<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.3//EN" "/usr/share/xml/docbook/schema/dtd/4.3/docbookx.dtd">
<book>
<bookinfo>
 <title>BatMUD Regions: Player's Handbook v1.0</title>
 <authorgroup>
  <author><firstname>Sirdar</firstname><surname>Silverfang</surname></author>
 </authorgroup>
 <copyright>
  <year>2007-2008</year>
  <holder>Balanced Alternative Techniques Ry</holder>
 </copyright>
 <pubdate>09-01-2008</pubdate>
</bookinfo>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="castles"><title>Regions and Castles</title>
<para>
        The regions are a PvP (Player-versus-Player) element in BatMUD, 
        which pits racial factions in a struggle to control key locations 
        on the five major continents. The controlling races gain access 
        to the castles, harvesting them for production of gold and 
        experience.
</para>


<section id="castles-overview"><title>Overview</title>
<para>
        Castles are the basic units of the regions play. There are a total
        of 102 castles in scattered between the five continents. Each 
        castle forms a territory called region, by which the landmass of 
        the BatWorld is shared to their respective landowners. Simply put, 
        castles are central landmarks for regions, and each contains the 
        necessary governing personnel over the land contained within that 
        specific region.
</para>

<para>
        First we will look at what role the castle has over a region. 
        Basically, the royalty owns the land that is the region. The 
        peasants settle in on that land, and agree to rent the land from
        the region landlord for farming and other production purposes. 
        Using this land, the peasants then produce goods, and from these 
        goods they get profit. The aforementioned rent price, combined with 
        the profit of the peasants forms the base of the tax, which is 
        collected by the castle officials four times a year, and is stored 
        into the castle treasury. In addition to the permission to use the 
        land for a price, the region landlord provides the peasants 
        protection using his garrison.
</para>
</section>

<section id="castles-rooms"><title>Castle rooms</title>
<para>
        Each castle consists of four rooms, the yard, entrance, tower and 
        the office.
</para>

<section id="castles-yard"><title>The yard</title>
<para>
        The yard is open for everyone, and you end up there by entering 
        the scenic location you see on the map. In the yard you see the 
        castle gates. Also, by looking the plaque in the yard you'll see 
        some <link linkend="commands-yard">basic commands</link> that are available for the visitor. More about 
        these, and other castle commands later. At the other side of the 
        gates is the entrance room. 
</para>
</section>

<section id="castles-entrance"><title>The entrance</title>
<para>
        The entrance room is from where the caravans head off to other 
        castles. Any player who is a member of the castle garrison may 
        travel with these caravans to other castles. From the entrance 
        room you may go up, or in the office. By going up, you end up into 
        the observation tower. A castle under siege can be brought under 
        the leadership of the sieging party from this room.
</para>
</section>

<section id="castles-tower"><title>The observation tower</title>
<para>
        The observation tower has all functionalities that are needed 
        during battle, or general observation of the events at <link
        linkend="castles-yard">the yard</link>. 
        You can negotiate, fire arrows and oil at the intruders, for 
        example. You can also use the castle catapult to fend off any 
        campers at a limited range outside the scenic location of the 
        castle. 
</para>
</section>
        
<section id="castles-office"><title>The office</title>
<para>
        The office is the planning and economy room of the castle. You 
        have access to the castle treasury (the tax income), and may use
        it to your own benefit, to recruit NPC soldiers to the castle 
        garrison or to buy more ammunition to the defense mechanisms of 
        the castle. It can also be used for political purposes, such as 
        changing ownerships, and if the castle is not a region of a larger 
        country (the capital exists), it can also be used to promote and 
        demote PCs who have served the castle well.
</para>
</section>

</section>
</chapter>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="domain"><title>Forming a domain</title>

