  /<_____________________________________________________________________>\
  \________  __________   ______   ___________   _____   _____________  __/
   |      /  ;\_    __/   .|    \_/   \_     |    \_    ____/_|_     /  ;\
   |.   -/     \    \_     |.    |    .|.    |    .|.    |    ./   -/     \
  _|!   /       \    |    .|!    |     |!    |     |!    |     |   /       \
  \________   _//____|   _;|_____|   _;|_____|   _;|_____|   _;|_______  _//
->- -----|_____/-----|_____|-----|_____|-----|_____|-----|_____|----|_____/ -<-
<  .     .     .     .     .      d A M N E d      .     .     .     .     .  >
->- - -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----------------- ------ ----- ---- -mG(CiA) -<-

darkness v1.00b2

--

what this doesn't have:

- a whole lot of features i will add, but decided not to add until 1.00 is
  completed.
- a whole lot of testing under it's belt (the alphas have been extensivly
  tested at 3 locations, but it's hard to get everything without a wide beta
  version.

what this does have:

- darkness v1.00 in a pretty much complete stage
- darkness dev kit/source/example igms
- probably a lot of bugs, typos, and other errors that have yet to be reported
or resolved.

this is where you come in: since this is a wide beta release there is no
way i can keep track of everyone and force you all to report back to me,
however it would appreciate it if anyone who wishes to help improve this
door would report to me with bugs, typos, cosmetic errors, and suggestions.
please mail these to darkness@demonic.net.

once again, this is a WIDE BETA version which means it can be distributed
publically without problems.

depending on the amount of problems reported and changes made there will
most likely be several releases/revisions of beta 2 and possibly another full
beta version before the final public release.

IMPORTANT, like i said... please send feedback directly concerning
darkness to darkness@demonic.net. my email address is jp@demonic.net if
you need to contact me for any other reason.

-jp (5/28/00)


UPDATE FOR BETA 2 (FOR PREVIOUS BETA TESTERS)

to upgrade from a previous beta version simply overwrite all files... if
problems are encountered be sure to reset the game.

stuff since beta 1 revision 7...

+ completed a shabby first version of darkness.doc
+ due to popular request i added an exit confirmation prompt, apparently
  a lot of people were accidently exiting... no is the default answer.
- removed the back doors i had in for testing purposes. there were two, one
  ran a monster fight of choice, one would run an event of choice... if these
  had been discovered/leaked cheating would ruin the game. don't worry though,
  those were the only 2 and now they're gone.
! again, due to popular request, i have made special attacks in player fights
  only work on high levels, not equal or lesser level foes.
! igm editor wasn't showing varibles to edit the first time you selected them.
! reset option in darkcfg in now red to warn against hitting it.
! reset option in darkcfg will default to no on cr instead of not defaulting
  at all.
+ added menu option '1' to display game stats, will not show up on menu.
+ added menu option '2' to display game play summary, will not show up on
  menu.
+ added menu option '3' to display color code summary, will not show up on
  menu.
+ added two new varibles to config structs, one for autoreset (y/n) and one
  for reset period.  added autoreset options, if autoreset is on it will reset
  in x days and it will how many. if not it will display current message.
! fixed some cosmetic bugs in darkcfg misc options menu
+ added news announcement for when players beat masters
! fixed cosmetic errors on end game message.
! darkness wasn't changing classes after beating master correctly, fixed.
! fixed various master fighting cosmetic errors.
+ made darkness create ynews and tnews files during resets.
+ added random speaking in inn chat similar to lord's.
+ completed a shabby first version of darkdev.doc.
! added clrscr before command line help and fixed colors.
! made max members 10 in gang limited to 10 in darkcfg.
! made reset option in darkcfg not reset igm, or config, just game files.
! made autoreset in darkcfg only reset files that don't already exist.
+ made cycle playes routines also turn off inigmnow with ponnow.
+ made igm routines (both) exit darkness if players is dead, in jail, or in
  inn after igm exec.
+ made a simple install.bat to be run after unzipping (just to organize
  things a little)
+ started work on drkstuff.tpu - doesn't have everything i wanted to add in
  to it, but most of the important things.
! changed example igm3 to resemble a real igm a little more and to demo the
  drkstuff unit.

see whatsnew.txt for complete revision history...
