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BREATH OF FIRE
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BREATH OF FIRE
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The Long-Threatened...
--------------

    HOW TO
    READ A
   COMPASS
   HANDBOOK

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That's all the ANSI graphics you get.  Sorry.

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Version 1.0: 8/25/3.  Started it.  Finished it.  Doubt I will update it.
Still Version 1.0: 1/27/5.  Updated e-mail address.  Fixed margins.

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This information guide is copyright 2003 DarkStorm, currently wrassedragon
(at) yahoo (dot) com.  Do not publish this commercially without my
permission (and I *will* want to be paid for it :). Do not put this FAQ on
your website without contacting me first. Basically, read it all you want,
save it to your hard drive, and enjoy it forever, but don't publish it or
post it to another web page without e-mailing me and asking my permission
(and I can't think of a reason I wouldn't give my permission).  Simple,
neh?

--------------

HOW TO READ A COMPASS.


A. The Basics

The red needle points to the north.  Always.  It doesn't show what direction
you're going in, it shows where north is relative to the direction you're
going.  In most cases (see Section D for the exception), ignore the white
needle.

If it's pointing upwards, you're facing north (because north is ahead of you).

If it's pointing downwards, you're facing south (because north is behind you).

If it's pointing to your left, you're facing east (because north is to your
left).

If it's pointing to your right, you're facing west (becasue north is to your
right).


B.  The Complex Stuff

Combining the techniques to find the four cardinal directions will give you
the in-between directions.

If the red needle is pointing diagonally up-left, then you're facing northeast
(north is to your left, but not as far to the left as it'd be if you were
facing due east).

If the red needle is pointing diagonally up-right, then you're facing
northwest (north is to your right, but not as far to the left as it'd be if
you were facing due west).

If the red needle is pointing diagonally down-left, then you're facing
southeast (north is behind you and to to your left, farther to the left as
it'd be if you were facing due east).

If the red needle is pointing diagonally down-right, then you're facing
southwest (north is behind you and to your right, farther to the right as it'd
be if you were facing due west).


C. Ooh, Pictures!

Only the Red needle is shown in this.  Ignore the white needle when comparing
them to these admittedly-crude drawings.

    N          N          N          N   
  -----      -----      -----      ----- 
 /  ^  \    /     \    /     \    /     \
/   |   \  /       \  /       \  /       \
|   |   |  |       |  |       |  |       |
|   O   |  |   O   |  |<--O   |  |   O-->|
|       |  |   |   |  |       |  |       |
\       /  \   |   /  \       /  \       /
 \     /    \  V  /    \     /    \     /
  -----      -----      -----      -----
  NORTH      SOUTH      EAST       WEST
 
    N          N          N          N   
  -----      -----      -----      ----- 
 /     \    /     \    /     \    /     \
/ \     \  /     / \  /       \  /       \
|  \    |  |    /  |  |       |  |       |
|   O   |  |   O   |  |   O   |  |   O   |
|       |  |       |  |  /    |  |    \  |
\       /  \       /  \ /     /  \     \ /
 \     /    \     /    \     /    \     /
  -----      -----      -----      -----
  NORTH-     NORTH-     SOUTH-     SOUTH-
  EAST       WEST       EAST       WEST


D. Aid To Memory

If for some reason you can't remember all that, try remembering this:

The RED needle shows the correct direction in relation to north/south. If it's
in the top half of the compass, you're going generally northwards, and if it's
in the bottom half, you're going generally southwards.

The WHITE needle shows the correct direction in relation to east/west. If it's
in the left half of the compass, you're going generally westwards, and if it's
in the right half, you're going generally eastwards.

If the Red needle is pointing directly to the left or the right, ignore it,
and if the white needle is pointing directly up or down, then ignore it.


E. Conclusion

It's not that difficult, really.  Hopefully this will clear up all the
confusion and make finding a certain campsite a heck of a lot easier.


F. The End

GO HOME!  GO HOME!