/-/\-----------\ < |astlevaniaRL > \-\/-----------/ Serenade of Chaos by: Santiago Zapata, 2005-2010 Contents --------- 1. Story 2. Introduction 3. The Hero Description of all player classes and their skills 4. Character Attributes 5. The art of combat - Weapons and Shields 6. The day and the night 7. Shopkeepers 8. Commands and Actions 9. Credits and Acknowledgments 1. Story -------- The struggle between the Belmonts and Dracula comes from distant times; time after time the count of darkness rises from the shadows, and a Belmont hero responds to the call of fate to confront him. Years ago, it was the turn of Christopher Belmont to take his place in the history of his bloodline, and meet his fate on the castle of chaos. He emerged victorious, and the land was saved. However, not much after his victory over Castlevania, when his son Soleiyu was ready to rise as the new vampire killer, the forces of darkness struck again and his son was abducted... Again, Christopher had to fight through castles of different nature, and finally found his child transformed into a vicious demon; He had to fight Dracula, whom still without his full power, died to the sacred whip. He came back with his son on his hands. The townspeople had his wounds attended, but there are wounds human medicine cannot cure... three days after returning safe and regaining his human shape, Soleiyu fled to the mountains and forests, and never again came back. Not much happened for the next years, until one night, the moon turned blood, and the castle raised from the ashes, much before the time it was fated to; one by one the towns of the region fell to the wrath of the dark armies, as no one seemed to assume the fate of facing the count in his own castle. Christopher Belmont, who had become a renowned trainer, was feeling the weight of the years coming over him; still, he joined the most brave and skilled warriors he could and headed to Castlevania, the dwelling of chaos. One by one, his companions fell to the atrocities of the castle, their sacrifice being the only way to aid their master unto the only chance at sight to save mankind, finally, wounded and tired, he was for the third time in the same place he had been fifteen years ago; the vampire killer whip, which should have been in the hands of his son, gave him the last strengths to face Dracula again, and so, the final face-off began. The events that followed marked the start of a new age... Darkness swept the world, as all hopes seemed to be lost, and long forgotten Belmont bloodlines had to rise again and take their paths again to the cursed castle, the time has come for the future of mankind to be decided; the threads of fate are in your hands and in your heart. 2. Introduction --------------- CastlevaniaRL is a roguelike game in which you play the role of a character granted special powers to fight Count Dracula on his stronghold, the Castlevania. On your quest you will face horrible monsters and find sacred relics and artifacts. Your special abilities and long years of training, are your only advantage against the evil army of the count that protects the castle and threatens the land. 3. The Hero ----------- Hunters of the night... their fate is to cleanse the world from the dark influence of the count, who rises again from age to age; there are different kinds of vampire hunters, all of them with a common objective and different means to achieve it which can be resumed into 6 different character fates, which determine the abilities, initial equipment and training of the character. As they get closer to their final fate by slaying the evil inhabitants of the castle, they will unlock additional powers which will allow them to face the ever-growing dangers inside the castle. Vampire Killer -------------- Skilled using the sacred Vampire killer whip and the only able to use the mystic weapons. This character grows strong as he finds powerups for his whip and mystics; its main ability is the use of the sacred weapons, which he may find after killing enemies or breaking things inside the castle. He must make good use of support and upgrade items, as he can't equip conventional weapons or armor. He can find stronger mystical weapons as he grows stronger. /-- Warp Dash /---- Slide Kick --|-- BackFlip / \-- Air Dash / Holy Water --\ /-- StopWatch --\ /-- Fist X X Holy Bible --/ \-- Cross ------/ \-- Crystal \ \ /-- Soul Wind ---\ \-- Item Break --< >---(a) \-- Soul Flame --/ /-- Soul Ice ----\ (a) ---< >-- Soul Blast \-- Soul Saint --/ The following are the basic sacred weapons and their effects: Dagger (1) A weak weapon that has a long straight flight. Axe (1) Strong weapon that flies on an arc for a short range Holy Water (1) Magic water that explodes on flames once it hits ground, the flames stay for a short time before extinction Holy Bible (2) Throws slicing holy sheets on a spiral path Stopwatch (3) A relic that once opened stops time flow for a short instant. Cross (3) A magical weapon that slices through the enemies and returns Sacred Fist (5) Punches enemies in a direction Blast Crystal (5) Releases a hovering crystal that explodes three times damaging surrounding enemies Item Break (?) Executes a powerful move depending on the current mystic weapon Soul Wind (10) Stops Time Soul Flame (10) Damages nearby enemies with blast of fire Soul Ice (20) Recovers some health Soul Saint (15) Enchants the whip to shoot fireballs Soul Blast (20) Creates a powerful holy blast around the player Slide Kick (2) Slides on the floor kicking weak enemies Warp Dash (3) Blinks in a direction for a short distance BackFlip (Passive) Higher attack increases change to perform a double evade check Air Dash (5) Flies through the air attacking enemies Vanquisher Wizard ----------------- A master of the arcane arts trained to defeat Vampires and other evil creatures, the vampire vanquisher handles strong magical attacks which can be improved by finding spell books and scrolls. He is mediocre at weapons with the exception of the ring blades and the magic rods, which he is able to enchant turning them into deadly weapons. /-- Teleport-------\ Recover --< >-- Light-------\ \-- Cure ----------/ \ >-- Major Jinx /-- Energy Shield--\ / Enchant --< >-- Mindblast --/ \-- Mindlock ------/ /-- Flame Spellbook --<--- Ice Ray \-- Lighting Bolt Homing Ball (2) Throws a magic missile directly to an enemy Charge Ball (6) Launches a devastating energy ball Flame (8) Needs the Book of Fire Summons a strong flame Ice Ray (7) Needs the Book of Ice Projects a cold icy wind that may freeze enemies Lighting Bolt (10) Needs the Book of Lighting Shoots a poweful thunderbolt Recover (15) Recovers Health Enchant (5) Increases a weapon attack by 2 for a short time Teleport (5) Transports over a short distance Cure (5) Removes poison and other maladies Energy Shield (15) Reduces taken damage by 2/3 for a short time MindLock (7) Paralizes an enemy Light (15) Creates a magical source of light that follows its caster MindBlast (15) Disrupts the mind of nearby enemies Major Jinx (0) Exchanges hearts for 5 hits, cancels recover Darkness Renegade ----------------- A vampire who discovered mankind was worth to protect and not to destroy; he abandoned the shadows to fight on the light side, still retaining most of his dark powers. The renegade has a wide array of skills that allow him to manipulate energies in chaotic places, especially Dracula's castle. He prefers light weapons and armor, although he can handle some of the most devastating magical weapons. Summon Soul ---------\ /-- Shade Teleport --\ X >-- Flames Shoot -- Hellfire Dark Metamorphosis --/ \-- Souls Strike ----/ /-- Bat Morph ---- Adv. Bat Morph Morph ----------------<--- Wolf Morph --- Adv. Wolf Morph \-- Myst Morph --- Adv. Myst Morph The following are the basic dark powers of the renegade Fireball (2) Projects a weak flame missile that flies on a straight line Soul Steal (5) Steal part of the enemy soul, thus regaining health and damaging him Minor Jinx (0) Exchanges 5 hits for hearts Summon Soul (4) Summons a fierce soul that breaks through the enemy Dark Metamorphosis (10) Regains health by drinking blood from the enemies Shade Teleport (5) Dematerializes and travel as a shade Souls' Strike (8) Summons three souls that attack the nearest enemy Flames Shoot (10) Shoots three fireballs in a direction Hellfire (15) Shoots three lava balls in a direction Chiropteran Metamorphosis (10) Turn into a bat with the ability of flying for a short time Lupine Metamorphosis (10) Turn into a quick and fierce wolf for a short time Ethereal Metamorphosis (20) Turn into thin myst for a short time Souls' Master ------------- The souls masters have destructive supernatural powers based on the manipulation of spirits from former