I. Introduction

     "Destiny" was  constructed using the Hayden Software 
"Computer Novel Construction Set."  It is a pure text 
"adventure" game that is designed to teach some very important
concepts.

     The only goal in the game is to win.  There are some
points given, but a limitation of the Construction Set is that
points are only given when you DO something, and I wanted points
to be given when you REACHED somewhere.  Thus, you should not
expect to reach a certain level of points (as in the original
Adventure game) and thus win.  Winning only occurs when you
make the right decisions at turning point(s) in the game.

     You will eventually be given a goal to reach.  You then
must wander around, seeking that goal.  Since this game is
designed to teach you some things based on your world-view, I
recommend that you first visit the places that appeal to your
personality.  You can always visit the others later, after you
have won the game at least once.

     This game is designed to be fun to play, but, also, to teach
you important truths from the Bible.  All scripture quotations are
from the New American Standard Version.

     As in any adventure-style game, you should save frequently,
especially when you reach points of decision (but see Bug alert,
below).

     If you seem to be stuck, wait a while.  Something good
(or bad) may happen to you and give you a clue as to what to
do next.  Also, many of the events in the game are random, so
play will vary from one run to the next.

     If you are a newcomer to computer games, basically, adventure-
style games are like a novel where you decide what happens next.
You can change your position (n, s, e, w) or manipulate objects
to steer the action wherever you would like it to go.  You then
experience the consequences of your actions.

     To start the game, put the disk it came on into your floppy
drive and either copy everything onto a hard disk, or type:

	A: 
	PLAY DESTINY

following both of those lines by the enter key, of course.  After
that, away you go.


II Commands

     Other than answers to questions or calling on specific
individuals (hint, hint) the ONLY commands recognized in the
game are:

	n	Move North
	s	Move South
	e	Move East
	w	Move West








	take	Carry an object with you.
	  Synonymns:	get, pick up, grab

	drop	Release an object from your posession
	  Synonymn:	put down

	kick	(Self-explanatory)
	  Synonymn:	punch

	shoot
	  Synonymn:	kill

	open	(i.e., a door - hint, hint)

	sign	(i.e., a contract - hint, hint)

	save	Saves the game at the current situation

	restore	Brings back a previously saved game.

III Rights (yours)

     You are granted permission to copy this program as
much as you like, and give it to your friends, with the
simple limitation that you are not to alter it in any way,
and you must include this file with it.

IV Future (mine)

     If there is enough interest in this game, I would like
to re-do it from scratch, not using the Construction Set.
This would allow some graphics, as well as more sophisticated
characters.  For example, the initial design for Mishkeit was to
have him follow you around and have conversations with you, but 
that simply was not possible with the Construction Set approach.

     Also, the Construction Set limits the designer to detecting
a correct answer to a question; I would have liked to do different
things based on many different possible answers.

     Do not think that I am totally dissatisfied with the Construction
Set.  It allowed me to get a clearer idea of just what I want to
do so I can intelligently design the next game.

V. Me.

     My name is Pete Koziar, and if you have any questions, or are
REALLY REALLY stuck, or want to discuss my symbolism, or even to
argue with me, my address is:

	3602 Cedar Drive
	Baltimore, Md. 21207










VI Bug Alert

     There seems to be a bug in Computer Novel Construction Set that
only rears its ugly head in the "Good People" room (the one with
the fireplace that you enter from the Point of Decision).  If you
enter that particular room, save the game, and restore it from
that point, you will never be able to leave that room (at least,
not alive).  That is the only room that seems to exhibit the bug,
and it is so close to the very start of the game that saving then
restoring does not buy you any more than quitting (or, of course,
dying) and restarting it.

(the bug derives from a trick that I used in that room to get around
one of the restrictions in the Construction Set -- it is used nowhere
else, and it is essential to the functioning of that room)

VII Thanks

     First of all, thanks to my wife for enduring a year of
working on this thing for an hour or so a week.  Secondly, thanks
to Pastor Rick Leineweber, who brought this whole thing to be with
an innocent suggestion that we do a simple game with lights and
switches to teach eternal truths.  One thing led to another and, well,
you know...