init_new_exp_system() is called. Linking of 
        exp objects/skills is done here.

        -- add_exp() was rewritten to accommodate changes needed.
        new add_exp() is called from all same locations as before,
        plus it is called by do_skill(). See calc_skill_exp() in
        skills_util.c for details of how experience is calculated
        in skill use. 

        -- fix_player() changed to allow skills to affect player/monster
        status.

        -- skill_attack() is called by hit_player().
 
        -- do_skill() is called from fire(). This is the core routine for
        the use of skills. Only other way to use skills is by player
        undertaking an action requiring a skill (a "key" skill). These 
        are currently:
        (unimplemented skills in parenthesis)

        action          skill(s) auto-readied   Notes 
        ------          ---------------------   ---------------------- 
        combat  -       hand_weapons,           Occurs when player: 
                        missile_weapons.                1. readies a weapon 
                                                2. runs into opponent 
                                                *and* has ready weapon 

        wand/rod/horn-  use magic item          Occurs when player zaps
                                                approprite item. 

        magic use -     spellcasting,           Occurs when player 
                        (praying)               attempts to cast a 
                                                spell of appropriate nature 

        rod/horn/wand - (magic item use)        Occurs when player  
        use                                     uses wand/rod/horn.

        In all of these cases, skills are used merely as "keys" needed
        by the player in order to perform an action. For example, if
        a player doesn't have "spellcasting", they are unable to cast
        spells.


   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
   DESIGNER'S NOTES - more nitty gritty 
   &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&


        I have just taken the objectives from the crossfire proposal I 
   made earlier. Each is discussed one-by-one:

>        Part B - Multiple experience categories
>        --------
>         B1 - Multiple categories in which a player may gain experience.

        Experience objects owned by the player are not directly
        viewed. The "skills" command does give some information.
 
>        B3 - Each experience category will have an associated stat(s)-

        There must exist an experience category with Str and Int
        set. Otherwise, no wc, or sp will be gained after 1st
        level. Multiple Str, Int experience objects could exist,
        but will only accelerate player wc, sp gains.
 
>        B4 - Wc, hp and dam will become related to the appropriate

        Right now hp are related to the player "score" which 
        is the total of all player experience. 

>       Part C - Skills
>       --------

>        C1 - Two kinds of skills will be available: "associated" skills
              
        Implemented. Seems to work well.
 
>        C2 - Skills will be objects in the character inventory. These
 
        Implemented. Seems to work well.

>        C3 - experience will be now only be gained through the use of
>            skills associated to one of the categories of experience.

        Implemented. Seems to work well.
 
>        C4 - Both NPC and players will be able to use skills.
 
        Implemented. Seems to work well.

>        C5 - Players will be able to learn skills by reading scrolls of

        Fixed a minor bug in this.


General background note on why experience objects change stats from
Brian Thomas, Aug 20, 1997:

        Nope. Stats are used by experience objects to 'tag' the 
        category of experience, ie

                "physique" exp objects have Str 1
                "wisdom" exp object have Wis 1

        There shouldnt be an increase in the stat in question.

        [ now for a bit of explaination, longish...]

        This setup seems a bit arcane I know..so why this way?
        Why not hardcode the experience archetypes, eg have type
        EXP_FIGHTING, EXP_MAGIC, and so on?

        Well... at the time I did this, there was some debate about
        what experience system was the best, as some ppl wanted to 
        have only 4 instead of 6 categories, and so on .. (*sigh*).

        In the attempt to make the experience system as flexible as
        possible, I coded the experience 'categories' to be defined
        by the archetypes and using various stats to differentiate 
        them. Properities of the experience categories are set by the
        stat(s) they have defined. To my knowledge the stats have
        the following properties:

                str --> gains experience, from fighting
                con --> controls hp progression somewhat (if a define
                        in living.c is set).
                dex --> gains exp from agility skills
                wis --> gains exp from priest skills, effects grace
                        calculation
                int --> gain exp from mental skills
                cha --> gain exp from personality skills
                pow --> gain exp from wizard skills, effects mana calc.

        So, If you didnt like the current 6 experience catagories and
        wanted only 3 for your server, say "fighting" "presense" and 
        "holyness" you could  remove all of the old experience archetypes 
        and define the following new ones:

        Name      Properties           Explaination
        fighting  Str 1, Con 1, Dex 1  Combines old physique, agility exp
        presence  Pow 1, Cha 1         Combines old magic, personality exp
        holyness  Wis 1                same as old wisdom exp

        So, every player on this server would only see 3 types of 
        experience to be gained. If you fight or steal something, then
        experience points go to the "fighting" category.

