PATHS OF GLORY
--------------
THIS PROGRAM IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN
(Please do not distribute)
It is licenced to L.A.P.D., P.O. Box 2, Heanor, Derbyshire, DE75 7YP
For information on other titles available please write to the above
address or send a 3.5" disk.
Copyright: 1995 iz Software
INTRODUCTION
------------
Paths of Glory is a fantasy game of dungeon exploring,
treasure collecting, quest fulfilling and monster slaying for the
Atari ST range of computers. A machine with 1Mb or more of RAM is
recommended.
CONTROL CONVENTIONS
-------------------
Paths of Glory uses the following control conventions:
Left mouse button - normally used to select items, buttons,
targets, etc.
Right mouse button - normally used to quit the current menu,
screen, action, etc.
Note. An exception to this is the 'Exit Game' icon. In this
instance the left mouse button aborts the quit game action and the
right mouse button confirms the quit game action. This is to prevent
accidentally exiting the game by clicking the left mouse button twice
on the 'Exit Game' icon.
Additionally a number of mouse cursors are used to assist in
displaying the action that you are performing and these are as
follows:
1. Sword cursor. The default cursor type and used in
selecting most actions.
2. Pentagram cursor. Used to indicate a spell is being
cast and that the spell target should be selected.
3. Crosshairs cursor. Used to indicate a distance weapon,
e.g. bow, is in use and that the target should be
selected.
INSTALLATION
------------
Paths of Glory runs from either floppy or hard disk, the only
requirement being that all the game files and folders are located in
the same folder, e.g. if you have a hard disk then copy the game files
to C:\POG.
START UP
--------
To start Paths of Glory double click on POG.PRG.
Paths of Glory initially displays the main menu / character
designer screen. From here characters can be created or modified, and
game scenarios and previous game positions loaded.
MAIN MENU / CHARACTER DESIGNER SCREEN
-------------------------------------
The main menu buttons are explained below:
Start Game - starts the game. Note a scenario (dungeon to
explore) and a player character must be loaded prior to starting.
Exit Game - exits the game and returns back to the desktop.
Load Position - loads a game position that was saved from a
previous playing session. Saved positions have a .SAV file extension.
Load Scenario - loads a game scenario to play. Scenarios have
a .SCN file extension.
Load Character - loads a player character to play. Characters
have a .CHR file extension.
Save Character - saves the character currently loaded and
displayed on the main menu / character designer screen.
Bank Cash - banks any cash looted from a game scenario into
the character's bank account for use to buy equipment and pay for
training.
New Name - allows the currently loaded character to be named
or renamed.
Roll Character - rolls random statistics for a new character.
Statistics varying according to the character class type currently
selected.
Class Type - changes the current character class type.
Spellbook - allows magical spells to be selected for
characters that can use magic, i.e. warlocks, priests and elves.
Buy & Sell - Accesses the 'shop' where equipment and items can
be bought or sold.
Attribute Icons - the 'Strength', 'Magic', 'Life Points' and
'Charisma' icons have the current values of the character's attributes
displayed next to them. These icons can be left clicked to increase
the attribute through training, although this costs money.
BEFORE PLAYING
--------------
The game can be set for play in either of two ways:
1. From a saved game position.
Left click on the 'Load Position' button to load in a
previously saved game. This loads in all files necessary to play, i.e.
your character, game scenario and position within that scenario. The
game automatically starts when this option is selected.
2. From a new scenario.
Firstly a scenario file must be loaded, as this includes
details on items within the scenario and defines what is available
from the shop. After this a character can be selected to play by
either loading a saved character by left clicking the 'Load Character'
button or creating a new character as detailed below.
CHARACTER CREATION
------------------
Player characters can be created using the character designer
screen. The following steps detail how to create a character:
1. Select a character class.
Left click the 'Class Type' button to change the character
class type. The available choices are: thief, priest, soldier, elf,
warlock and dwarf.
