WHAT IS CROSSFIRE?

  This is a multiplayer graphical arcade and adventure game made for
  the X-Windows environment.  It runs on a client/server model.
  The client runs with X11, GTK, or  SDL within a gtk window.  A
  windows client is available, and a java client is under development.

  It has certain flavours from other games, especially Gauntlet (TM)
  and Nethack/Moria.

  Any number of players can move around in their own window, finding
  and using items and battle monsters.  They can choose to cooperate
  or compete in the same "world".

  This README is for the server, the client, which is downloaded
  separately, has it's own README.

REQUIREMENTS

  For UNIX, an ANSI C compiler (with some C99 features, such as
  snprintf()) is needed to compile the server. GCC is recommended.

  You also need Perl to generate the archetype files. This is only
  done at build time.

  There are some optional dependencies:
  * Support for dynamically loaded libraries. Most modern systems
    have this.
  * SQLite3 - For cflogger and cfnewspaper.
  * Python 2.4 or later - For cfpython. This is highly recommended.
    A lot of items, maps and quests won't work without Python.
  * Check - For unit tests. This is required for developers, normal
    users don't need to bother about this.

  For Windows: Someone with Windows: please fill this in.

COMPILING

  Crossfire has been known to compile on a wide variety of
  systems.  It should compile on most all ANSI C and POSIX
  compliant systems.

  To get directions on compilation for UNIX/LINUX, read the INSTALL file.
  For Windows: Someone with Windows: please fill this in.

USAGE

  Crossfire runs on a client/server model.  You will also need the
  client to play.  You can either connect to a server someone else
  has set up, or run your own server and connect to that.  The
  client package has information for connecting to servers.

  To run your own server, you need to make the crossfire binaries and install
  them, and then run the crossfire program.  This now creates a server which
  you/other people can connect to.  The map files will need to get downloaded
  and installed for the server to run properly.  The maps should be
  unpacked in the $(TARGET)/share/crossfire directory - after unpacking,
  you should have a $(TARGET)/share/crossfire/maps directory.

  If you plan to run a long term server, you should use one of the scripts
  provided that will re-run crossfire if it dies for some reason.

MAILING LIST

  For the latest subscription for crossfire mailing lists, go to:
  http://crossfire.real-time.com/mailinglists/index.html

  From there you should be able to subscribe/unsubscribe any of the mailing
  lists.  Links to archives of the mailing lists can be found there, as well
  as at:
  http://gmane.org/find.php?list=crossfire


FTP SITES

  FTP-sites where you can look for the latest versions are:
    http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/crossfire/
    ftp://ftp.real-time.com/pub/games/crossfire

  Changes made since the latest release can be found at the SVN
  repository.  Information on anonymous SVN access and browsing
  the repository can be found at:
    http://sourceforge.net/svn/?group_id=13833


WEB SITES:

  The following web addresses have crossfire information that you may find
  useful:

  http://crossfire.real-time.com/
  real-time is the main crossfire site.


REPORTING BUGS

  First, check the INSTALL file for common problems, and see if yours is
  mentioned.

  Bugs should be filed at the sourceforge web site:
        http//sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=13833&atid=113833

  When reporting bugs, make sure you include the following:
  o If you have a sourceforge login, make sure you are logged in.  This way,
    if there are questions about the bug, you will be notified about the
    request for more information.
  o What version of crossfire did you use?
  o What type of computer did you use (CPU type)
  o What is the version of the OS?
  o What compiler (and its version) did you use (ie, gcc, icc, etc)?
  o Which flags did you give it?
  o If the bug happens when compiling crossfire, send an EXACT copy of
    the compiler line, as well as the errors it puts out.  Sending bugs
    of the sort 'it failed with a line like ...' doesn't help at all.
  o If you are using any of the plugins, what version(s) of Python and SQLite
    do you have installed?
  o If the bug happened while running crossfire:
    - Include any output before to the bug.
    - Give a description of what you did before the bug occurred.  The better
      detailed the description, the better chance we have of figuring
      out where the bug happened, or how we can recreate the bug.
    - If possible, a stack trace from gdb (or other debugger) is very
      helpful.

The more information provided, the better chance of the bug being fixed in
a timely fashion.

Further debugging information can be found at
http://crossfire.real-time.com/debugging_tips.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBMITTING PATCHES:  See the doc/programming_guide file.
   The patches should be submitted to the patch tracker on sourceforge:
        http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=13833&atid=313833

PUBLIC SERVERS:

The best way to find a server to play is to run the client.  It will contact
the metaserver and present a list to choose from.  You can also see
a list at http://crossfire.real-time.com/metaserver/


COPYRIGHT

    Don't get scared by the below, it's included just for "safety" reasons 8)
    (Don't want anyone to start selling the game)

    Copyright (C) 2000,2006 Mark Wedel
    Copyright (C) 1992 Frank Tore Johansen

    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
    (at your option) any later version.

    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
    GNU General Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
    Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

    The author can be reached via e-mail to crossfire-devel@real-time.com