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Frank Abbing's
 
R I S K F U L
- WAR OF THE CONTINENTS -
 
PC Windows game version 1.2
© 2000 UAC Design
 
Autor:
Frank Abbing
Margarethenstr.13 a
48683 Ahaus
Email: frankabbing@12move.de
Homepage: http://www.12move.de/home/frankabbing
 
Riskful is a game by a german autor. For the english version all english texts were translated by Babelfish, AltaVista.com.
Thank you.
 
Installation:
The installation of Riskful becomes very simple. Copy all files or the whole directory into any directory on your harddisk. Other installations are not necessary. To deinstall delete quite simply the Riskful directory.
 
Introduction:
Riskful, a strategy play around the release of filled countries. With this play there - like unfortunately also in the reality - are spheres of influence, whose stock crew armies try to receive. Target of Riskful is it to release countries and continents from crew armies to lead and into independence. This target is achieved by cooperating two means: A lucky hand with negotiations (cubes) and a strategy directed toward military equilibrium (by correct list of available armies). With success both leads to the fact that the crew armies resolve themselves. The game target is achieved, if in the end all countries were released from all crew armies, or a given job was successfully concluded. Riskful orients itself very the well-known game "Risk" from Parker Bros. The rules are almost identical.
 
Preparation:
Riskful needs at the most four fellow players for the play flow. Thus necessarily human players are not meant, on the contrary simulate the computer when desired the missing play persons. After the start they can enter the names of all fellow players in the upper right corner (four white fields). Missing one human players can - as mentions above - the computer to simulate. If you start the game now, for all along-playing persons their armies and the countries are coincidentally distributed. Afterwards Riskful starts immediately.
 
Configuration and Buttons:
All fields and displays which can be selected by the player are explained downward in sequence now from above.
 
 
Options: Through you arrive to this switch into the option menu, where you can stop some parameters after their conceptions. Later more for this.
 
 
 
 
 
Four input fields and the button, which player is momentary in turn. Into the fields you please enter the names of all human fellow players. Here you can also in the middle make modifications in the play.
 
 
 
 
 
This is the indicating panel for all fellow players. Here all important data are always administered and displayed. These data are constantly updated.
F: In this column the colour of the armies is displayed.
Ls: And in this column the total number of all countries is displayed by each player.
Arm: This column shows the number of all armies of each player
S: Here the number of " triumphant advances " is represented. Triumphant advances are the cards, which a player receives, if he conquered one country in a round at least. Later these triumphant advances can be exchanged against armies.
 
Status: This Button displays some data important for the play. All triumphant advances (cards) are plotted. Additionally the position momentary of the current player is diagnosed. Their job, in order to win the play, can be displayed likewise here, exactly the same as the jobs of their computer opponents. But they must press extra buttons then in the menu still. The jobs of the human fellow players remain however refused for the eyes of the current player.
 
Conquer: Hereby you can click the two countries, which are to be entangled into a fight. First you click please your own country on, whereby you should note that at least two armies must be stationed there. Afterwards you click on the country, which you want to conquer. The two countries must be naturally neighbours. Neighboring countries are all countries, which touch themselves directly, or by black broken lines are connected. If you made everything correct, both countries are indicated.
 
Distribute: You are now in the distribution mode. Here you can move your armies within its countries. Distributing of armies of a country to others is possible only if a connection of own countries is available. For distributing you click first the output country on, afterwards the country, where armies is to be distributed. In order at the same time to distribute several armies, you press the mouse button simply whenever them would like, or keep them pressed it (quite fast distribution mode). As soon as the mouse pointer the country leaves (the markings disappear) can it again a new output country for distributing select. Distributing armies is always the last station of a course. From this only the function is "Finish turn" possible.
 
Finish turn: With this Button the course of the current player is terminated. Afterwards is the next fellow player at the series. Before the course end you should not forget to distribute your armies meaningfully (s.o.).
 
 
 
 
 
With these two series of Buttons you can activate the cubes (in the center). The first column (1-3) is to the conquerer at the disposal. He can select whether he would like to attack two with one, or with three cubes. Afterwards is the defender at the series. Its cubes can be activated with the rear three Buttons. Starting from Riskful V1.1  the cubes assume the colour of the attacking and the defending players. How the cubes for the play happening are then analysed, you can experience further down.
 
 
 
 
 
This display shows the receipt of armies for each complete continent (per round). The number can in the option menu between the values 0 - 16 to be changed. The even displayed values correspond to standard data.
 
Clear away: This Button arranges to take the computer all armies from the playing field, which do not belong to a fellow player. Normally is possible only if in the option menu in the current play the computer simulation is switched off. All countries, which belong now to no more player (the computer does not serve these no more), become distributed on the still available players coincidentally
 
Informations: These Button show some information approximately around the game Riskful.
 
