-*- Mode: text; Mode: auto-fill; fill-column: 70 -*-
$Id: valhalla.txt,v 1.2 1995/04/07 07:04:16 pascal Exp $

[Notes from transcriber: I left out the loading instructions and the
index. The character descriptions had graphics, which could not be
reproduced. I therefore put the character descriptions in a table.
Comments/food/etc. to: Pascal van den Berg <pascal@jsw.xs4all.nl>.
Have fun.]

VALHALLA


A LEGEND PRODUCTION (c) 1983

Production team - Graham Asher, Richard Edwards, Charles Goodwin,
James Learmont, Jan Ostler, Andrew Owen, John Peel.


THE SCREEN

Think of the screen as three windows.

The top window is the picture. The middle window, which has a white
background is the information window. The bottom window, which has a
black background and a flashing white cursor is where you type in your
commands.


THE KEYBOARD

If you are not familiar with the Spectrum keyboard, consult Chapter 2,
page 8 of the Spectrum introduction manual.

You communicate with the game and with the characters using the
keyboard to type in your commands. Your own actions are also typed in
as commands

Having typed in a command you must always press ENTER.

Examples - get food ENTER
           Thor get axe ENTER
           where ENTER
           jump ENTER

Note -  There will sometimes be a delay of several seconds after you
        press ENTER before your command is interpreted. This is
        because, as a character in VALHALLA, you have to take your
        turn along with all the other characters. This means that if
        Loki has just attacked Thor, you will have to wait until the
        fight is over before your command is carried out.

Typing a command can be done in any combination of capitals and lower
case letters. Punctuation is optional. The easiest way of entering a
command is therefore to use lower case letters and no punctuation.

For example - get sword.

You can edit text, as you type it, using the Spectrum edit
commands. CAPS SHIFT 5, 6, 7, 8, move the flashing cursor in the
direction printed above the keys, and CAPS SHIFT 0 deletes the
character to the left of the cursor. For further information see page
8 of your Spectrum Introduction manual. CAPS SHIFT 1 will delete
anything you have typed into the bottom black window. CAPS SHIFT 2 is
used to pull you last entry back into the black input window.

Spelling mistakes are dealt with in two ways. If you make a minor
mistake or miss out a letter - for example 'ge sord' instead of 'get
sword' - it will automatically be corrected. Sometimes the command
system will approximate or try to guess what you mean, but it might not
be exactly what you intended.

There may be times when the command system is completely unable to
understand what you have entered. The part that is causing problems
will be highlighted in red and you can edit in the usual way and press
ENTER.

Note -  The command system has three ways of dealing with things
        ENTERed that it cannot understand - by printing 'This doesn't
        make sense or what?,' or by totally ignoring your
        entry. However none of this happens if you enter commands
        accurately.


THE QUESTS

As you will discover, you can have great fun simple watching VALHALLA
and issuing commands to the characters. However, there are six
adventures awaiting you in VALHALLA. Each of these adventures is a
quest for a special object hidden somewhere in the game world.

The six special objects can only be discovered in order -

        Ofnir (key)       cannot be used as an ordinary key
        Drapnir (ring)    cannot be used as an ordinary ring
        Skornir (shield)
        Skalir (sword)
        Felstrong (axe)
        Grimnir (helmet)

Before you can seriously start on even the first quest, you will need
to do two things - equip yourself with basic useful items such as
helmet, weapon, food, key and ring; and familiarise yourself with the
layout of VALHALLA's world. The best way of doing this is to start to
make a map. Even though some locations may look similar, each is
unique.

There will be occasions when having, or not having a certain object or
character with you, will allow you access to a location. You could try
using 'where' or 'help' if you need inspiration, but don't be
surprised if you're not told all you need to know...


CLUES

Ofnir -   Darkness in Midgard.
Drapnir - So many choices - you could sink into the pits of despair.
Skornir - A peculiar start - a difficult decision - the bald man needs
          defence.

Note -  If you are serious about solving the entire sequence of
        quests, it is essential that you plan what you are going to do
        with the quest objects once you obtained them. Remember that
        when you die, Ofnir and Drapnir will be taken from you - and
        of course you cannot carry Felstrong at the same time as
        Skalir.

