              *VGA Planets - FAQ - version 1994 05 15*
                         * Part 1 (of 3) *

     FAQ  begun by  Roger  Burton-West  <ubte30e@ccs.bbk.ac.uk>.
Thanks to everybody who has contributed . . . and thanks especially
to Tim Wisseman, the author of VGA Planets!
     Continued by Gary Grothman <grothmag@vax.cs.hscsyr.edu>.

        This is  the  FAQ  for  alt.games.vga-planets.   Each  section
begins with "Subject:"; pressing  ^G  in  some  newsreaders (trn) will
advance to the next section.

Players (especially novices) may also want to take a bo-peep at the
"HINTS: periodic strategy posting" which appears about biweekly on
alt.games.vga-planets.  

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Subject: Administrivia

Input is invited, send mail to grothmag@vax.cs.hscsyr.edu

Please tell me if you think something should be added, removed, or if
you have any corrections.  I'm not a wizard, I just maintain this
FAQ.  I rely largely on others to keep it relevant, current, &
correct.

Changes since version of 1994-05-05:
Replaced Tim's phone # with his BBS #.

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Subject: Questions in this FAQ:

PART 1:
What is VGA Planets?
Who is the author?
What hardware do I need?
Where can I get a copy?
Why should I register?
What is the latest version?
What is this group for?
What if someone just begs to be flamed?
How long do games typically last?
What happens if I am out of town and miss a turn?

PART 2:
What about cheating?
So how do I run a game over the Net?
What about similar games and related newsgroups?
(Specific game-play questions follow:)
I have tech 6, but xxx doesn't show up on the build hull screen.  Why?
Why didn't my planet capture that attacking ship?
Why did the colonists I dropped on a new planet vanish?
How do I transfer fighters/torps between ships?
Why doesn't that ship conform to spec?
What is the order of movement/combat/actions in a turn?
What is the real Order of Battle?

PART 3:
In what order do Privateers Rob ships?
Is there a way to save old messages?
Where can I get sheet.exe?
What happens when 500 ships have been built?
I've captured a <race x> ship, can I now [Rob, Pillage, Cloak]?"
What's the deal with science ships?
How do I simulate battles?
What is the formula for ...

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Subject: What is VGA Planets?

        VGA Planets is a graphical  multi-player play by mail strategy
game, which simulates conflict in space between galactic empires.  The
game  emphasizes  mining,   colonization   and   the  construction  of
starships.  The players  compete  against  each  other  on  a galactic
scale.
        Although there is an  economic  component  to  the game, it is
mainly a tactical and strategic wargame.  Although the player with the
best economy usually has  the  best  potential  to  win,  it's not the
purpose of the game - and the scoring system reflects this.
        The  game  system  allows  players   to  construct  their  own
starships by selecting various components and  placing them on a given
hull type.

        The game can be  played  on  one  computer  alone,  but it was
really designed to be a BBS or  net  game.   The game can be played on
any BBS that supports  file  transfers,  with  or  without the sysop's
help.  Many people are playing  VGA  Planets  over the Net using Email
and UUENCODE.
        Players upload their turn  (.TRN)  files  to  the  host BBS or
Email account.  The host  runs  the  actual calculations involved, and
produces result (.RST) files which are  sent back to the players.  The
players run the local program to view their situation and set up their
orders for the next turn.

        The game can be compared to  a  11  player chess game in which
all players move all their pieces simultaneously, one turn at a time.

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Subject: Who is the author?

Tim Wisseman
PO Box 204
North Fork
CA 93643-204
cocomax@gorn.echo.com
BBS (The Tim Continuum): +1 209 877-4921 (N81)

Note: if you would like source code or file format information, don't
      bother.  Tim is no longer releasing this data.

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Subject: What hardware do I need?

        The game can be played on any IBM compatible PC with VGA and a
hard drive.  The standard  version  runs  on  286 and faster machines.
The Host program doesn't need a graphics card, only a hard drive and a
286 or faster machine.
        There is also a version available for the PC-XT, but this must
be obtained directly from the author.
        The author is reportedly working  on  a Unix host program, but
this is a low priority.

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Subject: Where can I get a copy?

     The REGISTERED version of  VGA  Planets  is available directly
from the author (see Subject: Who is the author?).  In Europe, the
distributor is Henrik Moerk:
          Lene@vax.psl.ku.dk
          AKA: Hmk@research.novo.dk
          FIDO: 2:231/306

     The documentation for the unregistered game includes information
on how and why to register.


     You can get the SHAREWARE version of VGA Planets, as well as
some of the useful utilities discussed on a.g.v-p, by anonymous
FTP from:the following sites:

USA:

site:   ftp.ucsc.edu [128.114.2.10] (California)
dir:    /PC/vgaplanets-2.2 (for those who long for the old days)
or:     /PC/vgaplanets-3.0 (the current version)

     Get all the files (remember, binary mode!) and run INSTALL.

