                   -------------------------------------
                    Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows
                               Version 0.75

                         README - Important Stuff

                          Last Updated June 1997
                             Douglas P. Webb
                   ------------------------------------




                           Contents of This File
                           ---------------------

     What you get here ................................... 2

     Defintion of Freeware ............................... 4

     Installation Procedure .............................. 5

     Shameless Advertisement ............................. 6

     Use License ......................................... 7

     Limited Warrant and Disclaimer of Warranty .......... 8

     Distribution License ................................ 9








                         --------------------
                         What You've Got Here
                         --------------------

This is a early beta, Windows version of the Tome of Vast Knowledge.
"What is the Tome of Vast Knowledge?", I hear you ask. Back when I started
this program (1988), I was a big fan of Advanced Dungeons and DragonsŪ (I
still am for that matter). I had 7 of the hard cover rulebooks, 10-15
modules and about 60 Dragon magazines. As a DM I was having trouble trying
to find information that I knew I had, but couldn't remember where I'd read
it.  So I set out to write a program for keeping track of all the AD&D
spells. (Interestingly enough the original version was written in PROLOG).
After typing in the entire Players Handbook, Unearthed Arcana, Oriental
Adventures and 100 spells from Dragon Mag., it occured to me that the same
sort of thing would be useful for tracking monsters and magic items, and to
a lesser extent, the piles of other interesting information that I had
collected over the years. So I typed in the 3 monster books, and the 250 or
so monsters I'd collected elsewhere, and all the magic items I could get my
hands on.  Then I added psionics, player character descriptions, non-player
character descriptions, and many other things.

Why, you may ask, am I telling you what I've done instead of directing you
to simply examine the product. Ahh, there's the rub. TSR as you know has
copyright on almost all of the material which I have compiled, and I need
written authorization and some sort of a licensing agreement to distribute
it. Alas, TSR used to have an exclusive licensing agreement with SSI (you
know, they made many "official" AD&D adventure games: Eye of the Beholder,
etc.). SSI once upon a time put out some programs that were billed as
the "Dungeon Master's Assistant" product line. These programs were not
terribly successful in the market.  I (and several other individuals, who
I do not know personally) subsequently sent SSI products which superceded
the DM's Assistant programs and suggested SSI market them. Alas, SSI was
gun-shy after their previous experience. They did market research and
decided they could not make money in this market. There was a hope that
independent software developers might be allowed to sub-license from SSI,
but this began to look doubtful. So, as a last attempt to get the product
out where the public could look at it, I "digested" the various NET.BOOKS
which may be freely distributed - now including the "Great Net Spell Book",
6th Ed., "Great Net Prayer Book", 6th Ed., the "Net Monstrous Compendium"
and the "Net Monster Manual"  and portions of the "Complete Net Handbook",
"Darksun Net Handbook", "Complete Guide to Alcohol and AD&D".  In 1993 I
released the Tome onto the internet, and it has since been spotted on AOL
and various CD-ROM compilations.

UPDATES:
1994: SSI's exclusive licensing agreement ran out, so I petitioned TSR for 
some sort of licensing agreement which would have allowed me to release 
'Official' material with the Tome.  TSR indicated they had no plans of 
releasing or licensing software of this type.  (Which leads to the next item :-).

1996: TSR has, as we all know, now released the core rules on CD-ROM. Maybe 
in a future version I'll write in compatibility with their CD-ROM version :-).

1997: WOC may buy TSR - we'll see if this changes anything.
                                    2


THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING

The original version of the Tome was designed to run well on a 4.77 MHz
XT with 2 floppies (and it does).  However, GUI's now rule much of the
desktop and in recent years the limitations of the original version
have become an inconvenience.  Given these factors I have over the
last few years embarked on several efforts to generate a GUI version
of the Tome.  You have in your hands the fruits of my labours.  This
version is designed to run under Microsoft Windows (TM) 3.1, but should
function under Win95 or Win-NT as well.  This release of the WinTome
maintains backward compatibility with the database format used by the DOS
version of the Tome, and therefore suffers from many of the same
limitations.  For those who are interested it's written in Borland's Delphi.

