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 == | == 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 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. | + | 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! | Well worth reading! | ||
| Line 72: | Line 70: | ||
*[[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) | *[[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:Classic]] | ||
[[Category:Lore]][[Category:Help pages]] | [[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
One iconic illustration that appeared in The Space Traders Flight Training Manual which later inspired 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
- 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
