\documentstyle{article} \title{{\sf Elan 1.00}} \author{Andrea Giotti} \date{April 13, 1996} \begin{document} \maketitle \section{Introduction} {\sf Elan} is a portable simulation game written by the author on a Commodore Amiga, made available on Linux and OS/2 thanks to the contributions listed in section \ref{credits} (p. \pageref{credits}). The program only has a text output and is targeted at an audience that doesn't give too much importance to form. Color is not necessary, but strongly recommended. Enhancements that improve interaction, like a graphical user interface and special effects, are scheduled for future releases and contributions in these directions are well accepted. The simulation consists in reproducing colonization of a hostile environment with a limited budget. Reasons and methods are discussed in the following sections. \section{Installation and configuration} Before running the simulation you should copy the executable {\tt elan} and the configuration file {\tt elan.cfg} from the platform specific subdirectory (Amiga, Linux/ANSI, Linux/ncurses or OS/2) to the directory where you want to install it. The user configurable parameters are the interface window size, on systems that support it, and the text/background color combinations to be used for the message classes and for map symbols. The configuration file is a fixed format ASCII text file, that must be found in the same directory where the program is run from. The window must be large enough to display a $80 \times 45$ text page in the proper font. Color numbers from 0 to 7 are valid for all versions, while greater numbers may be accepted by specific versions. As an example, the distribution package includes a GIF image of a correctly configured Amiga version. The Amiga version can be run from the workbench or a shell window. In the latter case a stack of at least 6000 is required. This version always opens a new console window on the workbench screen using the default system font. Of the two Linux versions, the ANSI one can run on any terminal that can decode ANSI escape sequences, the other one needs the ncurses library and works on every terminal described on the library's own documentation. Both inherit the terminal from the shell they are run from, and it's best to experiment them on your preferred console before choosing one. The OS/2 version can be run from the desktop or a shell window. It always opens a new console window. Along with this documentation in various formats, the distribution package contains sources and makefiles. Before you try and recompile them on other platforms, reading of the section \ref{technical} (p. \pageref{technical}) is strongly adviced. \section{Background} In the galactic market, the substance with the highest specific value is without any doubt elan, because of its thamuaturgic proprierties and its difficult production process. On worlds dominated by political or religious dictatorships, moreover, its banning brings its price so high that you can buy a whole spaceship with few centiliters of pure elan. If regularly taken, a much lower quantity is enough for a human being to reverse the ageing process and acquire a virtual immortality in an ever young body, accidents aside. Other presumed wonders, like the ability to speak unknown languages and see mysterious worlds, have never been scientifically documented. Unfortunatey, a human body accustomed to elan will age quickly if deprived of it, and this confers a formidable blackmailing power over some of the most powerful man of the galaxy, to who can produce the substance. On only one known world a lichen, from which elan is distilled through a complex electrochemical process, will grow. Its code in the database is Csi Afrae 5, a rocky planetoid three astronimical units away from Csi Afrae, a star in pre-nova stage beyond the Magellan clouds. Csi Afrae 5 has a strongly elliptic orbit, that brings a highly variable intesity of rays from the primary during the year, resulting in a mean thermal range from -7 to -98 degrees celsius. A year is 333 days long, each day one and a half standard solar days. The planetoid is small but dense and gravity is a fifth of earth's. The atmosphere is a highly corrosive mixture of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and sulphurous anhydrides, with strong winds and storms of sulphur salts. Under the hard ultraviolet light of Csi Afrae, in the valleys where the atmosphear is more dense and lakes of sulphydric acid form, the mother lichen grows with few other lifeforms. Every attempt to duplicate the conditions under which the lichen grows in a lab, have failed. To be useful for elan production, the lichen must grow in a homogeneous plantation and not among other commercially uninteresting, though similar, lifeforms. The plantation produces strongly reactive fermenting biomass, that must immediatly distilled or stored in appropriate inert-crystal silo. Its direct exportation is sometimes attempted