DOORMUD v0.93 beta test   [16bit/DOS]
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

This is the Sysop Documentation for DoorMUD version 0.93.
Be sure to read this file carefully before installing or running DoorMUD
on your system.

Please note that the new DoorMUD game is fully backwards compatible with the
old Land of the Forgotten (LOTF) doorgame.  If you already have LOTF v0.9x 
installed on your system, you can (and probably should) upgrade it directly to
DoorMUD.  Please read UPGRADE.TXT immediately for more information.

DoorMUD is copyright 2000 Evan Elias.

==============================================================================


Introduction 
~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the past, the only decent BBS MUDs (multi-user dungeons) were ridiculously
expensive and ran exclusively on MBBS/Worldgroup boards.  They were geared
solely towards professional, pay-for-access boards, and cost hundreds of
dollars to set up.  For obvious reasons, hobbiest sysops could never afford
them.

DoorMUD aims to change all that.  It is a low-cost, high-quality MUD game that
will run on any BBS software capable of running doorgames.  It is designed for
YOU -- a dedicated hobbiest sysop with a modest-sized BBS.  

DoorMUD features a command interface to allow for the maximum amount of 
player interaction, and a game world that consists of over 1350 separate
rooms for players to explore.  The game also has over 175 items, 40 spells,
115 different monsters, and a dozen quests.  Basically, this game will simply
amaze your users.  Install it now and find out for yourself...



==============================================================================


Contents
~~~~~~~~
1. Support features
2. Disclaimer
3. Setup
4. Running CONFIG.EXE
5. Registration
6. Getting your users to play
7. Misc


==============================================================================

1. Support Features
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Can use built-in serial I/O, or can do serial I/O through use of a fossil
  driver.  If a fossil driver is present, it will be detected automatically.
- Supports many common dropfile formats, including: chain.txt, dorinfo*.def,
  exitinfo.bbs, sfdoors.dat, callinfo.bbs, door.sys, and tribbs.sys.
- Smoothly supports use of telnet servers (COM/IP, Netmodem, etc), on any 
  comm port up through COM99.
- Desqview aware.
- Real-time multinode interaction -- players can easily communicate with each
  other on-line, and can join up in teams to defeat more difficult monsters.


==============================================================================


2. Disclaimer - Agreement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Users of this program must accept the following:

DOORMUD is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
implied.  The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or 
consequential, which may result from the use of DOORMUD.

You may not modify or disassemble this software, in whole or in part.  Use of
decompilers, hex editors, etc on any DOORMUD file is strictly forbidden.


==============================================================================


3. Setup
~~~~~~~~
In order to set up DoorMUD, perform the following steps:

Step 1:  Create a new directory just for DoorMUD, and copy all of the DoorMUD
         files to this directory.  (You may have already done this.)
Step 2:  Copy the file RUNMUD.BAT to wherever you usually put door batch
         files -- typically, your main BBS directory.
Step 3:  Edit RUNMUD.BAT so that the directories used are correct for your 
         system.  Remarks in the file will tell you which lines to fix.
Step 4:  Run CONFIG.EXE in DoorMUD's directory.  More info on CONFIG.EXE
         can be found in the next section.
Step 5:  Set up your BBS so it runs DoorMUD by calling RUNMUD.BAT.  You must
         pass the node number and location of the dropfile to the batch file,
         as follows:

  The BBS must add parameters when running RUNMUD.BAT in the form

    runmud.bat -n # -d XXX

  where # is the node number, and XXX is the location of the dropfile.  For 
  example, if the caller is on node 2 and the dropfile is at "c:\bbs\node2", 
  you would want the BBS to call "runmud.bat -n 2 -d c:\bbs\node2".

  Most BBS systems can automate the above process with special flags.  
  For example, a system running Renegade BBS should be set to use
  "runmud.bat -n %n -d %o".  Renegade automatically replaces "%n" with the 
  node number and "%o" with the dropfile location.

After these steps have been completed, be sure to test out DoorMUD to make
sure it is running properly.  If desired, test out the multinode support by
running multiple local copies of the game at once; however, if you do this,
be sure that each copy is set under a different node (example: use 
"runmud /l /node 1" in one local window and "runmud /l /node 2" in the other).

Also, when running multiple local copies of the door, supply a different user
name for each copy.  Otherwise, the game will think that the same node or
user is trying to enter the game twice, which aborts the program.


==============================================================================


4. Running CONFIG.EXE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first time you run CONFIG.EXE, you will be prompted for your real name.
The game needs this for registration purposes.

From CONFIG.EXE, you can also change the following game settings:

 - Dropfile location:  Specifies the directory where should look for the user
   dropfile.  You will only need this option if your BBS has no way of
   sending the dropfile location to RUNMUD.BAT on the command line. 

 - Monster Fights per Day:  Controls how many monster fights a player gets
   per day.  Every time a player kills a monster, it uses up a monster fight.
   Once a player runs out of monster fights, they CAN still continue to kill
   more monsters if desired, but they won't gain any experience or gold for 
   it.  The default is 35 monster fights per day, which will entertain an
   experienced player for about 15 to 25 minutes per day.  

