     Plateau(tm), ) Copyright Magnolia Games, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1992
     Plateau(tm) is a trademark of Magnolia Games (all rights reserved).

Introduction:

Plateau is a two-player abstract board game, created by Jim Albea, an 
architect from Anniston Alabama.  Sets can be ordered at the address 
below.  The price for a set is $16.00, U.S. funds only. Visa/MasterCard 
accepted.  The game set consists of 12 white and 12 black custom made 
pieces, 32 colored markers, a game board, a rule/strategy booklet, and a 
sturdy carrying case that is also used as a shielding wall during play.

Also available is a 12 minute VHS computer animated video that explains 
the plateau system in an entertaining and informative way.  Price for 
the video is $8.00.

These prices include shipping and handling.  Plateau is also available
in many toy, game, and gift shops for the suggested retail price of
$12.95.  Ask for it by name.

Magnolia Games                voice: 205-464-0906
P.O. Box 143                    fax: 205-464-0046
Madison, AL 35758  USA


The Plateau Mailing List is a forum for the exchange of ideas and 
questions about Plateau and Honor Plateau (see below).  Any messages
that are posted to the list will be automatically mailed to all of
the addresses on the list.

Post to the list by emailing to:

                                plateau-list@plateau.com

Messages to the sysop and other business goes to:

                                jwalbea@jima.b17d.ingr.com  <- best for now
                                plateau-request@plateau.com

What is Honor Plateau?

Honor Plateau is a computer implementation of the fascinating new board 
game called Plateau*.  Honor Plateau (HP for short) provides a 
mechanism for easily transfering game moves between two human players.  
The program displays the game board and the position and status of all 
of the game pieces. Through a series of prompts the user enters a move 
to be sent to his opponent.  The program then generates a standard text 
file that contains an encrypted version of the move.  This text file is 
then sent to the opponent where his copy of Honor Plateau decodes the 
file and enters the move.  Honor Plateau is able to keep up with many 
games simultaneously and has a game play-back feature.  This allows a 
user to have many opponents simultaneously or play many games 
simultaneously or both.  Why "Honor"?  Because secrecy and intrigue are 
crucial aspects of the Plateau game, users of HP must be on their honor, 
somewhat, to not seek the true nature of their opponents moves.

Honor Plateau is distributed as shareware by James Kosinski.  To obtain 
a copy contact either Mr. Kosinski or Magnolia Games.  If you become a 
regular user of the program you are obligated to send a $10.00 "Honor" 
fee to Mr. Kosinski.

    kosinski@andrews.edu
 
    4907 Highland Drive
    Berrien Springs, MI  49103-1051

This distribution of Honor Plateau should contain the following files:

README      [What you are currently reading!]
diskfile.c
display.c
guts.c
intro.c
misc.c
sendmove.c
startup.c
user.c
plateau.h
makefile
plateau.info

The plateau.info file contains a sample game and the rules to Plateau.
It will provide you with an idea of how some of the Plateau rules and
tactics are used in an actual game.  The rest of the files are the source
code to plateau.  Simply typing 'make' should compile everything, creating
an executable file named 'plateau'.  At this point you may move the
executable to anywhere you wish--it is standalone.

How Honor Plateau Works:

Honor Plateau is basically a user interface which allows for playing
Plateau by e-mail.  Upon starting up the program looks for a 'board.cfg'
file, which contains information about the games the player is currently
involved in.  If none exists it asks if one should be created.  After
that, you may add games to the 'board.cfg' file using the 'begin'
command, remove them using the 'delete' command, or by typing the
name of the game you wish to play, you will be loaded into a review
mode where you may use the menu at the bottom of the screen to step
through a game which is currently in progress.  

NOTE:  When beginning a game, both players must give the new game
       the same name--this allows the plateau program to correctly
       determine which files and moves belong to which games.

When starting up, the program looks for files in the current directory
with the extension ".in".  These are Plateau move files.  When you
receive a move from another player, you should save it into a file
called "<gamename>.in", so the Plateau program will know where to find
it.  This must be done manually.  Then, the next time you run Plateau,
it will automatically read in the move, update the position, and 
delete the .in file.

Using the actual program is fairly straightforward--the program
prompts you quite extensively while making your moves.  However,
there are also a few commands which can be typed at most prompts:

display-- Redisplays the current board position
	  This is useful if you are in the middle of making a move
	  and text has caused the board to scroll off the top of
	  the screen; typing "display" redisplays the board.

cancel--  This cancels the current move and kicks you back to the
	  move menu.

exit--    This exits the program immediately.


These commands do not work when the program asks you whether you
want to send the move--nor do they work while you are typing in
any comments you wish to make to yourself or to the other player.

When you have completed your plateau move, a file called
"<gamename>.out" is generated.  This file must then be sent to
the opposing player (who in turn must save it as <gamename>.in).
The program will (unfortunately) not do this automatically.

This is just a brief lesson on how to use Honor Plateau.  It really
is fairly easy to use; however, if you have a question, would like
to make a suggestion, or find a bug, feel free to e-mail me!!!

Have fun!!

James Kosinski
kosinski@andrews.edu
