Spectrofon #21 04 декабря 1996

Игры

Debut - "Dark Scepetre" - representative of the genre RPG. The game has amazing graphics, large, carefully traced sprite characters, excellent sound effects, great variety of commands, user-friendly interface.

   Today we offer you translation
Corporate description pretty well-known, but
still not completely "split" of the game Mike Singleton "DARK 
SCEPTRE". The game features a gorgeous, large and easily 
legible graphics, plenty of characters, many puzzles. Game 
genre is difficult to determine. Most likely it's some kind of 
RPG. But ... However, let's look at the description and faster 
start play. We hope that in the next room

our journal, we continue our discussion
this exciting game.


               DARK SCEPTRE


             Firebird, 1986.

(C) Mike Singleton
Translation: (a) 1996 Andrew Schoolchildren


   One year after another quiet peacefully dozing Islands 
Western Sea. But once winter storm brought on the wings of the 
cold ships from the north, battered and broken icy seas. The 
Lord of the Isles smiled, looked at broken northerners

allow ships to moor, and gave people
shelter for the winter.


   But now spring came. The Lord
Islands suggested northerners boats from the best oak island so 
they could get home. But northerners chose to stay. Wealth 
prosperous islands filled their hearts with envy and greed.

They drew their swords and demanded land,
to settle here permanently.



   The Lord of the Isles was no longer smiling.
Northerners were too many, and the islanders
relaxed quiet life. And even the enchanted sword, Lord, endowed 
with magic lightning and the dragon's fire, was powerless to 
stop the aliens. 


   And then, in strict confidence, fearing a new betrayal, King 
collected the best blacksmiths, which could find. He ordered 
them to forge his magic scepter endowed with terrifying force, 
and blacksmiths obeyed. 


   It's been five long years, and each year grow the power and 
wealth of northern invaders. But once the Lord Islands urged 
all Northerners to their yard. They were - what they were 
afraid of? And then the Lord lifted the scepter and cried: "The 
Power of Darkness let the forces of hell hounds pursue you 
until the end of time!" 



   When he uttered those words, black
lightning burst from the scepter and touched
each of the northerners a fiery touch. One
of the leaders of the northerners, mad with pain, rushed to the 
elevation at which The Lord was standing. "Forces of Death!" - 
Cried Northerner. - Hear me! Save us -

and we will serve you forever! "


   And then the darkness that swirled around the scepter, 
curled into long fingers. These fingers reached for the 
northerners, mitigating their pain, and at the same time making 
their flesh shaky and ghostly, faintly smoldering like coals of 
fire. 


   The Lord of the Isles made a terrible
error. Instead of destroying the northerners, he gave them a 
strange and evil power. Dark Sceptre gave them some his power, 
and they ceased to be human beings. They became Lords of 
Shadow, trapped in the Darkness, puppets scepter that created 
them. From now on, the Western Isles 

no longer will know peace and quiet, until
will be destroyed by the Dark Scepter, and together with
it lost the power of the Shadow Lords.


               PURPOSE OF THE GAME.


   You command a detachment of soldiers, your task - to find 
and destroy the Dark Sceptre. But when (if?) You'll find it - 
beware: the dark power of the Scepter can destroy you if you 
are not prepared properly. And what preparations are necessary 
- you should find the course searches. Your task is complicated 
by the that roam the island and other units

fighters controlled by computer. Most of them are neutral with 
respect to you, with the exception of the Dark Lords - they are 
your implacable enemies. Other orders may be

be you and your friends and enemies - both will play. You can 
recruit new fighters themselves from foreign troops, but can 
exactly the same way and lose its own, if they Sman opponents.




   The main action takes place on the upper three-quarters of 
the screen. The bottom quarter is the information display. On 
It arranged from left to right: 

   1) Control options - WATCH, SCAN,
CHECK, PLAN, and QUIT.

   2) scrolling map that shows the inner circle of your fighter.

   3) The grade and location of your fighter, an object in his 
hands and the current date. 

   4) display the time of day.


           CONTROL OPTIONS.


   Control options allow you to control the game. These include:


   I) WATCH (watch) - allows you to
watch the fight. If you hear
clang of swords - which means that one of your fighters joined 
the battle. You can select this option to see the battle. Keys 
"left" and "right" lets you switch between fighters. 


   II) SCAN (scan) - allows you to
see full map of the island. Position of each of your (living) 
soldiers are shown with yellow squares. White square indicates 
on the currently selected soldier. 


   III) CHECK (check) - allows you to
check the properties of the selected fighter
and the last orders he had received.


   IV) PLAN (plan) - allows you to
give orders to the selected soldier. For this
option program goes into interactive mode, until the orders 
will not be condemned completely. If you chose to GO TO, then 
box will appear map of the island. You must move the cursor to 
the place where you want go (you can choose only crossings)

and press fire.


