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This was a fantastic game, but you had to read the instructions to operate it. You command a fleet of 1 -3 starships, Federation, Klingon or Romulan, or a starbase. The fleets battle one another. You have to manage power levels, heat dissipation from the engines and other factors. It was an amazingly-sophisticated simulation for the time. The graphics are rudimentary but effective. There's a multi-player mode available via MIDI where each ship or station can be controlled by a human, but there's also reasonably effective AI that can also be fed commands from a solo human player (different races are more or less likely to follow those orders to the letter...).
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| In the instructions, key commands, the indented keys should say 'shift', indicating the use of the shift key with that command key. This was somehow lost when my original instruction file was copied.
This program was never published or distributed by me. It was pirated and distributed by a British ST magazine without my consent. |
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| Multiplayer mode only available with MIDI-cable. |
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COLD REVENGE
INSTRUCTIONS
Table of Contents
Section Title Page
1.0 DESCRIPTION 2
2.0 SCENARIO SETUP 2
3.0 DISPLAYS 3
3.1 Main Viewer 3
3.2 Engineering Display 3
3.3 Communication Screen 4
3.4 Weapon Displays 4
3.5 Shield Displays 4
3.6 Navigation Displays 4
3.7 Target Displays 4
3.8 Library Displays 5
3.9 Proximity Alarms 5
4.0 COMMANDS 5
5.0 SYSTEMS 7
5.1 Engineering 7
5.2 Weapons and Sensors 7
5.3 Defenses 9
5.4 Navigation 9
5.5 Repair 9
6.0 SQUADRON TACTICS 10
7.0 MULTI-COMPUTER HOOKUP 11
8.0 ENDING THE SIMULATION 11
1.0 DESCRIPTION
Cold Revenge is a simulation of starship combat for 1 to 6 computers.
Up to 6 ships may be used in a scenario. For each computer in the
network, 1 player may control a starship. Other starships are computer
controlled. Units of distance in the simulation represent
light-seconds (the distance light will travel in one second). With a
standard ST, approximately 4 to 8 seconds are required to simulate one
second of simulation time, depending on how many computers are in the
network.
If the program is running from floppy disk, the files must be in the
root directory. If running from a hard disk, the files must be in a
D: drive subdirectory named COLDRVNG.
2.0 SCENARIO SETUP
The first alert box will require you to select 1-player or serial mode.
Select multi-computer only if you have more than 1 computer in the
network (see section 7.0 below for multi-computer hookup). The
scenario setup screen will allow selection of up to 6 ships for the
simulation. Click on the number on the left hand side to activate a
ship. Low numbered ships must be selected first, e.g., select KR 1
before KR 2. Ship types may not be mixed on a side, i.e., CAs cannot
be selected with an outpost, and D7s cannot be selected with KRs. For
the multi-computer game, ships are assigned to the additional nodes by
clicking on the number under the node column on the right hand side.
Ships of different sides must not be assigned to the same node. One
ship for each node (computer) in the network must be designated as
player controlled, by clicking on the word 'computer' next to the ship
designation. The lowest numbered ship on the side must be selected.
For the 1-player game, only one ship may be so selected. Click on
'DONE' when the scenario setup is correct. If D7s have been selected,
an alert box will require selection of standard or cloak-equipped
ships.
3.0 DISPLAYS
The bridge display of each class of ship displays essentially the same
information, but in different locations.
3.1 Main Viewer
The main viewer or screen displays a computer-generated pseudo-optical
image of the space surrounding the ship. A true optical image is
obviously impossible for objects moving at trans-light speeds. <> show
the target, in yellow if inside weapon range and in red if inside
torpedo range and arc. The viewer has 5 display modes, shown below the
viewer, just to the right of center:
360 The complete 360 degree field of view is displayed. Objects in
front of the ship are shown in the center of the screen and
objects behind are shown at the outer edges.
FWD 180 degrees forward of the ship are shown.
AFT 180 degrees aft of the ship are shown.
90 90 degrees centered on the current target are shown.
Et As 90, but the target is shown at maximum magnification.
The viewer may be switched to tactical mode, where a plot of objects is
shown over a grid. Your ship is allways in the center of the screen.
