Barrow Hill The Dark Path 1: What a Fantastic Surprise!

Surprise! After ten (10) years of waiting, Matt Clark finally has released a sequel to the classic Barrow Hill (that is a link to my review of the game—yes, I reviewed it, as "Enigma" for Four Fat Chicks, back in the day)! OK, I've basically just started Avadon 3, but I only waited one year for that. 

I can't resist. My little characters in Avadon will be fine while I do this game! And it's a real adventure! (I know this going in.)

First impressions: things start just as they did in the original game, one I played far more than once over the years, although not recently, as the game was getting pretty creaky and would only run on my Dad's old Vista laptop. Ugh. Another wonderful surprise, Matt has listed the original game on Steam as well as this one! Of course I got it!

I was worried I wouldn't be able to get it to run, because I have an ancient XP program running on my Fusion Virtual Machine on my iMac. Although I'm running out of space on there, I was able to delete a few games that I have on Steam and one that I have on disc to make room for it. And it works! It plays just fine! My specs, of course, are the minimal requirements, but that doesn't seem to matter. Whew!

Now! To the game! Matt has followed the original game really well. We start with a black and white movie of our drive into the site, with Emma Harry on the BHR radio:

A bit of a spooky drive in

Again, it's the autumn equinox, so I'm wondering just why we are returning? To finish old business, apparently. 

Again we have a slideshow presentation and I really like that choice, although navigation is way more difficult in this game than in the first. It's going to take me some major time to figure how to get where I want to go. At this point I'm lucky to find anything. By just blundering about, however, I have uncovered some playing areas. Again, it's an inventory game. Good. I've found some stuff, and even managed to knock off an old weathervane from the top of a building. The artwork is just like the original game—I really like that.

We also meet the other characters, Emma and her little friend Mia, on the phone, as in the first game. And that first screen made me think there was a glitch in the game, when you exit the car and approach the motel. A sound plays over and over, and all navigation arrows disappear. Apparently the sound is a common ringtone in Britain, but not in the U.S., so I didn't realize my phone was ringing. Players, you're not going anywhere until you answer the phone. (That isn't a spoiler—it's literally the first thing you do in the game and if you don't do it you'll think your game file is corrupted.) 

Update: When I first played this it was just after Matt had released the game. He's done numerous updates on it since, and one of them is that he has changed that ring tone to one that actually sounds like a ring tone that Americans will recognize. Good fix!

Navigation: I was really sure I was stuck for good. I started out by going behind the motel through the fence, just the way we did it in the original, but I couldn't get back. Found a major node with a computer (have to find the password) and a bunch of nice inventory items. Clearly, I'll be returning to this place.

But what's the password?

After finally stumbling out through the forest, I was able to find my way back to the entrance of the motel. It had to have taken half an hour to find that node. Whew! And then I was able, with an inventory item I had acquired, to access a nice little puzzle, pretty easy actually, to turn on the lights!

So that is standard adventuring: get in the door and turn on the lights. Haven't managed to get in the door yet. Hmm. Maybe I can now that I have the lights on.

I must say that finding objects is a bit different from the first game. All you get is an arrow. Click on the arrows!

But I'm finding the navigation really frustrating, so far. I'm just going to have to get used to the clues. The pathways are not nearly as clear as in the first game. Well, the place has been abandoned for a decade, so I guess that makes sense. So far I've found the picnic area and the druid pool and the wishing stones, but I haven't managed to get to the farm. The game won't let me continue down the road past the phone booth (yet?). 

I'm guessing that I'll have to figure out all the magical items I'll need to place in various areas, as we did in the original game. So far, however, I'm just exploring and picking up whatever inventory items I find. Not trying to make any sense of it yet.

One definite glitch: I found Gus's MP3 player, but the game won't let me view it close-up from the inventory. Well, I notice that Matt has already added upgrades to the game just since I bought it, so I'm sure he'll fix that soon. I just hope I'm not missing a vital clue!

Despite the frustration with navigation, I really am making progress and finding stuff. Eventually, things will start to make sense. I saved the game just outside my car at the beginning node of the game, so I ought to be able to try to get into the motel next. If that's possible, of course. But if not, why did we turn on the lights?

To play this, I have moved my computer back out into the den, where I can play while sitting in my recliner chair! If I'm frustrated, at least I'm comfortable!

