Avernum Crystal Souls 18: Finding the Blessed Athame

Wow! Some fun today! Actually, I really did do a lot of backtracking. I'm really finished with the whole demo area, except of one final trip to the Lair of Motrax sometime later. (I love Motrax. I hate what they did to him. Poor dear old dragon.)

Anyway, I really did find quite a lot of stuff that I'd overlooked. What I've done is press the "U" key everywhere I go in a dungeon. That finds stuff you can't see too well. 

First I had some trouble in the Giant Fort. I did the quest there and got everything, but I could see a barrier behind a fence and some rocks in the kennels. Couldn't manage to get to it. Pressed a hidden switch and I could see that a passage opened up behind the barrier, but how to get there? It took a trip to the Spiderweb Forum, but I learned that I had to use the Move Mountains spell several times and press more switches to get to the passage. Did all that and got the loot. It was most odd, because Jeff virtually always indicates when to use Move Moutains by showing cracks in the walls. There were no cracks here. I guess that puzzle was there for the more intrepid players, or those of us willing to go to the Forum for answers.

As I was doing my backtracking, I realized that I didn't have Move Mountains at level 3. I found out where that was, but I needed a very sharp knife to get to the spell book, and I didn't have one. Well HA! I know what that is! It's the fabled Blessed Athame! This time there was no quest for it. It's in the Waterfall Warren, and I already have a couple of different quests for that. 

So, I set aside my backtracking to go do that. What fun! The thing has plenty of combat against hellhounes, ghosts, a few giants and even eyebeasts (which go down with fire), but mostly it's a giant puzzle. You go in one building and make your way through it to get clues for later in the puzzle. Example: you find three empty chests. They have lists. One wants an abacus, another an hourglass, and another a fishing pole. We do not of course have any of these items on us at the moment, and it'll take a freaking long time to go and get them. But never fear. Jeff knows that. I was certain he would plant those very items around the area. And of course he did. When you place the items properly and throw the switch, you get a clue. Without those clues you cannot finish the puzzle.

In the next building we get two keys. One comes from one side, the gate of which opens pretty easily. Opening the gate on the other side turns out to be more challenging, but at last I got it.

The we see enticing chests in another building, but there is no access to the place. However, we can see trap doors in the floors. Ergo, we're going to be climbing up to these areas.

And that happens in the next building. Got some major fights there! Especially, and I remember this from the earliest incarnation of the Avernum game: a doomguard. These are mechanical monsters that hit you, but when you hit them they take damage but split in two. Usually, every time you hit them they split. So you either have to kill them outright (impossible) or just keep at it. The trick is that they get weaker and weaker as you hit 'em. Eventually I had a good dozen of them, but they were close to death. Hit 'em with some good area spells and you can take 'em out. Interestingly, this time Jeff didn't have them split until the end of your round, instead of each time they were hit. I remember this fight from the first game--one of the toughest in the game! This time it's easier.

Of course I ran out of spell energy, but Mycroft leveled up, which restores all the energy. Then Cordelia was close to leveling up, so I gave her a wisdom crystal and got her energy up again as well. That was quite nice for fighting the eyebeasts. Plus, I have a pretty good store of energy elixirs, so I knew I'd be OK. 

But that was a fun fun puzzle! I wound up playing most of the day. I'd just finished a lotta work, so I gave myself a Sunday off.

Tomorrow I will continue with my backtracking. Gonna suck the marrow from this game!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 17: FINALLY got Dispel Barrier!

Finally! At last I managed to find the Empire General and kill him, so I could get the spell Dispel Barrier as a reward. Interestingly, they don't charge you much for the first and second levels of it. I knew where the third level was, and went there. Took me awhile to find the secret button to get into the hidden area and find the spell book, but once there, aha! Lovely reading!

The fight in the fort wasn't really that tough. Clearly, I was meant to get this just a bit earlier. However, first thing, I went to the spiral pit to clear that out, and it's quite obvious that this one is a higher level quest. Interesting, because the spiral pit used to be one of the earlier, easier quests. And you can get through it earlier, but until you have Dispel Barrier at level three, you can't get into the boss fight. That one is pretty good.

Anyway. What a relief. I putzed around looking for the right fort, and cleared out the black cube, which was much easier. I also found the cave with the lich, but I decided to go back for that. My main reason for playing tonight was to get Dispel Barrier.

And, I went back to the Tower of Magi and sought out "X," who finally taught me the last three mage spells. Sheesh. Finally I've got all the mage spells.

But I'm still missing the last three priest spells. Actually, I think I might be able to get those in Dharmon, now that I'm at a higher level. I'm in the upper 20s now. I did get some good and fairly cheap  archery training from a band of Nephils that like me because I healed their friends. It's especially smart to buy combat skills for your spellcasters. You don't want to use up too many of their skill points on combat, but they need some combat to get battle disciplines. Best to just buy those. Once I've paid for three more spells, I can spend my money on skill training. It would be lovely to get everybody up to "Adrenaline Rush," which gives you three hits for one turn.

