THE PYROTO MOUNTAIN BBS & GAMING SYSTEM
Release: C2.03
Operator's Manual
Spring 1991 Edition
P I N N A C L E S O F T W A R E
Post Office Box 714, Airport Road
Swanton, Vermont, U.S.A., 05488
(514) 345-9578
NOTICES
This publication could include technical inaccuracies or typographical
errors. The software product is provided "as is" with no guarantees or
warranties express or implied.
Requests for copies of this product and for technical information about the
system should be made to your authorized Pyroto dealer or to the address
indicated in the licensing agreement.
Version C2 of the Pyroto program is distributed as "Shareware". You may try
the program out at no charge, but if after 30 days you are still using it,
you must pay a registration fee of $45 ($35 if you have registered another
Pinnacle Software product). Turbo Pascal source code is available to
registered users, for $55.
Version C2 of Pyroto Mountain product is Copyright (C) 1988 by Pinnacle
Software.
Upgrades and Support
Registered users of this product will be informed of new releases, major
bugs, etc. In the past, it has been the policy of Pinnacle Software to offer
upgrades at reduced prices.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Upgrades and Support
WHAT IS PYROTO MOUNTAIN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introducing TSOTL
Your Role as Mediator
Scary Things and Crafty People
Why People Love Pyroto
Ready to Start?
INSTALLING PYROTO MOUNTAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ultra-Quick Install
What You Need
Basic Steps
STEP 1. Make a Copy of the Packaged Diskette
STEP 2. Prepare a Place for the Files to Go
STEP 3. Put the Files Where They Belong
STEP 4. Updating the CONFIG.SYS File
STEP 5. Determine What Kind of Mountain You Will Run
STEP 6. Select Your Spell Specifications
STEP 7. Customize Pyroto According to Your Needs
STEP 8. Run a Local Test
STEP 9. Run a Remote Test
TROUBLE-SHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Problem 1. Installer Error
Problem 2. Modem Configuration
Problem 3. File Problem
Problem 4. Pyroto Bug
Problem 5. Incompatible Hardware
BASIC WIZOPRY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Duties of the System Operator
Signing On Locally
Signing on as SERVANT OF TSOTL
Function Keys
Wizop Privileges
You Are Always In Control
WIZOPERATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Backups
User File Maintenance
Message File Maintenance
Question File Maintenance
Other Maintenance
WIZOP SPELLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sanctify
Close
Demote
Correct
Feed and Starve
Hurl
Inscribe
Listen
Manna
Steal
Probe
Change
Spells and Help
Observe
Omniview
Pyroto Utilities
THE IDEAL WIZOP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Impartiality
Silence
Tolerance
Imagination
How Much Presence?
Manna Sales
ZOMBIE-BUSTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Types of Zombies
General Principles
Initial Identification
Finding the Zombie-Master
Moving in for the Kill
Additional Tricks
Conclusion
THE WIZARD'S ASCENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
A Difficult Quest
Charge
Cloak
Timing
MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONAL NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Color
Baud-Rates
Gear Shift
Customization
LOGO.TXT; Other .TXT Files; SPELLS.DAT
Rating the Messages
Password Changes
The Status Line
Online Sanctification and Banishment
DENIZENS OF THE MOUNTAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
TSOTL
Wizop
Guardians
Midmanmo
Wizards
Seismoros
Elementals
Pronunciation Guide
NON-GAME AND DOOR OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Using Pyroto as a Regular BBS
Door Operation
APPENDIX A -- SUMMARY OF SPELLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Communication Spells
Climbing Spells
Assistance Spells
Information Spells
Attack Spells
Miscellaneous Spells
Wizop-Only Spells
APPENDIX B -- THE PYROTO PHILOSOPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
WHAT IS PYROTO MOUNTAIN?
Fantasy role-playing games are all the rage, these days. Pyroto takes the
concept one step further: a never-ending battle for domination of the
magic-laden slopes of a mystic Mountain. The players are locked in a
struggle to reach the Pyroto Pinnacle. Over the weeks and months, they rise
higher by answering the skill-testing questions posed by the Mountain's
extraordinary Guardians. As they climb, they gain the ability to cast new,
more powerful spells. But first, they have to learn how to use them! One
careless move can spell disaster!
Introducing TSOTL
Overlooking this combat is a benign, though sometimes impatient Spirit: The
Spirit Of The Land, known and respected as TSOTL. He (she? it?) listens in
on the telepathic bands and assesses the very words of the wizards. If you
speak well, you gain TSOTL's Esteem, without which you can not ascend to
higher levels of power.
Your Role as Mediator
You serve as the mediator between the wizards and TSOTL. In your position as
SERVANT OF TSOTL, you have power beyond the dreams of mortal wizards. How
you choose to use this power is up to you.
Scary Things and Crafty People
Other mysteries abound. Wizards try to fathom the nature of the gigantic
apparition known as The Seismoros Spirit. They repeatedly try new variations
with their spells, trying to find effective combinations. They go to
enormous lengths, seeking to earn TSOTL's Esteem, or to get more of that
all-important source of magical energy: Manna! (Not to be confused with the
term Mana, which is a different kind of magical energy not found or needed on
TSOTL's Mountain.)
The Pyroto Mountain BBS/Game System is played with passion. Be prepared to
have a magical battle erupting from your computer!
Why People Love Pyroto
Pyroto is a world unto itself. In this microcosm, the wizards
- Experiment with various philosophies and forms of government.
- Become familiar with the effects of aggression.
- Become familiar with the problems of peace.
- Experience the ecstasies and agonies of power.
- Send interesting messages in an effort to gain Esteem.
- Earn a position of real responsibility, in which they become an
important part of the online community.
Pyroto is much more than a game -- as any dedicated wizard will tell you. It
is an absorbing, fascinating experience.
Ready to Start?
If you're willing to dedicate your computer, your modem and some of your
time, you will be greatly rewarded. As SERVANT OF TSOTL, you can earn great
respect from the wizards, and learn much about human nature. Pyroto Mountain
is a challenge for all. May TSOTL guide you to great wisdom!
INSTALLING PYROTO MOUNTAIN
Ultra-Quick Install
NOTE: This ultra-quick install is for very experienced computer users only.
1. Copy the files to a directory on your hard disk named PYROTO.
2. Run PYCONFIG (do not skip this step!).
3. Start up Pyroto from the DOS prompt as PYROTO LOCAL to test.
4. Start up Pyroto from the DOS prompt as PYROTO to run with the modem.
5. If you have problems, see the trouble-shooting section of this manual.
What You Need
To run Pyroto Mountain, you need a PC-compatible computer with at least 256K
of RAM, 2 floppy disk drives (or a hard disk) and a "smart" modem. If you
don't have a smart modem, you can still run Pyroto in "local" mode.
Pyroto will run on MS- or PC-DOS Version 2.00 and higher.
Basic Steps
What follows is a brief description. More details are given later.
To get Pyroto running on your system, you must follow these steps:
1. Make a backup copy of the original diskette.
2. Prepare a destination for the Pyroto files.
A. If using a hard disk, this means creating a directory, usually
named PYROTO.
B. If using floppies, this means formatting two diskettes -- one
with DOS and one without.
3. Copy the necessary files from the original diskette to their proper
place (on a hard disk or a floppy).
4. Prepare your system for Pyroto by placing a FILES=20 statement in
your CONFIG.SYS file.
5. Determine what kind of system you are planning to run. Stand-alone
game (the usual choice), stand-alone non-game BBS, or door game.
6. Select your spell specifications. If you're running a stand-alone
game, you can skip this step.
7. Configure Pyroto to work according to your wants and needs. The
configuration section of the HELP program helps you do this.
8. Run a local test. The PYROTO LOCAL command will do this.
9. Run a remote (modem) test. The PYROTO command does this.
STEP 1. Make a Copy of the Packaged Diskette
1. Insert the original diskette into your A: drive.
2. Enter the following DOS command:
COPY A:*.* B:*.*
3. Prepare a label, reading BACKUP OF ORIGINAL PYROTO DISKETTE and affix
this to the diskette from the B: drive.
STEP 2. Prepare a Place for the Files to Go
FLOPPY DISK USER
1. Format a diskette with DOS and label this PYROTO A.
2. Format a diskette without DOS and label this PYROTO B.
HARD DISK USER
1. Change to the root directory of your hard disk.
2. Enter the command MD PYROTO to create a directory.
STEP 3. Put the Files Where They Belong
FLOPPY DISK USER
1. With the original diskette in the A: drive, log on to the A:
drive and enter the PYINST command.
2. After PYINST is finished, place the diskette marked PYROTO A
in the A: drive and the PYROTO B diskette in the B: drive.
HARD DISK USER
1. With the original diskette in the A: drive, change to the
PYROTO directory of your hard disk.
2. Enter the following DOS command:
COPY A:*.*
STEP 4. Updating the CONFIG.SYS File
Pyroto keeps quite a few files open at once, so you will have to use a text
editor (such as the Turbo Pascal editor, or Wordstar in non-document mode) to
modify or create a file called CONFIG.SYS.
