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Wizardry The Wizardry Series Thread
- Thread starter Major_Blackhart
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2014
- Messages
- 1,901
Approaching 20 hours+ now in Wiz 8
It was a very long time ago I played a bit of Wiz 6 and 7 so I feel I am coming to this series new and fresh.
Let's talk about the manual first. It is 71 pages. Each of those pages each contain two pages. Unlike other manuals where you have lots of pages containing nothing at all - this manual is choc a block with content. We therefore have about 130 pages of key, important information. That is simply amazing and gives a good indication how complex this game is. I have not read the manual, yet.
Treasure Chests - page 50. Just read that again. There are five pages talking and explain treasure chests (and lock picking). Who designed this game for goodness sake?
So last night, 20 hours in, I discovered you can inspect treasure chests before opening them. Your character then has an idea, from a list of known traps, what they are dealing with. Digging deeper, once traps are inspected a colour code shows how certain your character is about their diagnosis. Even deeper, we then also have magical options such as the "Knock Knock" spell. Even deeper, we finally have the option to Force the lock open.
Is it just me but isn't this hideously complicated?
I think I like it.
For the professional RPG lot - is there a game that is more complex on opening a damn, simple, mundane treasure chest?
Combat.
So I downloaded this mod that speeds the fisticuffs section a lot. I can't explain how the designers released the game in its original form where the combat must have been insanely slow. VERY S L O W. Combat is fascinating. I had assumed my mage faerie was at the back of my group in accordance to probably EVERY OTHER RPG I have ever played. Even in LoX you have a front row and back row. Last night I was fiddling about the party formation options and discovered something pretty amazing.
My tiny little weak faerie mage was in the MIDDLE of the formation. Yes folks, we have something I have not come across anywhere else. The weakest char in the middle not at the back.
All this is due to the fact combat is not conveniently in front of you, but the little shits SURROUND YOU. Mother suckers can circle your group and attack you from behind - and they do indeed try that all the time. None of this waiting for my turn. So, unless you are supremely confident of your abilities, or slightly arrogant and disrespectful of this piece of work called Wiz 8, you need to think about your environment all the time in combat. I got arrogant once and lost two of my party against a group of foes that should have been easy as pie.
Still, not sure how I feel about the combat. We obviously won't get my beloved 99 Barbarians, 99 Skeleton, 99 Zombies and 99 Ghouls all on one square. Wiz 8 combat is obviously superior to all that jazz but I do wonder if they sacrificed a bit for a more realistic model of combat. Judgement reserved.
Interaction
I don't like it. It's obvious why the industry went with voice overs and less text. Basically I just click on every key word and ask the NPC about it. It takes FOREVER. I need to read the manual. There must be a way of being able see what questions to ask whom. It would have been great if the Communication skill could help with that - but I think not.
In general I meet NPC A, click on an ever growing list of keywords and then click on another button to talk about it. The keyword list grows longer. I meet NPC B and repeat and rinse. I prefer the Morrowind system of chatting.
Okay - I read a bit of the manual. Apparently there is an option to reduce keywords to only KEYWORDS or something. Hopefully I can enable that in-game. You can also double click rather than click-move-mouse-click.
I still don't like it.
I went over to the town Arnika and fully explored there. Found a temple, airport, EVIL CASTLE, prison and some places to do shopping. I like the unusual combination of classical world of Elves and Dwarves mixed up with high tech techno babble computers and all that. Very different from other RPGs. I am finding it difficult to follow the storyline due to all the reams of text and because I never played Wiz 6 and 7 first, as advised by Codex.
Came across an Umpani war camp and joined their army and had to complete an obstacle course to move on a bit. They are a military race and look a bit like Rhinos - think Judoon from Dr Who. Not sure where to go next and travelling between places can be very slow due to the frequency and length of combat. However, I do think once you "Clear" and area travelling becomes less eventful.
So far so good. Not sure if I have the patience to continue that much further, however I have sort of got attached to my little party of misfits, which is part of the charm of party based RPG afterall.