        And note, since we DIDNT design an arch with Int 1, there will be
        NO experience gained for use of mental skills (at least in theory
        this should be the case. I dont recogmend leaving out a stat,
        eg you should have a every stat covered between all of your new
        experience archetypes). 

        Even though I wrote a doc to help explain how to do this, probably 
        nobody but me (or maybe Peter) really is knowledgeable enough (and 
        has the desire) to reconfigure the game experience to suit their 
        individual tastes. This might be some code we could 'simplify'
        (heh, remove it).


Revision:	1.2
Committed:	Thu Sep 7 21:42:42 2006 UTC (20 years ago) by pippijn
Branch:	MAIN
CVS Tags:	HEAD
Changes since 1.1:	+0 -0 lines
State:	*FILE REMOVED*
Log Message:	Moved documents to doc/historic
#	User	Rev	Content
1	root	1.1
2
3			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
4			A New EXPERIENCE/SKILLS system for CF
5			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
6
7			This patch represents a "developer's" version of the exp/skills
8			system. While I have now achieved all of the objectives
9			in sections "B" and "C" of the coding proposal (see README.PROPOSAL)
10			and have play-tested as much of the code as possible, I am sure some
11			big bugs must remain. (One for sure is that exp gained when using
12			rod/horn/wand is wrong.)
13
14			Below this section I outline 1) coding philosophy, 2) gross
15			description of how the code impinges/interacts within older
16			code. 3) designer's notes on the changes to the code.
17
18			Comments on any area of this coding would be appreciated. Personally,
19			I would like to see the Pow stat and a 2-type system of magic
20			come into being. After all of you check out the code, I would
21			like to discuss enhancements/bug fixes/implementation. For instance,
22			is it too hard to figure out how to use the code!
23
24			Sometime tomorrow exp2.tar.gz will be available in pub/thomas on
25			ftp.astro.psu.edu.
26
27			b.t.
28
29
30			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
31			CODE PHILOSOPHY -
32			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
33
34			To move CF over to a new skills-based experience system. In
35			this implementation several kinds of experience will exist. Players
36			will gain experience in each kind of experience (or category)
37			based on their actions in the game. The sum of all the various
38			categories of experience equals the player "score", from which
39			dam, wc, and hp are determined.
40
41			All experience gaining actions will be through the use of
42			certain skills -- so called "associated skills". Associated skills
43			are each related to 1 kind of experience. Thus, for example,
44			"stealing" is a skill associated with "agility" experience.
45			There exists also "miscellaneous" skills which allow the use
46			of a unique skill, but which are not related to any kind of
47			experience and whose use does not generate experience points.
48
49			In this implementation, skills and objects are both treated
50			as objects in the inventory of the user. Experience "objects"
51			each represent one kind of experience and are always invisible.
52			Skills objects each represent one kind of skill available in the
53			game. Skills objects may either be invisible or have an associated
54			bitmap (in which case they are "tools").
55
56			All experience gaining actions will be through the use of
57			certain skills -- called "associated skills". Associated skills
58			are each related to 1 kind of experience. Thus, for example,
59			"stealing" is a skill associated with "agility" experience.
60
61			Both Players and NPC's may only use skills which are in their
62			inventories. NPC's do not use experience objects.
63
64			A breakdown of the properties of skills and exp objects objects is
65			as follows:
66
67			Object Property NPC use?
68			------ ----------------------------------- -------
69			Experience Each represents a different kind of NO
70			experience in the game. The object
71			in the player inventory keeps track
72			of player experience in that category.
73			Always is invisible.
74
75			Skill- Represents a skill the player may YES
76			associated perform. May be either invisible or
77			visible as a "tool". Successful use
78			of this skill generates experience.
79			Experience is allocated to appropriate
80			experience object.
81
82			Skill- Same as above, but this skill is not YES
83			miscell. related to any experience category, and
84			use of this skill generates no
85			experience.
86
87
88			Linking of associated skills to experience categories is done
89			during initialization of the code (in init()) based on the
90			shared stats of both.
91
92			How skills and experience categories are named and linked may be
93			changed by editing the skills/experience object archetypes.
94
95
96			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
97			CODE STRUCTURE and IMPLEMENTATION -
