 ****************************************
 *                                      *
 *   Repton 3                           *
 *   by Harry Wood - 1998               *
 *   Release Oct 2002                   *
 *                                      *
 *   Based upon the original BBC game   *
 *     written by Mathew Atkinson       *
 *     for Superior Software 1986       *
 *                                      *
 ****************************************


Contents :

 1  Installing Repton 3

 2  Main menu

 3  Game keys

 4  Quick game instructions

 5  Detailed game instructions

 6  The Repton 3 level editor

 7  Trouble-shooting

 8  The Repton 3 web page



*********************************************************
 1  Installing Repton 3
*********************************************************

There is no installation procedure, just unzip the zip file and run it!
Here's the details:

REQUIREMENTS
To run Repton3, you need windows. It definately works on win95/98/NT. Aparently it
wont work in the old windows 3.x.
It seems to run OK on a P100. Does anyone have a slower processor than that? If so
you may experience bad keyboard response while playing the game. (Actually the
keyboard response isn't brilliant at the best of times)

UNZIPPING REPTON3.ZIP
Download the file 'Repton.zip' from the Repton 3 web page:
harrywood.co.uk/repton3

You need the unzipping program called 'Winzip' (download from www.winzip.com) or
'Pkunzip', in order to unzip the 'Repton.zip'

Use winzip to open 'Repton.zip'.
Click 'Extract' and specify a folder such as 'C:\Games\Repton3\'
Also make sure the option 'Use folder names' is ticked

RUNNING IT!
Of course, you must have done all that, if you're reading this, so... 
...well that's about it really.
Double click Repton3.exe to run the game!

OTHER INSTALLATION NOTES
See section 7 for troubleshooting

It should run OK wherever you put the files, but you must have write access, if you
wish to save your own levelsets. Windows should find the files VBRRUN300.DLL, and
GRID.VBX, when you run 'Repton3.exe'. If not, try putting these 2 files into your
Windows/System folder.

On all the latest windows versions you can create a start menu shortcut to repton
by simply dragging the repton3.exe icon onto the start menu (keep holding the
mouse button down and drop it where you want it)

Windows 95 users can create a shortcut on your Start menu (win95/NT), by clicking
Right mouse button on Start menu, then choosing the 'Explore' option. Browse your
start menu short cuts (and move them around into folders and stuff).
Drag repton.exe into the programs folder, to create a new start menu shortcut.

Rename it to whatever you like. Put it in a games folder to be tidy.
Look up shortcuts in the windows help file, if you get stuck.

*********************************************************
 2  Main menu
*********************************************************

When you run Repton 3, the default level set is loaded, and you're ready to play!
But there are other options.
The main menu has the buttons:
 PLAY, PASSWORD, LOAD and EDIT

click PLAY to play Repton 3. If you've never played before, click PLAY now, and
have a go! And read the next 2 sections for instructions on playing the game.

click PASSWORD to enter a password. You can enter a password in order to skip
levels, and carry on where you left off, from a previous game. Passwords are not
case sensitive. All you need to do is remember the password each time you get to a
new level.

click LOAD to load a different levelset. You can load your own levelsets, or
levelsets that have been downloaded from the repton web site (see section 8)


*********************************************************
 3  Game keys
*********************************************************

	      up - :
	    down - >
	    left - Z
          right  - X


  Display Status - Enter
     Display Map - M
        Die once - Esc
     Die totally - Shift+R


*********************************************************
 4  Quick game instructions
*********************************************************

Repton 3 is a puzzle game. To complete each level, you must:

(1) Collect all diamonds
(2) Collect the crown
(3) Unlock safes
(4) Kill all monsters
(5) Cage all spirits
(6) Defuse the timebomb to finish

Use your the map screen (M) and status screen (Enter) to see how you are
progressing.

You begin with 3 lives.
You die if a rock falls on you from above.
You die if a monster gets you.
You die if a spirit flies into you.
You die if you touch skulls.
You die if you touch fungus.
You die if you run out of time.
You should avoid dying. It is BAAAAD

A Level may become impossible. For example, a diamond may be blocked off by rocks.
This means you screwed up. Hit 'Esc' to lose your remaining lives (or Shift+R to
kill yourself in style) and then start all over again. You may have to do this
several times before you complete the game [[understatement]]

*********************************************************
 5  Detailed game instructions
*********************************************************

Read the quick game instructions (section 5) before reading these details:

Diamonds: To collect a diamond, walk into it. You must collect all diamonds to
complete the level.

