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== | |
− | + | [[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 | ::Flying and navigational controls | ||
::Leaving the space station | ::Leaving the space station | ||
Line 15: | Line 14: | ||
::Travelling to other galaxies | ::Travelling to other galaxies | ||
::Docking procedure | ::Docking procedure | ||
− | ''' | + | '''3 Interplanetary Travel''' |
::In-flight combat | ::In-flight combat | ||
:::Controls and tactics | :::Controls and tactics | ||
Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
:::Weaponry and non-combative equipment | :::Weaponry and non-combative equipment | ||
:::How to buy the equipment for your ship | :::How to buy the equipment for your ship | ||
− | ''' | + | '''4 Intergalactic Trading''' |
::How to trade | ::How to trade | ||
::Advice to traders | ::Advice to traders | ||
Line 31: | Line 30: | ||
:::Free Space Cargo | :::Free Space Cargo | ||
:::Illegal Trading | :::Illegal Trading | ||
− | ''' | + | '''5 Political Profile of the Universe''' |
::Consequences for Trade (not all political states are detailed here) | ::Consequences for Trade (not all political states are detailed here) | ||
:::Corporate States | :::Corporate States | ||
Line 41: | Line 40: | ||
:::Felines | :::Felines | ||
:::Insectoids | :::Insectoids | ||
− | ''' | + | '''6 Observer's Guide to Ships in Service''' |
::Adder | ::Adder | ||
::Anaconda | ::Anaconda | ||
Line 60: | Line 59: | ||
::Viper (Police Ship) | ::Viper (Police Ship) | ||
::Worm class Landing Craft | ::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:Lore]] | + | [[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