moved related documents into developer/

7 files changed, 1152 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/developer/GAMEPLAY b/developer/GAMEPLAY
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1f3cfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/GAMEPLAY
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	The Osirion Project - GAMEPLAY
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	This document describes what the gameplay of Project::OSiRiON should
+	eventually become. This document is a work in progress and is subject
+	to change. Many features haven't been implemented yet.
+
+Overview
+
+	Project::OSiRiON is a multiplayer space game with persistent player
+	statistics. By trading goods, obtained through lawful purchase or 
+	otherwise, a player can earn the necessary credits to buy bigger
+	guns and faster ships, and explore the univers in search for better
+	trade deals.
+
+	A single player mode with a compelling story is a secondary objective
+	but the storyline serves as background for the multiplayer universe.
+
+	The player can not change the game world itself: he can not purchase 
+	planets or starbases, nor destroy existing ones.
+
+Guidelines
+
+	Project::OSiRiON is a 'serious' game. Names of objects, people and
+	places should be considered generic for the universe and should not
+	be rightout silly or offensive. Names should feel 'natural' in their
+	context.
+
+	Models for ships, space stations and other objects should be designed
+	with the same philosphy in mind. It is acceptable to make references 
+	to exisiting objects (real or fiction), as long as they are subtle
+	or inconspicuous.
+
+	Names of planets, systems and areas are usually references to exisiting
+	places on earth. Astronomical objects or mythological personae are
+	also great sources of good names.
+
+Universe
+
+	A basic description of the universe, how it is organised and who lives there.
+
+	The universe is a collection of stand-alone star systems. Each star system
+	is a small world on its own. The only direct interaction between systems
+	is a player traveling between them. The background story should provide
+	(most of the) star systems and their relations. 
+
+	The Project::OSiRiON universe is an open universe. This means players are
+	free to travel around and visit the places they want, but this does not
+	mean the player will be welcomed anywhere he goes.
+
+	Destructable objects are probably part of a mission, will respawn later or
+	have some other special meaning.
+
+	Non-player characters (NPCs) populate the universe to act as trading
+	partners or target practice.
+
+The Player
+
+	Who is the player in the universe. 
+	- Friends
+	- Enemies
+	- Background
+	- How the player interacts with the universe.
+
+	The player enters the universe as a typical out-of-luck person
+	who decided to start a new life. With a small ship he tries to become
+	the Richest Man in the Known Universe. The player earns money by shipping 
+	cargo that can be bought at discount prices at one place and sold
+	at a premium on a second location. *mining *fighting *wrecks/looting.
+
+	The goal is to become filthy rich and show it. Besides, with a particle
+	cannon and a target lock, nobody cares where your money comes from.
+
+	True roleplaying is outside the scope of the game itself. The universe 
+	(might/will) provide factions, friendly and hostile NPCS an strategic area's
+	but the game engine itself will not force true roleplaying. For example,
+	players will not be limited to certain ships and weapons depending on
+	their allegiances.
+	
+	Players can be hostile or friendly towards each other regardless
+	of their allegiances.
+
+	Flying missions, mercenary, military or mercantile in nature.
+
+Ships
+
+	The player starts the game with single small spacecraft and starts the
+	game docked at a planet or space station. When he has earned sufficient
+	money he can spend it on ship upgrades like weapons, armor, shields 
+	and various other components.
+
+	*gameplay idea
+	various 'useless' fancy upgrades that increase player status
+
+Traveling
+
+	How the traveling happens in the universe, how the player will travel.
+
+	Every ship is equipped with thrusters. The maximum thruster speed depends
+	on the ship type, small merchant vessels will have lower maximim trhuster
+	speed then a scout ship.
+
+	Ships can also be equiped with a sublight kinetic impulse drive. This drive will
+	enable the ship to accelerate to a high speed without crossing the threshold
+	at which relativistic effects would affect structural cohesion. Kinetic impulse
+	drive speed is the same for most types of ships. Due to the enormous power 
+	requirements a ship will not be a able to fire weapons while the impulse drive 
+	is enabled.
+	
+	Neither of these engines will allow the player the leave the star system.
+	Interstellar travel is only possible using a hyperdrive. A hyperdrive is an
+	expensive piece of equipment with a massive power requirement. Only very
+	large ships will be capable of carrying a hyperspace jump drive.
+
+	Interstellar travel for the common men is possible through the use
+	of commercial or government owned hyperspace gates. These gates create
+	on-demand hyperspace connections between star systems and provide a safe
+	and easy way to travel.
+
+	Hyperspace travel is almost instantanious, hyperspace jump would be a more
+	accurate term to describe it.
+
+	Current hyperspace technology works by making use of weak points in hyperspace,
+	known as hyperspace intersection faults. It takes only takes a reasonable amount
+	of energy to fold local space into such an intersection fault, to create a conduit
+	between both sides of the hyperspace intersection. All a ship has to do is enter
+	the event horizon of the hyperspace conduit (or 'jump hole', as it is commonly called)
+	to travel almost instantaniously to to other side, usualy several lightyears away.
