

                                  Guide to

                               Worm Wars v1.23
                          _    _    _   _    _    _           
                         | |  / \  | | | |  / \  | |
                         | |/ / \ \| | | |/ / \ \| |
                         |  /     \  | |  /     \  |
                         |/         \| |/         \|

                  -=    (c) Markus Haikonen 1997-1998    =-

                        -=   A Mag's Squad game  =-

  _
 | |
 |_|. Contents -----------------------------------------------------------
 

 1. Introduction
  1.1 What is Worm Wars ?
  1.2 System Requirements
  1.3 Legal Stuff
 2. Playing the game
  2.1 Gamemodes
  2.2 Options
  2.3 Game Screen
  2.4 Worms
  2.5 Weapons
  2.6 Bonuses
  2.7 Special elements
  2.8 Tips
  2.9 Worm Wars Military Ranks
 3. Level Editor
 4. Troubleshooting
  4.1 Playing under Windows 95
 5. Other
  5.1 Files included
  5.2 Updates
  5.3 FAQ
  5.4 Version History
  5.5 Credits
  5.6 Greetings
 6. Registering
  6.1 Contacting Info

  .
 '|
  |. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------
 
 In the later 21th century, a meteor collided Earth. It contained alien
 slime which allowed to make fast growing, very big and dangerous beasts,
 worms. Even nuclear missile couldn't stop these 30m-60m long monsters.
 Molecule control-technology made it also possible to control worms.

 Of course, army wanted to use worms in military purposes. At this point,
 you step in. You have enough mental skills to control worms and you have
 deathwish. That's all what army wants. Good luck !

  .  .
 '| '|
  |. | What is Worm Wars ? -----------------------------------------------

 Worm Wars is a fast action game for up to 4 players. You have a worm and
 some clones equipped with many weapons. The purpose of the game is
 to take your worm to the battlefield and kill everybody and destroy
 everything.

  .   _
 '|   _|
  |. |__ System Requirements ---------------------------------------------

 - DOS, WIN 95, (OS/2 ?)
 - VGA 256 colors
 - 486dx2 processor or better
  - Pentium processor recommended
 - abt. 520 kB conventional memory
  - abt. 565 kB conventional memory and 2MB EMS with sounds
 - 3MB HD

 Sound card recommended

  . _
 '| _|
  |._| Legal Stuff -------------------------------------------------------

 Copyright (c) 1997-1998 by the author, Markus Haikonen.

 This SOFTWARE is SHAREWARE. After a trial period of 30 days you are
 encouraged to pay the registration fee. You may sell and distribute the
 UNREGISTERED SHAREWARE VERSION.

 The author provides no warranties, either expressed or implied, of
 merchantability, or fitness, for a particular use or purpose of this SOFTWARE
 and documentation. In no event shall the author be held liable for any
 damages resulting from the use of, misuse of, or inability to use, the
 SOFTWARE and documentation.

 You may not disassemble or reverse engineer this SOFTWARE. It is also
 illegal to distribute, lease, rent or sell the REGISTERED VERSION (THE
 REGISTRATION KEY) OF THE SOFTWARE. ANYONE FOUND DOING SO WILL BE PROSECUTED.

 By using this SOFTWARE or documentation, you agree to the above terms and
 conditions.
  _
  _|
 |__. Playing the game ---------------------------------------------------
  _   .
  _| '|
 |__. | Gamemodes --------------------------------------------------------

 - Deathmatch

 This is just a simply go and kill all mode.

 - Bountyhunt

 Almost like deathmatch, but each player has a bounty (number under the head
 of the worm) which killer will get. Your bounty will raise when you collect
 bonuses and kill other players.

 - Flaghunt (only in the registered version)

 In this mode you must collect flags to win it. You get also points by
 killing other worms.

 - The One (only in the registered version)

 One of the worms is the one. You get score only by killing him, expect
 if you are The One, when you get score normally: 1 point per kill.
 If you aren't The One and you kill someone else who is not The One either,
 you'll lose 1 point.

 - Deathmatch 2 (only in the registered version)

 Like deathmatch but with different scoring.

 - 1&2 vs. 3&4 (only in the registered version)

 Team versus team deathmatch.

  _   _
  _|  _|
 |__.|__ Options ---------------------------------------------------------


 Timelimit (1-99min)
 The lenght of the battle in minutes.
  
 Clones (1-99)
 Your number of clones.

 Weapon Damage (1-200%)
 How efficient your weapons are.

 Weapon Avail (1-100%)
 How many different weapons is available.

 Bases Heal (on/off)
 
 Bases fix panzer (on/off)
 
 Bases give ammo (on/off)
 
 Auto Random Levels (on/off)
 
 Clean mode (on/off)
 No blood.

