
-
Battlespire Readme
-

  This readme document contains additional information
about Battlespire after the manual was printed. This file
resides in your game installation directory for viewing
at any time.


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Installation Problems
-

  If the installer appears to freeze after choosing the
"Install Battlespire" option from the main menu, then it
is most likely that one of your disk drives is not
responding.  Often, this would be a network drive.  If
you cannot install the game using the installer, you can
perform a forced install following the instructions in
the "install.txt" file.


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Running under Windows 95
-

  If you are running under Windows 95 and you want to
run the game by typing "spire" in a DOS box, make sure
that the DOS box has 65535 bytes of DPMI memory set up
for it. You can do this by looking under the "Memory"
tag when viewing the properties of the DOS box.

  Also, on many computers, Battlespire does not respond
nicely when one of the windows keys or a windows ALT-key
combination is pressed.  It is best to also disable the
windows key and any ALT-key combination to prevent
accidentally activating them.


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Energy Star Settings and Screen Savers
-

Turn off Energy Star settings and screen savers; otherwise, the game may crash or hang.

To turn off Energy Star settings and Win95 Screen Savers, right-click on the Desktop and select "Properties." In the Display Properties window, click the Screen Saver tab. Set the Screen Saver to (None), and uncheck the Low-power standby and Shut off monitor settings.


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Spell Scrolls
-

When you find a spell scroll, double-click on it in your inventory screen, and a spell may be added to your spell list. If you already know the spell on the scroll, the scroll is worthless to you... but in multiplay, a teammate may find that scroll useful.


-
New Spells
-

  Surprise, surprise.  There are a few new spells in
Battlespire designed to help even out the game play in
both single and multiplayer modes.  They are:

  Slow
  
  When cast on a player or monster, his legs are put to
sleep, slowing him down to a turtle's crawl.  After a
while, the spell effect wears off and the victim returns
to his normal speed.

  Haste
  
  Essentially the opposite of Slow.  The legs enter a
hyperactive state which enables the player to move
faster than normal.  This spell can be cast multiple
times.  Of course, it can get rather painful if you
slam into a wall at high speeds.

  Strength
  
  When cast, the muscles of the subject takes on the
properties of tempered steel.  The damage inflicted
in melee combat multiplies giving swords and other
wielded melee weapons a decided advantage over bows
and arrows.


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Multiplayer
-

  There are two ways to play a multiplayer game with
Battlespire. The first method uses a local area network
with the IPX protocol. The second method uses an internet
gaming service provided by Mplayer.

  If you are trying to get a DOS machine (NOT a Win95
DOS box) to connect to a Win95 machine and vice versa,
make sure that they both are using the same IPX frame
type. Windows 95 defaults to an "Auto" frame type
which may or may not be the same type the DOS machine
is using.

  Hints
  
  Monsters can be your friends too, especially on capture
the flag levels.  When in need of assistance defending
your flag against intruders, fire up a couple of summon
monster spells for instant relief.

  Of course, you can always drop a few delayed damage
mines around your flag.  Remember that they do not last
forever.


-
Reporting Bugs
-

  Before deciding that you have discovered a bug in the
game, first make sure that you can reproduce it. If you
can do that, then you may call Bethesda Softworks tech
support at 301-926-8300. Prepare a list of important
information such as the type of computer you have been
running the game on, the amount of system memory, the
type of video card, and so on.


-
A Note on View-Based and Cursor-Based Movement Modes
-

  The View-Based Movement Mode is Totally Excellent and 
Super-Satisfactory in every way. We Internationally 
Celebrated Game Developers at Bethsoft universally adore 
and cherish the View-Based Movement Mode, and recommend 
it for all our Fine Customers.

  However, in deference to fans of some Pretty Decent 
Games Published in the Good Old Days, we also provide the 
option to use the Venerable and Exceptionally Okay 
Cursor-Base Movement Mode. 

We invite you to try both modes, but have no reservations
about which is the best.


-
Hints for Aspiring Heroes
-

1. "Manual? We don't need no stinking manual! HAW-haw-
haw-haw-haw!"

  We're shocked... SHOCKED... to discover some gamers 
don't read the manuals. We sheepishly admit that we don't 
read manuals, either, and that we usually do just fine... 
for about five minutes. Then, after we have been somewhat 
hammered or killed or otherwise thoroughly frustrated in 
our Pursuit of Happiness, we break down and read the 
manual to find out how the interface works, for instance, 
or what spells do, or how to put armor on.

  We're certain you're far too Wise and Sensible to 
ignore the nice manual.


2. "Wow. I am being killed somewhat now. This is... 
well... pretty hard."

  Well, duh! Your character is a green, though promising, 
aspirant in a desperate situation, surrounded by immortal 
fiends, in unfamiliar territory, with no line of retreat, 
limited intelligence, no allies, and modest resources. 
But, as your mom will tell you, if at first you don't 
succeed, try, try again. Don't expect to sail through 
Battlespire. Efficient operations behind enemy lines 
involve three phases: scouting, sniping and bushwhacking, 
and frontal assault.