2. Roll character attributes and money.
Left click the 'Roll Character' button to roll random
character attributes and starting money for use in buying equipment.
The maximum and minimum values for attributes depend upon the
character type selected.
3. Name character.
Left click the 'New Name' button if you wish to change the
randomly chosen character name for one of your own.
4. Buy equipment.
Left click the 'Buy & Sell' button to buy equipment for your
character. This displays the 'shop' screen. An array of the items
available is shown and includes various weapons (swords, daggers,
axes, maces, warhammers, bows and arrows etc.), armour (mail, helms
and shields), torches and lanterns, and food (apples, bread and meat).
Also more exotic items like lock-picking tools, holy symbols, magic
potions and spell components may be available. The exact selection of
items for sale will vary from scenario to scenario.
Moving the mouse pointer over the for sale objects displays
the object's type and price at the bottom of the screen. Also
displayed here is the current amount of money you have available to
spend on equipment. Click the left mouse button to buy an object. If
you cannot afford it a 'Too Expensive' message is displayed, otherwise
the cost of the item is deducted from your cash reserves and the
object added to your character's inventory.
All the items owned by your character can be shown by left
clicking the 'Inventory' icon (scroll of objects). This displays a
window showing each of your character's objects with an appropriate
description. Left clicking the up and down arrows cycles through the
entire list of objects, and left clicking the 'OK' button or clicking
the right mouse button exits the inventory display.
5. Select spells.
If your character is a magic-using character then you should
select magical spells for your character's spellbook. Only the priest,
elf and warlock character types can cast spells. Note that some spells
are only available to certain character types whilst others may be
cast by any magic-using character.
Left click the 'Spellbook' button to display the character's
spellbook pages. A number of pages are listed showing the spells
currently on them. The number of pages is the number of different
spells your character can cast. To add to or change a spell on a page
left click the page entry. The spell selection window is then
displayed. Left clicking the up and down arrows cycles through the
spells your character can choose from. The display shows the spell's
level, number of magical points required to cast it and any special
spell components required for casting. Left clicking the 'OK' button
assigns the spell to the chosen spellbook page. To cancel selecting a
spell for a spellbook page or to exit from the spell selection screen
right click the mouse. You do not need to fill up all your empty slots
with spells.
Some spells require you to use special ingredients for casting
and cannot be successfully cast without them. These items may be
available from the shop or may need to be found in the dungeon. When
casting a spell that requires an ingredient it is only necessary to
possess them item, i.e. you do not need to be holding it when you cast
the spell.
Note. Magical spells may be cast by warlocks, clerical spells
may be cast by priests and elven spells may be cast by elves.
CHARACTER ENHANCEMENT
---------------------
As your characters progress you will be able to increase their
abilities. Magic-using characters will gain additional spells as they
go up in level. All characters will be able to increase their
Strength, Magic (except non magic-using characters), Life Points and
Charisma by means of training. This training must be paid for and gets
progressively more expensive the higher an ability score becomes. The
training costs are funded by the treasure that you bring back from
exploring a dungeon.
To train and increase an ability score left click on the
ability icon on the main menu screen. If you do not have enough money
to pay for the training a beep will sound.
You may also sell any items and equipment you have back to the
shop, although you will not necessarily get their full value in
exchange. To sell items left click the 'Buy & Sell' button, which
takes you into the shop screen. Left click the 'Sell' icon (hand
receiving cash) to display an inventory list of items that you
possess. Left click on the up and down arrow buttons to cycle through
the items and left click on the OK button to sell that item to the
shop. Right click when you are finished.
START GAME
----------
To start playing left click the 'Start Game' button on the
main menu / character designer screen. You cannot start playing unless
a scenario and a character have been loaded. Note that the game starts
automatically when a saved game position is loaded, ready for you to
continue at the point where you left off.
When you start the game with a new character you find yourself
within the dungeon ready to complete the scenario tasks. It is
important that you prepare your character for adventure by arming
yourself with weapons and donning armour and helmet, as monsters could
appear at any time and attack. To perform these and all other play
actions see the 'Game Controls' section.
