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2.0 The Options Page and Variables Page |
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The options page is used to select the general type of game you would like to play. The three variables pages are optional
and allow you to control the characteristics of the ships you use in the game (these three pages are available if you select the change variables option). Examples of controllable variables are ship crew size and loading time for guns.2.1 THE OPTIONS PAGE
There are six groups of options: (1) game controller, (2) number of players, (3) arcade or tactical type of game, (4) regular game or boarding screen only, (5) difficulty of game and player options (ships to be used), and (6) selection of the variables pages. As the screen is displayed, a cursor will appear next to each option group indicating which option is currently selected. Options can be chosen in any order. You will remain on this page until you hit the space bar. If you select NO CHANGE for option 6, the game will start when you hit the space bar.* Otherwise, if you select CHANGE VARIABLES, you will go to the first variables page (see below) when you hit the space bar*1. Hitting the '1' number key selects game controller PADDLES, JOYPORT or KEYBOARD. The paddles are recommended for the Apple version, the joystick for the Atari version.
2. The number '2' key selects SOLITAIRE (you play the computer) or TWO PLAYER (you play another person).
3. Hitting the number '3' key selects the ARCADE or TACTICAL types of games. (See section 1.3 above for an explanation of arcade and tactical types of games.)
4. The '4' number key selects a regular sailing game, or a game with the boarding screen only.
5. Hitting the number '5' key selects the difficulty of the game. Also available are player options A through L if previously saved (see section 2.5). The level of play is merely a reflection of the abilities of the two ships (i.e. in Level 1 play the computer's ship is inferior to that of the player, whereas in Level 3 the computer's ship is superior to that of the player).
6. The '6' number key gives you the option to CHANGE VARIABLES. If you select it, you will see the first variables page (see below) after you hit the space bar.* Otherwise, the game will start after you hit the space bar* If you want to see the initial settings for the current game's ships, select the change variables option.
7. After you have selected all of your options, hitting the space bar* starts the game, or goes to the first variables page, depending on whether you selected CHANGE VARIABLES in option 6.
* START key on the Atari
2.2 VARIABLES PAGES (SHIP CHARACTERISTICS)
The variables pages enable you to change the settings for the ship variables from the standard settings for Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Player Options A through L The original settings displayed on the variables pages are set by the level of play chosen on the options page. If level 1 was chosen, the ship characteristics for level 1 play will display initially on the variables pages. If a player option was chosen, the variables values will initially be set to the values for that player option (players will have the ability to save onto the disk new player options A through L). Use the escape key (option key on the Atari) to go from one variables page to another (there are 3 pages altogether). When the variables pages are completed, hit the space bar* to start the game.* START key on the Atari
2.3 VARIABLES PAGE 1
Variables page 1 is used to name your ship and to select the numbers and types of cannons on that ship. You will also select the nationality of the ship (this only affects the music played at the end). If you want, the computer can calculate a typical ship according to the cannon selections that you have made.1. To name ship 1, hit the '1' key, type the name of the ship, and hit return.
2. Hitting the '2' number key moves you between the four different gun choices for ship 1. The cursor shows which choice you are at now. After you have selected the number and type of guns for your first choice, hit the '2' key to go to the second choice. Up to four types of guns are allowed.
3. Hitting the '3' key allows you to change the number of guns for the line the cursor is on, for ship 1. Hitting '3' adds 1 to the number each time you hit the key. The number goes up to 22 and then back to 0 (you see a blank on the screen, not 0).
4. Hit the '4' key to choose the type of gun you would like for that choice, for ship 1. The poundage for each gun will be shown, and a 'C' if the gun is a carronade. If there is no 'C', the gun is a cannon. The order of the guns is: 12 lb carronade, 18 lb carronade, 24 lb carronade, 32 lb carronade, 42 lb carronade, 6 lb. 8 lb, 9 Ib, 12 lb. 18 lb, 24 lb, 32 lb. 36 lb, and 42 lb cannons. After each gun type is displayed the maximum range of that type of gun. You will note that carronades have a much shorter range than cannons. The most effective range of the guns is at ranges under one third of the guns' maximum range. The accuracy of the guns is very poor beyond one half of their maximum range.
5. You may hit the '5' key to calculate a typical ship for those cannon choices, after you have made all the cannon choices for ship 1. Warning -- calculating a typical ship will change all the variable settings for ship 1 on the next two variables pages to those 'typical' settings!
6-0. The keys 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 have the same effects on ship 2 as the keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 have on ship 1.
