=============================================
-Warlords Faq/Walkthrough For The Atari 2600-
       Version 1.2 Created (7/18/02)
By JBenno (Josh Lawson) ([email protected])
      Copyright (c) Josh Lawson (2002)
=============================================

Version 1.1 was created to fix a format error and to fix spelling mistakes.

Version 1.2 was created to change my contributor name.

I. Introduction

A. The Story
B. Atari 2600 Console Functions
C. Controls
D. Game Matrix
E. The Objectives
F. The Game Screen + A Secret Strategy
G. About The Game In General
H. Glossary Of Terms
I. Copyright Info

===============
I. Introduction
===============

Atari games are fun in a lot of ways. Even though they have simple graphics,
the story lines behind them give the game a tremendous value. Warlords has
a simple but rather intriguing story line to it. Although this game ends in
a short while,  it provides many hours of fun. If you have any questions about
the following, please let me know and I will answer them. The following is
a paraphrased version of the story in the game manual:

============
A. The Story
============

Once upon a time in a far off land lived a king named Frederick. Frederick
was a good king and treated his servants with respect. The kingdom basically
ran itself. One day, King Frederick and his wife Queen Christina decided to
make a family. Before they knew it, Christina gave birth to healthy
quadruplets.

The years quickly passed and Frederick's sons Dominick, Marcus, Felipe, and
Restivo grew to become strong men. The four boys were completely opposite
of their pacifist father. The four boys constantly quarreled with each other.
Frederick became concerned when he realized that his sons would one day own
the kingdom and destroy it in the process of fighting.

Frederick intervened with the boys fights and banished them from his kingdom.
The boys moved to a distant land and became warlords. They fought their
battles and as soon as one boy destroyed another's castle that boy would have
to rebuild it. The fighting never ceased. After the castle was rebuilt, the
wars continued. These wars continued on for centuries and it is now up to
the descendants of the four brothers to carry on the legacy.


===============================
B. Atari 2600 Console Functions
===============================

Game Select Switch
==================
This allows you to change the game number to the game you wish to play. The
number at the top left of the screen indicates what game number it is currently
on. The number in the top right hand corner indicates the number of human
players that participate in that game.

Game Reset Switch
=================
Once you choose the game that you wish to play, press the game reset switch
to begin playing the game.

Difficulty Switches A & B
=========================
Not used in this game.

TV Type Switch
==============
Used to toggle between a color or black and white television screen.

===========
C. Controls
===========

Be sure to turn off your Atari and plug a set of paddles into the controller
jack. If you are playing a four player game, plug an additional set of paddles
into the two player controller jack. Joystick controllers cannot be used in
this game.

Turn the paddle knob to the left to move your paddle left and vice versa.
It doesn't matter what castle you are occupying, the controls are the same.
In most of the games, a catch mode is enabled. (See Game Descriptions For
Details) If the catch mode is enabled, and when the ball hits your paddle,
quickly press the red button on the side of the paddle.

==============
D. Game Matrix
==============

Game Number| Number Of Players | Shields | Ball Speed |

1            4                   C         F
2            3                   C         F
3            2                   C         F
4            1                   C         F
5            D                   C         F
6            4                   C         S
7            3                   C         S
8            2                   C         S
9            1                   C         S
10           D                   C         S
11           4                   R         F
12           3                   R         F
13           2                   R         F
14           1                   R         F
15           D                   R         F
16           4                   R         S
17           3                   R         S
18           2                   R         S
19           1                   R         S
20           D                   R         S
21           4                   R         S
22           3                   R         S
23           2                   R         S

Key:
D = Doubles Mode
C = Catch Mode
R = Ricochet Mode
F = Fast Ball (Lightening Ball)
S = Slow (Fire Ball)

=================
E. The Objectives
=================

Guard your castle with your shield. If your castle is broken down and the
man inside is hit with a fire ball or lightning ball, you lose a round. The
objective is to break down your opponent's castles and destroy their men.
After several rounds, the game will end. Use the catch feature if it is enabled
so you can take out the opponent's castles with ease. Be careful because the
enemy has the power to catch the ball. If he does, look out because he'll
launch it at you. This game is similar to Pong in many ways. Be sure to keep
an eye on the ball and don't let it hit your castle at any cost.

