                               Daemon Quest

                  The first saga:  The Legend of the Door

     Introduction:

          This file  contains a  quick manual  to help  you get started
     with Daemon Quest and to tell you a  bit about  the history behind
     the game.   For  those of  you who  are too  impatient to read the
     interesting stuff I've put the essential  stuff first  and the fun
     stuff at  the end  so that  you don't  have to wade through all my
     ramblings to get to the meat.

     Shareware:

          First of  all let  me say  that Daemon  Quest and  all of the
     code  used  to  create  Daemon  Quest  is  copyrighted.  It is not
     public domain and it isn't free.  Daemon  Quest is  being marketed
     under a  concept called  shareware.   Shareware (for  those of you
     not acquainted with  the  term)  is  a  system  whereby  users are
     encouraged to  copy software  and pass  it along  to their friends
     with the understanding that  if they  choose to  keep the software
     they are obliged to pay a users fee.
          The Legend  of the Door (this saga of Daemon Quest) costs $10
     so  should  you decide  to keep  it, please  send  ten  dollars to
     Steve Blanding  at the  following address.  If you  are cheap  and
     don't feel that it's worth $10 then please be so  kind as  to pass
     the game  on to a friend or two and delete your own personal copy.
     Now I realize that  no one  is playing  police man  and no  one is
     going  to  throw  you  in  jail  if  you  keep  it  without paying
     (probably) but I'd like to think  that  the  majority  of  you are
     nice honest citizens and  hey, it's worth ten bucks if you ask me.
     Here's the address:

                              Steve Blanding
                       1600 Olympic Blvd.  Suite 301
                          Walnut Creek, CA 94596

     Starting Daemon Quest:

          Daemon Quest will operate on any IBM compatible computer that
     operates in  MSDOS.   It can  be played off of a floppy disk or it
     may be copied to a hard disk.  If you decide to  copy Daemon Quest
     to a  hard disk  then make  sure that  you put  all the files in a
     single directory.
          To start the game type "DQUEST".  It's that simple.

     Playing Daemon Quest:

          I've tried to make Daemon Quest understand as  many words and
     phrases as  I can  but naturally  it has  quite a few limitations.
     While  the  vocabulary  is  extensive  it  is  hardly  possible to
     include every  word in  the english  language, or  even every word
     used in  the game.   Also,  due to  the complexity  of the english
     language, it  is impossible  to understand every sentence.  Daemon
     Quest understands simple sentences consisting of  up to  a verb, a
     direct  object,  a  preposition  (or direction such as east, west,
     in, or out), and an indirect object.  Most of the time  a verb and
     a direct  object or  just a  verb are sufficient.  The simpler you
     try and word it, the better chance the  game has  of understanding
     it.
          Daemon Quest  also ignores  most articles and punctuation and
     is case independent.   Thus "Get  the coin."  is the  same as "GET
     COIN".
          One  important  thing  to  remember is that Daemon Quest does
     not understand  adjectives  or  adverbs.    Thus  a  sentence like
     "CAREFULLY get the COPPER coin." will probably generate an error.
          The best  tips for  playing the game are: explore everything,
     look at everything, talk to everyone, and try anything.
          Also there is a limited help  function.   Typing "HELP" while
     in  the  game  will  bring  up  a list of common commands and also
     bring up a list of the system commands.

     Common Commands:

          There are some commands that you will need to use extensively
     throughout the  game.   Below is a list of these commands and some
     examples of how they might be used, (remember  that most  of these
     words also  have synonyms  and this  is by  no means an exhaustive
     list):

          GO - tells the game that you wish to move.  For  example: "GO
     NORTH"  or  "GO  IN  THE  PUB".  There are eight basic directions:
     north, south,  east, west,  up, down,  in, and  out.   Each can be
     abbreviated  with  a  single  letter:  N,  S, E, W, U, D, I, and O
     respectively.  Thus instead of saying "GO NORTH"  you could simply
     type "N".

          GET -  tells the  game that you wish to pick something up and
     add it to your inventory.  For example: "GET THE ROCK".

          DROP - tells the game that you wish to drop something that is
     currently in your inventory.  For example: "DROP THE ROCK".

          LOOK or L - if no object is specified then LOOK will show you
     the full room description along  with  all  visible  items  in the
     room.    If  an  object  is  specified  then  LOOK will give you a
     detailed description of the object.  L is shorthand for LOOK.  For
     example: "LOOK AT THE BOX" or "L BOX".