FLOPPY DISK USER: The file will go on your PYROTO A diskette.
HARD DISK USER: The file will go in your root directory (C:\ usually).
The file should contain the following lines:
FILES=20
BUFFERS=20
In order for the CONFIG.SYS information to take effect, you must boot from a
disk containing that file. Remember: the file is read when you boot.
Pyroto won't work if you boot from a floppy that doesn't have the proper
CONFIG.SYS file.
For more information about CONFIG.SYS, see your DOS manual.
STEP 5. Determine What Kind of Mountain You Will Run
Pyroto can be configured in many different ways. This package includes three
popular set-ups, but you may design your own when you're familiar with the
system. For now, choose one of the following:
Stand-alone game: This is the usual choice: people will dial into your
computer to play the Pyroto Mountain game.
Non-Game BBS: People will dial in to your computer to use a pure mess-
age base with no "game" aspects. This provides a unique,
powerful messaging system that retains the same magical
Pyrotian atmosphere that people enjoy so much.
Door: This runs the game as an option on another BBS, such as
RBBS or PC-Board. This lets you give your users upload
and download capability and all the other features of
those BBS's, in addition to the great game of Pyroto.
The Non-Game BBS and the Door versions of Pyroto are described in more detail
later in this manual. When in doubt, choose the stand-alone game.
STEP 6. Select Your Spell Specifications
FLOPPY DISK USER: You should now be logged on to the A: drive.
HARD DISK USER: You should now be in your PYROTO directory.
If you're in a hurry to get Pyroto running, you can skip this step and come
back to it later.
Type this command: DIR SPELLS.*
There are four SPELLS files. Three of these (.GAM .BBS and .DOR) are
samples, while the .DAT is the actual data file used by Pyroto. At install-
ation time, it contains a copy of the SPELLS.GAM file.
Your next command will depend on what kind of Pyroto you want.
Stand-alone game: COPY SPELLS.GAM SPELLS.DAT
Non-Game BBS: COPY SPELLS.BBS SPELLS.DAT
Door: COPY SPELLS.DOR SPELLS.DAT
FLOPPY DISK USER: Now that you've selected your spell specifications, you
can delete the GAM, BBS and DOR files to make room. If you are using 360K
diskettes, you will need to do this. Don't delete them if you haven't made a
backup diskette!
STEP 7. Customize Pyroto According to Your Needs
Enter the HELP command then select Setup and Configuration.
This will take you through all the steps needed to configure your system.
Select the "First-timers" checklist on the menu. After you've done that,
select the "Total Configuration" option. This must be run in its entirety
before you try to run Pyroto.
FLOPPY DISK USER: Once you've configured your system, you can delete the
HELP.EXE and PYCONFIG.EXE file to make room. If you are using 360K disk-
ettes, you will need to do this. Don't delete it if you haven't made a
backup diskette!
STEP 8. Run a Local Test
Make sure your time and date are set correctly, then enter this command:
PYROTO LOCAL
This runs Pyroto without any reference to the modem. You can always run in
this mode, even if you're configured for Door operation.
The first time you run Pyroto, it will create some data files. This can take
a while -- especially on floppy-based systems. Once that is done (hopefully
without severe errors) you should see a large PYROTO logo, followed by the
words "Awaiting Visitor". This means everything is functioning properly.
If you'd like to sign on now, refer to the "Basic Wizopry" section of this
manual. If you want to move to the remote test, however, simply press the F9
key (explained later) to put Pyroto into "Shutdown Mode", and press the
RETURN key.
If you had any problems, refer to the "Trouble-Shooting" section of this
manual.
STEP 9. Run a Remote Test
If you're running a stand-alone game or non-game BBS, you can now start up
Pyroto with full modem support by typing the command:
PYROTO
If this gives you any problems, refer to the "Trouble-Shooting" section of
this manual.
If you're running Pyroto as a door, you should read the section entitled
"Door Operation" before proceeding. But if you feel confident that you
understand everything, you can try this command to make Pyroto start up in
Door mode:
PYROTO /DOOR///0/ (This opens a console-directed door)
or
PYROTO /DOOR/SAPPHIRE (Use this format for Pinnacle's Sapphire BBS)
This command should go into the "door batch file", as described in the host
BBS documentation. There is no need to install a carrier-watcher, such as
the WATCHDG product, since Pyroto does this for itself.
If you have problems, read the "Door Operation" section.
TROUBLE-SHOOTING
In order of likelihood, the most common problems are:
1. You omitted a step or misunderstood the instructions.
2. The modem isn't configured right.
3. There is a file problem of some kind.
4. Pyroto has a bug.
5. The hardware is incompatible.
Problem 1. Installer Error
We apologize for listing you as the most probable cause of the problem.
Since you have shown an interest in Pyroto, we are convinced that you are an
exceptionally bright person and probably the kind of person we'd like to call
our friend. However, most installation problems arise because the person
doing the installation has either skipped a step or didn't understand the
instructions.
Please review what you have done, or ask somebody else to re-read the
instructions. Statistically, this gives you the best chance of solving your
problem.
Problem 2. Modem Configuration
If you had a problem running Pyroto in LOCAL mode, then your problem wasn't
the modem; skip this section.
If you have a Hayes-compatible modem, with Hayes-compatible switches, make
sure your switches are set this way:
Switch 1 UP: Computer should use the Data Terminal Ready (DTR) line
I.E. Don't lock it "High" or "Low"
Switch 2 UP: Result codes sent as words
Switch 3 DOWN: Result codes are sent to the computer
Switch 4 UP: Echo incoming characters
Switch 5 DOWN: Don't answer incoming calls
Switch 6 UP: Computer should use the Carrier Detect (CD) line
The positions of switches 7 and 8 are variable, depending on your phone type
and your modem brand. Switch 7 will usually be UP for home installations.
Consult your modem's manual to determine what should be done with Switch 8.
Some modems don't have switches. The function of the switches is taken by
what are called "& commands". These make permanent changes to the modem's
configuration. You can add the appropriate commands to the Modem Initializa-
tion string (set via the HELP program's Configuration section). Typically,
adding &C1&D1 at the end of the standard string will configure your modem
correctly, but since all modems are different, you may have to refer to your
modem's manual to determine the right commands. The important thing is to
find the commands that will accomplish everything that the switches (de-
scribed above) were supposed to do.
If you have an external modem, are you sure that pins 8 and 20 are connected
from one end of the cable to the other? These are, respectively, the Carrier
Detect and Data Terminal Ready signals. Pyroto can operate without the DTR
signal (see the configuration section of HELP) but it's best to have both
signals available, if possible.
When Pyroto talks to the modem, you should see something like this:
Modem: ATS0=1 Response: OK
If you see something like this:
Modem: /////// Response: <TIME-OUT>
...it means Pyroto can't see your modem. Check in the configuration section
of HELP to make sure that you specified the write COM port. Or if you have
an internal modem, check that it's really on the COM port you think it's on.
If you see something like this:
Modem: /////// Response: OK
It means that your modem is seeing the command and accepting it, but not
echoing back the characters. Check your modem set-up string to make sure
that you've told the modem to echo. (Since the first command sets the echo,
sometimes it will be displayed as slashes; this is normal.)
If you see nothing whatsover -- not even "Modem:" -- it means that your modem
has the CD (Carrier Detect) line locked on. Pyroto won't try to send
commands to a modem that supposedly has a carrier there, since a carrier
means there's a caller at the other end. If your modem has dip-switches, set
them correctly (described above). If your modem uses & commands, you will
have to get into a terminal program (such as ProComm, Boyan, QModem, Telix,
etc.) and type the command to unlock the CD line. This command is typically
AT&C1.
Some other kinds of modem problems can be fixed by experimenting with the
modem settings configured by the configuration section of the HELP program.
By the way, some computers and modems just can't survive running 24 hours per
day. If your system occasionally crashes, try turning it off for an hour a
day. In the original Pyroto system, it was necessary to install a cooling
fan in the computer unit and remove the back panel of the modem. This solved
all over-heating problems.
Never overlook the obvious. If you have wierd modem problems, check your
cables and so on. Is everything plugged in solidly?
Problem 3. File Problem
If you suspect you have some kind of file problem, ask yourself these
questions:
1. Did you put FILES=20 in your CONFIG.SYS file? If you did this, you must
re-boot your system for this new value to take effect. (This CONFIG.SYS
oversight is the #1 cause of installation errors for Pyroto.)
2. Are all the required files are available to Pyroto? Did you specify the
correct drive and/or directory when providing the file path data with
the configuration section of the HELP program?
3. If you're using floppies, do you have the right floppies in the drives?
Neither should have a write-protect tab.
4. Is it possible you inadvertently deleted a file? If you did, get a new
copy from the installation disk.
If you get I/O errors, you can look them up in a copy of the Turbo Pascal
manual. This might help you solve difficult problems.
