tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post8715373170643750104..comments2024-03-29T02:34:55.592-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 163: Secret of the Silver Blades (1990)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89092111097151156242021-04-30T10:13:37.326-04:002021-04-30T10:13:37.326-04:00You should probably just take platinum. If you go ...You should probably just take platinum. If you go to the bank or a store, they should automatically convert it to all platinum. <br /><br />I had another thought based on the extremely low damage you said your characters are doing: are you sure that their weapons and armor are properly equipped? If you go into their inventory menus, the equipped items ought to have a * next to them.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-39726711774434505752021-04-30T02:58:52.175-04:002021-04-30T02:58:52.175-04:00Thanks for the great advice! I'm trying this t...Thanks for the great advice! I'm trying this tonight :)<br /><br />Another thing I'm not really sure about, is the money: I have currently 3 types of currency (gold, gems, platinum). Which of those should I collect? Should I take my money with me, or deposit all of it in the bank? Christophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12019249161374009893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86493744315755944222021-04-27T15:24:19.732-04:002021-04-27T15:24:19.732-04:00There's no such thing as "necro" on ...There's no such thing as "necro" on my blog. All threads are permanently active indefinitely.<br /><br />It's been a while, but I feel like your party should be able to handle the battle. It has to do with the right buffing, probably. Have your mage memorize as many "Enlarge" spells as possible (forget "Magic Missile") and cast them on your fighters and rangers. Your cleric should reserve her 3 Level 2 spell slots for "Resist Fire" and hit the same three fighters with it that you "Enlarged." She should also cast "Bless" and "Prayer."<br /><br />Your mage is going to do most of the damage. "Fireball" is a bad choice against red dragons. Go for "Lightning Bolt," "Ice Storm," and "Cone of Cold." You might also have luck with "Hold Monster" and "Slow." If all else fails, have the mage spend one Level 3 slot on "Haste," which will double everyone's movement and attacks.<br /><br />I'm sorry if the rest of this is obvious, but it sounds like you might be relatively new to the Gold Box:<br /><br />1. Cast your buffing spells BEFORE you enter combat, ideally from one square away. Make sure you have "Search" turned off so that it only takes 1 minute to move into combat and not 10.<br /><br />2. The mage can't cast if he's been hit earlier in the same round. <br /><br />3. Your cleric's AC is way too high. Clerics can wear the same armor that fighters can, remember, and have no penalty for casting while doing so.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-57636523320616290162021-04-27T04:18:42.853-04:002021-04-27T04:18:42.853-04:00Sorry for this thread necro but...
As I'm rea...Sorry for this thread necro but...<br /><br />As I'm reading through your blog (which is awesome!!!) I wanted to relive this game from my childhood memories. I've never played it before, only watched a good friend play it.<br /><br />I have almost no experience with old CRPG games, so it's a pretty high learning curve so far. And I'm stuck, not far from the beginning; I'm in the Well of Knowledge, did a few fights against bandits and red dragon hatchlings, without too many problems. But now to advance I have to defeat a group of Sub-Adult Red Dragons, and I have a TPK within 2 rounds.<br /><br />So my question is: is it normal I have to grind some levels first, before trying this fight? Or am I doing something completely wrong?<br /><br />My party consists of:<br />1. FRED human fighter (8) AC 2<br />2. FELIX dwarf fighter (8) AC -1<br />3. RANGER human ranger (8) AC 0<br />4. RONGAR human ranger (8) AC 3<br />5. MINDALF elf mage (9) AC 5<br />6. CLEO human cleric (8) AC 8<br /><br />My fighters are equipped with Halberd +2 and Long Sword +1<br />My mage is using fireball and magic missile spells (for some reason in some fights he can't cast (there's no CAST option), in some fights it works).<br /><br />The Dragons 1 or 2-hit kill half of my party.<br />A single melee attack brings one dragon down from 44 to 40 HP.<br /><br /><br />I just want to know if it's a good idea to spend some time grinding bandits :)<br /><br />Thanks alot!<br /><br /><br />Christophehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12019249161374009893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-2766765025154155072018-05-17T10:51:06.750-04:002018-05-17T10:51:06.750-04:00I agree. It is a rough Gem, ironic given the subje...I agree. It is a rough Gem, ironic given the subject matter. Others may see it as a lump of coal of course. It really gives me the chance to run a party as a long term expedition. JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67879155948896037062017-09-29T16:46:29.424-04:002017-09-29T16:46:29.424-04:00I know I am three years late but...