I'm also starting to accumulate some pretty nice gear. Everybody's got a named sword, and I found some great boots at the Spiral Pit. I'm noticing that this time, the better swords and stuff aren't always the highest priced ones. I figure if they give you magical stuff, such as 3 points to Quick Action, that's better than a higher level hit.

There are still plenty of things to do. I've got to rescue two more Crystal Souls. I've got to get the Onyx Scepter, the Orb of Thralni, Demonslayer (a sword that does extra damage to demons, and btw, to certain individuals who might have some demon blood) and the Blessed Athame (don't even have the quest for that one yet). Haven't been through the Waterfall Warren yet, although I found it tonight.

I also went to Erika's Tower, which required a huge fight. The Empire is trying to take the tower, but Erika has massive traps for them to traverse. Sadly, we have to traverse them as well, and it ain't easy. Now that I've made it to her chamber, however, I can use the portal to come back.

And after all that, she wouldn't teach me any spells! So I got 'em from "X."

But my next playing session will be backtracking: going over known territory, looking for barriers to dispel. Along the way maybe I can clear up some more minor quests. Probably I'll find some chests and doors I couldn't unlock earlier. I always try to do ALL the quests, and find ALL the stuff (if possible, usually isn't) and do all three major endings. I want to play the whole game, not just part of it.

So. Lots of doubling back next time. Might take a couple of days, actually. Well, it always did take me a good three weeks to play these games, and that was with playing virtually full time. I'm only getting a couple of hours a day, if that, this time. 

Oh. One other thing. I was lurking around on the Spiderweb Forum today and learned that you can put items straight into the junk bag by control-clicking. I've been playing these games for years, and I never knew that. What a timesaver!

Lots of fun ahead! 

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 16: Back to the Ziggurat

Well it was a good idea to go back to the Empire Ziggurat! Yes, I can still get in. I cleared it out except for the center temple with all the wizards and their minions. I don't think I'm strong enough for that yet.

Pretty standard stuff, really. Got some nice loot out of it, and in fact, I've got to stop selling stuff for awhile. I have reached 30,000 coins, and that clearly is the limit. So, until I can find some spells or other expensive stuff to buy, I don't want to sell anything because it won't register. Maybe I ought to go and get some of the expensive training that's out there.

Plus, I went back to the Lava Dome, which is highly comical. You meet a little imp there and he has some great dialogue. However, I can't finish that until I get the verdamnten dispel barrier spell, and I'm going to have to get it at least at level two. Where will the level three spell be? But with two, I may be able to go back and clear out lotsa stuff. There are even a couple of barriers in the Ziggurat I couldn't get. I will say that it was good I picked up a pipe, because that becomes useful at the Lava Dome. I've kinda learned that Jeff will want odd stuff like that from time to time.

At least this time I made sure I had enough high-quality Vahnatai items that I didn't have to go trekking back and forth to Patrick's Tower. Patrick said he wanted Vahnatai stuff, so I gathered the major things, and clicked on him until he had everything he wanted. Time saver there.

Also managed to get in to see Rhentar-Ihrno (or however you spell it), the great mage of the Vahnatai. I have a quest for her that I can't do until I find the Orb of Thralni--it lets you fly short distances, and there are places in the game that are inaccessible without it. Very useful item.

So the next step is to attack that island and get the dispel barrier spell. Plus, I can get to Erika, the arch-mage of Avernum. Maybe she'll sell me some high-level spells.

So, lots to do!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 15: Clearance!

So the story continues. I decided just to clear up some of the quests I've got clogging up my list. I had completed several. Now that I can use the portal system it takes far less time to travel. 

Along the way I finally was able to get "Crown Clearance," so now there is no place in official Avernum that I cannot go. I could even have robbed the royal treasury. I killed the guard basilisks (which were more powerful than just your average basilisk), but I decided not to take the loot in the chests until I get down on money again.

I got in to see Starcap in Dharmon finally, but he would't teach me any spells. I'm still trying to find those powerful spells. Gonna have to do lots more stuff to earn 'em, I guess. 

I also got in to see Solberg! And there was Cheeseball, Solberg's "familiar," the best cat in the game. He appears in several games, actually. I'm tempted to name a cat after him someday, but it would be cruel.

Cheeseball is a cynic. For example, an sample of his dialogue:

Click to Embiggen

Didn't play for all that long tonight, but I did get some more quests. I'll have to go back to the Vahnatai lands to get yet another cloak. There are some major spells in Patrick's Tower that I should be able to read, but I have to do something for Patrick to get a deciphering lens, and Patrick wants a cloak. So, back down! Maybe I'll try to take out the demons in the Lava Dome this time. I'm up to levels 25 and 26, so I've still got a long way to go! I might be halfway through the game by now.

Plus, I want to see if I can get back to that Empire Ziggurat where I saved the Crystal Soul. There's more to be fought there, and more loot to get! I don't plan to do the fight yet. Just want to see if I can get back there again.

Till tomorrow!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 14: Rescuing the First Crystal Soul

So! Not only have I rescued my first Crystal Soul, but I finally managed to get the Avernum portals to work! It will be much easier to travel now (although some things still require leg and/or boat work).

