Readme.txt - Dec 11th, 2003 ========================================================== Project Nomads Version 1.2e ========================================================== ========================================================== IMPORTANT NOTICE! This game is already patched to version 1.2e, thus no extra patching is necessary. In case you already tried to patch it, the game won't start. But don't panic - simply use the "repair"-link in the start menu to rebuild the version. ========================================================== Hello! Thank you for purchasing Project Nomads. ********************************************************** -> Installation <- Please perform the following steps to install the game: 1. Insert the Project Nomads CD into your CD ROM drive. 2. If your CD ROM drive's Autoplay function is enabled, the installation will begin automatically. If the automatic installation program does not start, launch the program by double-clicking the Setup.exe file in the root directory of the Project Nomads CD ROM. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions of the installation program. 4. Enjoy playing Project Nomads! ********************************************************** INFO - CONTENTS 1. SYSTEM REQIREMENTS 1.1 MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 1.2 RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS 2. INTERNET GAME 2.1. CREATE AN INTERNET GAME 2.2. JOIN AN INTERNET GAME 3. HINTS 3.1. SHORT INTRODUCTION OF PROJECT NOMADS 3.2. GENERAL HINTS 3.3. MISSION HINTS ********************************************************** 1. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - WINDOWS 98, ME, 2000 or XP operating system - DirectX version 8.0 - 850 MB of free disc space - Mouse - Keyboard - 100% DirectX compatible sound card 1.1 MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - Pentium III 450 MHz - 64 MB of RAM - 3D accelerated video card with 32 MB 1.2 RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS - Pentium III 1 GHz or higher - 128 MB RAM or higher - 3D accelerated video card with 64 MB with HW-T&L (Hardware Transform & Lighting) - 56.6k Internet connection for internet multiplayer game 2. INTERNET MATCH In Project Nomads is a internet deathmatch game included up to 8 players. An internet connection is needed to play the game via internet. To play a internet game against other players, one of the players must be the HOST and the other players are CLIENTS. 2.1. CREATE AN INTERNET GAME Open the menu "Create internet game". A new window appears. Now entry the IP address of YOUR computer and choose a character. Then press "OK". PROJECT NOMADS starting now the multiplayer mode. Your computer has now started a server with the IP address of your computer. Wait for the players, which can connect to your computer with the IP address of your server. If all players are on your server, start the match. 2.2. JOIN AN INTERNET GAME Open the menu "Create internet game". A new window appears. Now entry the IP address of the SERVER and choose a character. To be able to connect to a match, you have to know the IP address of the computer, on which a new match is created (SERVER). Then press "OK". PROJECT NOMADS starting now the multiplayer mode. Your computer searching the server with the IP address you have entered. If a server is found, the match will automatically begin, if the player, who has create the game start the match. 3. HINTS 3.1. SHORT INTRODUCTION OF PROJECT NOMADS Welcome to the planet Aeres, a fantastic world of gigantic floating islands that drift slowly through an endless sea of clouds. After Aeres broke apart in the chaos of war, the few surviving inhabitants settled on this drifting ruin of the planet. You are a nomad, a restless engineer with magical abilities, forever in pursuit of adventure. Explore the breathtaking, endless cloud world with your flying island. Go in search of the magical artifacts of a long-forgotten culture. Battle against rivals, enemies and terrifying monsters as you seek to find what fate has in store for you... The adventure begins... 3.2. GENERAL HINTS * A T T E N T I O N !!! * The follow section can be very helpful if you at a "dead end" in PROJECT NOMADS.If you do not need help, we suggest, not to read further, because it contains many spoilers. - Save early, save often! But be careful: You can save at any time - but you have only a limited number of save slots! - Skrits: If several Skits run towards you, try to lure them all to one spot. Lay a spell bomb there, then run away. Another possibility is to just run between them. Be careful, though, to leave yourself enough room that you do not come into contact with their poisonous gas. - Skrit nesting places: Instead of trying to fight the Skrits, run past them. Lay a spell bomb under the nesting place and take care of the rest of the Skrits after it is destroyed. - Artifact