DEATH PIT

Compatible with Kempston, Protek, Interface 2, Downsway and other joysticks
that read the keyboard

LOADING
Place cassette in tape recorder Rewind to the beginning Check that the joining
lead between your Spectrum and cassette recorders connected to the EAR
sockets at both ends Type the keyword LOAD followed by two sets of inverted
commas (press SYMBOL SHIFT and letter P at the same time to get one set of
inverted commas) Having typed LOAD "" on your Spectrum press the ENTER key,
then press the PLAY or START control of the cassette recorder Wait until you 
see the screen display giving details of Durell's copyright and the reward for 
forged copies of the game Press any key to move through this until you reach 
the screen where you are asked to select your key or joystick controls

KEY CONTROLS
Generally
5..........move or dig left
6..........climb down
7..........climb up
8..........move or dig right
9..........pick up object over which man is standing
NB: You will have to use the climb up and climb down keys to get past the
Dragons

To select objects from tent, or drop from man (not possible on ladders)
7..........view first object to pick up from tent
6..........view first object to drop from man
5 or 8.....view next object from selection
0..........collect or drop object currently on view

Other controls
CAPS SHIFT and SPACE........ ends current game

JOYSTICK CONTROLS
If you are using a Protek joystick then its movements replace the key controls
above, so you do not have to redefine the keys. If you are using a Kempston
joystick press J after loading, or press J after you have ended the current 
game with CAPS SHIFT and SPACE The Kempston joystick replaces the cursor keys 
5, 6, 7 and 8 and the 0 fire key controls above If you are using an Interface 
2 joystick or any other joystick that reads the keyboard, or wish to redefine 
the keyboard controls to your own choice, then press R after loading, or press 
R after you have ended the current game with CAPS SHIFT and SPACE After 
pressing R you must tap the key or move the joystick to the position that you 
wish to use for each of the controls as they are displayed to you one at a 
time.

PLAYING INSTRUCTIONS
The aim of the game is for you to collect as much gold as possible, and get it 
and the gem back to the tent. You will only score points for these items when 
they are actually dropped in the tent. NOTE that the game ends when you drop 
the gem in the tent, so if you want to acquire the maximum score you should 
leave this until the end. The cavern maze will then change slightly at the 
start of each new game.

At the start of the game you are at the entrance to the mines, next to your 
tent. Press key 7 to view the first of the objects that you have in the tent. 
Then press keys 5 or 8 to view each of the objects in turn. To pick up the 
object currently displayed you must press key 0 (or the fire button on your 
joystick). If you wish to carry on picking up objects you must repeat this 
sequence by pressing key 7 again. When you have picked up the last object that 
you wish to take with you press key 5 to move left until you are above the 
entrance to the mines. Then press key 6 to climb down the hole and start your 
adventure.

You may at any time return to the tent to change the items that you are 
carrying. You can also drop items on any piece of flat ground leg: not on the 
ladders) by pressing key 6 to view the first item on your list, followed by 
keys 5 and 8 to scan through your selection, and by pressing key 0 to drop 
another, so before dropping a second item you must first move sideways. Later 
on you can pick up these or any other individual items that you find in the 
mines by standing above them and pressing key 7.

Unfortunately you are only able to carry a limited weightof items at any one 
time. If your load of items has reached the maximum weight allowed 
lie: 100 units) you will be unable to pick up any more unless you drop 
something else first (nb: you will get the message 'UGH!' on your screen when 
your load is too heavy). As you may guess, some items weigh more than others. 
It's up to you to work out what you should carry in one load.

A number of obstacles await you in the caves. Some of these, like the green 
slime, the dragons, the spiders, and the doors to the giant spiders' lair are 
instantly fatal. Others, like the snakes, the subterranean fish, the mutant 
worms, and the bats (to name but a few) may be killed if you are carrying a 
spade when you run into them. Some of the tunnels are flooded, and you can 
only pass through these while you still have some oxygen in your tank 
(displayed on the right of the screen). You will notice that your air supply 
goes down steadily while you are in the water. When it reaches zero you drown. 
Similarly the battery of your pit lamp will be slowly discharging all the time 
you are in the caves, and your lamp will fade as soon as your batteries have 
run out. As soon as either a battery or an oxygen cylinder is empty its weight
is automatically taken away from your load. If you are carrying spares, then 
the spare battery or oxygen cylinder will automatically take over from the 
dud. You will also come across piles of rubble that you have to dig through 
(difficult without a spade) and which will slow you down. To get past many of 
the obstacles, like spiders and dragons, you will have to time your movements 
just right. NOTE that when your 'TIME' is up (ie: when you have been playing 
for 9999 time units) your life expires, so don't hang around just killing the 
monsters, as this won't give you a very high score.

OBJECTS
BATTERY: these weigh 25 units and are coloured red, and will slowly run out
while your pit lamp is on (Ie: when you are underground). You start off with 
one in your lamp, and there are four more in your tent which you can take with 
you, and drop in the mines for later use. When your batteries run out you will 
be left in the dark - be warned!

SPADE: these weigh 25 units and are coloured white. They are essential for
getting through the cave-ins, and for defending yourself. There are three in 
your tent.

OXYGEN CYLINDERS: these weigh 25 units and are coloured light blue. You start
off with one, and there are three more in your tent. You must have oxygen to 
get through the flooded passages.

GOLD BARS: there are about 20 of these which weigh 50 units each. They are
coloured yellow, and are scattered throughout the mine workings.

THE GEM: there is only one of these which weighs 100 units and glows in many
colours. Getting it back to your tent is your ultimate aim. If you are killed 
while carrying the diamond it will be returned to its original position in the 
caves.

THE MONSTERS
You can only kill monsters by attacking them head-on when you are carrying a
spade, for which you will receive 10 points NOTE that the cavern maze will not
always be exactly the same each game. Certain monsters like the dragons, cannot
be killed - you have to find a way to climb past them.

LIVES
If you get killed all the objects you are carrying will be destroyed, except 
the diamond which will be returned to its original location in the caves. You 
get five lives per game, and at the start of each you will be given a fresh 
battery and fresh oxygen cylinder in addition to whatever is left in your tent.

SCORE
GEM (in the tent) .......................1000
GOLD BAR (in the tent) .................. 100
MONSTER (when killed) .................... 10



OTHER SPECTRUM GAMES FROM DURELL
Jungle Troubleby ..........by Mike Richardson
Harrier Attack ............by Mike Richardson
Scuba Dive ................by Mike Richardson
Combat Lynx ...............by Mike Richardson
