THE SPECTRUM GAMES DATABASE

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

PUBLISHER
Mizar Computing

AUTHOR
Bob Waller

CATEGORY
Adventure

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAY

INTRODUCTION
You are in a fantasy world of monsters and magic in which your
only Friend is a merchant living nearby As you move around the
surface you will encounter hostile creatures, stairs to the dark
regions below and containers holding various items of use and
value. As you gain in experience you will venture deeper into the
depths below in search of your chosen quest.

This is not on arcade game but a realistic adventure which allows
the full use of tactical skills as well as the cut and thrust of
conflict giving you many hours of enjoyment as you pit your
skills against more and more deadly foes. Your scenario can be
saved and restored as often as required while you explore the
hundreds of different locations on your way to achieving your
quest.

THE DISPLAY
The display provides information on your character's current
state and gives a map of your immediate surroundings. The right
hand side of the screen provides a scrolled commentary on events.
Any portion of the map which is obscured by a wall is blanked out
so that you can only see those things that are really visible.
So - be careful you never know what may be lurking round the
comer

MOVING AROUND
Using the GO command (see commands) you may move around the map. 
Movement off an edge will put you on the edge of the next map.
Stairs lead to rooms below or above. Falling through a hole will
take you to the room below.

ATTACKS
Of course any other inhabitants (apart from the merchant) are
hostile and will attack you on sight.  You may fight, run away
or possibly use magic.  Monsters may be attacked with any weapon
you have, or bare-handed if you have none. Your chance of hitting
a monster (or dodging if it is attacking you depends on both its
dexterity and yours The amount of damage you inflict depends on
your strength. Possession of an item of armour automatically
protects the relevant part of your body.  The maximum amount of
injuries you can sustain is called your hit points. The
percentage of your life left is shown by the length of the 
life bar on the screen.  Experience points are gained by slaying
monsters. Every 1000 experience points raise you an experience
level which adds to your abilities. The number of experience
points gained per monster depends on the type of monster and your
experience level.

POSSESSIONS
There are over 50 different types of item that you can acquire.
These may be found in treasure containers or bought from the
merchant. Of course the more you carry the greater your burden
and the sooner you get out of breath. As night falls or when you
venture below a light becomes essential. Remember- Monsters can
see in the dark but you cannot.

THE HOME
Characters ore created in their home on the sacred healing cross.

THE MERCHANT
The Merchant lives in a shop not too far from your home. He
offers a 24-hour service and will buy or sell most items. Food
cannot be found only bought from the merchant.

RACES
You con choose to be an elf a human or a dwarf. Elves are more
dextrous, less strong have fewer hit points and greater spell
power than humans.  Dwarves are less dextrous, stronger have more
hit points but less spell power.

QUESTS
At the creation of your world you may request any one of 6 unique
quests.  Your aim is then to find your chosen quest and return
it to the special cross in the centre of your home. If at home
any time before or after achieving your quest you may set up a
new scenario keeping your existing character and possessions or
starting a brand new hero.

COMPETITIONS
When setting up your scenario you con give it a name This allows
you to have competitions with your friends by all using the same
name for your scenarios. When you return your quest to your home
you will be told how long it has taken you and hew many times you
hove saved the game. The winner is the one who does it quickest
and with the least saves.

COMMANDS
The commands available are listed below. All words are separated
by spaces and the command is completed by pressing (enter} Any
word may be shortened to its first 4 letters. Caps shift/0
deletes the last character.

In the following table anything in brackets is optional.


COMMAND       ADDITIONAL       DESCRIPTION
             INFO REQUIRED

ANOInt or      bodypart        Use ointment to heal part of body
 HEAL
ATTAck or A   (direction)      Attack in the direction given
                               (monster container etc.)
BLOW
BUY         (quantity) item    Buy item(s) off merchant
CAST            SLEEp
CAST            SLOW
CAST            BLASt
CAST           TELEport (UP or DOWN)
COST           (class)         Cost of items in copper pieces
DISCard    (quantity) item     Discarded items are lost for ever
DRINk          POTIon          Restores you to full health
EAT
FILL                           Puts oil in lantern
GO or G      (direction)       Moves you about
INFO
LANTern or    (ON or OFF)      Turns lantern on or off
 LIGHt
LIST           (class)         Tells you how many of each item
                               you hove
LOOK or L                      Looks in container
MARK or M     (direction)      Place or pick up marker
OPEN or O                      Attempt to open container
QUIT                           Stop playing
RING or R                      Put on magic ring or take it off
SAVE                           Save game to tape
SELL         (quantity) item   Sell item(s) to merchant
SMITe          (direction)     Use magic rod
STAFf          (direction)     Place staff (as monster barrier)
                               or pick it up
TAKE           (quantity)      Take treasure
TORCh          ON or OFF
UNLOck                         Attempt to unlock container
USE, WEAPon     weapon name    Prepare weapon for attack
 or DRAW
WAVE                           Use magic wand
WEIGht           (class)       Weight of items in copper pieces
WISH         (quantity) item   Use wish spell
                  HOME         (results depend on
                  SHOP          experience level)

The last direction is always remembered so only give a direction
if you need to change it. Furthermore the last command is also
remembered so just pressing (enter) will repeat the last command
and direction; just entering a direction will repeat the last
command with the new direction.

Example    GO N(enter) Moves you north
           (enter)     Moves you north again
           E(enter)    Moves you east
           A(enter)    Attack east
           (enter)     Attack east again
           S(enter)    Attack south

LIST COST and WEIGht will give the next class if no class is
entered.

COMMAND EXAMPLES
      BUY 3 TORCHES or BUY 3 TORC
      BUY HELMET or BUY HELM
      CAST TELE DOWN
      ANOINT L.ARM or ANOI L.AR
      G NE
      COST ARMOUR or COST ARMO
      LIST MONEY or LIST MONE
      USE DAGGER or WEAP DAGG
                 or DRAW DAGG

DIRECTIONS
N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, SE

CLASSES
WEAPons, ARMOur, BAGGage, MAGlc, STAVes,SPELls, MONEy, GEMS,
QUESts

BODY PARTS
HEAD, CHESt, L.ARm, R.ARm, L.LEg, R.LEg


GENERAL FACTS

NOTES
