SYNOPSIS

curseofwar [ -c port ] [ -C IP ] [ -d difficulty ] [ -e port ]

[ -E clients ] [ -h ] [ -H height ] [ -i inequality ]

[ -l countries ] [ -q quality ] [ -r ] [ -R seed ] [ -s speed ] [ -S shape ] [ -T ] [ -W width ]

DESCRIPTION

This is a fast-paced action strategy game for Linux implemented using ncurses user interface.

Unlike most RTS, you are not controlling units, but focus on high-level strategic planning: Building infrastructure, securing resources, and moving your armies.

The core game mechanics turns out to be quite close to WWI-WWII type of warfare, however, there is no explicit reference to any historical period.

OPTIONS

-c port

Clients's port (19150 is default).

-C IP

Start a client and connect to the provided server's IP-address.

-d [ee|e|n|h|hh]

Difficulty level (AI) from the easiest to the hardest (default is normal).

-e port

Server's port (19140 is default).

-E [1|2| ... L]

Start a server for not more than L clients.

-h

Display this help

-H height

Map height (default is 21, maximum is 29)

-i [0|1|2|3|4]

Inequality between the countries (0 is the lowest, 4 in the highest).

-l [2|3| ... N]

Sets L, the number of countries (default is N).

-q [1|2| ... L]

Choose player's location by its quality (1 = the best available on the map, L = the worst). Only in the singleplayer mode.

-r

Absolutely random initial conditions, overrides options -l, -i, and -q.

-R seed

Specify a random seed (unsigned integer) for map generation.

-s [p|sss|ss|s|n|f|ff|fff]

Game speed from the slowest to the fastest (default is normal).

-S [rhombus|rect|hex]

Map shape (rectangle is default). Max number of countries N=4 for rhombus and rectangle, and N=6 for the hexagon.

-T

Show the timeline.

-W width

Map width (default is 21, maximum is 40)

HOW TO PLAY

Normally, the game starts with 4 small countries in the corners of the map. You start as the ruler of the Green country, and your goal is to conquer the whole map.

Tiles

The map is made of hexagonal tiles. They are:
     /\^ Mountains, cannot be populated

/$\ Gold mines, cannot be populated too.
      This is the source of gold for your country.
      To control a mine, surround it with your army

 n    Villages, have the slowest population growth (+10%)

i=i Towns, average population growth (+20%)

W#W Fortresses, high population growth (+30%)

 -    Grassland, normal habitable territory

People

People are your primary resource. Thriving popluation is essential for your victory. Every tile can support at most 499 people from each country. When people from more than one country occupy the same tile, they fight. The country that has the highest population at the tile is called the tile owner. The population of the tile owner is shown on all grassland tiles as follows:

 .      1 - 3    citizens
.. 4 - 6
... 7 - 12

 :     13 - 25
.: 26 - 50
.:. 51 - 100

 ::   101 - 200
.:: 201 - 400
::: 400 - 499

People migrate from highly populated tiles to less populated tiles.

Population grows only in cities. In villages by 10%, in towns by 20%, and fortresses by 30% every simulation step. By controlling cities, you control their surrounding territory.

Flags

Every country can put flags on the map. Flags change migration rates, so that people of your country start gathering at the tiles with flags. Player's flags are shown as white "P" on the right side of a tile. Flags of the computer opponents are shown as "x" on the left side of a tile.

The flags can be used to increase population of your own cities, as well as for conquering foreign territories.

When countries are fighting for a city, and if the damage to the defender's army is significant, the city can be destroyed: A fortress becomes a town, a town becomes a village, and the village gets completely burnt by the invaders.

Countries

Computer opponents differ in personality, and it affects the way they fight.

CONTROLS

Arrow keys and H, J, K, L are for moving the cursor

R or V build village -> town -> fortress
   Space add/remove a flag
X remove all your flags
C remove a half of your flags
   S slower
F faster

Q quit

MULTIPLAYER

To start a server for two players:

curseofwar -E 2

To start a client and connect to the server:

curseofwar -C <server's IP>

To specify ports, use -e option for server's port, and -c option for client's port. By default, servers are using port 19140, and clients are using port 19150.

Examples:
  Start a server for a single client using port 11111

curseofwar -E 1 -e 11111

  To connect to it:

curseofwar -C <server's IP> -e 11111

  Alternatively, to connect to it using port 12345 on the client's side:

curseofwar -C <server's IP> -c 12345 -e 11111

Note that all needed map options must be setup when you start a server, the map and other data are transmitted to clients, once they are connected.

Example:
  Server for 3 clients, no computer opponents, hexagonal map, and equal 
  conditions for all:

curseofwar -E3 -l3 -S hex -i0

Game speed cannot be changed by a client, so it must be set initially by the server. Not all data is sent to clients (e.g. info about population is not sent in full).

Multiplayer mode is at relatively early development stage. Changes may occure at any moment. When you play with other people, make sure that you are using the same version of the game. Hopefully, game's client-server communication protocol will be improved in future. All communication is made via UDP.

Please, report you problems with multiplayer.

EXAMPLES

A good and easy mode to start playing:

curseofwar -i4 -q1 -dee

Or, on a smaller map:

curseofwar -i4 -q1 -dee -W16 -H16

AUTHORS

Game:
Alexey Nikolaev <koiwai at lavabit dot com>
Makefile:
Kirill Dmitrenko <kdmitrenko at gmail dot com>
Maximilian Dietrich <dxm at lavabit dot com>
Manpage:
Anton Balashov <sicness at darklogic dot ru>
Maximilian Dietrich <dxm at lavabit dot com>