+$ "Underworld" the Syndicate Crime Game
+#(c) 1995 by Brian G. Black  Version 1.0
+^    Original Concept by Julie Haske
=======================================
Professions:

        Armed Robbery           Mechanic (paid assassin)
        Auto Theft              Pimping
        Drug Dealing            Second Story Artist

The SysOp may use the parameter -p = Pimping off
Note: If the -p option is used any player that chose Pimping in the past
      will be changed to Drug Dealer.

+^Armed Robbery: +&All the player requires is weapon to threaten the victims
and steal money from them.  Armed robbers should start out small with the
Mini Marts and work up to Banks.  Mugging is an option to all the players
the only difference is the armed robber stands a better chance.  Casing a
place before the robbery improves chances for success, however the player
loses a turn each time they case a joint.  Since this crime is on a cash
only basis, there is no need to sell any hot items.

        +%Mini Marts        50  to   150 dollars
        %Liquor Stores     75  to   200 dollars
        +%Bars             100  to   250 dollars
        %Night Clubs      200  to   400 dollars
        +%Grocery Stores   300  to   800 dollars
        %Credit Unions    2000  to  5000 dollars
        +%Banks           10000  to 15000 dollars

+^Auto Theft: +&Requires the player to steal cars, boost stereos, and sell the
stolen hot items for a profit.  A weapon is not required but very useful 
for car-jacking and shooting at the local police.

        +#Stereos                           10 to  100 dollars
        +#Car depending on year and model  500 to 2500 dollars
        
After stealing an auto the player must drive the car to an auto garage and
try to sell it to them.  The more garages visited means more chances to be
caught.  You are allow to steal up to 3 cars pers day.

+^Drug Dealing: +&This operates very much like a stock market, buy low, sell
high, so the player will need cash to begin his trade.  There are a few
options open to make quick cash.  Mugging someone will get the player's 
capital started.  A visit to Vito the Loan Shark will bring in 1000 and up
depending on how much Vito thinks you are worth.  Vito will want his money
back within 3 days at 25 percent interest per day.  
The drug market works on both a local and an international level.

+^Mechanic: +&Weapons are very useful in this profession, although it is always
possible to kill with your bare hands.  The player must look for a contract
and hope it's not a setup.  The best places to look for contracts is putting
word out around the bars and clubs.  Price is always negotiable per hit.
This type of work is highly dangerous, but also highly profitable.
As a hitman you are only allowed 1 hit per day.

+^Pimping: &(optional for sysop) +&This is run like any other business of selling
a product.  There are many factors that will let you make or loose money.
Here are some things to take into consideration;

        ~Quality - The individual value of each person in your stable.
        +~Quantity - The number of people you have in your stable.
        #Morale  - Harmony between you and your workers.
        +#Health  - Sick or injured people can't work, no work, no profit.

The player should consider carrying a weapon, since quite often the John will
kill, abuse, or refuse to pay for services.

+^Second Story Artist: +&Also called Prowling, the player should start off by
hitting a few houses and work up to Museums.  Again a weapon is not required
but very useful for getting out of a jam.  Like auto theft it requires the 
player to fence stolen merchandise.  Like armed robbery it proves fruitful 
to case a joint before the actual robbery.

+$Main Menu Options
$=================
+$(M)ug People in the Park: +&When you enter the park you will be given three
options.  The park is set up for NonPlaying Characters (NPC's) run by the
computer.  Below is an example of a situation;

    @You approach a Park Mime and say, %"Give me all your money or die!".
    +@The Park Mime replies, "No way dude!  I know Judo.".

    @Your Hit Points               :+@ 25 out of 25
    @Park Mime                     : +^Good Health

    (A)ttack
    (R)un Away
    (L)eave the Park

Health ratings are as follows:
        
        +@Good Health     3/4 - all  of Hit Points
        @Fair Health     1/2 - 3/4  of Hit Points
        +^Poor Health     1/4 - 1/4  of Hit Points
        $Almost Dead     nil - 1/4  of Hit Points

+~(H)ospital: +&This is where you can get your character healed for a price.
You are given the following options;

    ~You enter the County Hospital, a doctor approaches you and says,
    +#"Boy!  You look like a train wreck!"