   V) QUIT (exit) - by choosing this option, you
get into a menu from which you can ship or load a game state to 
continue the game or get in BASIC. 


   In "Dark Sceptre" the whole game is
without direct control: how to present the commander, you can 
not control soldiers like puppets. They perform your

orders, using their own skills and
ability. However, your soldiers do not
distinctive strategic thinking, and without your leadership 
they do not perform the task and save the Island. You should 
think carefully about your orders, taking into account the 
natural inclinations and professional skills of each fighter.



   To give orders to the soldier who first
select this option, the warrior WATCH. Then
Select PLAN - this will allow you to "communicate" with the 
fighter. He'll tell you the orders, which he performs at the 
moment, but you be able to change those orders or to add

to their list of new ones.


   You can choose from a list
orders, each of them can be given
any soldier. True, he may not

be able to fulfill the order. Some
Orders can be given only to certain
men: for example, orders associated with magic, can be fully 
implemented only those who are endowed with magical powers.




                ORDERS.


   At your disposal a huge number of
orders that can give your
fighters. These orders will help to cope
virtually any situation which
only can meet.


   FOLLOW warrior (follow the fighter) -
join the fighter as an assistant.


   PROTECT warrior (to protect the fighter) - to join the 
fighters and protect him in battle. 


   STALK warrior (sneak for a fighter) -
follow him a few steps behind.



   HARASS warrior (fighter disturb) - to follow him, leaning 
his way, until it possible.



   AVOID warrior * (to avoid the fighter) - not
fall in his path.


   FIND warrior * (to find the soldier) - search
it and do nothing else.


   KILL warrior * (to kill the soldier) - find and
kill him.


   BEWITCH warrior * (enchant fighter)
- To find him and magical power to transform
him in his spy.


   PETRIFY warrior * (hardened fighter) -
find him and magical power to transform into
stone.



   CURSE warrior * (cursed warrior) - find the magical power to 
change the parameters of good to bad. 


   CHARM warrior * (enchant fighter) -
find him and magical powers to recruit to your party.


   RELEASE warrior * (to release the fighter) -
find a fighter and a magic power to remove from his spell 
BEWITCH, PETRIFY or CURSE. 


   THREATEN warrior * (threaten fighter) -
find and take away his view that
He is threatening to force.


   CHALLENGE warrior * (throw a fighter call) - to find and 
recruit him to his detachment, threatening force.



   PERSUADE warrior * (to convince the soldier) -
to find and convince him to join your party.



   BRIBE warrior * (buy fighter) -
to find and recruit him into his squad,
gave him a gift.


   JOIN warrior * (to join the fighters)
- To find him and join his squad.


   GIVE TO warrior * (to give a fighter) - find and give him 
the item that you are. 


   BEFRIEND warrior * (make friends with the fighter) - to find 
him and send him a message - Pledge your friendship and his 
troops. 


   INSULT warrior * (offending fighter) -
find him and give him the offensive
message, terminating any friendship between you and his troops.


   WAIT FOR warrior * (wait for a fighter) -
wait for his arrival.


   AMBUSH warrior * (wait a soldier in an ambush)
- Wait for it to arrive, and then attack.


   TRACK object (to follow the target) -
find the object, but not take it, and follow him if he will 
take away somewhere. 


   GUARD object (protected object) - to find
object, but not to take it myself and no one
afford.


   SEEK object (find object) - to find
object, but not to take it.


   TAKE object (get object) - to find
the object and take it, but do not use force.


   GRAB object (to grasp an object) - to find
the object and take it, if necessary, use force.


   USE object (using object) - to find the object, take it, if 
necessary, using force, and use it.




   BLOCK place (lock position) - go
at the specified location, stay there and not miss anyone.


   DEFEND place (to protect the place) - go to
specified place, stay there and pass only friends.


   WAIT AT place (wait in this location)
- Go to a specified location and wait there.


   GO TO place (go to a specified location) -
go to the specified location.


   ROAM (wander) - wander along the roads
island at random.


   WAIT (wait) - waiting at the place where
You were.



   In those places where the word "warrior" is marked with an 
asterisk, you can also choose to Order Options "friends" 
(friends) "Enemies" (enemies) or "anyone" (anyone else). In 
those places where the word "object" is marked with an asterisk 
in the order you can choose to "anything" (anything). When an 
order is completed, regardless of whether whether the soldier 
to carry it out, it will automatically begin the following 
orders, if orders are no more, he enters the WAIT. Slaves 
(thralls) rustic and can not remember more than one order at a 
time. The remaining fighters are able to remember multiple 
orders. 



                 RANK.


   In total there are eight major ranks of fighters. All of 
them are portrayed with the same body (the programming tricks!) 
But easy to distinguished by their headgear.



