                  ͻ
                           StarQuest v3.60         
                  ͼ
                  Copyright 1995 BBS Consultants, Inc.
                           919-403-9473 voice


                       SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

   The enclosed software program is licensed by BBS Consultants, Inc. to
   customers for their use only on the terms set forth below.  Using the
   enclosed program indicates your acceptance of these terms.

   BBS Consultants, Inc. hereby grants you a non-exclusive license to
   use the enclosed software subject to the terms and restrictions set
   forth in this Software License Agreement.

   This software is copyrighted, with all rights reserved.  You may not
   copy or otherwise reproduce any part of the software, except that you
   may load the software into a computer as an essential step in
   executing the software on the computer.  The original and any back-up
   copies of the software are to be used only in connection with a
   single computer.  Only one copy of the program may be used at any one
   time. You may physically transfer the software from one computer to
   another, provided that the software is used in connection with only
   one computer at a time and that only one copy of the software is in
   use at any one time. You may not transfer the software electronically
   from one computer to another over a network.  You may not distribute
   copies of the software to others.

   YOU MAY NOT USE, COPY, MODIFY, TRANSFER, SUBLICENSE, RENT, LEASE,
   CONVEY, TRANSLATE, CONVERT TO ANY PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE OR FORMAT OR
   DECOMPILE OR DISASSEMBLE THE SOFTWARE OR ANY COPY, MODIFICATION OR
   MERGED PORTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR
   IN THIS LICENSE.

   DISCLAIMER: You use this program at YOUR OWN RISK. The author and/or
   copyright owner and/or reseller assume absolutely no responsibility
   for damages either direct or indirect that result from the purchaser
   either using or failing to use this software in any manner. In no
   case shall the liability of BBS Consultants, Inc. exceed the license
   fee paid for the right to use this software or one hundred dollars
   ($100.00), whichever is greater.


   PACKING LIST:
   ============
   REGISTER.TXT   Please fill it out and mail it in.
   STARQUES.TPG   The program.
   STAREDIT.TPG   Program to edit the configuration.
   SQ36DOCS.TXT   This file.
   SQLOGO.ANS     Opening screen.
   SQ360HIST.TXT  History File.
   STARINST.TXT   Instructions for users (and SysOp).
   STARUSER.DBF   Table of users           \
   STARUSER.NDX   Index for Staruser Table  > Created by Starquest.tpg
   LOCATION.NDX   Index for Staruser Table /
   SQ360.KEY      Your key. Without it Starquest will only run from the
                  local console.
   STARQUEST.TXT  Sort file shown to users when they enter the program.
                  Could be previous winners list or the pizza meeting
                  schedule. Edit it, or delete it, as you choose.
   STARBYE.TXT    File displayed to users when the exit StarQuest.
                  Change it to whatever you want or delete it completly.
   STARCOMM.DBF   Table of inter-user communications.
   SETLMENT.DBF   Table of settlements users create.
   STARBACK.DBF   Backup database.
   STARLINE.DBF   Holds info about whether or not a user has read his
                  messages.
   STARLOG.DBF    Log file
   STARMSGS.DBF   Inter-user messages.
   STARQUES.DBF   Table of planets, ports, production, and Starbases.
   TOPTEN.TXT     List of Top Ten players.
   SQPROMO.TXT    Puff piece about how wonderful Star Quest v3.6 is.


QUICK INSTALLATION:
==================
   StarQuest v3.6 is very simple to install. You really only need to
   create to menu entries. One for players and one for the sysop.

   For users:
   =========

   Entry:
   <1>..Play StarQuest multi-user star trader
   PRIV=0
   Key=1 Type=200 Opt Data=[d:][/path/]starques /q

   For the SysOp:
   =============

   Entry:
   <S>tarEdit
   PRIV=255
   Key=S Type=200 Opt Data=[d:][/path/]staredit /q

   That it, log on start playing.


OPTIONS:
=======
   If all you do is set up the basic default game, you're missing most
   of the potential of making Star Quest v3.6 a hit on your bbs.