press: Take care never to put a blue and a red artifact in the press together! If you press red artifacts it is best to only upgrade them to grade two. These may not be as powerful, but that is not as bad as losing a grade three gun tower if they are destroyed. The same applies to other artifacts. - Attack of the Sentinels: After you have shot down the bomber with your cannon, you can use it to destroy an airship and a generator directly behind you. Build your aircraft hangar immediately and try to destroy the rest of the generators. Don't try to defend your island by shooting down the enemy aircraft; if you are fast enough, nothing much will happen to your island. - If you have the large cannon, set it up directly at the bow of your island. Take care that it is not destroyed, though. - Always fly your island short distances, then stop and try to take out enemy positions from a distance with your large cannon. If you destroy enemy aircraft hangars, the aircraft in them are also destroyed. - The escort: Try to fly on ahead with your aircraft and quickly destroy the Skrit nesting place. Enemy gun towers are also dangerous; you should try to take these out first. - The queen: Fly on ahead with your aircraft and destroy the Skrit nesting place and the tentacles on the sides. - Experiment with various building types on your island. In some levels it is advantageous to shut down your hangar and use the energy thus saved for your guns. Alternatively, you can build additional power plants so that you can repair damaged buildings at any time. - The life energy of your game character is regenerated when he or she is on your island. If you are attacked while exploring another island, return to your island if your life energy get low. - If you are attacked while exploring another island with your game character and he or she is within range of the guns on your island, you can use the "take-over" key to switch to the guns and give your character covering fire. - If you are attacked by a bomber, you can defend yourself in an emergency with your aircraft - make it collide with the bomber. This means you lose your aircraft, but the bomber is also destroyed. 3.3. MISSION HINTS * A T T E N T I O N !!! * - Spoilers 1. The old master builder In the intro at the beginning of the game you are on an island upon which your aircraft has crashed. Run up the hill to the wreck of your aircraft to wake up an old master builder named Basaltface. After a film sequence the master builder appears on the island to your right. Run to the master builder. In the next sequence Basaltface gives you his lighthouse and a watchtower artifact. Build the watchtower and activate the drive. After a short flight your island will stop and Basaltface will give you a gun tower artifact and five energy balls. After you build the gun tower you will be attacked by four fighters. Destroy the aircraft with your guns. If your gun tower is destroyed, rebuild it. When you have destroyed the enemy fighters you will receive another gun tower artifact and new energy balls from Basaltface. A new navigation point is unlocked. Run to the watchtower and activate the drive to complete the level. 2. The Grey Market You land at the Grey Market. When you go to Trevayne he will give you a task and a new navigation point will be unlocked. After this you can leave the level at any time by setting off with your island, but first explore the Grey Market, where you'll find the artifact press and the artifact safe. Use the press to upgrade your two grade 1 gun towers and make them into one grade 2 gun tower. Gather up the artifacts lying around. Formulae for artifact press Two grade 1 artifacts = One grade 2 artifact Two grade 2 artifacts = One grade 3 artifact If you put a blue artifact (infinite charges) and a red artifact (single charge) into the press, the resultant artifact has only one charge! 3. The Pirates' Ravine At the start of this level you are confronted by barrage balloons. Destroy the balloons before you set off. Your island will fly through the pirates' ravine of its own accord as long as you do not stop. Watch out for the balloons! Your island will crash if you hit them. Place your automatic gun tower on a spot at the bow of your island to defend yourself against the balloons and use your second gun tower to destroy enemy aircraft and cannon. Stop your island if you are attacked and destroy the enemy guns and fighters before you continue. See to it that you repair your buildings in good time. When you reach the end of the ravine, the level is completed. 