98			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
99
100			The most important thing is that I moved most of the code into
101			the server/skills.c and server/skill_util.c files. The skills code
102			is loosely implemented along the lines of the spell code. This is
103			to say that:
104
105			1. skills use (do_skill) is called from fire().
106			2. there is a skills[] table similar to spells[].
107			3. server files skills.c and skill_util.c parallel
108			spell_effect.c and spell_util.c in respective
109			functionallity.
110
111			Particular notes about the implementation are outlined below.
112
113			Defines
114			-------
115
116			#define MAX_EXP_CAT maximum number of exp categories. Must
117			be >= number in the game. Always include
118			the "NULL" exp object - EXP_NONE.
119			#define EXP_NONE (MAX_EXP_CAT - 1)
120			#define NROFSKILLS Equal to the number of elements in the
121			skills[] array. See skillist.h for more
122			info.
123			#define MAX_EXP_IN_OBJ (MAX_EXPERIENCE/MAX_EXP_CAT) the maximum
124			experience that an experience object
125			may have. See fuller description in
126			common/living.c
127
128			Dump switch
129			-----------
130			How the experience and skills archetypes are configured in
131			any CF session can be seen by using the "-m5" flag. You must have
132			DUMP_SWITCHES defined.
133
134
135			Global parameters
136			-----------------
137			Unfortunately, I had to make use of several global parameters.
138			These are:
139			exp_cat[] - the default experience objects
140			nrofexpcat - number of exp categories in the
141			current session.
142
143			New Flags used by the code
144			--------------------------
145
146			FLAG_IS_WOODED -- needed by the woodsman skill. Should be set
147			on all "wooded" terrain (eg woods2, swamp, etc.)
148
149			FLAG_IS_HILLY -- needed by the mountaineer skill. Should be
150			set on all "mountainous" terrain.
151
152			FLAG_READY_WEAPON -- Code needs this for both players and monsters,
153			and its use differs for each.
154
155			FLAG_READY_SKILL -- Code needs this for both players and monsters,
156			and its use differs for each.
157
158			New structures
159			--------------
160			A couple of changes to the object structure where made:
161			(following excerpt taken from structs.h)
162
163			/* These are used by the skills code */
164			struct obj chosen_skill; / the skill chosen to use */
165			struct obj exp_obj; / the exp. obj (category) assoc. w/ this object */
166			uint32 hide; /* The object is hidden, not invisible */
167
168			And the 'skill' structure used by the skills[] table is:
169
170			typedef struct skill_struct {
171			char name; / how to describe it to the player */
172			short category; /* the experience category to which this skill belongs */
173			long time; /* How many ticks it takes to use the skill */
174			long bexp; /* base exp gain for this skill */
175			float lexp; /* level multiplier of exp gain for using this skill */
176			short stat1; /* primary stat effecting use of this skill */
177			short stat2; /* secondary stat for this skill */
178			short stat3; /* tertiary stat for this skill */
179			} skill;
180
181			Interaction of the skills patch with older code
182			-----------------------------------------------
183			Interaction of the skills "patch" with older code is minimized.
184			below is an outline of how skills/exp code impinges on older CF
185			code (did I miss anything here??)):
186
187			-- in apply() and apply_special() changes were made to allow
188			the use of skill "tools" and to better handle the readying of
189			combat weapons (swords, bows, etc).
190
191			-- in hit_player() changes made to allow skills control attacking.
192
193			-- cosmetic changes (as in c_object.c to make pick_up() routine
194			monster friendly) Changes in c_wiz.c, input.c fall into this
195			category.
196
197			-- new commands are inserted into the code 'skills' and
198			'use_skills'.
199
200			-- In init() init_new_exp_system() is called. Linking of
201			exp objects/skills is done here.
202
203			-- add_exp() was rewritten to accommodate changes needed.
204			new add_exp() is called from all same locations as before,
205			plus it is called by do_skill(). See calc_skill_exp() in
206			skills_util.c for details of how experience is calculated
207			in skill use.
208
209			-- fix_player() changed to allow skills to affect player/monster
210			status.
211
212			-- skill_attack() is called by hit_player().
213
214			-- do_skill() is called from fire(). This is the core routine for
215			the use of skills. Only other way to use skills is by player
216			undertaking an action requiring a skill (a "key" skill). These
217			are currently:
218			(unimplemented skills in parenthesis)
219
220			action skill(s) auto-readied Notes
221			------ --------------------- ----------------------
222			combat - hand_weapons, Occurs when player:
223			missile_weapons. 1. readies a weapon
224			2. runs into opponent
225			and has ready weapon
226
227			wand/rod/horn- use magic item Occurs when player zaps
