RETURN TO SWITCHBOARD |
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1A. How to Play a Game |
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Return to Introduction Sub-Menu |
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How to Host a Game |
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1. Introduction to
VGA Planets |
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7. Minefields
Sub-Menu |
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2. Race Information Sub-Menu |
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8. Combat
Sub-Menu |
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3. Friendly Codes Sub-Menu |
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9. Ion Storm
Sub-Menu |
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4. Planet Information Sub-Menu |
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10. Misc.
Information Sub-Menu |
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5. Starbase Information Sub-Menu |
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11. Strategy
and Strategy Guides |
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6. Ship Information Sub-Menu |
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12. Add-on
Information |
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HOW DOES IT WORK? |
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Hosting: |
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Install the Host files
in the directory you wish to host the game from. Do not worry about
Registered versions of HOST.EXE, there are none. |
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Be sure to install the
version of HOST.EXE that you would like to use for this game. HOST.EXE should
be at least version 3.22. |
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You can download newer
versions of HOST.EXE from numerous sites on the internet. |
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Decide if you will be
using any third party Addons with the game. If so, install them in the Host
directory now. |
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All TPAs have Shareware
versions and can be downloaded from the internet for free but some need to be
Registered in order to fully utilize them. |
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Run MASTER.EXE to generate
the universe. |
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WARNING: If you run
MASTER.EXE after beginning a game, all data for that game will be lost and
MASTER will create a new game. |
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Run HCONFIG.EXE to
configure certain aspects of the game. |
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Run CONFIGS for all
third party Addons in the game. |
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If you do not wish to
'customize' the game, please skip to 'Run HOST.EXE to generate the first set
of RST files.' |
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If you wish to
'customize' the game, do so now. You can customize a game by doing any or all
of the following: |
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Use a third party
program to generate a new map, which is the XYPLAN.DAT file. |
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Use
a third party program to edit Ship stats, Weapon stats, or Engine stats,
which are the HULLSPEC.DAT, TORPSPEC.DAT, |
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BEAMSPEC.DAT and
ENGSPEC.DAT files, respectively. |
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BE CAREFUL…EDITING IS
EASIER SAID THAN DONE. |
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Use a third party
program to edit what Ships can be built by each Race. This is the
TRUEHULL.DAT file. |
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Use a third party
program to edit the universe, such as how many Native Races are on the
Planets, how Minerally rich those |
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Planets are, and even
pre-placing Ships for each Race. |
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You can change the names
of the Races by editing the RACE.NM file. No third party program is needed to
do this. |
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You can change the names
of the Planets by editing the PLANET.NM file. No third party program is need
to do this. |
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You can also change
graphics if your really feeling froggy. |
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After completing all of
the above steps, you are ready to run the first turn. |
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Run HOST.EXE to generate
the first set of RST files. |
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Send the RST files to
the respective Players. |
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Wait until you get all
the TRN files from the Players. |
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Run HOST.EXE to generate
the next set of RST files. |
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Etcetera, Etcetera,
Etcetera. |
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The
entire game resides on the Host Computer, in the HST files. The HOST.EXE
simply allows the TRN files to 'interact' with |
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the HST files. |
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Host Files: |
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Master.exe: this program
forms the universe and creates all the Host's HST data files. It is only run
once before every game. |
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Host.exe: this program
takes all the TRN files from all the Players and forms RST files to be sent
back to the Players. This |
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program is run once and
only once each and every turn. |
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Race.nm: a data file of
all the different Race names. |
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Namerace.exe: a program
that allows you to change the names of the different Races. |
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Planet.nm: a data file
of all the different Planet names. |
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*.dat: these files
contain data on the game. |
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*.hst: these contanin
the universe. All the information on everything in the game is stored in
these files. |
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*.mof: font files. |
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Turn.bat: a batch files
to use when you are playing on a single computer. After all Players are done
playing their turns, |
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exit PLANETS and type
TURN.BAT. This will automatically run MAKETURN.EXE, HOST.EXE and UNPACK.EXE. |
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Cplayer.exe:
this is a Computer Player to be used when more competition is needed. It is
not very powerful and third party |
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Computer Players are
recommended over this one. |
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Ref.exe: this is a
referee program that will determine a game winner if used. |
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Rconfig.exe: this sets
the configurations for the REF.EXE program. |
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Hconfig.exe: this sets
the configurations for the HOST.EXE program. |
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