I teleported down to Vahnatai lands again and immediately got a mission to save a Crystal Soul (these are revered Vahnatai souls who, after death, live on in crystals and dispense knowledge to their tribe, for hundreds of years).

First, I went back to the Vahnatai bandit lair and conquered it, rather easily this time. I haven't yet tackled the demons in the lava dome to the north of the place, but I know they're there and will return.

After that I had to travel far west, through dangerous spore caves full of lava and various demon-like creatures, all of which will try to kill you if you get too close. There is a way through it all, however. Then we trek a long way until we find a fort. There, after a brief battle, we meet the commander, who says that his little force will accompany us as we go to the Empire ziggurat to rescue the Crystal Soul.

Yeah, that was a fight. I was worried that I used up all my battle crystals, but it turned out I didn't need them. We meet the Wizard Garzhad, who is a major enemy, but we can't kill him yet. We can, however, find the Soul. The major difficulty was getting by a buncha wizards and mages in a central room, which is surrounded by poisonous, very active trees. Helluva battle and I'm quite sure I would not have been able to win it.

However! I noticed a stairway in one corner. One of my characters was fairly close, because I'd gone in the back way (turned out to be a good choice). I rushed my character up the stairs, and voila! There I was on the top level, thereby avoiding the big battle almost completely. Of course, I also missed out on some good loot, no doubt, but maybe I can go back when I'm stronger. We'll see.

Hmmm. I just realized that I might have been able to use my mages's blink spell to get to the staircase. With that, your mage can jump pretty far away to another point in the area. In other games you need a clear path to the point you want, so it might not have worked because there were enemies in between, but I need to remember that idea when I want to escape something major. Could work!

I was in front of the entrance to Garzhad's chambers. Natch, I though I was going to have to battle him, and I didn't think I was strong enough for it. However, the battle turned out to be just between a couple of mages and an Empire warrior, with all their summoned minions.

Ha. I've got some minions to summon myself. I have finally managed to capture some useful souls for my simularicum spell, and I unleashed a Vahnati mage on 'em. Then I just kept hitting 'em with divine fire and lightening, and managed to get 'em all. After that, finding the Soul was pretty easy. Then, escaping from the ziggurat is mostly automatic. The directions tell you where to go, and you only need to get one character there.

Success! So, back in Avernum, I finally figured out the portal system. The first time you use it you have to fight some demons, but these are garden variety who go down pretty easily. Actually I think I was supposed to discover this earlier in the game. Once we get to Pryn's tower there a some more demons, but these aren't too difficult either.

So! I can travel now! Spiffy!

Next Entry

Avermum Crystal Souls 13: Phun!

Fun fun fun! I got all my Kirkus books done, all my baking done, and was just cruisin', so after a day off I went back to my game. At first I was kind of lost. I have a goal to get the dispel barrier spell, which requires me to conquer an Empire outpost (I know where it is from previous games). However, I had accumulated an extremely long list of quests, and there were major places I hadn't visited, so I thought I'd just wander around for awhile and do some minor quests.

I took care of the Rakshisai--magical tiger cats--who, sadly, are enemies (I mean, obviously, I like cats). Their boss actually was a decent fight. I wandered around the rest of the Great Cave because I hadn't been to the edges. Founds lots of equipment dumps (little round piles of soil) that hide some really nifty loot. Visited some areas that are major fights in the previous game but are peaceful, although not always completely welcoming, now.

Wandered into the honeycomb (that is a maze-like collection of tunnels west of Mertis). There is a bandit lair there with a seriously difficult puzzle. There are four entrances. No matter which way you go in, you wind up outside again. One of the entrances has a couple of hidden buttons. That way clearly is going to be the choice, but I'm betting that I'll need to speak with a character somewhere who will give me a clue I'll need to trigger something that will let me through. It's one of the quests for Mertis. The other is the spiral cave. I've finished that except for the final fight, which is behind a barrier I can't as yet dispel.

I went up into giant lands and tackled several giant lairs there. Not difficult fights. I'm supposed to collect three stone icons from them, and I was sure I got all three, but the game says I have only two. Hmmm. I picked one up during a fight, but it seems not to have registered. Either that, or one of the three was not one of the target statues. Well. whenever Jeff has a quest that requires a certain number of items, he usually puts more than the final number into the game. Because I KNOW I picked up three of 'em. So, more exploration will be required into giant territory.

I decided to tackle the ruins of Cotra, which in this game has been destroyed by the Empire and eye beasts. Now then, eye beasts often are toughies. In this game they cast lightening, which is survivable if they get healed up quickly enough. I fought three of 'em, with their accompanying ghosts, and knocked 'em off. Also took care of the large Empire force that was camped out there. Dragged off LOTS of loot! However, the boss eye beast fight was one I just couldn't pull off. Will have to return to that later.