but, since biomass degrades with acceleration, its value as a source for elan is much lower, bringing its final price down to a fifth. The distillation process takes place in complex plants specially built, requires high temperatures and is energetically very expensive. Obviously production of elan on location for later exportation is preferrable, but survival on the surface of Csi Afrae 5 is uncertain because of the adverse environmental conditions that are a source of frequent plant failures. Through atmospheric processors installed at high altitude, far away from plantations, it is possible to obtain air and water and grow the necessary food in hydroponic greenhouses. The processors' yield descreases sensibly when the planet is more distant from the primary and the temperature gets lower, time at which the growth of the lichen gets more flourishing. The position of Csi Afrae, far away from commercial routes at the edge of known space, renders highly anti-economic frequent contacts for supplies. Of all the attempts to install a colony on Csi Afrae 5 to produce elan, few have survived the first winter. Another problem is the local ecosystem, that has a hostile reaction to every intrusion attemp. A seemingly common parasite can attack the plants, other more esoteric ones seem to be able to perforate distribution ducts. The removal of the ecosystem using military robots seems desirable, but the high cost of such an operation has till now forced to solve the problem using thermal barriers towards which native forms have an inborn aversion. Specific studies regarding the ecosystem have never been publicly disclosed. Elan export and commerce are monopoly of Hermeschem Galactica, that owns large provisions of it. Its production is contracted to firms specialized in extreme condition worlds. Often, the dream of their managers was to steal Hermeschem's control over elan to enter the club of the powerful in the galaxy. The crude reality has always been a dependency upon the shuttle that, once a year, buys biomass or elan in exchange for supplies and new machinery. An exploitation permit for Csi Afrae 5 is in fact conceded only under an exclusiveness contract regarding every commercial exchange with the colony. A new variable has been introduced in the picture when the Altair biolaboratories developed a genetic process that adapts a human being for life on Csi Afrae 5. The process consists in a metamorphosys of a number of human beings to hybrid breeders, destined to live the rest of their lifes in an elan-saturated environment. A new generation of pantropic forms should be born from the hybrids, capable of surviving and breeding outside. Sustaintment of hybrids for a time long enough for reproduction needs large quantities of elan, because of this it's so expensive that the second phase of the process has only been experimented on rats. \section{Target} Purpose of the games is to remove the native ecosystem of Csi Afrae 5 and replace it with one dominated by pantropic forms derived from mankind, free of running in sulphuric acid pools and sinthetizing elan internally while feeding on mother lichen. To do this it will be necessary to design, buy, install, connect, check and defend the colony systems for at least ten years. The plants are autoregulating and the robots are controlled by predefined programs, but without a constant supervision even the most perfect colony will collapse. The choice, by trial and error, of the parameters that are the base of the management strategy is an integral element of the game, and is left to the user. The design limits are described in the \ref{commands} (p. \pageref{commands}) section, with the related commands, while some playing suggestions are collected in the \ref{tips} (p. \pageref{tips}) section. \section{Plants} \subsection{Production plants} \subsubsection{Energetic} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Solar cell}\nopagebreak Generator that produces electricity proportionally to the intensity of solar radiation, variable during the year. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Nuclear reactor}\nopagebreak Generator that produces a constant quantity of electricity but has to be fed with always new cooling water that becomes radioactive and can not be reprocessed. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Heating system}\nopagebreak System that transforms electricity in heat. Consumption variation related to external temperature is folded in the plant yield figure. The heating ducts seem to offer some protection from alien lifeforms, if the thermal range is high enough. \end{itemize} \subsubsection{Chemical} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Water and air processors}\nopagebreak Condensators that extract drinkable water or breathable air from the alien atmosphere and using electricity. Their yield depends on their position, higher in altitude, and meteorological factors that typically get better with growing environmental temperature. