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Wraith Hints
Rubywand, 1998
Wraith
by John Carmack from Nite Owl
$9.95, for 64K IIe/c/gs 3.5" drive required
This is a single-character Ultima-look map/maze adventure. It employs standard hires graphics and 'old Apple' sound effects. Object is to save the land of Araithia by finding and destroying the evil Wraith.
NOTE: The game includes no paper documentation. Instead, the scenario and all directions are available on-screen at the start of play. (The program displays a text file named ABOUT.WRAITH.) You can choose to print out the information. You can also get a brief summary of KB commands during play by pressing "?". Getting a printout of ABOUT.WRAITH is a good idea.
Check ABOUT.WRAITH for scenario introduction, basic directions, and some helpful suggestions.
Additional Information and Hints
1. Wraith is not intended for hard disk installation. (It cannot be played from HD without directly modifying some files.) Play the game from a COPY of the original diskette. Note: To make an HD-playable version, change START.RUN beginning at block 3 and byte 487. The change is to change instances of /WRAITH/ to /mm/ITH/ (i.e. to run from /mm/ith/ on HD). Even so, the game will still try to Exit to a floppy when you are finished playing.
2. VERY HELPFUL HINT: Whenever the situation looks risky (e.g. your character is low on hitpoints, a dangerous battle looms, etc.) remove the diskette. If you are killed, reboot the game and load your Saved Game.
Otherwise, getting killed will put your character back in a city and you will lose all the gold you were carrying! This also updates your Saved Game; so, your gold really is gone and your position, which may be deep in some maze, is lost. (You and/or other players can use up all three of the character 'slots', including the one called "The Master". BUT, each of these is a separate character. You can have just one Saved Game per character.)
Yes, you can put gold in the Bank (located in the city Catalian) and it will not be lost if you are killed. However, you do need to carry enough gold to cash-in on opportunities to purchase items in mazes, castles, and other places a long way from the Bank. Some items may cost 2500 gold or more.
If all goes well (i.e. you are not killed) and the game needs to read or write to the diskette, it will display an error message if the diskette is not present. Just insert the diskette and press Return.
You can reduce the odds of an inconvenient demise by making 2 copies of the original and alternating Game Saves between the diskettes. (In case it is not obvious, I sometimes failed to pop out my diskette-- it's not always clear when serious danger threatens-- and went through several OH NOOOO! experiences. I did, however, manage to win! the game.)
3. Simple 'rough sketch with notes' mapping is helpful. Detailed mapping would be too much bother. Basically, simple maps and/or notes are useful if you find a neat shop or important passage that you want to find again.
4. There are a few "Special Items" whose functions are described only when first obtained (i.e. after a while you may forget what they do). These items and approx. locations are .......
Dwarven Armor- <Ashurak's Castle> very good armor
Deamon Cleaver- <Ancient Mines> very good hand weapon
Amulet- <Mylbere sewers> indicates presence of secret panels
Stainless Ring- <Well of Souls> protects armor, etc. from Rust Monsters
Life Ring- <Well'> offers protection from Ghosts and ghost type monsters
Spell Ring- <Well'> protects by absorbing the effects of some attack spells
.... note: the rings are purchased at counters in an area deep in the Well of Souls maze. The counters are all located in the same area (two in the same large room); one counter is nearby in a separate, hidden room.
5. Other nice-to-know locations include ...
Heal Potions- Tarot
Bank- Catalian
Magic Missile sp- Tarot slums
Lightning spell- Catalian
Recall spell- Catalian
Fireball spell- Mylbere
Scare spell- Mylbere
6. At one point you will get a tavern clue about the location of the Secret Base. The one I got was wrong (perhaps an accurate clue is available somewhere else). The entry to the Secret Base is, roughly, just a bit south of Tarot hidden in the mountains. (From just south of Tarot, go East 7; then, go South 9 and move West.) You will need to have the Key equipped and press "E" in order to get in. I do not remember where one first obtains the Key. (I'm fairly certain one may be purchased in one of the castles.)
7. Always carry as many Heal Potions, Lightnings, Fireballs, ... as you can afford. Beware of trying to buy more than 99 of any item.
8. There are several ways to handle large concentrations of monsters (hit and run, draw out and attack at doorways, lob fireballs, etc.). Some of the roughest battles are against concentrations of higher-level monsters which are hidden behind screens. Since you can't see them without penetrating the screen, you can't lob fireballs from a distance. Since they can't see you, they cannot be drawn out unless you penetrate the screen and make direct contact.
To win such a fight you must have a developed character with good armor and enough hitpoints to absorb enemy blows and spell attacks for at least one round. Then, you can try either running (to get time for a Heal and to draw out nearby enemies) or 'duking it out' for another round or so. Often, using a Fireball at close range is worth the cost in damage it does your character.
9. Overall game time for most players is probably at least 50-60 hours. To save Araithia you must <A> explore the local cities, mines, and castles to obtain some special items and build your character; <B> get through the Secret Base-- Hint: try route leading through Magician's chamber (hidden entry is in NE corner of main hall) through hidden South exit, Down, through hidden North portal in middle of "Entering Maze" hall, find desk and pay 50 gold to skip Maze, Down at stairs, North..., East through Antechamber, through Skeleton King's chamber and out South Exit in Wight King's chamber, ...-- to the Castle of Ashurak (the Wraith's chief minion) and defeat Ashurak to obtain his scepter; <C> pass through the Gate-- Hint: try route leading through North exit in Giant's Practice area-- to the Wraith's realm, find the Wraith's Castle, and destroy the Wraith.
10. Starting hint: get the Amulet as soon as possible. As noted in the ABOUT.WRAITH file, you CAN detect secret panels visually; but, they are not easy to spot. The Amulet lets you know when you are within several paces of a secret panel. It is a great help in navigating the mazes. Have fun!
JH