If you aren't viewing this on WordPad with "wrap to ruler," you might be a redneck.

SHADOW LEGEND v2.6
Instructions

VERSION CHANGES.....................................................I
CONTROLS............................................................II
BATTLE SYSTEM.......................................................III
ITEMS...............................................................IV
WEAPONS.............................................................V
ARMOR...............................................................VI
THE STATUS SCREEN...................................................VII
SAVING/LOADING......................................................VIII
TIPS AND TRICKS.....................................................IX
SECRETS.............................................................X
CONTACT.............................................................XI


I. VERSION CHANGES

FROM VERSION 2.5:
* Skippable introduction now actually works.
* Instant Messenger name change reflected in this file.
* Startup graphic edited to reflect v2.6.
* Shadow Legend logo updated.
* Small bugs ironed out.
* End screen edited to reflect new web site address.

FROM VERSION 2.0:
* Ending music changed.
* Hidden enemy's HP reduced.
* Hidden enemy's "Dispel" attack is weakened.
* Introduction is now skippable.
* Secrets section added to this file.
* Instant Messenger name change reflected in this file.
* Game now automatically runs when you run "GO.BAT."
* Startup graphic edited to reflect v2.5.

FROM VERSION 1.5:
* Movement glitch caused from approaching enemies from the top is fixed.
* Parallax Cavern glitch fixed.
* Enemies strengthened so game progresses more smoothly.
* Bosses made significantly harder.
* Intelligence increases more quickly.
* Hidden enemy's "Dispel" attack is more dangerous.
* Startup graphic edited to reflect v2.0.

FROM VERSION 1.0:
* Bug fix so walking left is correctly read in battle. This bug was benign in v1.0, but is nevertheless taken care of.
* Boss glitch fixed. Bosses could not be approached from the left side. This has been fixed.
* Null and Void glitches fixed.
* Startup graphic edited to reflect v1.5.
* Map glitch which led to total game crash in The Ether area fixed.
* Map glitch in the Dark Wood Shrine fixed.
* Gigacure spell was missing from v1.0, and has been added along with a secret room. It was programmed in, but there was nowhere to pick it up.
* Enemies get progressively stronger much faster than you do in v1.0. Now whenever you level up, your statistics have much more significant increases. This makes the game much easier early on, but helps to reduce the tediousness later in the game.
* Shadow Cloak now looks different when equipped.
* Hidden enemy added.
* Enemies which originally carried healing spells now use them.
* Tips and Tricks and Contact sections added to ReadMe.txt.


II. CONTROLS

Because I still can't figure out how to use the cursor keys in my games...you have to use the numbers on the keypad, and you must have Num Lock on. If your computer does not have a keypad, all your friends are going to point and laugh at you when you have to use the top row number keys to move around in this game.
	During the game, battles are initiated by simply walking into the enemy. Loose translation: there's no Run command in battle, so don't be a dumbass and walk into a battle that's gonna get you killed (and there will be many).
	Items, weapons, and armor may be picked up by walking over them. Unlike enemies, when you walk onto a different map then go back, these do not return. See THE STATUS SCREEN for more information.
	Please note that cracked walls on the map can be broken. To do so, you must have at least one Hammer in your inventory. Walk into the wall, and it will be broken. This works the same way as keys and their corresponding colored doors.
	Final note: There's a freaking legion of secret passageways and areas in this game, so always check the walls. Many walls can be walked through.