+
+	Jump gates are built in the vicinity of stable intersection faults and thus have a fixed
+	destination.
+
+	Ships equiped with a hyperdrive work on the same principle. They seek out a sensitive
+	spot in the hyperspace field and fold local space to punch a hole through the other side.
+	This has several major consequences: a pilot has to determine has destination by finding
+	a good departure point in local space. Also, only a small number of connections between
+	systems will be possible.
+
+	Hyperspace intersection faults are large (planetary orbit scale) and while they are attracted
+	to gravity wells like a star, they do not like to share their space.
+
+	Note that is theoreticly possible to fold normal space deep enough into hyperspace to
+	create jumps holes on intergalactic scales. It would probably take a generator the size of a
+	large moon to achieve it.
+
+Capital Ships
+
+	As the player earns money, he will eventually be able to buy very large capital ships. 
+	Apart from beeing large and powerful, capship can be docked by other players and 
+	used like any other dockable planet or station.
+
+	A ship docked at the capship is able to use it as a carrier, and launch
+	when the carrier has reached its destination, or circumstances require it.
+	
+	A capship can be setup as a trading vessel, allowing smaller ships to dock
+	and buy and sell items at prices set by the owner. The capship would become
+	a moveable trading outpost.
+
+Planet and Stations
+
+	Star systems are inhabited with planets and stations.
+	...
+	Dockable planets or stations are bases
+	...
+	Some bases provide storage facilities where players
+	can put items like weapons or spare parts in storage.
+
+Objects in space
+
+Weapons
+
+	What kind of weapons are there. how do they work.
+	- Lasgun technology
+	- Pulse rifle technology
+
+Fighting
+
+	How does fighting work? Aim weapon at enemy. Pull trigger.
+
+	Fleeing from battle.
+
+Economy 
+
+	Money makes the Universe tick.
+	- Buying
+	- Selling
+	- Trading
+
+Cargo
+	- Transporting / Beaming
+	- Mining
+	- (Spare) parts
+	- Fuel 
+	- Economy
+
+Missions
+
+	I'd do anything for money, except working.
+
+	- Search and Destroy
+	- Transport / Delivery
+	- Courier missions
+
+Fleets & Wingmen (scondary goal)
+
+	About owning multiple ships and adding strategy elements.
diff --git a/developer/HISTORY b/developer/HISTORY
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c40b34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/HISTORY
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+
+Project::OSiRiON - Release history
+
+
+* release-0.2.0-svn825 "November Rain"
+
+	2010-10-15
+	src revision 825
+	data revision 490
+
+* release-0.2.0-svn754 "Broken Skies"
+
+	2010-10-06
+	src revision 754
+	data revision 451
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn740
+
+	2010-09-26
+	src revision 740
+	data revision 441
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn716
+
+	2010-03-05
+	src revision 716
+	data revision 422
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn669
+
+	2009-08-13
+	src revision 669
+	data revision 371
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn641
+
+	2009-06-28
+	src revision 641
+	data revision 326
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn560
+
+	src revision 560
+	data revision 261
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn523
+
+	src revision 523
+	data revision 217
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn488
+
+	src revision 488
+	data revision 174
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn418
+
+	src revision 418
+	data revision 144
+
diff --git a/developer/PROTOCOL b/developer/PROTOCOL
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92a345b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/PROTOCOL
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+
+The Osirion Project - Network Protocol Overview
+
+Connection sequence
+
+
+
+Client		State					Server		State
+
+									Connecting
+
+"connect [protoversion]"	-------->				Pending
+
+				<-------		"msg info [sv_hostname"
+
+				<-------		... world data ...
+
+				<-------		"connect"
+
+"pif[.. player info ...]"	------->				Connected
diff --git a/developer/ROADMAP b/developer/ROADMAP
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9cafc43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/ROADMAP
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	The Osirion Project - ROADMAP
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  General:
+
+	This document describes the gameplay objectives for each 
+	milestone of the project. Currently, milestone 0.1 has been 
+	reached and the game universe is ready to be refined and 
+	expanded. 
+
+	Features of the engine itself, like support for new file
+	formats, rendering options and game server commands
+	are implemented along the way and, unless required,
+	happen independent of the gamplay roadmap.
+
+	This roadmap is not to be used as a roadplanner but as a
+	gentle guide to reach a playable game.
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.1.0 - The Universe (done)
+
+  Description:
+
+	The game world is divided into zones, the zones can be populated
+	with entities. Players can use their impulse drive or jump to 
+	different zones.
+
+	Multiple players can connect to the dedicated server. They can 
+	fly around and see each other. They can use chat to communicate, 
+	they can use private chat or global chat.
+
+	Players can dock at a space station or planets. Docking
+	a jumpgate enables hyperspace travel.