 SpotLight (on/off)
 When enabled, there is a spotlight following leader.

 Head 2x damage (on/off)
 Shots aimed at head, cause double damage.
 
 Weapon weight (1-200%)
 Adjusts how much weapons weight.

 Slow cpu warning (on/off)
 Warns if your cpu is too slow.

 Number of bonuses (1-200%)
 How often bonuses appear.

 Turbo mode (on/off)
 When enabled, worms move double speed.

 Force respawn (on/off)
 Forces worms to respawn after 5 seconds.
 

  _   _                                                  
  _|  _|
 |__.__| Game Screen -----------------------------------------------------



             ---------------------          a. Player info (see below)
             | a. | a. | a. | a. |          b. Time left (Min:Sec)
             |----|----|----|----|          c. Action-meter
             |        b.         |
             |                   c.
             |                   |
             |-------------------|

              a.
 ------------------------------------       1. Clones left
 |Your name                    1.   |       2. Shots left
 |Energy bar------------------------|       3. Current Weapon
 |   6.                             |       4. Wepon Level (bar)
 | 2. 3.  4.                    5.  |       5. Your Score
 -----------------------------------|       6. Panzers (Red   = no panzer  
                                                        White = full panzer 
                                                        Black = weak panzer)

  _
  _| |_|
 |__.  | Worms -----------------------------------------------------------


 Name             Special Ability        Description

 Standard         None                   -
 Pirate           S-Confuse              Drops confusing gas.
 Web              None                   -
 Borg             Regeneration           Gives you hitpoints
 Soldier          'Mine'                 Fake mine
 Shadow           Cloak                  Renders worm almost invisible
 Ghost            Nonstop                Your worm doesn't crash with other worms
 Kid              None                   -
 Speed            Thrust                 Gives speed
 Biocide [reg]    50% Poison resistance  Poison is less effective against 
 Wizard  [reg]    Chameleont             Worm looks like another
 Rock    [reg]    Shield                 Gives full shields (costs some hps)
 Beast   [reg]    None                   -
 Blast   [reg]    The Last Explosion     Explodes when dies
  
 Some specials work when you press backward.

 Worms marked with [reg] are only in the registered version.

  _   _
  _| |_
 |__.__| Weapons ---------------------------------------------------------
          

 <Basic Weapons>----------------------------------------------------------

 -Plasma cannon       Projectile weapon 
  Shoots plasma bullets.  

 -Plasma shotgun      Projectile weapon 
  I don't know.

 -Ring of Fire [reg]  Projectile weapon
  Creates ring of fire
  
 -Morning Star        Projectile weapon
  Iron fist that starts swinging around your head. Efficient but hard to use.

 -Energy Drain [reg]  Projectile weapon
  Drains health.

 -Confuser            Projectile weapon
  Makes its victim to go random direction. Quite unefficient against
  computer players.

 -Grasshopper [reg]   Projectile weapon
  Shoots bullets that shoot bullets. :)

 -Guard [reg]         Bomb/Missile
  Guard is a bomb that shoots everything moving.

 -Absolute Zero [reg] Projectile weapon
  Slows down its victim.

 -Death Star [reg]    Projectile weapon
  Homing star.

 -Jammer              Projectile weapon
  Prevents its victim from shooting.

 -Poison bomb         Bomb/Missile
  Spreads poison.

 -Slayer [reg]        Projectile weapon
  Armor piercing missile.

 -R.Plasma Cannon     Projectile weapon
  Like plasma cannon but shoots come from back.

 -Laser [reg]         Projectile weapon
  Laser beam.

 -Poison Missile [reg] Bomb/Missile
  Spreads poison.

 -Fireball [reg]       Bomb/Missile
  Ball of fire.

 -Mini Nuke [reg]      Bomb/Missile
  Deadly missile. (There is no radiaction effect yet.)

 -Death Hand [reg]     Bomb/Missile    
  Inaccurate missile

 -Ruisku [reg]         Bomb/Missile
  Missile which spreads fire

 -Turbo-missile [reg]  Projectile weapon
  Fast missile.

 -Razor [reg]          Projectile weapon
  Very deadly blade which continues flying if it kills its victim.

 -Shockrock            Projectile weapon
  Rock which shocks. :)

 -Plasmabomb [reg]     Bomb/Missile
  When it explodes it spreads plasma bullets.

 -Fire Fountain [reg]  Bomb/Missile
  Spits fire.

 -Mine                 Mine
  ?

 -Heat Mine [reg]      Mine
  Like mine but detects heat.

 -Chaos machine [reg]  Bomb/Missile
  Moves and spits fire.

 -Energy Bomb [reg]    Bomb/Missile
  Like Energy blast but a bomb.