As you have probably realized by now, none of the copyrighted material is
enclosed.  This version is of course compatible with the databases used by
the DOS version of the Tome so I've included the databases that appeared in
version 1.13 of the DOS Version.

Because I did not write VADDCHAR - the 2nd Ed. compatible character
generator - (and the significant complexity  of the program) it is not
included in the Windows version of the Tome, nor will it ever be - I will
develop my own 2nd Ed. compatible character generator which will then be
included with future releases of this package.

NOTE: Unlike the keepers of the various books who have bent over backwards to
include every spell they get, and leave it exactly as they recieved it, I have
made a few changes.  I intend to use all these databases in my own games, and
I felt that many of the spells had an unreasonable level associated with them.
I have changed the level of several spells, and I have left out a few that I
think are unworkable or redundant, and made minor semantic clarifications in a
few dozen or so that I thought were unclear. Flame me if you must, (I'll file
your flames appropriately). Alternatively, argue persuasively for changes, and
maybe I'll make them. (Or buy the BUILDER and change them yourself!)

This release of the Windows version of the Tome is still in beta release
and it therefore most surely has deficiencies and worse yet, bugs :-).
If you find one please feel free to send me email describing the deficiency,
or the nature of the bug and the exact conditions under which it manifests
itself.

For the foreseeable future you can contact me at:

dwebb@cetac.com

or send me a letter at (until at least Feb 1998):

      Douglas Webb
      803 Hackberry Court, Appt# 2204
      Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
      68005

          EEEEE N   N JJJJJ  OOO   Y   Y
          E     NN  N   J   O   O   Y Y
          EEE   N N N   J   O   O    Y
          E     N  NN J J   O   O   Y
          EEEEE N   N  J     OOO   Y

                                    3


                         ----------------------
                         Definition of Freeware
                         ----------------------

Freeware distribution gives users a chance to use software, without
having to pay for it. This does not extend the right to sell the software
to others or mangle it in any way and then redistribute it.

Copyright laws apply to both Freeware and retail software, and the
copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as
stated below. Freeware authors are accomplished programmers, just like
retail authors, and the programs are often of comparable quality. (In
both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!)

The author grants the right to any and all to distribute this program, so
long as you abide by the guidelines appearing in the Distribution License
for the Software (which appears below).
























                                    4



                Installation & the Setup Program


System Requirements:


The Tome of Vast Knowledge requires that you run it on an IBM
compatible 80386/486/Pentium based Micro Computer or 100%
compatible with 4 Megabytes of memory,  3 Megabytes of hard disk
space (+ more if databases are to be installed).  Microsoft Windows
3.1 or later must also be installed (Windows 95 or NT are fine).
For best performance, 8 megabytes of RAM, a 486 or better and
a local bus super VGA display are recommended.


Installing the Tome of Vast Knowledge:

If the Tome was retrieved in the form of a .ZIP file this file
should be decompressed into it's two component archives (WV_075A.ZIP
and WV_075B.ZIP) and the contents of these ZIP files copied to
floppy diskette (for archival purposes) or into a temporary
subdirectory (if no persistent copy of the installation package is
desired).

WV_075A.ZIP = DISK1
WV_075B.ZIP = DISK2

From Program Manager pull down the File Menu and select run.
Type a:\setup (assuming of course the installation package has
been copied to a floppy diskette in drive A) and press the
<Enter> key.  (If running Windows 95, Select Run from the Start
Menu then type a:\setup.)  Follow the instructions that the
setup program provides.
















                                    5



Shameless advertisement for related products (not found in this archive)
follows:


                     ----------------------------
                     The Database BUILDER for the
                       TOME OF VAST KNOWLEDGE
                     ----------------------------


When the TOME was originally released with a few public domain databases, it
was recieved fairly well. However, everyone agreed that the program would be
much more useful if only the standard spell/monster/magic item databases
were available.