<para>

        A domain is a general term for a group of castles unified under 
        one flag, and ruled from one capital. A domain is like a country 
        formed of those castles. Without a capital you may have an 
        individual ranking system in each castle. It means that if you're 
        a general in castle A, it doesn't apply to castle B. You can also 
        handle promotions from the each castle office in what comes to the 
        ranks in each individual castle. A general, however, has the option
        to create a domain. By doing this, a region of his choosing will 
        become the capital of this domain. All functions regarding rank and 
        position are rerouted to the control of the capital. Further ranks 
        will come and go only from the capital, and only ranks confirmed by 
        the capital are valid in the vassal regions. Also, after forming a
        domain, if you wish to join the garrison, any castle won't do 
        anymore - you need to head for the capital and apply to the service
        there. This re-enlistment is also necessary when a capital is 
        defined to an already existing group of castles (which is not a 
        domain).
</para>
</chapter>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="garrison"><title>The castle garrison</title>

<section id="garrison-overview"><title>Overview</title>
<para>
        Even the most powerful ruler cannot possibly control and keep guard 
        of all his castles for all the time. Therefore he needs people to 
        serve under him. Every castle has a garrison, from the ranks of 
        which youll find people from ordinary troops to officials to take 
        care of the most important matters at hand. There are 13 ranks, which 
        are divided into four subcategories. The names of these ranks may vary 
        according to one's race, but the classification is the same regardless 
        of one's race, only name differs. The ranks are presented here from the 
        perspective of a human army.
</para>

<para>
        Remember to always reward your PC members of the garrison accordingly
        to keep them happy. It is not wise to instantly promote everyone to 
        high ranks, since you lose the benefits of the ranking system. The 
        better you have the hierarchy constructed for your domain, and the 
        people positioned on it, the better they know their duties, and the 
        better it will work out for you.
</para>

<para>
        Remember, if you are a commander, do not let out promotions like
        candy. That's just amateur. This won't mean that the promotions
        should be impossible to acquire either. You may reflect a player's
        success in his duty to base these promotions on.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-senior-ranks"><title>The senior officer ranks</title>

<section id="garrison-general"><title>General</title>
<para>
        The General is the leader of a castle. He has access to all castle 
        functions, and is the only rank that can form a country or give a 
        castle ownership to someone else. The general is also abbreviated 
        CO, or the commanding officer. He issues and authorizes all orders 
        given by his officers.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Pit Fiend - Lord of devils, with great strength and 
                                 deadly power.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-ltgeneral"><title>Lt. General</title>
<para>
        The Lt. General is the immediate right hand man of the general. 
        Also shortened to XO, or an executive officer, he is in charge of 
        the region/country when the CO is absent. He has access to every 
        function of the castle, except that he cannot give castles away or 
        form countries. Lieutenant means 'aide', so his job, simply put, 
        is to work as an aide to the general.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Ashkult - A humanoid dragon-like demon judge.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-colonel"><title>Colonel</title>
<para>
        The colonel is the elder senior officer rank and he may command 
        anything but the most vital functions of a castle. This is the end 
        of the road for many, because there usually is only one or two 
        lt. generals as acting XOs. Colonels are very powerful, and as senior 
        officers command almost equal amount of authority. The lieutenant 
        generals, are of course, chosen from the ranks of the colonels so they
        are different in only formal sense.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Excruciarch - The diabolical insectoid pain demon, the 
                                   master torturer and strategist.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-ltcolonel"><title>Lt. Colonel</title>
<para>
        The lieutenant colonel is the introductory rank to the senior 
        officers from the junior officer ranks. The lieutenant means 'aide',
        and this rank means that this particular person should work as an aide 
        to a colonel. Whilst helping the colonel to do his duty, he is learning 
        to become a full-blooded colonel one day.

        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Dogai - The black-hearted assassin devils and cunning 
                           spies of the hell.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="garrison-junior-ranks"><title>The junior officer ranks</title>

<section id="garrison-major"><title>Major</title>
<para>
        The major is the most trusted man of the junior officer ranks. He 
        tends to the needs of the particular castle, does not take part in 
        politics as do the senior officers. His main responsibility is to 
        follow that the orders issued out by the colonel are carried out to 
        the minute detail.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Barbazu - Ferocious demon warriors that frenzy with a 
                             saw-toothed glaive.
</para>
</section>

<section id="garrison-captain"><title>Captain</title>
<para>
        The captain is the leader of the field. When a major issues an order 
        for a larger unit of troops to operate, a captain is to devise the 
        necessary plans to carry out this orders. He, on the other hand, issues 
        these solutions to the lieutenants, who carry them out in the next 
        link in the chain of command.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalents:
        Demon: Malebranche - Hulking, horned warriors, enforcers, 
                                   punishers, and mounts of higher ranks.