Course 000 is toward the top of the screen. Federation ships are
displayed as blue numbers, Klingon and Romulan ships as gray numbers.
Cloaked contacts appear as 'C'. The current target is shown in yellow.
The scale of the plot is automatically adjusted for the most distant
contact. The scale in thousands of light-seconds is displayed below
the viewer, just to the right of center.
3.2 Engineering Display
In the lower right is a display of engine power and temperature. The
two vertical bars in the center show power use for the port and
starboard engines. Normal 100% power is half way up the display. The
two outer vertical bars show engine temperature. The top of the
display is 9000 degrees. The horizontal bar between the power bars
shows that the engines are cross-connected, and disappears otherwise.
The small tab on the left side of the left temperature bar shows the
temperature limit setting. The numbers below the display show the
highest engine temperature and the temperature limit setting.
3.3 Communication Screen
The light gray area at the bottom center displays messages about weapon
firing, damage and repair. It is also used for entering multiple key
commands (see section 4.0 below).
3.4 Weapon Displays
The weapon displays vary with ship class. In general, green indicates
phasers/disruptors ready to fire or torpedoes ready to be charged,
yellow indicates torpedoes charged, light blue indicates weapons in
cooldown and red indicates weapons damaged or destroyed. Phasers and
disruptors are small squares in rows, to the right of the viewer in
Federation ships, and on either side of the ship icon below the viewer
in Klingon and Romulan ships. Torpedoes are slightly larger disks in
the same areas. In Klingon ships without cloaking devices, the rear
torpedo is below the ship icon.
3.5 Shield Displays
The shield displays vary with ship class. In general, green indicates
shields up, yellow indicates shields weakened or damaged and red
indicates shields down. Shields shut off are black. Federation
shields are shown around the ship icon to the left of the viewer.
Klingon and Romulan shields are shown around the border of the viewer,
with the front shield at the top and the rear shield at the bottom.
The front and rear shield indicators are duplicated on each side of the
centerline. The shield mode is shown on the left of the viewer in
Federation ships and in the upper left corner in Klingon and Romulan
ships.
3.6 Navigation Displays
Course and speed are shown on the left below the viewer. An indicator
for the navigation mode is to the right of these in Federation ships,
and in a rhomboid to the upper right of the viewer in Klingon and
Romulan ships. Course and speed indicators are yellow when the
parameter is changing. Speed is red during emergency acceleration or
deceleration.
3.7 Target Displays
Target course, speed, range and range-rate are shown on the left above
the viewer. An indicator for the condition of the target's facing
shield is to the right of these in Federation ships, and in a rhomboid
to the upper left of the viewer in Klingon and Romulan ships. This
indicator is green for a full-strength shield, yellow for a weakened
shield and red if the shield is down.
3.8 Library Displays
If the library computer is activated, three pages of data are
available. The first page shows the current status of the player's
ship, the second shows information on the other ships in the squadron
and the third page shows information on the current target. The number
displayed before each ship's name on the library pages is a unique
number assigned to each ship in the simulation, and is the same as that
used on the tactical display.
3.9 Proximity Alarms
Alarm lights on the bridge flash yellow and red for enemy contacts
within 6000 and 3000 light-seconds, respectively. These lights are at
the top corners of Federation bridge and under the main viewer on a
Klingon or Romulan bridge.
4.0 KEYBOARD COMMANDS
Commands are given by single key and multiple key entries. The
keyboard buffer is polled once per simulation cycle and all valid
keystrokes in the buffer will be processed. For most commands,
repeated keys (as from keybounce or holding down a single key) will be
ignored. Most commands are accomplished by single keystrokes.
Squadron orders, repair orders and self destruct orders are
accomplished by a series of keystrokes. For these multiple key
entries, the first key puts the keyboard into a special mode where
other commands will be ignored. A timer will count down and
automatically return the keyboard to the normal mode without issuing
any command. For the squadron orders and repair modes, the 'Q' key
will return to the normal mode and confirm any valid order given. For
the self destruct mode, entry of any code, valid or invalid, will
return to the normal mode.