228			approprite item.
229
230			magic use - spellcasting, Occurs when player
231			(praying) attempts to cast a
232			spell of appropriate nature
233
234			rod/horn/wand - (magic item use) Occurs when player
235			use uses wand/rod/horn.
236
237			In all of these cases, skills are used merely as "keys" needed
238			by the player in order to perform an action. For example, if
239			a player doesn't have "spellcasting", they are unable to cast
240			spells.
241
242
243			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
244			DESIGNER'S NOTES - more nitty gritty
245			&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
246
247
248			I have just taken the objectives from the crossfire proposal I
249			made earlier. Each is discussed one-by-one:
250
251			> Part B - Multiple experience categories
252			> --------
253			> B1 - Multiple categories in which a player may gain experience.
254
255			Experience objects owned by the player are not directly
256			viewed. The "skills" command does give some information.
257
258			> B3 - Each experience category will have an associated stat(s)-
259
260			There must exist an experience category with Str and Int
261			set. Otherwise, no wc, or sp will be gained after 1st
262			level. Multiple Str, Int experience objects could exist,
263			but will only accelerate player wc, sp gains.
264
265			> B4 - Wc, hp and dam will become related to the appropriate
266
267			Right now hp are related to the player "score" which
268			is the total of all player experience.
269
270			> Part C - Skills
271			> --------
272
273			> C1 - Two kinds of skills will be available: "associated" skills
274
275			Implemented. Seems to work well.
276
277			> C2 - Skills will be objects in the character inventory. These
278
279			Implemented. Seems to work well.
280
281			> C3 - experience will be now only be gained through the use of
282			> skills associated to one of the categories of experience.
283
284			Implemented. Seems to work well.
285
286			> C4 - Both NPC and players will be able to use skills.
287
288			Implemented. Seems to work well.
289
290			> C5 - Players will be able to learn skills by reading scrolls of
291
292			Fixed a minor bug in this.
293
294
295			General background note on why experience objects change stats from
296			Brian Thomas, Aug 20, 1997:
297
298			Nope. Stats are used by experience objects to 'tag' the
299			category of experience, ie
300
301			"physique" exp objects have Str 1
302			"wisdom" exp object have Wis 1
303
304			There shouldnt be an increase in the stat in question.
305
306			[ now for a bit of explaination, longish...]
307
308			This setup seems a bit arcane I know..so why this way?
309			Why not hardcode the experience archetypes, eg have type
310			EXP_FIGHTING, EXP_MAGIC, and so on?
311
312			Well... at the time I did this, there was some debate about
313			what experience system was the best, as some ppl wanted to
314			have only 4 instead of 6 categories, and so on .. (sigh).
315
316			In the attempt to make the experience system as flexible as
317			possible, I coded the experience 'categories' to be defined
318			by the archetypes and using various stats to differentiate
319			them. Properities of the experience categories are set by the
320			stat(s) they have defined. To my knowledge the stats have
321			the following properties:
322
323			str --> gains experience, from fighting
324			con --> controls hp progression somewhat (if a define
325			in living.c is set).
326			dex --> gains exp from agility skills
327			wis --> gains exp from priest skills, effects grace
328			calculation
329			int --> gain exp from mental skills
330			cha --> gain exp from personality skills
331			pow --> gain exp from wizard skills, effects mana calc.
332
333			So, If you didnt like the current 6 experience catagories and
334			wanted only 3 for your server, say "fighting" "presense" and
335			"holyness" you could remove all of the old experience archetypes
336			and define the following new ones:
337
338			Name Properties Explaination
339			fighting Str 1, Con 1, Dex 1 Combines old physique, agility exp
340			presence Pow 1, Cha 1 Combines old magic, personality exp
341			holyness Wis 1 same as old wisdom exp
342
343			So, every player on this server would only see 3 types of
344			experience to be gained. If you fight or steal something, then
345			experience points go to the "fighting" category.
346
347			And note, since we DIDNT design an arch with Int 1, there will be
348			NO experience gained for use of mental skills (at least in theory
349			this should be the case. I dont recogmend leaving out a stat,
350			eg you should have a every stat covered between all of your new
351			experience archetypes).
352
353			Even though I wrote a doc to help explain how to do this, probably
354			nobody but me (or maybe Peter) really is knowledgeable enough (and
355			has the desire) to reconfigure the game experience to suit their
356			individual tastes. This might be some code we could 'simplify'
357			(heh, remove it).
358
359