User manual GAMES PC SECRET OF THE SILVER BLADES

[. . . ] Map Illustration: Jim Krogel (West End Studios) Technical Writing: Marie Butler-Knight and Jon Van Caneghem Special thanks to our playtesters and everyone else who made this project possible. 90-DAY LIMITED WARRANTY New World Computing, Inc. warrants the original diskette on which this program is recorded to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. If such a defect should occur during this 90-day period, you may return the diskette to New World Computing, Inc. [. . . ] After combat, your party will return to its original marching order, regardless of any position changes made during combat. GAME OVER If you want to interrupt the game, but save the experience points and other abilities gained by your characters during the most recent game session, you must take your party to the inn in one of the five towns and SIGN IN. When you enter the inn, you will be asked if you want to sign in. By answering Y (Yes) you will save your characters' current statistics and status on your disk B copy. The next time you play, you may resume the game from the inn and town containing your party of adventurers. . . or start from another town with a different party. Beginner's Guide to Adventure The object of an adventure game is the game itself, rather than a particular goal. During the game, you assume the roles of the characters in your party, sharing their uncertainties and adventures. There are certain conventions to most adventure games, which may vary in detail but are essentially similar. These conventions are the subject of this chapter. The details are covered in the preceding chapters and the appendixes of this book. The World When you begin, the uncharted world of Might and Magic is as strange and unfamiliar to you as it is to your characters. It is up to you to map the world while traveling through it. The world is divided into towns (there are five), underground caverns and dungeons, open terrain, rivers and seas, and mountainous areas. In general, the more dangerous an area is, the more treasure you can expect to find there. . . if you survive. For example, a cleric may use only a club, mace, flail, staff or great hammer, but may carry a shield. Weapon and armor restrictions are described in detail in Appendix A. Other equipment items (ropes, grappling hooks, etc. ) are also available, and may be purchased in town shops or found along the way. However, it is necessary to choose carefully the articles which a character purchases or picks up. Each character has a BACK PACK, in which he/she may carry up to 6 items. Once the pack is full, new items can be added only after discarding another item or shifting it to another character's pack. In addition to the back pack, each character can wear or carry another 6 items which are EQUIPPED or readied for use. Items such as armor and most weapons must be equipped in order to use them. If a character goes into combat with armor and weapons safely stashed in his/her pack, they will be of no use whatsoever. There are restrictions regarding the number and types of armor and weapons which may be simultaneously equipped. These restrictions are explained in Appendix A. Monsters The term MONSTER is a little misleading, for it implies danger and evil. [. . . ] NAME: Cold Beam COST: 4 SP TYPE: Combat OBJECT: 1 monster DESCRIPTION: Attacks with a beam of intense cold that penetrates to the monster's heart and inflicts 4-40 damage points, unless the monster is immune to cold. NAME: Feeble Mind COST: 4 SP+2 Gems TYPE: Combat OBJECT: 1 monster DESCRIPTION: Erases the monsters brain, removing all its abilities for the duration of combat or until the monster overcomes the spell. NAME: Freeze COST: 4 SP TYPE: Combat OBJECT: 1 monster DESCRIPTION: Immobilizes the monster, preventing it from attacking for the duration of combat. Monster's chance of overcoming this spell is very small. [. . . ]