Finally, thought I'd do a seemingly simple quest for lost boats. Ah. I remember this one. It's far from simple. You have to destroy a coven of three witches, and they're all spread out, and they have a whole army of minions to help them. Because you're basically inside the circle, it's difficult to protect your spellcasters. However, I managed to take 'em down, and got some nice loot.

In fact, I now have over 20,000 coins! Yay! But I need to find those upper level spells to buy with all my nice money. I haven't yet made it to Crown Clearance, so parts of the game are still closed off to me. No doubt that's where I'll find the spells I want. For example, Starcap has a hidden lab in Dharmon. I know where it is, but I can't get in yet because of the clearance problem.

Anyway, I just was having so much fun last night that I kept on playing! That's what these games to do me. Complete entertainment. I mean, I don't think I'm learning any true life skills here, but fun is a goal in itself!

I think it's time to go back to the Vahnatai lands. I'm pretty sure I can take out those bandits now.

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 12: Punching out some Bosses

So I'm moving along. I'd guess I'm about a third of the way throughout the game. I'm at about level 21, I've got my spellcasters at full strength, although they don't have the higher level spells yet.

Spent some time doing the early quests in the upper gallery, for Silvar and the like. Got the Nepharim easily, and the hidden sliths.  The Nepharim boss is fun because he keeps teleporting away. But, he goes down pretty easily. The Slith hidden fort and boss are better. You get a really good pole weapon from the Slith boss, which Maximillian is still using. Plus, there I found a neato puzzle. You have to find a way to get across some magical runes to get to a boat to get to an island in the middle of the fort. I was able to figure it out by looking at the interior map the game gives you. On it are exclamation points, and if you hover your mouse over those, you get a description of what the point of interest might be. However, once I got to the island, nothing much was there. I looked at the forum, and found that there's a quest I haven't got yet.

Getting there was kinda fun. I was pretty strong by the time I tackled this place, so the fights weren't difficult. However, there is more to the area than just the fights. You go upstairs and encounter some tougher beasts, such as a drake. (I've now collected about 12 fine leathers, all of which come from beasts like these. You use those to craft magical apparel, although you also need focusing crystals, which are harder to find.) Anyhoo, there was some variety in that.

Sadly, I'm going to have to do two things pretty soon: go back to Formello and meet Solberg, and I think, the mage who runs the portal system. I'm getting tired of trekking all around by foot. I want to zoom through portals. Also, I've got the quest to get the dispel barrier spell--always the most difficult spell to acquire, and the most useful. Lots of stuff is hidden behind magical barriers. I've already encountered about three of them I can't get through until I get this spell. 

I fought my way through the spiral cave near Mertis. Not difficult until you get to a fight where banshees and the like attack you. I got killed once, then had to really think my way through it. (Mainly, I buffed up before I got into position for the fight.) But you can't destroy the magic until you get to the center of the spiral, and there's a barrier there that the piercing crystals won't destroy. Hence, I need dispel barrier. This is the only thing you need to take notes on in this game: where are the places you need to return to.

So I've done quite a few quests and have achieved Mage Clearance status. That gets me into lots more places that I couldn't access earlier. I think it'll get me into Solberg's tower.

However, the next major fight is for that dispel barrier spell. I need the thing, and it's a pretty tough quest.

So, 'till next time!

Next entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 11: Clearing up Old Missions

So, back in Avernum, I traveled to the Castle, but still haven't done enough to get a higher clearance. Well, at this point in the game I've just got to find the appropriately easyish areas to build up my strength and might. I haven't found the portal guy yet, so I have to traipse around the landscape rather than teleporting from town to town.

Now that I have the Ritual of Sanctification, and it works, I decided just to go back to Formello and finish up that peevish quest. Along the way I stopped in Mertis and Silvar and Fort Duvno. Plenty of quests to do, one of which is the spiral cave with the undead. I think I'll try that next, as it's in an area that ought to be easy enough to do. After that there are slith brigands and an Empire fort on an island. Those, I think, are probably going to be at a higher difficulty level.

But, I have Divine Fire now. The problem is that I finally ran out of money. I've taken to selling some of the magical items I'm not using. But I need to raid somewhere to store up the loot. There are good spells I can't afford. 

Once I get my spellcasters up to the max in their spells, I'll concentrate giving them some battle skills so they can get battle disciplines. These are quite nice, and the final one, if I recall correctly, is adrenaline rush--you get three attacks in one turn. Nifty for devastating attack spells! But you have to get battle skills to acquire those.

I finally got Maximillian and Aldous up to the blade sweep discipline. In that one you hit all the enemies in a small area with one swoop. Doesn't take 'em out, but it weakens 'em a bit.

I'm finding some nifty items, but I haven't yet ventured into the Honeycomb. That is the maze-like section near Mertis, full of twisty little tunnels, all alike. (Not really--but it's a bit of a challenge to navigate.) There's a brigand fort in there somewhere and I have a mission to knock it out. Plus there is a secret Empire fort in the valley between the Castle and the Tower of Magi. The prize there is a "grey pass" and I remember that area. It's a toughie and can be really frustrating. Full of different levels with monsters firing at you all the time. Then when you get to the top it's a real challenge. The only fight in Avernum I really don't like, and it's in most of the games.

