=========================================================================== Log of recent changes to Czarwars =========================================================================== New as of version 4.01: There is a problem with versions 3.55-4.00 involving redirection of I/O. If you are running one of these versions with an I/O redi- rection handler such as DOORWAY or GATEWAY (or any other program or method of redirecting console I/O to the com port) you should replace it with version 4.01. The problem arises in the above situation when a user calls using one of the communications pro- grams that support extended character codes such as the function keys. Such a caller could enter chat mode with the F10 key or shell to DOS with the F5 key. Again, this can only happen when redirecting console (keyboard and screen) I/O to the com port. It isn't a problem with any of the modes where CZAR_PGM handles the communications directly such as the /PCB, /PCB14, and ! modes. In these modes CZAR_PGM filters out function keys from the modem and only accepts those from the key- board. The fix: CZAR_PGM no longer lets you shell to DOS with the F5 key unless you ask for it on the command line with the /SHELL switch. If you are running in /PCB, /PCB14, or ! modes, you will probably need to add /SHELL to your command line that invokes CZAR_PGM.EXE. On the other hand, if you are using a redirection method (DOORWAY, etc) you will not want to enable the F5 key with the /SHELL switch. As there are no other changes in this release, only those using I/O redirection need replace 4.00 with this version. Of course, if you're using an older version, you may want to convert to the latest version. See the notes below concerning changes with version 4.00 if you wish to convert an on-going game without interruption. New as of version 4.00: The map layout has changed with this release! CZAR_MAP.DAT must be converted if you wish to convert to 4.00 in the middle of a game or if you wish to re-use a map from a previous game. The player file layout has changed also. Both the CZAR_MAP.DAT and the CZAR_PLR.DAT files can be converted to the new format by running CONV_400.EXE in your Czarwars directory. The original files will remain unchanged by this program. It will build a new file for each one that needs converting and place them in the same directory with an extension of .NEW. You will have to manually delete any old files that are replaced and rename the .NEW files with the .DAT extension prior to running the new versions of CZAR_UTL.EXE or CZAR_PGM.EXE. If you need a copy of CONV_400.EXE call the Home of Czarwars at (904) 878-7704. The new map format will save 24000 bytes from a 2000 sector map and 48000 bytes from a 4000 sector map. If you are converting from a 3.55 or earlier version, the CZAR_NEW.DAT file will go from 512 to 1024 bytes and all old news will be lost. The CZAR_MAL.DAT file will be reduced to 100K from the old 150K. It is very unlikely that any messages will be lost in the conversion, but if you have an extremely busy game (with over 100 active message in the CZAR_MAL.DAT file) some messages can be lost. There are now 6 different ship classes: A-F. This is up from the old 2 classes: A & B. This results in making some information in your parameter file (CZAR_PRM.DAT) obsolete. You will need to change the old 'Max holds for Class A ship' to the new 'Additional holds for each ship upgrade'. You will also need to change the old 'Class A antimatter bonus' to the new 'Additional antimatter for each ship upgrade'. You will also want to lower the price to upgrade the ship to a more reasonable level due to the fact that there are now multiple upgrades. Starbases now have a new ability. A player can still build starbases that function exactly like they did in earlier versions. However, after building or upgrading a starbase, a player can now instruct the starbase to attack intruders rather than defend the sector. The new 'oggle starbase to Auto-Attack' command controls this function and allows you to convert it back to a defensive starbase. When a starbase is set to 'auto-attack', it will attack all ships that enter the sector with a force equivalent to 20% of its strength. There is a chance that the base will be destroyed in the attack in addition to the intruders fighters. If the base is not destroyed it will remain unchanged at its original strength. Note that an 'auto-attack' starbase will not prevent people from entering the sector - it will simply attack each player who enters the sector. The only way these type starbases can be killed is by losing a battle that they initiate. You can't simply attack and destroy them. Also, they don't protect ships in the same sector. Prices of goods at ports are now based only on the relative quantity. Recency of trading is no longer considered. Prices have been raised for Ore and Organics. Due to these changes, trading will be slightly more lucrative. The antimatter costs are now the same for Porting, Warping and Landing. There is no longer an antimatter charge for Jettisoning cargo. There is a new galaxy structure that can be generated by the CZAR_UTL program. Also, the information provided to the sysop as he builds a new map (or modifies the warp connections in an existing one) has been improved. Port type numbers have been removed. All ports now are described by the type of goods that they sell. For example, old class 1 ports will appear as "Port ????????: Selling equipment". Players can now sell fighters at Hardware ports for 90 credits each. The 'Top Gun' routine has been replaced by one that shows the net worth of all live players. New as of version 3.58: It is now possible to disable CTS checking. If all you get is