The Legacy: Realm of Terror Thread

[Mother Russia]

Anyone here remember this game?

It is kind of unique in that it is the first real graphical crpg that draws heavily on Call of Cthulhu elements, among other horror tropes. Also, it predates Alone in the Dark by about a year (AiTD was released in 94 is I recall correctly)

Do you remember the character you played as? Did you ever finish it?

 

[Grim Monk]

Black Cat did an LP of it a while back:
http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...ft-us-a-nightmare-lets-play-the-legacy.35977/

 

[octavius]

I tried it a while ago and most of this thread is about my first attempt of this game. It was definitely hard, and correct tweaking of the DosBox settings was important to get smooth and less frustrating gameplay

I decided to abort the game (playing as the bearded professor type, I think) and give the game another try after I have completed reading Lovecraft (got 2/3 through the Necronomicon collection before I had to return it to the library), and then try with a character specializing in melee, since lack of ammo was a problem.

 

[Fowyr]

I finished it four times.

 

[Mother Russia]

Ok, I replayed it a bit. The game has so much flavor. Everything from the artstyle of the interior of the house, to the names of the spells. It's sad that this game wasn't appreciated at the time...I think it might have to do with the fact that ppl called it 'hard' They didn't get that you are not supposed to fight everything like in a typical rpg...cthlh beasts for instance, are to be avoided, unless you have powerful spells at your disposal.

I do believe this is still the ONLY real horror cthulhu-esque crpg ever made. All other types just have you slaughter your way through everything...in this you can fight if you have to, but you need to conserve resources. And some critters just cannot be killed, at least not the first time you meet them. And the horror/shock effects upon seeing some alien creature are quite good.

This game calls for a remake...

 

[Fowyr]

This game calls for a remake...

In this time and age? No. Just no.

 

[Crooked Bee]

I first played it after reading Black Cat's LP; it's an awesome game and one of my all-time favorite RPGs. My character was a dexterous magic user iirc.

 

[villain of the story]

OMG I never knew about this game. Gotta play. Maximum Brofist for bringing this up.

 

[Mother Russia]

I first played it after reading Black Cat's LP; it's an awesome game and one of my all-time favorite RPGs. My character was a dexterous magic user iirc.

Fowyr Do you recall how the skill system worked? How well was it implemented? Any use in taking any mental skill apart from meditation if you were playing a magicker? And how was the investigation skill used? (investigation is a big part of the pnp Call of Cthulhu and Trail of Cthulhu rpgs)

 

[Mother Russia]

OMG I never knew about this game. Gotta play. Maximum Brofist for bringing this up.

This is exactly why I made this thread. If it doesn't interfere with your gaming pleasure, consider a lets play. A LP with your sense of humor would be a treat If you don't have time for a LP right now, just take some screenies as you play and make the LP at a later date, if possible.

 

[Corporate_Jew_Master]

Oh boy, this game.
I really loved the character creation and rpg elements. Tied in with the OMINOUS it made a very nice game.

This game calls for a remake...

In this time and age? No. Just no.

I still would love to see one. Even if they put some popamole shit in it but keep the atmosphere.

 

[Fowyr]

Fowyr Do you recall how the skill system worked? How well was it implemented? Any use in taking any mental skill apart from meditation if you were playing a magicker?

Electronics was quite useless, used only for repairing boombox and opening one or two locks. And fuse boxes, but they require very little of this skill.
First aid is handy, but you always can save/load.
Meditation is a good skill for mage, but save/load again.
Mechanics - repair of jammed weapons and opening locks. Key of Shadow Lord spell is usually better.
Brawling is useless.
Club is fine at the start, but useless in the middle of game.
Force is useless, it used only for opening closed doors.
Lift - another useless skill
Blade is a essential skill for any character, but don't raise it high.
Dodge - never trained it.
Firearms - there is a shitton of ammo in the later parts of game.
Throw - useless
Stamina - I finished game once with minimal stamina.
Willpower - here you are, the most important stat for magick user. Also it trains ALL spells.

Last battle fought by magic. This can be a nasty surprise for pure melee characters.

And how was the investigation skill used? (investigation is a big part of the pnp Call of Cthulhu and Trail of Cthulhu rpgs)

There is no investigation skill in the Legacy. Just your brain.

 

[Hobbit Lord of Mordor_]

Maximum fists, this game looks great

 

[octavius]

I've decided to give this game another shot.
I recall lack of ammo and magic was a problem first time, so I think I'll chose the jock instead of the professor, and go for the blade skill and supplement with firearms and magic. Is that a good idea? I know you are not supposed to kill everything that moves, but I prefer to be able to clear out as much as possible.

 

[Fowyr]

This a great idea. Just don't totally forget about magic too. As I already said, last battle is magical.
Try to locate Iron Fist of Agatha spell and kitchen knife ASAP.

 

[octavius]

Yeah, that Kitchen Knife + Agatha + Myamoto + decent Blade skill made it much easier this time to clear out the basement of "thingies". And I'm not as scared as I was the first time I tried this game.

 

[Cool name]

I've decided to give this game another shot.
I recall lack of ammo and magic was a problem first time, so I think I'll chose the jock instead of the professor, and go for the blade skill and supplement with firearms and magic. Is that a good idea? I know you are not supposed to kill everything that moves, but I prefer to be able to clear out as much as possible.

