            The Outpost Trader, Armageddon (c) 1992 - 1994 MegaWatts

                   On-line Player Documentation (6/01/94)


Main Menu
=========

 <"#">             Entering  any number will invoke the  Move  routine.  
                   If  the input is an adjacent sector,  you will immediately 
                   move into it.  Otherwise, the computer will calculate the 
                   shortest  path  to that sector.   You will  then  be 
                   prompted on how or if you want to get there.


 <A>ttack:         Calls  Red Alert and Battle Stations.   Begins  the 
                   selection  process  of  available  targets,  and  of 
                   available weapons to use.

 <C>omputer:       Brings up the Computer Menu which offers a number of 
                   other functions described below under Computer Menu.     

 <D>eployment      This  is  the Menu for placing or picking up  Mines, 
    Menu:          Droids  or  other  Devices.    More  details   under 
                   Deployment Menu.
 
 <G>Fighters:      Lists  your deployed Fighter Droids,  their location 
                   and the Programmed Mode which they have been set  to 
                   operate.

 <I>nfo:           Information on you.  Your Title, Name, Ship and its 
                   Cargo, Equipment and Current Status.

 <K>Mines:         Lists your deployed Mines, their location and their
                   the  Programmed Mode  which they  have been  set to 
                   operate.

 <L>and:           Begins  descent  to  Planet's  surface,   will  begin 
                   immediately  with approved clearance.   Will  prompt 
                   for  selection  if more than one option is  present.  
                   Will  prompt  for  hostile  actions  without  proper 
                   clearance.  See also, Planet Menu.
                
 <M>ove:           Similar to simply entering in a number but, provides 
                   you  with  the additional information on  the  exact 
                   distance in sectors to the entered location and  the 
                   amount of energy required to get there.            

 <P>orts:          Dock    at   the  Outpost  in  your  current    sector.  
                   Depending   on the Class of the Outpost  selected   you 
                   will    be   prompted  for  the  services  or   products 
                   available to you, if any.

 <Q>uit:           Exit  the game at the current location.   Return  to 
                   the BBS.

 <R>ead:           Re-read messages received since last maintenance.  The
                   messages are automatically scanned during log on, but
                   will be marked "read" and are retained until maintenance.

 <E>nter Mail:     Allows you to send mail to another player

 <B>ox Scan/Read   Scan and read mail that you have received.
    Mail

 <S>can:           Interface for available Scan options.    All ships  are  
                   equipped    with  a  local  scanner.     Upgrades   are  
                   available.  Types are described under Scan Menu.
 
 <V>iew:           View game status.  Shows the location of the Star Base 
                   and  the location of Alien homeworlds supporting Star
                   Docks.  Also, displays various other game statistics.

 <T>eam/Alliance:  Provides you with an Alliance Team Menu.  This is where
                   you can form or join a team, and get reports on your team.
                   See "Alliance Menu" below.

 <D>isplay Sector: Re-displays your current sector.

Computer Menu
=============    

 <A>liens:      Provides   list  of  active  aliens   with   limited 
                information on race, shiptypes and armament.

 <C>atalog:     Catalog of available ship types.  Some ships are 
                available only at alien planets.

 <D>isplay      Displays  trading Macro that is currently in memory.  
                This is the Macro you recorded under <M>acro on  the 
                <C>omputer Menu.

 <G>raphics:    Toggle graphics off/on.

 <H>istory:     Daily Log of events.   Lists the Major Events of the 
                day.  Will begin display with the date you enter and 
                will show all dates after that.  Enter mm/dd format, 
                like:  12/30    Don't enter the year.   <Space  Bar> 
                Aborts at the end of the page.

 <I>nterr:      Brings up Interrogation Mode Menu.  Used to get diff- 
                erent data dumps, which may then be transferred to a
                database.  See "Interrogation Mode" below.

 <J>ettison:    Jettison all cargo aboard ship.

 <K>nown:       Shows percentage of galaxy explored and allows you to
                display a list of either your explored or unexplored
                sectors.

 <L>ist:        List Traders active in the game and rank  them by 
                experience points.  Displays Name, Title, Disposition 
                and Current Ship Type.