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Distillery}\nopagebreak Complex of reactors that distill elan from raw biomass, using large quantities of electricity and heat in the process. \end{itemize} \subsubsection{Biological} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Greenhouse}\nopagebreak Pressurized idroponic plant where eatable food is cultivated for human beings. It is run with electricity, heat, water and air. Its yield is independent from position and environmental factors. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Plantation}\nopagebreak Open air coltivation of the mother lichen from which raw biomass is obtained. Its yield depends on its position, lower in altitude, and from the growth rate of the lichen that typically gets worse as environmental temperature gets higher. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Yeaster}\nopagebreak Organic device in symbiosis with the mother lichen, doesn't necessitate of maintenance and directly produces elan without passing through the raw biomass stage and without using energy. As for the plantation, yield depends on position and lichen growth rate and is slightly lower than for the cultivation and distillation process. \end{itemize} \subsection{Storage systems} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Battery} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Water tank} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Air tank} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Food storage} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Biomass silo} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Elan tank} \end{itemize} \subsection{Consumption plants} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Computer}\nopagebreak System for telecontrolled robots, only needs electricity to work. If the output CPU power is too low, the telecontrolled robots will stop. Every robot can be controlled using a different control program among the ones available in the computer's library. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Habitat}\nopagebreak Pressurized environment for support of the colony's human population, who is responsible for the correct functioning of systems. It runs on electricity, heat, water, air and food and has an internal life support supply for emergencies. It contains special incubators for accelerated growth of individuals produced in-vitro, that are activated automatically when vital support output exceeds population use. At least one habitat must have a clear side to allow for shuttle docking. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Hybridome}\nopagebreak Semiorganic capsule that hosts the colony's hybrid population. It doesn't require maintenance, runs on electricity and elan and has a small internal supply of vital support. Hybrids can not get out of it, so they are useless for repair tasks in case of emergency. The capsule must have a clear side to allow for the release in the environment of pantropic forms which are the generation after hybrids. Gestation of pantropic forms starts when vital support output exceeds population use. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Metamorpher}\nopagebreak Pressurized environment that hosts an automatic biolaboratory where, using baths of elan at different concentrations, human beings are progressively transformed in hybrids through a genetic recombination process. It runs on electricity, heat, air and elan. The metamorphosys is completed only when an adeguate hybrid vital support is available. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Radiator}\nopagebreak Dissipating device that permits the setting of a lower bound to the thermal range of heat ducts. Heating for the colony is taken before the radiator, that dissipates upto the set value. \end{itemize} \section{Robots} \subsection{Hardware} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Roboprobe}\nopagebreak Simple robot controlled by an integrated CPU that runs an exploration program. It carries a low power laser but doesn't distinguish lifeforms and attacks them when they interfere with its task. Lack of an armour renders it particularly vulnerable to electromagnetic phenomena. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Raider}\nopagebreak Telecontrolled robot armed with a medium power laser and light armour. Excellent against parasites, it discerns native lifeforms from human derived ones. Its low price makes it useful for many tasks. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Exterminator}\nopagebreak Telecontrolled robot armed with antiparticle cannon and heavy armour. Effective against the strongest creatures, it discerns native lifeforms from human derived ones. It's born to run hunt programs. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Stalker}\nopagebreak Telecontrolled robot that can jump ducts, armed with a medium power laser and an enforced heavy armour with electromagnetic shielding. It carries devices to dissolve plasma vortexes and limitedly hunt creatures that hide underground. It discerns native lifeforms from human derived ones. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Guardian}\nopagebreak Sophisticated robot controlled by an integrated CPU that runs a patrol program. It can jump ducts and is armed with a high power laser and a double heavy armor with electromagnetic shielding. It carries devices similar to the Stalker but more effective against underground creatures. It can discern pure pantropic forms from eventual mutations, beyond native forms. It destroys survivor roboprobes, that are a potential danger for pantropic forms. \end{itemize} \subsection{Library programs} \begin{itemize} \item[$\diamond$] {\it Survey}\nopagebreak The robot stands still and attempts to eliminate hostile forms that come close to him, supposing he notices their presence. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Explore}\nopagebreak The robot tends to move without halt and prefers unexplored regions, not seeking fights but defending himself if necessary. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Hunt}\nopagebreak The robot hunts hostile forms, preferring low altitude regions where the ecosystem is more flourishing. \item[$\diamond$] {\it Patrol}\nopagebreak The robot hunts hostile forms, preferring high altitude explored regions, typically around the colony nucleus. \end{itemize} \section{Commands}\label{commands} Every command is given with a single keystroke. The most frequent commands are grouped on the numeric keypad. \subsection{Movement} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9}}\nopagebreak All these keys move the cursor in the direction corresponding to their placement on the numeric keypad. In duct construction modes, they also place a duct segment in the new location, if it doesn't contain plants or deduction points of other ducts. In this case time is advanced. The first location of a new duct has to be empty and generally two ducts can only cross in points that aren't deduction points of connected plants. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt 5}}\nopagebreak In control mode, moves the cursor to the next deduction point of the underlying duct. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt .}}\nopagebreak In control mode, moves the cursor to the next plant with manual regulation of output or failure. \end{itemize} \subsection{Implementation} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt [}}\nopagebreak In control mode, if the location under the cursor is empty and not surrounded by other plants, a new plant is placed and time is advanced. In trade mode, buys a new plant to be placed later. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt ]}}\nopagebreak In control mode, if the location under the cursor is empty and previously explored a new robot is placed and time is advanced. In trade mode, buys a new robot to be placed later. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt /}}\nopagebreak Switches from control to duct construction mode and viceversa. If a plant is under the cursor a new duct will be started from there, if a duct is under the cursor it will be extended fromt he current location in the direction specified moving the cursor. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt X}}\nopagebreak In control mode, destroys the duct or plant under the cursor. \end{itemize} \subsection{Management} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Enter}}\nopagebreak In control mode, if a plant is under the cursor it is switched from automatic to manual output regulation, or viceversa. If two ducts cross under the cursor, the lower one is rised. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt +}}\nopagebreak In control mode, if a plant is under the cursor and is manually regulated, its target output increases of 5\% of nominal maximum. If a telecontrolled robot is under the cursor, the next library program is selected for it. In trade mode, if the plant is a non-full container it is filled buying the appropriate resource for 5\% of its maximum capacity. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt -}}\nopagebreak In control mode, if a plant is under the cursor and is manually regulated, its target output decreases of 5\% of nominal maximum. If a telecontrolled robot is under the cursor, the previous library program is selected for it. In trade mode, if the plant is a non-empty container the stored resource is sold for 5\% of its maximum capacity. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt *}}\nopagebreak In control mode, is a plant is under the cursor and is manually regulated it target output is zeroed or, if already zero, maximized. If a telecontrolled robot is under the cursor, the default program is selected for it. In trade mode, if the plant under the cursor is a non-empty containter, the stored resource is entirely sold, if empty it's filled buying the appropriate resource until it's full or until credits are finished. \end{itemize} \subsection{Evolution} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt 0}}\nopagebreak In every mode except trade, advances time by one step. