Daemon Quest The second saga: In To the Lion's Den Introduction: Well here we are at last with the second in the series. This file contains a quick file to help you get started and tell you a little bit about the game. I have tried to put the most important stuff first and leave the less important (but not necessarily less interesting stuff) last. About the game: All the Daemon Quest games are designed so that they may be played independently of one another although they were designed as a series. This is the second game in the series but that does not mean that you have to have played the first in order to enjoy this one. Also, playing this game first will not give away any vital clues to the first. In other words, order is nice, it helps keep the plot straight, but it isn't essential. Shareware: First of all let me say that Daemon Quest and all of the code used to create Daemon Quest is copyrighted. It is not public domain and it isn't free. Daemon Quest is being marketed under a concept called shareware. Shareware (for those of you not acquainted with the term) is a system whereby users are encouraged to copy software and pass it along to their friends with the understanding that if they choose to keep the software they are obliged to pay a users fee. In To the Lion's Den (this saga of Daemon Quest) costs $10 so should you decide to keep it, please send ten dollars to Steve Blanding at the following address. If you are cheap and don't feel that it's worth $10 then please be so kind as to pass the game on to a friend or two and delete your own personal copy. Now I realize that no one is playing police man and no one is going to throw you in jail if you keep it without paying (probably) but I'd like to think that the majority of you are nice honest citizens and hey, it's worth ten bucks if you ask me. Here's the address: Steve Blanding 1600 Olympic Blvd. Suite 301 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Starting Daemon Quest: Daemon Quest will operate on any IBM compatible computer that operates in MSDOS. It can be played off of a floppy disk or it may be copied to a hard disk. If you decide to copy Daemon Quest to a hard disk then make sure that you put all the files in a single directory. To start the game type "DQUEST2". It's that simple. Playing Daemon Quest: I've tried to make Daemon Quest understand as many words and phrases as I can but naturally it has quite a few limitations. While the vocabulary is extensive it is hardly possible to include every word in the english language, or even every word used in the game. Also, due to the complexity of the english language, it is impossible to understand every sentence. Daemon Quest understands simple sentences consisting of up to a verb, a direct object, a preposition (or direction such as east, west, in, or out), and an indirect object. Most of the time a verb and a direct object or just a verb are sufficient. The simpler you try and word it, the better chance the game has of understanding it. Daemon Quest also ignores most articles and punctuation and is case independent. Thus "Get the coin." is the same as "GET COIN". One important thing to remember is that Daemon Quest does not understand adjectives or adverbs. Thus a sentence like "CAREFULLY get the COPPER coin." will probably generate an error. The best tips for playing the game are: explore everything, look at everything, talk to everyone, and try anything. Also there is a limited help function. Typing "HELP" while in the game will bring up a list of common commands and also bring up a list of the system commands. Common Commands: There are some commands that you will need to use extensively throughout the game. Below is a list of these commands and some examples of how they might be used, (remember that most of these words also have synonyms and this is by no means an exhaustive list): GO - tells the game that you wish to move. For example: "GO NORTH" or "GO IN THE PUB". There are eight basic directions: north, south, east, west, up, down, in, and out. Each can be abbreviated with a single letter: N, S, E, W, U, D, I, and O respectively. Thus instead of saying "GO NORTH" you could simply type "N". GET - tells the game that you wish to pick something up and add it to your inventory. For example: "GET THE ROCK". DROP - tells the game that you wish to drop something that is currently in your inventory. For example: "DROP THE ROCK". LOOK or L - if no object is specified then LOOK will show you the full room description along with all visible items in the room. If an object is specified then LOOK will give you a detailed description of the object. L is shorthand for LOOK. For example: "LOOK AT THE BOX" or "L BOX". INVENTORY or INV - lists all items in your inventory (items you are carrying with you). For example: "INV". BUY - tells the game that you wish to buy something. For example: "BUY A DRINK". In this saga all purchases are on a cash only basis. SELL - tells the game that you wish to sell something. ASK ABOUT - allows you to ask the people you meet about different topics. They are most likely to know information about things that relate to them. For example: "ASK THE BARTENDER ABOUT THE ALE". This list is by no means comprehensive. There are several other words that you can use (and at times will need to use). I've tried to make it so that just about any simple english sentence that you type will generate some sort of response so long as it relates to the situation. If you are having trouble with one word or phrase then try another. System Commands: There are a couple of commands that you need to know just to run the game. Below is a list of the system commands: QUIT - the last resort. Exits the game and puts you back in the DOS shell. SAVE - allows you to save a game under a two letter code so you can come back and finish it later. LOAD - loads in a previously saved game. Additional Help: I have created a help utility for this game. If you would like a copy (and have purchased the game for yourself and are hence on our mailing list) then send a blank floppy disk and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address requesting one. Please send no money. The help utility contains all the clues and hints necessary to solve the game. I would also be happy to respond to individual questions. Once again please send me a self-addressed stamped envelope. PLEASE DO NOT CALL ME! If you call me up I am very likely to be rude to you and you may get the wrong impression about me. And we wouldn't want that. I'm a nice guy, really I am. It's just that my wife HATES it when I do business on my personal phone. So please, no calls. Well, that's it. Have fun playing and please write and let me know what you think. Personally I'm very proud of this version of Daemon Quest. A lot of work went in to this and I think we've made some dramatic improvements over the first one. If you agree (or even if you disagree) write and let me know. Steve Blanding 1600 Olympic Blvd. Suite 301 Walnut Creek, CA 94596