So tomorrow, I will continue! 

Oh it is just wonderful to get back to Barrow Hill! Thank you Matt!

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Avadon The Warborn 5: First Big Attack

So I finally got a seek-and-destroy mission. It was a nice little set-up, requiring good exploration, but what at first seemed as though it was going to be one of Jeff's puzzles wasn't. I had to go investigate a meeting that Avadon's arch-enemy Dheless had with the Khemerians. A nice sage we met earlier turns hostile.

Completing the mission and defeating the shaman involved getting his minions first. The game gives you a good hint about doing that. Pro tip: when Jeff gives you a hint like that, take heed of it. I imagine you could win the fight if you just stormed in there and attacked, but it probably would be much more difficult.

Perhaps the nice sage turning hostile ought to tell me something. Redbeard is insisting that I destroy the village even if it's innocent. Maybe it isn't innocant. Me being me, I do not intend to do wanton destruction if I can avoid it. But Jeff loves his moral dilemmas. So far I'm completely going along with whatever Redbeard wants. 

However, if it comes to wanton destruction, I'm not sure I'm going to do it. I had fun with wanton destruction tonight, anyway!

There were some nice enemies in this, although I was never truly threatened. My health got low a few times but I learned some nice things about new spells: the Shaman has a lovely spell that blesses the ground you stand on, if you stay close enough to him. It constantly regenerates you! Also, as a tinkermage I can make a blessing pylon that gives me a war chant at every turn. Nice indeed. That, in combination with the regeneration field and missile weapons makes the fighting pretty easy. 

There are a few new innovations in this third game of the series. When we are in fight mode, we get a nice little pattern of white dots indicating steps we can take. Also, the secret doors are a bit easier, I think. Clicking on some large jars opens some secret passages, and the red bricks that are the secret buttons actually can be seen pretty easily if you look for them. I will admit, however, that I haven't found as many as I'd like, so I may be wrong about that!

I'm also finding the skill trees a bit easier. I hear that we will reach a cap at level 30 (I hate that), but that Jeff has timed that limit to kick in much more toward the end of the game. Well, there is a lot of game to go before I hit that obstacle.

I hadn't intended to do the whole mission tonight, but once I got started I just kept going. Didn't really take all that long, and it was interesting throughout. 

So, the next step is to take different assistants and check out what they can do! I'm really pleased with the Shaman. Not only does he have the best personality, he has those really nice, nice abilities! Not much of a fighter, but that might develop.

So the next mission is to destroy the village. I will take the option not to do it, if that choice is presented.

Update: Ah, clearly the game isn't ready for you to do the wanton destruction just yet. I met with the enemy and negotiated. The idea was to avoid wanton destruction, but we did get a few areas where we could slaughter some enemies and gain some points. Plus, I now have one really major new quest, and also have to meet with Redbeard again.

But I'm going to set this game aside for a short time, because although I've been waiting a full year for it, I've been waiting a full TEN years for the sequel to Barrow Hill to come out, and it just did!!

And I'm going to play it. See ya later in Cornwall! (And thence, back here to Avadon.)

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Avadon The Warborn 4: Let's Get on with the Story

So I have gone out beyond the fort and have accomplished the first trash mission to work up some stats for my character, and I also have mostly completed the first mission outside the beginning area. Of course, everything is fairly easy at this point. I have tracked down various quest characters and acquired a few more: the stonecutter wants some pests cleared out of his quarry, the chief of the village wants her son back (and that might lead to some major intelligence for Avadon); various people want various items.

I have explored pretty well, but I did miss one mission in that local area (finding and wiping out spiders) that I will have to return to do. 

The Avadon 3 Map—you see when you venture forth

But after my first foray into the near unknown, I returned to the starting fort to find that Redbeard has returned! He has brought with him the final two friends that will accompany me on missions: the shaman and the other tinkermage. I was wondering when they might show up, because I was sure they would! 

The only difficulty is that there is lots of story exposition with the introduction of these new characters. You have to find out who they are (and I really like the shaman—he appears to have a sense of fun). Also, Redbeard has a lot to say. I chose the right dialogue options—what you say to him influences how he judges you (the game tells you that).  

