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F A Q \|
Version 1.28

(as of July 21, 1995)

Compiled by John D. DeCuir (decuirjd@primenet.com).

This is the OFFICIAL Descent FAQ. It provides pointers/answers to the
most Frequently Asked and easily answered Questions about Descent that
often get posted.

This is NOT a substitution for the README.TXT that comes with Descent.
The README file contains vital information that every Descent-player
should read. This FAQ is intended as an up-to-date supplement, NOT
a substitution.

All specific names included herein are trademarks: Descent, Interplay
Productions, Parallax Software, FlightStick, Gravis GamePad, Pentium,
Intel, Cyrix, Id Software, Doom, Quake, Apogee, Wolfenstein 3D,
IBM, OS/2, OS/2 Warp, PC Gamer, CompuServe, America Online, GEnie,
Microsoft Windows, Smartdrive, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars, Death Star,
Virtual I/O, iGlasses!, VictorMaxx, CyberMaxx, Logitech, Wingman Extreme,
Windows 95, Prodigy. Any trademarks not mentioned here are
hypothetically acknowledged.

Please note that my e-mail address is decuirjd@primenet.com.
PLEASE do not e-mail me for technical support, as I just write the
FAQ. E-mail Interplay (see below) for technical support issues.
Feel welcome to e-mail me for a copy of the FAQ, although there may
be a delay. Also, I occasionally pop in on the IRC in #descent as
Bruin.

ANNOUNCEMENT: There is now a Descent DISTRIBUTION LIST. This list is
established to mail out new versions of the FAQ when they are
released. If you'd like to be put on this list (or taken off it)
send me a note at decuirjd@primenet.com.

This article is (C) Copyright 1995 by John D. DeCuir. All rights
reserved. You are welcome to make copies and redistribute this article,
as long as it is kept in its original form.

WELCOME

Welcome to the Descent FAQ! This document should make
it easy to find the information you're looking for.

This FAQ is divided into 7 parts:
INTRODUCTION: What is Descent all about?
GAMEPLAY: How to play the game
STRATEGIES: Strategies and ideas on winning
CHEATS/SECRETS: The cheat codes, and secret places
MULTIPLAYER: Information on playing with 2+ people
HOMEBREW: Information on user-created levels and editors
MISCELLANEOUS: Everything else.

Hope this will provide you with everything you'll need. If you'd
like to see something that isn't here, please don't hesitate to
e-mail me at decuirjd@primenet.com. And now, prepare for Descent.


TABLE OF CONTENTS:

[1]. INTRODUCTION
[1a] What is Descent?
[1b] Wait, I read somewhere about something called Quake. Isn't this it?
[1c] How is Descent different from games like Doom?
[1d] What is needed to run Descent?
[1e] Can I play Descent under OS/2?
[1f] Can I play Descent under Windows?
[1g] Can I play Descent under Windows 95?
[1h] Where is the Linux port of Descent?
[1i] Where can I get Descent?
[1j] What are the differences between the different releases of Descent?
[1k] What's new in version 1.4?
[1l] What is this "Descent II" I've been hearing about?
[1m] Who created Descent?
[1m-2] How can I contact Interplay?
[1n] Is there source code available?
[1o] Is there a Descent newsgroup on Usenet?
[1p] Does Descent support any VR (virtual reality) headsets?

[2]. GAMEPLAY
[2a] Help! I'm lost in the maze.
[2b] I'm having trouble controlling my ship. Any suggestions?
[2c] What are some popular control configurations?
[2d] I can't find places on the map.
[2e] Undocumented Map features
[2f] What are the differences between the different robots?
[2g] What are those yellow tunnels with sparkly things in it?
[2h] What are those purple areas that new ships come out of?
[2i] What are the relative strengths of the weapons?
[2j] What's strafing, sliding, and translation?

[3]. STRATEGIES
[3a] I think Descent is too easy/boring.
[3b] I think Descent is too hard.
[3c] The secret resource: Lava
[3d] How do I beat the big bad robot at the end of level 7?
[3e] How can I detect cloaked robots?
[3f] A Walkthrough of Level 7

[4]. CHEATS and SECRETS
[4a] What are the cheat codes?
[4b] Is there a list of the secrets in Descent?

[5]. MULTIPLAYER DESCENT
[5a] Can I play with other people?
[5b] Does each computer require a distinct version of the software?
[5c] Why do different computers play differently on a net game?
[5d] Can I play over the Internet? (IHHD and Kali info HERE)
[5e] Is there a good place to meet other players?
[5f] What speed should I set my modem at for IHHD?
[5g] A note about networking and Descent
[5h] How can I play those neat Chaos levels by myself?
[5i] What are some multiplayer tactics suggestions?

[6]. HOMEBREW LEVELS
[6a] Will a level editor be released?
[6b] What kinds of level editors are out right now?
[6c] Where can I find homebrew levels?
[6d] Okay, I've gotten a new level. How do I play it?