Problem 4. Pyroto Bug
This version of Pyroto was tested for over a year, but it's always possible
that we've missed a few bugs.
If you think you've spotted a bug in Pyroto, send us a letter describing the
problem. The most important thing you can do is make it happen on demand.
That is to say, before you report a problem, try to understand it well enough
to make it happen on purpose.
To assess a problem, we appreciate getting as much information as possible.
Send us information such as:
1. What do you think causes the problem?
2. How often does it happen?
3. Does it happen to everybody or just certain people?
4. Did it start just recently or has it always happened?
5. If it just started, what changed just before it started?
6. What have you done to try to solve the problem?
Print-outs and screen-dumps can be helpful in assessing a problem.
Problem 5. Incompatible Hardware
Pyroto has run problem-free on a wide variety of computers, with many
different brands of modem. However, it is possible that certain types of
modem (especially internal modems) might not behave properly. If you suspect
your modem, try borrowing another brand for a while.
If you figure out what is going wrong, let us know and we'll try to fix
Pyroto to work with your hardware.
BASIC WIZOPRY
Duties of the System Operator
The user-name for the system operator is: SERVANT OF TSOTL.
As the SERVANT OF TSOTL (which we'll simply call "The Wizop"), you have three
main duties:
1. Validation. When a wizard reaches level 15 and wishes to go higher, he
must have your approval to do so. At this point, you will have to phone
him up to make sure he's not a duplicate player (i.e. using more than
one name on the system). If everything checks out, you can use the
SANCTIFY spell (command) to let him rise further.
2. Intermediation. You may occasionally be called upon to settle disputes
within the context of the game, or to calm people down when they forget
that it is a game!
3. Question Screening. High-level wizards are permitted to contribute some
of their own "skill-testing questions", which are then used by the
automated Guardians. From time to time, you may have to use the CORRECT
spell (command) to fix up some of the questions.
That's all that you have to do to keep Pyroto running smoothly. Pyroto can
run unattended for weeks, since it doesn't require any regular "maintenance"
operations.
Understand, though, that even though Pyroto "runs itself" from a computer
software point of view, from a game point of view, you'll have to be there
during the first few weeks, to keep people's enthusiasm high. If you are
running Pyroto as a "door", it will not succeed unless you give it an initial
"push".
Three years of experience has taught us that once the game is underway, it
will be a smashing success -- literally "the talk of the town". But because
Pyroto is such a complex game, people need help and encouragement when the
game is just starting up.
In other words, Pyroto won't succeed unless you make it exciting.
Signing On Locally
When Pyroto is waiting for a caller, press any key. This will "wake up"
Pyroto and freeze out the modem by putting it "off-hook". You can then sign
on as if you'd dialed up.
If you don't want your phone off the hook, you can start up Pyroto in a
non-modem mode. At the DOS prompt, type:
PYROTO LOCAL
This completely ignores anything to do with the modem.
Signing on as SERVANT OF TSOTL
The information presented below is based on the default set-up. The "Ser-
vant's Word" should be modified (using the configuration section of the HELP
program) as soon as possible.
1. Wait until Pyroto is waiting for a visitor.
2. Press a key to wake it up.
3. When asked for your "name or nickname", press Space-bar, then Return.
4. When you're asked for the Servant's Word, type PINNSOFT then Return.
5. When you're asked for your private magic word, type .ABIA. then
Return.
Function Keys
The function keys are active whenever somebody is connected. Here's what
they do:
REGULAR FUNCTION KEYS
F 1 Function-key help.
F 2 Enable/disable Yoo-Hoo. Makes a noise when specified person shows
up.
F 3 Removes 10 minutes online-time from whoever is connected.
F 4 Adds on 10 minutes online-time to whoever is connected.
F 5 Enable/Disable the chat-with-wizop (CONTACT) spell.
F 6 Chat (CONTACT) with the person who is currently online.
F 7 Not used.
F 8 Not used.
F 9 Enable/disable shutdown. Pyroto closes when wizard disconnects.
F10 Wizop sound effects on/off.
ALT FUNCTION KEYS
F 5 Announce mode on/off. In announce mode, nobody can log on. All
people get to see is your sign-on logo. Handy for announcements.
See the LOGO.TXT file for more information.
F 6 Transmits a text file. You can use this to show somebody a file while
in chat mode. The file-transmission procedure is identical to the one
used for reading messages, so "privates" and "exclusives" are treated in
the usual way.
F 7 Instant validation. Permits whoever is online to rise past level
15.
F 8 Instant banishment. Removes whoever is online from validcaller
list.
F 9 Global prevention of any attempt to earn higher levels via ASCEND,
CLOAK or CHARGE spells. This is used to "freeze" the situation
when you're in a dilemma about how to solve a major game dispute.
It can also be used effectively during a fund-raising campaign.
F10 Instant Wizop key. Don't let visiting people touch this! In any
case, the computer squawks when Wizop mode is engaged.
Wizop Privileges
As wizop, some spells will behave differently for you than they will for
other wizards. You also have a few extra high-level spells. The Pyroto
program also protects you from suffering over-much from attacks from the
wizards. They are unable to prevent you from carrying on normal operations.
Note that you have no limit on your use of the all-important MANNA spell.
This is all explained in more detail in the "Wizop Spells" section of this
manual.
You Are Always In Control
Your keyboard is always active. If a user is online, you can type for him.
If your users complain of mysterious transmission noise during the night, put
your cat in another room.
WIZOPERATIONS
Backups
Perhaps the most important thing a wizop can do is make backups! There are
two files that should be backed up on a regular basis:
-- The user file USERLIST.DAT
-- The question file QUERIES.DAT
When making backups, it's a good idea to have a "father" and "grandfather"
copy. You can do this easily with a batch (.BAT) file. Here's a sample
batch file for backing up the user list:
ECHO OFF
ECHO Backing up Pyroto User List file
DEL USERBAKB.DAT
RENAME USERBAKA.DAT USERBAKB.DAT
COPY A:USERLIST.DAT USERBAKA.DAT
DIR USERBAK*.DAT
You may also wish to backup the messages, but this is not as critical. (If
you have the time, it is still a wise move.) If you decide to do this, the
files to be backed up are:
-- The message-pointer file MSGNEXT.DAT
-- The message-index file MSGTIMES.DAT
-- The B* files in the message directory (e.g. B0000001)
How often you do backups, and which files you backup, depends on how much
time you have to guarantee the integrity of your data. Remember, though:
the wizards might forgive you for losing a few of their messages, but they'll
get extremely annoyed if they lose a few dozen levels!
User File Maintenance
Don't worry about the user file. It takes care of itself. It will hold up
to 350 user names, which has proven to be more than enough for a good game.
(Multi-user "door" systems may decide to run multiple copies, but in our
experience, this has not been necessary.)
When a new user signs up, Pyroto looks for an inactive user to replace. The
higher the level of the wizard, the longer it takes for him to be considered
inactive. For example, a Level 21 wizard must make a call within 30 days,
while a Level 500 wizard can wait 70 days between calls.
Message File Maintenance
Don't worry about the message files. They take care of themselves. Pyroto
maintains 225 message files. When the last one is used up, the first one is
replaced, thereby "deleting" the oldest one.
All messages share the same space. There is no way to preserve a message
permanently. If you have something you want to keep available for a long
time, insert it into the ARTICLE.TXT file and tell the wizards to use the
ARTICLE command to review it.
If you really must get rid of a message (perhaps because it's offensive), use
the HURL command to throw it back to DATE:MINUTE 0:0. This will render it
inaccessible.
Question File Maintenance
Don't worry about the question list file. It takes care of itself. It will
hold up to 1000 questions. After that, it will randomly replace old ques-
tions with new ones. If you must fix something up, use the CORRECT spell.
This can also be used to replace bad questions with a good one of your own.
Other Maintenance
Don't worry about it. As you've probably already guessed, Pyroto was
designed to run with very little fuss and bother. Apart from the Validation,
Intermediation and Question Screening duties (see "BASIC WIZOPRY") and
regular backups, Pyroto takes care of itself.
WIZOP SPELLS
As noted in the installation documentation, certain spells have special
functions when used by the wizop.
Sanctify
The Sanctify spell is reserved solely for the wizop. This spell enables you
to modify a wizard's statistics. The following items may be modified:
-- Sanctification level (i.e. the maximum level to which he may climb)
-- TSOTL's Esteem (use this feature very sparingly)
-- Wizard name (i.e. alias or nick-name)
-- Real Name, Phone Number, Password
You can also use the Sanctify spell to remove a wizard from the Mountain. To
do this, "change" his wizard-name to "DELETE". In actual practice, it's
usually better to use a BANISH, though. Presumably, you are deleting the
wizard for a reason covered, in some way, by the RULES. If you BANISH him,
then INSCRIBE the reason, it will be more consistent with the game.
Close
The Close spell shuts down Pyroto. This is exactly the same as pressing the
F9 function key and typing BYE.