   THANE (Thane, leader) - is
helmet with a crown. Detachment commander.
If Tan was killed, increases the likelihood that members of 
your squad of deserters. 


         MYSTIC (sorcerer) - is ostroko
      finite mask - cap wizard.

      Has magical powers.


    HERALD (Herald) - is a winged
helmet. Simultaneously, a fighter and a messenger.



         ASSASSIN (murderer) - wears a turban.

      Hunter and hired killer.



   FOOL (fool, fool) - wears the crown.
Charming talker, he is not so stupid
as one might expect by its name.


         REAPER (Reaper) - wears a mask in

      the skull. Executioner. Frightening

      all the rest.


   SAVAGE (savage) - is a wolf
head. Savage, barbarian from the forests, brutal and enduring.


         THRALL (office) - wears a hood.

      The lowest rank, a pawn in a big

      game. Rustic slaves, they have

      only a few properties. But

      slaves are numerous.


            FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.


   In addition to yours, to roam the island still
six units. They can be both your
friends and enemies alike. In the "PLAN"
You can determine whether your

ordered to friends or enemies. This allows us to reduce orders.


   However, the friendship that arose as a result of
Order "BEFRIEND", differs from the others. If you attack a 
friend - To the rest of the game you will get

the glory of a traitor, and all teams will fear you. To avoid 
this, you must formally terminate the alliance, sending someone 
to the order of "INSULT" (insult). This, of course, infuriate 
offended party, but others will respect You for your honesty.



   A command "BEWITCH" turn someone else's fighter unit in your 
spy. He will remain member of his squad and will report

his master. You can not give
he orders, but will be able to watch where
he goes and does what. This may
be a useful source of information.



   You can show their good feelings toward others in many ways: 
you can give them some things to send their combatants into the 
wrong groups of order "JOIN", can simply send a messenger with

offer of friendship. In gratitude, they
can do something good for you.
In the Western Isles popular saying:
"Rub my back and I rub your.



   A total of seven squads roam the island.
Here is their color:

UMBRARG'S (Dark Lords) - Red
VERDAN'S - Green
TYRIAN'S - purple
KUANO'S - Blue
AURIC'S - Yellow
GRISUL'S - Gray
YOUR OWN (your team) - White



                QUALITY.


   Each fighter is characterized by its qualities. Depends on 
them, how successful he will follow orders and go winner of the 
fights. 


   Rustic slaves are limited by only two or three qualities. 
The higher the rank of soldier, the more he and qualities.



   Each quality is the opposite: for example, "strong" and 
"weak." Spell "CURSE" changes all the good qualities of a 
soldier on their opposites. 


   Here is a list of qualities that can be
endowed with a fighter. In the list of all the qualities are 
divided into pairs: opposites are together. 

STRONG - strong
FEEBLE - weak



BRAVE - brave
COWARDLY - Coward

LOYAL - true
TREACHEROUS - Traitor

OBEDIENT - submissive
UNRULY - recalcitrant

TIRELESS - a tireless
FLAGGING - limp

SWIFT - fast
SLOW - slow

WISE - Wise
FOOLISH - stupid

MASTERFUL - overbearing
FAWNING - toady

MERCIFUL - Merciful
RUTHLESS - ruthless


BOLD - cocky
TIMID - timid

PERSUASIVE - persuasive
BLUNT - rude boor

INCISIVE - grasping
BUNGLING - sad sack


           TIPS.


   And finally, something else which may
well be useful information.


   1) Only sorcerers (Mystic) can successfully execute orders 
"CHARM", "CURSE", "BEWITCH" or "RELEASE".



   2) You'll hear all the sounds of each battle,
in which those who enter any of your soldiers,
even if he is not on the screen. Press
"Fire" mode "WATCH" - and will be transferred
directly on the battlefield.



   3) When any fighter squad changes, even if it does not 
happen on the screen, you will hear a musical phrase. Usually 
This means that someone has joined your party. To find out who 
it is, will check orders for your troops. Soldiers with

orders, which you do not give it up again
and there are new recruits.


   4) The men were turned to stone, not
can move, and they can not give orders. However, they can fight 
if we must, and can kill or be killed.



   5) The men who lit the inscription "EN
GARDE ", or fight, or are poised to
battle. They will ignore your new
orders until the battle is not over.


   6) At the same time can go
only one fight. This will allow you to better
control events.



   7) The men nobly do not attack
an enemy that is already struggling with someone or
square up. This means that sometimes you can find a crowd of 
soldiers looking for a duel, waiting its time to test your luck!



   8) The outcome of the fight depends entirely on the
fighting qualities. Random element
not here. If both fighters the same
fighting qualities, then the attacker wins.


   9) Just give the order "KILL ENEMY"
or "GRAB DARK SCEPTRE" - not the best way to win. Rather, it is 
tantamount to suicide! 


                 - - -