I can't remember the old Avernum 2 game all that much. This one is the rewrite. Jeff certainly has remade the Castle and the Tower of Magi, and basically all the towns. Some folks I remember, so I doubt the script has changed all that much, but it's mostly new to me now!

So tomorrow I will go back to the Tower, but I'll spend time in the Cotra-Silvar area and see what I can accomplish there.

Then we'll see what happens next!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 10: Back to Avernum!

OK! I trekked out to the western Vahnatai lands and found, as I expected, it's going to be too tough a fight for me. So, I went back to the Council and presented my evidence. They said it's time to go back to Avernum and I can come back to Vahnatai lands later. Fine. So I did.

The portal took me to the Tower of Magi, and I have located the return portal. Also bought some more spells and finally am running out of money. The Spiderweb Forum says there is plenty of cash in this game (whew! people must have complained) so no doubt I'll rack it up again. I made a mistake and gave a point of mage skills to Cordelia, thinking she could use the bolt of fire spell. Then, of course, I realized she's wearing too much armor to do that. So I wasted a point. I could give her a swordmage trait, but I don't want to waste a trait on that. She'll have divine fire eventually, and that's a really powerful fire spell.

Of course, Jeff made the Tower of Magi difficult to traverse, but I finally found my way. He's blocked the northern passage, so you have to go around. Still, I found everything. (Part of the gameplay! It's a puzzle!)

Mostly I just bought some spells and talked to everybody. I have some nice new missions, some big and some small. Next I'm going to tackle the snake cult, a bunch of slitherzikai who I don't think are going to be too tough. I just slaughtered a random bunch of them. That cave ought to yield some decent loot. After that I'll trek down to the Castle and get Magi clearance so X can teach me more spells. No doubt there will be fun adventures along the way!

Till then!

Update:  Cleared out the snake cult slith cave. Not terribly difficult with my newfound spells. Finally am using my spells, however, and realized that I'll need energy elixir rather than just the potion. The potion doesn't even restore half of the spell points. And you can't always just run out to a friendly town, restore your strength and go back to the fight. In this area you wind up stuck downstairs until you fight your way out--and this fight included the one against the boss. Still, it wasn't terribly difficult. Fun!

Next entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 9: Exploring the REALLY DEEP Underworld

Wow! Well that was quite a time in the Vahnatai lands! Whew!

I did all three of the tests and got almost all of the goodies. I had to leave a couple of minor items behind in the speed test, because quickfire chases you through that one. 

I also got lotsa points by tackling ALL the hellhounds and ice lizards in the cave where you try to awaken more Vahnatai. Naturally, after I finished it, I found the way to avoid that fight. However, I did it and got lotsa loot.

I started to go west, but it looked too tough. I talked to the Council and now have access to the portal to take me back to the Avernum caves, but I decided to do some more exploring in the Vahnatai area before I did that. 

And whew! I tried to go north through the maze of cliffs to get to the lava dome, but that clearly was going to be too tough (the game does warn you about that). I kept saving to be sure I didn't get myself in too deep. Decided not to do the lava dome just yet (although I do have the similaricum spell and it would be nice to grab a demon for it). Then I tried the Vahnatai bandits and managed to do about half of that. But by the time I met the leader of the pack, I was pretty sure I didn't have quite enough oomph left to truly tackle that fight.

So I sneaked back around the way I came, but on the way I found evidence of who really took the crystal souls, and also a nifty spell that added to my resistance. Thought I could just sneak back out the way I snuck in, but met a band of warriors and a mage, and had to fight them to get out. I was in a good spot to just put poor Aldous in the forward position. They only attacked him, allowing me to use range attacks on the pack of enemies while I kept healing Aldous. Managed to get by them that way, and it wasn't really even that tough.

I've had to use up my return life scrolls. No doubt I will find more, but sheesh! Some of those fights were tough. And of course, that's the way it should be. Doable, but tough, therefore fun. And I know enough about these games that I know I can return to the bandit fort and clean it out when I'm stronger.

I'm really enjoying the Vahnatai lands. I remember lots of it, but some of it has to be new. The best thing about it is that Jeff has just poured lots of humor into these alien types. When you first meet them they struggle to speak English, but later on they get fluent and wry. Lots of hilarity.

For tomorrow, I think I'll go see what that western area has to offer, and if it's too tough for now, I'll go present the damning evidence to the Vahnatai council and portal up back to Avernum. There should be plenty to do because the Vahnatai took down the barriers, so I have access to the rest of the game area (including the main cave, with the Castle and the Tower of Magi and Patrick's Tower. Those things never change--well, one does, but I'm not gonna spoil it!)

But that was a truly productive playing session! W00T!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 8: Navigating the Dark Waters

Started the day thinking I could spend most of the time playing, then got caught up in errands driven by whim, and wound up not starting the game until the evening.

