Games PC MAELSTROM User Manual
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Maelstrom! We at PAS Systems have spent the last two years devel-
oping what we believe to be the new standard in state-of-the-art simulation tech-
nology.
mechanics of running a government and fighting a foe, but also in terms of the
interaction between people and factors in the game. You will not find linear
story progressions in Maelstrom, nor will you find a map that will take you
through the game reliably every time you play. As in real life, Maelstrom features a galaxy that is never constant: its characters have moods, its technology is
fallible, its leaders are whimsical, and its masses are unpredictable.
The real magic of Maelstrom is in the way the stories evolve and intertwine with
each other, and in the way characters, planets and ships interact with themselves. The player is urged to be a hands-on leader. Although the game progresses without player input, it will be short and will end in the Overlord’s
untimely demise unless the player intervenes.
It is difficult to fully comprehend the scope of Maelstrom ‘s interactive
gameplay
tools for interacting with an entire galaxy, with hundreds of characters, dozens
of plots, plans, dirty laundry, vendettas, and all the other things that make real
life what it is. So pull up a chair, invite a friend, and enjoy the game!
Sincerely,
We have tried to achieve maximum realism not only in terms of the
without experiencing it firsthand. Maelstrom provides you with all the
Mark Vange
Director,
PAS Systems
Table of Contents
A Warm and Friendly Letter from Elysia Sybarrite
Executron
Foreword
Main Screen
Televid Screen
Governor Screen
Personnel Screen
Military Command
Secret Intelligence Network
Research and Development
Mining
Load and Save Screen
The Renegade’s Guide to the Galaxy
History ...........................
Strategy
A Planetary Compendium
Who’s Who in the Galaxy
1200 User’s Manual ..........
..........................
........................
....................... .I0
..................... .I2
..................... .I5
..................... .I8
Sector Map
Buy Section
Battle Section
Dossier on Planetary Representatives
Extortion Missions .................. .30
Reconnoitering Planets
Insurgence Missions
........................... .36
Surveying
Opening a Mine
Closing a Mine
...................... .20
......................
.....................
............... .29
....... .30
............... .30
.................
............... .32
....................... .37
.................... .37
.................... .37
.................
.......
..........................
................ .44
................. .49
The Maelstrom Hint Guide .............
5
6
.6
.7
.21
.24
.31
..3 9
41
.41
.42
53
2
A Warm and Friendly Letter from Elysia Sybarrite
Dear Boss,
Hello, boss. Since we’re going to be working together so closely, I thought I
would tell you my understanding of the situation up to this point. This will help
us clear up any misunderstandings surrounding your recent change of heart.
The story as I understand it is this: you were an officer of rank in the Syndicate
forces. Given a one-man mission to reconnoiter Harmony for a possible takeover, you came here and observed us from orbit. Knowing the explosive composition of Harmony’s surface, you were looking for a means of takeover other
than a space-ground assault. During your flight you apparently had second
thoughts. Though you were not of the highest rank, your knowledge of the
Syndicate’s methods of colonization turned you against them. Harmony is a
peaceful mining community and it must have bothered you to help the Syndicate
usurp the government, as this would have meant killing innocent miners and
their families. When you reached Harmony you defected, joining us.
I received you as the Governor of Harmony, Elysia Sybarrite. Since Harmony
has small talent for war, we decided we wanted you as commander. And since
our last few leaders have met with an unfortunate and untimely demise, we appointed you to the position of Overlord. You have now been placed in charge of
all operations. You have a cabinet of five: The Heads of Military, Mining, Secret Intelligence, Research, and myself. I take care of everything not encompassed by the other departments.
A word of advice: your task is simple to define, but more difficult to do. You
must stop the Syndicate before they capture Harmony and change this galaxy
into a ruthless dictatorship. Though the army is small, our resources are huge
and you have the support of many of the surrounding planets. Be careful, be-
cause you cannot neglect us while battling the Syndicate.
We’re right behind you Boss, Good Luck!
