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Can't enter Grah-Hoth's place in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #4
Oh, for the love of little green apples, IMPS!!!
I thought it was those two neon-coloured spirits hanging around the lava (the one with the black key) that were supposed to open the passage.

I was kinda wondering why the pink bats in the fort weren't attacking. Hadn't even occurred to me to have a chat with them. Duh.

So, well, never mind, eh?

[ Saturday, February 04, 2006 08:42: Message edited by: Shine123 ]
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Can't enter Grah-Hoth's place in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #2
Yes, there were two imps, one visible in the west, the other in a hidden tunnel. Neither said anything about a passage, only that the barriers can be passed. The second one gave me a black key. Their dialogue were pop-up boxes, not the regular interactive dialogue screen.

I went back to an earlier saved game and walked through this again, with the same result.
Am I in the wrong place?
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Can't enter Grah-Hoth's place in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hello,
Hit a brick wall, quite literally.
I made it to the Fortress, I have the onyx scepter, the super-duper knife, and I talked to the 2 spirits among the lava. I even have a hammer which, as I read somewhere, I'll need.
I entered the Fortress across the only rune that allowed this, on the far west side. Far Sight revealed a secret passage to the far north, in a storage room.
However, I can't enter that secret passage. The storage room wall won't move, even though I can "see" the passage behind it.
Am I missing something?

[ Friday, February 03, 2006 16:08: Message edited by: Shine123 ]
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
how did you find out about spiderweb games? in General
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #2
Excellent question - the answers would surely be helpful to Spiderweb.

I came across an ancient copy of Blades of Exile, or maybe it was Escape from the Pit, in one of those CD collections of PC games. I was looking for some small games for my son (Why does every commercial computer game for kids revolve around shapes and letters??? Can't kids just play for fun? - it still teaches mouse skills and hand-eye coordination, end of rant).

Anyway, the Spiderweb game was packaged with several hundred mostly useless shareware games. I played it (finding it as cheesy as it was addictive) and came to the web site to see what else is there. Found a treasure trove of the sort of rainy-day games I like to play - unfortunately, my son is still stuck playing Winnie The Pooh counting games.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Helping Jeff advertise in Avernum 4
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #93
quote:
Originally written by SNM:

Jeff works alone. If I understand the nature of his life anywhere near as well as I think I do, he will always work alone.
I have a theory about that. Unless he is very much in touch with his feminine side, he's had a wee bit of input from a gal-pal.
There are certain bits of story line, dialogue, design, humor, etc that seem to point that way - female players may know what I mean. There is no let-the-girls-play-too condescention - the battle of the sexes is not even an issue. I don't wish to ruffle feathers, but such even-handed confidence is rather uncommon and unexpected. (Thank you, thank you, for not designing a Blessed Plate Mail Bustier.)

These games present as many male as female fighting characters, good or evil, and some of the story lines and characters are greatly enriched by making sure things don't get overpowered by testosterone.

Don't get me wrong, I like going berserk on those demons as much as anyone :) but the gentle humor and interactions add to the fun more so than the low-brow one-liners so rampant elsewhere.

Unlike many many games out there, this one is as non-sexist, non-misogynist, non-homophobe, non-racist as it gets (even while dealing with opposing cultures that are, by default, racist). Kudos to all those involved.

Here's to hoping that there are friendly spiders in AV4 - but I'm silly that way

[ Thursday, February 02, 2006 10:23: Message edited by: Shine123 ]
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Helping Jeff advertise in Avernum 4
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #92
Regarding RP, I find these games give enough background to allow bits of role play to appear out of nowhere.
I realized that my characters tend to take on lives of their own. ("Oh, that silly warrior got himself enfeebled again. Fix that, will ya, Wiz?")
I do suspect that my two current mages are engaged in a bit of one-upmanship mainly because I can't figure out why one hits before the other, but weaker. After a while I consider this part of the story rather than bothering to fix it. Makes the potion-sharing, gear-rearranging pitstops much more fun. ("I'll trade ya two hasting potions for your last energy elixir...")

Point is, the trilogy gives plenty of background, I think, while still allowing me to paint the story in my own head any way I like. Of course, I just realized that my sorcerer is wearing a skirt (small graphic) which is totally ruining his chances with the mage.

