-The Xidia Readme-

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-----C ON T E N T S----
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-Installation
-Xidia controls, keys, and features
-The Xidia Story
-The Characters
-The Tools of the Trade
-The Weapons
-The Opposition
-Tips
-Credits

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Installation
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===If you got the umod version===


-Open Zip ( for most of you this is pretty low tech shit)

-Inside Zip is Xidia Umod file, a Oldskool umod file and three readmes.

-Umod is activated upon clicking, and will auto-install Xidia into your game files. (if this doesn't work please read the problem area below)

-Requirements: The latest version of OLDSKOOL. You need this to run the game properly. You also need Epic Bonus Pack 4 and UT patch 436. Team Phalanx is not responible for any assclowns that do not already have these files and get angry that the game doesnt load properly. YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD WHAT YOU NEED.

-If you don't allready got Oldskool installed (you could allready have it installed through such mods as Operation Na Pali) then you need to install that mod first. The mod will enable singleplayer in UT. Just doubleclick oldskool.umod and follow instructions.

-After that you can install Xidia Gold

-Then you can start up UT, and then the first thing you need to do if this is the first time you run Oldskool is to enable it. You do this by going to the drop down menu "Mod" in UT, and then you have a field there called "Enable Oldskool amp'd", click on that.

-Now you could configure Oldskool if you want by going to "Options" -> Oldskool configuration.

-You're ready to start now, go to "Game" -> New Singleplayer game, and choose Xidia Gold and start it.


-The readmes do NOT need to be included in the UT help folder since  copies have been included with the Umod, the readmes in the zip or for direct information purposes. 

-The Readmes are as follows:

	1. -The Xidia ReadMe-: The game manuel, yes your very 	clever....it's what your reading now.

	2. -Azriel's Log-: A bonus text document including  		information on the enemies of Xidia and a 		detailed explanation of the Xidia Incident 			prior to the events of the first game.

	3.-Commentary-: Commentary from Mr.Prophet and 	Hourences about the making of Xidia. See how 		we did it and where we got our concepts.



===If you got the Zipped version===

-Very simple, extract the mod to your UT folder, C:\UnrealTournament\ by default. Since there are folders in the Zip it will auto place the files in the right folder.
IF not then do it manually :
*.u and *.int files in UT\system
*.unr in UT\maps
*.umx in UT\Music
*.utx in UT\textures
*.uax in UT\sounds
all other files, the readmes and the logo in any folder, by default its UT\help

-Run the oldskool.umod (by any problems with oldskool go to http://www.usaar33.com )

-Once thats done it's all the same as the umod version


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Xidia controls, keys, and features
---------------------------

Starting, Loading, and Saving the game: You'll notice new funtions on your UT menu, New single player game will have an option to play Xidia Gold, Xidia The Escape, or the Xidia Incident.

	-The Xidia Incident= Enhanced version of the original

	-Xidia: The Escape= starts the new mission pack.
	
	-Xidia Gold= plays both packs in one big game.

You save games into slots just like Unreal. If you've never played Unreal, you may visit the Team Phalanx's suicide booth ( No charge)

--:Controls & Keys:--

Basic funtions are similiar to UT, jumping, moving, ducking, shooting, ect. In addition there are a few other buttons that are used. You can reconfigure these buttons in the Oldskool Menu.

Cycling items: Press both [] bracket keys to cycle inventory items and press enter to either use them immediatly if they can be held in stock, or you can toggle enter to turn off and on.

Reload: The automag's clips can be reloaded with fresh rounds by pressing the Reload key.

Translator: Your translator can be turned off and on by pressing the F2 button, tho u can activate it through enter key as well.

Walking: The shift key makes you walk, enter ''stealth'' mode


--: Features:--

Translator Shacking: When your trans message is displayed, roll the mouse 3 button as if cycling guns up and down to show past messages.

Injury FX: When your life lowers to serious levels, you'll begin to leave a blood trail. When your life is dangerously low, your view will  be screwy and your speed reduced. Find health fast when in these conditions, or your screwed.

UnderWater: When underwater your movement is hindered, as always, but in Xidia so is your ability to defend yourself. All bullet based weapons will not fire underwater and most of your guns are severely muffled. Using the Shock underwater will cause all your shock ammo to instantly blow up, so shooting with a full load of ammo with the shockrifle while submerged will result in you dying very painfully. 