4. The mysterious island Fly your island to the landing place. Destroy the first wave of Skrits with your guns. When you destroy a Skrit it explodes, leaving a green cloud of poisonous gas behind which takes five seconds to disperse. If you fly through one of these clouds you will lose life energy. Land your game character on the island and pick up the offensive spell. There is a nesting place in the first ruin that you have to destroy. You'll find an explosive spell. Use the offensive spell to shoot your way free to the misty valley. Destroy the attacking Skrits and collect the artifacts left behind. If your life energy is low, collect energy balls or return to your island to replenish it. Cross the bridge to reach the plateau. There you'll find three nesting places which you can blow up with your explosive spell. After this you'll find a safe artifact and a new navigation point is unlocked. When you run down the path at the end of the plateau you will find a backpack charge. Fly back to your island, gathering up the rest of the artifacts on your way. Place the safe on your island and put the artifacts you have collected in it. 5. The attack of the Sentinels Fly to the landing place on the nomad island. When you dock, a bomber will attack the nomads. Run to the middle of the island. In a film sequence you are given your task. 3 Your own guns are too weak - run to the large cannon and destroy the bombers. Run back to the nomad. You will receive an aircraft hangar. Build the hangar on your island. Destroy the small generators and guns on the island to the left with your fighter, and the large generators in the pirate fortress. The Sentinels' lighthouse will explode when all generators are destroyed. Your island will be attacked by waves of fighters and bombers. Switch regularly between your fighter and your game character and repair your buildings. Two of the Sentinels' guns leave artifacts behind which you can pick up with your aircraft. 6. The Grey Market You are back at the Grey Market. When you go to Trevayne he will give you your next task. Gather up the artifacts lying around the Grey Market. Use the press to upgrade your buildings. Fly your island to the second navigation point. There you'll meet a nomad who gives you an artifact. Return to the Grey Market and talk to Trevayne. He will give you a red cannon artifact and a red gun artifact. Set up the cannon on a slot at the bow of your island. Fly to the next navigation point to complete the level. 7. The Athanor Fly to the first navigation point. Destroy the buildings and guns with your cannon. Pick up the cannon artifact but do not set it up yet. You need a cannon to destroy the Athanor. Put the cannon artifact in your safe in case yours is destroyed. Proceed to the second navigation point. Stop in front of the island to your left and destroy the fighter hangars with your cannon. Keep a lookout for the bomber! You have to destroy it in time before it can bomb your island. Proceed to the second navigation point. You can fly ahead with your fighter and take out the Sentinels' guns on the next island. On the island to your right there is a bomber hangar. Destroy it with your cannon, otherwise your island will be attacked continually by new bombers. Fly back and forth between the third and fourth navigation points, taking out the energy generators and the main building of the Athanor on the way. When you have destroyed all the buildings of the Athanor, the level is completed. 8. The Grey Market Talk to Trevayne to unlock a new navigation point and receive your next task. Gather up all the artifacts. Use the press to upgrade your buildings. 9. The island port Proceed to the landing place. Go to the port building and talk to the nomad there. The Sentinels will attack the port with bombers and fighters. If you run back to your island the Sentinels will destroy the bridge. Now run to the island to the left of the port and leave your game character on the little island to the left. Use the "take over" key to switch to your guns. The Sentinels will attack in waves until all your guns and your hangar are destroyed. In the following film sequence your island is towed away by an island transporter. The nomad tells you to hide on one of the small cargo islands. Wait with your game character on one of the two islands until another transporter picks up the island, completing this level. 10. The Base In this level you are separated from your island. Jump onto the bridge at the base and then run to the Shark hangar. Use the hangar to launch the Shark. You have to fly three rounds in formation with three other Sharks in order to fly the island transporter. If you get too far away from the other Sharks, or if you fire your weapon, the Sharks will attack you. After the training rounds the flight through the Sea of Rocks begins. Follow the Sharks and keep in your position in the formation. If you break formation you will be warned by radio and you will have five seconds to get back into formation. If you are successful, the level is completed. Save your game often, otherwise you'll have to repeat the whole flight if you are destroyed. 