The Database BUILDER, a companion SHAREWARE product (available where you got
the TOME?) is a response to this demand. With this toolkit you can build your
own databases and integrate them into the TOME of VAST KNOWLEDGE (either
the DOS or the Windows version.)

Email or snail mail me for a copy if you can't find it. It costs me $5 to
mail it within North America (and more overseas), be prepared to send
me reimbursement upon reciept of the diskettes (specify media type.)

The BUILDER should be found in an archive named VBILTxxx.ZIP, where
xxx is a number indicative of the version.

The Current version of the BUILDER at the time of this writing is 1.07.






















                                    6


                            ------------------
                               Use License:
                            ------------------

  You may use the beta version of The Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows
free of charge. I don't guarantee that it will always be so, but for the
time being it FREEWARE.


  Licensee shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program
except as provided in this agreement.  Any such unauthorized use shall
result in immediate and automatic termination of this license.

  All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to Douglas P. Webb.























                                    7


                   -------------------------------------------
                   LIMITED WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
                   -------------------------------------------

  THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN MATERIALS (INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS
FOR USE) ARE PROVIDES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. FURTHER,
DOUGLAS P. WEBB, DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE, OF THE SOFTWARE
OR WRITTEN MATERIALS IN TERMS OF CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY,
CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. IF THE SOFTWARE OR WRITTEN
MATERIALS ARE DEFECTIVE YOU, AND NOT DOUGLAS P. WEBB OR HIS DEALERS,
DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS, OR EMPLOYEES, ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY
SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION.

  THE ABOVE IS THE ONLY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, THAT IS MADE BY DOUGLAS P. WEBB, ON
THIS DOUGLAS P. WEBB PRODUCT. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE
GIVEN BY DOUGLAS P. WEBB, HIS DEALERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES
SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY
AND YOU MAY NOT RELY ON ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR ADVICE. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER
RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

  NEITHER DOUGLAS P. WEBB NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN
THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS PRODUCT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES
FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS
INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH
PRODUCT EVEN IF DOUGLAS P. WEBB HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.


                              ---------------
                              ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
                              ---------------

BY USING THE FREEWARE VERSION OF THE TOME OF VAST KNOWLEDGE YOU ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO BE
BOUND BY ITS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS. YOU ALSO AGREE THAT THE LIMITED WARRANTY
IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND
SUPERSEDE ALL PROPOSALS OR PRIOR AGREEMENTS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, AND ANY OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE THE
LIMITED WARRANTY.
















                                    8


                 --------------------------------------
                 Distribution License for this Software
                 --------------------------------------

  We are thrilled that you have chosen to evaluate the Tome of Vast
Knowledge for Windows.  You are encouraged to distribute this software to
any and all who are interested in obtaining a copy, including distributing
it on BBS's or shareware distribution libraries.


  I encourage you to freely copy and distribute this freeware version of
The Tome of Vast Knowledge for Windows subject to the following
restrictions:

  The WINTOME package is defined as containing all the material listed in
the FILES.TXT text file.  If any files listed in the FILES.TXT text file,
or the FILES.TXT file itself, are missing, then the package is not complete
and distribution is forbidden.  Please contact me to obtain a complete
package suitable for distribution.

   -  The WINTOME package - including all related program files and
      documentation files - CANNOT be modified in any way and must
      be distributed as a complete package, without exception.

   -  You may charge a distribution fee for the package, but you must
      not represent in any way that you are selling the software itself.

   -  The PRINTED documentation may not be reproduced in whole or in
      part, using any means, without written permission from Douglas P.
      Webb.  In other words, the disk-based documentation may not be
      distributed in PRINTED (hardcopy) form.

   -  You shall not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
      disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
      program except as provided in this agreement.  Any such unauthorized
      use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this
      distribution license.

All rights not expressly granted here are reserved by Douglas P. Webb.




















                                    9