 <M>acro:       Make  a Trading Macro.   This is an executable Macro 
                string  of  exactly  what you  would  enter  on  the 
                keyboard if you were actually doing it.  Like:

                1: 120pt       {Move to sector 120, Port and Trade}
                2: 100         {Sell 100 holds of Minerals}
                3: 0           {Skip buying Farminig}
                4: 100         {Buy 100 holds of Industrials}
                5: 215         {Return to sector 215}

                Hit <CTRL> N, when you are finished recording.  Then 
                again later do activate your Macro.
 
                Note:   Hit return only when you would during actual 
                entry.   <P>ort and <T>rade require no returns. 

 <R>anks:       Shows rankings available and points required.

 <S>elf:        Self Destruct.  Pretty self explanatory.

 <T>oggle:      Toggle color off/on.

 <Y>our:        Planets.   List those which have been claimed by you 
                personally.   Gives limited information on location, 
                class, technology level and population.


Deployment Menu
===============

 <D>isruptors:  Launch Mine Disruptors into adjacent sectors.  These
                will seek out and destroy deployed mines.

 <E>xploration  This is the command to use an exploration probe.  You 
    probe:      input the desired sector, and the probe will show you
                every sector in the path.  It will then become a             
                fighter programmed for recon.
                
 <F>ighters:    Used to deploy fighters in a sector.  They can be 
                programmed for a variety of modes including, alignment
                sensitive, defensive and offensive.
                
 <M>ines:       Used to deploy mines.  Modes are similar to those used
                by fighters.                               
  
 <G>enesis:     Deploy this special device.  Use once, will collect 
                available free matter and condense a Barren World Planet.
                This planet may be Terra Formed to a new type based on
                the available orbital shperes.                              

              
Scan Menu
=========

 <D>ynamic:     Dynamic ranged scan.  Shows a generic listing of objects
                in surrounding sectors.

 <E>nhanced:    Enhanced local scan.  Shows detailed info on other ships
                in same sector.

 <P>lanet:      Planet scan.  Shows information on planet in a sector.
                (i.e. Owner, defenses, population)

 <M>RI:         Magnetic Resonance Image scan.  Shows specific objects in
                adjacent sectors.


Move Menu       (Options given after a sector number is input)
=========

 <M>ove:        Steps you one sector ahead on your current auto-pilot path.

 <S>can:        Performs a Dynamic scan.  Use in conjunction with the <M>ove
                command to perform "single-step" type of travel.

 <X>Express:    Proceed directly to the programmed sector without stopping.

 <P>ort:        Same as <P>ort above.

 <I>nfo:        Same as <I>nfo above.

 <A>void:       Allows you to enter a sector to avoid.  After entering the 
                sector number, the Auto-pilot will re-figure your path so
                that you do not encounter the avoided sector.

 <Q>uit:        Clear programmed destination sector number from memory, and 
                stop auto-pilot functions.

Alliance Menu
=============

 <F>orm Team:   Lets you form a new team.

 <J>oin:        Lets you join an existing team if you know the password.

 <L>ist:        Gives a listing of the current teams and their members.

 <A>ssets:      Shows all your team assets.

 <N>et Worth:   Produces financial report and total net worth of your team.

 <S>ecurity:    Allows Team CE Officer to change Team Password.

 <X>Exit:       Allows you to resign from a team.

Planet Commands
===============

 <C>laim:       Ownership.  Allows you to attempt to take control of a planet.
                There are three methods - Negotiate, Threaten, and Assault.
                The effectiveness of each method will vary with your 
                experience level, armaments, and the Tech level of the
                Planet.

 <I>nventory:   Takes you to an inventory menu.  If you own the planet, then
    Transfers   you will be able to transfer goods, fighters, and colonists.

 <T>erminal:    Gives you a number of options including Lodging, Computer, 
                Recreation (Gambling), and on Alien Homeworlds it will also 
                give you a Shipyards where you can buy special alien ships.

 <L>aunch:      Pretty self-explanatory.


Interrogation Mode
==================
               
                Accessed from the Computer Menu.  Will dump a variety of 
                data from the user and game data files.  Will give you
                explored sectors, deployments, planets owned and ship
                information.  To be used with Utility programs.               