It was a very long time ago I played a bit of Wiz 6 and 7 so I feel I am coming to this series new and fresh.
Let's talk about the manual first. It is 71 pages. Each of those pages each contain two pages. Unlike other manuals where you have lots of pages containing nothing at all - this manual is choc a block with content. We therefore have about 130 pages of key, important information. That is simply amazing and gives a good indication how complex this game is. I have not read the manual, yet.
Treasure Chests - page 50. Just read that again. There are five pages talking and explain treasure chests (and lock picking). Who designed this game for goodness sake?
So last night, 20 hours in, I discovered you can inspect treasure chests before opening them. Your character then has an idea, from a list of known traps, what they are dealing with. Digging deeper, once traps are inspected a colour code shows how certain your character is about their diagnosis. Even deeper, we then also have magical options such as the "Knock Knock" spell. Even deeper, we finally have the option to Force the lock open.
Is it just me but isn't this hideously complicated?
I think I like it.
For the professional RPG lot - is there a game that is more complex on opening a damn, simple, mundane treasure chest?
Combat.
So I downloaded this mod that speeds the fisticuffs section a lot. I can't explain how the designers released the game in its original form where the combat must have been insanely slow. VERY S L O W. Combat is fascinating. I had assumed my mage faerie was at the back of my group in accordance to probably EVERY OTHER RPG I have ever played. Even in LoX you have a front row and back row. Last night I was fiddling about the party formation options and discovered something pretty amazing.
My tiny little weak faerie mage was in the MIDDLE of the formation. Yes folks, we have something I have not come across anywhere else. The weakest char in the middle not at the back.
All this is due to the fact combat is not conveniently in front of you, but the little shits SURROUND YOU. Mother suckers can circle your group and attack you from behind - and they do indeed try that all the time. None of this waiting for my turn. So, unless you are supremely confident of your abilities, or slightly arrogant and disrespectful of this piece of work called Wiz 8, you need to think about your environment all the time in combat. I got arrogant once and lost two of my party against a group of foes that should have been easy as pie.
Still, not sure how I feel about the combat. We obviously won't get my beloved 99 Barbarians, 99 Skeleton, 99 Zombies and 99 Ghouls all on one square. Wiz 8 combat is obviously superior to all that jazz but I do wonder if they sacrificed a bit for a more realistic model of combat. Judgement reserved.
Interaction
I don't like it. It's obvious why the industry went with voice overs and less text. Basically I just click on every key word and ask the NPC about it. It takes FOREVER. I need to read the manual. There must be a way of being able see what questions to ask whom. It would have been great if the Communication skill could help with that - but I think not.
In general I meet NPC A, click on an ever growing list of keywords and then click on another button to talk about it. The keyword list grows longer. I meet NPC B and repeat and rinse. I prefer the Morrowind system of chatting.
Okay - I read a bit of the manual. Apparently there is an option to reduce keywords to only KEYWORDS or something. Hopefully I can enable that in-game. You can also double click rather than click-move-mouse-click.
I still don't like it.
I went over to the town Arnika and fully explored there. Found a temple, airport, EVIL CASTLE, prison and some places to do shopping. I like the unusual combination of classical world of Elves and Dwarves mixed up with high tech techno babble computers and all that. Very different from other RPGs. I am finding it difficult to follow the storyline due to all the reams of text and because I never played Wiz 6 and 7 first, as advised by Codex.
Came across an Umpani war camp and joined their army and had to complete an obstacle course to move on a bit. They are a military race and look a bit like Rhinos - think Judoon from Dr Who. Not sure where to go next and travelling between places can be very slow due to the frequency and length of combat. However, I do think once you "Clear" and area travelling becomes less eventful.
So far so good. Not sure if I have the patience to continue that much further, however I have sort of got attached to my little party of misfits, which is part of the charm of party based RPG afterall.
Malignant Manor
Augur
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Messages
- 213
Hardcore Gaming 101 finished the Wizardry series entries. New articles since last post are Japanese Franchise Outlook, Wizardry Online, Mobile Games and Other Media, and Interview with Robert Woodhead.