DUNGEON / CONTROL ICON SCREEN
-----------------------------
The game is played via the dungeon / control icon screen. This
displays your current location within the dungeon in a 3D isometric
projected view. This shows your character, other characters and
monsters, the room and any objects that you can see. Around this are
arranged a number of control icons and displays with which you control
your character and monitor their status.
GAME CONTROLS
-------------
Below are listed all the controls and displays available in
Paths of Glory and how they are used:
SELECT CHARACTER (man icon). This displays a window with all
characters that are under your control. Use the up and down arrows to
cycle through the characters available to you and left click the 'OK'
button to select the character you wish to control. Your currently
selected character has a green arrow pointing to them on the dungeon
display screen. The following statistics are shown for each character:
o A picture of the character, their name and race type.
o The current amount of time spent in the dungeon.
o Weapon skill (sword icon). The lower this number the
better you chance to hit monsters.
o Armour level (shield icon). The lower this number the
better protected you are from attacks.
o Life points (heart icon). The shows how many life
points you have left.
o Magic points (pentagram icon). The shows how many
magic points you have left.
o Charisma (speech bubble icon). This shows how suave
and sophisticated you are, the higher the score the
better.
o Money carried (coins icon). This shows how much money
you are carrying.
o Strength (strong arm icon). This shows your physical
strength. The higher this number the stronger you are.
This allows you to do more damage in combat and carry
greater weights.
o Encumberance (weight icon). This shows the total
weight of items you are currently carrying. The
maximum depends on your strength.
o Experience points (XP icon). This shows how many
experience points you have gained through your
adventures, by killing monsters, looting treasure and
completing tasks.
SEARCH (magnifying glass icon). This enables you to search a
room for hidden treasure and items but this takes time to do.
CAST SPELL (magic book icon). This displays a window with all
your remaining spells left to cast. Use the up and down arrows to
cycle through the spells and left click the 'OK' button to select the
spell to cast. For many spells a casting cursor (pentagram) will
appear and you should select the target of the spell by left clicking
when the pentagram is on your target. It is advisable to aim for the
floor space of the target as spells aimed to high may go amiss. The
following information is shown for each spell:
o Spell. This is the name of the spell.
o Required ingredients. This shows any special
ingredients necessary to successfully cast the spell,
and any spells requiring such items cannot be cast
without them.
o Level. This is the level or difficulty of the spell.
o Cost in magic points. This is the number of magic
points needed to cast the spell, in addition to any
ingredients required.
Once spell casting has begun, i.e. the spell is selected, you
are committed to casting. If you have insufficient magic points or the
spell is aborted by right clicking, the spell is lost.
TALK (speech bubble icon). This displays a set of icons that
allow you to control how to talk to other characters and monsters.
When communicating your charisma is important in determining the
response of those you talk to. When an icon is selected a window is
displayed with all characters and monsters in your current location.
Use the up and down arrows to cycle through the characters and
monsters to talk to and left click the 'OK' button to talk to them.
The following methods of communication are available:
1. INSULT. This allows you to call others all manner of
impolite names, and a good way to pick a fight with a
character or monster who is your friend or happy to
ignore you.
2. CAN I HELP? This allows you to ask a character or
monster if there is anything you can do for them. Some
may have tasks they are willing for you to do in
return for which you may get a reward.
3. GROVEL. This allows you to fawn and simper to a
character or monster and get into their good book, and
is a way to stop them attacking you or make them more
receptive to a request to join you.
4. JOIN ME? This allows you to recruit other characters
and even monsters, who will then come under your
direct control.
5. HELP ME! This allows you to ask for help from other
characters and monsters, who may tell you something of
interest.
6. WHERE IS? This allows you to ask other characters and
monsters if they know the whereabouts of a particular
character or monster whose name you give.
MAP (map scroll icon). This displays a map of the rooms you
have visited on the current level of the dungeon. Your present
location is shown by the green marker.