======================================
F. The Game Screen + A Secret Strategy
======================================

The game screen is laid out in a simple design. Here is the basic picture
of it.



=======================         Z = Castle Walls
|     X Z       Z X     |        X = Descendant Of The Four Brothers
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|        P = Paddle (Paddles Are Not Stationary)
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|    P         P        |
|       P        P      |
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|     X Z       Z X     |
=======================




Warlords is noted for two of its secrets. Usually, this secret can be figured
out easy after play. Look at the diagram above. Look at the paddle that belongs
to the upper right hand castle. If you have your paddle on the diagonal and
shoot the ball, it will do a trick for you. Look at the diagram below for
the trick.

=======================
|     X Z       Z X     |
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|ZZZZZZZZ-----  ZZZZZZZZ|
|    P         \        |
|       P       \       |
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|ZZZZZZZZ       ZZZZZZZZ|
|     X Z       Z X     |
=======================

If I were the man in the upper left hand castle shot the ball at the diagonal,
it would travel to the right and down at a diagonal angle which would surprise
the other player. If you use this trick, it will even confuse the computer.

The best way to win at this game is to be alert to who has the ball. Try to
take out the blocks NEAREST the enemy. If you can take out the lower block
and get the ball trapped inside with your opponent, it is a sure-fire way
to win. There is also another way to confuse the opponent. You have to have
a fast hand to do it. It works particularly well in Catch mode. When the ball
comes at you in ricochet mode and it touches the paddle, at the instant it
touches, jerk the knob either left or right as fast as possible. That will
send the ball at a faster speed and the opponent will usually not have time
to intercept the ball. If you have catch mode enabled, you don't have to worry
about missing the ball. Just hold the ball with the red button, quickly spin
the knob and release. Do be careful that the ball doesn't come back your way.

The best strategy for the direction of the ball relies on the player's shield.
Here is a diagram how the shield works.


 \   |   /
  XXXXXXX     X=Shield
  XXXXXXX

Depending on how your shield is placed these instructions will vary a little
bit. If the ball hits on the very left of the shield it will project it at
the angle shown. That angle is good for destroying the castle above or below
you and the castle that is diagonal from you. If the ball hits the mid section
of the shield, the ball will be projected upwards or downwards. If the ball
hits the right of the shield, the ball will be projected diagonally or to
the other side of the playfield (Left or right). If the ball hits the paddle
in the special diagonal position, then it will go the way I described it would
above.

The computer players have the ability to project the ball any way they want
to, so be aware.

Another neat feature can be noticed during gameplay. You must kill an opponent
first for this trick to work. Then hit a castle wall or another opponent and
notice the spot where he was killed at. You can see the outline of where the
opponent was.

============================
G. About The Game In General
============================

This section will describe the different player variations. From the game
matrix, there are many possibilities of play. You can play as a single person,
you can control two people, you can play with another human on a team, you
can play another human on the opposite team, you can play another human so
that both of the human players play against each other on doubles, and you
can play the computer.

There is a child mode on this game. The Bentley Bear logo is stamped on the
front of the box. Games 21-23 are the children's versions.

====================
H. Glossary Of Terms
====================
Castle
======
The bricks that surround each warrior. Each castle is color coded.
Shield
======
It is the paddle that you control. Use it to hit the ball.

Fire Ball
=========
Term used for a slow moving ball. A weapon of the warlords.

Lightning Ball
==============
Term used for a fast moving ball. Another weapon of the warlords. Appears
to look as the same as a fireball but it moves faster.

Ricochet Mode
=============
Under certain games, it simply means that you hit the ball with the shield.

Catch Mode
==========
Under certain games, you have the ability to catch the ball with your paddle
by pressing the red button.


=================
I. Copyright Info
=================

This Walkthrough/Faq was written by Josh Lawson. Copyright (2002). This
Walkthrough/Faq is for private and personal use only. This Walkthrough /Faq
is not to be published in any book, or magazine. It cannot be published on
any other website without my prior permission. If you take information from
this walkthrough, please give me full credit for what you took and do not
alter my information. If you find this on any other site, please contact me.

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