</para>
</section>

<section id="garrison-1st-lieutenant"><title>1st Lieutenant</title>
<para>
        The first lieutenant is the second junior officer rank to see 
        battle (2nd lieutenant being the first). His tasks are to watch 
        over the troop operation, devise and put into action tactics 
        that will best carry out the orders issued by the superiors, 
        the captain or the major.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Cornugon - Gargoylelike fiend armed with a spiked chain.

</para>
</section>

<section id="garrison-2nd-lieutenant"><title>2nd Lieutenant</title>
<para>
        The second lieutenant is a preparatory rank for the main 
        lieutenant rank, the first lieutenant. His tasks are similar to 
        the 1st Lt. in that they have everything to do with garrison 
        administration and troop transportation/operation duties.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Cornugon - Dinosaurlike guardians with massive maw and a 
                              wicked stinger.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="garrison-nco-ranks"><title>The non-commissioned officer (NCO) ranks</title>

<section id="garrison-sergeant-major"><title>Sergeant Major</title>
<para>
        The sergeant major is the field rank with most authority. He is 
        the true leatherneck. He will carry out the orders of the officers
        with years of battles behind his back, and usually with a 
        stomach-churning efficiency. The main rank is actually a sergeant, 
        but since some do not fill the requirements for the officer 
        ranks - this is the last and the most revered position a field 
        soldier may achieve. These men are charismatic battlefield leaders.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Hamatula - The 'barbed demon', the elite infernal warrior 
                                with impaling spikes.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-sergeant"><title>Sergeant</title>
<para>
        The sergeant is the backbone of the field command. They have 
        proven exceptional savvy in leadership abilities, and are usually 
        in charge of a platoon. They are experienced fighters and 
        inspirational battlefield leaders. In game world terms a sergeant 
        would be a leader of a 9-man party.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Narzugon - Nightmare-riding elite cavalry member.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-corporal"><title>Corporal</title>
<para>
        The corporal is a small team leader. He is also the backup man 
        for the unfortunate happenstance that the sergeant is disabled 
        during performing his duty. This is the first rank that needs 
        leadership skills, and very often successful corporals will 
        eventually become sergeants and be assigned to lead a full-blooded
        platoon. In game terms a corporal would be a leader of a 3-man 
        party. When a sergeant is present, the corporal is to help the 
        sergeant in performing his duty.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Merregon - The legion demons - formidable warriors with 
                                shield and spears.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="garrison-enlisted-troops"><title>The enlisted troops</title>

<section id="garrison-private"><title>Private</title>
<para>
        The privates are the backbone of a field army. They are a part
        of a squadron and are expected to carry out orders, nothing more. 
        They receive harsh training to provide better chances of survival
        on the battlefield. Without privates, there cannot be an army.  
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Orthon - Foot soldiers of Hell's armies.
</para>
</section>


<section id="garrison-recruit"><title>Recruit</title>
<para>
        Recruits have just entered the service of the garrison. Nothing 
        special is expected from them, and their access to castle functions
        is extremely limited. They are to undergo training and learn the ways
        of the regions. Once they have learned those ways, they are usually 
        promoted to privates.
</para>
<para>
        Other races' equivalent:
        Demon: Lemure - Mindless, tormented creature that attacks in mobs.
                                Cannon fodder.
</para>
</section>
</section>
</chapter>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="acquiring"><title>Acquiring control of a castle</title>

<para>
A commandership of a castle is acquired through a process called 
sieging. Sieging is a process to weaken the castle by forced 
attrition. During a siege, the castle is surrounded by the 
attacker's army so that no-one can get in or out. In the real 
world, sieging could hold on for months. And since a castle has
it's own demands of upkeep (food, supplies), this attrition will 
eventually force the castle to act or perish. During a siege, the 
castle under attack cannot hire or fire garrison personnel, nor use
their treasury to emergency relocate their funds.
</para>

