Player's Manual

Topics covered in this section:

Introduction
The Player Character
The Display
Moving and Attacking
Interaction with Items
Command Overview

This Player's Manual is still very much under construction.

All references to key commands are based on the default key mapping. If somebody has made changes to that, the commands listed below may be different in your setup.

Introduction

The Player Character

The Display

Click on the screen elements that you want to learn more about, or read on below.

The Level Map

The map area usually takes up the upper part of the game display. The level is shown in a two-dimensional projection with the eye of the observer floating perpendicular to the ground. Only those parts of the current level that you've already explored are displayed; unexplored parts are all black. So, in the example above, only two rooms and one hallway have been visited yet.

Some areas of the map are shaded in a dark grey colour. These areas have been previously explored by you, but are currently out of your field of view. You won't be able to notice changes to these areas, so don't expect to find a previously explored room in exactly the same state as you've left it.

When playing the game, you will notice a bright block which is superimposed over another screen character, most usually over the character @. On many systems, this block is also blinking or, as in the example, a box around the character. This block is called the cursor; it is usually used to indicate the position of your game character on the current level. Sometimes it is also used for purposes such as aiming.

Shuruppak uses text characters as symbols for features, creatures and objects of the game world. In the example image, the following characters are used:

`.`	The dungeon floor. Most creatures can move across floor without any problems.
`#`	A section of a wall. Walls can't be passed by normal creatures, including you.
`/`	An open door. When they are opened, doors are treated just like sections of floor.
`>`	A staircase leading downwards. This is the point where you've entered the level.
`[`	A piece of armour, probably made of leather because of the brown colour.
`f`	A green fungus. It looks dangerous, but luckily is firmly stuck to the floor.
`r`	A rat. The amount of aggression that this little rodent is showing is startling.
`j`	A slime blob. It might turn out to be difficult to destroy this amorpheous mass of slime.
`@`	You, the adventurer. Incidentally, the standard key to to access the character screen is also `'@'`.

Fortunately, you don't have to learn all characters used in the game from a manual. There are two game commands that help you with symbols you're not familiar with. These commands are also useful for people who use screen readers or other displays for the blind.

The Currently Visible Features command is accessed by 'X'. It will display a list of all currently visible creatures, items, and special dungeon features such as stairs. Each entry in the list is preceded by the coordinates of the entry on the screen. This feature may be helpful to blind players.

The Examine Surroundings command is accessible by pressing 'x'. When you move the cursor by pressing the direction keys, information on the tile the cursor is currently located at is displayed in the message area. If there is a longer description available for something in the current position, press 'M' to display this additional information.

The Message Area

The actions that take place each turn in Shuruppak are described in the message area (provided that you notice them, of course). This area is cleared after every turn, so only the newest messages are visible. However, there is a command to review past messages ('m').

In the example above, the message area informs you that your last attack has successfully hit the rat. The slime blob has failed to hit you, but the rat has managed to retaliate.

The Status Line

The lowest line of the screen is used to display your character's status, as well as some game information.

`floor`	The type of ground you're currently standing on. This may change as you move through the dungeons.
`HP: 10`	The amount of health points that your character has left. Once this figure drops down to zero, you will lose the game. Lost health points may not be regained without special means.
`DP: 46%`	The percentage of defense points that are left until your character receives an injury. Defense points are decreased by receiving hits from enemies or taking other types of wounds. Contrary to health points, defense points are quickly restored if you wait for some turns (the wait keys are `'5'` and `'.'`). The maximum amount is based on your current health points; so if you're on low health, you also have fewer defense points available.
`[ **** ]`	A gauge of the noise that was created during the last turn. No asterisk means no audible noise, a full line of asterisks means a very loud noise (yelling, for example, is rather loud, as you can see if you press 'Y'). Some enemies will be alerted by sounds, so it might be a good idea to watch the volume of noise you produce. You might even succeed in using it to your advantage.
`* 9 *`	Your current visibility. This figure ranges from 0 (almost invisible) up to 9 (full visibility). It is determined by the amount of shadows around you. Standing close to walls helps you to keep visiblity low, but if you use a light source, you will always be visible to everyone with eyes.
`Turns: 244`	The number of turns you've spent in this game.

Moving and Attacking

Interaction with Items

Command Overview

When inside of the game, press '?' to get a list of available keyboard commands.