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This document is provided b for your playing pleasure. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% % ARCHON DOCUMENTATION % %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= INTRODUCTION =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE GAME. ARCHON depicts the eternal struggle between Light and Darkness as a contest of action and stategy between opposing forces wrought from myth and legend. The Light Side and the Dark Side are equal in number, balanced in strength, but not identical. Their aim, however, is the same: conquest of the five "power points" or the elimination of the opposite side. ICONS. The various fantastic creatures at your command are represented by specific images - "icons" - stylized pictures of knights, goblins, manticores, and the like. There are 18 icons - a total of eight different kinds on each side. None of yours are identical to any of the icons on the other side. THE TWO SCREENS. ARCHON is played on two screens. On one - the strategy screen - you and your opponent take turns maneuvering your icons into favorable positions. When you place an icon on a square already occupied by one of your opponent's icons, the game shifts temporarily to the second display, the combat arena. HOSTILITIES. In old-fashioned and - admit it - somewhat dull board games (chess, backgammon, and their ilk), the "defending" piece gets removed quietly from the board, and the "attacker" wins the "battle" - and the square -without a blow being struck. In ARCHON, we do not allow such docility, such rank defeatism on the part of the defender. No! If you want that square, you have to fight for it! When you try to occupy a square held by the enemy, the disputed square expands to fill the entire screen ... and then, in the words of a certain orange-skinned monster of comic-book fame, "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!!!" THE LUMINOSITY CYCLE. ARCHON's strategy screen *changes*. While some squares are always white or always black, others - "luminance" squares - vary in brightness throughout the game in a simple pattern: black-dark-barely dark-barely light-light-white... and reverse. Back and forth, throughout the game, the cycle continues, the luminance shifting after every other turn. Your fortunes in the game tend to ebb and flow with the luminosity cycle. This is because icons of the Light Side are harder to defeat on light squares than on dark ones. conversely, DarkSide icons are stronger on dark squares and weakest on white ones. POWER POINTS. The five "power points" are indicated on the screen by flashing red symbols. Icons on power points heal faster than usual and are protected from the effects of magic spells. If your icons occupy all five power points, you win the game. MOVEMENT. If the hollow square or "frame" is on your side, it's your turn. (Simple, eh?) Use your joystick to move the frame atop the icon you want. Once you push the button to confirm your choice, you >must move that icon somewhere<. (If an icon has nowhere to go, the computer will not allow you to "pick it up".) Once you move the icon to its destination (again with the joystick), push the button again, and the obedient image will freeze in place. Movement comes in three flavors: ground, fly, and teleport. Ground movers cannot move through occupied squares; fliers are restricted only in where they land. fliers can also move diagonally; ground icons cannot. Only the Wizard and the Sorceress can teleport, but for practical purposes you can think of them as fliers in disguise. On any turn, you can move an icon as far as its range allows in any direction or comtination of directions. It can stop on any square not already occupied by one of your own icons. Note: If you change your mind while maneuvering a ground mover, you must backtrack. Otherwise, the computer, being very literal-minded, will assume you are trying to extend your move unlawfully. COMBAT. Action in the combat arena is immediate and simultaneous; there is no taking turns. Joysticks direct movement of the icons. Pressing the button initiates an attack - swinging a sword, firing an arrow, casting a fireball - in the direction the joystick is pointed. You can attack or move in any of eight directions: up, down, left, right, and the four diagonals. Important: your icon cannot move while the button is pressed. Combat is of three general types. Knights and Goblins are sword-swingers and club-wielders; they must be very near an opponent to inflict damage. The Banshee and the Phoenix inflict damage in a circular area around themselves; the longer the opposing icon is in that circle, the greater the damage it sustains. Such "area" attacks need not be aimed. All the other icons "throw" missiles of some sort and can, consequently, do damage from a considerable distance. See the Quick Reference Card for a detailed comparison of the speed of and damage done by the different missiles. THE ATTACK INTERVAL. while combat is fast and furious, you can't just fire away as fast as your finger twitches. It takes a moment to raise a sword into position to strike; longer to conjure even a fast fireball; and the better part of