Elysia Sybarrite,
Governor of Harmony
5
Executron 1200 User’s Manual
Foreword
This is the official user’s manual for your new Executron 1300 fully automated
holo-desk. All standard and custom
is warranted for a period of one (1 ) standard
was prepared by Armor Uvgod, and all
mony Research, INC.
features
arc
outlined
inter-galactic
custom- software is copyrighted by Har-
in
full.
annum.
Your software
This manual
MAIN SCREEN
The first thing you will see when you power up the Executron is the MAIN
screen.
The Executron 1200
are accessed using
graphic display within your
facilitate selection of
To select a command using
the tip of the Holo-pointer is over
left mouse button. Unless otherwise
when the words “select” or
utilizes a
the mouse
various commands.
standard
input
field of view and uses its patented llolo-pointer to
the
I
holo-pointer,
"click on"
English keyboard. Most of its commands
device. The Executron generates a holo-
simply maneuver the mouse until
the
appropriate spot, and then click down the
noted,
this is always the procedure implied
appear
in this manual.
1
f
I hope that you can be productive and successful behind your new desk, and if
there is any problem, call me at
the
VII) area. I will be happy to talk to you.
Yours Truly,
3/
Armor Uvgod,
Chief Engineer
This screen is the hub of your entire system, so familiarize yourself with it completely.
This is also where you will be receiving the majority of your incoming messages. At the bottom of the MAIN desktop is the message bar and transfer panel
which are enclosed by a box. The Executron maintains this box on every active
display in the entire system. The buttons on the transfer panel will enable you to
move among the Executron’s eight areas. The buttons are as follows:
VID Communications area (teleVIDeo screen)
GOV GOVernor area
MIL
SIN
+
MILitary area
Secret Intelligence Network area
RES RESearch area
1
MIN MINe Operations area
MAIN MAIN panel
SAV Disk Operations, Environment Control and Pause
EXIT
Return to previous area
Note that the function keys
Fl
through
F8,
plus the ESC key can also be used
for moving from screen to screen.
The message bar is for quick information such as notification of incoming messages, warnings of impending battles and help messages concerning the operation of the various controls.
6
The large box in the upper right of the MAIN panel has two purposes. Usually it
In the upper left comer is the vid-screen which is used when receiving communications from various people. When someone is connected with you, his or her
picture will appear in this box, along with the person’s name printed across the
top. Just below this vid-screen is the CONNECT/DISCONNECT button which
will light up when there is a message waiting to be received. Clicking once on
the box receives the message, and clicking again ends the call. Make sure you
have read and understood each message before disconnecting, as people will
usually not call a second time and the Executron cannot give you access to a
message later on.
In the lower middle of the screen is a text box. When someone calls you, that
person’s message will be printed in this box. To scroll through the message, simply click your Holo-pointer on the down arrow at the side of the message box or
press the Page Down key on your keyboard. Clicking the up arrow or pressing
Page Up moves the text in the opposite direction. Throughout the desktop, there
are various screens at which you can read incoming messages or reports, or lists
of pertinent information. These arrows appear in all boxes like this, and all work
in a similar way.
Below the CONNECT/DISCONNECT button is a box which contains a listing
of the basic statistics for Harmony. You will want to refer to this brief,
date summary repeatedly during the course of a game. The statistics are as follows (all figures are represented in Harmony Notes except where noted):
Total Funds
The entire sum of the wealth at your disposal.
up-to-
contains a statistical breakdown for each of the four areas, starting with mining.
The monthly budget, number of foremen, number of mines and general staff are
all displayed here. Below that is Research, also outlining budget, supervisors,
number of projects and staff. Military and SIN stats are below that with budgets,
officers or agents, missions and staffs.
The box can also be used to display video recordings and other supplementary
visual data sent by a caller. The Executron will display two buttons beside the
viewer, one which plays the video data, marked VIEW, and one below that
which is marked END. This button, when selected, will END the transmission
and the Executron will automatically disconnect the caller.
If someone calls you during the game, the Executron will make sure you know
about it through the message bar and by highlighting the button which leads to
the screen where the message is waiting. When you go to the MAIN panel, the
CONNECT button under the vid-screen will be highlighted. You can answer the
call by clicking on the button, and the person’s picture will appear on the vid-
screen, along his or her message. If you ignore an incoming call, after a short
time the caller may give up.