Headshots: headshot damage is more common in Xidia, for both you and your enemey. Aiming for the head will kill your enemey much faster.


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The Xidia Story
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22 years ago, the Liandri mining corporation discovered a remote world in the outer rim sector. The planet was composed mostly of rocky terrain, a mixture of dense jungle covering rigid, arid mountain ranges. But what attracted Liandri's interest was what lay under the surface. Traces of purified tarydium deposits lay dormant inside the hardened mineral rocks within the mountains, and an even more powerful form of tarydium waste was detected even deeper inside the subterrain. Liandri, excited by it's findings, didn't even attempt to uncover the reasons behind these apparent "un-natural" deposits of the rich element. They immediatly setup a mining facility on the peak of the northern mountain ranges, a broad complex which branched across the adjacent surface, to mines dug at depths miles underground. They named the facility...

"Outpost Pheonix"

	For the years since, the planet named Xidia-287 has been occupided soley by the Liandri corporation, the only human presence on the world besides Outpost Pheonix is a military defense compound located in the higher mountains. The large facility thrived throughout this time, monthly shipments of cargo and supplies constantly add to the size of the project. In recent events however, a strange problem has reared it's ugly head, not more than 1 week after the last supply drop.  Final  transmissions indicated that a strange formation was discovered underground in the new drilling zone. Then the transmissions stopped.	
	Reports indicate that a deep space radio feed bounced off a satellite displaying an S.O.S. call from Outpost Pheonix. All other attempts to communicate with the base have failed.




Jones's tale:

Jones was supposed to just serve as a field scout, his job being to turn on a power transformer so the rest of his team could gain entry to Outpost Pheonix. He wasn't in the mood for this shit anyway, barely recovered from a bad hangover....he was not up for this assignment. And to add insult to injury, just to make his life even that much harder, fate handed him a raw deal.

Outpost Pheonix's transmitter stopped sending it's signal to Earth. After several failed attempts to reestablish communications, USM had no choice but to follow standard operating procedures incase of a loss of contact with a off world colony. In such a case, a team of investigators are to be sent in with a armed marine escort team. Upon landing, the team secures the perimeter just incase of possible dangers. Such serious steps are neccessary due to recent intergalactic piraters and anti-Liandri terrorist groups trying to stop the mass mining movement of Tarydium. Xidia, being a prime center for Tarydium supply, was considered a CODE RED zone, the  system bordering the planet was sealed off and a single capital ship was sent in, the USM-IceRaven. 

Shortly after the Landing, Jones made his way to the transformer room ahead of the other marines, and is suddently and violently confronted by a large creature. Jones is unexpectedly thrust into a desperate situation, he soon realizes that he is on his own to make it off Xidia Alive. This is his battle..

Spencer's tale: 

Spencer tried to do what they told him, he obeyed the rules of society but they got him nowhere. He had no identity, no allegience, no hope in anything. Considering himself a fuck-up, he was more than willing to find something to latch onto, to believe in. He found Xidia.

Spencer is barely into his twenties, but after a few hours of the Outpost Pheonix attack, he had witnessed what most people don't see even in their most disturbing nightmares. They came from the Mines, the creatures, emerging from a Derelict spaceship that had been thought to have been ''dead''. He watched many of his friends die horribly. He made a promise to himself that he would survive, that he would find a way off Xidia and confront those lying bastards at Liandri who put him and his friends there without warning them of the danger. 

Spencer wakes after a electrical explosion seperates him from his team and also knocks him unconcious. Dazed by a splitting headache and some painful burns, he stumbles his way forward. He soon realizes his life has a time limit, and he has to somehow defeat impossible odds and find a way off of Xidia in one piece. This is his escape...



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The Characters
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Jones- Demoted to a recon scout, Jones soon finds himself the last of his USM team remaining after things have gone terribly wrong. With only a one way radio communication locked to his transmitter, he has the guidence of his commanding officer to aid him. That and his own cunning and skills as a marine. You control Jones in The Xidia Incident.

Spencer- Punky kid with a good conscience, Spencer finds his last hope at happiness shattered by a bizzare alien race and the company who never warned him of the dangers. He feeds off his emotions and soon learns he has to act in violence in order to survive. He is alone in his Exodus, or so he thought until a mysterious person contacts him through his transmitter. You control Spencer in Xidia: The Escape.