two whole seconds (!) to rip a boulder out of the ground and lift it high enough to throw. Pushing the button before your icon is ready to strike will accomplish nothing - except to keep your icon from moving. At the exact instant you can launch another attack, the computer rings a bell - a high note for the Light Side, and lower one for the Dark Side - to let you know. BARRIERS. The obstacles or barriers in the arena go through luminosity cycles of their own. Be careful; they can be as tricky as an opponent! Normally, a barrier is impenetrable. However, when its cycle changes a barrier's luminosity to exactly match the color of the background, the barrier disappears ... for a few seconds. You can walk over it, shoot past it, anything. It's gone. Furthermore, for a few seconds before a barrier vanishes and after it reappears, you can walk or fire a missile through it, but you (or the missile) will be slowed down. If this seems at all confusing, just remember that the more solid a barrier looks, the more solid it is. If you have any doubts, avoid the barriers entirely - and get out of the way of oncoming missiles. LIFE, DEATH, AND WOUNDS. The "lifelines" at either end of the arena indicate the current lifespan of the two battling icons. When an icon is wounded, its matching lifeline is reduced in proportion to the severity of the wound. When its lifeline is gone, the icon is "dead" and combat is over. A victorious icon returns to the strategy screen in control of the disputed square. However, a seriously wounded icon is easier to defeat the next time it is forced to fight. Even the strongest icon can be worn down by waves of attackers. On the strategy screen, wounded icons are healed slowly by the simple passage of time; more quickly, by resting on a power point; or instantly and completely, by a Heal spell. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ARCHON - MAGIC SPELLS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Magic is arguably the most significant strategic element of ARCHON. Only the two mages - the Wizard and the Sorceress - can cast spells, and each mage can cast each spell only once. While the spells are powerful, they have one drawback; each spell weakens the mage casting it, leaving that mage progressively less able to defend itself against direct attack. A spell may be cast instead of a regular move on the strategy screen. Simply move the frame atop your mage, as if you were going to move it. Push the button, and the usual message appears. Without moving the icon, however, just push the button again, and you will get a new message: SELECT YOUR SPELL." Push the joystick up or down to survey the spells still available, and push the button when you find the one you want. If further actions on your part are required, additional messages will direct you appropriately. Remember that you can't conjure the same spell more than once, and you can't cast a spell against power points or icons on them. Details are given below. -------------------- TELEPORT EFFECT: This spell moves-teleports-any one of your icons any distance from one square on the strategy screen to another. ACTIONS REQUIRED: After selecting the spell, move the frame to the icon you want; push the button; and then move the icon to its destination-just as if it were a normal move. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot move an enemy icon. You cannot move onto a square already occupied by one of your own icons (as usual). You cannot teleport onto or off a power point. You cannot teleport an imprisoned icon. (See IMPRISON.) ADDITIONAL NOTES: Do not confuse this spell with a mage's normal three-square movement. That is minor magic, on the same order as casting fireballs, and is not bound by the restrictions of the seven major spells. ------------ HEAL EFFECT: This spell instantly heals any icon of all wounds it has sustained in the cambat arena. ACTIONS REQUIRED: After selecting the spell, move the frame to the wounded icon, and push the button. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot heal an icon resting on a power point. You can "heal" an already healthy icon, but why bother? ------------ SHIFT TIME EFFECT: Two effects are possible. Most often, the spell reverses the flow of time: i.e., the direction of the luminosity cycle of the delta squares. Squares that had been growing gradually darker would now grow lighter-until the cycle peaked. However, if the spell is cast when the luminosity cycle is at either peak, Shift Time will cause the cycle to shift abruptly to the opposite extreme (from black to white, or vice versa). ACTIONS REQUIRED: None after selecting the spell. RESTRICTIONS: None. -------------- EXCHANGE EFFECT: This spell causes any two icons on the strategy screen to trade places. ACTIONS REQUIRED: Move the frame to one of the icons you wis h to transpose, and push the button. Then do the same to the other icon. RESTRICTIONS: Neither icon can be imprisoned or on a power point. -------------- SUMMON ELEMENTAL EFFECT: This spell allows you to attack any enemy icon with a new, temporary icon representing one of four elementals-animated spirits of the ancient elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Combat is conducted in the combat arena as usual, except that the elemental vanishes after the battle, win or lose. ACTIONS REQUIRED: Once the spell is selected and the elemental appears on your side of the strategy screen, move it to the icon you wish to attack. In the combat arena, direct the elemental just as you would any other icon. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot attack an icon on a power point. You cannot direct the elemental to a vacant square or one occupied by one of your own icons. You cannot choose which elemental will respond to your summons. ------------- REVIVE EFFECT: This spell restores to the game an icon previously lost in combat. ACTIONS REQUIRED: the procedure is similar to a Teleport spell or a normal move, except that the revived icon comes from a special display by the side of the strategy screen, and its destination must be a vacant square next to the mage. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot "revive" an icon not already dead. One of the squares adjoining your mage must be vacant, and you must put the revived icon on one of those vacant squares. ------------ IMPRISON EFFECT: This spell keeps an icon on the strategy screen from leaving its square. The icon can fight its attackers in the combat arena, but it cannot be moved off its square. Important: an imprisoned mage cannot cast spells! Imprisonment is temporary. A Dark Side icon would remain imprisoned until the delta squares turn black; a Light Side icon would be freed when delta squares turn white. ACTIONS REQUIRED: Once the spell is cast, move the frame to the target icon, and push the button. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot imprison an icon on a power point. You cannot imprison any icon at a time when the luminosity cycle would automatically free it. --------------- CEASE CONJURING This is not a spell; it is a way to avoid casting a spell if you miscalculate. If you change your mind while selecting a spell, or if the spell you want is unavailable or canceled, you may push the button when CEASE CONJURING is displayed. This will allow you to start your turn over. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ARCHON - THE OPPOSING FORCES =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= LIGHT SIDE WIZARD. An ancient man of vast supernatural power, the WIZARD is the leader of the Light Side. In battle, the Wizard casts devastating balls of fire. He rarely ventures from the safety of his home power point, however, and is more commonly used to cast on of the seven spells. UNICORN. Resembling a great white horse with the tail of a lion and a sharp, spiral horn set at its brow, the UNICORN is swift and agile. The beautiful creature can fire a blinding bolt of energy from its magical horn. ARCHERS. The ARCHERS are fearless Amazon warriors of legendary skill with their fine whitewood bows. They are endowed with magical quivers that can never be emptied. GOLEM. A GOLEM is an artificial being, shaped from stone and gleaming metal, and animated by magic. Roughly man-shaped, it is huge, twice the height of a man. Its weapons are boulders ripped from the earth and hurled with devastating force. VALKYRIES. VALKYRIES are beauteous blonde war maidens from the legions of Valhalla. Each of these ferocious females is endowed with two great magical gifts: first, the ability to stride the air as if it were solid ground; and, second, an enchanted spear, which, when thrown, returns to her hand of its own accord. DJINNI. The DJINNI is a magical being from another dimension, a plane of tempest and storm. In form he is a huge superbly muscled man whose body is partly flesh and partly swirling currents of air. A cousin to the wind itself, the Djinni can raise a smnall tornado with a gesture and control it with a thought. PHOENIX. The PHOENIX is a flaming bird of immense size and power. In battle it can explode into a seething mass of fire, scorching anyone on the perimeter of the blaze and burning severly any enemy unfortunate enough to be caught near the incandescent core. Not only is the Phoenix unscathed by its own flames, but, while undergoing its fiery metamorphosis, it cannot be harmed by any attack known. KNIGHTS. The KNIGHTS are foot soldiers armed and armored against foes far larger than themselves. Although they cannot withstand more than one blow from many of their enemies, they need not be mere cannon (or dragon) fodder. Provided they are swift and clever, their speed of attack gives them a chance to survive and triumph. ------------------------- DARK SIDE SORCERESS. The equal of the old Wizrd only in power, the eternally young and ever beautiful SORCERESS is his counterpart in all ways. Her lightning bolts are swifter and surer than his fireballs, if a shade less potent. fierce in battle but safest on the black power point, she is most often used to cast the seven spells. BASILISK. The BASILISK is a small, crested reptile with the scaly body of a lizard and the bulbous, glowing eyes of a gorgon. Although it is relatively short-lived, the beast's quick movements and deadly glance make it a terrifying opponent. MANTICORE. The MANTICORE resembles a large, golden lion with a human