                 LORD v3.55-v4.05pb Changes:  By Bobby Queen
                 Prepared June 16, 2000 - wizards@shelby.net

Okay for the folks who have been wondering what has been added in the
last 3 updates that brought LORD355 up to LORD405p here they are.  And
rather than trying to describe them in detail I'll just list whats in
each whatsnew.txt.
                       ---------------------------------

*** NEW STUFF IN 4.00a FROM 3.55 ***

  * New command line options added:

  NOEMS - Disabled EMS memory usage completely.
  NORIP - Disabled the RIP check.
  ANSI - Forces ANSI regardless of what the drop file tells us.

  Example of usage:

  CALL START 1 NOEMS ANSI

  NOTE:  Always put your node # as the 1st parm!!!!

 * Fixed a local only repeating number that was happening when seth_wait()
   was called... I have NO clue how this got in the source, that writeln
   was NOT there when I tested it an hour before releasing.. (4.00a)

 * Turned range checking OFF, so roll-around #'s would be enabled again.
   Better than a runtime error it turns out... (4.00a)  (this was also
   in 3.55 but not in 4.00)

 * Can turn statbar completely off.  A unix guy asked for this feature, it
   only half worked before.  Edit the NODE?.DAT file and change STATUS ON
   to STATUS OFF to activate it. (do this for all nodes)

 * Took out some extra line feeds on some menus such as the town square. (it
   just looked ugly to me)

 * Changed the <MORE> prompt to be offset two, and be multicolored.

 * The opening menu screen now has a default of [E] to enter the realm.

 * Changes a few other cosmetic things to make it look more like my MBBS/WG
   version in the LORDTXT.DAT file.

 * Fixed problem with the fossil initted comport 1 unexpectedly.  This
   bug has been in my DDPLUS source forever, but I only recently fixed it
   for LORD2, so now it is fixed here too. (I just stole LORD2's comio.pas)

 * Took a REALLY nice BlackJack game that Shawn Teal made for his IGM
   Wizardstone (he has scrapped the IGM since) and made it a random event
   in LORD.  I recolored some stuff to make the color scheme fit and changed
   a few small things in it.

 * Took out the annoying "Play the new SCIFI game New World" ad.  Of course
   I replaced it with something else... ;>

 * LORDCFG will now create the 3rdparty.dat file if it doesn't exist.  (LORD
   already did this)

 * When returning from an IGM, it will check the armour, weapon and your
   name for illegal ` chars.  (this alone will stop a LOT of IGM cheating)

 * When a negetive value occurs in player gold, bank or exp it will be
   set to 0 instead of 2 billion, making IGM's that let you go negetive
   harmless. (fixed in another place also in 4.00a from 4.00)

 * Am not including the RIPICON pack.  No one needs it, if you really do
   get it from www.rtsoft.com's file section.

 * Didn't fix or change any RIP stuff, not enough people use RIP for this
   to matter too much.

 * If MAINT.BAT does not exist, it won't run it at 'newday'.  Before this
   caused a runtime error.  

 * If a player who is in an account over 128 marrys Violet, the game will
   not magically runtime error forever after.  Don't ask me why I used a
   signed shortint for this before..

 * A little tip:  If you you want to make a CUSTOM Other Places menu, (for
   instance, you have like 90 IGM's and it's the only way to fit them all on
   one screen) create a file called 3RDALT.TXT in the LORD dir, this will be
   displayed instead of the one LORD dynamically creates on its own.

   That's about it.  Not really enough to deserve to be 4.0, but what the
   hell.

  -Seth A. Robinson.  (sethable@rtsoft.com)

                       ---------------------------------

*** NEW STUFF IN 4.02 ***

In all honest truth, this release is a "cosmetic" release. ..

* updated all copyright notices, documentation, etc

* started work on optimizing the game.. when this is done, the game will
  run significantly faster.. Not to mention, it helps me learn the code..