Note -  When you die, the objects that are taken from you are randomly
        distributed throughout the game world. This means that if you
        are unfortunate enough to die with Ofnir or Drapnir amongst
        your possessions, you will have to reload the program and
        start the entire sequence of quests from the beginning.

If you die from hunger or fighting you reappear in an area of
hell. You will lose all your possessions except for your helmet, sword
or axe, and money, if you had them when you died. You will keep any
special objects that you had, except for Ofnir and Drapnir which you
will lose.

When any other character dies, from hunger or fighting, they will also
lose all of their possessions including Ofnir and Drapnir, but again
excluding their weapons.

You can only have one helmet and one shield at any time, and can only
carry one sword or one axe but not both. This, of course, means that
you cannot carry the quest objects Felstrong (the axe) and Skalir
(the sword) at the same time.

Felstrong, Skalir, Skornir (the shield) and Grimnir (the helmet) can
all be used in the same way and with the same effect as any other axe,
sword, shield and helmet. However, the quest objects weigh more than
ordinary objects. This means that you will get weaker when you carry
these objects and will therefore need to eat and drink more.

Ofnir and Drapnir are purely ceremonial which means that you will need
to carry an ordinary key to uses chests and cupboards and an ordinary
ring to use ringways.

Having died and reappeared in hell, you will find, using the 'how'
command that you are very strong.


PLAYING THE GAME

Don't be afraid to experiment.

Expect to be frustrated - the game has been designed to present a
series of increasingly difficult challenges.

If you become seriously involved in pursuing the six VALHALLA quests
and find you need further information on playing adventure games,
most of the popular computing magazines provide help corners for keen
adventurers and there are now magazines being published devoted
entirely to adventure games.


GOING PLACES

Moving in your present location

There are very few occasions when you will need to use a command
simply to move. Most commands like 'attack' and 'get' automatically
carry out any necessary movement and movement for no specific reason
will drain your strength unnecessarily.

The 'l' and 'r' keys will move you slightly left and right
respectively. Alternatively you can use 'go,' or 'go to' the object or
person. For example, 'go to Odin' and 'go to the axe.' Equally, if you
prefer short commands, 'go Odin' and 'go axe' will have the same
effect.

Moving to a new location

To go to a new location, apart from when you jump using ringways, you
always use go followed by a direction. For example, 'go north' or 'go
southeast.'

Note -  You can also use abbreviations such as 'go n' or 'go se.'

Most locations will offer you a choice of directions in which you can
go. Hardly any will offer you the choice of all eight directions and
one or two locations will have no exists other than ringways.

There are occasions when having, or not having a certain object or
character with you, will allow you access to a location. You could try
using 'where' or 'help' if you need inspiration, but don't be
surprised if you're not told all you need to know...

Note -  The faster you move through locations the harder it is for
        other characters to keep up with you.

Note -  You can only move by directions and not by using place
        names. For example, 'go to VALHALLA' will not work.

Note -  You cannot use the word 'enter' in order to get into a
        building. Remember you are always facing North which means
        that if you see a castle in the background, you enter it with
        'go north'.

        You cannot enter huts.


RINGS AND RINGWAYS

Some locations have ringways which allow you to jump to another
location in then game. You are not, however, told where you will end
up before you jump. Your only chance of finding out is if the 'help'
command is being co-operative...

To use a ringway you need a ring. As with keys, the only times you
lose possession of a ring is when you die or if you sell it, drop it or
give it away.

Note -  Drapnir is a ceremonial ring and cannot be used to jump.


EATING AND DRINKING

Your strength is affected by everything you do, even standing
still. This means that carrying three objects will leave you weaker
than carrying one light object. This also means that traveling to a
new location and fighting reduces your strength. The only way to
increase your strength is by eating and drinking.

Note -  Food will do you more good than wine...

In some locations you will find food and/or wine conveniently lying
around. You can eat or drink or simply get the food or wine for future
use. However, if other characters are around, they may well have the
same idea - so decide and act quickly.