 -Disturbance b [reg]  Bomb/Missile
  Explodes when someone gets too near.

 -Stun Bomb [reg]      Bomb/Missile      
  Slows down its victims.

 -Crucifix bomb        Bomb/Missile
  Spits fire to four main directions.

 -Pulse bomb [reg]     Bomb/Missile
  Spits fire. 

 -Grasshopper B [reg]  Bomb/Missile
  Bomb which shoots bullets which shoot bullets.

 <Special weapons (not in stores)>----------------------------------------

 -Shooter missile [reg]Bomb/Missile
  Missile which spits fire.

 -Purple death [reg]   Projectile weapon
  3 deadly homing stars.

 -Poison ball          Bomb/Missile
  Spreads poison.

 -Shocker [reg]        Projectile weapon
  Spits shocks fast.   

 -Phoenix Egg          Bomb/Missile
  Bomb which explodes hard. :)

 -Devil's Touch        Bomb/Missile
  Spreads fire everywhere.

 -Energy Blast [reg]   Projectile weapon
  Blast of energy which goes through walls.

 -Flamethrower         Projectile weapon
  Favorite of everyone. Spits fire.

 -Burner [reg]         Projectile weapon
  Homing missile that spreads fire (a lot!)

 -Pipebomb [reg]       Bomb/Missile
  Oh no ! Cover your ears ! (You can activate pipebombs by pressing forward)

 -Devastator [reg]     Bomb/Missile
  Shoots exploding bullets. Deadly. 


 Weapons marked with [reg] are only in the registered version.

  _  _
  _||_
 |_.|_| Bonuses ----------------------------------------------------------


 Bonuses stay on screen 10 seconds.

 -Flower Power (Flower)
  Turns bullets into flowers.

 -Invulnerable (Red box)
  Bullets don't harm you.

 -Medikit (White box with red cross)
  Increases health by 50 points (max 100).

 -Shield (Blue circle)
  Stops any bullet

 -Upgrade (Flaming sword)
  Upgrades your current weapon level (max level 5).

 -Armageddon 
  Kills everyone.

 -Cloak
  Predator-style cloak. Renders you almost invisible.

 -Weapon
  Gives you a new weapon.

 -Full health (ball with a red cross)

 -Mega Panzer (grey ball with a 'p')
  Gives you very good panzers

 -Full shields
 
 -Max Upgrade (red ball)
  Upgrades your current weapon level to 5.

 -Super (purple ball [this is very rare])
  Makes your worm very powerful.

  _  _
  _|  |
 |__. | Special elements - -----------------------------------------------


 Ice
 Worms can't turn on ice, but it is possible to shoot all directions.

 Lava
 Avoid lava. It is too hot for your worm.

 Slime
 Slows you down.

 Turbo Pad
 Gives speed.

 Fake wall
 Looks like wall but is not

 Teleport (Under Construction)

 Defence Systems (Under Construction)
  _   _
  _| |_|
 |__.|_| Tips ------------------------------------------------------------

 "Killers live for ever" - Corporal Psychos, 3rd Worm Division.

 1) Remember weapon upgrades.

 2) Cover your head.

 3) Learn to cut in.

 4) Use atleast two weapons together. For example Plasma shotgun and
    fire fountain is a good combination.

 5) When heads collide, faster worms overdrive slower and stronger
    weaker.

 6) Don't take too much load.
  _   _
  _| |_|
 |__.|_| Worm Wars Military Ranks ----------------------------------------

 19. Recruit
 18. Private
 17. Lance Corporal
 16. Corporal
 15. Sergeant
 14. Staff Sergeant
 13. Platoon Sergeant
 12. Master Sergeant
 11. Sergeant major
 10. 2nd Lieutenant
 9. 1st Lieutenant
 8. Captain
 7. Major
 6. Lieutenant Colonel
 5. Colonel
 4. Brigadier
 3. Lieutenant General
 2. General
 1. Marshal
 _
 _|
 _|. Level Editor --------------------------------------------------------

 Level editor is available only in the registered version. It's very
 easy to use, but you should remember few things.

 - You must build exactly 4 bases.
 - Don't make symmetric levels. They are boring.
 - Remember that computer players are almost braindead.

 |_|
   |. Troubleshooting ----------------------------------------------------
      .
 |_| '|
   |. | Problems ---------------------------------------------------------

 Problem                          Reason & Solution

 Game gives you message           You don't have atleast 486dx2 processor.
 "No 8087"                        Buy 486dx2 or better processor.
                                 