HELD OBJECT (hand icon). This shows the object that you are
currently holding. This will also be the item with which you fight and
so is normally a weapon.
USE OBJECT / MISCELLANEOUS (hand / arrows icon). This displays
a set of icons which allow to perform a number of object related
actions. When an icon is selected a window is displayed for most of
the actions. Use the up and down arrows to cycle through the objects
available and left click the 'OK' button to select the object to
manipulate. Only objects suitable for the type of manipulation chosen
are included in the item list. The following object actions are
available:
1. THROW (hand throwing stone icon). This allows you to
select an object to throw. The target should then be
selected and the object will be thrown at it, possibly
causing damage.
2. FIRE (bow and arrow icon). This allows you to use a
distance weapon. The target should then be selected
and the weapon will be fired at it, possibly causing
damage. Ammunition for the weapon e.g. arrows, is
automatically loaded until no more is available. This
icon has no effect if you do not have a distance
weapon.
3. HOLD (hand holding dagger icon). This allows you to
select the object to hold. This will become the item
that you will use when fighting, and it is shown in
the 'Held Object' icon space.
4. WEAR (clothes to man icon). This allows you to select
an item to wear. If you are not already wearing an
item of that type, e.g. shield, then the item will be
worn. All items worn are denoted as such when viewing
your inventory of objects using the 'Inventory' icon.
5. REMOVE (clothes from man icon). This allows you to
select an item that is currently worn to remove.
6. PICK LOCK (lock and pick icon). This allows thieves
possessing lock picking tools to attempt to pick a
door lock when facing a locked door.
7. LIGHT / EXTINGUISH (lit and smoking torch icon). This
allows you to select an object to light or extinguish.
Lit torches and lamps provide light in the dark areas
of the dungeon but their life is limited.
8. HIDE (crossed out eye icon). This allows you to select
an item to hide in your current location. The 'Search'
icon will need to be used to recover the object if you
return for it at a later time.
9. EAT/ DRINK (pouring drink and eaten apple icon). This
allows you to select an item to consume. Food and
drink replenish energy lost during exploring and
fighting.
PICK UP (sword to hand icon). This displays a window with all
the objects on the floor at your current location. Use the up and down
arrows to cycle through the objects available and left click the 'OK'
button to select the item you wish to pick up. If it is not too heavy
the item is added to your inventory.
DROP (sword from hand icon). This displays a window with all
the objects you possess. Use the up and down arrows to cycle through
the objects available and left click the 'OK' button to select the
item you wish to drop.
GIVE (arrow from hand icon). This displays a window with all
the objects you possess. Use the up and down arrows to cycle through
the objects available and left click the 'OK' button to select the
item you wish to give. Objects can only be given to characters or
monsters if you stand facing them.
TAKE / STEAL (arrow to hand icon). This displays a window with
all the objects you can take / steal from a character or monster. Use
the up and down arrows to cycle through the objects available and left
click the 'OK' button to select the item you wish to take. Objects can
only be taken from characters or monsters if you stand facing them.
INVENTORY (scroll of objects icon). This displays a window
with all the objects in your possession. Use the up and down arrows to
cycle through the objects available.
NAME & TIME. This displays the name of the character you
currently control and the amount of time you have spent in the
dungeon. Clicking this display brings up the 'Quit/Completed Game'
screen. This allows a number of methods of finishing and shows any of
the scenario's tasks which have not yet been completed. The following
finish options are normally available:
1. SAVE POSITION (arrow to disk icon). See 'Save
Position' below.
2. QUIT TO DESKTOP (desktop icon). This allows you to
exit the game and return back to the desktop.
3. CONTINUE (arrow). This exits from this screen and
continues the game.
4. LOAD POSITION (arrow from disk icon). See 'Load
Position' below.
5. RESTART GAME (loopback arrow). This allows you to
abort the current game and return to the main menu /
character designer screen.
