The Book of Nimbus

The fact that you have this great Book or are reading these words now means that the High Priest of your Island - a divine friend to your people - has been captured in battle and slaughtered by another tribe of Nimbus. Let your people mourn and wail for him, as they surely will. For you, however, the time of mourning must now be finished. For you have been chosen to replace him, and there is much that you must learn, and very little time.

The pages that follow will clarify your tasks and duties, but certain things must be explained immediately. You have been chosen from among your people to server them, even until your very death. Undoubtedly you are afraid and confused,and your body is weak. Be assured that you will recover - that you will soon be even stronger than before.

Now your training in the Priesthood of Nimbus begins.


The History

Know that in a time before memory the floating Islands of Nimbus were one: one sphere of land, one tribe of people, and that our hearts were free of hatred, as they can never be again.
Know that under one land, there grew an invisible darkness and storm. The Furies whose brotherhood was balanced and strong collapsed into ferocious jealousies and rage. Thunder who is powerful and proud craved the agility and speed of his brother Wind who longed in turn for the rejuvenating powers of Rain. And the envy spiraled.

In time the Storm under the land rumbled and grew. It was this battle, which rages still, that tattered our land, tore it into bits, and hurled great pieces into the sky: Nimbus as we know it now. Know that the Furies have divided us. The wise ancients say that the Furies will unite us again in the end if times. Until then, we must fight for the precious resources that these islands supply us. We must descend from the peaceful Serenisphere, down into the Pyrosphere where these battles rage. If we do not fight, we do not survive.

But make no mistake, survival is second to glory. We are fighting to rule these skies, to dominate our enemy tribes, and to unite Nimbus again under one mighty hand. But remember these thoughts are the same as those priests who now hunt you, for they too seek to control Nimbus in their own hands and will draw your blood and annihilate your people to for fill this dream. Know that henceforward you are in mortal danger. Your spilled blood is precious to other Priests, as theirs will be precious to you. Only when you release of the blood of an enemy Priest will the Furies grant you the knowledge of wondrous and powerful forms of warfare. Your people will need them to dominate your ravenous foes. Let your knife dig deep into the hearts of these men. Let you Altar wrench from their souls and satisfy the furies bloody thirst for the sake of your people and the peace you have promised them.

Know that this sacred Temple, these stately Workshops, and all the parts of this miraculous machinery of war are now parts of yourself. And these magical bridges that weave it together are like the veins that run between your own organs. When a bridge falls down through the clouds and into the abyss, you will feel that you are falling with it. And when your Whirligigs or your Thunder Cannons score victories for your people, you will feel the glory of that victory surging toward your heart like a heat.

Know that one day, you may meet your end on the Altar of your foes. If that hour should come, another will be chosen. He or she will suffer as you have suffered, and he or she will carry on your work, just as you now take up the torch of those who have come before you. Look to your tribal people now and how they pay deep respect and tribute to your slain predecessor. Someday that tribute and glory may be yours.


The Aim of NetStorm

The ultimate goal of any game of Netstorm is to sacrifice the enemy's High Priest(s) on your altar. In the single-player mode, victory is rewarded with access to the next mission; in multiplayer, you are instead rewarded with knowledge, the ability to use a new unit; or storm power, to help you defeat other your other enemies in the same battle.

In order to achieve this, you must use attacking units to attack the enemy and immobilize their Priest(s). They, of course, can use units to attack your units and your priest as well – in order to prevent their attacks you can use defending units to absorb the damage and to protect your units and your Priest.

You will fight in the vast skies of Nimbus where shattered pieces of land remain unclaimed. You will seek out geysers which provide you with storm crystals. Once these crystals have been brought back to an outpost or temple you can harvest the storm power within and build units of warfare to expand your empire and claim the unknown skies. To do this you will need to extend your bridges from your home island to seize control of gsyers and connect islands to your home island. Resources are scarce in Netstorm, so remember that as you advance you will advance into enemy territory and with the furies urged you both to sacrifice the other, there may be only one who will survive that day.

Let us now teach you the art of Nimbian Warfare so that you can lead us to victory. May your Priesthood begin now, and may your blood never be spilt...


Priesthood Training

Getting Started:
1.1 Opening Screen
1.2 Entering the Serenisphere
1.3 The Three Spheres of Nimbus
1.4 The Serenisphere
1.5 Battle Master/Ring/Options


Netstorm Game Interface:
2.1 Basic Controls
2.2 Battle Window
2.3 Escape Menu
2.4 Production Window
2.5 General Mouse Interface
2.6 MiniMap
2.7 Storm Power Counter


Knowing the Pyroshere:
3.1 Furies
3.2 Knowledge
3.3 Sacrificing
3.4 Nimbians
3.5 Home Island
3.6 Energy
3.7 The Stream of Power
3.8 The Sun
3.9 Residence
3.10 Farm Edges
3.11 Neutral Islands
3.12 Salvaging
3.13 Bridges
3.14 Storm Crystal
3.15 Storm Geysers
3.16 Storm Power


Netstorm Buildings, Outposts, Temples and Units:
4.1 The High Priest
4.2 Temple
4.3 Golems
4.4 Outpost
4.5 Altar
4.6 Workshops
4.7 Units
4.8 Sun Units
4.9 Wind Units
4.10 Rain Units
4.11 Thunder Units


The Art of Warfare:
5.1 Temple Placement
5.2 Bridging for an Outpost
5.3 Encountering the Enemy
5.4 Attack and Defend
5.5 Priest Snatching
5.6 Sacrificing
5.7 Home Island Attacks


Spells:
Bridge Harden
Bombardment
Decimation
Devastation
Graviton
Heal
Hyrda
Hyrda Flood
Hyrda Wave
Invisibility
Paralysis
Point Blast
Thunderstorm
Thunder Strike
Treason
Twister
Vortex
Whirlwind


Terminology and Slang:
Terminology
Slang