



                        NIGHTMARES FROM THE CRYPT 3.0

            (three text adventures, each a horrifying nightmare)



CONTENTS:
---------

This directory should contain the following four files:

          README.TXT            (this file)
          RINGS.EXE             (Rings for Bony Fingers)
          RIDERS.EXE            (Ghost Rider of El Diablo)
          DEATH.EXE             (Dr. Death's House of Horrors)


These are three text adventure games in the classic style.  No fancy graphics
or sound effects.  Like a book, these games allow you to use your own
imagination to create worlds of wonder that make graphic adventures pale in
comparison.

Each of these three adventures is a distinct and separate game, each with
it's own complex solution.  They each share a common theme, your nightmares!


Rings for Bony Fingers             (RINGS.EXE)
----------------------------------------------

You are being buried alive!  Can you escape your coffin of death?  If so,
your nightmare has only begun.  Descend the Steps of Doom.  Enter the crypt
in search of the ten rings of Zoltan.  Elude the walking skeleton.  And if
you heed the words of the whispering skull, you may awake from this chilling
nightmare.

Ghost Riders of El Diablo         (RIDERS.EXE)
----------------------------------------------

You stand in the old west, a noose around your neck.  The ghost riders stare
at you with dead eyes.  You must find a way to escape, and lift the Indian
curse that forces the dead to ride at midnight.  Only then can you awake
from your most terrifying nightmare.

Dr. Death's House of Horrors        (DEATH.EXE)
-----------------------------------------------

You stand in a medieval jail cell, watching the stone walls close together
to crush you.  If you can escape, you must still find the keys to freedom
hidden somewhere in the wax museum known as Dr. Death's House of Horrors.
Each room in the old Victorian mansion holds a new terror.  Can you escape
the house and awake before your nightmare becomes fatal?





SHAREWARE
---------

These games are Shareware, and are copyright (c) 1992 by John Olsen.  If you
play them, register by sending your $20 (US) Shareware fee to:

John Olsen
P.O. Box 181
Newberg
Oregon 97132
USA

By sending your Shareware fee, you are compensating the author for his time,
effort, and creativity.  This will encourage further efforts.  And by sending
in your Shareware fee, you also will become a registered user and receive
maps, hints, and full solutions to all three adventure games.  Specifically
ask for CLUE KIT #4 to make sure you get the proper solutions, hints and
maps for all of these games.





HOW DO I PLAY THIS GAME?
------------------------

The computer will place you in new surroundings, and will describe what you
see.  You can then tell the computer what to do, by typing sentences on the
keyboard.  For example, the computer might tell you:

  You are standing outside an old mansion.  The front door is to the north.
  A mailbox is in front of you.  A sealed letter is at your feet.

  What do you want to do?

You might answer by typing:

  OPEN THE FRONT DOOR      or     PUT THE LETTER IN THE MAILBOX

Notice you are not limited to two words as in some other adventure games.





WHAT AM I TRYING TO DO?
-----------------------

Your goal is different in each adventure.  Usually, you are told the goal at
the beginning of the game.  Perhaps you are trying to awaken a sleeping
princess, or escape from a volcanic desert island, or find an ancient gold
statue.  In some adventures, the goal may not be stated, and you may have to
wander around until you find a clue to your goal.





ARE THERE SHORTCUTS?
--------------------

Yes, to save you time typing, there are some abbreviations for commonly used
commands.  They are:

  N  for  GO NORTH    E  for  GO EAST    U  for  GO UP     I  for  INVENTORY
  S  for  GO SOUTH    W  for  GO WEST    D  for  GO DOWN   L  for  LOCATION

Taking INVENTORY shows you what items you are carrying.  Usually there is a
limit to the number of things you can carry, although wearing some items may
alleviate the problem.  Checking your LOCATION will reprint the description
of where you are and what you can see.





WHAT DO I DO IF I GET STUCK?
----------------------------

Try looking around and examining everything at your current location.  Often
times the descriptions of various objects will give you a clue.  Also, go
back and see where you have been.  Maybe you have overlooked something
obvious.  Many times, using common sense is the best course of action.

And of course maps, hints, and complete solutions are available for all three
adventures.  Send your $20 (US) Shareware fee to the above address and you
will receive them by return mail.  The address and further information is
also found in each game, by typing HELP.





CAN I SAVE MY PLACE?
--------------------

Yes, simply type SAVE GAME to save your place.  This is ideal when you are in
the middle of an adventure and have to leave (or go to bed).  It can also be
used before taking some potentially dangerous move.  That way if you are
killed, you can begin again at that point.

To restore the game to the point where it was saved, type LOAD GAME and you
will be placed back at the same instant that you saved your place.

When asked for a filename, be sure to limit it to eight characters.  Do not
add any extension, the extension .SAV will automatically be appended.





HOW DO I QUIT?
--------------

You can quit in several ways.  Either complete the adventure, accidentally
die along the way, or type QUIT to stop in the middle of the game.  If you
intend to pick up at this point later, be sure to SAVE GAME before you QUIT.





TECHNICAL STUFF
---------------

These games are copyright (c) 1992 by John Olsen.  You are free to use, copy
and distribute RINGS, RIDERS, and DEATH for NON-COMMERCIAL use if:

They are not modified in any way.

No fee is charged for use.

Only a nominal fee not to exceed ($5) for expenses and handling in copying
and distribution.



