                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##]  Command:  fire  [  sect  |  ship  ] [<ASECT> | <ASHIP>] [<VSECT> |
<VSHIP>]

When the multi-fire option is enabled, the syntax of the fire command changes.
It  is  still used to shoot up land sectors or ships. However, you may now use
multiple ships or multiple sectors to fire from. Return fire is spread amongst
all  the firing sectors. You cannot fire on the land of any nation you are not
at war with. (see info relations)

The general form for shooting at land from land is:
   [##:##] Command: fire sect <ASECTS> <VSECT>
Where <VSECT> is the victim sector, (the sector AT which you are shooting, not
the sector FROM which you are shooting).  ASECTS is a sector or sectors.

The general form for shooting at land from ships is:
   [##:##] Command: fire ship <ASHIPS> <VSECT>

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

The general form for firing at ships from land is:
   [##:##] Command: fire sect <ASECTS> <VSHIP>
Again, <VSHIP> is the victim ship number.

The general form for firing at ships from ships is:
   [##:##] Command: fire ship <ASHIPS> <VSHIP>

If not specified on the command line the program will ask for the sector(s) or
ship(s) FROM which you are firing, (<ASECT> or <ASHIP>).  It will also  prompt
you for targets for each sector/ship firing, if you did not specify the target
on the command line.

The only sector that may fire is a fortress, which must have at least two mil-
itary  for  a firing crew, at least one shell to fire, and a gun big enough to
reach the victim location; range is equal to the number of guns, (with a maxi-
mum  of  7),  times the technology factor, (which has a maximum of 1. see info
technology).

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

Any military ship may fire as long as it has at least one crew (which must  be
military,  not  civilians),  at  least one gun, at least one shell, and has at
least 60% efficiency.  If the ship can fire more than one gun and <NUMBER> was
not  specified  on  the command line the program will ask how many you wish to
fire.  See info ship-types for ship gun ranges.

Forts and non-depth-charge-equipped ships
 cannot hit submarines on the high seas.  The only way to attack  a  submarine
is to have a depth-charge-equipped ship drop a depth charge on it, costing two
shells.

The program then prints a satisfying  Kaboom!!!  and,  assuming  you  were  in
range, inflicts damage.

Ships  lose  mobility  points  equal to 1/2 the cosrt they would pay to move 1
sector for each shot fired.

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

The damages inflicted vary with efficiency of the attacker, the  size  of  the
guns  (battleship  guns are four times as big as patrol boat guns), the number
of guns fired, and the armor of the victim.

An illustrative example of shelling land:
   [##:##] Command: fir sect 34,18 36,18

   Kaboom!!!
   13% damage done to sector 34,18

Meanwhile, the owner of sector 35,18 might be logged on and would perhaps  see
the following:

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

   [15:98] Command: cen 34,18
   Sat Jul 30 16:18:01 1984
   CENSUS              del cnt
     sect      eff mob cmf cmf % * civ mil food min gmin fert oil
    34,18  i  100% 127 ... ...     200 100   23  23   31   73  18
        1 sector
   You have a telegram waiting ...

   [15:98] Command: read
   BULLETIN!       dated Sat Jul 30 16:18:02 1984
   Country #9 shelled 34,18
   Shall I burn it? y

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

   [15:98] Command: cen 34,18
   Sat Jul 30 16:18:26 1984
   CENSUS              del cnt
     sect      eff mob cmf cmf % * civ mil food min gmin fert oil
    34,18  i   87% 110 ... ...     175  83   20  23   31   73  18
        1 sector

Note that the shell did about 13% damage in the sector.

The player could have typed:
   [##:##] Command: fir sect #0 ?des=f 36,18

In that case, ALL forts in realm 0 would have fired on sector 36,18.

If  the  sector fired on is a fort with guns and shells it will fire back with
approximately the same damages (assuming it has the range).

Also, any friendly forts or ships within range of the attacker that  all  such
forts will return fire.

                             Command : MULTI-FIRE

If  a  ship fired on has guns and shells it will fire back AND any other ships
or forts of the same nationality that are in range will also fire on you.

All return fire is split evenly  over  all  attacking  sectors/ships,  and  is
adjust by the ratio of defending things to attacking things.

As  a change from the original fire command, with multi-fire enabled, you will
not return fire on your own ships.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Gun ranges, both on offense AND defense, are somewhat  random.
If  you have a range of 4.16, you can always shoot to 4, and have a 16% chance
of being able to fire at range 5...

See also : attack, assault, torpedo, technology, relations If  the  multi-fire
option is not enabled, see fire