In some locations you will find food and/or wine in a locked cupboard
or chest. If, however, you are already weak, you may well find
yourself unable to unlock the cupboard or chest. You will then need to
use your powers of persuasion to get another character to do it for
you.

At the start of the game, many of the characters are carrying food
and/or wine. Any of the characters in the game may eat and drink from
time to time. They will tend to pick up food and wine that is lying
around, exchange food and wine among themselves and the more stupid
characters may even drop food and wine as they move around.

If you are weak and there is no obvious source of food and wine, you
can try asking another character to either sell or give you some.

You have a fixed maximum potential strength, so there is no point in
eating or drinking for the sake of it. In fact, there is a fixed
amount of found and drink in the universe, so the more that you
consume, the less there is left for you when you really need it. It
makes more sense to get the food and/or wine and carry it with you or
store it in a chest or a cupboard.


FIGHTING

There is no way to stop any fight once it has started. You can,
however, type in your next command while the fight is taking place.

Only two characters can fight at any one time.

Fights are either won, lost or drawn.

When other characters die they leave the screen to reappear elsewhere,
but not necessarily in hell. This means that sometimes a character who
has just died, will return quite quickly to your present location.

The outcome of any fight is determined by the strength of the
characters involved and the weapons that they are carrying.

Note -  A helmet and a shield are purely defensive. Your attacking
        strength is determined by your having, or not having, a sword
        or an axe. A sword will always be stronger than an axe, except
        when thrown.

There is also a small random "luck" factor, although this will hardly
ever dramatically affect the outcome of a fight.

Fights can be started in various ways -

You, or any character, can simply decide to attack any other
character.

You can ask one character to attack another on your behalf. Whether
they do, or not, depends on how they feel about you at the time.

Equally, other characters, particularly the more intelligent ones,
will often ask other characters to do their fighting for them.

Letting other characters fight on your behalf is obviously attractive
but you will need to do a certain amount of attacking and fighting
yourself.

The extent to which other characters like you, give you things, fight
on your behalf, open containers for you and generally help you is
determined by the characters that you choose to attack. For example,
if you attack Hel and Gripe (baddies), Odin (goodie) will be more
co-operative than Loki (baddie). Likewise, if you attack Odin the
chances are that Loki will be co-operative.

Even when your strength is at its maximum, you will not be strong
enough to overcome the strongest characters, good and bad alike. It is
unlikely, however, that even the strongest characters would kill you
in a single bout of fighting, provided that you are reasonably well
armed and have kept your strength up by eating and drinking.

Any character, including you, can start a fight by throwing any object
you posses, except money, at any other character.

The effect of throwing objects varies according to what has been
thrown. For example, a bottle may not cause much damage whereas a
fireball or lightning may actually kill you or any character, when you
or they are at their weakest.

Note -  When thrown, an axe is stronger than a sword.


GETTING THINGS

If you want to get any object it must be lying on the ground or in an
open chest or cupboard.

Simply type 'get' followed by the name of the object.

For example -   get axe
                get lightning

Note -  You can always check what items are present and in open
        containers by using the 'what' command and pressing ENTER.

Getting things from containers is under the heading chests, cupboards
and keys.

Note -  'Take' has exactly the same effect as 'get'. It does not matter
        which word you use.

Dropping things

An obvious way to get something from a character is by making them
drop it and then you get it.

For example -   Thor drop the axe
                and if he does, followed by:
                get axe

This is however far from ideal as any other character can also get
it. There is also the risk of Klepto turning up...

Note -  Once you have dropped an object it is no longer yours. This
        means that any other character could take it, and if you have
        had second thoughts about dropping it, you might not be able
        to get it back.

You can drop any object in your possession at any time. This can be
useful when you are weak and you want to lighten your load. You can
only drop things to the ground and except for fireballs and lightning,
which are invisible, you will see the object appear on the ground.

Other characters, especially the weak and stupid ones, might drop
things as they move around.

If you drop an object and it is still there when you leave the
location, you can always try to return to your previous location and
attempt to get it before another character...

