[pbmserv] Robots

[Cameron Browne <cameronb@optusnet.com.au>]

Hi,

The game Robots has been added to the server. This is an oldie but a goodie 
that some of you may be familiar with.

This is something of an experiment, being the server's first solitaire 
game: just the thing for those who have a few minutes to kill, are sick of 
opponents who delay/chat/win too much, or those who just like playing with 
themselves (and let's face it, who doesn't?)

The ratings list is effectively a high score table showing each player's 
individual best.

Cameron

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Help For the Game Of Robots

Introduction

   Welcome to the network Robots server. The challenge command is
   described here. Other commands are the same as for all pbmserv games.

       robots challenge [-level=number] userid

   Starts a new game for userid. The -level parameter sets the starting
   level [1..20] with the default being 1.

Rules

   It's you against the robots. Each level you are randomly placed in a
   room with a number of robots. After each move, all robots take one
   step directly towards you. If two or more robots try to step onto the
   same spot they crash and form a scrap heap which you can hide behind,
   but if a robot reaches you the game is over.

   A sample game is shown below.
   +-----------------+
   | . . . . . . . . |
   | . . . r . . . . |        @ = You
   | . . . . # . r . |
   | . . r . . # r . |        r = Robot
   | . . . # . . . . |
   | . r r . . @ r . |        # = Scrap heap
   | . . . . . . . . |
   | . . . . . . . . |
   +-----------------+
    Level     = 1
    Teleports = 3
    Can Blast = 1
           ------
    Score =     0
           ======

   If @ stays where they are, then a robot will kill them next turn.
   However moving NW (up and to the left) is a safe move that will win
   the level after one more turn.

Moves

   N, E, S, W, NE, NW, SE, SW
   Take one step in a direction.

   BN, BE, BS, BW, BNE, BNW, BSE, BSW
   Blast in a direction. This allows you to create a scrap heap adjacent
   to your current position in the direction indicated. You can only use
   your blaster once per level.

   P
   Pass. Stay where you are and let the robots take one step towards you.

   T
   Teleport to another location. If the "Teleports" indicator is greater
   than 0, then you will perform a safe teleport that is guaranteed to
   land you at a safe location. You can still teleport is the "Teleports"
   indicator shows 0, but your safety is not guaranteed and you are
   taking a grave risk. You receive one bonus safe teleport after
   completing each level. Unsafe teleports are marked '*' in the move
   list.

   L
   Last stand. Stay where you are for the rest of the level, and let the
   robots keep stepping towards you until death or glory.

   Q
   Quit the game.

Score

   You score 1 pt for every robot destroyed.

   Stepping in a direction costs 1 pt. Teleporting costs 10 pts and
   blastng in a direction costs 10 pts.

   It is possible to make multiple moves per turn. This not only speeds
   up the game, but is a good way to save pts as you are only penalised
   according to the most expensive step of the move: all other steps are
   free!

   Up to eight moves per turn can be specified. The server makes as many
   legal moves as possible, but bails as soon as a bad move, Last stand
   or Quit command is encountered.

   Since you are not playing an opponent then your rating is equivalent
   to your highest score, and the rankings list is effectively a high
   score table. Improve your rating by beating your high score. The
   win/loss/tie breakdown shows the number of times you have
   beaten/fallen below/equalled your previous high score.

Syntax

   The move syntax is indicated by the following examples:

       robots move board# userid password n      (step to the north)
       robots move board# userid password p      (pass this turn)
       robots move board# userid password t      (teleport)
       robots move board# userid password bse    (blast to the southeast)
       robots move board# userid password ls     (make your last stand)
       robots move board# userid password q      (quit)
       robots move board# userid password n,p,sw,t (step north, pause,
   step southwest, teleport)
       robots move board# userid password t,t,t,t  (teleport a few times)

References and History

   Robots has been around for donkey's years under various names.
   Multiple move bonus system by Cameron Browne.

   Implementation and help file by Cameron Browne, April 2004.