+
+  Requires:
+
+	client console
+	entities
+	ship instances
+	network subsystem
+	entities
+	camera handling
+	keyboard bindings
+	zones
+	basic travelling: impulse drive, jump engine
+	basic docking
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.2.0 - Items and Trading
+
+  Description:
+
+	Ships and stations have inventories, players can buy and sell
+	cargo at a space station. Each item can have a text description
+	and a model.
+
+  Requires:
+
+	player credits (ok)
+	item info + lazy server-client exchange (ok)
+	trading (ok)
+	inventories (ok)
+
+  Related:
+
+	map entity descriptions (ok)
+	eject cargo/tractor beam (ok) -> fx
+
+	player-to-player trading
+	equipment trading
+	model weapon slots and positioning
+	
+  Optional:
+
+	dockable player ships (ok)
+
+	fuel system
+	economy
+	per-item adjustabe depletion rate (won't do)
+
+  Implementation:
+
+	inventory + ship statistics window (ok)
+	handle inventory transfer on ship aquisition (ok)
+	eject/destroy cargo (ok)
+	base inventory depletion (ok)
+		
+	docking player ships should require owner permission
+	player-to-player trading
+	player shops
+		player must be capable of setting the kind and price of items to sell
+		item 'tradeable' flag 
+		shop allows multiple buyers, p2p trading just one
+	player factory ships + base factories, per-item adjustabe conversion rate and ratio
+		e.g. 2 units of niobum to 1 superconductor per 30 seconds
+	player saving and network authentication
+	
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.3.0 - Equipment
+
+  Description:
+
+	Players can buy and sell ship upgrades like armor and scanners,
+	this will require additional game mechanics.
+	Players can buy and sell weapons.
+
+  Requires:
+	
+	cannons and turrets
+	cannon and turret models
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.4.0 - Physics
+
+  Requires:
+
+	collision physics (box model collision implemented)
+	collision meshes
+	targetting
+	explosions, weapons fire and related sounds
+
+	particle systems
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.5.0 - public alpha
+
+  version 0.5.1 - bugfix release
+
+  Description:
+
+	All the general large features of the engine are implemented.
+	Create a somewhat polished release with a playable universe
+	to create a platform for bug-fixes and improvements.
+
+	The main goal if the alpha is to create interest for the project
+	and to attract an initial playerbase. At this point, a dedicated
+	'Official' server is necessary.
+	
+  Requires:
+
+	playable, consistent universe
+	general polishing
+	master server
+	player guid 
+	player saving
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.6.0 - NPC
+
+  Requires:
+
+	factions
+	allegiance
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.7.0 - Missions
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 0.9.0 - public beta
+
+  Description:
+
+  Requires:
+	stable network protocol
+	background story
+	zip archive support
+	http downloads
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 1.0.0 - public release
+
+  Requires:
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  version 2.0.0 - rewrite of the engine
diff --git a/developer/STORYLINE b/developer/STORYLINE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd33282
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/STORYLINE
@@ -0,0 +1,461 @@
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	The Osirion Project - STORYLINE
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	This file contains ideas for the universe background, the factions and 
+	the storyline. 
+
+	SPOILER ALERT!
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	FACTIONS and PLACES
+
+
+	HOUSE LINDBLADE (protected by the Lindblade military)
+
+	- Lindblade system
+		planet Lindblade
+
+	- Burton system
+		planet Burton
+		Trent outpost
+
+	- Dover system
+
+	HOUSE PRAETORIA (protected by the Praetorian Guard)
+
+	- Praetoria system
+		planet Praetoria
+
+	PROTECTORATE (protected by the Ordinators)
+
+	The seat of the Council and the capital of the central planets.
+	Location of the Allied Intelligence Network headquarters.
+
+	- Protectorate
+		planet Corona
+
+	INDEPENDENT COLONIES (protected by the Colonial Militia)
+
+	An alliance of systems independent from the central planets.
+	
+	- Ghant system
+		planet Ghant
+		Alexandria outpost
+		Battleship custodian
+
+		planet Seymour
+		Regula station
+
+	- Brogha system 
+		planet Brogha
+		Cantor observatory
+
+	- Antwerp system
+		starbase Helianthos (guards the border)
+		Buccaneer's Den pirate base
+		planet Antwerp?
+
+	NEUTRAL SYSTEMS
+	
+	- Finnmark (Joint Miners Association headquarters)
+		planet Finnmark
+
+	- East End
+		Ensor station
+
+	CORPORATIONS
+
+	- Micron Corporations
+	- AMTEL Tech Conglomerate
+	- Joint Miners Association
+
+	BORDERWORLDS (not claimed by any lawfull faction)
+
+	Worlds destroyed during the war.