Now that you are familiar with the MAIN screen and how it functions, let’s take
a tour through each area in the order it appears in the transfer panel.
Selecting the EXIT button in the screen transfer panel or pressing the ESC key
will automatically return the holographic display to the screen it just came from.
This is accomplished by the Executron’s exclusive event buffer unit.
Monthly Expenses
+---
Monthly Income Total revenue for the month. This figure is added to your
total funds at the beginning of every month.
Fitzholnium Value This is the current selling price for one unit of Fitz. (dis-
cussed later)
General Staff This is the number of non-skilled labor available to be
hired by all departments. These people are necessary to the
smooth running of mines, research projects, military and
SIN missions.
8
9
TELEVID SCREEN
You can access the TeleVID screen by clicking on VID in the transfer panel or
by pressing the
in the galaxy, including your cabinet on Harmony, leaders of various planets in
the galaxy, and others. In addition to talking to these people you can also view
their personal tiles for background information. These files are gathered by SIN
networks, under the auspices of Mr. Fredericks and yourself.
In the top left comer of VID is a vid-screen. Its functions are similar to the
MAIN panel vid-screen. When you are talking to a person, his or her picture
will appear, with their name along the top. Directly below is the standard CON-
NECT/DISCONNECT button. The button always appears activated, since on
this screen you are placing calls and not receiving them.
In the top right comer is the stats box. Normally this box will contain a list of
to-date general statistics for all of Harmony. These include the current date, total
funds, executive wage (some of the people you can call also work for you) and
number of free general staff. When you are talking to a person or viewing this
person’s file, this box will display general statistics for that person.
Fl
key. This area is used for talking to all the important people
overing the entire middle
portion of the screen is the
text box, which displays the
list of all the people you can
call, and their home planets.
It will also display all relevant text you wish to see.
This includes personal files
and what is being said by
each caller.
up-
As you continue to operate the departments at your disposal, your SIN agents
and your Military may find new people, or these persons may make themselves
available to you of their own accord. Whenever a name is added to the list it will
appear highlighted in yellow and will stay that way until you either talk to this
person or view his or her file. When you initially power up the Executron you
will not have talked to anyone or read any tiles, so everybody will be highlighted.
If a person dies, his or her name will naturally be removed from the list.
The Executron is on-line with the inter-galactic communications network at all
times, so all that is required is to use the arrows in the text box to manipulate the
list until the name of the desired person is in view, then select it; the Executron
will place an outlines around that name. Then just click on the connect button.
This will place a call to that person. When the person answers the call, his or her
picture will be displayed on the vid-screen and that person’s statistics will be in
the stats box.
Talking to a person can be done directly from viewing their file. You can click
on CONNECT, and the Executron will place a call to that person. The person’s
picture and basic statistics will remain on the vid-screen and in the stats box, but
the text of their file will be replaced in the text box by the contents of their con-
versation.
The opposite case is also possible. While in the midst of a call, select the button
labeled FILE with the Holo-pointer. This will end the conversation with that person and the call will be replaced by his personal file. The FILE button will also
toggle to read LIST.
When you call someone, that person will usually answer (you are, after all, the
Overlord of Harmony!), though occasionally that person may not be available or
you may reach his secretary.
Just below the CONNECT/DISCONNECT button, on a line by itself, is a button
labeled FILE. To view the personal file of a person, use the up/down arrows to
manipulate the list until the name of the desired person is in view, then select
that name; this will place a box around that person. Then use the Holo-pointer to
click on FILE. When you do this, that person’s picture will appear on the screen,
his or her basic statistics will appear in the stats box, and his or her file will be
displayed in the text box. Also, the button labeled FILE will toggle to read LIST.
When you are finished reading someone’s file, click on LIST. Doing so will
blank the vid-screen, return the basic statistics for Harmony to the statistics box
and the list of persons to the large text box, and toggle the LIST button back to
FILE.
10
Click on disconnect and this will blank the vid-screen, reset the stats box and return the list of people you are familiar with to the text box. Be sure to have completely read the message before disconnecting. It is considered rude to keep
badgering planetary leaders.