Key Order
F1 Viewer mode 360
F2 Viewer mode FWD
F3 Viewer mode AFT
F4 Viewer mode 90
F5 Viewer mode Et
1-0 Warp speeds
1-0 Reverse warp speeds
+, - Raise, lower engine temperature limit
Select/change target
Q Exit multiple key order mode or cancel self
destruct order
Q Self destruct order mode
W Cycle weapon targeting mode (Phasers&Disruptors)
W Cycle auto fire number
E Evade navigation mode
R Repair order mode
T Fire forward torpedo(s)
T Charge/discharge forward torpedo(s)
O Squadron order mode
P Fire phasers
P Cycle phaser fire mode
[, ] Change library computer page
A Fire aft torpedo
A Charge/discharge aft torpedo
S Cycle shield mode
S Drop shields
D Fire disruptors
D Cycle disruptor fire mode
F Follow navigation mode
H Halt (pause) simulation
L Library computer display on/off
X Engine temperature cutback on/off
X Engine cross-connect on/off
C Cloak on/off
V Change main viewer mode: visual/tactical
M Manual navigation mode
/ Auto on/off
? All systems manual
Emergency acceleration/deceleration
5.0 SYSTEMS
5.1 Engineering
Power for systems on the starships comes from matter/anti-matter
reactors (engines). This power is channeled through a main energizer.
Drawing power from the engines causes engine temperature to rise. Use
of more than 100% power for extended periods will cause engine
overheating and damage. This damage occurs at temperatures around 9000
degrees.
Power is used by the warp drives to move the ship at speeds up to warp
8 (8x8x8 or 512 c.). Speeds below the speed of light are insignificant
for the purposes of this simulation. If the engines are in cutback
mode, temperatures above the engine temperature limit will cause warp
speed to be reduced. When warp speed is changing, i.e., when the warp
speed display is yellow, emergency acceleration or deceleration can be
activated by pressing the space bar. Emergency acceleration or
deceleration will change speed 6 times faster than normal, with some
risk of damage to the warp engines.
Power for other systems is drawn from either the port or starboard
engine. With the engines cross-connected, all loads are shared equally
between the two engines, resulting in equal engine temperatures.
Damage to the main energizer will reduce the power available for
operating ship systems. If systems which are undamaged do not operate,
it may be because insufficient power is available.
5.2 Weapons and Sensors
5.2.1 Phasers and Disruptors
Phasers and disruptors are energy beam weapons. Their power decreases
with range. The probability of hitting a target decreases with range
and with target speed. The arc of fire is 360 degrees. Maximum range
is 6000 light-seconds. Bridge indicators change color to show weapon
status: green for ready to fire, light blue for cooldown and red for
damaged or destroyed. Phasers and disruptors may be placed in three
modes. In manual (displayed as PM or DM), the weapons are fired by
keyboard command. In limited automatic (displayed as PLn or DLn, where
n is the number of weapons to fire) the weapons will be fired when n
weapons are ready and the engine temperature is below the engine
temperature limit. In automatic (displayed as PAn or DAn, where n is
the number of weapons to fire) the weapons will be fired when n weapons
are ready regardless of the engine temperature.
5.2.2 Torpedoes
Photon torpedoes are encapsulated energy weapons installed on
Federation and Klingon ships. Their power is constant with range. The
probability of hitting a target decreases with range and with target
speed. The arc of fire is 90 degrees, forward or aft depending on
weapon location. Maximum range is 3000 light-seconds.
Plasma torpedoes are encapsulated energy weapons installed on Romulan
ships. Their power is constant to 1/2 maximum range and decreases
thereafter. Unlike other weapons, plasma torpedoes travel at only warp
8, so the torpedo must follow the target until contact is made or until
the torpedo expends its energy. The arc of fire is 90 degrees,
forward. Maximum range is about 3000 light-seconds.
Bridge indicators change color to show weapon status: green for ready
to charge, yellow for charged, light blue for cooldown and red for
damaged or destroyed.
5.2.3 Sensors
Undamaged sensors are able to detect uncloaked contacts at up to 100K
light-seconds. Sensors on cloaked ships are limited to between 10K and
15K light-seconds. Cloaked ships may be detected by motion sensors
depending on range and target speed, but this detection is not adequate
for torpedo firing, and the probability of phaser or disruptor hits is
greatly reduced. The current sensor range is shown on the right below
the main view screen.