+
+	- Kor Glaven system
+		planet Andros
+		planet Corthio
+		battlefield remains
+
+	- Anarian system
+		Anarian nebula
+		Galileo research station
+		battlefield remains
+
+	- Karelian system
+		no Planets
+		Karelian nebula
+		border station
+
+	TSU-KHAN EMPIRE
+
+	- Kiana system
+		Kiana Prime
+
+	Note on names:
+
+	Before the war, the systems controlled by the Great Houses were
+	referred to as the 'Colonies'. The term 'borderworlds' was used
+	to refer to independent systems.
+
+	Since the war, the term 'Borderworlds' is used to indicate
+	systems destroyed during the war, while the term 'colonies'
+	is generally used as abreviation for the 'Independent Colonies'. 
+	The Protectorate and the systems controlled by The Great Houses
+	are usually referred to as 'the central planets'.
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	TIMELINE
+
+	Exodus			-5300 years
+	The Year of War		 -300 years
+	The Karelian Incident	  -50 years
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	HISTORY OF THE YEAR OF WAR
+	from the House Lindblade historical records
+
+
+Reaching for the Stars
+
+	History of mankind is a tale mostly written in blood and fire. Although
+	there are few written accounts of the events before the Exodus, it wouldn't
+	be hard to imagine why the Homeworld would have been abandoned in the first 
+	place: wars for power, territory and resources would be commonplace 
+	for almost five millenia to come.
+
+The Year of War
+	
+	For the Tsu-Khan, this war was no different. Around 300 years ago, 
+	The Empire had depleted most of its natural resources and had launched 
+	an ambitious project to find a suitable new homeworld.
+	
+	At the time, most of the human population was ignorant about the presence
+	of alien lifeforms in their galaxy. The scant pieces of evidence that did 
+	exist were kept secret by the political leaders. The Colonies were controlled
+	by several Major Houses, each with their own agenda's and changing alliances.
+	None of the House Lords had the motivation to order a thorough investigation
+	into a mad man's testimony of outer world creatures.
+	
+	The war came without warning. In the Kor Glaven system, on the edge of known space 
+	and outside the jurisidiction of the great houses, two new colonies 
+	had been founded. The settlers were finishing the construction of their 
+	hyperspace jump gate, to connect the system to allied borderworld systems. 
+	Unfortunatly, the Tsu-Khan Empire had located a suitable planet just 
+	a few parsec away.
+	
+	The Andros colony was the first to fall. It didn't take the Tsu-Khan 
+	battle group very long to destroy the defenceless setlement. 
+	By the time they arrived at the Corthio colony, the colony had scrambled 
+	any battleship it could find to fend the invasion. The Colonial fleet was 
+	no match for the superior Tsu-Khan ships. In a few hours, the battle was over, 
+	and the Corthio colony had been reduced to ashes.
+
+	The story repeated itself across the Borderworlds. These independent worlds were
+	usually inhabited by pacifist who had escaped the turmoil of the central planets
+	or had a mutual understanding with one or more of the great houses. The Tsu-khan
+	did not care, and the majority of the Bordesworlds was utterly obliterated. What
+	remained was a few primitive settlements scattered across the smoldering remains
+	of the Borderworld planets.
+
+	The relations between the Borderworlds and the Major Houses were strained with
+	conflicts of interest. The central planets usually didn't care unless some economical
+	or strategical advantage was involved. Slowly the Houses got drawn into the the war,
+	and after almost a year of hostilities most of the House Lords found their armies
+	involved in a full-scale war. A war, they realised, they couldn't win.
+
+	With the Borderworlds out of the way, and the Tsu-Khan fleet at the border of every
+	Major House, there wasn't much they could do to oppose the Empire. In this darkest
+	of hours a secret meeting took place that turned the fate of history. On a small,
+	neutral planet, near the centre of the Colonies, a number of small ships met in secret,
+	each ship carrying one of the remaining House Lords.
+
+The Alliance
+
+	This small planet used to be the stage for the House Council, by then a long forgotten
+	tradition, where the Lords of the Major Houses used to work out their differences
+	with dialog, or discuss current events. In the years before the Great War, this
+	tradition had been neglected and oposing views were usually solved with a friendly
+	border skirmish followed by royal monetary compensation.
+
+	These times were over. This war wasn't about money, power or territory.
+	It was about survival and it was clear by now that none of the Major Houses possessed
+	sufficient strength to fight the Empire on its own. A new alliance was formed and it
+	was decided that it should not only include the Major Houses, but also any independent
+	system that was still capable of fighting. The Lord of House Lindblade, who's
+	territory had been on the front line since the beginning of the war, and considered
+	as moderate amongst the House Lords, proposed to assemble a fleet in the Lindblade 
+	system to prevent the Empire from gaining a foothold in the Central Systems.
+
+	Within days, the largest fleet in human history had united under one banner. Out of fear,
+	out of hope, but most of all, out of desperation. A news reporter from the era described
+	it as ".. an overwhelming sight of the End of Times, but unlike the descriptions of
+	Armegeddon in the Ancient Scripture, a sight with a sense of honour and dignity ..." 