III. BATTLE SYSTEM

The battle system is very simple. When it starts, it gives you three commands: Attack, Magic, and Item. However...under certain circumstances, these commands may change to special commands. Descriptions of these commands and their special counterparts are below.
	- Attack: Standard attack.
		- 2xAttack: Attacks twice. Option replaces Attack when HP
				are at less than 25%.
	- Magic: The option to cast a spell from the menu.
		- MP Burst: Pay any amount of MP; MP Burst will deal damage
				around the amount of MP paid. Option replaces
				Magic when MP are maxed out.
	- Item: The option to use most items you've picked up so far.
		- E.Attack: A standard attack, but restores between 6 and
				50 MP per strike. Note that weapons which
				randomly cast spells will not cast those spells
				if you use this option. Option replaces Item
				when HP are maxed out.
After you have made your selection, your enemy will then attack you. It may use a normal attack or a special one. Special attacks include the Hammer ability of the Orc and the Coin Toss of the Gnome. These are generally more powerful, but are also more infrequent. Note that some enemies may also cast some of the same spells you can, and other spells that you don't have yet. Rest assured: they can only cast them so many times. They, like you, have MP which is required to cast spells. 
	The battle is over when one of you wins. If the enemy wins, you get booted back to the game startup. If you win, you get experience points, which work towards making you more powerful. In addition, sometimes enemies may give you useful items if they are defeated.
	You'll notice that there's no way to escape battle. This is why you can see the enemies before you walk into them - to avoid a potentially complicated situation. You'll probably be beaten mercilessly into the ground by some enemies until you figure out that they're bigger than you are.


IV. ITEMS

I won't describe any of the items here, as you can read their descriptions in the game. Note that keys and hammers automatically get removed from your inventory upon use, but don't worry: there are always going to be enough keys and hammers to let you access every little part of the game.


V. WEAPONS

There are a total of twelve weapons in the game: you start out equipped with the weakest one. Some of them randomly cast spells. The Fire Sword, for example, randomly casts Fire when you attack. The most powerful sword in the game is carefully hidden, and casts possibly the most powerful spell in the game at random. Whenever you pick up a weapon, you must enter the STATUS SCREEN to equip it.


VI. ARMOR

Naturally, since everybody's ready to kick your ass in this game, you're gonna need some protection. And we're not talking Trojans here. You start out with the weakest armor in the game, the Tunic, but as you search you'll find different pieces of armor. Some may seem a bit unconventional but will be quite powerful. Like weapons, you must enter the STATUS SCREEN to equip armor when you pick it up.


VII. THE STATUS SCREEN

Most RPG fans'll find this familiar, but it's necessary to go over a few things. First, the statistics on the main screen should all be very self-explanatory - except for one. The Level Multiplier is the number which determines how much experience you need to advance levels. 
	When you enter any of the submenus, you'll need to press Enter once you've selected what you want to equip/use. For items and spells, you can only use what's bright white. On the weapon and armor screens, you'll notice a number at the bottom, then an arrow, then another number after it. This displays your current attack power or defense power, and how your selection would modify it. These numbers have been replaced by your HP and MP on the spell and item screens. To exit any of these screens, press Esc.
	The weapon and armor screens have abbreviations after each weapon/armor. +1AP means that it will add 1 to your attack power. +1DP is the same, but for defense power. After some weapons, there may be something like R-Fire or R-Cure - this means that the weapon randomly casts that spell. Something like RC-Bolt means that the armor randomly counterattacks with that spell. Only one piece of armor in the game has an RC ability.


VIII. SAVING/LOADING

This is simpler than you could possibly imagine. Whenever you move off the screen onto a new map, the game automatically saves. Likewise when you enter or leave the status screen, the game automatically saves for you.


IX. TIPS AND TRICKS

- Before battles with bosses, you are probably at maximum MP and HP. To avoid sitting on MP Burst, cast Cure out of your inventory.
- Use Knife sparingly.
- Knife and Freeze do NOT work on bosses or the hidden enemy.
- Stock up on at least thirty Hammers if you find the Orc Zoo.
- Some enemies drop Elixirs. If you find one of these enemies, stock up on Elixirs.
- The hidden enemy is capable of blowing items out of your inventory, so be sure to stock up.
- There are MANY walls in this game that can be walked through. Be sure to look for them.
- The hidden enemy is only available after you've beaten the game. You must have all weapons, armor, and spells to fight him, as well as an experience level greater than 80.


X. SECRETS (Spoilers Here!)

The hidden enemy is the Darkside Archon (D. Archon), and he's crazy hard to beat. In order to access him, you must obtain every weapon, armor, and spell in the game. The strongest ones are located past an illusionary wall in the Planar Manor, and you must fight a Darkling every step to get to them. After you beat the game, you will appear in Darkside Archon's lair.


XI. CONTACT

To get in touch with me, send an e-mail to humanerror@home.com, or reach me on AOL Instant Messenger at Blinking Shadow.