Difference between revisions of "The Space Traders Flight Training Manual"
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| − | [[File:Classic Elite - Flight Trader's Manual.png| | + | [[File:Classic Elite - Flight Trader's Manual.png|480px|thumb|right|Ian Bell's own copy]] |
| − | + | The '''''Space Traders Flight Training Manual''''' was the original 64 page Instruction Manual. It was created by [[Robert Holdstock]], [[Ian Bell]] & [[David Braben]] for the very first game, [[Classic Elite]]. | |
| − | Contents: | + | ==Contents== |
| − | + | [[File:Pcc-ship-art.jpg|thumb|right|480px|One iconic illustration that appeared in ''The Space Traders Flight Training Manual'' which later inspired [[User:Aegidian|Aegidian's]] [[Python Class Cruiser]]. Art by unknown artist.]] | |
| − | + | '''1 Introductory Data''' | |
| − | + | ::Interior of a Cobra Mk III | |
| − | + | ::Your rating as a combateer | |
| − | + | '''2 Navigation and Flying''' | |
| − | + | ::Flying and navigational controls | |
| − | + | ::Leaving the space station | |
| − | + | ::Making for your target world | |
| − | + | ::Travelling to other galaxies | |
| + | ::Docking procedure | ||
| + | '''3 Interplanetary Travel''' | ||
| + | ::In-flight combat | ||
| + | :::Controls and tactics | ||
| + | :::Likely enemies | ||
| + | ::Equipping the Cobra Mk III | ||
| + | :::Weaponry and non-combative equipment | ||
| + | :::How to buy the equipment for your ship | ||
| + | '''4 Intergalactic Trading''' | ||
| + | ::How to trade | ||
| + | ::Advice to traders | ||
| + | ::Alternatives to Trading | ||
| + | :::Piracy | ||
| + | :::Bounty hunting | ||
| + | :::Asteroid Mining | ||
| + | :::Free Space Cargo | ||
| + | :::Illegal Trading | ||
| + | '''5 Political Profile of the Universe''' | ||
| + | ::Consequences for Trade (not all political states are detailed here) | ||
| + | :::Corporate States | ||
| + | :::Dictatorships | ||
| + | :::Anarchy Planets | ||
| + | ::Alien races (not all are detailed here - ''eg'' reptiloids) | ||
| + | :::Bird-forms | ||
| + | :::Amphiboids | ||
| + | :::Felines | ||
| + | :::Insectoids | ||
| + | '''6 Observer's Guide to Ships in Service''' | ||
| + | ::Adder | ||
| + | ::Anaconda | ||
| + | ::Asp Mk II | ||
| + | ::Boa Class Cruiser | ||
| + | ::Cobra Mk I | ||
| + | ::Cobra Mk III | ||
| + | ::Fer-de-Lance | ||
| + | ::Gecko | ||
| + | ::Krait | ||
| + | ::Mamba | ||
| + | ::Moray Starboat | ||
| + | ::Python | ||
| + | ::Orbit Shuttles | ||
| + | ::Sidewinder Scout Ship | ||
| + | ::Thargoid Invasion Ships (with remote controlled fighters) | ||
| + | ::Transporter | ||
| + | ::Viper (Police Ship) | ||
| + | ::Worm class Landing Craft | ||
| + | '''7 Pilot's Log''' | ||
| + | :(for recording your own trades and kills) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Commentary == | ||
| + | Holdstock's version of the Instruction Manual was a great innovation. It was written for newly-qualified pilots, not for teenage players of a computer game. And it made references to all sorts of things not part of the game itself. Generation ships. Deep space dredgers. Other versions of the four in-game lasers. Government bodies and other publications. In effect, it became a major source of [[Lore]] for those who bought the entire boxed game and read all the contents. It was a major factor in creating the immersion which engulfed so many of the original players. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Well worth reading! | ||
| + | |||
| + | == OXPs == | ||
| + | *[[Lore Collection (Classic Elite)]] includes the relevant oxz's from the Expansions Manager to help transform Oolite into a lore-laden Elite (but see the wiki page for details of unincluded oxp's) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[http://www.elitehomepage.org/manual.htm ''Space Traders Flight Training Manual''] from Ian Bell's site | ||
| + | *[http://www.c64sets.com/set.html?id=107&show_all=1 ''Space Traders Flight Training Manual'' and ''The Dark Wheel''] scans and details of the original C64 box set | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[http://www.elitehomepage.org/playguide.htm#A0 Elite Player's Guide]: Bell & Braben's unfinished precursor to The Space Traders Flight Training Manual | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Classic]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Lore]][[Category:Help pages]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:58, 6 January 2024
The Space Traders Flight Training Manual was the original 64 page Instruction Manual. It was created by Robert Holdstock, Ian Bell & David Braben for the very first game, Classic Elite.
Contents
Contents
1 Introductory Data
- Interior of a Cobra Mk III
- Your rating as a combateer
2 Navigation and Flying
- Flying and navigational controls
- Leaving the space station
- Making for your target world
- Travelling to other galaxies
- Docking procedure
3 Interplanetary Travel
- In-flight combat
- Controls and tactics
- Likely enemies
- Equipping the Cobra Mk III
- Weaponry and non-combative equipment
- How to buy the equipment for your ship
- In-flight combat
4 Intergalactic Trading
- How to trade
- Advice to traders
- Alternatives to Trading
- Piracy
- Bounty hunting
- Asteroid Mining
- Free Space Cargo
- Illegal Trading
5 Political Profile of the Universe
- Consequences for Trade (not all political states are detailed here)
- Corporate States
- Dictatorships
- Anarchy Planets
- Alien races (not all are detailed here - eg reptiloids)
- Bird-forms
- Amphiboids
- Felines
- Insectoids
- Consequences for Trade (not all political states are detailed here)
6 Observer's Guide to Ships in Service
- Adder
- Anaconda
- Asp Mk II
- Boa Class Cruiser
- Cobra Mk I
- Cobra Mk III
- Fer-de-Lance
- Gecko
- Krait
- Mamba
- Moray Starboat
- Python
- Orbit Shuttles
- Sidewinder Scout Ship
- Thargoid Invasion Ships (with remote controlled fighters)
- Transporter
- Viper (Police Ship)
- Worm class Landing Craft
7 Pilot's Log
- (for recording your own trades and kills)
Commentary
Holdstock's version of the Instruction Manual was a great innovation. It was written for newly-qualified pilots, not for teenage players of a computer game. And it made references to all sorts of things not part of the game itself. Generation ships. Deep space dredgers. Other versions of the four in-game lasers. Government bodies and other publications. In effect, it became a major source of Lore for those who bought the entire boxed game and read all the contents. It was a major factor in creating the immersion which engulfed so many of the original players.
Well worth reading!
OXPs
- Lore Collection (Classic Elite) includes the relevant oxz's from the Expansions Manager to help transform Oolite into a lore-laden Elite (but see the wiki page for details of unincluded oxp's)
External links
- Space Traders Flight Training Manual from Ian Bell's site
- Space Traders Flight Training Manual and The Dark Wheel scans and details of the original C64 box set
- Elite Player's Guide: Bell & Braben's unfinished precursor to The Space Traders Flight Training Manual