+	and ended his report with the question if they really had any chance against such
+	a formidable enemy. Battleship after battleship graciously drifted in formation,
+	and everyone on board, from crewman to captain, knew this had to be the final stand.
+
+	When the Empire's vast intelligence informed the Tsu-Khan Emperor of this unexpected
+	turn of events, humanity's fate seemed sealed. The orders where quick and decisive:
+	regroup the fleet and prepare to engage the humans. Once dispatched it would
+	take care of the alliance fleet and end human opposition once and for all. The war
+	would be over soon and the Alliance's systems would under the Empire's control.
+
+	It is said that even the smallest person can change the course of the future, and in
+	this case, it was a lonely scientists in the Anara system. His work involved
+	the meaning of life, the universe and related subjects, and ignoring the dangers
+	of the war was his way of dealing with the situation. His latest experiment required
+	him to pilot a tiny and almost unpowered vessel into the Anarian nebula, where
+	he could conduct measurements of the small variations in the local hyperspace field.
+
+	He was performing another scan of the sector when suddenly his instruments went off
+	the scale. To his amazement he suddenly found himself on the edge on area where the
+	alien fleet had decided to regroup and refuel before they sneaked into Alliance Territory.
+	The small vessel, barely powered and only slightly larger than an emergency life
+	support pod, used the high levels of radiation in the nebula to elude the Tsu-Khan
+	sensors and send a warning message the Alliance Fleet.
+
+	With the help of the detailed scientific information about the nebula, the Alliance
+	managed to jump right on top of the unsuspecting Tsu-Khan fleet. Within minutes, 
+	the Imperial Flagship, primary target of the assault, had taken massive damage and was
+	burning in the flames of explosive decompression. It was at the heart of the fleet
+	when it exploded, and most of the heavy fighters and cruisers were hit by the shockwave
+	and the massive rain of high-speed metallic debris behind it. Some managed to retreat
+	to Tsu-Khan space, most fell victim to the united firepower of the Alliance fleet.
+
+	News of the victory spread through the Colonies like fire, and the battle became legendary
+	before the Alliance fleet had even returned home. 
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	PROJECT::OSIRION
+	Allied Intelligence Network classified documents
+	
+
+Project Osirion
+
+	During the war, many great houses conducted experiments in search for
+	advanced technologies to aid in defeating the enemy. One of these
+	experiments was called 'Project Osirion', an experiment involving
+	a new type of hyperjumpdrive, which could work independent of hyperspace
+	jumps holes and cross enormous distances in the blink of an eye.
+
+	The requirments on ship design for this experimental drive unit were
+	outrageous to say the least. But facing imminent defeat, no effort
+	was spared to gain even the slightest advantage. In less than 6 months
+	a new ship was constructed and equiped with the experimental drive unit.
+
+	The ship was an impressive sight: several hundred meters of neutronium-enforced
+	carbosteel, thousands of metric tonnes of superconductors and optronics,
+	a monument to human ingenuity and an instrument to survival.
+
+	This ship was christened 'Osirion'.
+
+	The ship's first test flight was a major event. Most secret projects did not
+	generate a lot of attentention, but this flight was a higly anticipated by
+	the top brass from all parties involved, military, political and corporate alike.
+
+	The ship had left the construction yard as planned and had almost arrived at
+	departure point on the edge of the star system when suddenly all communication
+	was lost. Extensive investigations after the incident have never revealed the
+	source of the malfunction, and everything that happened after this point is the
+	result of long-range sensor telemetry.
+
+	The ship arrived at the departure point and the flight continued as planned.
+	A few moments later a massive energy discharge was registered, indicating
+	that the experimental jump drive was activated. Unfortunatly, the order
+	to return to the point of departure after the initial jump, seems to be a part of
+	the plan that never got executed. The ship had literally vanished into thin air.
+
+	The top brass was very upset.
+
+	
+The Karelian Incident
+
+
+The Tsu-Khan Empire
+
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	PROJECT::OSIRION
+	Protectorate Top-Secret documents
+
+What really happed to the Osirion
+
+What really happed after the death of the Tsu-Khan Emperor
+
+Tsu-Khan Empress and the War Generals
+
+The Empress' niece
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+	PROJECT::OSIRION
+	STORY
+
+I. Business
+
+	Alexandria outpost, jewel of the south, or queen of the wasteland,
+	as some higher placed officials like to call it off-the-record.
+	They were probably right too. The wasteland probably referred to
+	planet Ghant, a lifeless chunk of rock holding the outpost in 
+	a stationary orbit. Unless you had some pressing matters to handle,
+	this was a part of space you would rather avoid. The only kind of
+	people you could find here were people doing business and people 
+	who needed to dissapear from public appearance. Or both.
