EVOLUTION OF THE PYROTO MOUNTAIN BBS/GAME SYSTEM ================================================ Early Versions -------------- Not publicly released Version 1.5 ----------- First public release Version 1.6 ----------- New spells ARTICLE gives wizop a way to make interesting articles available 150+ REVIEW allows re-reading of single message by DAY:MINUTE Modified spells CONTACT Word-wrap (type W on a line by itself) OBSERVE Shows total count for certain multiple actions such as DRAIN Doesn't show the time of an action OMNIVIEW Shows interesting statistics 300+ SANCTIFY Allows change of username, removal of "noise" names TIMEWARP Explained better in the HELP and in TIMEWARP itself Other changes Maximum users reduced to 350 to speed up certain processing Maximum messages reduced to 225 to avoid diskette-full problems Reading files or messages: Space-out is instant Interrupted message output allows re-reading and backing up Several different private messages can be included in one message RULES.TXT expanded Major philosophy change CORRECT and DEMOTE spells don't have "wizop power" at high levels It was shown that this much power had too many drawbacks Version 2.0 ----------- New spells FEED and STARVE for the Seismoros ("Shake Mountain") Spirit When Seismoros reaches 100%, all wizards are reduced to near-zero Some weighting in favour of high-level wizards TUNE and FOCUS spells permit information culling FOCUS biases display spells for given phrase TUNE biases message reading for given phrase DETUNE and DEFOCUS are used to return to normal operation SPECS allows user to change his screen width This spell will have other functions, in a later release STEAL is like DRAIN, but costs Esteem This makes Esteem a commodity at all levels Modified spells BYE BYE PASSWORD prompts for a new password Not mentioned in files: your decision if users should know OBSERVE Holds 250 entries instead of 50 Shows entries since last visit Display can be shortened or lengthened via TIMEWARP spell DAY:MINUTE has been reinstated in display File name changed from SYSLOG.DAT to OBSERVE.DAT PROMOTE New restrictions to promotion By SANCTIFY's Max Level Somewhat by Esteem SEND New Exclusive Message feature (read HINTS article) TELEPORT Extremely low Esteem restricts teleportation Message-Handling 100-500 band now split into 100-299 and 300-500 Upgrade effect: Old 100+ messages will appear in the 100-299 band Maximum message length reduced to 27 lines This should finally solve full-diskette problems. Function Keys No longer require you to press "P" to get output going again Wizop key changed from F10 to ALT-F10 position Wizardry Several new factors affecting esteem (e.g. long absence) Output splits at space or dash for narrow-width users Wizopry and Configuration Start-up with PYROTO LOCAL to completely bypass modem Modem now uses "word" responses such as "CONNECT 2400" Upgade effect: PYCONFIG.DAT format has been changed You can now edit spell-levels and costs (file SPELLS.DAT) IMPORTANT: Spell list is now ALPHABETICALLY ordered This means that "B" parses as "BANISH", not BYE! Warn your users! Other changes Some .TXT files contain additional information Version 2.1 ----------- Modem Control Improved tolerance of non-standard modem timings Provision for disconnection via attention sequence Version 3.0 ----------- Release of Source Code Provision for imbedded backspaces via CTL-B Improved word-wrap Removal of "YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED" message Non-wizop users have no more evidence of wizop spells Version 3.01 ------------ Improved word-wrap Attempted fix to modem crashes on BOOSTed-speed disconnection Certain brands of modem get "hung up" if a BOOSTed user signs off Corrected problem with BS (Backspace) Factor reporting Version C1 ---------- New Features Support for operation as a "Door" (i.e. Shell) from another BBS program Will work as a single-user system in a multi-user environment The Elementals: capricious spirits that attach themselves to wizards Can be tactically significant; many varied effects on spells Modified Serial Driver The XON (CTL-Q) character has been removed from all prompts Paused output (CTL-S or P) now "times out" after a while Timing of inputs is no longer processor-speed-dependant On some fast machines (e.g. AT or 386) ANSWER HIM> time was too short Modified Sign-on Sign-on banner expanded from 8 lines to 15 Banner moved out of PYCONFIG.DAT file to LOGO.TXT file LOGO.TXT can serve as a library of sign-on logos "Call back in ..." now gives hours-until-next-call if > 90 minutes Sign-up procedure is slightly different; asks "Sign up? (Y/N)" This was changed because it seems more understandable Announce-only facility provide you with a non-messaging bulletin system Like a "play-only" answering machine, uses message from LOGO.TXT library Modified Spells Added warning to BESEECH to let them know other wizards can LISTEN Soft limit (some randomness) on number of SUGGESTs per call DRAIN and STEAL are now one tenth the cost, one tenth the power This is more in accord with manna budgets of lower wizards However, STEAL's Esteem-cost has been reduced only by a fifth PROBE, for wizop, now shows when bands were read This can sometimes be useful when zombie-busting TUNE and FOCUS allow multiple search-items, e.g. computer/mary/cabbage Quite powerful. E.G. "Show me when Fred or Joe said Banish or Reduce" Makes a fine zombie-busting tool TIMEWARP now supports temporary or total reset of read-times This seems to address both "points-of-view" of how it should work Wizopry and Configuration Sound effects can be toggled on or off Some file errors, previously reported incorrectly, now report correctly Date and time are checked at Pyroto start-up Completely NEW configuration program Explains every step in detail, helps you make configuration decisions New configurable items Hours-between-calls Initial baud-rate (baud rate most natural for your modem) Modem-pacing (allows speed-up of modem command processing) At sign-up: Ask for password? Ask for phone number? Spells may be made "wizop-only" or removed completely, via SPELLS.DAT Spells at level 500 are wizop-only Spells at level 501+ are not available to anybody NOTE: If using an old SPELLS.DAT file, please modify accordingly Message-Handling While SENDing a message (or BESEECH, etc.) you can cast spells This is handy; pop out for a quick OMNIVIEW, OBSERVE or whatever Free esteem for Sorcery level 0 SENDers only good for 3 messages After third message, TSOTL rates his messages Very low esteem wizards get logged off This will confound those who try to fill up all message files Multi-line private and exclusive headers You can, for example, address a single "private" to dozens of wizards Miscellaneous Online-time allowance modified Not quite so much time for high-level wizards; more fluctuation Versions C1.01 to C1.06 ----------------------- C1.01 -- Shazoth reset to 0 Manna after awarding Manna C1.02 -- Words-Per-Minute reporting for door; fixed Elthac C1.03 -- SEND * BESEECH didn't give reminder message -- fixed ESP Quit-to-avoid-failing subterfuge foiled Improved format (linefeeds more appropriately placed) C1.04 -- Wizop can TIMEWARP to 0 0 to see HURLed messages C1.05 -- HARAKIRI spell allows wizard to delete himself Allows transmission of CTL-G (Bell) Added wizop-only observe text: shows baud rate Standard Shareware release until April '89 C1.06 -- C1.06 available only if source code is orderd KAMIKAZE spell allows suicidal attack on any wizard Manna springs Now seasonal (e.g. sometimes dry) One full cycle of seasons lasts approx. 92 day (4/year) Manna may now be cast at any level SendFile function on ALT-F6 allows wizop to transmit a text file Moved command and guardian descriptions to text files Wizops can now change the descriptions easily RENAME spell allows wizard to change his name Version C2 ---------- Standard Shareware release, starting April '89 NEW CONCEPT "Support" prevents a few people from keeping the whole Mountain at level 0 The idea is that the higher wizards need some "support" from those below An analogy is a king, who has barons below him and peasants below them MODIFIED SPELLS SPELLS offers list sorted by levels or by spells REDUCE respects previous Esteem This allows more than 1500 Esteem at 0 after a REDUCE Wizard still loses two-thirds of absolute Esteem This change makes the BANISH spell more viable MESSAGES Range-oriented private and exclusive messages Message techniques now explained by the new GIMMICKS spell Ranges can be included or excluded: <> Multiple criteria can be put on the same line This is done by separating them by a space. For example: >< <> Excludes level 500, except for John Esteemeter turned on after 3 sends at level 0 This was implemented in an earlier version, but didn't work WIZOPRY AND CONFIGURATION All file names are now stored in FILES.DAT This allows quick switching of articles, installation of questions, etc. MISCELLANEOUS Added sign-on help, accessed by typing ? when asked for user name