KQ4 question ... stuck again :-(

[Rath Darkblade]

So, after dying a few times, I finally managed to get the ogre's "hen that lays the golden eggs". Now I have to get Pandora's box.

I know I have to light the lantern and go into the cave where the unseen troll is. But every time I go in, the troll catches and eats me. Any idea what I should do?

I have attached a save-file, in case you can somehow get me past the troll? I've no idea what's going on. Thanks!

[MusicallyInspired]

Before you enter the cave, SAVE. Enter the cave. If the troll does not appear after a few seconds, SAVE. If he does appear, RESTORE. Rinse and repeat for every cave screen.

[Tawmis]

Before you enter the cave, SAVE. Enter the cave. If the troll does not appear after a few seconds, SAVE. If he does appear, RESTORE. Rinse and repeat for every cave screen.

^ This. I believe the troll's behavior is 100% randomized and not something that can be prevented by doing XYZ.

I believe one of the SQ game had something similar with the gem in mouth.

[Rath Darkblade]

Thanks. So ... everything in this bit is based on luck instead of skill or smarts? That's no fun.

[MusicallyInspired]

Yes. You've got it exactly. If the troll appears you're toast. No way to avoid him. So, canonically, Rosella has never seen the troll in her life.

Well, I suppose if she saw him at the entrance and quickly walked out again that counts.

I believe one of the SQ game had something similar with the gem in mouth.

Not near as severe. The cave squid thing doesn't appear in the tunnels in SQ2 I believe unless you go to a specific screen/tunnel or you wander around too much. I've never run into him on my playthroughs (but I've memorized correct path through the maze).

[Tawmis]

So, after dying a few times, I finally managed to get the ogre's "hen that lays the golden eggs". Now I have to get Pandora's box.

I know I have to light the lantern and go into the cave where the unseen troll is. But every time I go in, the troll catches and eats me. Any idea what I should do?

I have attached a save-file, in case you can somehow get me past the troll? I've no idea what's going on. Thanks!

You need to upload the KQ4SG.DIR file too.

[Rath Darkblade]

So, after dying a few times, I finally managed to get the ogre's "hen that lays the golden eggs". Now I have to get Pandora's box.

I know I have to light the lantern and go into the cave where the unseen troll is. But every time I go in, the troll catches and eats me. Any idea what I should do?

I have attached a save-file, in case you can somehow get me past the troll? I've no idea what's going on. Thanks!

You need to upload the KQ4SG.DIR file too.

Whoops! I didn't know that. But that's OK - I worked and worked on evading the troll, and I did it!

Then I worked and worked and climbing the stairs (and cliffs - it's amazing how easy it is to fall down from stairs, cliffs, whatever and die in Sierra games! ), and ...... *drumroll* I beat KQ4!

I can see now why the early KQ games (up until KQ6) are considered to be for "less mature" audiences than other Sierra Quest games. QfG is for a more mature audience -- all that combat and blood.

PQ and SQ are definitely for more mature audiences (all those ways to die in SQ, and all the mature situations in PQ).

The LSL games are even more definitely for a more mature audience than KQ, and I don't think I need to explain why!

By contrast, if you die in KQ4, the worst you'll see is Rosella turning into ash or falling from a great height. No bones breaking, no blood. Very tame. I'm disappointed.

[Tawmis]

You need to upload the KQ4SG.DIR file too.

Whoops! I didn't know that. But that's OK - I worked and worked on evading the troll, and I did it!

Yeah the older games require the .DIR file that goes with the save games.

Then I worked and worked and climbing the stairs (and cliffs - it's amazing how easy it is to fall down from stairs, cliffs, whatever and die in Sierra games! ), and ...... *drumroll* I beat KQ4!
I can see now why the early KQ games (up until KQ6) are considered to be for "less mature" audiences than other Sierra Quest games. QfG is for a more mature audience -- all that combat and blood.
PQ and SQ are definitely for more mature audiences (all those ways to die in SQ, and all the mature situations in PQ).
The LSL games are even more definitely for a more mature audience than KQ, and I don't think I need to explain why!
By contrast, if you die in KQ4, the worst you'll see is Rosella turning into ash or falling from a great height. No bones breaking, no blood. Very tame. I'm disappointed.

Impressive! I love KQ4 - it's my favorite of the KQ series.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm, just wondering - why is it so difficult (in the older quest games) to climb stairs, cliffs etc. without dying? Just curious.

[Tawmis]

Hmm, just wondering - why is it so difficult (in the older quest games) to climb stairs, cliffs etc. without dying? Just curious.

Limitation of the programming and the "3D" illusion. I am sure they wanted to create "stairs" but had tiny spaces to operate in. Remember back then the games were what - 320x200 resolution? Not a lot of room to get fancy.

[Collector]

Limitation of the programming and the "3D" illusion. I am sure they wanted to create "stairs" but had tiny spaces to operate in. Remember back then the games were what - 320x200 resolution? Not a lot of room to get fancy.

AGI was 200px x 160px.

[notbobsmith]

Hmm, just wondering - why is it so difficult (in the older quest games) to climb stairs, cliffs etc. without dying? Just curious.

Limitation of the programming and the "3D" illusion. I am sure they wanted to create "stairs" but had tiny spaces to operate in. Remember back then the games were what - 320x200 resolution? Not a lot of room to get fancy.

I think the inclusion of the difficult to navigate stair was intentional. I think it was to create a challenge for the player. What would have been the easiest fix for the stairs? Don't have them. Police Quest didn't have a stair problem. Well, there was the stair well in the hotel in PQ1, but you could never fall off of them. This could have been done in King's Quest. King's Quest also had those "treacherous path" areas (KQ3 comes to mind) where some of the path is obscured by a rock or something. Why? Challenge for the player.