Frankly, it was late at night and I really wasn't in the mood for all that exposition, but I said I was going to pay more attention to the story this time! There is a new level of complexity here—Redbeard, after being in total control in the first two games just isn't this time, although he behaves as though he doesn't know that. Everybody is terrified of him so they go along with the possible deception.

My major problem right now is that although I collected lots of extra items for my new characters—because I knew I'd get some—I don't yet have nearly enough to equip them properly. Well, this is the nature of the beginning areas in an RPG. 

My next task is to continue visiting various people in the fort, and then go back to get those spiders. No doubt I will be collecting new missions. 

So! Onward!

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Avadon The Warborn 3: OMG I AM HAVING FUN!!

OH I can't even describe how much fun it is to get back into a NEW Spiderweb game!!

I discovered Jeff Vogel's games when I was back in New Hamphshire and downloaded the free demo of Nethergate. I have been hooked ever since. Ironically, Nethergate was, I believe, the only one of Jeff's games that was not a commercial success. People thought it was educational. Stupid people. Needed education (although they would't have got it from that game—it was a fantasy like all the others). It was the first fantasy RPG I had ever played (in fact, I didn't really know what that was). It was strange to me to get into combat, but it was turn based, so it was kinda like a puzzle to solve every time. 

What grabbed me was that I got into the initial dungeon (playing Celts) fighting the goblins. I made a mistake and got swarmed at the door of their temple. I fought and fought and was running out of health and spell energy and I realized that I had saved in the wrong place and was going to have to re-do the whole fight or the whole game! Somehow I got out of it (whew!) and found the blood was pumping through my veins and I was excited!!

So I became a fan of Jeff Vogel's RPGs at least. Nethergate turned out to be fun fun fun all the way through. I even figured out, more or less, how to play!

And he hasn't disappointed me yet! 

I think that the thing that makes Jeff's games so addicting is that it's only one guy—rather than a committee—who decides what's best for the game. It's one guy with his own individual imagination. And his dry humor, which I am happy to report is in Avadon 3!

So OK. I have done everything I could do in the starting fortress. I am now on my first major quest—to talk to the leader of one of Avadon's rivals. I have done that and have picked up another nice little quest from that area, which I will try to tackle tomorrow.

I must admit more than the fact that I've never used the keyboard before: I never really cared about the story before. Stupid, because so much of Jeff's games depend on the story. But I find myself interested in solving the game as a puzzle. Of course, you have to pay some attention to the story in order to do that, but I mostly dismissed the story itself in the past. 

But I have been following the YouTube playthroughs of a guy who calls himself Chessrook44. He has done every Spiderweb game except for the more recent Avernum remakes. He does good commentary and rather good voices for the characters! Chessrook gets quite involved with the stories and the moral dilemmas that Jeff always provides in his games. So, listening to him, I'm trying to pay more attention to the actual story. 

My problem with Jeff's moral dilemmas is that I always go to the good side. You can replay the Avadon games, however, and choose to be a rebel! I ought to do that!

But before the replay, I have to play it! Onward!!

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Avadon The Warborn 2: Cleaning up Pests

Right! I have done what I had to do within the initial play area so that I managed to get out. I have met companions (dunno if there will be more). We can select any two of these companions to accompany us whenever we go on a mission. I've even had a level up. The skills system is pretty similar to the first two games.

I'm now outside the fort on a side mission for an early character, slaughtering wolves and their accomplices. Looking for a magical person, haven't found him/her yet. Combat is easy peasy so far, but then, it's supposed to be at this stage of the game.

I remember Jeff Vogel in one of his blogs, writing that when your character starts out in an RPG, you're so weak you can barely flush a toilet with both hands.

But of course, the enemies are perhaps even weaker.

I see he's added some little footprint icons to show you where you can go in combat. Nice touch, especially for newbies. 

I am, for the first time ever (I blush to admit) using some of the keypad controls. Always and forever I have used only the mouse. Now, this is silly. You have to move the mouse to the bottom of the screen to do simple things like "get," switch from fight to peace, switch weapons. But those keys are right there, "g," "f," and "w." You can just rest your hand on the keyboard and do this stuff.

In my defense, I rarely had the keyboard right in front of me while I played in the past. This time I have the 'puter on a 'puter table with the keyboard right there.

