THE ABBEY OF CRIME
These instructions have been put together to go with the English
version of The Abbey of Crime ("La Abadia del Crimen"), which is being
released to celebrate the game's 15th anniversary, and as a tribute to
the late Paco Menéndez. Having heard that the Spanish-speaking gaming
community regards this game as one of the best ever, I decided to have
a crack at producing an English version. Apparently, one had already
been done, many years back, but we were unable to recover this
version.
The game was originally conceived as a version of Umberto Eco's book
"The Name of the Rose". However, Paco and Opera Soft were unable to
contact Eco to secure the rights for the name, so the game was
released as "La AbadÃa del Crimen".
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Original game: Paco Menéndez (Code); Juan Delcan (Graphics)
Copyright: OperaSoft
Patched English version: Eddie Duffy, with additional graphics
by Amigo.
Translators: Javier Alcaniz, Sard.
Ecclesiastical advice: Philip Bee.
Proof-reading/general advice: Arjun.
Encouragement/Northern wisdom/fruitless loft-searching: BadBeard.
NOTE: This game is not in any way an 'official' release, and I
hope that our little tribute version is not stepping on anyone's
toes. Copyright of the game is, and remains with, OperaSoft.
And, if you enjoy the game, then the credit goes to Paco & Juan. If
it's a botch job now, the fault is all mine.
TRANSLATION OF ORIGINAL LINER NOTES
"Do not follow false doctrines that spread pestilent seeds", wrote His
Holiness Clement VI in the year 1346, to teachers and pupils of the
university of Paris. The Pontiff was referring in that letter to the
doctrines of a Franciscan monk of English origin called Guillermo of
Occam, who had escaped from the prison of Avignon some years
previously accused of heresy. For four years he was held until he had
the chance to flee, asking for asylum in the court of the Emperor
Louis of Bavaria, who was by then feuding with Pope John XXIII. Once
the Emperor died, Guillermo wanted to reunite with his church and his
Franciscan order. For this reason he then travelled to Italy,
accompanied by his young Novice, to meet Bernardo Gui, who was by then
in charge of the Inquisition in that area, and in effect, a
representative of the Pope.
But it is not quite clear if Guillermo actually achieved his goal. All
that remains is the testimony left by his Novice years later, in a
collection of scrolls which relate the amazing and terrible events
that took place during the week they spent in the abbey.
The testimony of the story that you are now about to re-live...
Author: Paco Menéndez
Graphics and Artwork: Juan Delcan
LOADING THE PROGRAM -- CASSETTE VERSION
AMSTRAD: CTRL-ENTER
In these 2 versions there are 3 loads:
1st Load: An introduction to the game in the form of a manuscript. You
can skip to Load 2 by pressing SPACE
2nd Load: The game itself.
3rd Load: You can only load this part when you reach the end of the
game. When you finish the 2nd Load you need to remove the tape without
rewinding it. When you have completed the game, a message will appear
on screen telling you to load the 3rd part.
You must stop the tape as soon as the manuscript appears. If you press
SPACE a message will be displayed: "CARGA DE SITUACIONES" (Spanish) or
"LOAD SAVED GAME" (English).
Saved games can be loaded by pressing L. You can skip this by pressing
N, but be careful: in this case there will be no loaded position, and
the computer could crash trying to recover positions without having
saved them.
USE OF THE KEYBOARD
Guillermo can be moved with the following keys.
FORWARD <cursor up> <joystick up> A
TURN RIGHT <cursor right> <joystick right> K
TURN LEFT <cursor left> <joystick left> L
Guillermo's novice can be moved only on the same screens that
Guillermo is in, with the following keys
<cursor down> <joystick fire button> or Z
While you press one of these keys, the novice will go in the same
direction Guillermo is facing, unless there is an obstacle in his
path.
To grab objects, stand in front of them. Guillermo can hold up to 6
objects, and his Novice 2 more. To drop them press SPACE or joystick
down. The object you wish to drop should be the item on the left of
the display. Please note that only Guillermo's objects are on display.
Therefore only his items can be dropped.
SAVING POSITIONS
It is possible to save your position at any part of the game, so you
can return when it is more convenient.
The saved positions in memory will disappear when the computer is
reset, so you should save to tape.
In the AMSTRAD version, the positions cannot be saved or retrieved
from memory, but you need to load them or save direct from cassette:
Pressing CTRL + TAB lets you load or save directly from cassette.
Press S for SAVE L for LOAD or Q for QUIT
IMPORTANT: The positions must always be saved on a blank cassette,
never on the original.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DISK VERSION
LOADING THE PROGRAM
AMSTRAD DISK : CPM+ENTER
SAVING POSITIONS
You can save positions by pressing CTRL, and simultaneously one of the
10 function keys <F0 - F9> of the AMSTRAD.
The positions will be saved in memory, and can be returned
to by pressing SHIFT + the chosen number.
If you want to save to disk, press CTRL + TAB <SYMB + ENTER>. The
cursor will appear on screen. Press S to confirm, or N to cancel.
Pressing CTRL + F9 <SYMB + 9> only saves a demo, which means whatever
you play from that point on is saved in memory. You can see it by
pressing SHIFT + 9. To exit demo press Pause key 2 times.
The demo, like as the saved games, are first saved in memory, which
means they will be lost once the computer is reset, unless you have
saved them to cassette.
IMPORTANT: It is only possible to save positions on the original game
disk.
(END OF TRANSLATED LINER NOTES)
OTHER NOTES
TIME
The monks of Saint Benedict observe seven periods of prayer throughout
the day: the liturgical hours. These are as follows:
MATINS: Between 2:30am and 3:00am;
PRIME: Around 7:30, shortly before daybreak;
TERCE: Around 9:00;
SEXT: Noon (midday meal);
NONE: (rhymes with 'cone') Between 2:00pm and 3:00pm;
VESPERS: Around 4:30;
COMPLINE: Around 6:00 (the monks go to bed before 7:00).
(Aside: sometimes, an extra service 'Lauds' is observed, between
Matins and Prime, and this falls at around 5:00am or 6:00am. However,
this service is optional, and will not be seen in the game)
The time (day + current service) is indicated at the bottom left of
the screen. When you first arrive, the clock starts at "Day 1, None".
You have seven days to complete your investigation.
OBSEQUIUM
One of the first comments that the abbot makes after welcoming you is
that you must obey his orders, and the rules of the abbey. This
includes attending the meals and the offices of prayer (see above),
following him when he asks you to, etc. Your novice will remind you
when you have to attend offices and meals, and you can just follow him
if you forget the way to the church or the refectory.
If you disobey any orders, or are late for services, etc., then your
'obsequium' level, indicated on the bottom right-hand-side of the
screen, will drop ('obsequium' is Latin for 'subservience' or
'obedience'). Once this obsequium level drops to zero, the abbot will
not tolerate your disrespect any longer, and you will have to leave
the abbey and the game is over. Some actions, such as missing a prayer
office altogether or being caught wandering around at night, result in
immediate expulsion.