Wizardry Online said:
TigerKnee
Arcane
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2012
- Messages
- 1,920
Paging Helly or any other interested parties.
Recently, I've come across scans of a Japanese "Wizardry 10th Anniversary" magazine published in 1991. It has interviews, merchandise lists, P&P adaptation talk, comics, artwork, "making of the OVA" and more
The scans can be downloaded here:
https://mega.co.nz/#!FRJFgBBC!sqDxintlLYRBYCyyphge4GZFaFlSIQqrUPxdDl-nFpY
It's hundreds of pages and filled with text, but think of all the Kool Kodex Kreds we'll get if someone translated this, eh? Hint hint.
Recently, I've come across scans of a Japanese "Wizardry 10th Anniversary" magazine published in 1991. It has interviews, merchandise lists, P&P adaptation talk, comics, artwork, "making of the OVA" and more
The scans can be downloaded here:
https://mega.co.nz/#!FRJFgBBC!sqDxintlLYRBYCyyphge4GZFaFlSIQqrUPxdDl-nFpY
It's hundreds of pages and filled with text, but think of all the Kool Kodex Kreds we'll get if someone translated this, eh? Hint hint.
I'm working on my JLPT right now, but once it's done who knows what might happen ?
So, is it at all possible to kill Archdevils in Wiz 5?
On my second trip to Hades my party met one and couldn't even scratch it.
I finally found the Loon after having postponed the Jigsaw Bank area for as long as possible. Also found three Cards, Staff of Water and located the Lord of Spades, so I think I'm getting close to the end of this game.
On my second trip to Hades my party met one and couldn't even scratch it.
I finally found the Loon after having postponed the Jigsaw Bank area for as long as possible. Also found three Cards, Staff of Water and located the Lord of Spades, so I think I'm getting close to the end of this game.
What the hell does this even mean?
And why does it stop if you have a Munke Wand?
EDIT: Duh! Monkey - Munke.
Does that mean that to pass the Howling Wind (gail) I need a Lark in a Cage (nightingale)? Seem to remember there was a puzzle in Bard's Tale where the answer was "gail" too....
Did Dewey Bradley smoke something like this when making Wiz 5?
And why does it stop if you have a Munke Wand?
EDIT: Duh! Monkey - Munke.
Does that mean that to pass the Howling Wind (gail) I need a Lark in a Cage (nightingale)? Seem to remember there was a puzzle in Bard's Tale where the answer was "gail" too....
Did Dewey Bradley smoke something like this when making Wiz 5?
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Do you map by hand or use something like Grid Cartographer?Damned in Hell, Wizardry 5 is huge:
By hand. I needed three sheets for lvl 4.
Haven't mapped Hades much. Got the hell out of there when I found an exit (Malor does not work), and one encounter with an Archdevil convinced me that Hell is indeed a bad place to be.
Haven't mapped Hades much. Got the hell out of there when I found an exit (Malor does not work), and one encounter with an Archdevil convinced me that Hell is indeed a bad place to be.
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bussinrounds
Augur
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 484
I'm using the Grid Cartographer for Wiz 5 actually. (SNES version)Do you map by hand or use something like Grid Cartographer?Damned in Hell, Wizardry 5 is huge:
And don't forget about the Dumpaic spell shows the map too, when you need to have a quick peek.
Sup Oct
bussinrounds
Augur
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2011
- Messages
- 484
Isn't there still a bunch of untranslated text in the Llylgamyn Saga, even after you switch the language ?
Not sure. Crooked Bee would know.
Incidentally I see CRPG Addict is still struggling with the huge indie Wizardry clone Dragon Sword. Bee, did you ever play it?
Incidentally I see CRPG Addict is still struggling with the huge indie Wizardry clone Dragon Sword. Bee, did you ever play it?
The SNES version I played didn't have any untranslated text, no.
Nope, I didn't. Looks interesting though.