Cray- A USM officer, Lt. Cray was seperated by his team soon after their drop ship was taken out at the Outpost Pheonix landing pad. Cray presumably found his way to the Mines and made contact with a Miner named Spencer, also fighting for his life. Cray soon tells Spencer that they both need to help each other to survive Xidia and make their escape.

Judd- Administrator of Outpost Pheonix, Judd was always looked up to by his crew. In the events of the incident, he led the survivors in a war to win their lives back from the creatures who took over their Outpost. Judd led his team, which included Spencer, to the Northern peak facility in hopes of salvaging an arsenal, but they were ambushed. In The Xidia Incident, Jones works his way to cross  paths with Judd later in the game.

Deckard- Judd's second in command, a war veteran, Deckard was a natural born leader. He never would stop fighting, which only inspired those who followed him. His tactics proved useful against the Derelict creatures for many weeks, but Deckard's own destruction was sealed the moment he refused to abandon the Outpost.

Jenkins- A very well liked member of the Outpost supervisor staff, Jenkins was close friends with the young Spencer and the older Fletcher, the three became a popular trio. Jenkins, like Deckard and his team, stayed behind to defend the Outpost while Judd's team went to raid the arsenal.

Fletcher- Jenkin's best friend and one of the older members of the staff, Fletcher was always respected by the younger people. He was soft spoken and seemed to befriend everyone. He stayed with his friend Jenkins when Jenkins announced he was going to stay behind and defend the Outpost.

Azriel- One of the quieter members of the mining staff, Azriel was known to be a thinker. When the others argued over a problem for hours, it was Azriel who approached the group with the solution. Azriel was one of the first miners to encounter the Derelict Creatures, and has since served as a information theorist about the inhabitants of the Derelict ship. Sadly, Azriel went into a Downward spiral of delusion and insanity close to the time USM arrived. He carried a chainsaw with him and threatened anyone who approached him. His whereabouts are unknown.



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The Tools of the Trade
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-:Items:-

Translator: Device that scans any nearby text and translates it into readable words for the user. USM versions of these devices come equipped with a transmitter that has a live feed to the command ship, while the Outpost Pheonix miner edition comes with a receive-only radio pack. ( Both Jones and Spencer use)

Searchlight: USM marines carry this illumination device as standard equipment. It has a long lasting battery and large light radius. ( Jones only )

Flashlight: when not using flares, Miners of the outpost use flashlights to see in the dark tunnels of the Xidia mines. Long lasting duracell battery but lacks the illumination radius of the bigger marine searchlight. ( Spencer only )

Flares: Marines and miners carry these for those really dark spots. Not neccessary if you still have juice in your flashlight. ( Jones only)

Seeds: Through genetic manipulation by science researchers, this healing fruit plant aids in injury and illness recovery at alarming speeds. Tarydium radiation is the cause of such growth abilites and the seeds are known to grow extremely fast and on nearly any surface.( Both characters)

Scuba Gear: great for deepwater swims without the fear of running out of air. The airtanks have a large supply of oxygen, more than you should need. ( Jones only )

Anti-gravity jumpboots: Device created by the Derelict Creatures to give the user extrodinary jumping ability. ( Spencer only)

-:Weapons:-

Dispersion Pistol: Standard sidearm for spacecraft security, used by marines as a stun weapon and also carried by Mining secuirty staff as a weapon. Discharges weak, quick recharging blasts.(Both characters). Also has a port for furthure add-on units for increased power ( Jones's only )

Automag: USM Marine standard sidearm that fires gas propelled round from a dual clip. Weapon is light weight and can be held in pairs. each clip carries 20 rounds. ( Both characters)

Combat Assault Rifle: USM standard issue rifle. Fires armor piercing rounds and comes equipped with a pump action grenade launcher. The weapon is lightweight and provides high accuracy. A marines best friend and Jones's weapon of choice. ( Jones Only )

Chainsaw: Azriel's weapon taken from a random tool shed. Quite deadly but range is limited. Always ready for upclose and personal action combat. Of course, you have to find Azriel first....( Spencer only)

Miningtool:Liandri issued mining tool.  Mining drill that uses de-energized shards for a rock piercing tool. Shards are discharged at a two intensity types, consecutive streams for constant chipping or a pump action blast to clear the toughest rock plates. (Both characters)

Sniper Rifle: Fires High velocity, heavy armor-piercing rounds. Designed for "fire and forget" situations. Carried in limited stock by the Northern Peak military personel. ( Both characters)

Pulse Gun: Plasma based energy rifle. Used by elite space marines of USM for anti-gravity related skirmishes. A single crate containing a half dozen functioning Plasma rifles was left with Northern peak security for emergency use only. While most of the stock was stolen by the Derelict creatures upon their raid of the terran ammo depot, a single rifle was taken by Fletcher, the Outpost crew's group " elder ". Fletcher last had the weapon with him when he made his standoff with Jenkins at Outpost Pheonix. ( Spencer Only).