Time Capsules: Collect time capsules to give you more time. Note that you do not
have to collect time capsules to complete the level, in fact often it is a bad idea
to collect time capsules (a trap!)

Crowns: Collect the crown to complete the level. There's nothing very special about
the crown, it just looks like its very special, so... well...  enjoy collecting it.

Soil:  Collect soil if you are a tidy person. It does nothing. It just sits there.
Rather like soil in real life.

Rocks:  Rocks are the basis of most of repton's puzzles. They fall downwards,
unless supported by something. You can support rocks on your head. Rocks will slide
sideways off round objects. You'll have to learn which objects are round, and which
objects are flat (i.e. rocks stay on top of them). A diamond is an example of a
'round' object, because rocks will slide sidways off diamonds, if they're given a
chance. Soil is a flat object. This means a rock will sit on it, and will behave
itself.
You can push a rock sideways, if there is nothing behind it. You can't push a row
of rocks sideways, only a single rock.

Eggs:  Eggs behave similarly to rocks. However, when an egg is dropped, it will
crack, and a monster will hatch!
 
Monsters: Monsters will try to move towards you. You will die if a monster gets
you. You can hide behind other objects to avoid monsters. You can kill monsters by
pushing or dropping rocks on them. All eggs must be cracked, and monsters killed,
to complete the level.

Spirits: Spirits will kill you if they fly into you. They follow the edges of walls
or other objects, and so you will normally see them moving in a circular motion.
Direct the spirit into a cage, to reveal a diamond. All spirits must be caged, to
complete the level. Simple spirit puzzles involve collecting a diamond from infront
of a cage, so that a spirit can then go into the cage. Others are more difficult,
and involve positioning of rocks, so that the spirit goes into a cage.

Skulls: Skulls will kill you. Do not walk into skulls. They are BAAAD. Skulls do
not fall like rocks do. They just sit there and look evil.

Fungus:  Fungus is also BAAAD. It will slowly grow into any neighbouring spaces.
You will die if you walk into fungus. You will die if fungus grows on you. A
monster will die if fungus grows on it. You will have to start again if you allow
fungus to grow around a diamond for example. You should try to avoid releasing
fungus, and you should try to contain it if possible.

Keys: Collect a key to unlock all the safes on the level. You only need to collect
one key. Collecting extra keys has no effect.

Safes: If a level has safes, you need to collect a key. When a safe is unlocked it
reveals a diamond. Note that when a safe is unlocked it becomes a 'round' object
whereas previously it was flat, hence collecting a key can result in rocks falling
from on top of safes throughout the level.

Teleporters: Teleporters will take you to another part of the level. To use a
teleporter walk into it. Teleports will disappear after being used once. You do not
have to use all teleporters. You will die if you teleport inside another object.
There is no way of discovering the destination of a teleport apart from by using
it!

There are 8 levels in totoal. All eight levels can be completed without dying once!
When you complete the game, make a note of the proof code. If you find the game too
difficult, you should try downloading some different levelsets (see section 8), or
creating your own (see section 6)

*********************************************************
 6  The Repton 3 level editor
*********************************************************

You can use the level editor to create your own levelsets!

ENTERING THE EDITOR
To enter the editor, choose EDIT on the main menu.
Repton 3 uses Repton LevelSet files to store all the level maps for the game. The
normal game is stored in a file called 'Easy.rls'. When you first enter the editor,
'Easy.rls' is loaded. This is locked levelset, so you cannot edit it unless you
know the password, and you dont know the password do you?, so click 'Cancel' and
then say 'No' dont exit the editor. Now you have a new levelset, just for you!

PLACING BLOCKS
You will not understand the editor, unless you have used the map while playing the
game (press M to view the map suring the game)  So, to design your very own level,
you must position the blocks (such as walls, rocks and diamonds) that make up your
level map.
First you must choose which block you are placing. Click on the panel on the right
hand side, to select a block. Start with diamonds. Now click on the map (the big
black bit of the editor screen), and diamond is placed! Place lots of diamonds by
holding down the mouse button, as you move the pointer across the map. Now try some
walls.