  Scouting: Fill in the map. Look for scrolls. Chat and 
run. Find the locked doors and figure out what the keys 
are. Pick up loose treasure. While scouting, run like a 
bunny. Don't fight. Use stealth, or Invisibility, or 
Etherialness. Avoid engagement until you know the lay of 
the land, the nature of the enemy, and the shape of your 
mission. Scout out possible allies and resources, and 
plan your operations on their availability. Run around in
circles until the bad guys are out of spell points.

  Sniping and Bushwhacking: Pick off solitary 
individuals. Use missile weapons or spells at range where 
efficient. Lead slow-witted, gullible monsters on long 
treks into deep pits where you can slaughter them at 
leisure. Sucker over-eager monsters without spells or 
missiles into quiet, secluded places where you can shoot
or bake them from a safe distance.

  Frontal Assault: Take on the tough guys toe-to-toe. 
Wade into the mobs of fireball-blasting fiends.


3. "Gee. A doojigger. Don't see one of THOSE everyday. 
Wonder what a little doojigger does."

..Now and then in your explorations you'll come across 
something cool. It looks interesting. And dangerous. And 
you'll wish you knew what it does, and whether it is 
safe, or useful.

  The technical term for this is "a big mystery." You'll 
encounter lots of big mysteries in Battlespire. This is 
because the otherworldly fiends who have ravaged the 
locations you're traveling through have thoughtlessly 
forgotten to leave instructions on how to use their 
plunder. 

  For instance, you find the Thongs of Baleful Woe. Maybe 
you are a little nervous about putting them on. You can 
search and search and search through the documentation, 
and never find out what the Thongs of Baleful Woe do. So 
you will just have to fool around with them to figure 
them out, or just leave them alone.

  You may be scandalized to discover that there are 
cursed and dangerous things scattered throughout 
Battlespire. Whenever something bad and mysterious 
happens, you might want to take everything you are 
carrying, put it in a sack, then amble off a good 
distance from the sack and examine your character sheet. 
If the bad and mysterious thing stops happening, you will 
want to examine everything in your sack very carefully 
before putting it on again. 

  And you may get a funny message telling you "You are 
forbidden from equipping that item." Now, you have never 
had any trouble the item in question before. This is 
another good time to take off your stuff, put it in a 
sack, and amble off a good distance to examine your 
character sheet. You may find that something you are 
wearing or using is causing a bad and mysterious thing.

  You may also come across an occasional mysterious 
creature who is AMAZINGLY durable. INCONCEIVABLY durable. 
It seems to live a charmed life. This will perhaps drive 
you mad, especially if you are one of those efficiency 
nuts who want to kill EVERY SINGLE CREATURE in the game. 
Well. Go ahead. But don't waste any scarce resources on 
these guys, and don't expect a fountain of treasure when 
you slaughter them. They DO have a mysterious purpose, 
but... it's... well... mysterious. Sorry.


4. "I'm glad we had this little chat."

  You will find gobs and gobs of dialog in Battlespire. 
Sure, they're monsters, but they have a lot of really 
interesting things to say. So we recommend chatting with 
monsters before you murder them. Some monsters will give 
you nice presents. Some will give you keys. Some will 
give you helpful hints. Some will even join you in your 
quest. On the other hand, some will tell you big fat 
lies, and summon minions to rend you limb from limb. 

  Some epic heroes have a nasty habit of slaughtering 
their potential informants. They just can't help 
themselves. Fortunately, we usually provide an 
Alternative Exhaustive Search Solution to permit such 
well-intentioned homicidal maniacs to collect all the 
clues and keys they need, even if they have depopulated 
the environment. On the other hand, the Alternative 
Exhaustive Search Solution is generally far more tedious 
and horrible than the Enlightened Meaningful Dialog 
Solution. Nuff said.


5. "Riddles? I HATE riddles!"

  Simmer down. Riddles make some people's heads explode. 
So Battlespire always thoughtfully provides an 
alternative method for discovering any passwords or 
riddles you need. Of course, we reward clever players who 
admire our clever riddles by making their path a little 
easier, while other players have to wander around for 
hours looking for scrolls and plaques where we coyly 
secreted the answers to the riddles. You're welcome.


6. "I don't think we're in Tamriel anymore, Toto."

Veterans of Arena and Daggerfall! Warning! Battlespire is 
Extra Not Like Arena and Daggerfall, for one thing, and 
Battlespire takes place in a place Not At All Like 
Tamriel.

  Arena and Daggerfall are Huge, Sprawling Persistent 
Worlds. There are towns with guilds for training and 
quests, and places to sell loot and buy equipment. When 
you run low on health and spell points, you sleep, and 
voila! back to 100%.