ASMD Shockrifle: Retired USM assault weapon replaced in circulation by the more stable Pulse gun. The Shockrifle uses a highly volatile Tarydium core that carries enough power inside it's chamber to level a large building. The weapon discharges a small instant shock jolt of the core's fury with every squeeze of the trigger.  The weapon is so unstable, if the weapons own shot ever collided in mid-fire they would react in a devastating blastwave. The weapon's  user-unfriendly traits deemed it too dangerous to the shooter, firing the weapon in a too damp environment risks rupturing the core in the user's hand. This makes any sort of firing near water a serious danger. Since USM recalled the weapon, all current models were collected and distributed to the many Outpost colonies around the outer rim worlds. Outpost Pheonix has a large storage locker set aside to house these weapons, which are decades old but functional. During the attack this weapon became a neccessity. ( Both characters.)

GES Bio waste Rifle: The Bio rifle is a extremely destructive weapon, proving even more likely to harm the user than it's Tarydium using cousin, the shockrifle. While the shockrifle uses concentrated Tarydium energy as an ammunition base, the Bio rifle relies on the very toxic waste sludge Tarydium processing produces. The weapon was created from various weapon parts and waste storage tanks and pumping mechanisms. Deckard created the weapon studying blueprints to a similiar weapon used in the Liandri tournaments, the difficulty was locating the proper parts. In the end, several result weapons were made, only 3 functioned correctly while the 4rth had leakage issues. Abusing the vast sludge vats in the waste proccessor, the weapon had more than enough ammo. The problem was few miners had the skill to wield the weapon and using it resulted in their own deaths. Unfortunatly the Derelict soldiers found the weapons destructive nature quite comfortable and thefted the remaining guns from the crewman who died using them. ( Jones only)

Flak cannon: Another makeshift weapon created by Deckard as his team held Area C of Outpost Pheonix. While his construction of the Bio rifle proved to be a significant failure in usefullness, the Flak cannon blueprints he studied from a Liandri war board's journal resulted in the completetion of 21 units of the destructive weapon. The weapon can be loaded with just about anything, coins, metal screws, chewing gum. Using the otherwise useless iron debris laying about the industrial sector, hundreds of shootable flak shells were produced for the 20 or so guns. The weapon is probably the most effective weapon against the Derelict creatures, although there are several drawbacks to it's design. It's crude and by no means pretty, but it gets the point across. ( Both characters )

Ripper: A weapon used by the first wave of Derelict commandos. While the weapon was later put aside by the creatures and replaced with more effective weapons, the ripper remains to be an instrument of elegance and technological superiority. The weapon fires serated razor disks that cut through soft targets with ease. An alternate mode provides a optional explosive projectile.  While the weapon isn't very effect against the Derelict's themselves, occasionally a circumstance will present itself where the weapon is a soldier's best friend. ( Jones only )

Eightball: Another weapon used by the Derelicts and is most feared by the miner resistance. This multi-barrel rocket launcher is capable of incincerating a squad of miners in a single assault of projectiles. It also doubles as a grenade launcher and is often carried by the Elite commandos of the Derelict caste. ( Both characters)

Minigun: Demolitionist's dream. The weapon was carried in dual set and has been residing in a old storage locker for 20 years. Though only two models exist on Xidia, one is more than enough. The sheer force and intensity of the guns firing is enough to prevent enough the strongest user from decent mobility when shooting. Besides that, ammo is in short supply and the weapon is prone to locking up in too serious a tempurature increase or decrease. 
(Spencer only)


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The Opposition
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Your main obstacle is the reptilian/insect-like creatures that have emerged from the Derelict Spaceship. They are extremely aggressive and easily overpower a human being with their ferocious strength and physical superiority. To make matters worse, they are divided into castes. Warriors are the physical, hierarchy, the Soldiers serve as military-like commandos. Even more are the infantile pupae and the royal blooded Praetorian. And there are even more dangerous creatures higher up the caste ladder. All of which want to kill you. 