11
GOVERNOR SCREEN
Access the GOV area by selecting it in the screen transfer panel or by pressing
F2. The GOV area allows you to deal with some aspects of running the government of Harmony, and to sell Harmony’s research discoveries for quick profit.
People may contact you through the GOV area and ask questions regarding a variety of matters which require your attention. You can also inspect a summary of
all Harmony departments, adjust wages and get a sense of your approval rating
among Harmony residents.
The top right of the screen is the stats box, which includes all of the information
given in the MAIN stats, but the Executron also includes three new pieces of information. They are:
You may wish to use polling as a personally healthier way to gauge public opin-
ion.
The top right contains the area’s vid-screen, with attendant CONNECT/DIS-
CONNECT button. To the immediate left of the vid-screen are the YES/NO buttons, used to respond to questions from incoming callers.
Below the stats and vid-screen is the text box which, in addition to dialogue
from the vid-screen, displays any technology invented by Harmony research
which can be sold (see RES section).
Below that, and just above the transfer panel and message bar is a row of four
function buttons. Left to right they are SELL ITEM, POLL, and the two departmental summary buttons,
SELL ITEM displays a list of items invented on Harmony whose patents are
available to sell in the text box. Clicking the holo-pointer on an item automatically sells that item and its patents to the planet Tool for the amount displayed.
Inventing items to sell is done by research teams on Harmony, and a full description of that process is included later in the manual. Unsold items are available to
be utilized on Harmony ships for a reduced rate, and perhaps more importantly,
are unavailable to the rest of the galaxy. Once an item is sold, everyone has
equal access to it, for a price which includes tariffs and a profit margin.
The summary buttons both work in much the same way. Selecting one takes you
to a new area which displays statistical overviews of two departments at a time.
SIN/MIL
and RES/MIN.
Staff wage
Executive wage The monthly wage of supervisors, managers, foremen, offi-
Last Poll
The two wage listings both have two arrow buttons beside them which can be
used to raise and lower wages as you see fit.
You can initiate a new poll simply by clicking on the POLL button in the lower
middle of the screen, and the Executron will place the necessary orders with the
polling company. You will be advised in the message bar that the poll has been
started. A poll requires two weeks to complete, and you will be notified when it
is done. Harmony has its roots in a rough and tumble mining colony, and the occasional leader has been lynched by mobs enraged with that leader’s policies.
12
This is the monthly wage paid to general staff. All general
staff are paid the same amounts.
cers and agents. These people are also all paid in a similar
fashion.
Your approval rating out of 100, as based on the most re-
cent independent poll.
13
Stats given are as follows:
Date
Total Funds
Oper.cost
Area budget
Current Date on Harmony
Total available funds
Operating costs of area
Monthly budget which can be adjusted up or down
by using the arrow buttons.
Maintenance costs
Cost of everything for a
given
area, except salaries
and wages.
Min. staff
The smallest number of general staff needed to operate a department.
Base staff
The number of general staff not already specifically
assigned within the area. This number can be ad-
justed in the same manner as the budget.
Total staff
The number of general staff
hired
to the area. This
number rises and falls with the base staff total, but
can never be exceeded by the minimum staff number.
Executives
Number of agents, officers or managers hired to
each department.
Assignments
Number of missions, projects or mines currently in
each department.
At the bottom of each summary are two buttons which change the stats boxes to
text boxes. The
left
button displays executives, and the right shows assignments.
Both buttons in each summary toggle to display STATS, to take the displays
back to the stats screen.
Below this is one more row, designated by the
Executron
as function buttons.
These allow a move to a different area. The first one, marked PERSON, transfers to the personnel area, which is discussed in greater detail in the next section.
Next to that is a short button used to move to the department whose stats are displayed above it. The middle button toggles to the two other summary displays.
The fourth button works just like the second one, changing the display to the department area. The last button is marked EXIT, and works to duplicate the
func-
tions of the EXIT button in the transfer panel, detailed earlier in the manual.