11. The Vortex You start this level in the Shark. Fly into the Vortex. You have to destroy the four outer generators to deactivate the shield in the center. Then you can destroy the main generator. Use the rocks for cover so that the inner guns cannot hit you until you have taken out the four generators. The best way to destroy the main generator is by diving at it from above. Take care not to fly out of the Vortex, otherwise you'll be attacked by a wing of Sharks. 12. The artifact cache Your Shark crashes into the Sentinels' base. Use the lift to go to the upper platform and gather up the artifacts lying around there. Your island is docked at the last mooring. As soon as you start rebuilding your island you will be attacked by Sharks and fired upon by the guns of the base. Build an automatic gun tower to defend yourself. Set up your safe and deposit your artifacts there until you have completely emptied the entire cache. Pick up the level-drive artifact to unlock another navigation point but do can't build it yet. Set up the artifact press and refit your island. Proceed to the navigation point to complete the level. 13. The Sentinels' fleet If necessary, repair your buildings. Use the press to upgrade your equipment. Set up a cannon at the bow of your island. Proceed to the first navigation point. You will be attacked by two Sentinel islands. Destroy their lighthouses with your cannon so that they crash. Take special care of your cannon and repair it in time! When you have destroyed both islands, proceed to the second navigation point and destroy the lighthouses of the attacking islands. Set up a gun tower astern as you will also be attacked by the second wave from behind! Proceed to the third navigation point and destroy the last wave of the attacking Sentinels. Now you can proceed to the island port. Talk to the nomad and he will help you fit your level drive. Activate the level drive artifact and build it on your island. Gather up the artifacts lying around the island port and fly away with your island to complete the level. If you have a collector, build it on your island. Then you can mine the coal field next to the port. 14. The Cloud Gate Film sequence 15. The Sea of Clouds Dock your island at the filling station platform. Run to Tenzen Kalden and talk to him. Run along the path leading downwards. Get past the rocky ridges by jumping and destroy the nesting places of the Skrits. Gather up the offensive spell artifacts lying around there and use them to defend yourself against the Skrits. Watch out for clouds of poisonous gas they leave behind! Before you can destroy a nesting place you must take out the Skrits defending them until the way is free. Then select an explosive spell and run under the nest, placing the explosive spell on your way. Make sure you get at least 10 meters away from the explosive charge, otherwise you will blow yourself up as well. Along the way you'll find energy balls with which you can replenish your life energy. If you own a hangar you can try flying between the islands in your fighter and destroying the nesting places with it. When you have destroyed all the nesting places you will return to Tenzen Kalden. Talk to him again. Run up the path to the left and destroy the attacking Skrits on the way with your offensive spell. When you reach the obelisk, blow up the pile of crates using an offensive spell or an explosive spell. The obelisk will tilt to one side and you can cross the abyss by running over it. You will be attacked by Skrits until you reach the fuel artifact. Run up to the artifact to complete the level. 16. The master builders In a film sequence Basaltface gives you your next task. Proceed to the first navigation point and destroy the guns and barrage balloons ahead of you with your cannon or your fighter. The right-hand path leads directly to the center and is heavily defended. Proceed to the left-hand navigation point, destroy the barrage balloons and the guns on the islands to the right and left. You can stop your island if new guns come into range of your cannon and take out these enemies before you continue. Proceed to the next navigation point ahead of you. On the small island to your right you will find a bomber hangar. Build the hangar on your island and destroy all generators and guns around the master builder's prison. Fly your island back to the second navigation point. Now you can approach the prison from the left. Destroy the guns and generators on the large island to your right with your bomber. When you have destroyed all the generators, the level ends with a film sequence. 