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Spacebar}}\nopagebreak Exits trade mode advancing time by one step. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Tab}}\nopagebreak In control, trade ad watch modes, advances time till the next event or keystroke. Examples of events are shuttle arrival and departure and colony end. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt >}}\nopagebreak In control ad watch modes, advances time till the next event or year end, without updating the map. \end{itemize} \subsection{Utilities} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Backspace}}\nopagebreak Show the list of the latest messages. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt ?}}\nopagebreak Show a list of accepted commands. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt \$}}\nopagebreak Show a colony value extimate. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt R}}\nopagebreak Redraw map. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt D}}\nopagebreak Save the map to disk as a text file with name {\tt elan.map}. \end{itemize} \subsection{General} \begin{itemize} \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt L}}\nopagebreak Load last saved game. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt S}}\nopagebreak Save current game. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Q}}\nopagebreak Run ten years of evolution of the colony, calculate final score and quit simulation. The process stops when a year is over if a key has been pressed in the mean time. \item[$\Box$] {\large {\tt Esc}}\nopagebreak Immediatly quit simulation. \end{itemize} \section{Symbols} The symbols used on the map are explained in table \ref{symboltable} (p. \pageref{symboltable}), except for the ones used to represent ducts. Plants are represented with the corresponding letter, using the color characteristic of the produced resource. For plants that have an internal capacity the letter is upper case if the current capacity is above 1\% of nominal maximum, lower case otherwise. For all the others a lower case letter means the output is at least 1\% over the nominal maximum. If the letter is in reverse the plant is functional, be it turned on or not, otherwise it's broken. Even robots are represented through the corresponding letter, in upper case if the robot is active or in lower case if not active because of lack of CPU power. Ducts are represented through conventional symbols that are an indication of the direction, using the color of the resource they convey, crossings with lower case {\tt x}'s using the color of the higher duct. Deduction points are marked by a number that is a count of the plants connected to that duct segment. Different terrain types are represented by spaces for peaks, or by punctuation symbols for lower altitudes, down to valleys marked by asterisks. Peaks and valleys aren't visible at first, and appear only during exploration of the environment. Unexplored and explored cells have different colors, and objects are visible only if located in the the latter. \begin{table} \caption{Main map symbols}\label{symboltable} \begin{center} \begin{tabular}{|c|l|} \hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{Devices} \\ \hline {\tt E} & Solar cell \\ {\tt N} & Nuclear reactor \\ {\tt H} & Heating system \\ {\tt W} & Water processor \\ {\tt A} & Air processor \\ {\tt D} & Distillery \\ {\tt G} & Greenhouse \\ {\tt P} & Plantation \\ {\tt Y} & Yeaster \\ {\tt B} & Battery \\ {\tt U} & Water tank \\ {\tt O} & Air tank \\ {\tt F} & Food storage \\ {\tt S} & Biomass silo \\ {\tt \$} & Elan tank \\ {\tt C} & Computer \\ {\tt @} & Habitat \\ {\tt \&} & Hybridome \\ {\tt M} & Metamorpher \\ {\tt R} & Radiator \\ \hline\hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{Robots} \\ \hline {\tt I} & Roboprobe \\ {\tt J} & Raider \\ {\tt K} & Exterminator \\ {\tt L} & Stalker \\ {\tt T} & Guardian \\ \hline\hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{Lifeforms} \\ \hline {\tt X} & Alien parasite \\ {\tt Z} & Alien breeder \\ {\tt \#} & Plasma gizmo \\ {\tt \^{}} & Alien mole \\ {\tt \&} & Pantropic form \\ {\tt ?} & Mutant form \\ \hline\hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{Terrains} \\ \hline & Peak \\ {\tt .