Demote
The wizop can completely reset somebody's level with the Demote spell.
Instead of simply dropping the wizard one level, the Demote spell will ask
you for a new level. This can be above or below his current level.
This feature should be used sparingly, to deal with problems. To stay within
the context of the game, you should avoid modifying peoples' levels.
Correct
As wizop, you can not only correct a question, but the answer, too. Both of
the inputs (for question and answer) will accept a Return. If you press
Return, the existing question (or answer) is left intact. If you re-type it,
though, it will be changed.
You can use this feature to keep the question list "fresh". When you notice
that a certain question is known by everybody, you can change it to a new
question. If you CORRECT two questions per day, your wizards will face a
constant challenge.
The question list can hold up to 1000 questions. After that, each new
SUGGEST will replace an existing question.
Feed and Starve
The wizop can check the level of Seismoros without actually giving him any
Manna. Thus, FEED 0 will report his level.
What does Seismoros do? When he is 100% energized (which takes 40,000
Manna), the Mountain undergoes an earthquake. All wizards are cast down to
the bottom. Higher wizards retain some of their levels, but it's unlikely
that a pentacenturion (Level 500 wizard) would end up much higher than Level
25.
Hurl
The Hurl spell is the correct way to get rid of a message. Don't use the DOS
DEL command to delete the message file.
The wizop and high-level wizards can select a time to which to HURL a
message. You can use this to cast a message out of the way, but still
accessible via REVIEW. Another typical use: you can cast a PROCLAIM forward
in time, so it will be seen each time a wizard logs on -- until the time of
the message is past. Repetitive PROCLAIMs are annoying, though, so reserve
this feature for only the most important announcements, like casually
mentioning that your birthday is coming up.
Inscribe
You should use the SCROLLS for most of your announcements. If a wizard
doesn't read them, it's his loss, not yours! (This one factor goes a long
way in separating the skilled wizards from the pretenders.) Of course, any
wizard of sufficient power can INSCRIBE, but it seems that people tend to
leave the SCROLLS to the wizop. There's nothing wrong with an occasional
PROCLAIMed reminder to read the SCROLLS.
Listen
High-level wizards can read the BESEECH messages. Most don't bother, because
BESEECHes tend to be rather dull. However, if you've had problems (such as
people giving out their phone number), modify the SPELLS.DAT file to place
the Listen spell at Level 500. Any spell at Level 500 can be used only by
somebody with wizop capability, and will not show up in the HELP or SPELLS
reports of regular wizards. (Pyroto will inform the BESEECHer that other
wizards can read the BESEECH.)
Manna
The wizop can use the Manna spell as often as necessary, and each times gets
5000 Manna.
It might be argued that a wizop should get a total recharge, or maybe not
even get charged Manna for his spells. However, that would subtly affect the
wizop's attitude, and make him too far removed from the wizards. It's better
to have a constant reminder that Manna isn't free.
Steal
It's improper for a wizop to use this command. Use DRAIN if you must take
away somebody's Manna. Besides, STEAL costs you Esteem.
Probe
The Probe spell will give you additional information about a wizard, such as
"relative esteem" (the basis from which Esteem is calculated). This enables
you to assess complaints such as "I never get any Esteem!" This complaint
sometimes arises due to the fact that Esteem reports are rounded.
Change
Unlike other wizards, you can CHANGE another person's messages. Try not to
abuse this privilege; it's very annoying to find your message has been
edited.
Spells and Help
These spells will report wizop spells. (i.e. Spells that are at Level 500 in
the SPELLS.DAT file.)
Observe
The Observe spell will report a few things that other wizards can't see, such
as failed logon attempts (in some versions), and failed file accesses.
Omniview
The wizop will see some additional information, including the phone number.
This gives you a quick (albeit not very rigourous) method for spotting
duplicate wizards. High-level wizards also see statistics about traffic and
message through-put.
Pyroto Utilities
For some helpful functions, such as question deletion and printing, and user-
list searching and printing, you will require the Pyroto Utilities package.
This may be purchased from Pinnacle Software -- though it is quite possible
to run a Mountain effectively without the utilities.
Included in these utilities are programs for "Zombie-Busting" operations.
(See the section entitled "Zombie-Busting".) The programs ANALOG and ANAUSER
read in the user log and user list respectively, and subject them to complex
analysis -- frequently uncovering some illegal activity!
THE IDEAL WIZOP
Every wizop has his own idea of how to run his Mountain, and it is not my
intention to tell you what to do on your own computer! However, some
guidelines may help you spot problems with your "style". These techniques
have been evolved on several Mountains, and have proved effective.
Impartiality
The wizop should not get involved. He must be considered above reproach. He
must not express opinions about who is "right" and "wrong", since these
things have no meaning to TSOTL. If you must express an opinion, you might
consider signing up as a pseudo-wizard. Rather like a "Servant's Assistant".
People will understand that you are making a separation between your personal
opinions and your duty as Servant. Needless to say, the pseudo-wizard can
not participate in anything tactically significant.
Silence
The less you say, the more people will enjoy your Mountain. It is very
tempting to comment on everything that happens, but you must realize that,
given your position, your every word will have an effect on what happens on
the Mountain.
A Mountain should not have to suffer a chatterbox wizop who posts a dozen
PROCLAIMs every day. In so doing, he tends to dominate the Mountain. This
detracts enormously from the fun of the game, since the wizards are constant-
ly reminded that they will never really control the Mountain.
Tolerance
Once some wizards have reached a level of power, they may implement some
rules that you don't happen to like. If you say, "You can't do that!" then
you're just proving that they never really had any power.
On the original Pyroto, there have been long reigns of terror. Sometimes,
the board would die out for a week. People would stay away, because the
people who were "in power" were making life miserable. But they always came
back.
Why? Because they knew that if they got into power, they'd have the freedom
to exercise that power. For some, this is the primary thrill of Pyroto.
During a "reign of terror", you can tell people, "I don't personally approve
of the policy, but TSOTL isn't doing anything about it. Just be patient.
TSOTL will deal with them, eventually."
Imagination
Some wizops have enhanced the imagery of the Mountain by creating some
additional characters. For example, on the original Pyroto, I created a
"Board of Directors of Pinnacle Software" and posted "Minutes of Meetings" in
the SCROLLS. These were enthusiastically received by the wizards and enabled
me to make a few dry comments without seeming partial. (I could do that by
having a non-Servant character make the observation.) If you'd like to
emulate this, the characters in my Board of Directors were:
Servant of TSOTL: Pious, harried Chairman of the Board.
Never in complete control of the meetings.
Danger Cabbage: Nervous, easily bored "Servant's servant".
A wimpy fellow who people squash for fun.
Llebpmac Mit: Artist, and guitarist, with wierd ideas.
Nobody listens to his songs, for good reason.
Iamnattsfa Neap: President of the Guardian's Union. Loves to
antagonize. Despises Danger Cabbage.
Very, very odd culinary habits.
These meetings were presented in the form of "scripts", which seem to be an
efficient way to write stories on a BBS.
Whatever you do, it can't hurt! Pyroto has its built-in imagery, but you can
really bring it to life with a few story-like messages about life on the
Mountain.
How Much Presence?
While you should avoid talking too much, you should also avoid talking too
little! It's hard to specify an "ideal" amount of message-sending for a
wizop. More than one message per day is clearly too much, while only one
message per week is obviously too sparse.
Manna Sales
Some wizards have complained that it's "not fair" that it is possible to buy
Manna. However, the price of "two pennies per Manna point" makes this an
expensive way to get ahead, and few people will use this option. But it has
happened! In such cases, you need only point out that Pyroto is a reflection
of life, and money is a part of life. Besides, no matter how much a wizard
spends, he can't buy his way out of a concerted DRAIN attack by all the
wizards on the Mountain.
ZOMBIE-BUSTING
This is, by far, a wizop's most difficult job: finding out who is using
multiple characters. This is largely a problem of "young" Mountains, though.
I once caught a pentacenturion with an illegal zombie, and BANISHed them
both. Since then, no high-level wizard has considered it worth the risk (as
far as I know!).
Types of Zombies
There are several types of illegal zombie activity:
ZOMBIE: A person (the zombie-master) who has another wizard (zombie).
MANNA-COW: A real person who doesn't really play, but has been signed up
for the purpose of gaining Manna to BESTOW to the master.
MANNA-BULL: A real person who doesn't really play, but has been signed up
solely in order to carry out attacks, per the master's orders.
THRALL: A real person who does exactly what he or she is told by the
zombie-master, but actually types the commands him/herself.
READER: Used mostly by sub-centurions (people under Level 100). Used
to read the 0 and 1-29 bands. Never asks to be Sanctified.
PRE-ZOMBIE: An almost legal zombie signed up in anticipation of a DRAIN
attack. (This sort of thing should be gently discouraged.)
There are some other variations, but these are the main kinds. In the
following discussion, the word "zombie" will mean "illegal zombie".
