IJ> the BBS starts the fossil driver, as seen through the terminal, but does
 IJ> not
 IJ> 
 IJ> start the door.... no DOS box opens...

According to your own description: Mystic is doing 100% of what you're telling
it to do, which is to run NetFoss.  The rest is on you to setup NetFoss and the
door correctly.

When Mystic runs it creates all of its drop files in that node's temporary
directory.  So if you have Mystic installed in C:\MYSTIC and you are on node 1,
then all of the drop files (DOOR.SYS, etc) will be created in C:\MYSTIC\TEMP1\

Do you have your doors set up to find these files?  There is really no way to
help you here without more information.  The job Mystic is supposed to do is
being done.  The rest is on the door configration, which we cannot see in
that batch file.

 IJ> I tried simpler doors to run... Stack'em.... doesn't even need a
 IJ> fossil...

You need to configure Stack'em to use Fossil, otherwise its trying to use a
MS-DOS modem which obviously isn't going to work here. :)

 IJ> The reasons I like Mystic are starting to evaporate quickly...

There are 20 years of history and tons of Mystic BBSes right now with doors
working.  But clearly the problem is Mystic and not your understanding
right?

This community these days, I swear lol...

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A34 (Windows/64)