____ __ __ / __/______ __ _ / // /__ _______ / _// __/ _ \/ ' \ / _ / -_) __/ -_) /_/ /_/ \___/_/_/_/ /_//_/\__/_/ \__/ __ ______ _ __ / /____ / __/ /____ _______ (_) /___ __ / __/ _ \ / _// __/ -_) __/ _ \/ / __/ // / \__/\___/ /___/\__/\__/_/ /_//_/_/\__/\_, / .---------------------------------------------------/___/--------------------. | A quick-start guide to 'From Here to Eternity' By zERO rEADER | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | WHAT IS IT? | | | | From Here to Eternity (FHTE) is a modern BBS door game in the tradition of | | Sierra games, text adventures, and classic BBS doors such as Legend of the | | Red Dragon. I've enjoyed this game so much since I added it to my BBS via | | the Black Country Rock Games Server, so I thought I'd take a moment to | | create a quick-start guide in hopes more people will join the game. | | | | The game is beautifully designed by Dark Rebellion, sysop of Bit Sunrise | | BBS (bitsunrise.com), and features great art from Luciano of Blocktronics. | | Half the fun of the game is uncovering the ANSI splash screens and | | deciphering the pop culture references. | | | | The object of FHTE is to be the first player to collect 20 "artifacts" | | hidden throughout the game world. The world is persistent, so if your | | actions cause the world to change, it will affect other players also. If | | another player has an artifact, you can challenge that player to a PVP | | battle and steal their artifacts. This adds an element of danger (or | | perhaps strategy) to the game and fosters competitive gameplay. | | | | | | I WANT TO PLAY NOW! | | | | Telnet to bitsunrise.com, or (shameless plug) my BBS, Alcoholiday at | | alco.bbs.io, or any other system that carries the BCR Games Server or | | the DoorParty Game Server. | | | | | | ABOUT THIS GUIDE | | | | This is a "SPOILER-FREE" guide to the game, based on my own experiences | | playing since FHTE launched in Oct. 2015. It won't reveal any answers | | to puzzles or quests, but rather contains some advice for how to play | | the game efficiently for maximum fun. | | | | | | ON WITH THE GUIDE! | | | | * MAP OUT THE WORLD: Your character will be weak to start with, so I | | advise just roaming around the game world to learn the lay of the land, | | killing attackers that randomly spawn along the way. Learn where healers | | are. You aren't likely to die just wandering around fighting, and you'll | | gain experience and more health with each monster you kill. | | | | I actually have a spreadsheet in which I've mapped out the game tiles. | | There is an area later in the game that reveals an "incomplete" map, but | | I prefer my spreadsheet! | | | | | | * MAKE NOTES: You will receive clues from NPCs and from various other | | sources in the game world. I copy and paste clues from my terminal into | | a text file. The clues are not the same from game to game or player to | | player, so maintaining a journal of clues is essential. | | | | | | * STAY ALIVE: If you've been mapping out the game world, you've probably | | discovered several places where healers spawn. Be on the lookout for a | | gypsy in a caravan. He can help you tremendously. There is also a | | friendly witch in a cave who can make you healing potions infinitely, | | provided you can solve her puzzles. You have been taking notes right? | | | | | | * GET TRAINING EACH DAY: When you enter the game world, go east and get | | trained by Tic-Tok the Robot. This is helpful in the beginning, but as | | your character becomes more powerful, he will be unable to help you | | further. | | | | | | * GRINDING: Provided you can keep yourself alive via the means I've | | outlined above, you can "grind" up your experience and health simply by | | running around the game world and killing monsters. Once your health is | | above 5,000, you can start wreaking serious havoc on the realm. I'd | | suggest having at least 10K health before facing any serious area | | bosses, although you can get lucky, or perhaps have the proper item | | on-hand to help you through a battle. | | | | | | * REVISIT AREAS, even if you think you've cleared them. You may receive | | more helpful items or discover a cranny you missed. I've uncovered some | | artifacts by making a second pass through certain areas I thought I'd | | finished. | | | | | | * INTERNET RESEARCH. Most of the answers you need to complete the puzzles | | are in the game world, but there has been a time or two when I've found | | a quick Google search helpful. | | | | | | * GET HELP IN-GAME. Go north from the home tile to speak with The | | Colonel. Issue the command "help" to him repeatedly for tips and tricks. | | Note, some of his speech will be highlighted. These are also keywords | | you can ask him about. | | | | | | * CERTAIN PORTIONS of the game are inaccessible unless you approach them | | at a particular time of day. For instance, you can't use the telescope | | until it gets dark. Be advised, the server is located on the West Coast | | of the U.S., so it's on Pacific time, (GMT -8). Weather, Moon phase and | | astrological events are also rumored to affect the game world! | | | | | | * JUMP ONBOARD when the game starts fresh. If you enter the world and | | most of the artifacts are already claimed by other players, you might | | find there is little for you to do. Get in early and take control. | | | | | | * WATCH OUT for Sysop Jazper! | | | | | | * FIRST STEPS: Locate "The Goonies" northwest of the starting zone. Play | | dice with them until you win (It may take several tries). If you prove | | yourself cool enough to hang with them, they will reveal a nearby | | location to investigate. | | | | | | * MUSIC FOR GAMING: "Countach" by Shooter Jennings | | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | QUESTIONS: Leave me feedback on my board, alco.bbs.io, or send me netmail, | | Zero Reader @ 21:1/113 (fsxNet) or 46:1/166 (AgoraNet) | | | | I'd like to thank Dark Rebellion for creating this awesome game, and for | | running the BCR Games Server. | | | | Oh, and while your on the BCR server, be sure to play his latest game, | | FREEDOM TRAIN, an insane, post-apocalyptic throw-down! | | | `----------------------------------------------------------------------------'