More Information on the Phobos Encounter

! WARNING !
Players suffering from epilepsy might want to think twice
before entering the mines of the Phobos Encounter.  While
not having as many blinking/flashing lights as Luke Schneider's
Entropy Experiment, there may still be enough to warrant
backing out.  Level 1 probably has the most blinking/flashing
lights, although some rooms in later levels have many as well.

! GAMEPLAY NOTE !
It is highly recommended that you play the Phobos Encounter
from beginning to end.  That is, take on level 1 first and
work up to level 4.  This is because all of the new robots
in the Phobos Encounter are introduced as the mission goes
along.  The new robots take the place of existing robots.
And, some of the existing robots are present in early levels
in the Phobos Encounter.  To put it simply, if the Spherebot
appears in level 4 and takes the place of the Medium Hulk,
and you use the FREESPACE cheat code to go to level 1, there
will be a Spherebot wherever a Medium Hulk would normally be.

This not only affects other Phobos levels, but every level
that you play thereafter.  To remedy this problem (read: reset
all of the robots to their original state), reboot Descent 2.
Of course... if you want an extra challenge, don't reboot
Descent 2. :)

! ONE OTHER GAMEPLAY NOTE !
Due to the nature of the final boss in level 4, it is not
recommended that you use the SPANIARD cheat code.  If you
do use it, you'll never see the final boss of the Phobos
Encounter.

LEVEL PROFILES

Level 1:        TRAC Research Complex
 Data:
 355 cubes
 74 walls
 74 robots
 2 hostages

Terrain Robot Analysis Corporation (TRAC) coordinates robot
behavior for the PTMC.  Unfortunately, a disgruntled scientist
named Dr. Phobos knows this and the importance of this research
station.  Hence, he has dispatched his special RedX Phobot to
take control of the station, in hopes of being able to cause a
system-wide takeover of the mining robots.  He must be stopped.
Destroy the RedX Phobot and escape the complex.

Level 2:        Altaridge Falls Mine
 Data:
 506 cubes
 122 walls
 103 robots
 10 hostages

One of PTMC's most lucrative ventures is that existing on planet
KT6202.  The mine, situated near the scenic Altaridge Falls, is
the only known source for Kharbinium, an ultra-hard shielding
material.  Dr. Phobos sent his deadly Tiger Phobot here in an
attempt to mine Kharbinium for himself.  Stop him for doing so.

Level 3:        Magmarok Excavation
 Data:
 387 cubes
 144 walls
 85 robots
 4 hostages

Without a doubt, the most possibly harmful robots in PTMC's mining
armada are the excavation droids.  Robots whose sole purpose is
to carve tunnels through solid rock.  Dr. Phobos wants these robots
to assist him when he takes over Shiva Station (his ultimate plan).
Although many valuable artifacts can be found at this excavation,
they must be sacrificed to prevent disaster.  Destroy the entire
mine by taking out the Smelter Phobot.

Level 4:        Phobos Command Center
 Data:
 370 cubes
 65 walls
 64 robots

Dr. Phobos' main command center, located aptly enough on the Martian
moon Phobos, decloaked itself for a brief period of time.  PTMC
Intelligence believes that he is hiding there.  Your mission is to
destroy Dr. Phobos and end this mechanical nightmare for good.

Secret Level 1: Tryhys Zinkor
 Data:
 221 cubes
 60 walls
 62 robots
 3 hostages

It is unknown what ties Dr. Phobos might have to the invading force
of robots that caused both First Strike and Counterstrike to occur.
Regardless, this alien base houses many alien robots Phobos is planning
on using on his assault on Shiva Station.  Prevent him from giving them
the go-ahead.

Secret Level 2: Gamma-1 Storage Depot
 Data:
 323 cubes
 93 walls
 94 robots

This storage facility has many large, sweeping chambers.  Similar to
the situation in Tryhys Zinkor, you must destroy these robots before
Dr. Phobos proceeds with his plan.


I wish you luck when scouring the mines of the Phobos Encounter.
And, I hope you have as much fun playing them as I had building
them.  So, without any further ado... PREPARE FOR DESCENT!

-RAZOR
http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/~jasong/razor.html
jamr@teleport.com


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One addition by HH-Software Images about Phobos Encounter and Descent Manager

Versions 1.0 Beta 06f and 06g are incompatible to the missions' HXM files 
which store the robot informations (layer "Special", Robots (F8)) and will
say "Error in HXM (4)". An update to the forthcoming 07a version will fix this
problem.