Still, I managed to finish the journey to the Vahnatai lands, which is quite a trek through their so-called Dark Waters. These consist of a series of waterfalls that drown all your food (not really a problem, as the stuff only helps a little with healing). But there were some really fun puzzles and fights along the way. And Jeff has provided us with camping areas where we can rest and restore all our action and spell points, because there are no friendly towns to enter. Also, once or twice you find basins of magical water that restore points. So, you can use your spellcasters without worry.

The Vahnatai, starting with this game in the Avernum series of six games, become major characters in the series. They are a strange race of (mostly) wise alien-types who have always lived in the deep caves. When the prisoners got sent down to Avernum and set up their own civilization there, they began to deplete the precious resources of the Vahnatai. Hence, there is tension. Sometimes they are allies and sometimes they are enemies. This game sets it all up.

Beginning Chapter 2, the Voyage to the Vahnati Lands

(Click to embiggen)

Almost got stopped at the beginning. I remember this from the earlier games. Sometimes Jeff throws in a really good puzzle to solve. You have to row through a narrow passageway that is guarded by two locked gates. You can only get out of the boat on one side of the island. There you have a pretty good fight, and find some bent hexagonal bars. Problem is, these don't work in the mechanism that you need to operate to raise the gate, and there is no straight hexagonal bar anywhere--I mean anywhere--on that island. The only solution is to go somewhere else and look.

Then I faced a real problem. In order to get into the place with the mechanism, you have to shatter a wall. But when you leave, the wall goes back to normal (just as all gates and doors revert to shut when you leave an area and come back). I had a stone shatter scroll, and Jeff thoughtfully placed another one in the fighting area for you to pick up. However, I used that looking around that island. Ergo, when I found my hexagonal bar and returned, I couldn't get in. I'd used up both my scrolls. BUT! Before I left Formello, I had bought Cordelia (my priest) all the available spells. I looked in them to see just how many more levels I needed to get "move mountains," and saw that I had it! Hah! It was one of the last two spells I'd bought. So all was well. (Notice how well the game is planned. If you finish the demo area, you will have the spell you need. Plus, I think that you can still get back to Formello from that island, a trip that becomes impossible once you go down all the waterfalls later on. So you ought to be able to get back and build up your strength if you choose to enter this phase of the game too soon. Update: oh deary me, no you can't. Once you hit that first waterfall there's no going back, and there are several waterfalls before you reach this area. Players who get on that boat too soon could easily get stuck and will have to revert to an earlier saved game.)

Of course, after you get through the first half of the puzzle, you have to go over to the other side of the island for more fights to raise the second gate. Plenty of good loot there too!

So far my fears that I didn't have enough skills to deal with the "normal" level have proven to be unfounded. I can fight just fine. Now I'm concentrating on beefing up my fighting skills, and of course, increasing the magic levels for my spellcasters. I must say that the "normal" level is significantly more challenging but actually more fun. I haven't been overwhelmed yet, but have had some tough fights. And, for the first time in my RPG experience, I'm starting to use my consumables. It's one of my major failings as a player. Now that I'm using them, I'm having even more fun. 

One of the puzzles in the journey was figuring out how to operate another mechanism on another island. Jeff gives you the bottom half of a scroll that describes it, and you have to win a major battle against chitrachs (nasty insects that infect all his games) to get to the top half. Included in the fight are a bunch of greater shades, which normally are pretty tough. That's where I used a buncha fire wands, and to good effect. 

So far this game seems a bit easier than Escape from the Pit (its predecessor). Jeff has piled loot all over the place, and I love love love finding loot! When I sent Aldous alone into a portal to navigate the "test" of a dead Vahnatai, he did fine. But that's because Jeff scattered a buncha healing potions and curing potions around. At the very last I looted a fantastic chest with some fabulous stuff, but I had to fight a "revenant," and I couldn't make a dent in him. No way could I have killed it. Finally I just grabbed the loot during three or four combat turns and then gulped down a speed potion. I was able to outrun the thing and got back to the portal with all the loot intact. Most satisfying.

So I have at last reached the Vahnatai town that was the original goal of the trip. I saved just before I had to start three tests that will enable me to see the Vahnatai Council and convince them not to slaughter all the Avernites. I know that I will accomplish these tasks, but not tonight!

Fun!

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 7: Out into the World at Last!

At last I have really finished the demo area (for the second time). And, despite playing it on "casual," my party actually has a little bit higher level than the first one did! They're all at level 10. I think it's because I was able to use boats this time, because I've got the full game, and that allowed me into a few areas I couldn't reach before, so I racked up just a bit more experience (or, my all-human party really does advance faster). I've also got all the lock pick skills and cave lore I need. So now I just need to beef up on arcane lore and after that I can concentrate on skills (with a bit of luck and first aid thrown in occasionally). Ergo, it isn't necessary to use the character editor. 

I have reset the game to "normal." Already had one fight and it was indeed tougher than the same stuff on "casual." I have entered the Vahnatai lands and am about to row out into this strange new world. 

