Readme 1.1


  		      ATROPHY PRESENTS

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                        LEVELLER 1.1
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Version    : 1.1
Date       : October 4th 2000
Author     : Warren "Pigwhistler" Jacobs
Email      : Pigwhistler@atrophy.co.uk
WWW page   : www.atrophy.co.uk


1) THE GAME
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1.1 About

Leveller is a simply but fun mod that tries to handicap players to make a more even playing field. Each player joins a game with 100 health. Every time a player is killed, their health goes up by 20 to a max of 200, this way the handicap is in their favour as they have more health to be able to stay in fights longer. Similarly, every time you kill an opponent - your max_health goes down by 20 - to a lower limit of 20. Your health doesn't drop, but if you are injured then your max health limit does. e.g. player A is in a fight with player B and kills him, but takes 12 hit points damage. Player B respawns with 120 health, while player A still has 88 health points (your health doesn't go down - but your max health does). They meet again - Player A kills player B again, but player A loses 40 health points. Player B respawns with 140 health, while player A is running around with 48 health. Player A stops to pick up a large health pack -but his health only goes back up to 60. This is because for every kill his max_health has gone down by 20. During the third exchange player A is killed by Player B who suffers 30 points damage. Player A respawns with 80 health, as he gets 20 for being killed. Player B meanwhile goes to pick up some health and his health is capped at 120. 
So to recap - 
everytime you kill someone your max health drops by 20 to a minimum of 20.
everytime you are killed your health goes up by 20 to a max of 200.
If your handicap is 1 (20 health) and you manage a kill - you get 100 health automatically, the handicap is broken and you get a bonus frag.


1.2) The rules.

Kill everyone

1.3) So whats in it for me?
Well its fun :-)
Makes for interesting changes in tactics - with high handicapped players having to be careful moving around the map, while low handicapped players have the bonus of plenty of health.


1.4) Whats new on the display?

New to version 1.1 is the ranking level showing how well you are doing compared to your fellow players. Also new MOTD

1.5) Installing and running.

If you are just a client wanting to connect to a game you don't need to do anything except connect and start fragging.
If you're a server admin, I won't patronise you by explaining in kiddy talk what you already know. If you want to run this at home though, on a LAN, create a directory under your Kingpin folder called "Leveller". Unzip all the files into this new directory. Once unzipped you should find a batch file called server.bat or dedicatedserver.bat- simply run one of these and get your friends to connect to your server. It is set to cycle through the standard KPDM1-5, but is playable on any map.

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2) RELEASE HISTORY



4)  DISTRIBUTION NOTES
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4.1) Disclaimer, copyright and permissions
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Kingpin: Life of Crime (c)1999 Xatrix Entertainment, Inc. (Cheers lads)
Leveller Copyright where applicable by Warren "Pigwhistler" Jacobs.


This modification and its attendant files must not, under any circumstance be distributed for monetary gains unless express and specific permission is authorised by myself (Warren Jacobs). No written permission is needed for distributing this software package on any media known or unknown to me, as long as this text file is included unchanged from its present form in this distribution and there is no charge associated with its distribution. I would appreciate being notified of distributions on cover discs, and possibly a copy of the magazine, just for the buzz though - you understand :-).

4) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Thanks to PlanetKingpin, Poisonville, Wireplay for giving us a reason to surf the net. 
Everyone who's given me feedback too, good or bad, thanks for taking the time to let me know what you think - it is appreciated.
Thanks to the authors of the Quake 2 programming tutorials at http://www.planetquake.com/qdevels - an invaluable resource in getting me started on mod-making.
I'd also like to thank Rat Instinct for his programming help - for pointing out the obvious so many times (but the numbers are dropping), for testing (eventually) when i could get him off my bloody ISDN connection. And to all those who've played our mods and enjoyed them (and i suppose those of you who didn't - at least you made the effort).
If I've missed you from this mention please let me know ASAP.

Cheers.


Pigwhistler