Giving things

You simply type in 'give' followed by the name of the object and the
name of the character you are giving it to.

For example -   give axe to Thor
                give Thor the axe
                give axe Thor

Equally you can ask any character to give an object to any other
character.

For example -   Odin give Thor axe
                Odin give the axe to Thor
                Odin give me the axe
                Odin give me your axe

Note -  You cannot force characters to give objects to you. Whether or
        not they agree depends on how well disposed towards you they
        are at the time...


BUYING AND SELLING

Buying things

There are three ways to start the process of buying, using the
commands 'buy,' 'offer' and 'sell.'

For example -   buy axe from Thor for 20 crowns
                offer 20 crowns to Thor for axe
                Thor sell me your axe for 20 crowns

The character concerned will then either accept or reject your bid
depending upon the situation.

If the offer is refused, you can make another offer by typing 'offer
30 crowns to Thor for axe' or by editing the previous input.

Note -  You need to find out for yourself how much, or how little, you
        should ask or offer for an object.

Note -  Other characters will not themselves start the buying and
        selling process.

Selling things

The only reason you would want to sell an object is to raise
money. You can use the words 'buy' or 'sell' to start the process.

For example -   sell axe to Thor for 20 crowns
                or
                Thor buy axe from me for 20 crowns

The character concerned will then either accept or reject you proposal
depending upon the situation.

If the offer is rejected you can edit your previous input to try
again.

i.e. sell axe to Thor for 10 crowns

Note -  Providing you have not entered anything else, you can use CAPS
        SHIFT 2 to pull your last entry back into the text window. You
        can then simply edit the number of crowns.

Note -  You start the game with 200 crowns and you can only add to
        that by selling an object or asking another character to give
        you money. You can find out how much you have by typing
        'list.'


CHESTS, CUPBOARDS AND KEYS

In some locations you will find chests and cupboards. On the screen, a
cupboard looks like a small door. All chests and cupboards can be used
as containers for any object that you can carry.

If a cupboard or chest is closed, it is automatically locked and a key
is needed to open it. The same key opens all chests and cupboards and
the only times you lose possession of a key is when you die or if you
sell it, drop it or give it away.

Different cupboards and chests require varying amounts of strength to
open them, so that having a key does not necessarily mean that you
can open the container. There may be some containers that, even at
your strongest, you are unable to open. You then need to rely on the
goodwill of another character to open them for you.

Note -  Any container is automatically closed and therefore locked
        when you leave a location. You do not need a key to lock a
        container.

It is important to note that other characters will not open
containers, unless persuaded by you to do so. However, if a container
is open they will take things from it and put things in it.

There are certain rules which determine how many items you can put
into and take out of a chest or cupboard. You will need to discover
these as you play VALHALLA. However, watch out for Klepto...

Note -  Ofnir is a ceremonial key and will not open chests and
        cupboards.


SUMMONING CHARACTERS

There will be times when you want a particular character on screen
with you, either to do something, like open a chest, or because they
have something you need. You simply use 'summon' followed by a
character name.

For example -   summon Odin

Note -  'Summon' can only be used with a character name.

You can summon any character, even if they have just died. However
sometimes, as with help, the characters do not co-operate and
'sorry...' appears on the screen. You can always try repeating your
request.

If you summon a character who is already on screen, your command will
be ignored.


GETTING CHARACTERS TO DO THINGS FOR YOU

There will be times when it will be necessary or desirable to get
another character to do something for you. You can ask any character
to do almost anything you yourself can do, but of course, they may
refuse.

Some examples - Odin get the ring
                Loki go northeast
                Thor attack Krank
                Saga eat the food
                Boldir open the chest
                Odin put ring in chest

Note -  Other characters cannot buy and sell for you.


WHAT, WHERE AND WHO

Typing 'what' and pressing ENTER will tell you what objects are
present on the screen. This will include the contents of any open
chest or cupboard.

Typing 'where' and pressing ENTER will tell you where you are and what
directions you can go in.