2.4 VARIABLES PAGE 2
Variables page 2 is used to change the variables: (1) and (2) firing (loading) time, (3) and (4) turning time, (5) and (6) speed, (7) and (8) shot damage, and (9) and (0) hull points. Hitting one of the keys 1 through 0 will increase the value for that variable. Hitting that key repeatedly will increase the variable to its maximum value, and then begin again at its minimum value.1. Hit '1' to change the firing (loading) time for ship 1. Hitting the '1' key adds 10 seconds to the firing time. When it reaches 8 minutes (the maximum for firing time), it will start over at 10 seconds (the minimum for firing time).
2. Hit '2' to change the firing (loading) time for ship 2. Firing time represents how long it takes the crew of your ship to reload the cannons after they have been fired. You can only fire again after the cannons have been reloaded. Firing time can be adjusted from 10 seconds to 8 minutes. Historically, the very best crews could reload their guns in one and one-half minutes; poor crews took four minutes or more. During the play of the game, you will notice that actual loading time will increase 10 seconds for every 30 casualties among the crew.
3. Hit '3' to change the turning time for ship 1.
4. Hit '4' to change the turning time for ship 2. Turning time is the delay before a turn is executed after the command is given. One turn is a change of 30 degrees (12 turns to a circle). Turning time can be varied from 10 seconds to 8 minutes.
5. Hit '5' to change the starting speed for ship 1.
6. Hit '6' to change the starting speed for ship 2. The starting speed indicates the ship's speed in relation to that of other ships. The higher the starting speed; the faster that ship is in all directions to the wind. The ship's speed can be varied from 1.2 knots to 4.8 knots (.5 to 4.4 knots on the Atari). This speed will be the speed of the ship as the game starts. It is not the maximum speed of the ship. It is the speed of the ship with the wind directly behind it. The ship is somewhat faster when the wind is 30 degrees from directly behind it.
7. Hit the '7' key to change the shot damage inflicted by ship 1 on ship 2.
8. Hit the '8' key to change the amount of damage inflicted by the cannons of ship 2. Shot damage is a measure of the number of hits inflicted by the guns. When shot damage is set to 1.00 X standard, the number of hits inflicted is an accurate reflection of the number of cannons firing and the range they are firing at. If for example shot damage is set to 2.00 X standard, then if a broadside would normally inflict 12 hits, the number of hits is increased to 24. Shot damage can be varied from .5 times (50 percent of) to 3 times (300 percent of) standard.
9. Hit the '9' key to change the hull points for ship 1.
0. Hit '0' to change the hull points for ship 2. Hull points are a measure of how sturdy the hull is. Your ship will sink after your hull points reach zero. Hull points can be varied from 30 points to 200 points.
2.5 VARIABLES PAGE 3
The third variables page is used to change (1) and (2) sniper fire hit percentage, (3) and (4) crew size, (5) and (6) boarding casualties, and (ctrl-A through ctrl-L) to save the values of the variables on the three variables pages as Player Options A through L.1. Hit the '1' key to change the sniper fire hit percentage for ship 1.
2. Hit the '2' key to change the sniper fire hit percentage for ship 2. Sniper fire is the percentage chance that each sniper hits his intended target. This variable can be used to increase or decrease the effect that snipers have on the outcome of the game. Sniper fire percentages can be set to 8% of hits effective, 15%, 30% and 60%. To represent larger ships, set the sniper fire to 15% or 30% to represent more snipers. For smaller ships, an accurate percentage is 8%.
3. Hit '3' to add 50 men to the size of the crew for ship 1. The maximum possible crew size is 1279. After that point the crew size starts over again at 120 men
4. Hit 4 to add 50 men to the size of the crew for ship 2 Keep hittmg 4 until you reach the crew size you'd like. The minimum size is 120 men; the maximum is 1279 men. The size of your crew is very important during the boarding phase.
5. Hit the '5' number key to change the boarding casualties inflicted by ship 1 on ship 2.
6. Hit the '6' key to increase the boarding casualties inificted by the crew of ship 2 on the crew of ship 1. Boarding casualty ratio reflects a modification of the standard casualty values. On the boarding screen, when a man is killed by a sword fighter or by a sniper, that death represents a certain number of men killed depending partly on the method used to kill. A ratio greater than 1 will raise the number of men killed by the specified percentage. For example, if the crew of ship 1 kills 4 ship 2 crew members when the boarding casualties ratio for ship 1 is set to 1, then ship 1 will kill 12 ship 2 crew members when the boarding casualties ratio for ship 1 is set to 3. Boarding casualties can be multiplied by 1, 2, 3 or 4 to produce up to 4 times as many casualties as standard. After increasing the boarding casualty ratio to 4, hitting the key one more time sets it back to 1.
CTRL-A through L: Hold down the control (CTRL) key and hit the 'A' through 'L' keys to save the current settings of the variables as Player Options A through L Hitting ctrl-A through ctrl-L will erase any previously saved Player Option variables. When playing another game later, recall all the variable values you have saved by specifying Player Option A through L on the options page.
html-ized by Dan Vernon -- May 2002