Capet was a m...I know I am three years late but...<br /><br />Capet was a medieval king of France, a good name for a party leader.<br /><br />Sieglinda is a mix between the name of a mythical German hero and a medieval queen of Lombardy; a good name for female melee fighter.<br /><br />Averoes was a medieval philosopher and medical doctor in Arab Spain; a good name for a mage/cleric.<br /><br />And "Verdigris" is sort-of-Latin for "GreenGrey"; then, this is a lame name... :)Abacosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-21655732824219703962016-10-04T14:24:25.018-04:002016-10-04T14:24:25.018-04:00Do I give this Mace +1 to my fighter, even though ...Do I give this Mace +1 to my fighter, even though I've always seen him as more of a blade man? Or do I give it to the cleric, where it will most likely end up anyway, and buy my fighter a non-magic sword? I agree, it's a fun part of the game and I don't know why I didn't emphasize it in the post.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-66975280399864351112016-10-04T09:57:09.329-04:002016-10-04T09:57:09.329-04:00For me, the opening of this game is one of the mos...For me, the opening of this game is one of the most compelling. When Priam gives you a motley collection of weapons and gear, trying to divide it between party members is roleplaying gold to me. For example, who gets the 30 +1 arrows, with no bow being provided. I know you can later buy one at the armory, but that opening division of gear is special. This is the last of the treasure that the town has. Its a cool moment. JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-36432771556994168642015-07-04T00:09:21.851-04:002015-07-04T00:09:21.851-04:00Blackgaurds! I have that game. Got it in early acc...Blackgaurds! I have that game. Got it in early access, was really liking it, then got into the fight with the Dwarves that you have to do without your gear. The final battle took a ton of tries, and wound up with me kiting one dwarf around the whole arena for dozens of turns slowly whittling HP down. After that I lost interest and swore not to play Early Access games ever again. Did they fix that in the final version? <br /><br />I should try playing that game again. <br /><br />--Canageek, currently in Krakow. Wasn't planning on reading the blog while here, but I'm jetlagged, have thin curtains, and dawn is at 4 am. So yes, 6 am local times = blog reading time.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-3245165010981969312015-06-28T16:25:36.950-04:002015-06-28T16:25:36.950-04:00I think that'd be just about perfect - it'...I think that'd be just about perfect - it's pretty much how RL sessions tend to play out anyway, and it'd be way faster with the mechanics automated. Maybe some kind of toolset that lets GMs put their own sessions together in a TRPG engine but insert their own flavour and interaction...waretaringonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29278231889171062772015-06-28T15:11:03.978-04:002015-06-28T15:11:03.978-04:00Man, 4e would be great for a Final Fantasy Tactics...Man, 4e would be great for a Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem type game.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35356548407594406832015-06-27T20:23:18.275-04:002015-06-27T20:23:18.275-04:00Which tabletop rules set would that be? There have...Which tabletop rules set would that be? There have been two or three since the original came out- I think 5th edition is the current one.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48898838578452938732015-06-27T04:23:32.947-04:002015-06-27T04:23:32.947-04:00When I heard how the maps fit onto a 16x16 grid in...When I heard how the maps fit onto a 16x16 grid in Chet's post I was betting there was some behind the scenes magic going on, as that sounded like an engine limitation if I ever heard one. You see some really cool things due to those sometimes, like in Duke Nukem 3D they created a level that can't exist in reality. It involves cylinders rotating more then 360 degrees to get back to their starting point. See, they can't actually rotate cyilanders in the engine, and it is 2D and sprite based anyway, so they just fiddled with the teleportres to create a really unique maps. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-974680466565067272015-06-27T04:19:54.914-04:002015-06-27T04:19:54.914-04:00Yeah, that feeling when you have limited supplies ...Yeah, that feeling when you have limited supplies and every wand, potion or +1 sword you get is a BIG DEAL. Hell, that is the main reason I play RPGs. I hate that feeling when I start leaving treasure behind as it isn't worth it to drag it back. Fallout is doubly bad for this, as my favourite time in it is when I'm wearing a leather biker jacket and carrying a pistol. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76593881191765194342015-01-09T13:35:33.605-05:002015-01-09T13:35:33.605-05:00I would recommend Knights of the Chalice to you as...I would recommend Knights of the Chalice to you as a game to play outside the scope of the blog whenever the yearning for GoldBox-like combat gets too overpowering and the list of upcoming games doesn't offer any hope.<br /><br />KotC is a party-based combat focused somewhat linear CRPG with a turn based combat system very similar to the GoldBox games. The rules system isn't actually AD&D, but it's own, which is very similar to D&D 3.5 (due to using OGL 3.5 as its basis).<br /><br />As a whole it is perhaps a bit too flimsy to be a true classic: it's too combat focused, the overall plot/quests are mostly an excuse and the balance is off. But it is pretty darn great at what it does: map and encounter design and combat, which means that the actual moment to moment playing of the game is tons of fun. I'd be rather surprised if you didn't enjoy it despite its slight weaknesses, and I suspect KotC might work as a perfect distraction. Of course from the perspective of the progress on blog it's probably that to a fault.<br /><br />Also the interface is good, and the in-game help system is quite possibly the best ever: a hyperlinked rulebook and a reference guide for the game's rule system.unimuralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06987909304909067445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-46105883511654139932014-09-15T07:40:09.286-04:002014-09-15T07:40:09.286-04:00Come to think of it, the Infinity Engine in some w...Come to think of it, the Infinity Engine in some ways (combat in particular) seems like there is as lot in common with the Gold Box series...granted it isn't necessarily turn based (unless you enable the auto-pause), but it is a 2-D isometric view where you move into position and take actions. So, think you are on to something with the popularity of that style of combat!<br /><br />Oh, and.. Darklands :) Think Elder Scrolls predecessor with Gold Box style combat and a unique setting, with its own game universe. Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431741012966569454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-39446577577053347472014-09-13T11:33:55.124-04:002014-09-13T11:33:55.124-04:00GOLDBOXFANDOM ATTACKS ANONYMOUS
HITTING FOR 11 POI...GOLDBOXFANDOM ATTACKS ANONYMOUS<br />HITTING FOR 11 POINTS OF DAMAGE<br /><br />ANONYMOUS GOES DOWNNullnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-8854013308899736902014-09-08T17:39:18.895-04:002014-09-08T17:39:18.895-04:00To start with, I would like to honestly apologize ...To start with, I would like to honestly apologize for those spoilers. I did not catch that until a while after posting and felt it would be a bad call to remove the post entirely as it would loudly disrupt the conversation.<br /><br />This game has gotten a very mixed response from the community. As someone that owned and played it when it was new, I was never quite clear on why. Yes this game is drastically different than a lot of the other Gold Box games, but I always felt the differences were positive and contributed to it’s greatness.<br /><br />After reading your synopsis of the start of the game, I believe I can see why. <br /><br />When this game was new, there was a significant “analog” overhead involved in acquiring it and playing it. You’d purchase a copy from a local game store, then drive home, then slowly install it via 5.25” or 3.5” floppies.<br /><br />Generally I’d complete the Adventurer’s Journal, minus the Journal Entries, in the time it would take to install the game. In the case of Secrets that meant I’d read the intro where they mention the Well was attacked immediately after you arrive. <br /><br /><br />Not sure if it translates now, but there was a observable sense of urgency communicated in the Journal, that the game itself didn’t communicate. I’d reviewed the map to the Well at that point, and personally thought “why waste my time walking when I can teleport, they clearly need me at that well ASAP. <br /><br />(ROT13’d to avoid more spoilers)<br /><br />Guvf jnf n tbbq pnyy, nf gurer vf yvgrenyyl na rapbhagre gevttre ba gur fdhnerf bhgfvqr bs gur rkvg gb gur svefg gryrcbegre ng gur jryy gung fgnegf n znwbe rapbhagre. Gurer ner gjb rkvgf gb guvf gryrcbegre, obgu bs gurz ner synttrq sbe guvf rapbhagre.