Boss (!): This button deactivates Riskful and reduces the window to the symbol in the task border. Mouse-click on the symbol (Rskfl.doc? WordPad) brings the game back on the display. The Boss Button is meant as tracing function, or if your boss enters the office, and you don't want him to find it!
 
Quit Riskful: This Button terminates Riskful. It should be preferred to the abort of the game in each case by the Systembuttons, because still another safety query must be overcome here, while the Systembuttons means the immediate stop of Riskful!
 
 
Play flow:
Generally the course of a play runs always in such a way: All armies, which the player at the start of a course receives, are distributed after its selection into its countries. Two countries are selected for conquest, a conquerer country and a defender country. The fight is decided by the cubes. Either then two other countries for conquest are selected, or the course is resumed as follows. The player distributes his armies within his countries. The course is terminated and the next player is in turn.
   
Cubes:
Conquerer: In order to be allowed to attack at all, the conquerer needs at least two armies in the attacking country. For cubes may the aggressor only [ number of armies - 1 ] cube use, at the most however three cubes, e.g.:
Number of armies
Maximum number of dices
4
3
3
2
2
1
5
3
99
3
 
Defender cube: The defender may throw at the most as many cubes, as armies in its defender country stationed is max., is that to three, e.g.:
Number of armies
Maximum number of dices
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
99
3
 
Analysis of all cubes: The diced eyes are not added, but compared individually. One always begins with the highest eye number. This sequence must be always observed, even if conquerers and defenders with a different number of cubes operate. Is a player, the more cubes than its opponent begins in the advantage. With each comparison the lower eye number always loses an army. If both numbers are alike, then always the aggressor loses, e.g.:
Conquerer dices
Defender dices
Conquerer lose
Defender lose
5,4,3
6,3,1
Armies 2
1 Army
4,1,1
4,1,1
3
0
6,6,1
5,1
0
2
3,3,1
4
0
0
4,2,1
3
0
1
6
5,4,5
0
1
4,3
3,2
0
2
4
6,1
1
0
3,2
3,3,2
2
0
6,1
5,2
1
1
5,4
4
0
1
5,2
5
1
0
4
2
0
1
4,3,2
3,2,1
0
3
 
The aggressor can continue its cube internal messages up to final release, as long as armies are to him at the disposal, or its internal message to abort, if that should appear meaningful to him. Afterwards it can at any time execute a new attack with other countries, go out if necessary to it the armies.
   
The triumphant advances:
After each course of a player it receives a triumphant advance (gamecart), if within this course at least one country were conquered. These cards can be regarded in the menu " status ". There are 3 different types of triumphant advances: Riders, soldiers and cannons series of 3 cards can be exchanged during the play. A series of triumphant advances is e.g.
1 rider - 1 soldier - 1 cannon
3 rider
3 soldier
3 cannons
At the latest with 5 cards must be exchanged. As return they receive to 5 armies, which are added before beginning of course to their other armies. Additionally each card represents a different country in the world. If a card should occupy a country filled by them, additionally then two armies are set into this country. All triumphant advances are administered automatically and exchanged by the computer.
 
The computer player:
The computer makes its courses completely independent. It selects its countries for conquering, it dices (even if it's attacked) and it distributes its armies after each course. While the computer plays, it is not always possible to press all buttons or to transact inputs. The intelligence of the computer opponent is so created, which also beginners a chance should have to defeat this. Try they the adjustment possibilities in the option menu!
 
Target of Riskful:
Each player must try to fulfill its job. The respective job of a player can be read in the status text. Afterwards a final analysis takes place. The following jobs are possible:
Release all countries from the yellow armies!
Release all countries from the green armies!
Release all countries from the red armies!
Release all countries from the blue armies!
Release Europe, South America and a third continent of your selection!
Release Europe, Australia and a third continent of your selection!
Release North America and Africa!
Release Africa and Asia! Release North America and Australia!
Release Asia and South America! Release 24 countries of your selection!
 
 
The option menu:
By the button "options" you arrive into this menu.
 
 
 
 
 
 
In this field games can be stored and also again loaded. The computer lists above all games found (only files with the ending ". rsk " are valid). Click on an entry in this list brings the play names into the middle text field, where it can be if necessary still edited. If you want to load or store a new play, (before still another safety query takes place) this file name in the Riskful ordner becomes distorted. The Button " new " breaks the current play starting from (with safety query) and starts a new.
 
Select the maximum number of dices for the defender. Two / Three: With this buttons you can select, as may throw many cubes of the defenders per throw max.. This function can change the play flow crucially. In the position momentary it would be located on "Three".
 
Should the computer simulate the free human players? Yes / No: The computer simulates all fellow players, whose name fields are not occupied. Switch this function on or out.
 