<para>
A siege can be started from the castle yard. Once started, the 
attacking team has 45 minutes to breach through the castle gates 
using the ram. If the 45 minutes pass, and the gates are intact, 
the siege is thwarted. During this 45 minutes of time, the castle 
garrison will try to resist this from happening in the form of NPC 
and PC representatives. If they can delay your ramming process 
enough, you will fail as the timer runs out. So you need to stay 
close to the ram for the duration of the siege. The gates themselves
are VERY durable, so you need to use the ram almost constantly for
the duration of the siege. It is told, that you need to use the 
ram approximately 2-3 times in a minute for a duration of 30 minutes 
to breach through.
</para>

<para>
If you survive the countermeasures, and if you can breach the gate 
within the time limit, you will gain access to the castle entrance. 
In the castle entrance, you will find a command 'claim'. By typing 
this command in the enemy castle, the castle will become yours, and 
you are the new ruler of that region. 
</para>

<para>
Don't for a second think that sieging a castle is something you can 
solo randomly. They have all forms of nasty defenses, plus automated 
guards. It takes a considerable planning and friend to take down a 
castle. It is definitely not a solo act. The guards are definitely 
a force to be reckoned with. Once a castle has been conquered, it 
is significantly easier to defend it from the future opportunists. 
It is said that experienced 3 man parties are efficient enough in 
wearing down castle defenses, given that there is no player 
defending it at that moment.
</para>
</chapter>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="commands"><title>Commands</title>


<section id="commands-general"><title>General commands</title>
<para>
        General commands function in all castle rooms.
</para>


<section id="commands-census"><title>'census'</title>
<para>
        This will show you the personnel record of your castle. 
This command, regardless of being 'general', does not function 
at the castle yard. This is because this information may be very 
useful for the enemy to plot his actions. There is also a 
possibility that the enemy may choose to hire a spy from the 
garrison ranks to snuff out this information. This is not illegal, 
but the castle lord should have been more careful in his picking.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-conquest"><title>'conquest'</title>
<para>
        This will track your success in the objectives mentioned 
        in the chapter 6 of this document.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-resign"><title>'resign'</title>
<para>
        You may resign from the garrison by using this command. 
        Your rank and position will be revoked, and you will be 
        a free man.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-roster"><title>'roster'</title>
<para>
        Roster will give you information about the ongoings of 
        the castles in the game. You will see which castles are 
        under your race's command, and who is commanding them. You 
        will however not see the commander of castles that do not 
        belong to your race.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-ranks"><title>'ranks'</title>
<para>
        Also this command, despite its general level, works inside
        the castle but not from <link linkend="castles-yard">the yard</link>. This will show you the 
        rank hierarchy of your race.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="commands-yard"><title>The yard</title>
<para>
        These commands mainly work from the <link linkend="castles-yard">castle yard</link>.
</para>

<section id="commands-siege"><title>'siege'</title>
<para>
        Using this command, one may initiate sieges on the castles.
</para>

<section id="commands-siege-start"><title>'siege start'</title>
<para>
        This command will initiate the siege process. The 45 minute 
        timer is set and started, and the siege engine (the 
        battering rams etc.) will appear on the yard for you to use 
        against the gate.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-siege-stop"><title>'siege stop'</title>
<para>
        If you wish to give up your siege, you may use this command.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-siege-time"><title>'siege time'</title>
<para>
        You may check the time you have left to breach the gates.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="commands-enter"><title>'enter'</title>
<para>
        If you belong to the castle garrison, or you have breached the 
        gates through siege, you may enter the castle by using this 
        command.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-yell"><title>'yell *'</title>
<para>
        You might want to communicate with a PC who is manning the 
        observation tower. By this command, the observation tower will 
        hear your words.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-application"><title>'application'</title>
<para>
        If you wish to join the castle garrison, you send an application 
        to the commander of the castle, who will receive a notice of this. 
        To ensure his attention, it is generally a good idea to give him 
        a tell or an email to discuss about the terms of your service. 
        Based on these discussions, or whatever measures the commander 
        has for new recruits, the commander may then accept or reject 
        your application into the garrison. If you cannot get into the 
        garrison of one lord, remember that there are as many garrisons
        as there are lords.
</para>
<para>
        If you are trying to join the garrison of a domain, you will need 
        to head for the capital to join.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="commands-entrance"><title>The entrance</title>
<para>
        These commands work from the castle entrance.
</para>