Full magic is pretty much 'Like a BOSS' mode once you do know the game. Just invest all or most of your points in the skill that does slightly raise all of your spells, Knowledge or Willpower or something like that I believe it was, and then a little bit on those spells you do use the most...

Spoiler

... which should usually be the 'Shoot like a PRO' spell and maybe a powerful endgame-ish attack spell...

... and it is pretty much 'I Win' once you do know...

Spoiler

... you only need to fight five times in the entire game: The crypt's entrance, the first basement, the second basement, the Temple if you can't repair the radio, and the final boss. All of the upper levels are doable without firing a single shot or spell, as it is the 'lowest' level.

By then you have all of the upper floors' ammo and crystals unused to blast away with. Just kick the door, say something badass, and slaughter your way to the endgame without breaking a sweat.

That aside, can you fight the last boss with melee weapons at all?

Spoiler

Even if you can I believe you would need a somewhat high healing spell at least. I do remember I had to use a cycle of endgamish attack spell, endgamish attack spell, healing spell, repeat, etc, because bloody thingie does hit like a bleeping train. Three-four hits and I was dead or something like that.

Firearms - there is a shitton of ammo in the later parts of game.

Not to mention epic 'shoot like a PRO' spell long before you do need to fight anything for real.

Blade is a essential skill for any character, but don't raise it high.

You can clear the game without Blades.

It is kind of foolish to fight anything in the upper levels, and once you do hit the crypt, the basements, and the temple you pretty much have loads of ammo and crystals, the 'shoot like a PRO' spell, and almost all the powerful attack spells and guns in the game. Plus max willpower or knowledge or whatever it was that did raise all spells plus meditation by a little bit.

 

[octavius]

I found that using Myanmo and Agatha I was able to beat the dwarf thingies and ghouls with the kitchen knife without taking much damage. On the first floor Holy Water will take care of the casper thingies and winged demons.
My first attempt on this game I spent far too much mana on offensive spells.

For this game I created a character instead of using one of the default ones, focusing on Dexterity and Knowledge. I called him Howard Carter. It had a nice ring to it and is a combo of Howard Philips Lovecraft and his semi autobiographical protagonist Randolph Carter. Only later did I recall that Howard Carter was the guy who found the sarcophagus of Tut Ankh Amon.

Anyway, thanks for the tips Agassi. I've enjoyed your old Let's Play thingie so far.

 

[octavius]

So, is there a hidden stash of Pouches of Dust (or whatever they are called) somewhere? I've only found four and there are still about 8 skeletons in the crypts that refuse to lie down. I managed to defeat all the skeletons in the same spot and there was a big pile of bones on the floor, but of course they all demanded individual treatment.

 

[Fowyr]

octavius
There are definitely more than 4 pouches in the game. Have you check secret room inside the column? You probably missed a pouch or two. There are still many skeletons what will be not destroyed. Choose your battles wisely. I remember luring some skeletons in the dark corners and dispatching them there.

 

[octavius]

The Etherial Void.

I think I'm approaching the end now. Got the Golden Torc (seems it was enough to just reduce the skeletons to a pile of bones and being careful where I stepped, and the the last door opened), entered the portal in the church, failed mapping skills and ended up in "Old Nosey's" Basement, and found the Mayan Mask plaque and the Astrolabe, and what the rock salts are used for. Now I need to find the way back.
Any hints on how to navigate the Etherial Void?

 

[Fowyr]

Any hints on how to navigate the Etherial Void?

There are only two interesting things on the Ethereal Plane. The wandering mage and Melchior, guarding the very special portal. Plane is just 20x20 square with invisible borders. Kill all monsters and you should navigate it easily (especially if you throw some items to the ground as visible anchors). BTW, you could finish Legacy without even setting the foot in the Ethereal. Glasses are very nice, but not absolutely necessary.

I think I'm approaching the end now.

You are closer to the end, but definitely not near.

 

[octavius]

Any hints on how to navigate the Etherial Void?

There are only two interesting things on the Ethereal Plane. The wandering mage and Melchior, guarding the very special portal. Plane is just 20x20 square with invisible borders. Kill all monsters and you should navigate it easily (especially if you throw some items to the ground as visible anchors). BTW, you could finish Legacy without even setting the foot in the Ethereal. Glasses are very nice, but not absolutely necessary.

Thanks, that should make things easier.

Now I've reached the area with the Servitors, squid faced bastards that throw fireballs. I found a dead squid and a Servitor Robe and put them on, but they still attack me. Not a big problem; as long as I can avoid their fireballs and close in on them quickly, I quickly make chopped calamari out of them with my Wakazishi, but it's still rather annoying. Agassi didn't have this problem in her Let's Play.

 

[Cool name]

Do take in consideration your weapons as it may be that the disguise is the squid head, the robe, and the sacrificial dagger instead of just the squid head and the robe. From what I do remember of the Let's Play I was wearing all three mentioned items, the only thingie I had different from them was that I did carry the suitcase on the free hand.

That suitcase could as well have been chained at my wrist.

 

[octavius]

Do take in consideration your weapons as it may be that the disguise is the squid head, the robe, and the sacrificial dagger instead of just the squid head and the robe. From what I do remember of the Let's Play I was wearing all three mentioned items, the only thingie I had different from them was that I did carry the suitcase on the free hand.

That suitcase could as well have been chained at my wrist.

Hmm...wearing both the Sacrificial Dagger, squid head and Servitor Robe didn't work either. Oh well, I guess I get more XP by killing them.