   First, there are two OptData switches. Using:
   Opt Data=[d:]/path/]starques /q && -S
   will display the current scores. You could use the text file
   TOPTEN.TXT just as easily with an Type=1 entry. There is a suttle
   difference. TOPTEN.TXT is updated each time a user exits the
   StarQuest whereas calling starques with the -S option displays
   current scores. TOPTEN.TXT is obsolete and you should rely upon it
   being there in future upgrades.

   The second OptData switch is -U. Using:
   Opt Data=[d:][/path/]starques /q && -U 500
   will restrict players to sectors 1 through 500.

   The default universe size is 125 sectors. This should be a good
   starting point for most sysops. As the game grows in popularity, you
   may wish to expand the number of sectors by adding the -U switch.

   One mistake a lot of SysOps make is thinking that the bigger the
   universe, the better. This is simply not true. What you want is a
   universe big enough that users don't bump into each other with every
   move, yet small enough that they do bump into each other freqently.
   You'll have to watch game activity closely to get a feel for what the
   right size is for YOUR users. A good starting point might be 5 to 10
   sectors for each active player. If you have 50 active players, a
   universe of 250 to 500 sectors is probably about right. Orginally,
   StarQuest was limited to 500 sectors and game was more popular than
   when the universe size was increased to 2000.

   Another use of the -U Opt Data would be to create a "bunny" universe
   of maybe only 25 sectors to allow non-registered players a feel for
   the game. Since everyone starts in sector 1, the resources of the
   inter planets quickly become depleated and they won't have much
   chance at a high score. They'll probably also fall victim to other
   players quite easily. If they join, they can travel beyond "The Great
   Barrier" themselves.

   You may also wish to create a message area for players of Star Quest
   to leave each other messages. With a little effort, you should be
   able to arrange meeting times for people to play head-to-head.



SYSOP FUNCTIONS:
===============
   Star Quest does not automatically reset. You must to that manually.
   Resetting once a month is the most traditional but some SysOp perfer
   to reset when the high score reaches a certain point. I can't tell
   you what point that should be. If one or two players get scores such
   that newer players have no change, the game loses its appeal to the
   novices. Novices provide subscribtions and you want to keep them
   interested.

   The following options are available to you in StarEdit:
            Add Sectors
            Make Global StarBase Change
            User Database
            Pirates Database
            System Database
            Team Database
            Sector Database
            Delete Log File
            List user data to STARQUES.TXT
            Restart Game

   With the Add Sectors option, you can make the Universe as big as you
   desire. Larger does not equal better and you will probably never want
   to add sectors. Certainly not unless you have well over 500 active
   players.

   Make Global StarBase Change allows you to chance such things as:
            Price for Energy
            Price of deep sp. fight.
            Price of Def. Fighters
            Price for Fleet Repairs
            Price for Cargoships
            Stellar Warp Device
            Kloaking Device

   Not much reason to change the prices but you have the option. Under
   the Sector Database option, you can change the price at any Starbase.
   (You can also change the price of commodities and even the type of
   planet.)

   One of the nice things you can do to customize the game is to change
   the names of the planets and/or Starbases. Add some local flavor by
   use nearby town or street names. If you have a "theme" bbs, change
   the names to reflect that theme. Instead of the planet Zorcon 7,
   change it to "Rocky's House". Player's can name any settlements they
   create but you could "sell" them vanity names of Starbases and
   planets. Or, perhaps, name a Starbase after last months high scorer.

   You can also edit users, teams, list user data, reset the game, or
   reindex the database.

   That's about it except that if you think you know Star Quest from an
   earlier version, you should read the file PROMO.TXT. Star Quest
   started out a very playable and enjoyable game that build memberships
   for many TBBS SysOps. In version 3.0 - 3.5 it lost the player
   interaction that make it one of the best ways to enhance your system.
   Hopefully, that feeling has been recaptured. Please let us know and
   thanks for purchasing Star Quest v3.6!



MAINTENANCE
===========
   Not much. Reset the game from time to time. Monthly is probably a
   good quideline.

   If you get a "record out of range" error message, delete the two
   files ending in .NDX and let the program rebuild them.


SUPPORT
=======
   If you purchased the game through GW Associates, call there first. If
   Pete doesn't know the answer, you can message me in the GWSOFT
   conference.

   If you purchased the game direct, contact me at BBS Consultants, Inc.
   either by voice or e-mail.