[7]. MISCELLANEOUS
[7a] What are the VCR controls in the Demo Playback?
[7b] A Quick 'n' Dirty approach for stereoscopic (3-D) Descent
[7c] I just died; where did all my stuff go?
[7d] How can I skip past all the dialogue in the beginning of the game?
[7e] How can I avoid motion sickness?
[7f] I'm having hallucinations when I look away from the monitor.
[7g] My frame rate is far too slow. Any suggestions to speed it up?
[7h] How can I measure my frame rate for my computer?

[A]. APPENDICES
[AA] Appendix A: Internet resources for Descent

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVISION HISTORY

12/26/94 Descent 0.1 FAQ born by John DeCuir.
12/26/94 A distinct, "Descent 0.5 FAQ" written by Seth Delackner.
12/27/94 Merger takes place, including new information from
Adam Pletcher from Parallax Software.
Thanks Adam! Descent FAQ 0.6 born.
12/28/94 Added Ascii Art logo by Thomas Axelsson, created FAQ 0.61.
12/28/94 Added lots of new info about robots, undocumented map
features, control configurations, framerate. FAQ 0.7 born.
1/02/95 Added new Ascii Logo by Thomas Axelsson, some miscellaneous
information. Re-organized, created a new TACTICS section.
Debuted with FAQ 0.75.
1/03/95 Added minor info about OS/2 and GEnie. FAQ 0.77.
This FAQ was never released.
1/03/95 Added Level 7 walkthrough by Mike Lorant. FAQ 0.8.
1/05/95 Added info about VCR controls, secrets. FAQ 0.81.
1/15/95 Added lots of information throughout the FAQ. Created
FAQ 0.85.
1/16/95 Added/changed some minute detail. Thanks to Adam
Pletcher for adding/correcting info. FAQ 0.86.
2/9/95 Changed some info from Adam Pletcher. Received
blessing from the Parallax Software deities and
went to version 1.0. Thanks all! :)
3/19/95 Updated FAQ to include info on registered Descent.
FAQ 1.1 born.
3/24/95 Included info on new cheats, DEVIL, Chaos tactics,
official specs. 1.15.
5/27/95 Added Win95 info, Strafe=Slide, Kali info, Devil info,
and more WWW links scattered around the FAQ. Also
information about Interplay's player list database. 1.2.
5/29/95 Reorganized the FAQ; 1.25. Added all sorts of new information,
too numerous to list here.
6/10/95 Added misc. info all over FAQ. 1.26
6/25/95 Added new cheat codes, updated Kali servers. 1.27
7/21/95 Removed Kali info, put in pointer to Kali FAQ.
Added info about Descent II. Minor changes. 1.28

WHERE CAN I FIND THE FAQ?

The *official* source for this FAQ is at the World Wide Web site:

http://www.primenet.com/~decuirjd/descent.faq

The most current copy will always be held here, in text format
(non-HTML).

On the Internet, specifically in the Usenet newsgroups,
look for it in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action, alt.games.descent,
or e-mail decuirjd@primenet.com for the latest version. If you'd
like to be put on or taken off the Descent FAQ distribution list
(see above), please e-mail me.

Alternatively, look on the IRC in channel #descent and ask for it.

To find a copy of the FAQ in WWW HTML format, look at
http://doomgate.cs.buffalo.edu/descent/, or
http://www.eskimo.com/~stickman/descent/. Some delays may occur
after the release of a new FAQ, however. These versions are
currently out of date.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part [1]. INTRODUCTION

-- [1a] ---------- What is Descent?

"Descent is a heart-pounding, gun-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat experience."
-from the README.TXT file in Descent

"The sensation of speed is amazing, and the 3D, texture-mapped graphics
make this game a genuine joy to behold."
-PC Gamer

Descent is a game from Interplay and Parallax Software. It immerses
you in a full 3D environment with 6 degrees of freedom -- you truly have
the experience of weightlessness and zero gravity.

You are a pilot who must rescue hostages and blow up the reactors of
certain enemy mines. However, there are many, many robot drones out to
destroy you before you destroy them. When the reactor blows, you have
45 seconds to get out of there before you go with it!

You are given an arsenal of different weapons, such as the Vulcan
chaingun-like gun. Also, you have finite energy and shield strength,
both of which may be replenished in the course of the game.

Descent boasts true heightmapping and light sourcing -- the textures
and feel of the game are absolutely real. And the light effects are
terrific -- try shooting a missile down a dark corridor and watch it
light the walls along its path.

-- [1b] ---------- Wait, I read somewhere about something called Quake.
Isn't this it?

No. Quake is a game currently being designed by Id software, the makers
of Doom. Quake is promised to contain many of the features that Descent
carries, such as true 3D. But for now, Descent is wholly independent of
the Quake project, and there is no overlap between the two.

-- [1c] ---------- How is Descent different from games like Doom?

Descent, unlike Doom, has a true 3-D environment with six degrees
of freedom. This means you have three axes of motion and three axes of
rotation. In other words, you can go in any possible direction that
you want, not just walk around the floor.