Programming on the Tandy CoCo

I did some programming tonight on the Tandy CoCo.  First opinion is that the BASIC is a much cleaner and easier BASIC to use than other Microsoft BASICS.  I'm not sure why Microsoft didn't do things 

quite the same way with the TANDY CoCo, but I'm kinda glad they didn't.





Formating like this is really easy and straight forward.

820 PRINT D1;" ";D2;" ";D3;" ";D4

Random numbers is super easy and straight forward.

100 X = RND(-TIMER) :REM Seed the generator
..<snip>..
800 D1=RND(6)
802 D2=RND(6)

I should run the computer though the same tests that I have the others and see how it stacks.

Took home two Tandy CoCo 2s

I spent $80 to buy an untested CoCo 2 that was advertised as "Vintage Radio Shack Tandy TRS-80 64K Color Computer 2 Video Game Console"

The photos given:





Granted, I knew very little about the Tandy CoCo computers, but always wanted one. When I went to pick it up, he had two Tandy CoCo 2s and one Tandy CoCo 1 computers. None of the three had been tested. He told me take both CoCo 2s home and test to see if they work. One looked to be in clean and in good shape. The other looked filthy as he had not even tried to clean it up to sell. Which ever I chose, bring back the other.

I got both home and cleaned both externally including the keyboards.

I also looked at the exact model numbers and serial numbers as they can tell alot about the computer.



I could see there was a slight difference in both of the models, but was not sure what that meant for these two computers. The keyboard color looked slightly different, but other than that, they looked very much identical. So I plugged in the model that was 26-3026. That was the one that was filthy. I was welcomed with a green screen and an OK, but nothing else. I turned it on again, and this time I see it is running Extended Color BASIC 1.1. So I do some simple tests.

I'm surprised to see that memory states 24K RAM. I also verify all the keys work.
I plug in the other CoCo2 in and get absolutely nothing on the screen. Like there is not video signal output at all.


So I look up what the Model Numbers mean.

This is when I realize the working computer has been upgraded with more RAM and the Extended BASIC ROM.  So  I wrote him on what I found and set the good one up in the game room. 

Starting a new Campaign - Start of Character creation

Lets roll some dice

STR 6 4 1 6 = 16
DEX 2 3 3 1 scrap 6 4 3 2 = 13
CON 4 1 3 6 = 13
INT 6 2 4 4 = 14
WIS 6 2 1 2 = 10
CHR 2 2 1 3 scrap 3 4 5 4

Choose Race and Class Eladrin Elf Sorcerers

Dark Vision 60’

•Fey Step: Eladrin can use a bonus action to magically teleport up to 30 feet, a signature ability that often carries additional effects based on their current season 

•Seasonal Changes: Their emotional state is linked to the seasons, influencing their appearance (skin/hair color) and mood, with the ability to change seasons after a long rest.

•Fey Ancestry: Like other elves, they have advantage on saving throws against being charmed and cannot be put to sleep by magic.

Key Aspects of Eladrin Elf Classes:

• Racial Features: They possess Darkvision, Fey Ancestry (advantage against charm), and Fey Step, which allows them to teleport up to 30 feet as a bonus action.

• Seasonal Abilities (Level 3): Upon finishing a long rest, an Eladrin can change their season, altering their Fey Step effect.

o Autumn: Charm creatures after teleporting.

o Winter: Frighten creatures after teleporting.

o Spring: Teleport a willing creature instead of themselves.

o Summer: Deal fire damage to surrounding creatures after teleporting.

•Appearance: They are slender, typically standing 5 to 6 feet tall, with eyes that often sparkle, reflecting their intense fey magic. 

• Emotional Nature: Eladrin are often described as more "alien" or emotional than other elves. Their personalities can be as volatile as the Feywild itself, frequently changing alongside their seasonal state.
• Lifespan: Like most elves, they can live for over 750 years.

Seasonal Skin Colors

• Spring: Typically verdant green, pale green, or rosy pink, often described as "fresh" or "blossoming".
• Summer: Vibrant gold, yellow, or a deep "sun-kissed" bronze. Their skin may even appear to have a "fiery" glow.
• Autumn: Burnt orange, red, or russet brown, mimicking the colors of falling leaves.
• Winter: Pale blue, icy white, or even a somber charcoal/deep purple, reflecting a frozen landscape.