------------------------------------- Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows Version 0.7 README - Important Stuff Last Updated January 1997 Douglas P. Webb ------------------------------------ Contents of This File --------------------- What you get here ................................... 2 Defintion of Freeware ............................... 4 Installation Procedure .............................. 5 Shameless Advertisement ............................. 6 Use License ......................................... 7 Limited Warrant and Disclaimer of Warranty .......... 8 Distribution License ................................ 9 -------------------- What You've Got Here -------------------- This is a early beta, Windows version of the Tome of Vast Knowledge. "What is the Tome of Vast Knowledge?", I hear you ask. Back when I started this program (1988), I was a big fan of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (I still am for that matter). I had 7 of the hard cover rulebooks, 10-15 modules and about 60 Dragon magazines. As a DM I was having trouble trying to find information that I knew I had, but couldn't remember where I'd read it. So I set out to write a program for keeping track of all the AD&D spells. (Interestingly enough the original version was written in PROLOG). After typing in the entire Players Handbook, Unearthed Arcana, Oriental Adventures and 100 spells from Dragon Mag., it occured to me that the same sort of thing would be useful for tracking monsters and magic items, and to a lesser extent, the piles of other interesting information that I had collected over the years. So I typed in the 3 monster books, and the 250 or so monsters I'd collected elsewhere, and all the magic items I could get my hands on. Then I added psionics, player character descriptions, non-player character descriptions, and many other things. Why, you may ask, am I telling you what I've done instead of directing you to simply examine the product. Ahh, there's the rub. TSR as you know has copyright on almost all of the material which I have compiled, and I need written authorization and some sort of a licensing agreement to distribute it. Alas, TSR used to have an exclusive licensing agreement with SSI (you know, they make all the "official" AD&D adventure games: Eye of the Beholder, etc.). SSI once upon a time put out some programs that were billed as the "Dungeon Master's Assistant" product line. These programs were not terribly successful in the market. I (and several other individuals, who I do not know personally) subsequently sent SSI products which superceded the DM's Assistant programs and suggested SSI market them. Alas, SSI was gun-shy after their previous experience. They did market research and decided they could not make money in this market. There was a hope that independent software developers might be allowed to sub-license from SSI, but this began to look doubtful. So, as a last attempt to get the product out where the public could look at it, I "digested" the various NET.BOOKS which may be freely distributed - now including the "Great Net Spell Book", 6th Ed., "Great Net Prayer Book", 6th Ed., the "Net Monstrous Compendium" and the "Net Monster Manual" and portions of the "Complete Net Handbook", "Darksun Net Handbook", "Complete Guide to Alcohol and AD&D". In 1993 I released the Tome onto the internet, and it has since been spotted on AOL and various CD-ROM compilations. UPDATES: 1994: SSI's exclusive licensing agreement ran out, so I petitioned TSR for some sort of licensing agreement which would have allowed me to release 'Official' material with the Tome. TSR indicated they had no plans of releasing or licensing software of this type. 1996: TSR has now as we all know released the core rules on CD-ROM. Maybe in a future version I'll write in compatibility with their CD-ROM version :-). 2 THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING The original version of the Tome was designed to run well on a 4.77 MHz XT with 2 floppies (and it does). However, GUI's now rule much of the desktop and in recent years the limitations of the original version have become an inconvenience. Given these factors I have over the last few years embarked on several efforts to generate a GUI version of the Tome. You have in your hands the fruits of my labours. This version is designed to run under Microsoft Windows (TM) 3.1, but should function under Win95 or Win-NT as well. This release of the WinTome maintains backward compatibility with the database format used by the DOS version of the Tome, and therefore suffers from many of the same limitations. As you have probably realized by now, none of the copyrighted material is enclosed. This version is of course compatible with the databases used by the DOS version of the Tome so I've included the databases that appeared in version 1.13 of the DOS Version. Because I did not write VADDCHAR - the 2nd Ed. compatible character generator - (and the significant complexity of the program) it is not included in the Windows version of the Tome, nor will it ever be - I will develop my own 2nd Ed. compatible character generator which will then be included with future releases of this package. NOTE: Unlike the keepers of the various books who have bent over backwards to include every spell they get, and leave it exactly as they recieved it, I have made a few changes. I intend to use all these databases in my own games, and I felt that many of the spells had an unreasonable level associated with them. I have changed the level of several spells, and I have left out a few that I think are unworkable or redundant, and made minor semantic clarifications in a few dozen or so that I thought were unclear. Flame me if you must, (I'll file your flames appropriately). Alternatively, argue persuasively for changes, and maybe I'll make them. (Or buy the BUILDER and change them yourself!) This release of the Windows version of the Tome is still in beta release and it therefore most surely has deficiencies and worse yet, bugs :-). If you find one please feel free to send me email describing the deficiency, or the nature of the bug and the exact conditions under which it manifests itself. For the foreseeable future you can contact me at: dwebb@cetac.com or send me a letter at (until at least Feb 1998): Douglas Webb 803 Hackberry Court, Appt# 2204 Bellevue, Nebraska, USA 68005 EEEEE N N JJJJJ OOO Y Y E NN N J O O Y Y EEE N N N J O O Y E N NN J J O O Y EEEEE N N J OOO Y 3 ---------------------- Definition of Freeware ---------------------- Freeware distribution gives users a chance to use software, without having to pay for it. This does not extend the right to sell the software to others or mangle it in any way and then redistribute it. Copyright laws apply to both Freeware and retail software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Freeware authors are accomplished programmers, just like retail authors, and the programs are often of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The author grants the right to any and all to distribute this program, so long as you abide by the guidelines appearing in the Distribution License for the Software (which appears below). 