================================================================
Title                   : Mercenary Player Class
Version                 : 0.9 beta
Release Date            : 09/12/98
Filename                : Mercmod_v0_9.zip
Author                  : Rob 'MHz' Knight
Email Address           : unreal@neo.lrun.com
Web Page                : n/a
Description             : Beta release of Mercenary Player Class
Other mods by author    : none
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--- Play Information ---
Game                    : Unreal 
Level Name              : N/A
Single Player           : N/A
Cooperative             : N/A
Deathmatch              : N/A
Dark Match              : N/A
Difficulty Settings     : N/A
New Sounds              : No
New Graphics            : None but the Mercrifle needs a skin (hint,hint)
Known bugs              : Can't get him to play animations while standing still,
			  examples include - won't play the 'StillFire' anim or
			  taunts... dunno why, but if you do let me know

---Fixed since v0.8---
-Forgot to include a state for the Mercrifle that
 reulted in lockups when you ran out of ammo...duh!

-Fixed since v0.85-
-Got rid of the Mercrifle dropping when killed since
if any other player got it, they were stuck with it

-Fixed since v0.86-
-Changed ammo for the Merrifle to a recharging type with a 100 max limit

-Forgot to change the collision settings, fixed

-Planning to make the invulnerability shield an item to allow it to
 recharge over time.... what do you think?

-Fixed since v0.87-
-Turned invulnerability shield into an item(no more key binding!!!!)
 it recharges slowly with a maximum of three charges.

-cleaned up code some

-ammo and weapon are shown in the same slot now

-prolly something else I can't remember

-weapon still needs a skin to match the mercenary

--- Construction ---
Editor(s) used          : UnrealEd
Base                    : Based on Player/Mercenary Pawn class
Construction Time       : 7 days

Installation
------------
Step 1)
	a)Place the MercMod.u, Mercskins.int into your Unreal/System directory. 

	b)Place the Mercskins.utx file in your Unreal/Textures directory

Step 2)
	Open your Unreal.ini (or whatever ini you use (Server1.ini for ex.))
	Edit the following
	a) under [UnrealI.UnrealMeshMenu]
		Add: MercMod.MercenaryPlayer 
		Place that under the next available slot for PlayerClasses
		For Example:

			PlayerClasses[7]=MercMod.MercenaryPlayer 

	b) Increase the NumPlayerClasses= by 1.
	   NumPlayerClasses is listed just after the PlayerClasses[x]
	   listing in the [UnrealI.UnrealMeshMenu] group.

	c) Under [Engine.GameEngine]
		Place that under the next available slot for ServerPackages
		Add: MercMod
		For Example:
	
			ServerPackages[6]=MercMod
	d) Close your ini file

Your done and ready! You should now be able to select the Mercenary
Player Class!

Extended description:
--------------------
The Mercenary Player Class is just a little project I started a few days ago
after a failed attempt with a Brute Player.

The Mercenary has some special abilities and some severe limitations to make
up for those.

He has 240 health for example and right now he can use all of the armor and
health items.

He also has his own special weapon (using the biorifle mesh, it's a nice match
to the mercenary model) that fires mercenary rockets in main fire and a minigun
in altfire (uses MUCH ammo). This gun uses the a slightly modified dispersion
pistol ammo. I changed the max to 100 and it recharges slightly faster, note that
just like the dispersion pistol it charges more slowly as you get more ammo.
With this character you need to choose your shots carefully.

The last is the most 'special ability'. He has an Invulnerability Sheild with
only 3 short duration uses. These recharge slowly. This shield is great though, 
for a VERY SHORT period (read 5 to 15 seconds or so) you are COMPLETELY 
invunerable, you can't be hurt in any way.  Now the downside... 
you do not get to use the sheildbelt and you can't pick it up to deny it to other players.

If anything is wrong, feel free to let me nkow or fix it just let me know and send me a 
copy to test and I'll release it and add your name to this file.

A HUGE, GIGANTIC THANKYOU!!! to Win of uWar and Zarniwoop of Oddities for helping me
with some things I couldn't figure out.

A last note, I have not programmed in 8 years and that was a few years of BASIC followed
by a few years of FORTRAN in high school on an AppleIIe. I'm 25, just went back to school
fulltime and am in the second day of Intro to C++ so I'd say this is a good example of
how easy it is to make a mod in UnrealEd. If you don't like my mod, don't use it and don't
let me know... I made this for me, if anyone else likes it it's a bonus... got it?


A final note, this readme.txt was blatently ripped from the SkaarjAssasinPlayer mod with
all appropriate things changed (I hope).

A final, final note... This modification may be distributed freely by any means unless
it is included  in a commercial product. If a magazine wants to include it on a CD (I doubt
it!), that's cool but please let me know first (I want to buy the mag, or get a free one.. k?)

MHz