General Principles
First of all, convince yourself that you will never catch all zombies. Some
wizards are incredibly clever, changing their calling times, typing styles,
diction and baud-rates to throw you off the track. It's basically a battle
of wits. If they win, perhaps they deserve to have their illegal zombie!
However, the majority of zombie-masters aren't that elegant. Just remember:
it does you no good whatsoever to BANISH a zombie. You must catch and REDUCE
the zombie-master, as well! If somebody looks like a zombie, leave him alone
and try to figure out who owns him.
WARNING: Err on the side of caution! REDUCEing somebody who isn't really a
zombie-master casts grave doubts on your ability. It also gives people an
"out", next time you catch a zombie. They'll say, "Remember? You were
wrong, last time!" When in doubt, leave it alone! Try to get at least four
strong hints and two examples of incontrovertible proof. It's also wise to
keep your methods private, so as not to aid later generations of zombie-
masters.
Initial Identification
Most zombies are presented as "beginners", but they either know things that
beginners wouldn't know (such as command-stacking) or they are hugely
ignorant of all the right things! (It's always suspicious when somebody
knows exactly which questions to ask...)
Zombies also tend to climb faster than real beginners. It is extremely hard
to resist typing in the correct answer when you know it. If you see a Level
0 wizard getting the answer to a question that has stumped dozens of wizards,
keep your eyes open.
In general, a wizard who seems sure of himself when in command mode, and
totally confused in the text of his messages, is almost certainly a zombie.
Finding the Zombie-Master
There are two ways to locate the zombie-master. The first method is called
"Call Strings".
Using the OBSERVE spell, you can note when somebody signed up, or signed on.
If you notice that the same two people always call together, you can conclude
that there is some kind of relationship (although it may simply be that they
are valid players sharing the same computer).
The other method, which is more time-consuming, involves the identification
of similarities. You can use the SCAN (with TIMEWARP), TUNE and FOCUS spells
to zoom in on typographic habits.
For example, if a suspected zombie has a habit of starting his paragraphs
with the word "Anyways, " you can search the messages with these commands:
<(500)> TIMEWARP 0 0
<(500)> TUNE ANYWAYS,
<(500)> SCAN
(Don't forget to DETUNE, afterwards.) This may turn up several wizards who
use that particular mis-spelling of the word "Anyway". You can use this
technique, plus ordinary visual inspection, to identify likely candidates.
The trick is to concentrate on unconscious habits: things that people do
without realizing it. Some typical habits that people don't control are:
-- Paragraph indentation (and how consistent is it?)
-- Linefeeds between paragraphs
-- Spaces before and after punctuation (none, one or two)
-- The use and application of colons, semi-colons and ellipsis (...)
-- Predilection for either single or double quotes
-- Use of uppercase for emphasis
-- Alternate-spelling choices (e.g. Realize versus Realise)
-- Habitual spelling errors and typos
-- Characteristic line noise and complaints about same
-- Characteristic words (especially epithets)
-- Greeting habits (e.g. all messages starting with "Hi, there!")
-- Salutation habits (e.g. "See ya'll later.")
-- General coherence (especially selection of paragraph break-points)
-- General level of word-selection (elementary or college level?)
I personally have run some anonymous characters on various BBS's, but some
people have reported that they can always tell it's me. I asked them why.
"Because your bulletins always make sense and have some kind of point to
them, no matter how bad your typing and spelling!" That kind of detective
work can spot even the most devious zombie.
Moving in for the Kill
Once you've made the connection between zombie and master, and you've amassed
a fair bit of solid evidence, it's worth-while making a phone call to the
zombie. Typically, this is a person who has little or no idea what is
happening on the Mountain. A typical conversation:
SERVANT: "Hello, can I speak to Fred?"
FRED: "Speaking..."
SERVANT: "Hi, I'm calling from Pyroto Mountain."
FRED: "From where?!?"
That one's pretty obvious. Let's move on to the harder cases.
FRED: "Oh, yes. Pyroto. What do you want?"
SERVANT: "I'm just checking my files. You have a character on the Moun-
tain, don't you?"
FRED: "Uh, yes." (Not too proud of it, if he doesn't say the name.)
SERVANT: "Well, I'd like to verify that my files are okay. What is your
wizard's name?"
FRED: "Lord of Evil Death."
SERVANT: "Okay, that's fine. When did you last call?"
That last question catches 90% of all zombies. They may have been prepared
with the latest info on what's happening, but they never seem to know when
they last called.
FRED: "Oh, I don't remember, exactly." (Usual response)
SERVANT: "Well, roughly, how long ago?"
FRED: "About a week, I guess." (Usual response -- do they consult?)
SERVANT: "That's funny. My records show you called yesterday."
FRED: "Oh, yeah! I called yesterday. I forgot."
SERVANT: "Well, you sent me a BESEECH." (No he didn't!)
FRED: "Oh, ummm, I forgot what I said."
SERVANT: "That's okay, it wasn't too important. What Level are you?"
FRED: "Uhhh, well, I don't call that often." (Odd, but typical
response)
SERVANT: "Are you sure you're the one using that wizard?"
Most people will confess by this time. It's strange; they could simply hang
up on you, and it would be rather rude to pursue the point. (Although that
reaction would be proof, in a way.) But people don't want to "take the rap"
for somebody else's deception. Still, this Fred guy is a tough case...
FRED: "Well, it's not really me, but a friend asked me to sign up.
I'm not supposed to say his name."
SERVANT: "That's okay, I already have a pretty good idea who it is. I
just wanted to make sure. You know Benny Bright, don't you?"
Note that I didn't say, "It's Benny Bright, right?" That would be asking him
to rat on his friend. I merely asked if he knew him.
It's all over but the shouting. Time to thank Fred for his help and give ol'
Benny a call. Another zombie bytes the dust. Time to BANISH, REDUCE and
INSCRIBE a warning for all wizards.
Additional Tricks
When I'm sure I've caught a zombie, I sometimes leave him alone (if he's not
too high on the Mountain) and PROCLAIM a "zombie amnesty" period, saying that
I know there's a zombie out there, and if he confesses, I'll merely BANISH
his zombie and halve his level. This sometimes flushes out a few confes-
sions!
But don't try it unless you've already caught a zombie! And don't let your
amnesty period last more than a few days! This "amnesty" method looks like a
trick; you should make it clear that it's not the desperate act of a clueless
wizop.
Also, don't crow about how smart you are, because there are probably other
zombies out there that you haven't caught -- and maybe never will!
Conclusion
Zombie-busting is the wizop's game. While day-to-day operation of any BBS
will sometimes get dull, zombie-busting is an intense challenge that is
always interesting. When you reach that point at which you know that a
wizard has been cheating, and you know who it is ... it's exhilirating! It's
the stalk, the chase and the kill! You could say that Pyroto is two games in
one.
Nevertheless, make it clear to your wizards that illegal zombiism is indeed
cheating. It's like putting a pawn back on the chess-board when your
opponent isn't looking.
On the original Pyroto board, a couple of people were banished personally
from the BBS for six months, due to repeated illegal zombiism.
THE WIZARD'S ASCENT
A Difficult Quest
Being a wizop is easy compared to being a Wizard. Wizards endure sleepless
nights to get in tactically important calls. They spend hours at the library
researching questions.
Things get harder as a wizard climbs. He gets the Tax Guardians, who charge
him exorbitant Manna fees to climb to the next level. He loses the "dot-
clues" that help him guess the answers to questions. And then the Guardians
start screaming "WRONG!" before he's even had a chance to think.
On top of all that, there are attacks from other wizards and the endless
politics as power groups struggle to get the support (or at least non-aggres-
sion) of the masses.
And finally, there are the vagaries of nature (in the form of the Elementals
and other monsters of the Mountain). All this, and you're still expected to
keep TSOTL happy with your messages!
There are solutions to these problems!
Charge
The Guardians don't take their "tax" if you CHARGE. As a wizard progresses,
he relies more and more on the CHARGE spell, since ASCENDing or CLOAKing
become prohibitively expensive.
Cloak
Some clever high-level wizards notice that they can go down to the lower
levels to use the Cloak spell, thereby figuring out the "dots" for the
answers to questions. This is perfectly legal. But don't tell them about
it! Let them find out for themselves!
Timing
When the Guardians are impatient, there's a trick to keep them from throwing
things at you: simply rest on the backspace key. They don't have to have
the whole answer within a few seconds, but they do want to see you typing
something. Don't tell the wizards; let them find this out! Note that this
keeps somebody tied to his keyboard, so he'd better have his reference
material close at hand.
MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONAL NOTES
Color
If you have a color display adaptor but a monochrome (non-color) screen,
you might find it hard to read some of the text. In this case, enter the DOS
command MODE BW80 before you start Pyroto. This will make Pyroto (and some
other programs) more clear.
Baud-Rates
There is a special spell that is not normally available but can be installed
easily (see "Customization -- SPELLS.DAT", below). It is the BOOST spell.