<section id="commands-claim"><title>'claim'</title>
<para>
        If you have successfully sieged the castle and breached the 
        gate, you need to enter the castle and issue this command in the 
        entrance room. By doing this, the castle will become yours to command.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-routes"><title>'routes'</title>
<para>
        This command will show you into which other castles you have 
        caravan routes. The caravan routes are a method of fast travel 
        between the castles your race owns. Any garrison member may also 
        use the caravan.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-caravan"><title>'caravan *'</title>
<para>
        Using this command you'll choose a destination of your travel
        from the list presented in the routes. A trip with the caravan 
        costs you a nominal fee in gold.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-leave"><title>'leave'</title>
<para>
        Leave outside the castle using the main entrance. 
        Use like a normal exit.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-office"><title>'office'</title>
<para>
        Enter the castle office. You need to be of at least junior 
        officer rank for this.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="commands-tower"><title>The observation tower</title>

<section id="commands-view"><title>'view'</title>
<para>
        Take a look at the castle surroundings. The observation towers
        are tall and you can see far from them.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-observe"><title>'observe'</title>
<para>
        Observe the nearby surroundings in more detail - for example, 
        spot camps, people and monsters moving around your region in 
        general.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-siegetime"><title>'siegetime'</title>
<para>
        See how long the enemy has until his siege is thwarted.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-yard2"><title>'yard'</title>
<para>
        Take a look at the castle yard to see your friends' and 
        enemies' identity and condition.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-yell2"><title>'yell *'</title>
<para>
        You may yell orders or communicate to the front yard using 
        this command.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-archers"><title>'archers'</title>
<para>
        If you have arrow volleys in your manifest, you may command the 
        archers to fire these volleys to the yard. These volleys cause 
        considerable damage to everyone outside. Therefore it is not wise 
        to fire them if you have friendlies out.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-cauldrons"><title>'cauldrons'</title>
<para>
        If you have oil cauldrons in your manifest, you may pour boiling 
        oil on your enemies. This is very painful, and causes immediate damage
        to the attackers.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-catapult"><title>'catapult'</title>
<para>
        Using this command you may operate the castle catapult. You may 
        fire outside the scenic location, for a limited range. Note that 
        you can also aim at the people ON the scenic location.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-deploy"><title>'deploy'</title>
<para>
        This command will place your garrison in the state of readiness 
        and in the immediate command of your Lord High Constable to use 
        his judgment to deploy your troops to the field in the case of 
        an emergency.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-alert"><title>'alert'</title>
<para>
        This command will raise your garrison's state of readiness. If 
        the garrison is ready for action, it takes more salary but can 
        respond to threats almost immediately. If required to respond from 
        state of lesser readiness, fielding troops will take more time - 
        and less money.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-battleorder"><title>'battleorder'</title>
<para>
        This command will instruct the Lord High Constable - the one who 
        fields the castle garrison in the times of need - to either send 
        the NCOs (the non-commissioned officers) or the enlisted to the 
        battlefield first. The NCOs are more powerful but cost more to 
        lose, the enlisted troops are less powerful but cost less to lose.
</para>
</section>
</section>