Something I've always wondered, though, who the heck came up with the name "Mycroft"?????
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
xian stuff in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Okay, what's with the Xian things? I have the ale and the annoying skull, the pouch and now a pair of pants. What gives? Is this part of a quest I've missed?
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
AV3 - couple of questions in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hi
I think I'm missing a couple of things and it's driving me buggy. I'm the explorer-type that likes to check out everything and do all quests, so that's why I'm obsessing.

There is a woman wandering around Bigail who is supposed to show the way to a crossbow of some sort. Apparently, a beggar in (the town to the west whose name I can't recall right now) has a clue to that. However, no matter how much I talk to these two, no one's coming across with the goods. What am I missing? (Of course, now I can't find her at all any more)

Also, I believe up there is someone who can teach Pathfinder (Meena)? Is that on Bigail, or elsewhere?

Finally, casting SLOW, as a spell or wand or scroll, doesn't seem to have much effect on anything. Does it just lob off an AP or two, leaving monsters still with lots to use?

Thanks
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
missing key - Thompson in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Well, isn't that spiffy. I get to the end of things and now it's one little key that's holding me up.
We're in the basement under Fort Remote, looking for Thompson. I don't have the key for the gate at the bottom of the stairs.
Rumor has it that it can be found in the undead ruins. I have no idea where that was - must have been some time ago.
Can someone point the way?
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Oh no you don't. There is no disadvantage when soloing. in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #7
Pack mules might be a nice addition to game play, actually. I'm really tired of constantly running out of slots or finding that I've left something I need on the other end of Avernum.

Of course, I can't ever remember where I left my boats, either....
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
av2 - Where's Pyrog? in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Well, if I have to paddle around the northern islands one more time I'll probably run nekkid into a lair of fire lizards just to get this over with.

I went NE from Harston, got on a boat and that darn cave is nowhere to be found. A walkthrough suggests to go "around that big dungeon" and find a passage. The only significant thing I've found up there is the Empire Archive.

Can someone find that cave for me? Where might it be, for example, in relation to the blockade?

Then again, for all I know this thing could be next door to Fort Draco....
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Encumbrance Av2 in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #5
quote:
Originally written by CPeters:

"When worn, you have a 4% attack penalty in combat."
Geez, I guess my mages better drop those steel shields faster than quick :D

Thanks

[ Thursday, January 05, 2006 05:27: Message edited by: Shine123 ]
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Encumbrance Av2 in The Avernum Trilogy
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hi
Am I missing something or is there no way to tell if your mages are encumbered in Avernum 2? There is a note about that on the bottom of the Avernum 3 info screen, but not in Av2. In the previous version of Av2 , encumbrance actually appeared as a message during a battle (I think).
Do I just guess by how much they're wearing or the weight of it?

Shine
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Rocks in Geneforge Series
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #3
a crescent rock in the shaper crypt is needed later to get near one of the shapers, I think. (Or perhaps that annoying temple...)

The rocks do come in handy in Geneforge 3 :)
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Rocks in Geneforge
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #3
a crescent rock in the shaper crypt is needed later to get near one of the shapers, I think. (Or perhaps that annoying temple...)

The rocks do come in handy in Geneforge 3 :)
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Lightweight functionality? in Geneforge Series
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #2
Agreed about the bumping into walls.
I do think he meant that the "defend" function in the previous games meant that you automatically parry, whereas clicking on a character in Geneforge just makes you skip a turn. (I think, anyway).

Something I did like about previous games is that you can choose a graphic for the characters, which is better RP. With geneforge you are forced into playing either male or female, depending on class and, frankly, the agent from that angle looks like Schrek's wife (not that there is anything wrong with that...)

Took me a long time to get used to North being in the top right corner, but eventually it works.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Lightweight functionality? in Geneforge
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #2
Agreed about the bumping into walls.
I do think he meant that the "defend" function in the previous games meant that you automatically parry, whereas clicking on a character in Geneforge just makes you skip a turn. (I think, anyway).

Something I did like about previous games is that you can choose a graphic for the characters, which is better RP. With geneforge you are forced into playing either male or female, depending on class and, frankly, the agent from that angle looks like Schrek's wife (not that there is anything wrong with that...)