The BOOST spell allows people to adjust their baud-rate on asynchronous
modems. We had a 300-baud modem running (with some glitches) at 550 baud,
though a 1200-baud modem could only do about 1205, since it's synchronous.
Unfortunately, very few commercial terminal programs allow this incremental
adjustment of baud-rate.
There's a possible problem, though. The modem you use for Pyroto may get
confused if a user signs off while BOOSTed. Some brands do and some don't.
If yours seizes up, Pyroto will become inoperable.
For this reason, the BOOST spell is not normally installed. But if you
operate in an area in which there are a lot of 300-baud callers, you might
considered trying it out. 450 baud is easily handled by most 300-baud
modems, and that 50% increase in speed is extremely helpful.
Gear Shift
Pyroto supports adjustable output speed. During output, a user can press one
of the number keys to "shift gears" for a comfortable reading speed.
The keys run from 1 (slow) to 9 (fast). The 0 key is the "top gear" key. It
sets output speed to maximum.
When the main command prompt comes up, output is reset to full speed. This
has proven to be a convenient arrangement.
Customization
There are several files that you can modify to your taste. If you're just
beginning, you can skip this -- but come back to this section after you've
finished your initial experimenting.
To modify these files, you will need a text editor. The standard EDLIN
editor is a good example of a text editor. You can also use the Turbo Pascal
editor, or Wordstar in non-document mode. Most word processors have a "Text"
or "DOS Text File" mode.
In technical terms, a text editor is any editor that marks separate lines
with a "Carriage Return" character and marks the end of a file with a
"Control Z".
LOGO.TXT
You can modify the LOGO.TXT file to specify a 15-line banner that your users
will see at connect time. You can mention the name of your BBS in this
banner. The name "Pyroto Mountain" does not appear anywhere in the program
itself (except for a copyright notice). The terms TSOTL, SERVANT OF TSOTL
and the "mountain" analogy are inextricable.
However, I encourage you to retain the name "Pyroto Mountain". That way, the
only changes you'll need to make is the address listed in the following
files:
INFO.TXT The file used by the INFO spell
STRAIGHT.TXT The file used by the STRAIGHT spell
NEWHELP.TXT The new-user sign-on help file
If you can't use the name Pyroto (perhaps because there is another Pyroto
system in your area), you should consider a name with 6 letters, such as
"Mystic" Mountain. This will save you from the need to re-format the text
files described below.
Other .TXT Files
The informational text files are as follows:
NEWHELP.TXT The new-user sign-on help file
INFO.TXT The file used by the INFO spell
STRAIGHT.TXT The file used by the STRAIGHT spell
RULES.TXT The file used by the RULES spell
HINTS.TXT The file used by the HINTS spell
GIMMICKS.TXT The file used by the GIMMICKS spell
NATURE.TXT The file used by the NATURE spell
ARTICLE.TXT The file used by the ARTICLE spell
These contain straight text for the wizards to read. You should read them
yourself; you'll learn what they'll learn and you'll spot any changes that
must be made, such as address and Mountain-name information.
While the preceding files can be modified in any way, you should be very
careful when modifying the following files, because their format is critical:
GUARD1.TXT First part of Guardian descriptions
GUARD2.TXT Second part of Guardian descriptions
GUARD3.TXT Third part of Guardian descriptions
CMDDESCS.TXT Spell (command) descriptions, used by HELP
Before altering these files, you should make a back-up copy.
SPELLS.DAT
This DAT file can be modified by a text editor. But don't do so until you've
run the Mountain for a few months. You may wish to customize certain spell
costs and levels, but it's best to wait until you fully understand the game.
Even if you are sure a spell should be defined differently, please think
twice before changing anything. These spells specs have been tested and re-
tested. They work.
But if you've run the Mountain for a long time and want to tweak it a little,
you have the power to do so.
NOTE: The format of the SPELLS.DAT file is critical. Make a backup before
you work on it.
Rating the Messages
Pyroto analyzes every message that is sent for:
-- Content -- Organization -- Punctuation
-- Spelling -- Succinctness -- Considerateness
The algorithm that does this isn't very complex, but it does seem to work.
The resulting score is used to determine a wizard's right to advance.
Password Changes
There is an undocumented feature in Pyroto which allows users to change their
passwords. If you sign off by typing BYE PASSWORD (no abbreviations) you
will be asked for a new password.
This feature was not explicitly documented because there has long been an
argument amongst computer security experts about the wisdom of letting users
change (or even select) their passwords.
If might be best to keep the BYE PASSWORD feature secret if you give users a
new password when you "sanctify" them. Or perhaps you'll decide to avoid
letting them change their password simply because they tend to forget what
their new password is.
Whether or not you let your users know about this feature is up to you.
The Status Line
The top two lines of the Pyroto screen provide you with some information
about what is going on. The top line lists time left, sorcery level, state
icons (explained later), and the last item that went in the system log. The
second line lists the wizard's real and game name, phone number, plus his
maximum level on the Mountain.
The state icons are single-character indicators. You can think of them as
on/off lights, if you wish. Here's what they mean:
Downwards-pointing triangle: The F9 key was pressed to put the system in
"shutdown mode" and will be closed when it next disconnects (i.e. when the
current visitor logs off). Memory aid: points downwards to mean "going
down".
Infinity symbol (sideways 8): Wizop mode is on. This is turned on and off
by the ALT-F10 key. This key also makes a long, loud, raucous sound to alert
you if somebody using your system locally hits it "by mistake" -- even if you
turned the sound-effects off with the F10 key. Memory aid: the infinite
power of the wizop is available.
Diamond: The system is waiting for somebody in particular to show up. You
can specify a list of names by pressing the F2 key. Memory aid: the people
in the list are highly prized.
Happy face: People who use the CONTACT (chat-with-wizop) spell will be
placed directly in conversation, instead of seeing an "unattended" message.
Memory aid: you're in a good mood, so you'll talk to people.
Question mark: the current user entered the CONTACT spell to try to get in
touch with you. The CONTACT spell makes a noise if you have the sound turned
on. Memory aid: "Hello? Wizop?"
Exclamation mark: You pressed the ALT-F6 key to put the system into
"announce only" mode. People will only see the LOGO.TXT data before getting
disconnected. Memory aid: "Hear ye, hear ye!!!"
Del (triangle): Climbing via ASCEND and similar commands is possible. This
will not be the case if you pressed the ALT-F9 key, or if you are running
Pyroto as a non-game BBS. Memory aid: looks like a little mountain.
Double-note: Sound is on. Turn it on or off with the F10 key. Memory aid:
music is sound.
These icons may take a while to get used to, but before long, you'll be able
to tell at a glance what's happening on your system.
Online Sanctification and Banishment
ALT-F7 and ALT-F8 will sanctify or banish the current wizard. However, the
ALT-F7 key does not update the file until the wizard disconnects, so if you
have a system crash, the file will still reflect the old value. In general,
all data affecting a wizard's current session is lost if your system crashes,
since the wizards information is written only "on the way out". For this
reason, it is not possible for a wizard to cast any spells at himself.
DENIZENS OF THE MOUNTAIN
If you are to truly live the idiom of the Mountain (which is vital for a
vibrant and successful Mountain), you should know about the various beings
that populate its slopes.
As wizop, you should not reveal anything about these beings -- not even the
fact that they exist! The wizards must discover this for themselves. Half
the thrill of Pyroto is in discovery. Don't spoil the fun.
TSOTL
Make sure you understand this spirit! It is explained in the section
entitled "The Pyroto Philosophy".
Wizop
That's you. Somebody specially selected by TSOTL. Somebody who gives
wizards the impression that perhaps there is something beyond pure power.
You're their scout into philosophical mine fields...
Guardians
You can't appreciate these critters until you've read the descriptions. Does
"A white-hot lizard wearing a tall top hat" mean anything to you? These
outlandish creatures, products of TSOTL, are bizarre in the extreme. And
they're unionized, too! Guardians are the backbone of the Pyroto idiom.
Midmanmo
If a wizard is online when the day changes, he will not get any Manna
regeneration for that new day. Midmanmo will absorb it. From TSOTL's stand-
point, Midmanmo ("The Silent One") is one of the most potent of all creatures
on the Mountain because it operates so subtly that even experienced wizards
forget it exists.
Wizards
These people, innocents or otherwise, are trying to get to the top of the
Mountain. What have they learned during their climb? You're their guide!
Treat them impartially and help them understand TSOTL. But don't make their
ascent too easy! There is much to be learned by climbing.
To stress this point: do not let any wizard see this manual! This manual is
full of arcane secrets, so hide it from prying eyes.
Seismoros
This monster is the very big and very strong. Most of the time he simply
sleeps peacefully. But when wizards feed him Manna, he grows in strength.
When he reaches 100% energization, he shakes the Mountain and brings it
crashing downwards. All wizards (except the wizop) lose their levels --
although those who were higher retain a few. After a Seismoros quake, the
highest a wizard can be around is about level 30.