I did run into one bit of difficulty, and went to the Spiderweb Forum to get an answer (somebody responded within minutes). I had cleaned out the Blasted Ruins, where some Nephilim were creating undead to harass Formello, and found a altar. There is a quest to perform a Ritual of Sanctification on it to cleanse it permanently. OK, I found the tome with the Ritual, and the game said I knew it. I even returned, clicked on it again, and the game said my knowledge had improved.

But when I went to the altar (and I'm sure it's the right one), I never got the option to do the Ritual. 

But the forum is most helpful! Turns out my priest doesn't have a high enough level yet. Although you can't buy a spell unless you have the right level for it, apparently when you find one in a tome, you can learn it. You just can't use it until you hit the right level. I've got a ways to go on this one. Although I'm at character level 10, I'm only at priest level 6, because I've been spending my points on lock and cave and arcane skills. (More thoughtful game planning from Jeff: you can go back to a teacher to buy skills so it's OK to deny them if your level isn't high enough, but when you find a tome out there in the wild you'd have to backtrack to get it later, so this makes sense.)

That choice may bite me for awhile. But at least I've eliminated the backtracking I would have to do when I come across a lock I can't open or a cache I can't dig up. Having to backtrack like that is a good way to miss important stuff. I remember in the original, early versions of these games you almost never had to backtrack. Jeff had balanced the skill levels with the areas you could enter so well that by the time you got to a new area, you had the skills to conquer it.

So I'm entering the Vahnatai lands with lots of special skills, but limited fighting and magic. Because of this I choose to do every optional battle I find. Every point you get counts.

Tomorrow, I really get to enter the full game! I already have a pretty good idea of where I'll go, but in this new version, what will I find?

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 6: Getting Along!

Ah! I'm really charging along. I'd forgotten just how much there is to do in the demo area. Of course, I've still got the game set on "casual" which makes it far too easy, but I am charging through this area.

Right now I'm just concentrating on getting my lock pick, cave lore, arcane knowledge and luck skills up. Because combat is so easy on "casual" I've been getting along quite nicely on just the barest minimum of combat skills. But it's frustrating to have to leave locked doors and chests and to miss out on things because my skill levels aren't high enough yet. This way prevents a lot of backtracking.

In fact, I even was able to take out the spore trees guarding the main treasure room in the back of the Nephil fort. I had to go back for that numerous times with my first party back in January. The only thing I neglected was my arcane knowledge, but I was able to bump that up quickly enough that not too much backtracking was required. 

I don't know if this easy setting will diminish the experience points I earn, but so far they seem to be racking up pretty quickly. I figure that I can check my first party to see where they were when I had to stop, and compare with this one. If I have less experience this time I won't feel badly about using the character editor to bump them up to the level I originally earned. All I'm trying to do here is get through this demo area quickly so I can get on with the game (on "normal," of course). 

I've left the friendly spiders for later. They indeed are annoying, as the all look alike and all have the same name, and I already know the joke, thank you very much (new players will adore them! How not?) However, I know where they are and where the quest is. I suppose I ought to take care of it, but right now I've entered the old Nephil fort on the river that was a major dungeon in the first game. Now it appears to be populated by ghosts. I just took out three basilisks with a nifty fire wand and got major goodies. I left the party there.

More Tips for New Players:  When you finish combat out in the open, use the "get" action to pick up goodies dropped by the enemies before you end combat. Lots of loot there, and it will disappear if you don't get it before you hit the peace button. This only applies to outside fights. Inside loot will stay there until you pick it up. You can leave and come back and get it (in fact, that's what I used to do before the innovation of the junk bag). Put stuff in the junk bag as you find it.

However, do NOT put in the junk bag loot that has been asked for in a quest, such as iron bars and basalt. You don't want to sell those to just any merchant, but only to the character that asked for them. You'll always get a good price and there is never a limit to how much they'll buy.

Remember, money has been tight in recent Spiderweb games, and money buys spells and skills, all of which are essential to finishing the game (although you probably won't be able to afford just everything).

Another thing that's different (and was the same in the previous game, Escape from the Pit) is that you don't regenerate spell energy as you move around. Used to be you could just run around and get all charged up again, but not any more. Now, if you leave a town and use spell energy, you'll have to drink an energy potion or return to a town to get it back (or, I think but am not sure, that leveling up restores it too). That means I'm using my bows on my spellcasters as their usual attack mode. I don't use spells unless I need them.

Plus, be smart (as I wasn't for a ridiculously long time). When you get a "group heal" or a "return life" scroll, don't give all those to your cleric. Your cleric might get killed, and they they're not accessible. Spread those out to folks who don't have the spells.

Anyway, I'm having a real blast! Casual is fun! It isn't really the game though, and I'll be happy to get this demo area out of the way. Casual was the right choice for now, however, as I've already truly cleared the whole area on "normal." 

Tomorrow I'm going to the San Diego Zoo (I'm a member so I go when the weather is cool). Maybe more playing tomorrow night? Probably won't be able to stay away!