To make matters worse, you have other nuisances as well. Security turrets that were once meant to protect u have been hacked by the creatures to target you. Also, are the Xidian native critters that provide trouble for you as well.

More detailed explanation of the opposition you encounter is included with the Azriel Log read me file.



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-Tips
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Most players will be surprised by the slightly harder challenge that exists in Xidia. Creatures that have been familiar in the past are now more aggressive and much smarter. Also, you have a slightly custom weapon list at your disposal as well as many features that have been included. To help you out, here are some tips that really really ( really) help you out while playing Xidia Gold:

1. Read all translator messages. True, there is alot to read, but you can always scroll the past messages once they pop up on your device, so never be too timid to look back if your stuck. Also, some messages are not always available directly, you have to move away from the normal set route to see a message that may be out of the way, check everywhere for messages!

2. Conserve ammo. You don't get alot of ammo in Xidia, but you get enough if used correctly. Don't fire when it's uneccessary or if you're certain to hit absolutly shit, that only wastes rounds that may save you later. Alot of weapons are NOT readily available throughout the game, sometimes you'll only find ammo for a particular weapon at certain parts, sometimes a weapon can only be used briefly before something happens to make you loose it. Usually weapons you should use are placed in the areas they are most effective ( other times ammo stashes can be in areas where they are dangerous to get, but neccessary for later).

3. Your enemies are gonna get the drop on you most of the time. Be prepared for anything, at any moment something might jumo from the shadows or the wall may explode above you. Never try to run through Xidia, most of the time you'll end up dead before you reach the end of the hall.

4. Backtrack. Alot of times you have to retrace yoursteps, take note of suspicious areas that seem as if you can unlock them by some other means.

5. Enemies have vital spots too. Usually it's the head that will put them down flat, other creatures are resistant to various vital spot attacks, and take a shot to the head and keep running at you. Some creatures are more resitant to attacks from certain weapons, maybe due to thick skin or armor, or simply because they have natural resistance to that sort of weapon. Take note of different enemies weaknesses.

6. Listen. Sound is very important in Xidia, 9 times out of 10 something you hear is not just for backround effects. That creak sound you just heard? Ya, that was some big green mother fucker popping from a vent behind you.

7. Watch your health. There isn't alot of medical equipment to go around. Seeds can prove to be quite useful, but don't use them up too fast, you may need them later. If you lose too much health in a fight, you may want to try again. 

8. If it bleeds or shows any sign of taking damage, you can kill it. If it appears your shots are doing nothing, than they aren't. Find some other way, sometimes firing your gun till something dies isn't a way to bring them down.

9. Some creatures have a nasty habit of appearing dead when they are just stunned. Make sure your enemy is dead, it never hurts to spend that extra bullet for a 'just-in-case' cranium shot.

10. Never underestimate an enemy, it will will get you killed.


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Credits
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T   e    a    m       X    i    d     i    a            

	-i s-

Will-"Mr.Prophet"-Drekker
-lead story writer
-mapper
-skinner
-deco maker
-enemy placement and sequence plotter
-level concept coordinator
-eater of exotic cakes
-Voice of Spencer
-testing

Sjoerd -" Hourences "- De Jong
-lead title logo artist and graphix man
-mapper
-skinner
-texture artist
-deco maker
-pimpage king and site organizer
-testing

Tom-"Gmotha"-Goetschalckx
-HUD artist
-Darklord skinner
-various backround art
-testing

UsAaR33
-Coder/scripter
-responsible for all the cool new effects you see in Xidia
-testing

Mr.Cope
-Voice of Cray
-uax compiler
-testing

-Other people who contributed-

Funeral Pyre and Teque: Various custom music tracks
Chicoverde: certain borrowed textures and some decos
Hellscrag: Interviews and for always posting our news
Rich Eastwood: Richrig and various other textures
Snowdog: K9 plant decos
Lruce Bee: always supportive, your the man Lruce!
Team Vortex: various decos and stuff that was imported in the code
Sarevok: Dirt texture for map 7 of Escape
Slick Willy: Particle fire effects and firefly
Unframed: For the UMS script


- - - - - - - - - - 
PHALANX
- - - - - - - - - -



" You do everything they tell you, go to college, be successful, get a education because one day mathematics will save your life. But all that propaganda bullshit means nothing when that first bullet whizzes past your head.....and suddently it's just you, your enemy, and your instinctive refusal to die."









































UnrealTournament, 2002