+
+	The local custom was to mind your own business, and that was exactly
+	what I was looking for: minding my own business. My life on the central
+	planets had become far more complicated than I had planned for and it
+	was time for a change: I managed to get a loan from the local
+	planetary bank and spend it on the aquisition of a small transport
+	vessel.
+
+	The first day of my new life as a spaceship captain. Not the glorious 
+	life I had gotten used to, but at least a decent one with its small pleasures
+	once in a while. The small room I rented above the local bar almost felt like
+	home. After I left the central planets, I ended up on Alexandria outpost where
+	the local bartender was kind enough to offer me a job in his modest establishment.
+	He probably did it more out of sympathy then anything else, but as it turned
+	out, I'm great at doing the dishes and I always enjoyed	our conversations. 
+	That is, until last week, when I met Mister Brent.
+	
+	I never really got to know him very well but he must have remembered me from high
+	school. I was sitting at the bar when he suddenly tapped my shoulder. My memories
+	of him were vague. As he sat down, I ordered him a drink. We had some chit-chat,
+	shared a few memories of distant times, but it didn't take hime very long to come
+	to the point.
+	
+	Brent was the business type. "The rising star of the Regula mining operations,
+	overseeing all shipments of niobium ore in the Ghant system", to quote his words.
+	His phrases like "A smart man could make a fortune" sounded rather hollow to me,
+	but he did have a point. 500 runs to Regula to pay the loan for the ship.
+	Another 1500 more to get myself a ship big enough to hold a small cabin with all the
+	luxuries a simple life would need.
+	
+	Repetetive? Boring? Perfect! Add an autopilot and this life could be more relaxing
+	then a luxury vacation on an exotic planet. With this simple business but rock-solid plan
+	laid out in front of me I managed to convince the manager of the local planetary
+	bank to provide me with the necessary funds for my operation, which I quickly 
+	exchanged for Micron Corporation's latest Vector model. It's a small ship: 
+	the cockpit, a living compartment with a sleeping corner and a cargo hold 
+	just big enough to hold a few metric tons of whatever the owner had in mind.
+	All it misses is a pair of blasters to shoot the mosquitos from the windshield.
+	
+	That would have added another 50 runs to the price.
+	
+	The first two runs went smooth. Nothing unexpected. Pick up supplies at Alexandria,
+	fly all the way to the Regula mining operation station, exchange the supplies
+	for a shipment of karpax ore and head back. I had just hit the impulse drive with 
+	the third load in my cargo hold when I noticed something out of place.
+	
+	A blip. And a big one too. No civilian vessel had an EM radar signature that powerful.
+	I peered through the windows and as planet Ghant grew bigger on me I could clearly
+	distinguish a second bright spot next to the familiar one Alexandria had become to me.
+	I quickly requested the computer for an identification and it didn't take it very long
+	to come up with an answer. Battleship Custodian. Colonial Militia registration number 
+	CM-2542. It must have jumped in when I was docked at Regula.
+	
+	Curious. While the Ghant system was officialy under the jurisdiction of the 
+	colonies, nobody had any real business here. Niobium was without doubt a valuable
+	commodity, but since there was no real shortage of the oremy guess was that the 
+	military's interests would lie elsewhere. For now, I decided to ignore the matter.
+	I wasn't about to meddle into military affairs and let unfortunate circumstances ruin
+	my life again.
+	
+	Nevertheless it was hard to ignore the massive battleship looming over the outpost,
+	but I docked and went straight to the bar. The bartender looked at me as I walked in
+	and pointed me to my regular place at the bar. "I'll be right back", he said,
+	and disappeared into the kitchen compartment. As on most quiet evenings, the 
+	regular customers were kind enough to leave my seat unocupied and it didn't 
+	take the familar surroundings long to ease my exited mind into a more relaxes state. 
+	"Here you are, one cup of steaming hot chocolate milk. I'm not sure how or where 
+	you got it, but I am sure it is the real deal. No one would get it into	his mind
+	to synthesize anything without having an actual market for it."
+	
+	As usual, my bartender was right, and that was exactly why I liked this stuff, even if it
+	costed a small fortune. "But then again", he continued and turned has eyes towards the large
+	space window at the other end of the bar, "life can be full of surprises."
+
+II. Surprises
+
+	It was hard for him to hide his unsettledness. "I just had a talk with the station supervisor
+	and the commander of that battleship floating out there". "The Custodian", I replied. "I had
+	the ship computer run an ID on it". "You'd better take care of that fancy new ship of yours",
+	he said. "They were here to inform me that the Colonial Militia has decided to assign a detachment
+	to the Ghant system, effective immediately. All fleet operations in the system will be under the 
+	command of the battleship Custodian. They also dropped some kind of communication sattelite 
+	in the center of the system. God knows what these guys are up to."