There are, however, occasions when you need to have, or have not, an
object or a certain character with you in order to go in a certain
direction. Even if the character or object is present on screen,
'where' will not tell you about these extra directions. In these
instances you need to use the 'help' command or, in the absence of
help, simple trial and error.

'Where' will also tell you if there is a ringway present, but will not
tell you where it leads to. You can always try 'help...'

Typing 'who' and pressing ENTER will tell you the names of the
characters currently on the screen.


HOW AND LIST

Typing 'how' and pressing ENTER will give you a report on your current
strength.

For example -   You are feeling very strong.

Typing 'list' and pressing ENTER provides you with a list of
everything you are carrying and the amount of money (crowns) you
possess.


HELP

As you play VALHALLA you will find that there will be times when you
need some guidance. This applies especially if you are seriously
pursuing the quest objects.

'Help' can give you three kinds of information. It will tell you
directions in which you can go if you have, or don't have an object or
a particular character with you.

It may also randomly select one of the other characters on screen and
tell you which objects he or she is carrying and how much money they
possess.

Finally, it may also tell you the destination of a ringway, if there
is one.

Note -  Help does not always tell the "whole truth," but will not
        actually lie. Sometimes help will not co-operate at all,
        returning with 'sorry...' However repeating it may get
        results.


PAUSE

If for any reason you want to freeze VALHALLA, for any length of time,
simply type 'pause' and press ENTER. Any action that has started
before you pressed ENTER will be completed. To restart, type in any
command and press ENTER.


SAVE AND LOAD

At any time you can save the current game position onto tape, so that
you can resume playing the game from the exact point at which you left
it.

Do not attempt to save and load VALHALLA until you have read this
chapter. VALHALLA's 'save' and 'load' commands work in an entirely
different way to the Spectrum's usual 'save' and 'load' commands.

To save, type 'save', then start your cassette recorder and then press
ENTER. Do not press ENTER before you have started your cassette
recorder. If you are not sure about recording from your Spectrum to
your cassette recorder, refer to Chapter 6, page 21 of your Spectrum
Introduction manual.

Note -  Do not use "" or a file name - simply type 'save' and press
        ENTER.

You cannot stop 'save' or 'load' once you have pressed ENTER. Do not
attempt to stop either process by using the break key.

Saving takes approx 30 seconds to complete and you should note that
although the game position is exactly preserved, any container that
was open will have closed.

VALHALLA does not have a 'verify' command. This means that if you have
not already tried saving on you cassette recorder you should do so
using the Spectrum's verify command. This way you will know that you
cassette recorder will save and load with your Spectrum. Refer to
Chapter 6, page 23 of the Spectrum Introduction manual.

Note -  As saving only takes 30 seconds, you can always play safe and
        record your game twice in succession.

To load a previously saved game, you must first load VALHALLA itself
if it is not already running. Type 'load,' press ENTER and then start
the cassette recorder. As with saving, do not use "" or a file name
and not press the break key.

Note -  If you type 'load' and PRESS enter and do not mean to load a
        previously saved game position, the only way out is to turn
        the machine off. You then have to turn it on and reload
        VALHALLA.


PRINT, NOPRINT AND COPY

If you have a ZX printer, you can use it with VALHALLA. Follow the
instructions supplied with your printer. Do not attempt to connect
your printer when the Spectrum is turned on and VALHALLA is running.

Print -         As events are reported in the white text window, they
                are also printed.

Noprint -       Turns 'print' off.

Copy -          Copies the complete screen, graphics and text.

The quality of the printouts does not compare with the actual screen
graphics and is only of limited use. Of course, it does provide proof
that you have been to a certain location or obtained one or more of
the quest objects.


THE CHARACTERS

You will find the qualities that a character possesses alongside the
illustration of the character. All of the characters in the game
behave according to the qualities they possess. Hence Thor is good,
brave and strong but does some pretty stupid things. Krank is bad news
and Saga is good, bright and reliable.

There is one situation that arises where you will probably think that
all of the characters are being stupid. That is where they die of
hunger when there is food lying around. In fact it often gets them out
of a location or a tricky situation, so that they can immediately
return with their full strength.

