Documentation for Manoeuvre beta version 0.3.5
By Mario Becroft, 1998
INTRODUCTION
This is a beta version of the software. There is currently no proper
documentation, and proper operation of the software is in no way
guaranteed. You use this software at your own risk.
Currently Manoeuvre is free software. Please distribute it anywhere you see
fit, PROVIDED THAT the archive is not modified in any way! If you want to
put the game on some sort of magazine disc, PD library, or software
collection I would appreciate it if you told me about it, though.
If you have any questions about this, contact me at the addresses given
below.
QUICK GAME DESCRIPTION
Manouevre is a small strategy game for two players. You can play locally on
the same machine, or via a network (such as the internet, or a LAN). See
NETWORKING, below, for more information.
The game is played on a grid of 8 by 8 points. Each player has three
units, each of which can be positioned on any one of the grid points. Only
one unit can occupy a grid point at a time, and a unit may not occupy more
than one grid point at a time.
The three units that each player has are a circle, a spade and a heart. The
spade is the most important unit, since when your spade is destroyed, you
lose the game. Therefore the object of the game is to destroy your
opponent's spade.
From here on, we will refer to the players as "red" and "green" since this
is the colour of the two players' pieces. A game consists of a series of
turns. During each turn, both players enter orders for their units. After
both players have confirmed the orders for each of their units, the orders
are carried out. In the first turn, red enters orders first, then green.
During the second turn green enters orders first then red, and so on.
Orders can consist of movement orders (entered by using the arrow keys) or
attack orders (entered by pressing shift while using the arrow keys,
where the arrow direction indicates the direction in which to fire). Each
unit can accept up to 5 orders at a time, and these can be any combination
of orders. The backspace key can be used to erase orders. Once the orders
are entered, the Confirm button or the insert key will confirm the orders
and move on to the next unit. The Undo key lets previous units' orders be
modified.
After both players have entered orders for all their units (or skipped over
all the units they don't want to give orders) the orders are carried out.
The pieces take turns to execute the orders, that is the circle first, then
the spade and finally the heart.
For example, if green started this turn, the order would be green circle,
red circle, green spade, red spade, green heart, red heart.
After all the orders are carried out, the next turn begins, and the players
can enter the next set of orders.
The player to start each turn alternates. That is, in the first turn red
can enter orders first followed by green, in the second turn it's green
then red and so on. This is very important for the game strategy.
Press the help key or choose Help from the file menu at any time to get a
quick summary of the unit abilities and the key presses.
NETWORKING
Although the game can be played be two people at a single machine, one
important feature of the game is the ability to play over a network.
In order to play the game, both players need to have a copy of the game and
a machine capable of running it. A STiK compatible networking system is
required, such as STiK, STinG, or MiNTNet with GlueSTiK. (Make sure you use
an up to date version of GlueSTiK!) Both machines need to be connected by
some sort of network, such as a LAN or the internet. Finally, both players
need to agree on what port to use (normally the default of 13013 is fine)
and at least one of the players needs to know the other machine's address
or ip number. It's a good idea to use something like IRC to find out who is
online ready to play that game, and what their address is.
To initaite the networked game, one player needs to select listen mode.
This is done by choosing File|Network game|Listen for connection. When you
are listening for a connection, anyone else can connect to you and start a
game with you. Since anyone at all can connect to you this way, there is no
need to specify an address for the remote machine.
The other player then needs to connect to the one who is listening. This is
done by choosing File|Network game, putting in the other person's address
or ip number, then clicking on Open connection.
It sounds complicated but it's really quite simple when you try it.
After this, assuming you both chose the same port and got the other
player's address or ip number correct, you will see the connection open and
then a message such as "You are green" or "You are red" appear in the
status line near the bottom of the Manoeuvre window. You are now ready to
play the game as normal.
Note that only the person who's turn it is can enter orders. So don't worry
if nothing seems to happen when you press keys, it's probably just not your
turn.
To talk to other person while playing the game, just type on the keyboard.
The text will appear to the other person at the bottom of the Manoeuvre
window as you type it. You can see what you are typing just below where you
see what the other person is saying.
When you have finished a game, just choose File|New Game (or press Control-
N) and the network connection will remain open, ready for you to continue
with the new game.
CONTACTING ME
This game was made by Mario Becroft. You can contact me at the addresses
below, or you might find me in the #atari channel on IRC, under the name
of Mario (no, I don't have any fancy nickname like some people choose to
do). I'll always be pleased to play a Manoeuvre game with you, if you just
ask me!
email: mb@tos.pl.net
www: http://www.pl.net/~mario/
snailmail: PO Box 332, Kumeu, Auckland 1250, NEW ZEALAND
If you like this software (or if you don't), or if you have any comments,
queries or suggestions, please write to me at the above addresses. I will
be pleased to hear from you!