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RETURN TO RINGWORLD
Readme File
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Here are the minimum system requirements to run Return To Ringworld:

-  IBM or compatible equipped with a 25 MHz or faster 80386 or 80486 
   microprocessor.
-  2MB of total RAM
-  640K (590,000 bytes) of free memory.
-  MS-DOS 5.0 or later
-  A hard disk with 2MB of free space
-  VGA graphics card and VGA color monitor
-  MPC level 1 compliant CD-ROM drive
-  Mouse
-  Digital Audio Playback device is required in order to hear speech output.

In addition, we recommend the following:

-  Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16, Roland LAPC-1,
   RAP 10, COVOX Sound Master II, Pro Audio Spectrum 16, Roland MT-32,  
   or an external General MIDI device.
-  Expanded memory (EMS) manager installed in CONFIG.SYS

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   If you have a SOUND BLASTER 16, our automatic sound detection selects
the SOUND BLASTER PRO driver instead of the SOUND BLASTER / SB16 driver.
To correct this, manually select the SOUND BLASTER / SB16 driver during
installation, or while playing the game. During installation select 'CHANGE
SELECTIONS' at the sound dialog box and then change the 'Play Samples On' 
dialog item to "SOUND BLASTER / SB16". Or, during game play you may use F6 to
bring up the sound dialog box and set the 'Play Samples On' dialog item to 
"SOUND BLASTER / SB16".   
   


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Instructions for OUTPOST ALPHA Card Game
----------------------

   At the computer terminal in Quinn's quarters there is a
computerized card game we've called OUTPOST ALPHA. Detailed
instructions are listed here for your convenience.

I.   Introduction

     A.  OUTPOST ALPHA is a four-player card game (three computer-
         controlled players and you).

     B.  Each player starts out with a hand of three cards.
         Players take turns constructing their Outpost facilities.
         A completed Outpost is made up of eight Stations.

     C.  The first player to construct his Outpost wins the game.


II.  Basic Play

     A.  The player begins by drawing a card from the deck.  During your 
         turn, you must either play or discard a card.

         1.  A card is played either by constructing a portion of
             your Outpost (play a Platform or Station card on an available
             construction slot) or by preventing another player from
             building his/her Outpost (play a Stop Construction, Delay,
             Theft, or Collision card on an opponent).

         2.  A card is discarded by placing it in the discard pile
             of face-up cards.

     B.  If you cannot play any cards, select a card from your hand
         and place it on the discard pile.


III. Constructing Your Outpost

     A.  If you have a Platform or Station card, and are not delayed,
         you may proceed with construction.

     B.  Platforms are played on empty construction slots.  Platform
         cards have a gray and purple symbol on a white background.
                     
     C.  Stations are played on Platforms.  Station cards have a white
         symbol on a black background.


IV.  Delaying Other Players

     A.  Stop Construction cards prevent a player from building
         Platforms or Stations, though other cards may still be played.
        
         Stop Construction cards are played on an opponent's delay slot.
         Stop Construction cards are black with red corners.  Each Stop 
         Construction card may be counteracted by its unique Remedy.  
        
         Remedy cards are identified by their green corners.

     B.  A player's progress can also be hampered with a Delay card.
         These cards cause the targeted player to lose one turn.  Delay
         cards are also played on an opponent's delay slot.
                              
         Delay cards have yellow and black stripes across the bottom.

         Delay cards have no effect if the player has already 
         constructed the appropriate Station.
                                                                 
     C.  The deck also contains a few special disasters in the form of
         Collision and Theft cards.  These cards are played on an 
         opponent's Outpost Hub (the center of the Outpost around which 
         Stations are constructed).

         Collision and Theft cards have black symbols on a red 
         background.

         1.  When a Collision card is played, the targeted player must
             discard a constructed Platform or Station card.
                              
             The Collision card is counteracted if the targeted player 
             has the Interceptor prevention card.

         2.  When a Theft card is played, the player may take a card 
             from the targeted player's hand.

             However, if the targeted player has a Double Agent card, 
             the theft is reversed.  The targeted player will now be 
             prompted to steal a card from the player.

      3.  The Interceptor and Double Agent cards are green with black 
          symbols.


V.   Moving the Game Forward

     A.  Outpost Alpha has two playing modes: Autoplay On and Autoplay 
         Off.  The Help button (the question mark in the lower right of
         the game screen) accesses the toggle for the Autoplay mode.
                         
        1.  Autoplay On.  If Autoplay On is set, your opponents will 
            take their turns without any assistance from you.
                              
        2.  Autoplay Off.  In Autoplay Off mode, when the arrow cursor 
            appears, you must CLICK to initiate the next player's turn.

     B.  When it is your turn, you will be dealt a card from the deck.
         CLICK on the card you want to play, then CLICK the card on its 
         destination.

     C.  If you cannot play any of your cards, select a card and place 
         it on the discard pile.


VI.  Help During Play

     If you have any questions while you're playing OUTPOST ALPHA, you 
     can access additional help by clicking the RIGHT MOUSE BUTTON.  
     CLICK the resulting Look cursor on any card on the table (not 
     including your opponents' hands, of course!).
           

VII. The Cards

     A.  Stop Construction cards and their Remedies.

     STOP CONSTRUCTION                 REMEDIES
     (black cards with red corners)    (white cards with green corners)
                            
     1. Technology Barrier             Innovation
     (person in lab coat)              (light bulb)
                              
     2. Disease Quarantine             Miracle cure
     (person on stretcher with I.V.    (hypodermic needle)
     and red cross on chest)
                              
     3. Alien Vexation                 Diplomacy
     (bug-head with lightning bolts)   (Diplomat wearing top hat & sash)
                              
     4. Insurrection                   Settlement
     (three fists, one with wrench)    (shaking hands)



     B.  Delay Cards and the Stations that prevent them.


     DELAY                             STATION
     (black symbol on white with       (white symbol on black background)
     yellow and black stripe)
                              
     1. Machine Failure                Engineering Station
     (hand with wrench and red cog)    (wrench and cog)
                              
     2. Saboteur                       Security Station
     (spy character)                   (badge)
                              
     3. Accidental Casualty            Biotech Station
     (box falling on person)           (medical symbol and EKG line)
                                                     
     4. Employee Turnover              Entertainment Station
     (two people walking away)         (dancing man in tux holding hat)
                                                     
     5. Investor Withdrawal            Trade Station
     (person pulling cart of money)    (coin with arrows)                               
                                                   
     6. Science Disaster               Research Station
     (radiation hazard symbol)         (microscope)
                              
     7. Bureaucracy                    Command Station
     (papers and book)                 (officer saluting)
                              
     8. Pirate Attack                  Defensive Net Station
     (skull and crossbones)            (gun turret)


     C.  Collision and Theft and their respective counteractions.


     COLLISION and THEFT               COUNTERACTIONS
     (black symbol against solid       (white symbol against solid
     red background)                   green background)

     1. Collision                      Interceptor    
     (asteroid)                        (missile)
                                   
     2. Theft                          Double Agent
     (person running with package)     (two people running with package)


     D.  Platform cards have a box and beam on a steel frame against a 
         white background.