four 'Error Code 24' messages when you run CZAR_PGM with the /M switch it is possible that your cable or modem isn't supporting the CTS signal. This is even more likely if version 3.50 worked and later ones don't. If you have this problem (or suspect a similar problem when running in /PCB or /PCB14 modes), you should try adding the /CTS0 switch: CZAR_PGM /M/CTS0 would be the appropriate switches for stand-alone BBS mode (/L and /E can also be used, of course). Starbases now inform the owner of the number of fighters it will take to destroy them. For example, a type 4 starbase will look like this: [Type 4 Starbase! Strength: 1000] An ongoing problem with some modems (such as Everex) dropping carrier when users either entered or exited Czarwars (in one of the PCBoard door modes) has been corrected. If anyone experiences this problem again, please let me know your modem type and the conditions under which it occurs. The mail file size was changed to 100 messages. This should cause no problem when upgrading an on-going game but when you get a chance you should delete the mail file and reinitialize it with CZAR_UTL for a 50K space savings and reduced backup requirements. The old /D mode (which had been reduced to only changing the backspace routine from chr$(29) locally to chr$(8)) has been removed. I don't know of anyone who was still using this mode. If you were using it while running as a door by I/O redirection, you should seriously consider using DOORWAY - which handles the backspacing itself. A number of additional events are now captureed in the news file and some others are reported more precisely now. Also, the news file size has been expanded to 512 events instead of the old 256. Run CZAR_UTL to re-initialize the news file. This will cause the news up to that point to be lost but will cause no other ill effects in an on-going game. With the changes to the news file, there is a new version of the LISTNEWS program mentioned above. This program is available on the Home of Czarwars BBS (904-878-7704, Hayes9600, 2400, 1200). This program will create ASCII text bulletins from the Czarwars news file to use as a bulletin in other parts of your BBS. Please note that the old version of the LISTNEWS program will not work with versions above 3.55. The antimatter bonus that has historically been given to players who missed 1 or 2 days has been changed. The bonus is now smaller for 1 and 2 days missed, but continues to rise with ever smaller increments for additional missed days. The time routines have have been rewritten. This should solve the problems of time being 'lost' when running under DesqView. The ranks have changed slightly and the promotion scheme has also changed. It now takes longer to make the ranks of Warlord and Czar. The government has expanded to fill sectors 1-50. If you're upgrading an existing game, check for fighters and starbases deployed in sectors 41-50. Any player with fighters there won't be able to retrieve them nor will they be able to upgrade starbases in that area. Best recommendation is to move any fighters to a nearby non-govt sector and alert the player as to your action. With starbases, it is probably best to simply delete it and give them a refund for the cost of it. Otherwise, you might ask them where they would like a new one of the same size. The commerce report command [C] now defaults to the current sector if no sector number is entered. There have been a number of small changes to the CZAR_UTL program in an attempt to make it easier to generate and modify maps. In stand-alone BBS mode CZAR_PGM now displays the time and moves the waiting-for-a-call display every 6 seconds to prevent screen burn-in. Also, when waiting for a call in stand-alone BBS mode, the dialog that CZAR_PGM has with the modem is no longer displayed. The 'summon-the-sysop' alarm sound has been changed from beeps to more audible series of alternating tones. New as of version 3.55: An OS/2 version of Czar Wars is now available. Please read LICENSE.TXT for further information on obtaining this version. CZAR_PGM.EXE now supports RTS/CTS flow control and should work in most Hayes V-Series 9600 BPS environments. There is now a 'sysop shell to DOS' function key. Pressing F5 while a player is logged on will cause a shell to DOS. In order to return to the game environment, you must return to the czarwars directory and type EXIT at the DOS prompt. WARNING! Failure to return to the czarwars directory prior to typing EXIT will cause a fatal error. New as of version 3.50: If you're running in /PCB or /PCB14 mode, you must change your batch file that invokes Czarwars! Czarwars now looks in its own file directory for the PCBOARD.SYS file - not the 'parent' directory as before! This release adds a sysop-configurable 'door' under the utilities menu. This door can be used to drop to DOS, to run the CZAR_UTL program, or to run additional games. It can be set up where only the sysop can open it or where only class A ships can open it. You can also set it up where everyone can open it. This is primarily intended as a sysop utility door and doesn't allow you to return to the game. A news feature: There is a new file called CZAR_NEW.DAT. Run CZAR_UTL.EXE to create this file when when converting to version 3.50. News can be viewed under the utilities menu. Ranking has changed as has the Top Gun routine. It now shows all people with high ranks in addition to the 'top gun'. Players who have destroyed 10 more ships than they've lost will be listed. The default logging mode is now 'OFF'. To get Czarwars to log calls (and allow new/non-validated players to leave comments in the log file), you must invoke CZAR_PGM with the /L switch. The extended logging modes (old /L