    +~Your Hit Points: 2 out of 25

    +~(H)eal me up Doc!           cost  2300 dollars
    +~(G)et me patched up Doc!    cost  100  dollars per Point Healed
    +~(L)eave the Hospital

(H) option will heal you as much as you can afford.

If you chose the (G) option the following would appear;

    +#How many points?

%(P)awnshop: +&Will buy and sell most merchandise.  They sell small weapons
and old used secondary guns.

+%(G)un Store: +&Specializing in guns and rifles, these Gun Stores sell small
caliber pistols to semi-automatic rifles.  They will not purchase old 
weapons.

+@(S)hopping Mall: +&Malls contain appliances like; TV's and Computers.  You 
can even buy a Car at the Mall.

@(B)anking: +&There is a total of 9 Banks in the city to do business with they
hold your money for you, buy and sell bonds, and insure your money for a
membership fee.  @Be sure to check the (+@*R@)ates before you (O)pen an account!
Example:
           Branch                Account Cost              Insurance Pays
    (1) 1st National Bank            200              75 perc. amount stolen
    (2) 2nd National Bank            100              35 perc. amount stolen
    (3) 3rd National Bank             50              10 perc. amount stolen


+$(T)ake a Loan Out with Vito: +&Vito is a loan shark that will loan you 1000
to 10,000 depending on how much he trusts you.  Weither or not you're online,
your debt to him grows 25 percent per day.  There are (hidden) penalties for
not paying Vito back!

+~(D)o Some Business: +&This option varies due to the profession you chose.

+#(F)ind a Hotel Room: +&Hotel rooms vary per day and protect you from the
people on the streets, &some+what...

@(A)rmy Surplus: +&This store will sell everything from bombs to fully automatic
weapons and kevlar vests to armor percing bullets.

#(N)ews Paper: +&This will tell you who kill who today, the paper runs at 
midnight and lasts for one day.  You can read back through the last seven 
papers.  Other headlines include elections, police stikes, and miscellanious
crimes in the city.

+^(C)ity Directory: +&Phone book of all the active players in the game.

^(V)iew Your Players Status: +&I hope you know what this means!

+%(W)rite Graffiti on the Wall: +&Simple way to leave a message to other 
players.  The city paints over the wall every once in a while.

%(K)ill Other Players: +&Offline and (online version 2) fights between players.

+~(R)eal-Estate Office: +&Housing varies, from district to district, starting
around  10,000 and up.  The price of the house is detrmined by crime rates,
police protection, size, and security.  Apartments can be rented for  500
per month and up.  Apartments and houses keep your character safe at night,
and allow you to build up assets (TV, VCR, etc.).  Houses can be robbed and
broken into by others.

+#(L)-Train: +&Allows you to change the district you are in;

    The Elevated Train costs 2 dollars per ride:

    (1) Upper Westside     (2) Northside     (3) Upper Eastside    
    
    (4) Westside           (5) Downtown      (6) Eastside
    
    (7) Lower Westside     (8) Southside     (9) Lower Eastside

+$(Q)uit: +&Returns you to the BBS.

+@Finding a Safe Place for Money
@==============================
HAAA!!  HAAA!!  You got to be kidding!  The all banks in the city can get 
robbed, so putting all your eggs into one basket is dumb.  Hauling your 
money around with you is not wise either.  If you die or go to jail you
loose all your cash on hand.  If you invest in materials call assets, 
such as a house, a car, etc., you can reduce your chance of being rob by
purchasing an alarm, and you can buy insurance at 10 percent of cost.  
Insurance will only pay up to 75 percent of the assets cost.
Example:
If you buy a car for 20,000 and insure it for 2,000 and it gets stolen,
you will get 15,000 cash back.  This is the best route for saving money.

+^Winning the Game
^================
The player that reaches 5,000,000 total assets becomes a powerful overlord
of the racket they practice.  This means others in the same racket pay the
overlord 5 percent of their monthly income.
When an overlord hits 10,000,000 total assets they are allowed to run for
Mayor of the city.  Election will be held in November each year.  The player
elected as Mayor will run or ruin the city for one month before the game 
resets in January (also optional for sysop).

+~Mayor's duties:
        1. Rename the city
        2. Hire Police for each district
        3. Rezone for urban renewal (housing)
        4. Balance the budget
        5. Retire to the "Congressional Hall of Shame"

Note: Users don't win drugs!  Have fun, it's only a game.