See the section 'Completing A Scenario' below for details on
this screen when the scenario has been completed.
SAVE POSITION (arrow to disk icon). This allows you to save
your current game position to disk such that you can reload it via the
'Load Position' button on the main menu / character designer screen or
the 'Load Position' icon on the dungeon display game screen, for
continuation at a later time. The program prompts you for the drive
and name of the file to which the game will be saved. The file will
have the extension '.SAV'.
LOAD POSITION (arrow from disk icon). This allows you to
reload a previously saved game position from disk. The program prompts
you for the drive and all files with the extension '.SAV' are
displayed. Left click the name of the saved game that you wish to
reload and the game restores itself to the point you previously
reached.
LIFE & MAGIC POINTS (red heart and blue pentagram bars). This
displays a visual representation of the number of life and magic
points that your current character possesses.
MOVEMENT (North, South, East, West & Down arrow icons). This
allows you to move around the dungeon through doorways, up and down
stairs and down trapdoors. In addition, by right clicking these
movement icons you will attack in that direction as well as moving.
A number of game controls are also available via the keyboard.
To display a help screen listing all keyboard shortcuts, press 'H'.
GENERAL PLAY INFORMATION
------------------------
This section details miscellaneous information regarding Paths
of Glory.
During combat indicators appear upon the character or monster
being attacked. The sword against shield indicates the that attack
missed or was blocked. The blood indicator means that the victim has
been wounded.
Some monsters have the ability to poison with their attacks
and this is indicated by a green venom bottle next to the character
name display. Poison will slowly reduce the number of life points a
character has, eventually killing that character, and should be cured
as soon as possible.
Combat and exploring eventually drain a character of energy,
which needs to be replenished by eating or drinking. Tired characters
have a snooze (ZZZ) indicator next to the character name display, and
cannot perform any actions until they have eaten or drank.
There are a number of other indicators displayed next to the
character name display including undead creature, spell protection and
enchanted weapon displayed as appropriate.
Some doorways in the dungeon will be magical, indicated by
glowing stars. These doorways drain life points when passed through
and will not permit passage when your life points are very low.
Traps occur in most dungeons which when stepped on have
various effects, including damage, poison and revealing hidden
objects. Thief characters stand a better chance of spotting traps than
other characters.
Some areas of dungeons are unlit and most characters will need
light of some sort to provide illumination as exploring in the dark is
very difficult and dangerous. A number of the character types possess
infravision, which is the ability to see heat, which allows them to
see in complete darkness.
With sufficiently high charisma it is possible to recruit
other characters and monsters, which you will then be able to control.
If one of these should be attacked while you are controlling another
character then a window will appear to tell who is being attacked and
ask whether you wish to switch to controlling that character / monster
in order to control the combat with the attacker.
The exit from the dungeon is indicated by a ladder leading up.
COMPLETING A SCENARIO
---------------------
A scenario is complete when all the tasks have been
successfully completed. Once this is done left click the 'Name & Time'
box to display the 'Completed Game' window. The following options are
available:
1. SAVE CHARACTER (arrow to disk icon). This saves the
character you were controlling when you completed the
scenario. Note this may not be the one you started
with, if you decide to keep a character you recruited
in the dungeon. The character should be saved so that
it may reloaded into the main menu / character
designer screen for level advancement, banking
treasure, equipping with new items etc. ready for
further adventures.
2. QUIT TO DESKTOP (desktop icon). This allows you to
exit the game and return back to the desktop. The
character will not be saved.
3. RESTART GAME (loopback arrow). This allows you to
finish and return to the main menu / character
designer screen. The character should be saved prior
to this, after which it can be updated on the main
menu / character designer screen as detailed above.
COMPATIBILITY
-------------
Paths of Glory is known not to be compatible with the
following software and will not run in conjunction with them:
1. Quick ST.
2. GDOS.
Also you may need to reboot your ST after playing Paths of
Glory before using any other programs.
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Paths Of Glory (C) Copyright IZ Software 1995
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