powerful creatures that have surrendered to the light. Using these he may cause either destruction to his enemies or relievement over his allies. /-- Confidence Cat Soul ---- DragonFire --< \-- Kind Soul ----- Soul Forge /-- Invoke Eagle ---------\ /- Invoke Bird ---\ \ Bird's Egg -- Manipulate --< >- Invoke Cat-Invoke Tiger >-(a) \- Invoke Turtle -/ / \-- Invoke Tortoise ------/ /-- Invoke Dragon (a) --< \-- Tame Turtle Soul (5) Calls a turtle shell which increases the defense for a short time Bird Soul (2) Calls two birds whom scratch the enemies Cat Soul (3) Calls a quick running kitten that scratches through the enemies Birds' Egg (1) Throws a dove egg which explodes upon impacting the floor DragonFire (8) Summons a small drake spirit which burns through the enemies Manipulate (5) Tries to manipulate an enemy and turn it against other monsters Confidence (Passive) Greatly increases the chance of manipulating an enemy Soul Forge (Passive) Greatly increases the chance of taming an enemy Invoke Bird (5) Invokes a quick flying bird servant Invoke Turtle (5) Invokes a small enduring turtle servant Invoke Cat (5) Invokes a quick wild TomCat Invoke Eagle (5) Invokes a quick and fierce flying eagle servant Invoke Tortoise (5) Invokes a massive enduring tortoise servant Invoke Tiger (5) Invokes a quick Slashing Tiger Invoke Dragon (8) Invokes a powerful Dragon Tame (5) Permanently turn a monster to your side Man-Beast --------- In the far mountains of Transylvania, where only the Belmont's have dared to travel, there are small communities of beings which are neither human nor monsters; they have managed to live along after being shunned by the humans as monstrosities. When Dracula awoke and sent messengers asking them to join his legions of darkness, they refused. Their settlements were burned and leveled, and most of them were horribly massacred. The few survivors ran away, promising to seek revenge against the dark lord using all of their power and might. The manbeast fight better unarmed, and their martial training allows them to use deadly combat skills, as well as regenerate their health while fighting /-- Power Strike -- Power Crash Power Blow --< \-- Bear Morph -- Beast Morph -- Demon Morph /-- Self Control -- Complete Control Energy Scythe -- Claw Assault --< \-- Regeneration Claw Swipe (3) Sweeps the enemies in front of you with a strong claw blow. Power Blow, Strike and Crash (3) Builds up power for a strong blow that bounces back enemies Bear Morph (15) Turns into a wild bear, has a medium chance of losing mind Beast Morph (15) Turns into a powerful beast, has an high chance of losing mind Demon Morph (15) Turns into a strong demon, has a low chance of losing mind Energy Scythe (5) Damages enemies in front of you projecting the energy of a blow Claw Assault (5) Jumps and slashes through enemies Self Control (passive) Reduces chance of losing mind while morphing Complete Control (passive) Prevents losing mind while morphing Regeneration (passive) Recovers health while fighting Knight ------ Agents to the church trained to defend the world from chaos and armed with the most advanced human weaponry, the knight of light are a group of individuals which devote their lives to defend the interests of the church. They were the same that once raided Wallachia to dethrone the count, and now they seek to aid mankind again. A Knight of light must strive to strengthen himself, both in the physical and spiritual path, before daring to challenge the horrors of the dark castle. Knights are skilled with different kinds of weapons and their training makes them good in combat and resistant; they have the disadvantage of not counting with mystic skills, but their will and courage gives them a chance to challenge the castle. Shield Guard Skill (1) The knight have an special skill available since their arrival to the castle; they can cover themselves toward a direction using their shield. Shield guard protects the player from attacks from 3 positions, according to the direction chosen for defending. ..... .**.. When the player uses shield guard to the north west, attacks .