face and a scorpion's thorny tail. This nasty appendage bristles with great quills like spikes, which the fell beast can fling over its head with surprising accuracy. TROLL. A dweller in caves and dark places, the misshapen TROLL is a shambling giant, dull but strong, clumsy but hard to slay. Like the Golem, if carries no ready-made weapons; instead, it seizes boulders, tree trunks-whatever comes to hand-and catapults the massive objects at its enemies. SHAPESHIFTER. The SHAPESHIFTER is a doppleganger, a demonic creature without true shape or form, save what it steals from its enemies. In battle it becomes the mirror image of its opponent, strongest on squares where its enemy is weakest, turning the enemy's powers against itself. It has no fixed lifespan; all wounds that do not prove fatal will heal as soon as it assumes a new form. DRAGON. The DRAGON, a monstrous, serpentine reptile, is without peer in the combat arena. One gout of its flaming breath will kill many creatures, and a second blast is almost always fatal. Highly mobile and very difficult to slay, its awesome powers make it second in value only to the Sorceress. BANSHEE. The BANSHEE is an undead spirit that feeds off the souls of her opponents, a ghastly apparition that attacks with her keening wail, draining the life from anyone in range of the sound (the shaded area around her). Prolonged exposure to the terrifying shriek can be fatal. GOBLINS. GOBLINS are hideous dwarves, twisted of limb and misshapen of feature, unfriendly and often violent. Their mutual antagonism is kept in check only by the powers of the Sorceress. On dark ground their gnarled clubs are more than a match for the swords of the Knights, and if well-directed they can bring down the most potent of enemies. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ARCHON QUICK REFERENCE CHART =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE LIGHT SIDE WIZARD MOVEMENT: Teleport-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Fireball ATTACK FORCE: Great ATTACK SPEED: Medium ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 UNICORN MOVEMENT: Ground-4 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Energy bolt ATTACK FORCE: Moderate ATTACK SPEED: Fast ATTACK INTERVAL: Short LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 ARCHER MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Arrow ATTACK FORCE: Minor ATTACK SPEED: Medium ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Short NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 GOLEM MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Slow ATTACK MODE: Boulder ATTACK FORCE: Great ATTACK SPEED: Slow ATTACK INTERVAL: Long LIFESPAN: Long NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 VALKYRIE MOVEMENT: Fly-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Magic spear ATTACK FORCE: Moderate ATTACK SPEED: Slow ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 DJINNI MOVEMENT: Fly3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Whirlwind ATTACK FORCE: Moderate ATTACK SPEED: Medium ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Long NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 PHOENIX MOVEMENT: Fly-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Fiery explosion ATTACK FORCE: Great ATTACK SPEED: Slow ATTACK INTERVAL: Long LIFESPAN: Long NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 KNIGHT MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Sword ATTACK FORCE: Minor ATTACK SPEED: Instant ATTACK INTERVAL: Very short LIFESPAN: Short NUMBER ON SIDE: 7 --------------------------------------------- THE DARK SIDE SORCERESS MOVEMENT: Teleport-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Lightning Bolt ATTACK FORCE: Moderate ATTACK SPEED: Fast ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 BASILISK MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Eye beam ATTACK FORCE: Great ATTACK SPEED: Fast ATTACK INTERVAL: Short LIFESPAN: Short NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 MANTICORE MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Tail spikes ATTACK FORCE: Minor ATTACK SPEED: Slow ATTACK INTERVAL: Average LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 TROLL MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Slow ATTACK MODE: Boulder ATTACK FORCE: Great ATTACK SPEED: Slow ATTACK INTERVAL: Long LIFESPAN: Long NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 SHAPESHIFTER MOVEMENT: Fly-5 SPEED: Varies FORCE: Varies ATTACK SPEED: Varies ATTACK INTERVAL: Varies LIFESPAN: Unknown NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 DRAGON MOVEMENT: Fly-4 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Fiery breath ATTACK FORCE: Very great ATTACK SPEED: Medium ATTACK INTERVAL: Long LIFESPAN: Very long NUMBER ON SIDE: 1 BANSHEE MOVEMENT: Fly-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACKMODE: Scream ATTACK FORCE: Moderate ATTACK SPEED: Instant ATTACK INTERVAL: Long LIFESPAN: Average NUMBER ON SIDE: 2 GOBLIN MOVEMENT: Ground-3 SPEED: Normal ATTACK MODE: Club ATTACK FORCE: Minor ATTACK SPEED: Instant ATTACK INTERVAL: Very short LIFESPAN: Short NUMBER ON SIDE: 7 ----------------------------------------------- Enjoy!