          INVENTORY or  INV -  lists all items in your inventory (items
     you are carrying with you).  For example: "INV".

          BUY <object> WITH <object> - tells the game that you  wish to
     buy something and what you want to pay for it.  For example:  "BUY
     A DRINK WITH THE COIN".

          ASK <person> ABOUT <object>  - allows  you to  ask the people
     you meet  about different  topics.   They are  most likely to know
     information about things that relate to  them.   For example: "ASK
     THE BARTENDER ABOUT THE ALE".

          This list  is by  no means  comprehensive.  There are several
     other words  that you  can use  (and at  times will  need to use).
     I've  tried  to  make  it  so  that  just about any simple english
     sentence that you type will generate some sort of response so long
     as it  relates to  the situation.   If you are having trouble with
     one word or phrase then try another.

     System Commands:

          There are a couple of commands that you need to  know just to
     run the  game.  Below is a list of the system commands:

          QUIT -  the last  resort.   Exits the  game and puts you back
     in the DOS shell.
          SAVE - allows you  to save a game under a two letter  code so
     you can come back and finish it later.
          LOAD - loads in a previously saved game.

     Additional Help:

          I have  created a  help utility  for this game.  If you would
     like a copy (and have purchased  the  game  for  yourself  and are
     hence on  our mailing  list) then  send a  blank floppy disk and a
     self-addressed stamped envelope to  the  above  address requesting
     one.  Please send no money.
          The help  utility contains  all the clues and hints necessary
     to solve the game.
          I would also be happy  to  respond  to  individual questions.
     Once  again  please  send	me  a	self-addressed stamped envelope.
     PLEASE DO NOT CALL ME!  If you call me up I  am very  likely to be
     rude to you and you may get the wrong impression about me.  And we
     wouldn't want that.  I'm a nice guy, really I  am. It's  just that
     my wife  HATES it  when I  do business  on my  personal phone.  So
     please, no calls.

     About Daemon Quest:

          Daemon Quest was originally  a graphic  adventure written for
     the Apple  II.  It was sold for a VERY brief time and while it was
     selling it sold well.   The  reason it  never went  big is  that I
     didn't really  have the time to work out all it's shortcomings and
     I  didn't  have  a  sponsor  who  was  willing  to  pick   up  the
     advertising bill.   I  also didn't  really have the time to finish
     the other four installments.
          That's right, Daemon Quest  was  originally  planned  (and at
     the  moment  is  still  planned)  as  a five part series.  So keep
     looking for the others.  If  nobody  gives  you  one  then  by all
     means write  us and  ask us  for one.   If  we've got it done then
     we'll be sure and ship you a copy on the same Shareware basis.
          Well anyway, I took a slight  leave of  absence to  study and
     stuff and  by the  time I  came back I found that the Apple II was
     no longer "the thing to have".  IBM was in  and fast  becoming the
     standard and  so was  Macintosh so  I bought a second hand IBM and
     began catching up.
          Anyway, to make a  long story  short, here  it is  and I hope
     you  like  it.    Personally  I  think this version is quite a bit
     better than the first.  I hope you do too.
          Incidently, if you have ever  seen  a  copy  of  the original
     Apple II graphic version of Daemon Quest, please let me know!  I'm
     dying to find out  if anybody  ever really  played that  game.  (I
     know from  all the  late night calls I received that somebody must
     have.)

     Why a text adventure?  Why not graphics?

          Well ask Infocom.  They figured  out long  before I  did that
     the only  way to  create a realistic mood on a computer is to tell
     it  with  words.    A  picture  is  worth  a  thousand  words  but
     unfortunately, on  a computer one of those words is usually "comic
     strip".  It is just too  difficult  to  let  your  imagination run
     wild when  you have  a picture in front of you telling you exactly
     what it looks like and convincing you that it isn't real.

          Hopefully by making the  Daemon Quest  adventures all  text I
     can  allow  your  imaginations  to  fill in the holes.  I'd really
     like to let  you  loose  yourself  in  the  world  of  fantasy and
     provide  some  honest  escape.    And who knows, maybe some of you
     might recognize a little bit of literature in there as well.

          Well, that's it.  Have fun playing and  please write  and let
     me know what you think.


     Steve Blanding
     1600 Olympic Blvd.  Suite 301
     Walnut Creek, CA 94596


     NOTE:  Infocom,  Macintosh,  IBM,  and  APPLE  are  all trademarks
     belonging to other companies.  I assume you know who they are.