17. The betrayal: Film sequence 18. The Skrits attack: Film sequence 19. The battle begins You have to defend the Grey Market from the attacking Skrits. Your island must dock at a base. There three more island battleships will support you in the defense. You will be attacked by flying Skrits, small Skrit fighters and large Skrit bombers. In order to succeed, equip your island with at least two automatic gun towers and a cannon. Use the automatic gun towers to take out the smaller Skrits and the cannon to destroy the Skrit bombers. Defend the lighthouses of your allies as well as you can, for they provide you with valuable support. The Skrits attack in waves. Use the time between waves to repair or rebuild your buildings. Watch out especially for the Skrit bombers and try not to let them come too near to your island. When you have destroyed all the Skrits, the level is completed. 20. Fighting a losing battle You are standing on an island with three portals. Use the portals to switch to the advanced line. You have the choice between a machine gun to your right, a rocket tower in the middle or a Serp to your right. The Skrits attack in waves from the right, the middle and the left. Equip your island with as many automatic gun towers as possible so that these can defend the island of their own accord while you operate the forward guns. When you have destroyed all the Skrits, the level is completed. 21. The Lady Master Builder Fly your island to master builder Welkin. On this mission you will once again be supported by three island battleships. Proceed along the navigation points to Welkins island. Destroy the Skrit nesting places on the islands along your route with your fighter or with the Serp, otherwise endless waves of Skrits will attack you. If your watchtower is destroyed, rebuild it as soon as possible and continue your journey. If your island stands still, your lighthouse presents an easy target for the Skrit bombers. After you dock at Welkins island, repair your buildings or rebuild them so that they can defend your island during your absence. Transfer the artifacts in your belt to your safe. Run across the ridge to your right up to the plateau. There you will find Welkins house. Run to the entrance to trigger the film sequence. Pick up Welkin's artifacts and run back to your island. Destroy any Skrits and nesting places you find on your way with the explosive or offensive spell. Return to your island to complete the level. 22. The Refuge Pick up master builder Welkin's artifacts. For this mission you have a special aircraft and must fly into the heart of the sanctuary. You have to fly through a gap in the outer rings after shooting out a grille. Flying in the same rotational direction of the sanctuary, shoot out the grill of the inner ring, then swing right and fly through one of the gaps. Inside you'll find three artifacts. Gather up them all and fly back out of the sanctuary to complete the level. If you are shot down, or your aircraft crashes, the level is restarted and you have to collect all the artifacts once more. 23. Mare Lacrimae You must navigate the sea of volcanoes and find the wreck of the battleship "Colossus". The volcanoes spew out red hot lava bombs which fall on your island. Deploy automatic gun towers at the bow and stern of your island to defend yourself. Use the heat-seeking rockets of the rocket towers to shoot down the bombs, but be careful - if your rocket tower is destroyed, you cannot rebuild it, so make sure your game character repairs it in good time. Take special care of your watchtower! If it is destroyed, your island will come to a standstill. You must keep moving, otherwise the rocks will hit you. There are two types of lava bomb which do varying amounts of damage. They are recognizable by their different sizes. After the volcanoes, dock at the island of the Colossus. Talk to Preston to trigger a film sequence and complete the level. 24. The escort The "Colossus" is flying to the city of machines in which Basaltface has set up his headquarters. You must defend the Colossus against the attacking Flying Skrits. The Colossus flies of her own accord as soon as you start the island drive. Your island flies faster than the battleship, so you have to stop in time if you don't want to lose sight of it. The Skrits try to destroy the balloons which carry the Colossus. If too many balloons are destroyed, the Colossus will crash and your mission will be a failure. Use your fighter to repel the Skrits and to lure them into range of your guns. Then switch quickly to your guns and destroy the Skrits. The Skrits hatch out in their nesting places which are on the islands along your route. Use your fighter or the Serp to destroy any nesting places that are out of range of your guns. 25. The City of Machines This level starts with a film sequence. You must destroy the generators of the city of machines on the outer islands, penetrate the central complex and blow up the controlling machine. You will recognize the generators by their energy rays which are focused in the middle above the dome. You have to travel as your game character, since your island is docked far away from city of machines. Pick up the artifacts