<br /><br />Vs lbh jnyx gb gur jryy ivn gur ehvaf lbh znl abg gevttre gung fdhner, hayrff lbh znahnyyl znc rirel fdhner va gur jryy nern. <br /><br />Vg'f abg ybpngrq va n ybpngvba gung jbhyq sbepr lbh gb gevttre vg, vs lbh jnyx gb gur jryy sebz gur ehvaf. Gurl ernyyl gevrq gb qvffhnqr lbh bs gung.<br /><br />As a result, my first few hours in the game were significantly different than yours. Within a few minutes I was wrapped up in the plot, knew where to go next, and had a constant need for cash. <br /><br />Both the pacing and economy issues should be behind you, if you were following the plot the journal laid out. Instead, unfortunately, you are taking a Might and Magic approach, instead of a plot oriented approach, say like Skyrim. <br /><br />I am terribly sorry for using spoilers to attempt to communicate that, but I’m pretty sure your overall impression of the game will be, for lack of a better term, incorrect, due to your disregard for the plot they’re trying to get you to follow. <br /><br />This game, like Champions, is really more story oriented than Pool was; it is substantially more story driven than the “lawnmower” type RPGs, imho, so approaching it like a lawnmower game will likely actually diminish it’s impact and lead to a reduced GIMLET. That kinda makes me sad because this game did resonate with me a lot, and I personally feel it's a misunderstood gem in the series. YMMV as always ;-).old wow bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13219195579845781590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49763269986638905002014-09-08T02:05:17.698-04:002014-09-08T02:05:17.698-04:00Horrible spoilers in this thread, owb, including p...Horrible spoilers in this thread, owb, including plenty that you didn't mark as such.<br /><br />I appreciate the advice, but I'm mapping everything, of course, regardless of the inefficiency.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64169888747904855582014-09-08T02:03:14.381-04:002014-09-08T02:03:14.381-04:00I have never stated that I won't cover JRPGs. ...I have never stated that I won't cover JRPGs. I'll cover any game that has a PC release in a western language. There are plenty of JRPGs that fit this description, and we'll start seeing some in the next few years.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77186594163773492542014-09-08T02:00:02.667-04:002014-09-08T02:00:02.667-04:00If my characters' hit points are low, it's...If my characters' hit points are low, it's either some consequence of dual-classing or just acceptance of low hit dice rolls when I leveled up. Either way, I'm not going to worry about it. Rolling with the punches and finding tactical alternatives is what RPGs are all about.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67844347115137475032014-09-08T01:56:58.700-04:002014-09-08T01:56:58.700-04:00Steve, listen to everyone else, I guess. I never p...Steve, listen to everyone else, I guess. I never played more than a few hours of tabletop D&D, so I can't say what computer version best replicates the experience. I do like all of the Infinity Engine titles.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19630961918629541002014-09-08T01:55:35.469-04:002014-09-08T01:55:35.469-04:00My other readers have done a good job responding t...My other readers have done a good job responding to this mystifying comment. My blog is mercifully free of such trolls, usually.<br /><br /><i>Tunnels & Trolls</i> will return. I didn't abandon it because I didn't like it. I postponed it because work circumstances left me unable to play it for a month. I was in a situation where I'd been away too long to continue with my current party and remember what was happening, but too short to start over from scratch.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6570951489326195972014-09-08T01:52:00.029-04:002014-09-08T01:52:00.029-04:00My list only goes through 2003 by design. At the e...My list only goes through 2003 by design. At the end of 2014, I'll update it for 2004.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-31188235276937974432014-09-08T01:50:47.835-04:002014-09-08T01:50:47.835-04:00At a business conference all week. Tough to find t...At a business conference all week. Tough to find time to play. Still managed to knock out the end of <i>Captive</i>.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.com