How should the Yellow Computer play his game? Aggressive / Normal / Defensive: Here can be adjusted now, which are to pursue play way the computer opponents (here computer yellow). In the aggressive mode the computer intervenes intensively in the combat happening, while it works with defensive play way rather phlegmatisch. The normal mode is the average value between the extremes.  
 
 
 
These six input fields display the number of to armies, which a player receives, if he possesses a complete continent. Here values are adjustable within the range of 0-16.
 
Least number of armies given for each new round. Three / Lands/Three: This Buttons determines, how each player receives many armies to start of each round. With "Three" the number is always determined on 3. With "Lands/Three" all countries of the player are counted and divided then by 3. This determined number (without post-decimal positions) output-divided into armies e.g.: 14 countries divided by 3 = 4 armies for setting up.
   
Should instead of orders conquers the whole wold? Yes / No: With these buttons the players select whether they are to fulfill to them given jobs, or however the whole world to conquer must (starting from Riskful V1.2). Lively became this option of Ulf Kausch. Ulf thanks.
 
Reset all options back to standart: The default values are again assumed. By different adjustments in the option menu the play flow can be influenced substantially! Whether the defender with two or three cubes may throw, is with fights a large difference. Or you try to play times a portion of Riskful, without receive your armies for completely filled continents! Does the player get normally always three armies, or his number of countries divided by three? The options enrich Riskful around a multiple, try them out calmly once different.
 
 
Recommended system request (not minimum!):
System: Pentium 60, 16 MB, Win95/98/NT Windows adjustments: Color mode HiColor 16 bits or more, 1024x768 pixel display mode (800x600 also still possible with easy edge loss), sound card.
 
Bugs:
When very exotic Windows adjustments it can come to errors. In particular with enormous writings it can cross, the Riskful with "range limitation a exceeding error" the play aborts. In this case you better use smaller character fonts. When Windows adjustments with only 256 colours (or fewer) you must count the play on some strangenesses in the color design, because Riskful requires the 16Bit color mode (or more highly), run therefore however nevertheless.
   
The demo version of Riskful:
Riskful is conceived as Shareware. If you possess only the demo version, you can acquire the full version of Riskful from me for DM 20 (12 Euro). That is not very much cash, contrary to the work, which cost me the programming of the play. The demo version is freely copyable and can be played about 15 minutes long. Afterwards the program aborts compromiseless. As long as not any modifications to the Demopackage are made, them can be passed on. The full version however may be further copied in no case (only backup copies for its own use)! It may be allowed neither changed nor sections added or deleted. Manipulations at the user key file anyway is to be advised against, since each small modification leads to the end of the full version. The full version is not reduced. An adhesion by damage, which results from the use of Riskful, does not take over the author! For the acquisition of the full version there are several possibilities:
 
1) If you have no Internet access:
You send a letter to me, which contains the following: DM 20 or 12 EURO / open check over DM 20 / crossed cheque over DM 20. An empty formatted diskette or a blank CD. The names of the game, which you would like to acquire and for which type of computer it are (in this case " Riskful / PC "). The type of computer is important, since I drive out also still the Amiga version. Actually addressed and franked back envelope. If you diskette / blank CD / back envelope do not settle unfortunately increase the shareware money to DM 25 (15 EURO)!!!
   
2) If you have an Internet access:
Transfer DM 20 (12 EURO) to me (bank account below) and indicate me by email your email address + complete address and that you have transferred me the cash. Absolutely add you in addition, during your bank credit transfer your name and your email address, so that I also know, from whom the cash come. As soon as I checked your transfer, I send you the acces file by email, which you copy simply into the Riskful directory.
   
If you ordered Riskful from me, then you receive from me the code for the full version, a 256 bytes (letters) small file, which you copy into the same file as your demo version of Riskful. By this code file a full version becomes from a demo version! If you do not possess the demo version any longer, you indicate this for your order please, then I burn you the whole Riskful package on CD (Riskfuldemo+Keyfile=Fullversion). Your arrange please order to:
Frank Abbing
48683 Ahaus
Margarethenstr.13 a
Germany
 
Email:frankabbing@12move.de
Home:http://www.12move.de/home/frankabbing/
 
Zahlungen / Payments
AKKREDITIVE / LETTERS OF CREDIT
 
bitte an / please to:
 
Volksbank Gronau-Ahaus eG     GENO
D-48599 Gronau                Group Germany
 
BIC: GENODEM1GRN via SWIFT: GENODEMS
acc.no. 1 950 200
 
My thanks concern:
- my wife Alexandra for their support.
- Annika, Lars, Britta, Klaudia, Maik, Alfons, Ute, Benno and Raffi for their test plays.
- Roland G. Huelsmann for ProfanČ.
- all user, which stepped me with me into contact and by praise, criticism and suggestions the correct way showed.