Yendorian Tales

[octavius]

1994 marks a shift in CRPG history, after the two best CRPG years of '92 and '93, with very few quality commercial titles. In fact, apart from Star Trail, the indies are more interesting this year, with titles like Yendorian Tales, The Aethra Chronicles: Volume One - Celystra's Bane, and Nahlakh.

I was able to track down down full versions of all three Yendorian Tales games, but it's hard to find useful info or manuals for them. I get the impression YT1 is an Ultima clone (with very nice and crisp graphics, even in full screen), and the two others are like World of Xeen.
But I can't find any information on what the combat is like, nor how the classes and skills work. The accompanying text file for the first game is very brief and tells nothing about character generation.
Does any proper manual exist, or a web wite with some useful info?
If not, anyone who has played these games and can provide some tips on character generation?

 

[Crooked Bee]

Yendorian Tales is kind of... alright, I guess. I didn't get very far but I thought the game was nothing special, really. Don't have any tips, I'm afraid. But then again, I don't recall it being particularly complex either, so just roll with whatever characters you feel like playing.

YT II is more of a first person M&M clone though - I hear it's a better game than the first one, but I'm yet to give it a proper try.

 

[mondblut]

YT 2 and 3 were a gulp of water in the drought of mid-90s. YT1 is apparently impossible to find in full version nowadays, all there is is a demo.

Can't help about game mechanics, it's been 20 years ago, but it was fairly primitive and obvious. Have a cleric, a mage and fighters, bash things, gain levels

 

[octavius]

YT 2 and 3 were a gulp of water in the drought of mid-90s. YT1 is apparently impossible to find in full version nowadays, all there is is a demo.

I think this is the full version. At least it doesn't have the register.txt file.

 

[Luzur]

1994 marks a shift in CRPG history, after the two best CRPG years of '92 and '93, with very few quality commercial titles. In fact, apart from Star Trail, the indies are more interesting this year, with titles like Yendorian Tales, The Aethra Chronicles: Volume One - Celystra's Bane, and Nahlakh.

I was able to track down down full versions of all three Yendorian Tales games, but it's hard to find useful info or manuals for them. I get the impression YT1 is an Ultima clone (with very nice and crisp graphics, even in full screen), and the two others are like World of Xeen.
But I can't find any information on what the combat is like, nor how the classes and skills work. The accompanying text file for the first game is very brief and tells nothing about character generation.
Does any proper manual exist, or a web wite with some useful info?
If not, anyone who has played these games and can provide some tips on character generation?

you could have asked me, i got all 3 fullgame versions of them in a zip.

also, well YII-III are very much like the Might and Magics, so roll your party like you would in MM, it worked for me (finished the first island and about to go further.).

and combat is exactly like in MM3 and onwards, party bowing and all.

never found a manual though, but i read that a hintbook was available from Spectrum Pacific, but they are dead so i guess its lost forever.

 

[taxalot]

How long is the first Yendorian tale ?
I remember playing the shareware version, but never getting too much invested into it.

 

[Hobbit Lord of Mordor_]

Is there any truth to rumors that Aethra II was made?

 

[mondblut]

Is there any truth to rumors that Aethra II was made?

No. The rumor is a result of confusion between Aethra being supposed to be first "chapter" of a trilogy, and itself being a "trilogy" of 3 chapters, first chapter being the shareware portion.

 

[Hobbit Lord of Mordor_]

Yeah I know that obviously. I read that part 2 had been developed to playable state but didn't find a publisher.

 

[Fowyr]

Yeah I know that obviously. I read that part 2 had been developed to playable state but didn't find a publisher.

First game was released without any publishers. Why second game should be different?

 

[Luzur]

Yeah I know that obviously. I read that part 2 had been developed to playable state but didn't find a publisher.

First game was released without any publishers. Why second game should be different?

Aethra? is that the game with the extreme birds eye view?

 

[Fowyr]

Aethra? is that the game with the extreme birds eye view?

Indeed. That one.

One of the best CRPGs what I have played, by the way.

 

[Luzur]

Aethra? is that the game with the extreme birds eye view?

Indeed. That one.

ah i remember that, although i think it was only a shareware game, atleast mine stopped at some point.

 

[MicoSelva]

I couldn't really get into YT1, but I really liked YT2 and 3. Only had shareware versions of them, though and was very disappointed when I could not continue because I had to enter registration code when accessing a portal.
Similar disappointment to the abrupt ending of Albion's demo just when the story got really interesting.

I remember merchants being a kickass class in these games, as it was a strangely-named combo of fighter and thief. Also, You could find a cat in one of the quests and equip it as a weapon (it had razorsharp claws). Good times.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Aethra? is that the game with the extreme birds eye view?

Indeed. That one.

One of the best CRPGs what I have played, by the way.

I really like what I am hearing. But I'm a Gold Box fan. Does it have tactical, turn-based combat?

Oh...



We need a LP of this.

 

[Fowyr]

We need a LP of this.

We have an unfinished LP of this.
http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/lets-play-aethra-chronicles-with-a-kkkkrew.65079/

 

[Crooked Bee]

Yeah hoverdog 's LP was the shit -- until he abandoned it like a pussy.

(I know I have abandoned all my latest LPs too but you know... well... I am a pussy, essentially.)

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Are these three still easy to find full versions of. I'm not convinced myabanware aren't the shareware versions.

I guess I'll try these...
https://www.oldgamesfinder.com/?q=Yendorian&m=-1