PERSONNEL SCREEN
This screen can be reached by clicking on PERSON from any of the four department areas or from the summaries. It allows you to view the personnel file of
any qualified person on Harmony, and hire that person to work for you in the ap-
propriate areas. You can also fire anyone working in any of the departments
from this screen.
authority in the different work
y
In the Military area the executives are used as Captains and engineering and
computer officers aboard your starships. A starship cannot be sent on a mission
without a Captain. Engineering and computers are used to help run the ship and
to exact repairs on the ship during battle. All military personnel have different
skills which will affect their ability to repair damaged items. Further, officers
will have varying amounts of leadership experience, and this will affect the overall efficiency of the ship to which they are assigned. Officers’ files may be
viewed in the Personnel screen.
In the SIN area the executives are hired as SIN agents to complete assigned missions. The agents will have varying amounts of experience as indicated by their
personnel files.
The Personnel area allows you to hire and fire executives in any of the four
areas, but not to assign them to their specific task. For example, in the personnel
screen you can hire a military officer to the military department, but you must
go to the MIL area to actually assign him to a particular ship.
The layout of the screen is similar to the VID area, with a couple of notable exceptions. The vid-screen in the upper left does not have a connect/disconnect
button. This has been replaced by a button marked HIRE. Clicking here hires
the selected person to his or her area of expertise. The button then toggles to
FIRE, allowing you to dismiss someone who proves unsatisfactory. Directly underneath FIRE/HIRE there is a row of five buttons beside the FILE/LIST button.
~~~~~-
proving all mining processes.
In the Research area, execu-
tives work as project manag-
ers. To start a project in the
Research area, you must have
a manager to oversee the project and guide it towards a useful end result.
14
15
-
The first is marked FREE, and displays the list of available personnel who have
not yet been hired. The next four buttons have the names of the four departments on them, and clicking on them displays a list of executives hired to each
area. Selecting a person from one of the departments allows you to fire him or
her, or display that person’s tiles again. The buttons are highlighted to show
which area you are currently reviewing.
Elysia Sybarrite and her staff are constantly trying to find
new
talent for you,
and different people apply. There should always be a supply of all four executive types, but if you run out, then wait a bit and your staff
will locate
more.
When a new person is added to the FREE list, his or her name will be high-
lighted until you either hire that person to a specific area
or view his or
her personnel file. At the start of the game you will not have dealt with anyone, so all
of the names will be highlighted in the FREE list.
people
While this list will be constantly replenished as you hire
people who are on the list for too long will eventually
find
away from it,
other
work and will
no longer be available.
You can jump from a list to any other list at any time by simply clicking on the
correct button. Each list shows the names and availability of each person on it.
Any person who has received a specific assignment within his or her department
will have a star displayed beside his or her name.
You can only hire people from the FREE list. Also, mining foremen can only be
assigned to the Mining area, research project managers can only be assigned to
the Research area, military officers can only be hired to the Military area, and
SIN agents can only be hired to the SIN area.
above). The text box will display the FREE list and the person’s name will have
been moved to the appropriate department.
To
fire
someone from a department, you must start by looking at the personnel
list of that person’s department (see above for looking at lists of different areas).
Select the desired name; the Executron will place a box around that name. Then
select the FIRE button with the Holo-pointer. That person will be sent walking
papers by the Executron. He or she will also be removed from the personnel list
for that area.
When someone is fired from an area the Executron adds the person’s name back
to the FREE list. Also, the Executron will give you a confirmation at the message bar.
When you hire someone you must pay that person. The new employee’s
monthly wages comes out of the budget for the area to which he or she was
hired. The new employee can then be given an assignment within each area.
To hire someone from the FREE list, use the Holo-pointer to select the desired
name, then click on the button labeled HIRE and the Executron will contact that
person, letting him know that he or she hired to the appropriate area. For example, if the person’s occupation was mining foreman, he will be automatically
hired to the MIN area.
When someone is hired, that person’s name will be removed from the FREE list,
and will be placed in the appropriate one for whichever area he was hired to.
Also, the Executron will send you a message confirming the action you have
just completed.
You can also click on HIRE when viewing someone’s personnel file. If you do,
the person whose tile you are viewing will be hired to the appropriate area, and
the Executron will remove his or her file as if you had clicked on LIST (see
16
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