5.3 Defenses
5.3.1 Shields
Shields are energy barriers which protect a ship from enemy fire.
Shield power is reduced by weapon hits and is restored gradually if
sufficient engine power is available. If a shield is hit by more
weapon energy than it can deflect, the ship's hull and interior systems
may be damaged. The maximum shield power may be temporarily or
permanently reduced or the shield may be shut down completely by
damage. See 3.5 above for the location of the shield status displays.
Shields may be operated in two modes. In limited mode (displayed as
SL), shields will be restored if engine temperature is below the engine
temperature limit. In unlimited mode (displayed as SU), shields will
be restored regardless of engine temperature. If shields are manually
dropped, the display will read SD. The efficiency of shields is
reduced when a cloaking device is active.
5.3.2 Cloaking Device
A cloaking device renders a ship invisible to most sensor systems.
Cloaked ships may be detected by motion detectors if they move, with
the probability of detection increasing with speed and decreasing with
range. Cloaked ships cannot fire weapons and have reduced deflector
shield and sensor capabilities. The cloaking device requires
significant engine power during operation. The cloaking device status
is indicated by a colored bar under the ship icon below the main view
screen. This bar is green when the cloak is ready to activate, yellow
when the cloak is on and light blue when the cloak is recharging.
5.4 Navigation
For the purposes of this simulation, navigation is limited to the
tactical movement of the ship in a two-dimensional plane. Navigation
may be operated in three modes. In manual (displayed as NM), course
changes are made by holding the joystick in port 1 to the left or
right. In follow (displayed as NF), the course will be automatically
adjusted to point the ship toward the target. In evade (displayed as
NE), the course will be adjusted to point the ship away from the
target. Changing course requires engine power and requires more power
at higher warp speeds. Navigation damage can reduce the ability of the
ship to turn or prevent it from turning at all. These damage
conditions are indicated by the color of the navigation mode display,
yellow and red, respectively.
5.5 Repair
Repair functions are handled automatically by the ships crew. The
priority for repair of a system can be increased by using the repair
order, however other systems will continue to be repaired. The ability
of the surviving crew to repair systems decreases as the ship's hull is
destroyed.
6.0 SQUADRON TACTICS
Players may give orders to the ships in their squadrons using multiple
key entries. Press "O", and the communications screen will blank.
Pressing one of the following keys, followed by "Q" will issue an
order. If the multiple key timer counts down to zero, the order mode
will be exited without issuing an order. The multiple key timer
appears on the right, below the main viewer on Federation ships and in
the lower right on Klingon and Romulan ships. The ships will obey
orders within the limits of their situation and their reliability.
Generally, Romulan captains are more likely to follow orders than
Federation captains, and Federation captains are more likely to follow
orders than Klingon captains.
Key Order
I Independent Action
A Attack
1-5 Assume formation
1 3 1 2
2 3 1 2
3 3 2 1
1
4 2
3
5 3 1 2
C Operate cloaked
U Operate uncloaked
7.0 MILTI-COMPUTER HOOKUP
Up to six computers may be linked in a network by using MIDI cables.
The MIDI OUT of each computer must be connected to the MIDI IN of the
next, with the last connecting to the first to complete a loop. Start
the program on each computer and select SERIAL from the first alert
box. Click on the next alert box to perform a MIDI test. One computer
must be selected as the CONTROL from the third alert box, with all
others selected as NODE 2-6. The CONTROL computer will be used to
setup the scenario. Each node should have at least one ship assigned,
and the lowest numbered ship on each node must be player-controlled. A
node may not have ships from both sides. The maximum number of ships
in the scenario is six. The scenario generation routine is not
sailor-proof, so check that these guidelines are observed before
clicking on DONE.
8.0 ENDING THE SIMULATION
To end the simulation, press the UNDO key and confirm with the alert
box, then press "Q". If a multi-computer network is in use, do not
quit from any machine unless all users are ready to quit. If the
network does not shut down, try quitting from another node.
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