4 Installation & the Setup Program System Requirements: The Tome of Vast Knowledge requires that you run it on an IBM compatible 80386/486/Pentium based Micro Computer or 100% compatible with 4 Megabytes of memory, 3 Megabytes of hard disk space (+ more if databases are to be installed). Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later must also be installed (Windows 95 or NT are fine). For best performance, 8 megabytes of RAM, a 486 or better and a super VGA display are recommended. Installing the Tome of Vast Knowledge: Because none of the databases this program uses are shipped with this installation package. It is recommended that the DOS version of the Tome of Vast Knowledge (which contains these databases) should be downloaded and installed before running this installation program. The files in question are vast113a.zip and vast113b.zip and with some luck they'll be available where you found this archive. If the Tome was retrieved in the form of a .ZIP file this file should be decompressed into it's two component archives (DISK1.ZIP and DISK2.ZIP) and the contents for these ZIP files copied to floppy diskette (for archival purposes) or into a temporary subdirectory (if no persistent copy of the installation package is desired). From Program Manager pull down the File Menu and select run. Type a:\setup (assuming of course the installation package has been copied to a floppy diskette in drive A) and press the key. (If running Windows 95, Select Run from the Start Menu then type a:\setup.) Follow the instructions that the setup program provides. 5 Shameless advertisement for related products (not found in this archive) follows: ---------------------------- The Database BUILDER for the TOME OF VAST KNOWLEDGE ---------------------------- When the TOME was originally released with a few public domain databases, it was recieved fairly well. However, everyone agreed that the program would be much more useful if only the standard spell/monster/magic item databases were available. The Database BUILDER, a companion SHAREWARE product (available where you got the TOME?) is a response to this demand. With this toolkit you can build your own databases and integrate them into the TOME of VAST KNOWLEDGE (either the DOS or the Windows version.) Email or snail mail me for a copy if you can't find it. It costs me $5 to mail it within North America (and more overseas), be prepared to send me reimbursement upon reciept of the diskettes (specify media type.) The BUILDER should be found in an archive named VBILTxxx.ZIP, where xxx is a number indicative of the version. The Current version of the BUILDER at the time of this writing is 1.07. 6 ------------------ Use License: ------------------ You may use the beta version of The Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows free of charge. I don't guarantee that it will always be so, but for the time being it FREEWARE. Licensee shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this license. All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to Douglas P. Webb. 7 ------------------------------------------- LIMITED WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY ------------------------------------------- THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN MATERIALS (INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE) ARE PROVIDES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. FURTHER, DOUGLAS P. WEBB, DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE, OF THE SOFTWARE OR WRITTEN MATERIALS IN TERMS OF CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. IF THE SOFTWARE OR WRITTEN MATERIALS ARE DEFECTIVE YOU, AND NOT DOUGLAS P. WEBB OR HIS DEALERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS, OR EMPLOYEES, ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. THE ABOVE IS THE ONLY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, THAT IS MADE BY DOUGLAS P. WEBB, ON THIS DOUGLAS P. WEBB PRODUCT. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY DOUGLAS P. WEBB, HIS DEALERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY AND YOU MAY NOT RELY ON ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR ADVICE. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. NEITHER DOUGLAS P. WEBB NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS PRODUCT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH PRODUCT EVEN IF DOUGLAS P. WEBB HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. --------------- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --------------- BY USING THE FREEWARE VERSION OF THE TOME OF VAST KNOWLEDGE YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ITS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU ALSO AGREE THAT THE LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND SUPERSEDE ALL PROPOSALS OR PRIOR AGREEMENTS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE THE LIMITED WARRANTY. 8 -------------------------------------- Distribution License for this Software -------------------------------------- We are thrilled that you have chosen to evaluate the Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows. You are encouraged to distribute this software to any and all who are interested in obtaining a copy, including distributing it on BBS's or shareware distribution libraries. I encourage you to freely copy and distribute this freeware version of The Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows subject to the following restrictions: The WINTOME package is defined as containing all the material listed in the FILES.TXT text file. If any files listed in the FILES.TXT text file, or the FILES.TXT file itself, are missing, then the package is not complete and distribution is forbidden. Please contact me to obtain a complete package suitable for distribution. - The WINTOME package - including all related program files and documentation files - CANNOT be modified in any way and must be distributed as a complete package, without exception. - You may charge a distribution fee for the package, but you must not represent in any way that you are selling the software itself. - The PRINTED documentation may not be reproduced in whole or in part, using any means, without written permission from Douglas P. Webb. In other words, the disk-based documentation may not be distributed in PRINTED (hardcopy) form. - You shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this distribution license. All rights not expressly granted here are reserved by Douglas P. Webb. 9