you get from the master builders and fly with your backpack to the island in front of you. Lay the first explosive charge there. Keep an eye on your flight radius; if you leave it, your backpack will be deactivated and you will crash. Destroy any Skrits with the cannon on the small island next to the first generator. Small transporters fly shuttle between the islands. Use them to reach the islands that are outside the range of your backpack. Fly with the first transporter to the next generator island. Don't forget to gather up any explosive charges you find on your way! Destroy the next generator. To get to the next generator you have to jump across the floating rocks, defending yourself against the attacking Skrits as you do so. Use the cannon on the next island to destroy the generator in front of you. With the next transporter you reach the entrance to the dome. Destroy the last generator with an explosive charge. Work your way forward to the cannon and destroy them using the explosive spell. When you have destroyed the last generator, you can maneuver your island nearer to the city of machines and thus activate your backpack again. In the dome, make your way along the middle colonnade and destroy the last guns with explosive spells. Jump down to the floor of the dome and run along the passageway to your right to the controlling machine. Lay your last explosive charge to destroy it, triggering a film sequence that ends this level. 26. Shockwave Film sequence 27. The queens lair Your task is to penetrate the lair of the Skrit queen. Your island starts at the entrance to the Skrit ravine. Refit your island and repair all buildings. Activate your drive. You will be attacked by flying Skrits and Skrit ground forces alternately. Skrits will fall from the arches over the ravine onto your island. Bring your game character in a safe position, because the Skrits will attack him or her specifically. Use your guns to take out any Skrits on your island, or defend yourself using offensive spells. See to it that your energy supply is kept filled up - the life energy of your game character is replenished from the island's energy. If your energy drops too low, your guns will not be able to fire any more! Repair your buildings in time and stop your island to destroy the attacking waves of flying Skrits with your guns. You have to stop your island in time, otherwise you will be attacked by Skrit air and ground forces simultaneously. When you reach the end of the ravine the level is completed. 28. The queen You start this level in front of the Skrit queen's lair. Fly your island to the first navigation point in front of the entrance. You have the choice between three routes into the lair. Destroy the tentacles at the entrance with your cannon or the Serp, otherwise the Skrit guns will be rebuilt again and again after you destroy them. You can pick up a fighter hangar artifact on the large island to the left of the entrance with your aircraft and build it on your island. Proceed to the second navigation point. Destroy any guns and tentacles you find along your route that are within radius of your aircraft with your fighter or the Serp, then proceed to the next navigation point. Set up and repair your automatic guns so that they can defend you against attack from flying Skrits, while you take out the guns and tentacles with your big guns. You should always save your game after successfully beating off a Skrit attack or destroying a gun battery. You now reach the island of the queen of the Skrits. When you attack her you will be attacked by a wave of flying Skrits which take off from behind the queen. To your right is an island which is held at its base by tentacles. Destroy the tentacles to release the island, which will move above the queen once to the left and then back again. You have to destroy the lighthouse on the island when it is directly above the Skrit queen. If you use the Serp, you can destroy the lighthouse with one shot. If you have chosen the right moment, the island will crash on the Skrit queen and the level will end with a film sequence. If the island crashes too early or too late, you will either have to restart the level or load a saved game. 29. The victory celebration Film sequence ********************************************************** Powered by the Nebula Device ********************************************************** www.project-nomads.com Developer: Radon Labs GmbH, Berlin www.radonlabs.de Distributor: CDV Software Entertainment AG www.cdv.de CDV Software Entertainment AG Neureuterstr. 37b 76185 Karlsruhe Germany E-Mail: support@project-nomads.com Phone: +49-(0)721-97224-0 Fax: +49-(0)721-97224-24 ********************************************************** All registered and non-registered trademarks and trade names contained within this document are the properties of their respective owners.