2001-07-15 07:48:01 +00:00
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.\" $FreeBSD$
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1994-12-03 04:34:46 +00:00
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.TH BATTLESHIPS 6 "Aug 23, 1989"
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.SH NAME
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bs \- battleships game
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.SH SYNOPSIS
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bs [ -b | -s ] [ -c ]
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.SH DESCRIPTION
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This program allows you to play the familiar Battleships game against the
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computer on a 10x10 board. The interface is visual and largely
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self-explanatory; you place your ships and pick your shots by moving the
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cursor around the `sea' with the rogue/hack motion keys hjklyubn.
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.PP
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Note that when selecting a ship to place, you must type the capital letter
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(these are, after all, capital ships). During ship placement, the `r' command
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may be used to ignore the current position and randomly place your currently
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selected ship. The `R' command will place all remaining ships randomly. The ^L
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command (form feed, ASCII 12) will force a screen redraw).
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.PP
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2001-07-15 07:48:01 +00:00
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The command-line arguments control game modes.
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1994-12-03 04:34:46 +00:00
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.nf
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-b selects a `blitz' variant
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-s selects a `salvo' variant
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-c permits ships to be placed adjacently
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.fi
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The `blitz' variant allows a side to shoot for as long as it continues to
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score hits.
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.PP
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The `salvo' game allows a player one shot per turn for each of his/her ships
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still afloat. This puts a premium scoring hits early and knocking out some
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ships and also makes much harder the situation where you face a superior force
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with only your PT-boat.
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.PP
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Normally, ships must be separated by at least one square of open water. The
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-c option disables this check and allows them to close-pack.
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.PP
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The algorithm the computer uses once it has found a ship to sink is provably
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optimal. The dispersion criterion for the random-fire algorithm may not be.
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.SH AUTHORS
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Originally written by one Bruce Holloway in 1986. Salvo mode added by Chuck A.
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DeGaul (cbosgd!cad). Visual user interface, `closepack' option, code rewrite
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and manual page by Eric S. Raymond <esr@snark.thyrsus.com> August 1989.
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