<section id="commands-the-office"><title>The office</title>

<section id="commands-treasury"><title>'treasury'</title>
<para>
        See the contents of the castle treasury.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-withdraw"><title>'withdraw'</title>
<para>
        Withdraw gold from the castle treasury. This is restricted to the 
        general and lt. general ranks only.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-manifest"><title>'manifest'</title>
<para>
        See the ammunition status to the castle defensive mechanisms.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-buy"><title>'buy'</title>
<para>
        Buy ammunition to the castle defense mechanisms. 
        Arrows, oil or stones.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-deposit"><title>'deposit'</title>
<para>
        Deposit gold to the castle treasury. Gold is always welcome, 
        so this command is not too restricted from use.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-setowner"><title>'setowner'</title>
<para>
        This will change the ownership of the castle to the select player. 
        It will cost a nominal amount of gold to swim through the 
        necessary bureaucracy and paperwork.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-hire"><title>'hire'</title>
<para>
        Hire NPC soldiers to your castle garrison. They will try to deter 
        anyone trying to siege your castle if you are absent AND if they
        are deployed.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-fire"><title>'fire'</title>
<para>
        Fire NPC soldiers from your castle garrison. NPC soldiers require 
        salary, and if the treasury looks bad, it might be necessary to 
        fire people.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-deploy2"><title>'deploy'</title>
<para>
        This command will place your garrison in the state of readiness 
        and in the immediate command of your Lord High Constable to use his 
        judgment to deploy your troops to the field in the case of an 
        emergency.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-garrison"><title>'garrison'</title>
<para>
        View the NPC guards you have serving this particular castle, 
        and their salaries.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-alert2"><title>'alert'</title>
<para>
        This command will raise your garrison's state of readiness.
        If the garrison is ready for action, it takes more salary but 
        can respond to threats almost immediately. If required to respond 
        from state of lesser readiness, fielding troops will take more time
        and less money.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-battleorder2"><title>'battleorder'</title>
<para>
        This command will instruct the Lord High Constable - the one 
        who fields the castle garrison in the times of need - to either 
        send the NCOs (the non-commissioned officers) or the enlisted to 
        the battlefield first. The NCOs are more powerful but cost more to 
        lose, the enlisted troops are less powerful but cost less to lose.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-savegarrison"><title>'savegarrison'</title>
<para>
        This will save the current situation of your garrison for the 
        unlikely event of game crash or similar emergency.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-applicants"><title>'applicants'</title>
<para>
        This command will show the players who have applied to join your 
        garrison. You may then use <link linkend="commands-accept">accept</link>
        or <link linkend="commands-reject">reject</link> command at your 
        own discretion.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-accept"><title>'accept'</title>
<para>
        This command will enlist an applicant from the applicant list 
        to an active member of the castle garrison at the rank of a recruit.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-reject"><title>'reject'</title>
<para>
        This command will reject an applicant from the applicant list from 
        becoming an active member of the castle garrison.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-promote"><title>'promote'</title>
<para>
        This command will further the career of the given player by one 
        step further. Use this command with great care and 
        pre-determination.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-demote"><title>'demote'</title>
<para>
        This command will demote the select player by one rank. Be 
        warned though - because the players don't get real life salary 
        from the regions, they might be real picky about continuing under 
        your command. This command, if not used as a tool for setting 
        hierarchy, will seriously affect the target player's morale to 
        stay with you.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-position"><title>'position'</title>
<para>
        This command is a open-ended method for the castle commander to 
        let people know where they should be, and what they should be 
        doing there. For example, it is a good conduct to clearly state 
        for each member of your garrison at least his command post. This 
        command takes any string you want to set visible in the census.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-discharge"><title>'discharge'</title>
<para>
        If there is need to fire a PC from your garrison, you may do it 
        via the discharge command. PCs can however resign by themselves
        if they so wish.
</para>
</section>

<section id="commands-capital"><title>'capital'</title>
<para>
        Using this command, you will center your domain at this 
        particular castle. All ranks and positions are rerouted to this 
        castle, and will be disabled from other regions.
</para>
</section>
</section>

</chapter>

<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="objectives"><title>Objectives</title>
<para>
There are five different objectives you may achieve from the regions 
play. First is to have fun by waging war with your friends against 
other players. The ultimate objective is to rule all the 102 castles 
of each continents. It is only a few select individuals who command 
the sufficient battle prowess, leadership, diplomatic and political 
savvy to achieve this. There are truly not many who can achieve 
this, and certainly not solo.
</para>

