MESS.EXT - External Messages (sent by Hostmaster)
MESS.TMP - Current Message Traffic
These files contain - encrypted the usual way, see MDATAx.DAT - some message texts. The corresponding MESSPNT files contain pointers into these files.
The MESS.EXT file contains messages sent by the host using the SENDMESS program. The messages must be "complete", i.e., with all headers. Host itself only prepends the "(-h000)" signature, so the MESS.EXT file must supply the "<<< Subspace Message >>>", "FROM: Host" and "TO: player" headers. Host renames it to MESS.TMP when starting.
The MESS.OLD file contains all messages from the last host run, to allow delivering them after a missed turn. If this feature is enabled (HCONFIG.HST, offset +8), up to 100 old messages are saved. Before exiting, Host renames MESS.TMP to MESS.OLD, so this file stores all messages generated by the host, sent by players, and external messages.
The MESS.TMP file only exists during a host run, available to AUXHOST1 and AUXHOST2 programs.
See also BUFF.TMP.