Elementals
The Elementals are creatures that attach themselves to wizards and affect
certain aspects of his action. Some visit for a while, while others tend to
grab on to a wizard for weeks. Some Elementals always seem to be around, and
some disappear for a long time. Each Elemental also has a particular range
of altitudes that it prefers. Here are the names of the Elementals, and what
each one does:
Acatalytos Wizard's name disappears for BANISHment and REDUCEment
Agnarti Saves you from CHARGE disconnect 6 out of 10 times
Amphios To your DRAINs or STEALs, adds a bit himself
Chronos Reduces the wait-time required between calls
Dictos Occasionally mentions which Elemental is with who
Ea Banish and Reduce usable against wizards at Level - 1
Elthac The dots (answer clues) show during ascent
Ittimittu Disables the "tax guardian" effect
Klequin Warns if you over-spend manna, so you won't get logged off
Lycasrotl Lets you cast any spell, no matter what your level
Malignos Interjects a sort of line noise; the only all-bad Elemental
Nihilos Wizard's name disappears for most spells directed at him
Omecratom Like Nihilos, but absorbs manna, passes it like Shazoth
Ossadas Wizard's name disappears for DRAINs and STEALs
Salgev Lets you DEMOTE a higher wizard, if < 400 above you
Shazoth Used to pass manna between callers
Shizmito Guardians never busy while you're climbing
Teos Obscures any OBSERVEable spells that you cast
Tidaretti No function; wizards go crazy trying to figure it out
Ysam-Icaad All spells cost 25% less
As wizop, you can find out where the Elementals are (assuming they're
attached to somebody) by using the OmniView spell. No other wizard has this
power -- not even a Pentacenturion (level 500 wizard).
Notice that most of these Elementals are mixed blessings. Nihilos is nice to
have, because you're protected from attack. But you're also protected from
help!
Some Elementals also show exact Esteem when you do a CHECK command. Some
also occasionally add a little extra Esteem if you send a good message.
Pronunciation Guide
As wizop, you should know how to pronounce the names and terms used around
Pyroto. Here is the proper pronunciation for the most commonly mispronounced
words.
NOTES: The "oase" sound rhymes with "dose".
Dashes are inserted to help with pacing.
Words without UPPERCASE are not accented (as in Japanese).
Acatalytos a KA-ta-lih toase
Agnarti ag NAR-tee
Amphios AM fee oase
Chronos KRO noase
Dictos DIK toase
Ea YA
Elthac ELL thak
Ittimittu ittih-mihtuu
Klequin KLEH kin
Lycasrotl liy kass RAW-tuhl
Malignos mah LIG noase
Midmanmo mid MAHN-mo
Nihilos NIE-ihl oase
Omecratom oh MEK ra tom
Ossadas AW suh-duhs
Pyroto pie ROW toe
Salgev SAL gev (hard g)
Seismoros SIZE-em oh roase
Shazoth sha ZOTH
Shizmito shiz ME toe
Teos TE-oase
Tidaretti TIH-duh reh-tee
TSOTL tuh SAW-tuhl
Wizop WIHZ op
Ysam-Icaad IH-sahm ih-cahd
NON-GAME AND DOOR OPERATION
Using Pyroto as a Regular BBS
As explained in the "Installation" section of this manual, the SPELLS.BBS
file can replace the SPELLS.DAT file that is included in this package. It
will disable the "game" aspect and make Pyroto into a "regular" Bulletin
Board System.
In BBS mode, the following normally available spells have been defined as
"Level 501" and are thus removed from the valid spell list:
ASCEND CHARGE CLOAK CORRECT DESCEND DRAIN HINTS
NATURE REDUCE RULES STARVE STEAL STRAIGHT SUGGEST
Since no climbing spells are available, all levels are set directly by the
wizop. Wizards move within their permitted altitudes with TELEPORT.
Level 0 wizards (people who just signed up) have these spells:
BESEECH BYE CHECK HELP INFO
READ SCROLLS SEND SPECS
As such, they can't do much but send on the 0 band and ask for permission to
go higher. Level 1 wizards get a lot more useful spells:
ARTICLE CHANGE DEFOCUS DETECT DETUNE FOCUS INQUIRE
REVIEW SCAN SPELLS TELEPORT TIMEWARP TUNE
Between the 0 and 1-29 band, they have plenty of communicating power. A 30th
level wizard gets these extra spells:
CONTACT INSCRIBE RECALL ROSTER
It's nice to be able to restrict that CONTACT spell. Those wizards also get
to add to the SCROLLS. The next step is a 100th level wizard:
OBSERVE OMNIVIEW PROBE
They get to see what's going on. Finally, a "co-wizop" gets the following
spells at level 500:
MANNA LISTEN BANISH CLOSE SLOWTIME SANCTIFY
BESTOW STOPTIME PROMOTE PROCLAIM DEMOTE HURL
The layout of these spells (see the SPELLS.DAT file for more information) is
one method that works. You can experiment. Perhaps you'll define a class of
co-wizop that can use PROCLAIM but not SANCTIFY. You have a fine control on
who gets what spell. Be sure to make a backup of your SPELLS.DAT file before
you modify it.
Door Operation
This manual is not intended to be a tutorial for door operations. Please
consult your host BBS's documentation for full details.
In general, however, you will create a batch (.BAT) file which will call up
Pyroto, using a special start-up command that will be explained shortly.
Pyroto handles problems such as lost carriers, so there is no need for
watchdog timers and suchlike things.
To run as a door, copy the SPELLS.DOR file over the SPELLS.DAT file. This
sets the following normally available commands to "Level 501" so they are
unavailable:
STOPTIME CONTACT SLOWTIME
There is no reason why these command must be removed for door operation. If
you wish, you can continue to use the SPELLS.DAT file. One advantage of that
approach is that you'll always have the choice of running Pyroto as a door,
or stand-alone. But many sysops prefer to remove the above commands.
To start up Pyroto under Pinnacle Software's Sapphire BBS, create a batch
file in your Sapphire directory which looks like this:
CD \PYROTO (Switch to the Pyroto directory)
PYROTO /DOOR/SAPPHIRE (Start up Pyroto as a Sapphire door)
To start up Pyroto under other BBS's, place the following command in your
batch file:
PYROTO /DOOR/real-name/time-left/port/
real-name .... If omitted, none assumed (sign-up will ask for one)
time-left .... If omitted, assumes 90 minutes maximum visit time
port ......... Current port address, in decimal (e.g. COM1 = 1016)
If 0, no modem reference (i.e. console)
If D, door is forced open (use after system crash ONLY)
Here are some examples...
PYROTO /DOOR///1016 No name assumed, 90 minutes on COM1
PYROTO /DOOR//15/0 No name assumed, 15 minutes, console
PYROTO /DOOR//15/0/ Trailing / is optional
PYROTO /DOOR/JOE SMITH/60/1016 For Joe Smith, 1 hour on COM1
Information such as real-name, time-left and port can be determined by a
program you write to build a command line. On a multi-port system, such a
program is vital. The real-name information is handy, because it means your
validation efforts for the host system will apply for Pyroto, too.
APPENDIX A -- SUMMARY OF SPELLS
Some spells are listed more than once because they can be used in more than
one way. For example, you can use HURL yourself, or against somebody.
The descriptions shown below are as generated by Pyroto's HELP command, along
with some extra notes to clarify matters slightly.