*@.. from three positions are blocked (marked with '*') ..... ..... If the attack is blocked, the defense is boosted in the following way: * Shield coverage is ensured (100% chance), thus the attack is reduced by its defense value * Shield block chance is multiplied by 3 (This is the chance for completely blocking the attack) 4. Character Attributes ----------------------- The abilities of the character in the world are resumed in a series of attributes, which are modified along the game as the player levels up, performs spirital fusion or gets access to mystic relics. * Hits: Determines how much damage the character may take before dying * Hearts: Obtained by killing enemies or destroying furniture, they power up skills and magic abilities. * Gold: Enables the character to buy stuff from merchants. * Keys: Needed to advance through the castle * Carrying: Number of carried items * MaxHits: Upper limit for hits * Max Hearts: Upper limit for hearts * Carry Max: Maximum number of items that can be carried * Attack: Bonus to damage enemies when performing physical attacks * Soul Power: Bonus to the effect of mystic skills * Evade: Chance to jump or evade a monster attack * Combat: Quickness on combat, reduces the cost of your attack moves * Invokation: Prowess on mysticism and magic, reduces the cost of your mystic skill moves * Movement: Movement speed, reduces the cost of your displacement moves * Experience: Determines your player level, obtained by killing enemies. * Weapon proficiencies: Bonus to damage and cost reduction to attacks with an specific weapon. Increases with training Leveling up ------------ When enough monsters have been taken down, your character will level up and may be able to pick and advancement, which can be either a skill depending on his class or a spirit to enhance his attributes. The frequency with which you obtain advancements depends on your player class 5. The art of combat - Weapons and Shields ------------------------------------------ Weapons -------- Each weapon has the following attributes * Attack Value: The base value used to calculate the damage caused. * Range: The extent to which the attacks affect enemies * Vertical Range: Vertical reach of the weapon (to hit enemies above or below) * Defense: The weapon may add to the player defense * Coverage: Chance of the weapon being used to block an attack * Attack Cost: How much does it take to use the weapon (quick weapons have a low attack cost) * Two Handed: Defines if both hands are needed to use the weapon (dismissing a shield or secondary weapon) * Single Use: Some weapons can only be used once * Damage Modifiers: * Harms Undead * Slices Through: The weapon can pierce through enemies Additionally, ranged weapons have the following attributes * Reload Turns: How many times the weapon can be used until it has to be reloaded * Reload Cost: How much does it take to reload the weapon (quick weapons have a low cost) Shields -------- Shields are items you can equip in your Shield slot; they are ineffective if you are wielding a two handed weapon If you are attacked while wearing a shield, three things may happen * Blocking: The attack is completely absorbed by the shield * Covering: The shield reduces the strength of the attack * Failure: The shield fails to stop the attack If you are a knight your chances of blocking an attack are doubled and you always have a covering chance of 70% 6. The day and the night ------------------------ Your journey through the lands of Transylvannia and the cursed castle, will span multiple days; you will see the sun rise and fall, with heavy fog, rain and thunderstorms being unleashed into the land. The following are the different environments you will find: * Day: In the gray transylvannian day, you have the maximum possible sight value for your character. * Night: Your sight depth is reduced by 3, enemies are stronger (+1 Damage) * Heavy Fog: Can happen during night and day. Your sight depth is reduced by 2 * Rain: Can happen during night and day. Your sight depth is reduced by 1 * Thunderstorm: Can happen during night and day. enemies are stronger (+2 Damage). Your sight depth is reduced by 1 * Sunny Day: Can happen during day. Enemies are weaker (-2 Damage) 7. Shopkeepers -------------- You may find shopkeepers in the town of Petra, right to the west of Castlevania. It is rumored that some merchants have ventured inside the castle, looking for powerful artifacts. The merchandise available on each store is replenished daily. The following are the shops in Petra * Weapons Shop Sells all kind of weapons, from daggers to crossbows Vampire Killers can't buy items here, because of their