Sphere v. 1.2

Overview -

	Sphere is a host add-on product for VGA Planets.  It will convert any
VGA Planets map that adheres to the standard coordinate system (1000 to 3000)
into a torus, allowing ships that travel off one side of the map to reappear
on the opposite side (e.g. a ship on the southern edge of the map can travel
100 lys south and be at the northern edge of the map).  The default "seam" is
50 lys from the edge of the standard (i.e. X or Y < 950 or X or Y > 3050) but
this may be configured to accomodate "compressed maps" (e.g. a map of 350
planets with all planets between 1500 and 2500).
	This should make the game a bit tougher.  No longer can a player put
all his forces on his front lines and leave his rear areas undefended.  The
increasingly popular "Invasion" games should be a bit more challenging as
Homeworlds may come under attack from the other side of the map.  It should
also end the complaint of those players who find themselves stuck in a corner
of the map without any decent planets - just move to another corner.

Installation -

	Put Sphere.exe into the same subdirectory Host.exe is in.  The
AuxBC.ini file goes into your game directory.  The auxBC.ini file must be
edited as follows:  

	A - The game files are in the same subdirectory as Host.exe
 		Type Sphere.exe with no parameters

	B - The game files are in a subdirectory of the Host Directory
	    (e.g. Host.exe is in C:\Plan1 and the game is in C:\Plan1\game1)
		Type Sphere.exe [Subdirectory] (e.g. Sphere.exe Game1)

	C - The Game files are in an unrelated directory
	    (e.g. Host is in C:\Plan1 and the game is in D:\games\game2)
		Type Sphere.exe [full path] (e.g. Sphere.exe D:\games\game2)

	D - If you want to change the default seam you must use option B or C,
	    then add the minimum and maximum for the seam to the command line
	    (e.g. Host is in C:\Plan1, the game is in C:\Plan1\Game1, and the
	    map is a 350 planet map with all planets between 1500 and 2500 so
	    you want the seam to be at 1450 and 2550.)
   	 Type Sphere.exe [Path] [Min] [Max] (e.g. Sphere.exe Game1 1450 2550)

N.B.  If you're running other add-ons and already have an AuxBC.ini file in
your game directory, just add one of the above lines to that existing file.


Registration -

	There is none.  The program is freeware.  All I ask is that if you use
the program and like it (or hate it) or have any comments, critcisms,
suggestions, or a desire to send unsolicted donations, drop me line and let me
know.  You can e-mail me at clesnew@idt.net.  The program is released as is with
no guarantees of suitability made.  It works for me without problems, but you
use it at your own risk. 
	VGA Planets is a copyrighted program by Tim Wisseman. 



Credits -

Thanks to John Shepherd for bouncing ideas and approaches back and forth with
me on this add-on.



History -

 version 1.0 - Released
 version 1.1 - Universe Seam made configurable
 version 1.2 - Bug with tracking ships the turn they went over the seam fixed.  
               Execution moved to take advantage of new host AuxBC.ini - this makes travelling
               across the seam a natural part of movement.  Ships may be attack (or be attacked),
               pillage, RGA the same turn they arrive over the seam.  This is not possible when
               Sphere is run in Auxhost2.ini (the only thing available when Sphere was first written).


Sphere version 1.2 - copyright (c) 1995
Conrad Lesnewski