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29.\" $Id: bs.6,v 1.2 2006/04/22 22:42:44 tom Exp $
30.TH BATTLESHIPS 6 "Aug 23, 1989"
31.SH NAME
32bs \- battleships game
33.SH SYNOPSIS
34battle [ -b | -s ] [ -c ]
35.SH DESCRIPTION
36This program allows you to play the familiar Battleships game against the
37computer on a 10x10 board. The interface is visual and largely
38self-explanatory; you place your ships and pick your shots by moving the
39cursor around the `sea' with the rogue/hack motion keys hjklyubn.
40.PP
41Note that when selecting a ship to place, you must type the capital letter
42(these are, after all, capital ships). During ship placement, the `r' command
43may be used to ignore the current position and randomly place your currently
44selected ship. The `R' command will place all remaining ships randomly. The ^L
45command (form feed, ASCII 12) will force a screen redraw).
46.PP
47The command-line arguments control game modes.
48
49.nf
50 -b selects a `blitz' variant
51 -s selects a `salvo' variant
52 -c permits ships to be placed adjacently
53.fi
54
55The `blitz' variant allows a side to shoot for as long as it continues to
56score hits.
57.PP
58The `salvo' game allows a player one shot per turn for each of his/her ships
59still afloat. This puts a premium scoring hits early and knocking out some
60ships and also makes much harder the situation where you face a superior force
61with only your PT-boat.
62.PP
63Normally, ships must be separated by at least one square of open water. The
64-c option disables this check and allows them to close-pack.
65.PP
66The algorithm the computer uses once it has found a ship to sink is provably
67optimal. The dispersion criterion for the random-fire algorithm may not be.
68.SH AUTHORS
69Originally written by one Bruce Holloway in 1986. Salvo mode added by Chuck A.
70DeGaul (cbosgd!cad). Visual user interface, `closepack' option, code rewrite
71and manual page by Eric S. Raymond <esr@snark.thyrsus.com> August 1989.