Name    sort    badness goodness charisma strength bravery brains
-----   ----    ------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------
Gore    wolf    4       -        2        3        3       2
Gastro  wolf    5       -        2        3        4       4
Frantic wolf    3       -        1        4        5       4
Skadi   dragon  -       3        5        4        3       1
Nasher  dragon  5       -        1        2        1       1
Nidhog  dragon  3       -        2        4        4       2
Grunt   giant   2       -        4        4        5       3
Rankle  giant   4       -        1        4        4       4
Krank   giant   4       -        1        4        5       5
Thudd   giant   2       -        2        2        4       3
Gripe   giant   3       -        4        4        3       2
Tyr     god     -       2        3        4        4       1
Heimdal god     -       2        4        3        2       3
Idun    goddess -       5        2        2        2       2
Boldir  god     -       5        5        4        4       3
Kir     god     -       4        5        3        4       3
Bragi   god     -       3        2        2        3       3
Kon     dwarf   4       -        4        3        1       4
Mary    dwarf   -       3        1        1        1       3
Klepto  dwarf   1       -        4        2        3       5
Alvin   dwarf   -       2        4        2        1       2
Boogi   dwarf   1       -        4        1        1       1
Bug     dwarf   -       2        3        3        3       2
Leer    dwarf   3       -        2        3        3       3
Snor    giant   -       1        3        3        1       1
Glut    giant   -       1        2        3        2       2
Klout   giant   -       3        2        4        4       2
Drudge  giant   -       2        1        3        2       1
Odin    god     -       3        5        4        4       5
Saga    goddess -       4        5        3        4       5
Loki    god     5       -        5        4        4       5
Hel     goddess 5       -        3        4        4       5
Thor    god     -       5        4        5        5       2
Talis   goddess -       2        5        3        3       4
Od      god     -       4        3        1        1       5
Mistra  goddess -       1        5        3        3       3


SUMMARY

command example
------- -------
Attack  attack Odin with axe
Buy     buy axe from Thor for 20 crowns
Close   close chest
Copy
Drink   drink wine
Drop    drop lightning
Eat     eat food
Get     get axe
Give    give axe to Thor
Go      go north, go to axe, go se
Help
How
Jump    travel by ringways using ring
Kill    kill Odin
L       moves you to the left
List
Load
Lock
Noprint
Offer   offer 10 crowns to Odin for axe
Open    open chest
Pause
Print
Put     put ring in chest
R       moves you to the right
Save
Sell    sell axe to Loki for 30 crowns
Shut    shut chest
Summon  summon Thor
Take    take axe
Throw   throw fireball at Loki
Unlock  unlock chest
What
Where
Who

You must press the ENTER key after every command.

DO NOT PRESS THE BREAK KEY

To ask a character to do something type character's name followed by
command and ENTER - e.g. 'Thor get axe.'

To enter a building - 'go north.' You cannot enter a hut.

CAPS SHIFT 1 deletes your entire input line. CAPS SHIFT 2 pulls your
last entry back into the black input window, so that you can repeat
the entry or edit it.

SYMBOL SHIFT Q, A, Z are used for scrolling the white text window over
the twenty line text area.

CAPS SHIFT 5, 6, 7, 8 and DELETE (0) provide normal editing
facilities.

CHARACTERS

Alvin   Boldir  Boogi   Bragi   Bug     Drudge  Frantic Gastro  Glut
Gore    Gripe   Grunt   Heimdal Hel     Idun    Kir     Klepto  Klout
Kon     Krank   Leer    Loki    Mary    Mistra  Nasher  Nidhog  Od
Odin    Rankle  Saga    Skadi   Snor    Talis   Thor    Thudd   Tyr

OBJECTS

Axe                     Chest
Crowns                  Cupboard
Drapnir (ring)          Felstrong (axe)
Fireball (invisible)    Food
Grimnir (helmet)        Helmet
Jewel                   Key
Lightning (invisible)   Ofnir (key)
Ring                    Rock
Shield                  Skalir (sword)
Skornir (shield)        Sword
Wine