  In Battlespire, the only ways to increase skills are to 
use them, or spend build points between levels. There is 
only one quest -- find your companion, and get out alive. 
There's no place to sell any loot you can't use, and 
there's a limit to what you can carry from level to 
level. Use it, or lose it. And you can't sleep to heal. 
You CAN often find nice blue gems which restore health 
and spell points when you click on them or run into them. 
[These blue gems kinda disappear for a while as they 
recharge, but they return. Honest.] And you will be Very 
Glad to find Cure Health and Restoration potions, or 
magic items with Healing or Magica Resartus powers.

  Furthermore, your poor character is stranded in the 
Daedric Realms. This is not very much like the 
comparatively benign and picturesque lands of Tamriel.

  The Daedric Realms are populated by immortal Daedra, 
not mortal beings. When you destroy their forms, they are 
cast into Oblivion for a while. This is No Fun, but it 
isn't like dying, and it makes Daedra kinda casual about 
wading into a dustup. And the Daedric Realms are weird. 
There's plenty of magical energy around, and this makes 
for a rather strange geography. Also, Daedric 
architecture and workmanship are fairly eccentric, mostly 
because Daedra are, by and large, crazy as rats in a 
drainpipe. 

  So. This is the World of the Elder Scrolls, and much of 
what you see will be familiar, but much will be not at 
all familiar, and sometimes bewildering. We're sorry. But 
it's just those darned Daedra. Really.


7. "Good grief, man. It's only a game...."

  We are Pleased and Gratified to see how seriously some 
gamers approach the challenge of preserving the skin of 
their lovingly crafted characters. We LOVE to see how 
terrified they are of losing them, and how desperately 
they experience the dramatic tension of our lovingly 
crafted narrative. But...

  We also hope gamers will play around with Battlespire 
and have all sorts of fun that has nothing to do with the 
drama of the Imperiled Hero on a Desperate Quest.

  For instance, your character is standing at the edge of 
a high cliff staring down at a pool of molten lava. Now, 
in real life, you hardly ever want to indulge an impulse 
to hurl yourself off a high cliff into a pool of molten 
lava. But in Battlespire, well... sometimes it is a lot 
of fun to do Totally Stupid and Pointless Things.

  Just Save Your Game. Early and Often. With a saved game 
safe and secure on your hard disk, you can go ahead and 
do silly, senseless things. Like give a sassy answer to 
the Lord of Destruction. Or touch something thrumming 
with Unholy Power. Or dive off a cliff and swim around in 
the lava looking for cool loot. Or double-click on a 
magic item named "The Thongs of the Sunken God's 
Awakening."


8. "Wow. Wish I could buy a vowel."

  Inevitably every gamer gets Stuck. You have done 
everything you can think of, and you have no idea how to 
get past a blocking challenge.

 Here's a list of things to try before you break down and 
buy the Hint Book. [By the way, did we tell you we are 
selling a Really Cool Hint Book that will instantly solve 
every one of your problems? Of course, you should Blush 
with Shame for using a hint book, but we won't Blush with 
Shame for selling you one.]

  A: Review the messages left for you by your companion 
and by other allies. These usually help define the 
problems that need to be solved on a level, and hint at 
the first steps in solving them.

  B: Tour the terrain once more looking for things you 
missed, like secret doors, or little buttons, or doors 
you forgot to open, or locations you neglected because 
something distracted you. Review your automap and look 
for areas you haven't visited or explored thoroughly. 
Look under and on top of stuff. Click on stuff. Look in 
dark corners and the bottoms of pools.

  C: Talk with everyone one more time. And if you 
accidentally murdered everything that talks, look around 
for a little scroll or plaque that gives you the password 
or hint you need.

  D: Search for more resources. Try using those weird and 
wacky magical items you sensibly refused to fool with on 
the first pass. Drowning a little bit? Hunt Water 
Breathing potions or Water Breathing magic items. Getting 
killed a little bit? Get some armor, or try some 
Resistance or Shield potions. Not making an impression on 
daedra with your iron dagger? Find a short sword made of 
decent metal. Almost dead and out of spell points? Try 
some open field running to the nearest blue gem 
restoration station. No idea what that interesting and 
dangerous looking widget does? Look for scrolls that 
Reveal the Secrets of Arcane Devices.

  E: Try a different approach. Never used the 
Etherialness spell before? Never used a missile weapon? 
Not having a lot of luck with that Three Stooges Concept 
character design (all your points in Endurance and Luck)? 
Disdaining to learn the Cure Health spell because it 
isn't Manly? Refusing to use spells at all because you 
hate that silly wizard stuff? Loosen up.

  F: Check your assumptions. "Oh. They wouldn't put 
anything down THERE." "Naw. They would NEVER let me 
wander away and leave something important lying around." 
"Nah. Already talked to her before. Don't need to talk to 
her again." "Come on. They would never have a monster 
that I can't kill." "They wouldn't put a really deep hole 
here without a way for me to get out of it."  "No way I
could ever jump across THAT!"

