New Users: Type NEW at the logon prompt to create an account.
Existing Users: Enter your handle and password to access the system.
A - Auto-messages (system notices)
C - Converse with the Captain (pages the sysop)
E - Electronic runes (private messages / inbox)
F - Leave feedback for the Captain (posts to the Feedback board)
G - Great Books / Library (read archived texts)
H - Help (show built-in help text)
I - Board information (system info)
M - Enter this board's Deck Commands sub-menu (scan, read, post — see below)
N - New scan across every deck you have access to
O - Jump ship (log off / exit the BBS)
P - Play The Wandering Norseman
S - Ship status (handle, stats, last call)
T - Show time on current session
U - User log (list of sailors / users)
V - Video/display attributes (40/80 cols)
Y - Polls and voting
* - Show usable decks (boards you can access)
[number] - Jump straight to the deck with that number (the numbers shown by *)
Just like the original 1980s BBS, P at the main menu plays the game, not "post" — posting only happens inside a board's Deck Commands sub-menu (M), described below. O ("jump ship") is the original's nautical idiom for logging off, not for switching boards — to switch boards, type the board's number directly.
The web UI is driven by keyboard input to the screen canvas. Click the screen to focus and then type.
Typing M at the main menu drops you into that board's [Deck Commands] sub-menu, the same way it worked on the original Apple II BBS. You stay in this sub-menu, issuing one command after another, until you type Q to return to the main menu.
S - Scan messages (summary listing)
X - Xtended summary (detailed listing with dates/reads)
# - Read that rune (message) number on this board
F - Forward read, starting at a rune number you choose
P - Post a rune (create a message; anonymous board allowed)
N - New runes on this board
? - List these deck commands
Q - Back to the main menu
While reading an individual rune, you'll also see A to auto-reply and, if it's yours (or you're the sysop), D to delete it.
VALID - Vote on new sailors to validate and grant them access to the system (community-driven user validation)
SETPASS - Change your password
F - Leave feedback for the Captain (posts a message to the Feedback board)
E - Electronic runes (private mail / inbox)
C - Converse with the Captain (pages the sysop; not a multi-user chat)
New accounts are not automatically granted full access. The Norse Wanderer uses a community validation system: existing sailors vote on new applicant handles using the VALID command. When the community accepts a new user, access privileges are granted. This keeps the board curated by the community and helps reduce abuse.
The BBS supports multiple baud rates for your comfort:
You can toggle between 40 and 80 column display modes.
You can also toggle between Themes to display text in Green, Amber or White.
The Norse Wanderer BBS features an advanced DISPLAY command written by Bozo De Clown that automatically formats text files for either 40 or 80 column display, regardless of their original format.
This BBS was originally written in ProDOS for the Apple II computer. The system features:
The Wandering Norseman is a trading / naval combat game inspired by Taipan. Start it from the BBS prompt with the command P. Your game state is saved automatically (and synced to your account when logged in).
Accumulate wealth. The code declares: first to 1,000,000,000 gold wins.
While in port you will see a command line like:
[PortName> A C F G H O S T U L ? (plus E if the travelling casino is present)
The game uses these cargo types (base prices):
hides — 250gp
dried food — 500gp
tools — 1,000gp
textiles — 2,000gp
arms — 3,000gp
slaves — 4,000gp
silk — 6,000gp
metals — 12,000gp
gems — 20,000gp
Port prices are randomized per visit. Buy low, sell high — watch supply (availability) and your fleet hold capacity.
Available ship types (base cost / hold / combat hp):
Light Galley — 10,000gp / hold 5 / hp 150
Heavy Galley — 18,000gp / hold 15 / hp 250
Great Galley — 35,000gp / hold 25 / hp 400
Light Warship — 10,000gp / hold 2 / hp 200
Medium Warship — 20,000gp / hold 5 / hp 350
Large Warship — 40,000gp / hold 8 / hp 500
Max fleet size is 6 ships. Ships have weapon slots; warships have rams and better combat stats.
Weapons take weapon-slot space on ships. Examples (buyable where available): shears, bowmen(15), springal, light catapult, light cannon, heavy cannon. Prices vary by port.
Sailing between ports takes days (randomized). While at sea you may encounter storms, pirates, imperial fleets, monsters (octopus, sirens), or find treasure. Encounters can sink ships or yield loot.
Combat is multi-round. You choose to Run or Fight. Fight damage is based on ships, weapons and bowmen. If you sink enemies you may plunder gold; attacking imperial fleets repeatedly will put you on the imperial "shit list" with dangerous consequences.
The travelling casino offers Slots and Blackjack. Slots use symbol reels and exact payout rules from the original; Blackjack supports hit/stand/double and insurance. Casino bets use your game gold.
Progress is saved locally and synchronized to the server (when logged in). Exiting with L or logging off saves your state. The game also auto-saves between actions; you can rely on that when quitting.
Example: Enter a port, open cargo with C, choose B to buy an item number, then re-visit another port and C → S to sell for profit.