     The latest host update may be available in the above directory.
Also take a look in /incoming at the same site.


site:   risc11.cahs.colostate.edu (129.82.159.19) (Colorado)
        (subject to change to: ftp.cahs.colostate.edu)

dir: /pub/planets
              .../planet30 for the unregistered package
              .../hosts for upgrades & utilities, etc.

Problems with this site should be mailed to:
     Brian Convery: convery@osprey.cahs.colostate.edu
File contributions should be "put" to:
     /pub/incoming
& you should also inform Brian (email) so he can move the files to
the appropriate directory.


EUROPE:

site: ftp.fu-berlin.de (Germany)
dir: /pub/pc/games/vgaplanets
                          .../vp-3.0-install for the game package,
                          .../ps-files for postscript files,
                          .../maptool for map utilities, and
                          .../util for the latest files & also most of
                                   the useful utilities that you may
                                   hear about on this list.


site: ftp.cp.tn.tudelft.nl (The Netherlands)
dir: /pub/pbm/VGA-Planets

This site is a mirror of ftp.fu-berlin.de, so uploads should be sent
to Berlin, not here.  Thanks, Frits, for the new site!


NOT FTP SITES:

In addition to the anonymous ftp sites listed above, you may find bits
& pieces of VGAPlanets on local BBS's.  If you're willing to spring for
a long distance call, or if you live in the 209 area code, there is
also the Tim Continuum BBS: (209)877-4921.
I haven't called myself, but I imagine you can reach the Tim there, as
well as getting various utilities & the latest host updates.


There is also an email server for VGAP files:

This is particularly useful for those lacking ftp access.  However,
you do need a copy off uudecode to process the files when they are
sent to you.

To get instructions for the archive server send mail to
vgap-bin-get@slammer.atl.ga.us.  In the body of the message, include
the word help all by itself.  Instructions will be mailed to you.

To get an index of the archive, send mail to
vgap-bin-get@slammer.atl.ga.us.  In the body of the message, include
the word index all by itself.  The index of the archive, including any
blurbs for the files, will be mailed to you.

To get the basic VGAP package, the body of the message should read:

get vp300d1.exe
get vp300d2.exe
get vp300d3.exe
get vp300d4.exe

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Subject: Why should I register?

#include <shareware.ethics.h>

        Apart from that, consider that:
(1)     In v2.2, only registered players can attain tech levels 7-10.
(2)     In v3.0, all players can attain the high tech levels, but it's
        rather more work.
(3)     If Tim doesn't  get  any  money,  he  doesn't  have  a  lot of
        incentive to develop the game any further!

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Subject: What is the latest version?

        The current version of VGA Planets  is v3.0.  v3.0 offers many
additional features over v2.2, the  last major upgrade.  However, v2.2
is still widely in use, and is likely to remain so for some time.

     Newer host versions have been released, the latest being v3.15.
The more recent releases allow the host (only) to modify many game
parameters, including race special abilities, minefield size maxima &
decay rates, cloaking efficiency, and many others.  These new releases
are only necessary for the person hosting the game; players need only
version 3.0.  However, players should examine the documentation of the
release being used by their host, as many of the changes have a huge
influence on game play.

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Subject: What is this group for?

        This group serves two purposes:
(1)     It is a contact point for prospective players and hosts.
(2)     It is a discussion forum  for  the  game, tricks and tips, and
        suggestions for future versions.

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Subject: What if someone begs to be flamed?

GROUP BAITING:

Every once in a blue moon, some extremely "clever" individual will
decide to have a little fun by baiting the readers of a newsgroup.
The general theme and content of these posts are fairly predictable;
typically, they assert the newsgroup readers: are nerds, geeks, and/
or weenies, etc.,  have obviously never kissed a girl, and also,
presumably, covet the "irrefutedly" successful romantic lifestyle of
the group's detractor.  Posts, such as these, will show up at various
game oriented newsgroups, the Trek groups, and possibly others as
well.  One likely motivation of these posters is precisely to generate
a slew of responses, although they may not even read the newsgroup
again.  Also, sometimes inflammatory prank posts are written when an
account is left unattended.  Readers should quench their
understandable urge to refute unfounded accusations; responses are
wasted bandwidth, especially since they probably only encourage these
diatribes.     [Peter M. White, pmwg1641@edu.uiuc.cso.uxa]

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Subject: How long do games typically last?

        Generally at least 50  turns.

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Subject: What happens if I am out of town and miss a turn?

         The game will continue  normally.   Your ships and bases will
continue performing their last order.  Ships will continue on the same
course and speed,  and  planets  will  continue  to  mine minerals and
produce supplies.
        A missed turn /can't/ be  made  up!   And  make sure, when you
submit the next turn, that  it's  based  on  the most recent available
.RST file - if you make  a  .TRN  based  on  an  old  .RST, it will be
ignored.
-- 
Gary Grothman # grothmag@vax.cs.hscsyr.edu # grothmag@snysyrv1.bitnet 
 last resort: # bz334@freenet.cleveland.edu
 even worse:  # (315) 652-5488
