README FOR ORION SYSTEM
****************************************
To comfortably view this file, you might have to enable Word Wrap in the Edit menu.

The CK Orion System was designed to be as painless as possible for both pirate and non-pirate players. The short version is that non-orion players don't have to do anything new unless you're hosting a game, and even then all you have to do is select the right mission. The two missions included in this package, "CK FreeForAll" and "CK Starbase Assault", will allow the use of Orion Pirate ships in the game.

There are two components of this system.

**
First is the program called "CK_OrionSetup.exe", which you will find in your Start Menu in a folder called "CK Scripts". You click on this program before getting into a game to pick your ship and its loadout.

Usage is pretty straightforward.

At the top, you'll see three controls, labelled "Show ships of class", "Up to this era", and a button called "List Ships".

As you've probably guessed, you use the first control to choose which class of ship you want to choose from, the second for the era, and then hit the List Ships button. So for example: to check out the Light Cruisers available up to the Middle era, you would pick Light Cruisers, Middle, and then hit the button. You can select new criteria and hit the button again as many times as you want.

Once you've done this, you can scroll through the ships that match your criteria by using the "< Previous" and "Next >" buttons.

When you've found a ship you like, set up its loadout with the bottom set of controls.

"Drone Speed" is fairly obvious, as is "Drone Size". Changing drone settings for ships not equipped with drone racks will have no effect on the ship or the game.

NOTE: setting drone size (Type I or Type IV) seems to have no effect for Orions. I'm guessing Interplay has them set up to use Type I only.

Below that you'll see your shuttle loadout options. The box labelled "Max Shuttles" shows you the maximum number of shuttles that ship can carry. Keep in mind that this is the maximum number of all types of shuttles combined; specific limits for WW, SP and SS shuttles are usually less than the total number. For example: if your ship can hold 4 shuttles total, chances are it has a maximum of two SP. The controls will not advance beyond the maximum number for each type, and the program will not allow you to take more than the maximum total number.

NOTE: that if you change ships, the loadout controls will reset to default values.

Once you've got your ship and loadout, all that's left is to press "OK". The program will inform you that you're now ready to play the game.

NOTE: in between missions (in a direct TCP/IP session, for example) you can Alt+Tab and run the setup program to choose a different ship for the next mission. 
**

The second component in the system is an entry in the sfc.ini file. The Orion-capable scripts check the value of this entry to determine whether you'll be using an Orion ship or not. Only the scipts included in this package care about this setting; it has no effect on any other mission script. It looks like this:

[CKScripts]
UseOrionShips=1

The Install Wizard will have set up this entry in the file for you already, depending on how you answered its question. But you can change it at any time. If you want to use Orion ships in these missions, then the value of UseOrionShips should be set to 1. If you do not want to use Orion ships, set it to 0. 

NOTE: although you can Alt+Tab to select different Orion ships between missions, you cannot change the ini setting while the game is running. Well, you can change it, but the game will not notice. You'll have to exit the game and restart it.
**

HOW TO USE ORION SHIPS

Interplay thoughtfully included weapon control panels for all types of weapons in the Federation graphics. So when you start the game, pick Federation as your race.

The game still requires you to pick a ship at the Ship Selection/Spacedock screen. Pick anything, because it doesn't matter: for Orion players, the only ship that will appear when the game starts is the one you picked with the setup program. Orion players also don't have to worry about Spacedock, as your loadout is set only with the setup program. Non-Orion players pick their ship and loadout as they normally would.
**

IF YOU ARE HOSTING THE GAME

The "Free For All" script which Interplay included with the game will not support the Orion system. When you are at the game setup screen, choose "CK FreeForAll" instead. This is identical to the normal FFA except that it supports the Orions.

The version of "CK Starbase Assault" included with this package is the other script which supports Orion ships. The only difference between this and the previous version is its support for pirate ships. If you are an Orion and you're hosting a Starbase Assault, you do not have to run the Orion setup program (because you do not get a ship) but you will still need to run the Starbase Assault setup.
**

Have fun!

--
Scott Bruno
aka Captain Krumb
email: krumb@abac.com