TESTING YOUR LEVEL
To test your level design, go to the 'File' menu and choose 'Exit Editor'. Now on
the main menu, when you click 'PLAY' you can play your new level! Press M to view
the map, if you dont recognise it. You will start in the bottom left hand corner,
because you have not placed a start point. Try completing the 1st level. You will
see that level 2,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 are all blank! Hit Shift+R to kill yourself, then
choose 'EDIT' from the main menu, to return to the editor. Notice that you can test
your level design without saving it!

SPECIAL BLOCKS
Now you can design your own level. However not all blocks are a straightforward as
diamonds, walls and rocks.
You can use a start point block to set the start point (where you start off on the
map, when you play) The start point block looks like a little green man. Of course
you may only place one start point on a map. Two start points would be silly now
wouldn't it? Similarly you may only place one timebomb, and one crown. There is a
limit of 4 eggs, 4 spirits, 4 cages, and 4 teleporters. Teleporters are special
because you must set a destination for the teleporter. To do this you have to drag
the mouse to the destination. So click to place the teleport, and without releasing
the mouse button, move the pointer to point exactly at the destination square on
the map... then release the mouse button.

THE 'MAP' MENU
Once you've designed a whole level, you need to use the 'map' menu. Choose 'Check'
to get a list of things which need to be done on this level. It will tell you if
you've forgotten to place any of the necessary blocks. It will also check that you
have the same number of spirits as cages.
Choose 'Set time limit' to set a time limit for this level. The time is measured in
seconds. The maximum time for a level is 999 seconds.
Choose 'Set password' to give the level a password. The password is revealed when
the player begins to play this level.
Choose 'Wipe' to wipe the whole level! You will be asked for confirmation.
When you've created your first level, you will want to begin editing your second
level. You switch between different levels in the editor, using the 'Level number'
on the 'map' menu.
You may find you want to rearrange the levels, to make the first level the easiest.
The 'Copy' option on the 'map' menu allows you to do this. You can copy the current
map, to overwrite one of the other 7 maps. Take care not to overwrite your level
designs though! You are advised to save your levelset before using the 'copy'
option.

THE 'FILE' MENU
Although you can play your level designs without saving, you will want to save your
level designs to a repton levelset file (.RLS) You can do this with the 'File' menu
Choose 'Save as..', and then think of a file name. The file will be created within
the 'Repton3/LevelSet' folder
Having given it a filename, you can now use the 'Save' option on the 'File' menu,
to save changes to the same file (without having to reenter the filename)
The 'New' option will create a blank levelset, like the one you started with (not
without confirming of course)
The 'open' option will then let you retrieve a saved levelset. You can use this, if
you make a mistake (e.g. wipe a level by mistake) and you want to reload from your
previously saved levelset. When you choose 'Load' from the  main Repton 3 menu, you
get the same effect. But the 'Load' option will give you a list of available
levelsets too.

LOCKING LEVELSETS
If you try to open 'Easy.rls', it will say that the levelset is locked, and ask you
for a password. This means that you cannot cheat, by looking at the level
passwords, or changing the maps. Also the levelset file's internal format is
encripted, so that the passwords dont show up within the file.
You can lock your own levelsets using the 'Lock' option on the 'File' menu. You
only use this feature, if you have made a complete levelset, and you want to let
others play on it, and you want to prevent them from cheating. You will be asked
for a lock password. You MUST remember this password, or you will be unable to edit
the levelset yourself! (not without contacting me anyway)
The 'Proof code' option on the 'File' menu will give you the proof code of your
finised levelset. The proof code is altered every time you make a change to your
levelset. You must save the levelset, then reload it, to regenerate the proof code.
When friends plays your locked levelset, they can prove to you that they have
completed it by telling you the proof code (which you can check using this menu
option) But remember, the proof code changes every time you alter the levels in the
level editor.

CERTIFYING LEVELS
If you want to challenge other people to solve your level designs, you should
certify your levels as possible. To do this you must play the level and complete it
without losing any lives! Do this with all your levels. If a level is not certified
as possible, then a warning message will appear on the status screen. Try creating
a new level. Then, while playing the level, press Enter to view your status.