+
+	The military is always involved in business the common man would rather not know about, but I had
+	to admit, it just didn't sound right.  A battleship in the Ghant system was curious, but a 
+	more permanent presence didn't make any sense at all. I picked up the small metal spoon lying
+	next to my cup and stirred my hot milk. "I wouldn't worry too much. They've probably discovered
+	some interesting radiation in the neighbourhood and now they want to turn it into a weapon. You
+	know these kind of people, if it goes kabooom, they immediately like it." "Besides", I continued, 
+	"the system has been quiet for months. I haven't seen a pirate in ages".
+	
+	The tone in my voice couldn't hide my longing for more dangerous and exiting times,
+	but those days were over. I had chosen a new path, and I was not about to ruin my plans
+	because of a few curious events. I emptied my cup and wished the bartender good night.
+
+	I couldn't sleep that evening. I didn't know what troubled me more: the prospect
+	of my new life, the memories of the old one, or the strange events of today. When a man
+	is troubled, he has to start walking and with the silence of the night as a blanket,
+	I got out of bed and went out on a stroll.
+
+	2 am standard colonial time. Nights in space are something to get used to: without
+	the sun to rise and set, dusk and dawn become rather hollow definitions and 
+	only the clock dictates when it is time to go to sleep. Nevertheless, the atmosphere
+	of the night still permiated the station: most of the establishments were closed and
+	the sound of busy peoples voices was replaced by the quiet hum of the electrical
+	installations.
+
+	I wandered aimless through the empty corridors until I reached one of the large
+	space windows on the upper level. It was almost like the vast, empty space
+	behind it was reaching out, trying to stir something in the back of my mind.
+	I wasn't sure why but I could not shed the feeling that some event was about
+	to unfold. I turned around to head back to bed when suddenly felt a faint 
+	tremor going through the station. It was hardly noticable and most people 
+	would probably ignore it, but I knew exactly what it was.
+
+	When a ship drops from hyperspace into normal space, it will send a small shockwave
+	into the surrounding area. This is not a shockwave of something traveling through space,
+	but rather a disturbance of the fabric of space itself, with a distinct rythmn
+	an experienced pilot can easily recognize. I could have ignored it too and
+	go back to sleep, but the intoxicating effect of the mystery dragged me back to the window.
+	
+	A ship had arrived, and it had to be close. Hyperspace-tremors do not travel very far
+	and it would take one hell of a pilot to make a jump this close to a gravitational well.
+	The slightest miscalulation would have spread out his atoms over the face of planet Ghant.
+	The bright moving spot between the stars had proven he was either very good, or very lucky.
+
+	The design of the ship was unfamiliar. It looked like some kind of a patrol craft,
+	armed to the teeth and ready to defend itself if it were necessary. Fortunatly,
+	it looked like the pilot had a more quiet evening in mind. In a gracious arc, 
+	he approached the station and soaring like a an eagle he started the final approached
+	to the docking bay.
+
+III. The suit
+
+	A wise man once said: "Curiosity is mankind's greatest gift. But it is
+	also mankind's greatest curse."	I didn't have to take him for his word: 
+	I've been in situations before were I wasn't supposed to belong,
+	and me intuition told me that ship was probably something I didn't want to know about.
+
+	By now it was almost 3 am and I was almost certain I was going to regret this nightwandering
+	episode when my alarm clock would obnoxiously announce the next morning. Almost, because
+	by now I had learned that no regrets and focus on the task at hand was usually the wiser
+	course of action. Right now, the task was finding some sleep.
+
+	I turned around, walked to the elevator at the end of the corridor and pressed the button.
+	After a few seconds the doors opened with a joyfull chime and I stepped inside. "Level 6".
+	The elevator seemed to consider my request when the doors finaly closed and it started
+	moving upward. I leaned casually against the back wall, my right hand trying to catch the
+	yawn escaping my mouth. 
diff --git a/developer/TASKS b/developer/TASKS
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebc9e2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/TASKS
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	Project::OSiRiON - TASKS
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
+
+	This file contains a list of reasonable easy tasks than can
+	be done by anyone who is interested in contributing to 
+	the project. No programming skills are required to 
+	do any of these.
+
+Create skyboxes
+
+	The program Spacescape is a freely available tool to
+	create skyboxes with stars and nebulas. 
+	
+	http://alexcpeterson.com/spacescape
+
+	Note that this tool only works on windows, attempts to run
+	it in linux with wine have been unsuccessful.
+
+	I wrote a small shell script to rename its output to osirion
+	conventions:
+
+	http://ingar.satgnu.net/osirion/files/util/rename-sky.sh
+	
+Ship definitions
+
+	A lot of ship definitions in base/ini/ships.ini are incomplete:
+	price, cargo hold size, jump drive, dockable and movement
+	specifications have to be added and tweaked where necessary.
+
+	Note that 'mass' can not be set through the game's 'specs'
+	command. As a rule of thumb, define mass first and tweak the
+	other specs accordingly.
+
+Cargo definitions
+
+	Add cargo definitions to ini/cargo.ini.
+
+Cargo models
+
+	Each cargo definition needs a model to represent the type of cargo in-game.