Communication Spells
ARTICLE An article added to promote discussion -- added by wizop
BESEECH Send message to The Spirit of the Land -- read by wizop
CHANGE Change messages you've sent previously -- an editor
CONTACT Speak to The Spirit Of The Land (TSOTL) -- chat with wizop
DEFOCUS Reset the "display" spells after FOCUS
DETECT Display info about previous messages -- list old messages
DETUNE Reset the "reading" spells after a TUNE
FOCUS Focus "display" spells on given phrase -- or wizard name for READ
HINTS Display handy survival and usage tips
HURL Cast a message back to the dawn of time -- effectively deletes it
INFO Display some info about this place -- general description
INSCRIBE Write upon the Tidings (news) Scrolls -- wizop writes here
LISTEN Display the messages sent via BESEECH -- wizop reads here
NATURE Read the about the True Nature of TSOTL -- the great enigma
PROCLAIM Write a new greeting (sign-on) message -- shown at sign-on time
READ Display messages you're allowed to read -- on the current band
REVIEW Re-read a single message by DAY:MINUTE
RULES Display rules imposed on the Mountain
SCAN All-bands READ -- use with FOCUS & TUNE
SCROLLS Display the latest, most important news -- usually by wizop
SEND Leave message for other wizards to read -- on the current band
STRAIGHT Straight Talk article from the Servant -- ask for contributions
TIMEWARP Set a time after which you wish to READ -- to read old messages
TUNE Tune "reading" spells for given phrase
Climbing Spells
ASCEND Attempt to pass into next sorcery level -- questions if needed
CHARGE Attempt ascent - disconnect if you fail -- questions if needed
CLOAK A protected form of CHARGE -- very safe -- questions always
DESCEND Go downwards to visit the less powerful
TELEPORT Instant transition to specified level
Assistance Spells
BESTOW Give some of your MPs to another person -- give Manna-points
DEMOTE Demote somebody to lower sorcery level -- helps if Esteem low
PROMOTE Promote somebody to next sorcery level
Information Spells
CHECK Display pertinent data about yourself
HELP Display your usable spells (this list) -- only those available
HINTS Display handy survival and usage tips
INQUIRE Display how long until TSOTL gets tired -- and he disconnects you
OBSERVE Display recent activity on the Mountain -- up to 250 events logged
OMNIVIEW Display PROBE stats for all wizards
PROBE Get information about specified wizard
RECALL Display report of previous visitors
ROSTER Display the names of all the wizards
SPELLS Display the Levels & MP costs of spells -- shows all spells
Attack Spells
BANISH Banish somebody and destroy his power -- must re-sign up
DEMOTE Demote somebody to lower sorcery level
DRAIN Subtract 10 Manna-points from somebody
HURL Cast a message back to the dawn of time
REDUCE Reduce somebody to sorcery level zero -- need not re-sign up
STEAL Like DRAIN, but cheaper -- costs Esteem
SUGGEST Provide the Guardians with new question
Miscellaneous Spells
BOOST Boost transmission speed (baud rate) -- optional installation
BYE Depart (disconnect) from this place
CORRECT Rewrite one of the Guardians' questions
ESP Get some Manna-points if you're psychic -- silly game, good test
FEED Add some energy to the Seismoros spirit -- see DENIZENS section
MANNA Get a generous recharge of Manna-points
SLOWTIME Add fifteen minutes to TSOTL's patience
SPECS Alter the way things look around here -- sets screen width
STARVE Remove energy from the Seismoros spirit -- see DENIZENS section
STOPTIME Double the time TSOTL will tolerate you
TIMEWARP Set a time after which you wish to READ -- Works on most displays
Wizop-Only Spells
CLOSE Shut down system, close all files, etc.
SANCTIFY Permit a user to rise to higher levels -- user validation
APPENDIX B -- THE PYROTO PHILOSOPHY
NOTE: I am assuming that you have already read the NATURE spell on Pyroto.
If you haven't, please do so before you continue. It will make this
article a little easier to understand.
Let me make clear, at the outset, that the philosophy behind Pyroto is not
meant to be construed as "the answer". It is not so much an answer as a
question. Or, more accurately, an exploration. Pyroto is, in effect, a
laboratory for certain types of philosophy.
I take pains to point this out because of the quasi-deitic nature of The
Spirit Of The Land (TSOTL). Pyroto is not a religious statement, but an
attempt to identify certain facets of humanity.
To further reduce confusion, TSOTL is referred to herein as "it", rather than
"he" as is typical on Pyroto.
What is TSOTL?
The answer to this question is so obvious to some wizards that they arrive at
the solution before they even get to read the NATURE spell. True, as the
Servant of TSOTL on the original Pyroto, I do tend to drop hints from time to
time, but I'm nevertheless impressed by their perception.
TSOTL is: Existence, Creation, Gestalt and Reality. With just those four
words to guide them, some people have figured out what I was trying to
demonstrate with the TSOTL concept. I call these four words "The Four Phases
of TSOTL".
Existence
Before you can encounter TSOTL, there has to be a place for it to be. TSOTL
doesn't create the place; it must already be there.
Creation
This is the second phase, which is described by the NATURE spell. TSOTL
describes a specific phenomenon that occurs spontaneously amongst creative
people. Now, just as an artist moves towards an artistic goal without
laboriously pre-planning the steps, so too does a group create its own
reality. This process of creation is affected by individuals to a greater or
lesser extent, but no one person can claim to have single-handedly created
TSOTL.
Gestalt
Once this group of creative people have created their own TSOTL, it takes on
a life of its own. There is a "community mood". It may be a mood of
combativeness, co-operation or something else entirely. It can't be ac-
curately described, but people know what it is.
Reality
The reality of TSOTL is that we have here, on Pyroto, a very tightly regu-
lated gestalt. That is to say, the "world" of Pyroto (seen to be the world
in microcosm) is very limited. As such, we have a way to examine -- under a
microscope, as it were -- this principle of gestalt. We can see how people
interact, how they contribute to "the spirit" of the "place".
Definition
TSOTL is "the center-point of the principles and motivations of a group of
people". This is embodied in the Pyrotian saying, "Everybody follows the
rules, but nobody knows them".
To differentiate between this definition and the mythologized TSOTL of the
various Mountains, I will use the word "tsotl" instead of "TSOTL". (The
uppercase version could be misleading, inasmuch as you might try to over-
apply your own Mountain's tsotl to the discussion.)
Beyond the Mountain
Each Pyroto system has its own tsotl. Indeed, every BBS has one. There are
tsotls in research laboratories, hospitals, offices ... you can apply the
concept anywhere. As we move from group to group, we are affected by that
group's tsotl, and we in turn affect it.
What about the world in general? Can all those tsotls form a gestalt of
tsotls? A meta-tsotl? Can we really apply the lessons of Pyroto on a larger
scale?
Perhaps. The original Pyroto has been running for a year, and that has given
me time to see various alliances and "governments" come and go. I am getting
used to this little scene: I turn on the TV news, listen to an official
governmental proclamation, and remark, "That's nonsense! I heard that this
afternoon on Pyroto, and it was nonsense then!"
Yes, on Pyroto we've seen democracies, theocracies, technocracies, merito-
cracies, communism, corporation rule, dictatorships, libertarianism -- you
name it. Each "government" can function more effectively if it understands
the Mountain's tsotl.
"TSOTL IS PLEASED"
Societies create their gods in their own image. They might make a man a god
because he approximates the society's tsotl. They might make a god out of a
philosophy, such as capitalism or socialism, simply because their environment
created an equivalent tsotl. In no case is the tsotl the creation of one
man, any more than the USSR can be said to be the creation of Karl Marx, or
the USA to be the creation of Thomas Jefferson. A god that doesn't match his
worshippers can not survive.
Of course, we have to look at the time scale carefully. As the Servant of
TSOTL on the original Pyroto, it has sometimes been my unpleasant duty to
ignore the wailing of the lower wizards, who are being cruelly dominated by
the higher wizards. All I can say is, "Give it time!"
Oddly, even in times of ruthless dictatorship, people continue to call
voluntarily to the Pyroto system. Why? Because they know that even the
worst dictator will eventually fall prey to what one wag dubbed "The 501
Blues".
This happens when a pentacenturion (Level 500 wizard) does not get the
feedback, from the people, that he needs. He gets bored and eventually
disappears for one reason or another.
In assessing this, we should realize that, as a political simulation, Pyroto
is extremely time-compressed. One wizard might represent a long line of
dictators. It's rare for an "empire" to last more than a few months. It is
also absolutely imperative that the Servant of TSOTL does not get involved in
the experiment, since he has the power to colour the results.
Obviously, the design of the Pyroto software is a colouration, also. It
tends to favour the literate. This is another aspect of the "reality" phase
of TSOTL, and it is a good example of the Uncertainty Principle: in order to
study a tsotl, we must first set up some parameters for it!
Conclusion
The Pyroto Mountain BBS/Game system is a philosophical experiment. It's also
very entertaining! You don't have to take it too seriously and actually
study what happens.
We learn every day through our interactions. Pyroto is a tiny community
reflecting a larger one. You can't help but hear the echoes.
INDEX
Can't find it here? Check the Table of Contents.
450 baud 29
ALT-F10 32
ALT-F6 32
ALT-F7 33
ALT-F8 33
ALT-F9 32
Announce 14
ARTICLE 16
Backspace 28
Backups 15
BBS 37
BESEECH 18
BOOST 29
Bugs 10
Call Strings 24
CHARGE 28
Close 17
CONFIG.SYS 5, 10
CONTACT 13
Copyright ii, 30
Crash 9, 33
Demote 17
door 15, 38
Quick summary 7
Elementals 35
Esteem 35
F10 32
F2 32
F9 32
Function keys 13
Guardians 12, 34
Hayes modem 8
Help! 8
HURL 16
I/O error 10
Icons 32
Inactive user 15
LOCAL 13
LOGO.TXT 32
maintenance 12
Manna 19
MANNA-BULL 23
MANNA-COW 23
Message files 16
NATURE 42
Passwords 31
PRE-ZOMBIE 23
Probe 19
Problems 8
PYCONFIG 9, 10, 13
QUERIES.DAT 15
Question 12
Question list 16, 18
READER 23
Sanctify 17
SCROLLS 18
Seismoros 18, 35
Servant's Word 13
SPELLS.BBS 37
SPELLS.DAT 6, 31
Switch 8
Tax Guardians 28
THRALL 23
TSOTL 1, 42
Utilities 20
Validation 12
Versions ii
Wizop 21
Yoo-Hoo 13
Zombie 23