} & Superior region \\ {\tt :} & Intermediate region \\ {\tt ;} & Inferior region \\ {\tt *} & Valley \\ \hline \end{tabular} \end{center} \end{table} Even though lack of color makes it hard to read, inclusion of the map in figure \ref{map} could be useful. The map shows a colony in its terminal development phase and has been cleaned of terrain type symbols for clarity. The original color image is included in the distribution package. \begin{figure} \caption{A map example}\label{map} \begin{verbatim} Y Y 1---1 | +1-1-------+--+-x+ |H1R+-----+1 $| || | | 1O W C1M11x-+| |B2A1+-221-1-xx11| | | ||O @2F|$1|&|| |E2A1x211| ++|| ++ | | |+1@1x-+|1| |E1-xx22-1F|1D1--------+ | | +x1G1--+|11--+P P| |E2W1+2-1U || S S111P 1| | | | U | 1x1+ | +--1| |E1W1 1N H|H| S2P1P P| | 12-1-1-2-2+2+--------+ |B E E E E B B| +-------------+ \end{verbatim} \end{figure} \section{Tips}\label{tips} For a proficient playing, the following few survival rules are adviced: \begin{itemize} \item Initially place the habitat in a high altitude region, suitable for the atmospheric processors' installation. If the area doesn't present large enough regions, generate a new one. \item Design a compact colony, because ducts for resource distribution have a cost that depends on the resource and has to be anticipated. \item Don't confuse creation of a new duct with extension of an existing one, since two ducts can't be connected later. \item Protect the colony by surrounding it with heating ducts layed along cardinal directions, since diagonal segments can be crossed. \item Use storage systems to absorb the consequences of the seasonal cycle and store resources to be sold when the shuttle comes. \item Manually check the output of plants when a resource is scarce, since automatic plant regulations might induce undesired production priorities. \item Manually check the output of plants if a fast response time is desired, since automatic plant regulations produce slower transients to reduce waist of stored resources. \item Remember that plants wear out and this induces lower efficiency and higher failure rates, which can be disastreous for habitats. \item Don't let human population count get too much lower than the number of systems, since this dangerously rises average repair time. \item As soon as your capital allows it, buy a backup habitat that you will eventually keep running. \item Keep under control alien activity and don't be impatient with robots. \end{itemize} \section{Technical notes}\label{technical} The source is almost completely ANSI C, with system dependent code in the source files: {\tt system.h} and {\tt console.\{c|h\}}. All calls to routines not in the standard library are in {\tt console.c} and porting to systems that have an ANSI driver for the console is simply a matter of rewriting these. Adding a minimal graphical user interface would mean slightly deeper changes, but still limited to the source files: {\tt interf.\{c|h\}}, {\tt files.\{c|h\}}, {\tt config.\{c|h\}}, {\tt texts.\{c|h\}}, {\tt symbols.\{c|h\}} and {\tt symtable.c}. The remaining code is independent of the presentation modes. Currently, the savefile format is tied to the {\sf Elan} execution system. Implementing a system independent savefile is a matter of changing {\tt files.\{c|h\}}. The version that uses the ncurses libraries is compilable on virtually any system where these are available, since it doesn't contain any call to Unix specific routines. \section{Warnings and Known Bugs} \begin{itemize} \item Erasing a plant near other plants, all connected to a duct that passes between them in points distinct but close to the plant to be erased, the symbols of the deduction points might not be updated correctly. This is only a representation defect and doesn't have any consequence on simulation state. The case is quite rare and doesn't seem so bad to need a correction, but different opinions will be considered. \item The simulation slows down sensibly as the number of lifeforms on the map increases. The adopted solution in similar games is to limit their number, but it appears non realistic and very questionable. Aside from technical considerations, if the alien population starts to grow exponentially the best thing to do is to give up on fighting it and abandon the game. \item The measurment units used for resources are completely arbitrary and will be made more realistic a future release. \item the Linux/ANSI version doesn't support cursor hiding during screen update because of lack of a standard ANSI escape sequence, while the Linux/ncurses version will do it on terminals that support it. Reliability of this depends on the version of the ncurses library used. \end{itemize} \section{Credits and tools}\label{credits} Idea, design and implementation on the Commodore Amiga are by Andrea Giotti. The two Linux versions and the distribution package are the result of the work of Michele Bini, who has also contributed good advice during {\sf Elan} fine tuning. The OS/2 version and the english documentation are by Duncan Wilcox. The systems used during development where an Amiga 4000/040 and a Pentium PC clone, the compilers SAS/C, GCC and IBM C-Set, the reference text "ANSI C" published by Mark Williams. Thanks to the countless authors of Moria for the example they provide. If you like the game, please send a postcard to: \begin{tabbing} xxxxxx \= \kill \> Andrea Giotti \\ \> P.za Monteoliveto, 10 \\ \> 51100 Pistoia \\ \> Italy \end{tabbing} \end{document}