So! I haven't yet finished this trash mission, but I am collecting some armor and goodies, and getting the first few levels out of the way.  You must do this, RPG newbies, before you go out on your first major mission. You need to be as well equipped and as strong as possible, but face it, in your first few missions you are going to be so weak you can barely flush a toilet with both hands.

Onward later tonight!!

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Avadon 3: Back to Spiderweb

Oh Joy and Happiness! One of my two very favorite game designers has released a new game! This is the final episode in the Avadon series!

I thought I would have trouble playing this unless I moved the computer back to my living room, but I put a pillow on my office chair and it seems to be greatly helping my hip problem (getting better). Normally I can't sit this long, but the pillow seems to have solved the problem!

OK! I have started Avadon 3! I may have been one of the first people to buy it from the Spiderweb site. I checked the site just after midnight (Pacific time) and it wasn't there. I checked it in the morning and it still wasn't there, so I downloaded the demo, and then the link to buy the game appeared! Hooray! So I junked the demo and installed the full game. I mean, there's no doubt I'm going to buy this game! I need to buy from the Spiderweb site because Steam doesn't allow different screen resolutions, and when you buy directly from Spiderweb, you can choose the size you want. Old eyes need large text! (Something Jeff will begin to appreciate in years to come—if not already!)

Update: Turns out that the screen resolution doesn't matter this time. I'm sitting close enough to the computer that I can play without my glasses (I am fervently nearsighted.) So I put the game onto the top resolution choice, and it's fine. The bonus is that I get to see more of the screen all at once. Goody!

I'm playing a Tinkermage again this time, as I did in Avadon 2, although this time I'm a female tinkermage, "Emerald" (after my precious Emerald, the mascot of this blog). I like that character because you basically get extra fighters in the form of your turrets. I don't think I could have completed the earlier game on "hard" if I hadn't been playing a Tinkermage. Also, it's a new kind of character! Fun!

So I have completed the initial explorations of the first area. I have a quest to dispatch wolves outside the camp, but so far I haven't figured out how to get outside the camp. I've also got the major quest from the camp commander, and a third one as well. I have  explored everything (I think!) and have acquired some nice initial items. Stole stuff from the storage rooms, and sold what I could. Bought a lockpick and a battle potion (that gives me two, because I found another one). Getting outside will be the puzzle. I will tackle it tomorrow!

So glad I don't have to move the computer!

More tomorrow, definitely! I cannot resist Spiderweb games! I have some fun weeks ahead!

Avadon The Warborn: Back to Spiderweb

Oh Joy and Happiness! One of my two very favorite game designers has released a new game! This is the final episode in the Avadon series!

I thought I would have trouble playing this unless I moved the computer back to my living room, but I put a pillow on my office chair and it seems to be greatly helping my hip problem (getting better). Normally I can't sit this long, but the pillow seems to have solved the problem!

OK! I have started Avadon 3! I may have been one of the first people to buy it from the Spiderweb site. I checked the site just after midnight (Pacific time) and it wasn't there. I checked it in the morning and it still wasn't there, so I downloaded the demo, and then the link to buy the game appeared! Hooray! So I junked the demo and installed the full game. I mean, there's no doubt I'm going to buy this game! I need to buy from the Spiderweb site because Steam doesn't allow different screen resolutions, and when you buy directly from Spiderweb, you can choose the size you want. Old eyes need large text! (Something Jeff will begin to appreciate in years to come—if not already!)

I'm playing a Tinkermage again this time, as I did in Avadon 2, although this time I'm a female tinkermage, "Emerald" (after my precious Emerald, the mascot of this blog). I like that character because you basically get extra fighters in the form of your turrets. I don't think I could have completed the earlier game on "hard" if I hadn't been playing a Tinkermage. Also, it's a new kind of character! Fun!

So I have completed the initial explorations of the first area. I have a quest to dispatch wolves outside the camp, but so far I haven't figured out how to get outside the camp. I've also got the major quest from the camp commander, and a third one as well. I have  explored everything (I think!) and have acquired some nice initial items. Stole stuff from the storage rooms, and sold what I could. Bought a lockpick and a battle potion (that gives me two, because I found another one). Getting outside will be the puzzle. I will tackle it tomorrow!

So glad I don't have to move the computer!

More tomorrow, definitely! I cannot resist Spiderweb games! I have some fun weeks ahead!

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