and /X modes) are no longer supported. Czarwars now autodeletes old 'dead' players who haven't called in 6 months. In /PCB, /PCB14, and ! modes it autodeletes them after only 3 months (in those modes players are auto-registered, as before). When running in one of the above listed modes and not using the /L switch, Czarwars is completely maintenance free. No log is created for the sysop to periodically remove and old inactive players are deleted to make room for new players so the player file never fills up. In stand- alone mode and other modes not listed above, players must still be manually validated by the sysop. Czarwars has a new facility for installing the sysop's name in place of 'UNREGISTERED Copy!' in the CZAR_PGM.EXE file. When you register 3.50 you will be sent a new file called REGISTER.COD. It will include instructions and a 6 digit code that you can use to install your name in all new releases of Czarwars, thereby eliminating the need to order new versions from me at $10 each. I will continue the practice of sending out upgrades for the aforementioned price, however, for those who prefer that method to the (usually more expensive) long distance download. There are a couple of new files on the Home of Czarwars BBS that may be of interest to those running Czarwars as a door under another BBS. They are LISTNEWS.EXE and CLONSHIP.EXE. These files are available for download under the directory 1. See the download directory for their names as stored on the BBS. The LISTNEWS program will generate an ASCII text file from the Czarwars news file - which can then be used as a bulletin under the main BBS. The CLONSHIP program is only usable if you're running Czarwars in the /PCB14 mode. It's function is to modify the PCBOARD.SYS file so that you can have two doors into the same Czarwars game (enabling each player to run 2 ships: PLAYER NAME & PLAYER NAME 2). In the first door, you would have it copy the PCBOARD.SYS file to the Czarwars directory and invoke Czarwars normally. In the second door, you would copy the PCBOARD.SYS file to the Czarwars directory, run CLONSHIP.EXE, and then invoke Czarwars. CLONSHIP.EXE will put a '2' in the player name field so Czarwars will register them as a new player. This permits you to let your players to run two ships. New as of version 3.25: This release adds a chat mode - invoked by pressing the F10 function key at any prompt. Another press of F10 disables chat mode. A 'sysop message intercept' routine has been added so that the sysop can read private messages without running CZAR_UTL. A bug that could cause the system to hang was introduced in version 3.20. That problem is corrected in 3.25. New as of version 3.20: This version adds support for 4000 sector map files. Although Czarwars is still shipped with a 2000 sector advanced map file (registered version only) and the map generation routine will only build 2000 sector maps, a new option has been added to the 'map size parameter' under the configuration menu. It allows you to make a mirror image of the bottom 2000 sectors in sectors 2001-4000. These new sectors can be left as a reversed copy of the bottom 2000 or can be completely reorganized (with option 17 of the CZAR_UTL.EXE program) into new galaxy structures. This version adds the '/' (repeat) command to the menu. Also, commands are now stored for use with the / command based on whether they contain a semi-colon - and the last such entry is shown on the main menu (help screen). A sample batch file is now included for use with the /1 mode (exit to DOS after each call) The CZAR_LOG.TXT entries have been shortened wherever possible in order to reduce the disk space requirements for this file. Support has been added for 9600 bps modems in /M mode and /PCB14 mode. In order to use a 9600 bps modem with Czarwars it should be set to drop to the connection rate of the caller. It does not handle the various port speed 'locking' schemes. Other areas of the communications routines have changed as well. If you have been successfully running 3.15 or older and have communications problems with this version, please call my BBS and leave a comment describing the problem. (904) 878-7704, 1200/2400/9600Hayes, 24 hours. In addition to the changes listed above, there are several cosmetic changes throughout the system. New as of version 3.15: Sign prices can now be set to any level. The danger of throwing off the economic balance of the game with too-high sign prices has been removed by making the antimatter charge of launching a sign proportional to the potential profit. The CZAR_UTL program is now capable of generating randomly formed, two- warp galaxies. These two-way galaxies will have dead ends and complex paths between sectors. This galaxy type more closely resembles the hand-designed galaxies in the advanced map file. Czarwars now supports version 14 of PCBoard in a new doors mode. The new doors mode is invoked by running Czarwars with the /PCB14 switch as follows: CZAR_PGM /PCB14 Used in this mode with PCBoard version 14 Czarwars will calculate the users time limit based on their time remaining from PCBoard. New as of version 3.00: New file formats are used to conserve disk space with this version - the amount of disk space required for the .DAT files is about 130K less than with previous 2000 sector versions. It supports up to 250 players rather than the 300 of earlier versions, however. This version is not compatible with the files used in earlier versions. If you need to convert a map file or a user file to the new format, call the Czarwars Support BBS (904-878-7704) and download the conversion program from the Sysop download directory. =========================================================================