* i know, i know.. not really enough "work" done to call for a new version.
  however, its been awhile since there was a release, and there needs to be
  one with the new owner's name, Metropolis, name on it.

- Michael Preslar

                       ---------------------------------

Note: I try to log stuff step by step.. If anything, Ill at least know what
I spent all day doing.. ;> Ill also try to log which things were requested,
and by who first..

*** NEW STUFF IN 4.05 ***

* fixed the jenny bug (only in 4.02)..
* fixed a bug with the registration routines (only in 4.02)..
*** Completely rewrote Lordcfg!
* LORD will now work with comports 10 and higher (max 255) IF you have a
  fossil and your bbs software supports it.
* Added one jennie code, and took one out.. and no, im not telling! <g>
* optimized code:
  - main menu              - the trainer
  - jennie codes           - dark cloak tavern
  - abdul's armor          - the healers
  - king arthur's weapons
  - the bank
  Which means if you notice anything funny in these sections, let me know.
  Otherwise, everything else should work exactly the way it used to, since
  Ive not touched it..
* Up until this version, you could ALT-C (forced chat) several times, which
  would force you to ESC out of each of them. Not anymore.. Only one chat
  allowed now..
* some cosmetic work.. new menu screens and whatnot..
* new option: enable or disable the talkative NPCs in the inn (req. G. Pope)
* mail now has the date written on it
* added player descriptions (req by lots of people) .. look for the old
  man in the DCT..
* theres a use for fairy lore now - and no, im not telling. You'll
  figure it out soon enough.
* added resurrection limit (req from Gameport's message board)
* if you were on the entrance menu, and hit 'Q', it wouldnt exit until
  you hit enter.. fixed..
* Now, if you "twit" someone, LORD will knock them out of the game, AND
  add their name to LOCKOUT.DAT
* In turn, I added ALT-K .. "Kill User".. This just 'hangup' on the user..
* Divorcing someone now drops charm 50% instead of to 50.. This goes for
  Violet and the Bard as well.. 
* Which added a new mail code: `* .. `?<num> marries that player to <num>
  `* will divorce them and take away 50% of charm
* You can no longer divorce someone and then marry on the same day. This
  goes for Violet and the Bard too.. (req G. Pope)
* speaking of mail codes, the `V code has been killed. did the same thing
  as `E..
* Changed the "play blackjack game" key from 'A' to 'G'..
* If you have a horse, you wont stumble onto the DCT.. (Req. M. Lacey)
* You can no longer marry both Violet AND Seth.. (sorry George <g>)
* lots of other little things that were potential bugs

New stuff within Lady - quite a bit hasnt been logged.. soo..

commands
* added @choice
* added @case.. itll handle "response" (from @choice) and &N vars..
  - added ID numbers to case statements. will now safely run as many
    nested case's as you like :)
* added the prompts command
* added the promptn command
* added math functions +, -, *, / and !
* @displayfile was already there. now itll do regular .ans files, and
  sansi style databases..
* added @label and @goto
* added @set
* took some work, but got if/then/else's for &B's, &N's and &P's..
  - added nested if/thens.. you can haveup to 256 of them..
* added @runsub

vars/misc
* added 38 player variables!
* added &F and &L
* added &time
* added the string vars &S1 through &S40
* added the number vars &N1 through &N40
* added the boolean vars &B1 through &B40
* added `l
* added "smart" comments.. any text after a ; will be ignored
* added &nick
* added &ver
* added `k
* added &rnd<num>
                       
                       ---------------------------------

Okay so there you go.  Essentially let me say as a player and a beta
tester for LORD402 and LORD405p that LORD has changed alot since 3.55
and its definately worth upgrading your game.  I just hope that Michael
keeps working on LORD and makes it as good as it can be.  Of course he
is supposed to be working on LORD 2 and TEOS also in the future and I
can't wait to help him beta test those also. :)

Bobby Queen
OFFICIAL LORD II IGM Archive webmaster
Kiteria's Korner webmaster
