Readme for Arena V 1.00
=======================

The archive should contain:
	Arena.mis
	Earth.mis
	NVScript.osm (Nameless Voice's custom scripts)
	Motiondb.bin (Motion database)
	Arena.gam
	Readme.txt
	[Override Folders]

Legalities
==========

This mod is intended for the patched retail version of System Shock 2. Do not try using with Warez versions of the game, including that found at the Underdogs as Satan will eat your soul (and your installation may implode).

Should anyone want to they may freely use any content *original* to this FM in other System Shock 2 modifications.

May be remirrored/ redistributed so long as the archive is kept intact, and distribution is free. 

Supplied as is. No warrantee implied. Use at your own risk.

This modification was not created by and is not supported by Looking Glass Systems, Irrational Games or EA. Should anything go wrong, do not look to them for support.

Installation
============

Ensure your installation is mod ready. If you are using a mod manager (garrettloader/ss2MM) this will have been done automatically, and if you have other mods installed manually (SHTUP/ rebirth etc.) you will have already done this step, otherwise you may need to follow the instructions below:

1) Create a new folder inside the shock2 one called 'res'.
2) Move all the files ending in .crf to the res folder.
3) Open up install.cfg from the shock2 folder using notepad.
4) Alter the resname_base line to include the new folder, e.g. resname_base c:\games\shock2\+d:\shock2 would become resname_base c:\games\shock2\res+d:\shock2
5) Save the file!

For manually installing (I would *strongly* recommend using a mod manager...)
1) Backup files. For this mod you should, at minimum, have backups of earth.mis, and the cutscenes files as well as the patch folder copy of strings.crf (personally I'd recommend integrating the patch files into the unpatched crfs...) Alternatively, the original CD will have the files available. 
2) Unzip archive contents into your ss2 directory, preserving path info. 

NOTE: If using a mod manager some files may not copy over, specifically motiondb.bin and NVScript.osm which may have to be manually copied.

NOTE: The motion database is 100% compatible with the original SS2, in fact it adds a couple of fixes such as the midwives being able to hit a crouched goggles in melee. If desired it may be left installed.

NOTE: Should be compatible with cosmetic mods such as SHTUP and Rebirth. Obviously incompatible with gamesys mods...

NOTE: You *must* start a new game.

Introduction
============

This FM started life as a two week mini FM to act basically as a combat trainer by spawning randomised monsters and powerups, rather like bot matches in other FPS games. That was in June 2003...

What it is now is still essentially the same. It has a plot, of sorts, and a reasonable amount of 'new' audio related to it (once played it will become obvious why new is in the inverted comas) and certainly some fairly significant alterations to the enemies. Pretty much everything which can be randomised has been; random AI, random loot, randomised placement of upgrades/ utilites- which will also disappear then reappear, often in a different location, after use. The costs of upgrades and their effects have also been altered, in fact there is a way to win the end battle using maintenance (!) skill. A list of some of the added features can be found in Spoilers.txt

If you are looking for a deep and meaningful examination and expansion of the System Shock ethos you may be disappointed. 

Gameplay Introduction
=====================

NOTE: Best display is in 1024x768, for reasons which will become apparent.

NOTE: At this time cutscenes are disabled

Upon starting the game you find yourself in familiar surroundings. This is just a set up for multiplayer, which will not work without triggering a specific script which also forces a level transition- so there is no more elegant way of doing this.

You then find yourself in mysterious surroundings, your only supplied equipment a trusty wrench (or four, if playing MP). You should choose a starting profession by clicking one of the three posters. Some extra equipment is supplied back by the pedestal, and the posters slowly dissolve into...

After that gameplay consists of killing monsters to collect CMs, upgrading yourself while collecting phat lewt (or at least a SS2 approximation thereof) and performing a series of tasks.

A few extra notes (may be skipped if you want to totally avoid gameplay spoilers:

1) Only a limited number of weapons will be supplied. For balance purposes I'd recommend *not* altering the degrade rate of the weapons via cfg, though repair and maintenance both do have other purposes.

2) Should you end up with useless weapons or armour, and no more seem to be spawning throw them into the 'pit' in the central room of the lowest level, this destroys the item and frees up its ecology to spawn a new one. So if you end up with three laser pistols and no energy skill dump them here.

3) The gap for upgrading skills from 0->1 has been significantly increased to add meaning to the classes.

4) Cameras are non-hostile, and may be hacked to detect nearby enemies on the automap

5) Turrets are non-hostile and may be hacked to create allies.

6) Replicators may be hacked several times via 'shunts'

7) Two QBRM sites are available

8) Counts are kept of a large number of variables including nanites received, CMs received, shots fired and enemies slain, and are available for viewing at the end.

9) Much more, details available in spoiler.txt, for cheaters and those merely interested.

Known Bugs
==========

The automap does not work perfectly. SOme insets are very slightly too large, which appears to be a hard coded limitation.

A couple of the feedback line info seem to trigger twice- not exactly sure why, but it is very minor.

There are still occasional CTDs, reason unknown. They are infrequent, and I would suspect most will not encounter them but I would recommend reasonably frequent saving.

Under certain circumstances you may find significant slowdowns, especially if you have hacked lots of things but also if there are lots of living AI nearby.

Acknowledgements
================

Thanks to TF and Jossi Rossi from TTLG for beta testing, and to NamelessVoice for the custom scripts.

Contact Details
===============

I can be contacted either through the forums at TTLG ( http://www.ttlg.com/forums/ ; user name Zygoptera) or via Email: ben.forer@clear.net.nz