 - Maximum Accumulated Fights:  Unlike in other RPG doorgames, unspent monster
   fights in DoorMUD add up from day to day.  This way, your users do not have
   to play every single day in order to maintain a high ranking.  This setting
   controls how many unused fights a player can accumulate; the default is
   100.  It is recommended that you set it to about 3 times as high as the
   daily fights setting.  But if you wish to just turn off fight accumulation
   entirely, set it to the same number as the daily fights setting.

 - View Preregistration code:  This is used for registration purposes.  Please
   see section 5 for information on registration.


==============================================================================


5. Registration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DoorMUD is shareware.  In the unregistered version, players may not advance 
past level 7, and can only explore about 600 of the 1350+ rooms in the game 
world.  If you register the game, your users can advance to any level
and can access the entire game world.  Registration costs $20 US.

There are two ways that you can receive your registration file.  The first
option is by Internet E-mail.  This requires that you have an e-mail account
*capable of receiving small file attachments*.

The second option is to receive your registration by standard mail.  This
method takes longer to process.  Your registraion file will be mailed to you
on a disk.

HOW TO REGISTER:
1.  Print and fill out the registration form (REGISTER.TXT).  If you do not
    have a printer, you may handwrite the information.  Be sure to include
    your "preregistration code".  This can be found by running CONFIG.EXE
    and selecting option 4.  Copy it EXACTLY as it appears.  It is VITALLY
    IMPORTANT that you include your prereg code when filling out this form!
2.  Include a cheque or money order for $20 US.  If using a cheque, make it
    payable to "Evan Elias".
3.  Put the payment and registration form in an envelope and mail it to
    this address:

      Evan Elias
      100 Crestwood Drive
      Lansdale, PA 19446-1702
      USA

When I receive your registration, you will be sent a registration file, along
with instructions on how to install it.


==============================================================================


6. Getting Your Users to Play
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DoorMUD is one of the most ambitious doorgames ever created.  It has the
potential to be VERY successful on your BBS, but only if you make sure your
users know about it.

Many sysops these days install dozens and dozens of doorgames on their boards.
Because of this, new large-scale games like DoorMUD are often lost in the 
stream of countless puzzle games and Red Dragon clones.  Please, do something
to make DoorMUD stand out from the rest on your BBS's menus.  Promote it in
your message bases.  Offer contests for high-ranked players.  Just be sure to
do something to make sure your users know it's a fresh new game that was just
released, not just another boring menu-based "(l)ook"/"(a)ttack" clone.

DoorMUD will be instantly popular with users who are used to MUDs.  It will
finally allow you to steal some players off of those billion-line Worldgroup
systems that you've never been able to compete with before.  Log on to a 
couple local Worldgroup systems and advertise your board... be sure to mention
that you have a brand-new MUD game that they've never seen before.  You'll be
picking up new users before you know it.

On the other hand, if your users are only used to hotkey-based menu games,
they may need a while to figure out DoorMUD's interface.  Encourage them to
stick with it, they'll eventually get the hang of it.

The file DMUDAD.ANS, included with the game, is an ANSI advertisement for
DoorMUD.  Please consider posting it somewhere on your BBS.


==============================================================================


7. Misc
~~~~~~~

Maintenance:
  DoorMUD's maintenance routines are run automatically once per day.

Resetting the game:
  You can completely reset the game world by running RESETALL.BAT at a DOS 
  prompt.  There is also an option to "un-do" a reset if you wish to revert
  to your old data files.

User license:
  This version of DoorMUD allows up to 3 simultaneous users/nodes to play the
  game at once.  For now, this should be sufficient for most hobbiest boards.
  A future add-on will allow for more than 3 users; please visit the DoorMUD
  web page for more information.

Automatic Backups:
  DoorMUD automatically makes backups of its vital data files on a regular
  basis, usually once per day.  If your data files ever become corrupted, 
  copy the three *.bak files (CREATURE.BAK, ITEM.BAK, CONFIG.BAK) over the
  *.dat files of the same name, to revert to the backups.  These backups are
  made just as a precaution; data file corruption is very rare.

USERINFO.TXT:
  This text file lists the real name of each user in the game, and shows how
  many days it has been since the user last played.  It is updated daily, when
  the game runs maintenance.  This is not a score file; it is intended to
  provide the Sysop with information as to which users are playing the game.

Command line options:  
 -D or -DROPFILE  - Door information file directory and/or filename.
 -N x or -NODE x  - Sets the node number to use.
 -L or -LOCAL     - Causes door to operate in local mode, without requiring a
                    door information (drop) file.
 -SILENT          - Operate in silent mode, with no local display.
 -NOFOSSIL        - Disables use of FOSSIL driver, even if available.
 -MAXTIME x       - Sets the maximum number of minutes that any user will be
                    permitted to access the door, regardless of time left.
 -MAINT           - This option has been temporarily removed.  
 -HELP            - Lists several other available command lines options for use
                    when the dropfile isn't working properly or isn't present.


Support:
-=-=-=- 
Please consult one of the following sources if you are having difficulty setting
up the game or if you have any questions, comments, ideas, etc --

 - Visit the official DoorMUD webpage:  http://dmud.thebbs.org
 - E-mail the game's programmer:        rhythmnp@aol.com


Thank You's:
-=-=-=-=-=-
Kevin Brown, Barry Bogart, Ed Williams, Bryan Housel, Jeff Miller, Matt Becker,
Jacob Hartman, David Rosenblatt, Brian Pirie, Mike Ehlert, and Outworld Arts.


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