+
+	Required models:
+	- Iron (ore)
+	- Niobium (ore)
+	- Liquor (bottles?)
+	- Carbosteel (plating / blocks?)
+	- Superconductors (fancy magnet thing?)
+	- Optronics (optical chips)
+	
+Trade definitions
+
+	Add trade definitions to the world ini files.
+
+	The easiest way to do this is by thinking in trade routes:
+
+	- A base resource is sold at the source location, with unlimited supply 
+		amount = -1
+		price = low
+		e.g. iron is mined and sold at an iron mining installation
+
+	- The resource can be sold at a good price at a target location that probably needs the resource 
+		amount = 0
+		price = high
+		e.g. a carbosteel forge will buy the iron at a good price
+
+	- On the route from source to destination, the resource can be sold along the way. The price
+	  increases with distance from the source location.
+		amount = 0
+		price = medium
+		e.g. the iron ore can be traded on a supply station along the route
+
+	After finishing a route, traders like to take back other profitable goods, 
+	therefor it is generally a good idea to provide a trade route in the opposite 
+	direction to the same area.
+
+Models
+
+	Required objects
+
+		- Iron mining facility (Finnmark system)
+		- Carbosteel forge
+		- AMTEL optronics production plant
+		- Border Guard station (Karelian system)
+
+Documentation
+
+	The list of attributions needs updating
+
+	Most of the documentation needs updating: 
+		doc/attribution.html 		List of attributions
+		doc/guide.html			Player guide
+		doc/manual.html 		Engine user manual
+		doc/world.html			Editing the world
+		
+	Hints from this document can probably be added to the main documentation.
diff --git a/developer/TODO b/developer/TODO
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16e08b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/TODO
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+	Project::OSiRiON - TODO
+
+  ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+general:
+	documentation cleanup
+	finish player guide
+	update user manual
+	server-client event system, hit-once lightweight entities
+	explosion events
+	sound events
+	world sounds
+	weapons
+	ship improvements (radars, shield, armor)
+	
+inventory:
+	beam and eject cargo (commands implemented, needs UI and general FX)
+
+filesystem:
+	write a filesystem based on streams
+	write handlers for zip
+	write handlers for gz
+	fs_homedir, to define the writeable directory
+	fs_datadir, readonly package datadir
+	fs_base, fs_mod, fs_game, to be used by modules
+	
+model:
+	support 'angles' key on the 'misc_model' map class (and possibly other classes as well)
+	.obj support
+	.md3 support
+
+	.ase submaterials (ok)
+
+core:
+	BUG dedicated server does not show chat messages (to be verified)
+	fix game.ini load/save sequence
+	fx events: jump events, tracktor beams, weapons fire
+	pause game loop when there are no players
+
+	optimize KeepAlive sweep performance (ok)
+	
+network:
+	protocol description (incomplete)
+	zone chat
+	group chat (requires player groups)
+	rcon authentication, rcon command, servers must be able to disable rcon
+	rconpassword: send md5sum instead of plaintext
+	player authentication (player guid), admin rights
+
+	add server-side distance check before sending entity updates
+	detect and disconnect clients behaving badly
+	let server track Entity::State changes
+	fix lag/client interpolation
+	client prediction, replace SUP network frames with PHYS frames
+
+	EXT messages, update extended property "ext id prop value prop value etc", type checking/seperator etc..
+	EXT zone/color/shield/armor/health
+	
+	reliable network messages (e.g. entity create/die)
+
+client:
+	have the trade menu show depleted shop items with their sell value
+	add map window target model
+	tracking camera absolute speed/position
+	correct hud target/target hoover inconsistencies
+	reset info text scroll when showing buy/trade menu
+	enable chat window player list selection
+	create hud concept artwork
+
+	fix camera frustum clip (size issue, postponed)
+
+render:
+	fix skybox envmapping -> cube map
+	star light strenght
+	general globe texture distortion, texture coordinates seem to be off
+
+	skybox (ok)
+	globe texture distortion at the poles (unfixable, won't fix)
+
+ui:
+	modelview lighting (-> it uses current zone lighting)
+	unify event handlers, expand Event class and make derived event classes
+	slider mouse dragging (ok)
+	listview scrolling
+	
+sound:
+	entity/event positional sounds
+	jump drive sound events
+	client-side control of impulse initiate / impulse loop sound sequence
+
+	suppress error message spam if the sound subsystem failed to initialize (ok)
+
+game:
+	add Ship::ship_dock, making docking indepdendent of player->view()
+	when the goto command is used to target another player, you should appear next to him instead in front of him.
+
+	ship health/shield/armor
+	add fleet support
+
+	set planet safe distance to 5 km (ok)
+	fix 'give ship' and 'buy ship' destroying inventory (ok)
+
+data:
+	update starsystem roadmap
+	rename skies (lindblade1, lindblade2, ...) 
+	
+automake:
+	resolve build dependency issues