The dopewars client is the part of dopewars which most users will encounter most frequently. If the dopewars binary is run without the -s (server) or -c (computer player) options (see command line options) it defaults to running in client mode. The dopewars client handles the interaction between a human player and the dopewars server (but if a dopewars server is not available, a "virtual" server will be run by the client to enable a single-player game to be played).
A brief description of using the client and playing dopewars is given here. These instructions apply to the old-style text-mode client, but the basic game play is similar for the newer graphical client. Bear in mind that both the client and the server you are connecting to can be configured by means of the dopewars configuration files, and so the game may differ radically from what is described here. It is suggested that you familiarise yourself with the game using the default settings before getting too adventurous!
The game screen is your interface with the dopewars world. At the top of the screen, from left to right, is displayed the game date, the game location (you start in the Bronx), the number of bitches working for you, and the space you have available for drugs. Note that each drug uses up one "space", but some guns may take up more. Your "bitches" are your subordinates - each bitch increases your "space" by 10 (you yourself start with a space of 20) and can carry one gun (you can carry two). Your bitches also take damage for you when in firefights, so it is advantageous to acquire extra bitches during the game.
Below the top line of the screen are three large windows. The one in the top left lists your statistics - your finances, the health of yourself or your bitches, and the number of guns you are carrying. Notice that you start the game with a debt - this will increase, turn by turn, until you pay it off to the Loan Shark. The top right window lists the drugs that you are currently carrying (you start off with none). Below this is a window in which messages from other players (if any) will appear.
Please note that if you are playing in "antique" mode, you do not have "bitches" but instead have a large trenchcoat which can carry 100 drugs. Antique mode also disables the messages window.
On starting a game of dopewars, the first thing you must do is give yourself a name. This identifies you to the server and to other players. If you are running in single-player or antique mode, the client will then start an internal "virtual" server and immediately start the game.
In other cases, the client will attempt to connect to a dopewars server specified in the configuration file or on the command line (if none is specified, it defaults to the local host). If this connection is successful, the game will then start. Otherwise, you will be given the option to manually choose a different server, obtain the server list from the metaserver and choose one, play a single-player game, or quit, by pressing the C, L, P, or Q keys respectively. If you don't want the client to attempt to connect to a server, this can be set - full details are given in the section on configuration files.
The New York of dopewars is divided into 8 (6 in "antique" mode) locations. At each of these locations, a variety of drugs, with fluctuating prices, are on sale. Not all of the drugs are necessarily on sale at each location all of the time, and the normally gentle fluctuations may be affected by such events as other dealers flooding the market with drugs, or the cops making a big drugs bust (which will drive the price up). On arriving at a new location, you will be told if any of these "special" events have occurred.
The main way to make money in dopewars is to buy and sell drugs, buying cheaply at one location, and then moving ("jetting") to a new location (a process which uses up one "day" or turn), and then selling for a profit at this new location. When you have arrived at a location, you will be told which drugs are being dealt in. You may buy one of these drugs by pressing the "B" key, then pressing the letter for the drug you wish to buy, and then entering the number of this drug you require. Bear in mind that you may not be able to afford or carry these drugs! Selling drugs is similar, on pressing the "S" key. When you are done and wish to "jet" to a new location, press the "J" key and then choose the location number.
If you are at a location where you cannot sell your drugs, you can drop them to free up space in your inventory (with the "D" key). Of course, this does not get you any money, and there is a chance that the cops may catch you in the act and attack you (see below).
Buying and selling drugs may make money, but unfortunately you start the game
with a debt to the loan shark of $5,000. Every turn this accumulates
interest, and counts against your total amount of money at the end of the
game (which is used as your high score, so it's quithat is printed to the user, and
so may may require changes to the translation. To update an existing
translation, change into the po subdirectory of the dopewars
source code, and do a "make dopewars.pot". This creates the
dopewars.pot file, which lists the strings that need translating.
Next, create a new translation file from your "old" translation file (we'll
assume it's called de.po) and dopewars.pot with the
msgmerge command:-
msgmerge -o newfile de.po dopewars.pot
Examine this new file newfile for translations that need updating
(a search for "fuzzy" should find most of them) and then overwrite your old
translation with the new one:
mv newfile de.po
Rebuild and reinstall dopewars, and the new translations should become
available. Again, it is deeply appreciated if such updated files are
contributed to the main dopewars distribution!
Last update: 11-12-2003
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