Thunderscape HINTS: ------ When creating characters, and when going up levels, SPECIALIZE! Well-rounded characters are less effective in this game. Set up each character with a different non-combat skill. Build up one character's merchant skill early in the game - you will get a much better price early in the game, when it really counts. In shops, click on buy and on identify to check out stats for items the shop has for sale (for free!). The identify option in shops will not usually give any info on items that adjust a character's primary statistics. Try equipping these items and watching to see if any numbers change ... Start every character with at least a few points in the cast spells skill, and have them learn the heal spell first. They will begin accumulating mana points from the start of the game, and you will have lots of points to burn on heal spells throughout the game. Characters with the axe/mace skill, using magical warhammers, have a slight edge in critical blows/damage vs swords late in the game. When creating characters, give all character types a high dex - this is THE essential stat for upgrading weapons skills when going up levels. There are a number of actions in the game that reward the characters with experience points. Characters do not go up levels for these XP until after the next battle. Watch for this. Several times in the game, an object needs to be touched by an item in inventory. Do this by going to the character's inventory, clicking on the item (making it the mouse pointer), clicking on exit to return to the game screen, then clicking on the object that needs to be touched. 'Run and jump' is best done using the keyboard movement and jumping keys, and both hands. Use the numeric keypad 8 to run forward, and the letter 'j' to jump when the takeoff point is reached. Some of the switches and levers in the game are touchy about where the mouse pointer is located when trying to activate them. Try moving the mouse pointer to different positions on the switch/button, or moving to get a different angle on them. Most switches and buttons can be activated from several feet away. Almost every object found in the game has a use, but not all of them are necessary for completing the game. There are several sideline quests and puzzles that do not need to be solved to complete the main quest. Keyboard Commands not in the Manual: ------------------------------------ Page Up / Page Down (not num. keypad 9/3) - Look up / Look down Arrow Up / Arrow Down (not num. keypad 8/2) - Scroll up/down through text on screen (scrolls, signs, books, etc)