<para>
You will also get awards for obtaining control of all the castles 
of a given continent.
</para>
</chapter>


<!-- ================================================ -->

<chapter id="joining-garrison"><title>Joining a player garrison</title>
<para>
        The process is fairly simple: Go to the castle yard of a castle
of someone whose garrison you would wish to join and type 
'application send'. If he has formed his regions as a domain, you
will be informed that you need to apply in the capital, and what 
particular castle the capital of this domain is. Find that castle 
from the map, go there, and try again. Remember, that the 
acceptance is not automatic, but it takes the castle commander 
online to either accept or reject your application. So to speed 
things up, you might want to give him a tell or mail in which you 
present yourself, why you want to join the garrison, in what fields 
of expertise you excel, and a few words about your activity hours.
</para>
</chapter>


<!-- ================================================ -->

<appendix id="appendix-a"><title>Rules of engagement (RoE) for regions</title>

<para>
Each continent has several regional headquarters of the races of 
BatMUD known as castles, scattered over the landscape. Most are 
located near the important sites of these races. As you find a 
castle, you might want to siege it to yourself, for gold and glory. 
However, some moral guidelines have to be drawn to ensure mutual 
understanding of the process of war. These rules are not carved 
in stone nor <emphasis>heavily enforced</emphasis> by the wizardhood (but to some 
degree, yes they are) - but the responsibility to conform to the 
RoE is mostly in the hands of the regional landlords to enforce.
</para>

<para>
The one who breaks these rules during the region play is to be 
freely condemned ethically by all civilized region landlords.
</para>


<section id="appendix-a-1"><title>§1 - Don't mix regions with non-regions gameplay</title>
<para>
The most important rule of thumb first. After the siege, and 
whether the attacker fails to intrude your tower or not, the 
event regarding regions gameplay is over and you enter within 
the boundaries of general player killing rules (help player 
killing). Feel free to shout insults afterwards or try conquering 
his castle but that's about it. It is unsportsmanlike to ruin 
someone's play because he was or was not better than you in regions. 
</para>
</section>


<section id="appendix-a-2"><title>§2 - Repelling your attackers</title>
<para>
Feel free to kill the one (and his aides) who attacks your or 
your friend's castles within the context of the sieging process. 
Please limit the killing to the time boundary that is set by the 
siege attempt, which is 45 minutes. Do not kill before that time, 
or after that time. 
</para>
</section>


<section id="appendix-a-3"><title>§3 - Causing permanent damage in regions play</title>
<para>
Causing MAJOR permanent damage in the form of eq loss or similar 
is forbidden. Technically, if you dest someone's eq in regions
it affects one's gameplay outside the regions - thus violating 
<link linkend="appendix-a-1">rule §1</link>.
</para>
</section>

<section id="appendix-a-4"><title>§4 - Allies in defending or conquering</title>
<para>
Feel free to do regions with people. Gather parties to fight so 
you could do better. After all, conquering a castle is harder than 
defending it once conquered. This is war and numbers count, feel 
free to conquer all the towers, alone or with horde of allies. 
After all, everyone needs allies. It's very hard to ensure constant 
bulletproof protection of your castle. 
</para>

<para>
One word for the allies - as you help the one who's attending a 
siege you will place yourself as a target for defender's 
countermeasures for those 45 minutes - the one who plays does not
cower.
</para>
</section>


<section id="appendix-a-5"><title>§5 - Commanding several castles</title>
<para>
Again, it's favourable to have as many towers you are able to 
conquer. However, it is unsportsmanlike to threaten to ruin one's 
non-regions game if you cannot maintain them all.
</para>
</section>


<section id="appendix-a-6"><title>§6 - Completing the Conquer quests</title>
<para>
You are NOT to swindle ownerships of the castles so, that more 
than one person will benefit from completing the quest at the 
'same price.' These quests are to be made by each person individually. 
You may however help someone do this quest, that at the end you will
transfer the ownership of your castles to him. Again, thenafter it 
is illegal for him to transfer all the castles to you so that you can 
also get the quest.
</para>
</section>

</appendix>


</book>