Took me a long time to get used to North being in the top right corner, but eventually it works.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
stealing in Geneforge Series
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #6
Why should it be so? If I came to your house and stole something without anyone seeing me, there would be no consequence (i.e. anyone going hostile on me).
However, being able to steal 3 items WHILE someone saw me (in the game) doesn't make sense. Why not 1? or 4? And why would the whole town care? I guess the hostility has to kick in at some point :)
For the most part, it's pretty easy to steal things without being seen. At least things that matter.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
stealing in Geneforge
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #6
Why should it be so? If I came to your house and stole something without anyone seeing me, there would be no consequence (i.e. anyone going hostile on me).
However, being able to steal 3 items WHILE someone saw me (in the game) doesn't make sense. Why not 1? or 4? And why would the whole town care? I guess the hostility has to kick in at some point :)
For the most part, it's pretty easy to steal things without being seen. At least things that matter.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
poor skill set? in Geneforge Series
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Well, this is beyond tedious!
I'm working through the demo of Geneforge 2 as an Agent. (I've played the full version of Geneforge 3 and have already played 2 as a shaper, so I'm familiar with the game).

I'm basically puttering around, trying to decide if I want to buy the full version.
At this point I'm wondering if my Agent is unbalanced, or if this game is.

Most creations are rather easy to destroy, requiring only one or two hits with something.
However, the crystal caves are just about impossible for this character. Even fully spelled up and armed with every kind of wand and weapon available, the agent ends up standing there, slowed to the point of not even getting at speed spores, until beaten to death by those ghosts.
Seems a little pointless. The same goes for the last ghosts in the Stinking Marsh.

Question: is my agent simply too wimpy? Can the demo not be played fully? Or is this apparent unbalance an indication of how the rest of the game plays?
Geneforge 3 seemed to have a much stabler balance of increasing skill level vs increasing difficulty.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
poor skill set? in Geneforge 2
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Well, this is beyond tedious!
I'm working through the demo of Geneforge 2 as an Agent. (I've played the full version of Geneforge 3 and have already played 2 as a shaper, so I'm familiar with the game).

I'm basically puttering around, trying to decide if I want to buy the full version.
At this point I'm wondering if my Agent is unbalanced, or if this game is.

Most creations are rather easy to destroy, requiring only one or two hits with something.
However, the crystal caves are just about impossible for this character. Even fully spelled up and armed with every kind of wand and weapon available, the agent ends up standing there, slowed to the point of not even getting at speed spores, until beaten to death by those ghosts.
Seems a little pointless. The same goes for the last ghosts in the Stinking Marsh.

Question: is my agent simply too wimpy? Can the demo not be played fully? Or is this apparent unbalance an indication of how the rest of the game plays?
Geneforge 3 seemed to have a much stabler balance of increasing skill level vs increasing difficulty.

Q.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
shaper/rebel - what's more fun? in Geneforge Series
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hi
Well, I annoyed whatsisname who left me because I ticked off his Shaper buddies.
I'm not particularly attached to the rebels, either, and I regret giving the canister to the rebels on Harmony, but I'd like to keep Greata, mainly because I like the idea of having a sentient being hanging around. Vlish aren't much for conversation.

Anyway, obviously I've strayed into pro-rebel alignment. My question is, which side is "more fun" to play, in terms of interesting puzzles and fun battles? Does it matter?
I'd hate to miss something interesting simply because I'm on the opposite side.

I guess I could use a cheatcode to get back to pro-shaper, but then Greta would probably stomp off in a fit, or something like that.

I don't know if I'd be interested in starting over and playing the whole game on the other side of things.
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
ordering the game in Tech Support
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hello,
I'm a little confused about the order form on this web site.
On the products charts, for example, Geneforge 3 is listed as $25. At the end of that line is a checkbox to get the CD for $4. The title of the column is "also get game on CD".

Sooo, this begs the question: how is the $25 version shipped? Floppy disks? If it's downloadable, why is there a shipping charge?

Shine
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Exile lll - No one's talking to me :) in Tech Support
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #2
Just because my Mage is called Princess Buttercup and the tank's wearing only underpants is no reason not to like them.

Thanks, the reboot did the trick. A useful reminder to shut this machine off once every few years...
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00
Exile lll - No one's talking to me :) in Tech Support
Apprentice
Member # 6216
Profile #0
Hi
I just installed Exile 3 - Ruined World and the dialogue feature isn't doing much dialoguing.

When I click on someone to speak to them, a blank parchment-like graphic appears with a tiny picture in the top left corner.
Nothing else. Can't click on it, can't type anywhere.

I'm also missing the opening-screen options (i.e. load saved game...). The main graphics are there (button on the left) but no text.
I've uninstalled and re-installed.

Any other options?
Posts: 48 | Registered: Saturday, August 13 2005 07:00

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