Update:  Ha ha. Started to watch a movie and came back to the game. Yup. This is what Spiderweb games do to ya. Obsessive, especially Avernum. So I went ahead and did the quest for the friendly spiders, and was pleased to see that Jeff has added a joke. Taking down the Areana queen was a cinch. On "casual," this is just too easy, but it's serving my purpose of getting through the demo area. I also did the old Nephil fort, which did in fact still have a few Nephil in it. There is a door I can't open, despite having slaughtered the local boss (normally that gets you the key) and even taking down some demons and finding a little key in their chest. It wasn't the right key, however (and I should never have been able to do that--it was the only fight so far in the game that I found difficult on "casual." 

Now that I have a boat I can do more than I could in the demo. I went to Solberg's tower, but it's guarded by demons. Until I go to the Castle or to the Tower of Magi I won't be able to get in. 

So I went to Formello in the boat. I actually paid five coins to rent a room, and saved for the night. Verisimilitude, doncha know.

Next Entry

Avernum Crystal Souls 5: Starting Over (again)

And so, at last, I have managed to purchase the full copy of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. Excess expenses have prevented me from spending the measly $20 for four months. Also, my precious Emerald Cat, the blog's official mascot, has passed away far too soon. I just stopped my life for a month when I found out she couldn't be saved, and spent every second I could with her. 

It's been so long since I started this that I decided to just begin again. This time, however, there are no restrictions, no shareware demons, and I can buy boats. Also, with my purchase of the game from Spiderweb's own store (let's keep Jeff in business, shall we?) I got a Steam key for it. Nice touch!

I grabbed a couple of screenshots from the beginning of the game. When you get out of your original location and venture out into the wilderness, you find this nice graphic: 

Click to embiggen

I started again with a human party and until I refinish the demo area, I'm playing on "casual." I've never done that before with a Spiderweb game, but hey, I did this whole area before on "normal" and I just want to get through it again and get on with the game. When I enter the area beyond the demo I'll switch back to "normal." I tried a human party on "hard" a month or so ago and found that it really was quite hard. Too hard, in fact, to really have fun. The casual setting is far too easy, of course. My enemies drop when I almost blow on them. Plus, I just ventured out (in my new boat that I couldn't get before) and found a swampy cave with what looked like a Titan in it, and after quite a battle, I slew the guy. I should never have been able to do that at this stage of the game. I can't even access his treasure, because I don't have the lock picking skills I ought to have at that point in the game. 

So I'll go back to doing the game in the order I ought to be doing it in. I'm supposed to attack the Nephil fort, and I left it there.

And here's the game's description of what we'll find:

Click to embiggen

Why humans? I read on the Spiderweb Forum that for whatever reason, a full human party advances faster. That's never been the case before, but they say it's so. I originally started with two humans, a slith and a nephil. I always wanted to try one of the kitties because they're supposed to be superior archers. However, I really didn't notice much difference. 


I stubbornly keep with my old party names and positions. These are the ones I started with in the original Avernum games from more than a decade ago (we're on the third iteration now), and I'm just used to them. So, Aldous remains my lead soldier--that hasn't changed in the new games. I have a rebel I've named Maximillian, just because the name popped into my head. And, I have Cordelia as a priest, because that's what she used to be, and Mycroft as my sorcerer bringing up the rear. Those, except for Max, are the original party members the original games gave you as a starter party. I like 'em, and I'm keeping them. (Of course, you can custom make your parties any way you like. I'm just used to accepting the nicely balanced parties the game starts with--hence, I've custom made my party into the original standard party.)

Tips for new players: as always in all adventures and RPGs, search everywhere and take everything that isn't nailed down, even from poor peasants (they are computer people; they are not real). Sadly, we can't close doors anymore to steal stuff, but there's plenty there to steal if you watch for characters to wander away. Many do. Always explore the entire perimeters of all towns in the game; Jeff always hides something there to pick up. Sometimes there will be enemies there too. Click on every barrel, crate, cabinet and door. Click on the intact coffins in tomb areas--these very often have nice goodies in them. Click on fireplaces and nests--you'll usually find loot. Click on piles of skulls. Most won't have anything but skulls in them, but Jeff likes to hide some really nice stuff in the occasional pile of skulls. Later we'll be on the lookout for little piles of "dirt," which often contain really nice items. Put everything of value (mouse over the item and the game will give you a value, or not) into your junk bag and sell it all, even crude daggers and vases are worth 20 coins and you'll get five for 'em. Of late, Spiderweb games have had far less available money than they used to have, so you'll need every coin. Spells, especially, are expensive.

Be sure to click on all dead bodies that you find. These almost always have loot, sometimes really major stuff. Careful, often you can't see them very well. Plus, Jeff likes to hide things behind walls that obscure your view. These walls become transparent if you stand in the right area, and you can find loot there. It isn't a mistake--it's part of the Spiderweb gameplay.

And come back to places with areas that you can't access when you get your skills up. There are always goodies in those places.

So I left my little party at the beginning of the Nephil fort. It'll be an easy fight, but I want to get going in this game, finally! 

(And eventually I really will finish Baldur's Gate, if I can. If not, well, I'll want to replay it sometime anyway. For now though, I've waited long enough for Crystal Souls!)

Onward!

Next Entry