DOCUMENTATION FOR MYTH
			
                                         Copyright (C) 1997 By Barry Volain.  All Rights Reserved.
			Version 1.1

Thank you for playing MYTH.

If you enjoy this game, or need help solving it, please consider registering it by sending US$10 to:

	Barry Volain
	34 Virginia Street
	Springfield, MA 01108

Registered users will receive a deluxe map and hint sheet, along with my sincere gratitude.  I would also appreciate any and all feedback on this game.  I may be contacted at the above address or by email at: BarryV@POSTOFFICE.WORLDNET.ATT.NET.  

Thanks, now on with the important stuff.

MYTH is a text adventure game developed using the TADS adventure game development system.  Its characters and situations are based largely on Greek and Roman mythology.  If you have a good knowledge of mythology then many (but not all) of the puzzles will be relatively easy to solve.  If you don't have a good knowledge of mythology, then you might want to acquire a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology.  You can play this game without a knowledge of mythology, but Bullfinch's Mythology is a wonderful book to peruse anyway.

You play a mythological hero.  (Due to the fact that the author of the game is male, the character you play will have certain male characteristics.  I apologize to female players.)  As a mythological hero you will encounter many trials and obstacles along the way.  You will need your wits and a bit of luck to overcome them all.  It may not be apparent until the end of the game what the ultimate object is, however, there is a definitive end.

		PLAYING THE GAME

You should have four files:
	MYTH.TXT (this file)
	MYTH.GAM (the game file)
	TR.EXE	(the TADS run-time system)
	MYTH.BAT (game batch file)

To start the game, at the DOS prompt (e.g., C:/>) type: MYTH

The game is played by typing commands at the ">" prompt. Commands are entered in ordinary English.
When you hit "ENTER", your command is interpreted, and the game returns a message telling you what happened.  There are basically two types of commands: movement commands and action commands.  Movement commands move you from one place to another. Movement  commands may be entered by simple letter commands:

	N	GO NORTH
	S	GO SOUTH
	E	GO EAST
	W	GO WEST
	NE	GO NORTHEAST
	NW	GO NORTHWEST
	SE	GO SOUTHEAST
	SW	GO SOUTHWEST

Action commands are generally used to operate on an object. The most basic command will consist of a verb and an object:
	
	EAT THE DOUGHNUT

or, simply:

	EAT DOUGHNUT

Certain situations will require an indirect object and a preposition:
	
	PUT THE FORK IN THE TOASTER

The TADS parser is very sophisticated and will also allow compound sentences:

	PUT THE PLUG IN THE SOCKET, STAND IN PUDDLE, THEN PUT FORK IN TOASTER

You may refer to multiple objects separated by a comma or AND:
	TAKE THE WHIPPED CREAM AND OLIVES
	DROP ALL
	DROP ALL EXCEPT THE WHIPS, CHAINS AND FEATHER

Some common commands are:

	GET
	PUT (with IN or ON)
	TAKE
	GIVE
	MOVE 
	PUSH
	PULL
	DROP
	EAT
	DRINK
	HIT [direct object] WITH [indirect object]
	STAB
	CUT
	WEAR
	OPEN
	CLOSE
	MOUNT
	DISMOUNT
	GET OFF
	THROW [object] AT
	ASK  [person] ABOUT [object]
	SAY ("word" or "phrase"-MUST use double quotes)
	LOOK (or L) displays description of your location	
	LOOK (AT or IN or UNDER)
	SCORE (displays score)
	INVENTORY (or I)
	EXAMINE (or X) (object) gives a description of the object

You start the game in a beautiful field.  From here you may travel in many directions.  In some locations in the game the directions that are available to you are declared; in other places you must find them out for yourself.  It is imperative, as with most adventure games, to create a map as you proceed. Directions in MYTH are as logical as possible, i.e., if you go west on one turn, going east on the subsequent turn will bring you back to the same location.


		INTERACTING WITH OTHER CHARACTERS

At certain times it will be necessary to interact with other characters in the game.  You should use phrases such as:

	ASK MRS. LINCOLN ABOUT THE PLAY
	ASK NEWTON ABOUT THE APPLE

If you want to utter a particular phrase or word, enclose it in double quotes:

	SAY "GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY"	

		SPECIAL COMMANDS

There are several commands that make playing the game a little easier:

AGAIN (or G) Repeats the last command.   
LOOK or L  Shows the full description of your location.
QUIT ends game.
RESTART  Starts the game over from the beginning.
RESTORE restores the game to a previously saved one.  Displays list of saved games.
SAVE saves the present game.
SCRIPT records your entries and the game's responses to a disk file. UNSCRIPT turns off the recording.
TERSE forces brief descriptions to be displayed.
VERBOSE forces full descriptions of every location each time you enter.  Normally, the game will display 
                  the verbose description only when you first enter, subsequent entries will display the TERSE description.
UNDO take back the previous turn.  You can use this repeatedly to take back multiple turns.
VERSION displays the current version of the game.

		SOME GENERAL HINTS

Save your game often, you never know what's lurking around the next corner.

Examine everything.  There are often objects hidden that are not readily apparent.

If you are having trouble solving a particular puzzle, perhaps you have not yet found a missing element. You might find it later as you travel around.

If you're trying to do something and the game doesn't understand you, try using different words.  The game may not know that a rock and a stone and a boulder are the same thing.

Enjoy.