equipment restrictions * Armor Shop Sells all kind of armor Vampire Killers can't buy items here, because of their equipment restrictions * Crafts Shop Sells all kinds of usable items such as healing herbs and orbs of recall. * Magic Shop Sell magic artifacts such as medallions and spellbooks 8. Commands and Actions ----------------------- These keybindings correspond to the default definitions. You can change them by modifying the 'keys.cgf' file. SpaceBar: Uses a mystic weapon a Attack: Uses a weapon in a given direction c Character info: Shows your skills and attributes d Drop: Drops an item D Dive: Dives into the water e Equip: Wears a weapon, armor or accesory f Fire: Aims a weapon at a position F Fusion: Fusion spirits to increase skills g Get: Picks up an item i Inventory: Shows the inventory j Jump: Jumps in a direction, or dives to the surface or flies. l Look: Identifies map symbols and monsters m Messages: Shows the latest messages M Map: Shows the castle map Q Quit: Exits game r Reload: Reloads a given weapon s Skills: Allows to use your character skills S Save: Saves game t Throw: Throws an Item u Use: Uses an Item U Unequip: Take off an item T Switch Music: Turns on/off the music x Switch weapons: Changes primary for secondary weapon 9. Credits and Acknowledgments ------------------------------ Thank yous ----------- * DraconusZero, Adral, ABCGi, WonderLlama, StarSlayer, Jered Cain, jrr7, Valkeera: 1.26 Testers * James & Ian Badcoe, ABCGi, Icey, Jered Cain: 1.25 Testers * Tunginobi, ECNM, Daiyu, Christopher Barrett, Karri Kanapee, Glowie, Crypt, Mario Donick: 1.2* Testers * Jonathan Ramirez, Korey Pelton, Kaleth, Inventor: 1.1* Testers * ABCGi: Saved the game from going into the trash bin * Mr. P Castlevania Realm [http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/] Provided a lot of data and inspiration for the game * Anapan's CV Files [http://www.geocities.com/anapan8/cv/] Had ripped wav files used on the game Credits -------- * Christopher Barrett: Project artist, graphic design, tiles * Jorge D. Fuentes, Nicholas, RPGFan, Tom Kim, JiLost: Castlevania Midis * Björn Bergström: Recursive Shadowcasting LOS algorithm Acknowledgements ----------------- * MinML: Minimalist XML parser by The Wilson Partnership * JCurses: JavaCurses library * JLayer: JavaLayer MP3 * YGuard: Java Obfuscator Contact me ----------- All your suggestions and bug reports are welcome via the official website ( http://slashie.net ) 0.7 Manual Version 1.6 - Feb 22/10 ---------------------------------- Long time ago, there was a noble man born from the house of Tepes. As a Knight of the Dragon, he swore to protect the people of Wallachia from the perils that flooded a world full of ambition and bloodlust. Hailed by the priests as the very messiah who would take the land into prosperity, he ruled with strong hand for six years, stablishing his land as a respected neighbour power. One day however, he was taken captive by invaders from the east. Tortured and humiliated, he was able to escape and return to his land, only to find his father buried alive by the very same persons who once promised to protect him with their lives; armed with courage and full of thirst for revenge, he joined a group of raiders and attacked the castle on a dark night, massacring all the people he found and impaling them, for them to serve as a warning to anyone daring to rebel. All the people who had accepted the death of the former king where hunted and tortured to the death, and a reign of blood came over Wallachia. Everything seemed to be over one night, when crusaders from the north came, send by the church to excommunicate Vladimir and execute him for his own soul sake. The castle was soon overrun, and there was nothing the count could do to protect his own self. The dwelling was burnt to the ashes and the city was relocated, the land was declared cursed and unwanted, and people stood unto a seemingly new era of light. The few followers of Vlad that survived the inquisitors took his body to a tomb under a small church, located far from the cities. What happened after that in the very soul of the count is unknown, but 70 years later, when the tomb was finally found, the explorers found no remains of his body. Rumors filled the land, concerning his escape from the death, and people felt uneasy, knowing something was just not right... and they were right.