RELEASING YOUR LEVEL DESIGNS ON THE INTERNET
I'd love to play other people level designs myself, and I was hoping to release
lots of level designs on my web page, so once you've designed 8 levels, certified
them as possible, and locked the levelset, email me with it, and I'll make it
available for downloading from my web page. (see section 8) Designing repton
puzzles is more challenging than solving them, and takes even longer. So far nobody
has taken up this challenge. Maybe I am the only one who is feindishly devious
enough to design these puzzles.

*********************************************************
 7  Trouble-shooting
*********************************************************

* I get a message saying 'Overflow'.
This is a problem which started cropping up on newer computers.
I think I've finally managed to fix it. If you download the latest release
from the website (see below) it should work. Let me know if it still gives this
error. The reason for the error was that I made repton do some speed callibrating,
so that the game plays at the same speed on all processors, but on the new faster
processors the numbers got too big... Sorry that's not very interesting is it?

* I get a message mentioning 'VBrun300.DLL' or 'GRID.VBX':
These are files which need to be added to your windows/system folder. These two
files are in the Repton 3  folder. Try copying them to your windows/system folder.
If you dont have the files try reinstalling, or downloading it all again.
Note that the file 'VBRUN300.DLL' may be hidden. To show the file...  go to the
filer window. On the 'view' menu choose 'options'.  Move across to the 'View' tab
(at the top), and choose 'Show all files', say OK. Then choose 'Refresh' from the
'View' menu.

* The window is too small!
I made it that way, to be cute, but I was forgetting that on some monitors it'll
really diddy! Sorry. You'll just have to temporarily crank down your windows
resolution. Go  to start menu, Settings, Control Panel, Display. Then accross to
the 'Settings' tab (at the top). Then there's a sliding control for the desktop
size. Make it smaller.

* It's hard to see some of the graphics
Adjust your monitors brightness and contrast, so that you can see the dark blue
colour of the wall blocks. Also read the one above about window size.

* I get the message 'Path not found!' or...
* When I click play, I get a blank map with just a timebomb to my right, and
nothing else.
This happens if it fails to load the default levelset file 'Easy.rls'. The folder
'LevelSet' should be alongside 'Repton3.exe'. In this folder there should be a
file 'Easy.rls'. If not, try reinstalling, or downloading it all again. Note that
when you extract the 'repton.zip' file, using WinZip, the 'use folder names' option
should be ticked (you must keep the directory structure) 

* It does freaky things when I run it using windows 3.x
Yeah I know. You need to windows 95/98/NT to run it.  Sorry :-)

* When I save a levelset, then reload it, the levels appear missaligned.
This means your levelset file is corrupted, so there's some extra bytes, or some
missing bytes somewhere. This will occur occasionally if you are using the first
release March 1999 A. The bug is fixed in later releases (let me know if it occurs
with later releases). Contact me, if you need me to uncurrupt your file.

* Some of the levels seem to be impossible
If you are playing the standard levelsets 'Easy.rls' or 'Main.rls', then all the
levels ARE possible! You're doing it wrong! When playing other levelsets, you
should check if the level is possible, before trying to complete it. Press Enter
while you're playing. If there is a WARNING message at the bottom of the screen,
then the levelset the levelset has not been certified as possible, by the person
who made it, and so if you manage to complete you'll be the first person to have
done so! (and in fact it's probably not possible) If you get stuck on the 'Easy'
levelset, you could try loading a different levelset, although 'Main.rls' is much
harder. 

* Other problems
Report to Harry (see section 8 for contact details)

*********************************************************
 8  The Repton 3 web page
*********************************************************

harrywood.co.uk/repton3

Above is the URL for my repton3 website. I've been moving it around a lot
but hopefully this is where it will stay now.

Anyway if you can find the website, you can:

- Download the latest release of Repton 3.
- Read this readme file all over again!
- email me to make your own level designs available here!
 

My email address is:

repton3@harrywood.co.uk

Please email with:
- Your new repton levelset designs
- Comments about Repton 3
- Problems you're having with Repton 3
- Comments about life in general
- Problems you're having with life in general
- Offers of highly paid programming jobs
- or all of the above.
