Editorial

Greetings and welcome to Issue 6 of SynTax which contains the
long-promised adventure maps in the solutions section. Thanks to
Alan for all his hard work on the program. RPG maps will continue
to be included as DEGAS screens in the Screenshots section.

The way the new maps work is fairly self-explanatory as they use 
a similar method to the rest of SynTax, using point-and-click
from either the location names and numbers or the location boxes
on the map. An asterisk signifies a specialised route, up/down,
in/out, one-way or conditional on a problem being solved or
object present. Anyway, I hope you find them a useful addition
to the disk and that you'll find time to contribute maps.

There are also two new sections in this issue after Angelina's
MUG article in Issue 5. From now on, I will include a MUG File
which will give logon details for any MUGS I can find information
about plus a detailed look at one specific MUG each issue. If any

MUGgers out there would like to write a piece on their favourite
MUG, please send it in for a future issue.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my pleas for specific
contributions last issue. I'm still looking for solutions to Ooze,
Time, Hound of Shadow, Mindfighter and Drakkhen and 3-in-1 hints to
any games that haven't so far been covered in this way. Also does
anyone have a map and/or full solution to Bloodwych or the data
disk? I have been getting quite a few queries about them. What
about some solutions to the really new games too, like Murders in
Venice, Castle Master and Chronoquest 2? 

Zenobi Software, Interactive Technology and ARC have all
provided review software for this issue for which I am very
grateful. There was a special offer for SynTax in ZERO magazine -
thanks, Mike, for including that. Andrew Banner of Popular
Computing Weekly, Pendragon of Atari ST User and Paul Rigby of
The Games Machine also gave SynTax a mention since the last issue;
thanks to all of them for their support.

Last issue I said I was going to compile a 5th solution disk. Well,
a few weeks ago I had a call from John who said he now has an ST
again and has beaten me to it! You'll find the disk in the PD
section together with another of John's disks - this time a full
help disk to Bard's Tale 1 including maps, a real boon to anyone
(like me) who still hasn't completed it. 

Some recent subscribers to SynTax have been owners of STEs. 
Issue 4 onwards have always been STE-compatible so a few weeks
ago, Issues 1 to 3 were remastered to make them STE-compatible
too. If anyone would like to upgrade to the new versions, just
send me your original disk(s) plus return postage and I'll send
you new copies by return.

The new disks use 10-sector formats to to make room for the new
program. This means there is some space left on the new disks - it
breaks my heart every time I see all those spare bytes begging to
be filled!! But the remastered disks are an improvement as they
use the later version of the program which gives faster file
loading.

Talking of space ... the program on this disk has been packed to
save another 64K or so - I think I have now exhausted every means
of squeezing more room on the disks apart from going double-sided!
The program takes a few seconds longer to load but I reckon it is
worth it for the extra space.

Finally, I was really surprised to read in Adventure Coder about
the demise of SynTax - needless to say, it ISN'T true! I have
made it clear to Chris Hester, and would like to assure you all
too, that SynTax will NOT fold as long as there are STs and
adventure games. 

Well, I think that's it .... see you all in issue 7 - the first
anniversary issue of SynTax! Thank you all for supporting the
magazine during its first year.

                                              Sue