THE SPECTRUM GAMES DATABASE



OUT OF THE SHADOWS



PUBLISHER

Mizar Computing



AUTHOR

Bob Waller



CATEGORY

Adventure



INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAY



INTRODUCTION

You are in a fantasy world of monsters and magic in which your

only Friend is a merchant living nearby As you move around the

surface you will encounter hostile creatures, stairs to the dark

regions below and containers holding various items of use and

value. As you gain in experience you will venture deeper into the

depths below in search of your chosen quest.



This is not on arcade game but a realistic adventure which allows

the full use of tactical skills as well as the cut and thrust of

conflict giving you many hours of enjoyment as you pit your

skills against more and more deadly foes. Your scenario can be

saved and restored as often as required while you explore the

hundreds of different locations on your way to achieving your

quest.



THE DISPLAY

The display provides information on your character's current

state and gives a map of your immediate surroundings. The right

hand side of the screen provides a scrolled commentary on events.

Any portion of the map which is obscured by a wall is blanked out

so that you can only see those things that are really visible.

So - be careful you never know what may be lurking round the

comer



MOVING AROUND

Using the GO command (see commands) you may move around the map. 

Movement off an edge will put you on the edge of the next map.

Stairs lead to rooms below or above. Falling through a hole will

take you to the room below.



ATTACKS

Of course any other inhabitants (apart from the merchant) are

hostile and will attack you on sight.  You may fight, run away

or possibly use magic.  Monsters may be attacked with any weapon

you have, or bare-handed if you have none. Your chance of hitting

a monster (or dodging if it is attacking you depends on both its

dexterity and yours The amount of damage you inflict depends on

your strength. Possession of an item of armour automatically

protects the relevant part of your body.  The maximum amount of

injuries you can sustain is called your hit points. The

percentage of your life left is shown by the length of the 

life bar on the screen.  Experience points are gained by slaying

monsters. Every 1000 experience points raise you an experience

level which adds to your abilities. The number of experience

points gained per monster depends on the type of monster and your

experience level.



POSSESSIONS

There are over 50 different types of item that you can acquire.

These may be found in treasure containers or bought from the

merchant. Of course the more you carry the greater your burden

and the sooner you get out of breath. As night falls or when you

venture below a light becomes essential. Remember- Monsters can

see in the dark but you cannot.



THE HOME

Characters ore created in their home on the sacred healing cross.



THE MERCHANT

The Merchant lives in a shop not too far from your home. He

offers a 24-hour service and will buy or sell most items. Food

cannot be found only bought from the merchant.



RACES

You con choose to be an elf a human or a dwarf. Elves are more

dextrous, less strong have fewer hit points and greater spell

power than humans.  Dwarves are less dextrous, stronger have more

hit points but less spell power.



QUESTS

At the creation of your world you may request any one of 6 unique

quests.  Your aim is then to find your chosen quest and return

it to the special cross in the centre of your home. If at home

any time before or after achieving your quest you may set up a

new scenario keeping your existing character and possessions or

starting a brand new hero.



COMPETITIONS

When setting up your scenario you con give it a name This allows

you to have competitions with your friends by all using the same

name for your scenarios. When you return your quest to your home

you will be told how long it has taken you and hew many times you

hove saved the game. The winner is the one who does it quickest

and with the least saves.



COMMANDS

The commands available are listed below. All words are separated

by spaces and the command is completed by pressing (enter} Any

word may be shortened to its first 4 letters. Caps shift/0

deletes the last character.



In the following table anything in brackets is optional.





COMMAND       ADDITIONAL       DESCRIPTION

             INFO REQUIRED



ANOInt or      bodypart        Use ointment to heal part of body

 HEAL

ATTAck or A   (direction)      Attack in the direction given

                               (monster container etc.)

BLOW

BUY         (quantity) item    Buy item(s) off merchant

CAST            SLEEp

CAST            SLOW

CAST            BLASt

CAST           TELEport (UP or DOWN)

COST           (class)         Cost of items in copper pieces

DISCard    (quantity) item     Discarded items are lost for ever

DRINk          POTIon          Restores you to full health

EAT

FILL                           Puts oil in lantern

GO or G      (direction)       Moves you about

INFO

LANTern or    (ON or OFF)      Turns lantern on or off

 LIGHt

LIST           (class)         Tells you how many of each item

                               you hove

LOOK or L                      Looks in container

MARK or M     (direction)      Place or pick up marker

OPEN or O                      Attempt to open container

QUIT                           Stop playing

RING or R                      Put on magic ring or take it off

SAVE                           Save game to tape

SELL         (quantity) item   Sell item(s) to merchant

SMITe          (direction)     Use magic rod

STAFf          (direction)     Place staff (as monster barrier)

                               or pick it up

TAKE           (quantity)      Take treasure

TORCh          ON or OFF

UNLOck                         Attempt to unlock container

USE, WEAPon     weapon name    Prepare weapon for attack

 or DRAW

WAVE                           Use magic wand

WEIGht           (class)       Weight of items in copper pieces

WISH         (quantity) item   Use wish spell

                  HOME         (results depend on

                  SHOP          experience level)



The last direction is always remembered so only give a direction

if you need to change it. Furthermore the last command is also

remembered so just pressing (enter) will repeat the last command

and direction; just entering a direction will repeat the last

command with the new direction.



Example    GO N(enter) Moves you north

           (enter)     Moves you north again

           E(enter)    Moves you east

           A(enter)    Attack east

           (enter)     Attack east again

           S(enter)    Attack south



LIST COST and WEIGht will give the next class if no class is

entered.



COMMAND EXAMPLES

      BUY 3 TORCHES or BUY 3 TORC

      BUY HELMET or BUY HELM

      CAST TELE DOWN

      ANOINT L.ARM or ANOI L.AR

      G NE

      COST ARMOUR or COST ARMO

      LIST MONEY or LIST MONE

      USE DAGGER or WEAP DAGG

                 or DRAW DAGG



DIRECTIONS

N, S, E, W, NW, NE, SW, SE



CLASSES

WEAPons, ARMOur, BAGGage, MAGlc, STAVes,SPELls, MONEy, GEMS,

QUESts



BODY PARTS

HEAD, CHESt, L.ARm, R.ARm, L.LEg, R.LEg





GENERAL FACTS



NOTES