     _
 |_|  _|
   |.|__ Playing under Windows 95 -----------------------------------------

  a. Create shortcut to WW.EXE

  b. Configure shortcut settings:
       - Set idle sensitivy to slow
       - Remove shortcut keys

  c. Run Worm Wars using the shortcut.

  d. If Worm Wars doesn't still run enough smoothly, restart your computer in
     MS-DOS mode.
  _
 |_
 __|. Other --------------------------------------------------------------
  _   .
 |_  '|
 __|. | Files Included ---------------------------------------------------

 Filename          Description

 FILE_ID.DIZ       Description-file for Worm Wars package (4WARS???.ZIP)
 PLAYERS.DAT       Player Information
 README.TXT        Guide to Worm Wars
 REG_ENG.TXT       Registration form
 REG_FIN.TXT       Registration form for Finland
 SETUP.EXE         Worm Wars setup
 WORMWARS.EXE      Worm Wars the game
 WORMWARS.PAK      Worm Wars datafile
 *.WWL             Worm Wars Level

 Worm Wars also creates file WW.CFG (Worm Wars configuration)
  _   _
 |_   _|
 __|.|__ Updates ---------------------------------------------------------

 The newest shareware package is available in many Finnish BBS's (MBnet for
 example). Filename is 4WARS???.zip (???=version number). WWW-page situation
 is currently uncertain, thus use searchengines to locate possible Worm Wars
 pages.
  _  _
 |_  _|
 __|._| Frequently asked questions ---------------------------------------

 Question: Why the background story is so bad ?

 Answer: This game doesn't need better. :-)


 Q: What next ?

 A: It's quite likely that I will start making Windows DirectX games. So
    it's goodbye DOS. I am also going to forget all action and shoot'em up
    games and concentrate on turn-based strategy games. 


 Q: What are those special features ?

 A: I don't tell you. =)


 Q: Worms have only four directions to go. Why ?

 A: If there was more directions, game would be very much harder.
    Computer couldn't help you from crawling against walls anymore. Also it
    could be really hard to program computer players.


 Q: Why doesn't the game play musics correctly. 

 A: Sorry, but there is something wrong with the modplayer...

  _
 |_  |_|
 __|.  | Version History -------------------------------------------------

  v   date
 0.05 04.Feb.1997 Start
 0.79 29.Jun.1997 First BETA release
 1.03 30.Jul.1997 First Public release
 1.20 26.Oct.1997
 1.22 01.Jan.1998
 - Minor fixes
 - Added more info to documents
 - Some typos corrected
 - Better playerstatusinfo during the battle
 - You can play all levels in Unregistered version !
 - Hall of fame doesn't work in unregistered version 
 - 1&2 vs. 3&4 gamemode
 - more foreground blocks
 1.23 19.Feb.1998
 - New options: turbo mode, number of bonuses, force respawn
 - Some new levels


  _   _
 |_  |_
 __|.__| Credits ---------------------------------------------------------
   
 Programming, Design, Graphics & Vocals........ Markus Haikonen 

 Musics, SFX and Pics (Credits & Results)...... Janne Korva

 Thanks to (for testing etc.).................. Ibbe
                                                Jaakko Tranberg
                                                Janne Ojanen
                                                Kartsa
                                                Masa
                                                Mirko Niittum„ki
                                                Sami Kuivalainen
                                                Timo Tamminen

  _   _
 |_  |_
 __|.|_| Greetings -------------------------------------------------------

 Markus greets

  Euran Lukio Abit '98
  RoPe team
  

 Janne greets

  Shine
  Zeesus
  Drc
  Jaba
  Zox
  Tohtori Kuiva

  _
 |_
 |_|. Registering --------------------------------------------------------

 Registered version includes.

   - Level Editor
   - All gamemodes
   - 45 weapons
   - 14 worms

 Read REG_ENG.TXT for more information.

  _   .
 |_  '|
 |_|. | Contacting Info --------------------------------------------------

 Don't hesitate to send mail. Also selfmade levels are wanted. 

 Ground-Mail:
 -Registrations (see REG_ENG.TXT) 
   Markus Haikonen
   Siikatie 15
   FIN-27500 KAUTTUA
   FINLAND

 Internet E-Mail:
 -Markus, designer (Comments and questions about Worm Wars)
   markus.haikonen@mbnet.fi (primary)
   haikkis@gnwmail.com (secondary) (?)
 -Janne, musician (Comments about music)
   genezis@hotmail.com

 WWW:
 -Mag's Squad Homepage:
   (?)
 -Worm Wars at Kimmo's Gamepage:
   http://www.sci.fi/~kimmol/reviews/wormwars.htm
 -Worm Wars at Rocket Downloading:
   http://www.rocketdownload.com/Details/Arca/worms.htm

 BBS:
 -MBNet

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Markus Haikonen, February 19th 1998