So what are the three "Divine Aspects" in Wizardry 5?
The Ruby Warlock told me about "Time" and the Kettle told me about "Kingdom". But I seem to have missed the clue for the third one.
Can anyone give me a subtle hint?
EDIT: Never mind, I forgot I hadn't explored all of Hades yet. I guess the answer will be found there.
The Ruby Warlock told me about "Time" and the Kettle told me about "Kingdom". But I seem to have missed the clue for the third one.
Can anyone give me a subtle hint?
EDIT: Never mind, I forgot I hadn't explored all of Hades yet. I guess the answer will be found there.
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And so, another game bugs out on me when I'm so close to winning.
I finally got all the Cards and did all four rituals to shut down all the Gates, but I can't access square 0,0 on level 8 where the Gatekeeper is imprisoned. Instead the party is pushed away by the Sorn of a bitch.
So I take the Teleporter back, but I can't re-activate any of the four elemental gates to lvl 8.
So I Malor back to the castle instead, figuring I can just do the whole ritual again, but this this time with no saving before the end. I think it was the saving that screwed up, but getting back to the castle should have reset levels 7 and 8.
DW BRADLEY!!!
[picture my head spinning around]
EDIT: used a save right before closing the fourth and final gate, but same result: being pushed away from the end game.
I have a save game from before entering lvl 8 and closing any of the gates, but I'm not sure I can work up the enthusiasm to find that save game and play it.
The game really overstayed its welcome at the end. Big is not always beatuful. Wiz 1 was of perfect size, and of Bradley's games I think Wiz 6 had the tightest design. Wiz 7 dragged on at the end too.
Both Wiz 5 and especially 7 would have been better if the encounter frequency had been toned down.
I finally got all the Cards and did all four rituals to shut down all the Gates, but I can't access square 0,0 on level 8 where the Gatekeeper is imprisoned. Instead the party is pushed away by the Sorn of a bitch.
So I take the Teleporter back, but I can't re-activate any of the four elemental gates to lvl 8.
So I Malor back to the castle instead, figuring I can just do the whole ritual again, but this this time with no saving before the end. I think it was the saving that screwed up, but getting back to the castle should have reset levels 7 and 8.
DW BRADLEY!!![picture my head spinning around]
EDIT: used a save right before closing the fourth and final gate, but same result: being pushed away from the end game.
I have a save game from before entering lvl 8 and closing any of the gates, but I'm not sure I can work up the enthusiasm to find that save game and play it.
The game really overstayed its welcome at the end. Big is not always beatuful. Wiz 1 was of perfect size, and of Bradley's games I think Wiz 6 had the tightest design. Wiz 7 dragged on at the end too.
Both Wiz 5 and especially 7 would have been better if the encounter frequency had been toned down.
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DraQ
Arcane
I think we should split the megaturd, I mean megathread, into threads about individual sub-series.
You have some really bad luck, octavius.
I disagree with you about Wiz 7 vs 6, but it seems Bradley always wanted to make "epic" games, yeah, hence the scope of Wiz5.
I disagree with you about Wiz 7 vs 6, but it seems Bradley always wanted to make "epic" games, yeah, hence the scope of Wiz5.
Malignant Manor
Augur
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Messages
- 213
Has anyone played through Wizardry 6 or 7 with the automap mod (works with W6 and W7 even though it says W7)? I stopped my W6 play through awhile back and never got back to it. I only did very minor testing on W7. It seemed to have worked very well in both games. Did anyone find any bugs or other issues that KoriTama could fix?
DraQ
Arcane
No, I just don't care about WF crawlers.
I haven't tried but thanks for reminding as I do want to give it a try. In theory it should work for the whole game, right?
No, I just don't care about WF crawlers.
How about 6 and 7?
DraQ
Arcane
Backlog. I'll definitely try to play both at some point and at the very least complete 7.No, I just don't care about WF crawlers.
How about 6 and 7?
They are not wireframe, though, 7 is even pleasing visually, and they form trilogy with 8.
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