Hero's Quest (QFG1) Play Through

[Tawmis]

I was going to save this series for one of the last ones - because the three options. But I figure I will start one as a Fighter. Finish it. Then do another series by Sierra after finishing QFG1-V, then come back, do Wizard/Rogue. Since repeat.

[Rath Darkblade]

Aha -- now you know I'll have loads and loads of comments on this one ...

By the way, if you start as fighter, do you want to become a Paladin at the end of QfG2? If so, I can give lots of tips (in "spoiler", so you don't have to look at them if you don't want to!)

Multi-classing in wizard/rogue (or should I say rogue/wizard - i.e. rogue with magic skill) is probably the easiest way to beat QfG. You have loads of skills, but you can also cast magic spells if you want to.

By the way, any idea why the words "Hero's Quest" are EGA-looking, but "So you want to be a hero" are more CGA-ish?

[Tawmis]

Aha -- now you know I'll have loads and loads of comments on this one ...
By the way, if you start as fighter, do you want to become a Paladin at the end of QfG2? If so, I can give lots of tips (in "spoiler", so you don't have to look at them if you don't want to!)
Multi-classing in wizard/rogue (or should I say rogue/wizard - i.e. rogue with magic skill) is probably the easiest way to beat QfG. You have loads of skills, but you can also cast magic spells if you want to.
By the way, any idea why the words "Hero's Quest" are EGA-looking, but "So you want to be a hero" are more CGA-ish?

I am doing straight fighter. No tips. Priding myself on just trying to make it through the game without hints.
Right now - it's a lot of fight and run.
I've been trying to run around and map the area too (for areas I can already access).
I've fought a few goblins already, gotten the ring and returned it, used those healing potions. Gone to the castle, sword fought a few times, did some work to earn more coin.
Went to Erana's Peace, and now need to find the seedlings.
For the EGA/CGA - just how they colored it, I assume.

[Rath Darkblade]

Fair enough. I look forward to seeing your commentary.

[Tawmis]

One thing I can't remember - I wouldn't mind answered - is there a time limit? Like the game has to be beat before 10 days (game time) pass?

And what's the stat limits? Is it 100 for QFG1/HQ?

[Rath Darkblade]

I don't think there is a time limit, but I always beat the game within 5-6 game days. So

Yes, the stat limit in HQ/QfG1 is 100 per skill.

[Tawmis]

I don't think there is a time limit, but I always beat the game within 5-6 game days. So
Yes, the stat limit in HQ/QfG1 is 100 per skill.

Heh. I am on Day 5 and have like 140 out of (what? 500?) points.

I am hoping there's no max time - because I am trying to build everything I have to 100.

One thing I will say is - there's a lot of running away. Because I don't have enough coin to support the cost of healing potions as often as I go out and fight.

So I've died a number of times already.

It is slightly frustrating.

[notbobsmith]

I am hoping there's no max time - because I am trying to build everything I have to 100.

I usually try to do that, but it takes a lot of time. I also think it's not possible to get every point for every character (ignoring class specific traits like Stealth and Pick Locks). A fighter has a hard time gaining Intelligence since you gain that mostly by casting spells, although you can gain points by successfully dodging in combat.

[Rath Darkblade]

NBH is right. You're not going to be able to raise every skill to 100. (And if a particular skill starts at 0, forget it - there's no way you can raise it past 0).

I have a program called Imp Editor, with which it's possible to create a hero for any game except QfG2 and QfG5, and you can give him any class and any skill/spell you want. Then you can import him to the next game (e.g. create a QfG1 hero and import him to QfG2). That makes the game very much easier, but of course it is also cheating. But I'm happy to share it.

The program was originally created for Windows 95, but still runs on Windows 7 and below (haven't tested it on Windows 10). It was written by an old acquaintance of mine on a forum called The Halfwittenberg Door (now defunct), and created to share and make playing QfG easier.

Would you like a copy?

[Tawmis]

I should have been more specific - being the fighter - trying to get the Fighter specific stuff up to 100 (Weapon Use, Dodge, Strength, Vitality).

Throwing I don't care about since it's so nitch.

And of course, no 0 skills can increase (like Magic, Stealth or Climbing).

As for the editor, no thank you.

Part of the reason I do the play throughs is to give an honest opinion of how I feel about these games (the fun, the difficulty, the redundant, etc) and try to (when I can remember) - compare it to how I remember loving it.

There's exceptions - like most of PQ I replayed maybe twice or three times, because they were so procedure driven - that I'd need police codes and such at the ready - and didn't make it for a game I'd want to replay as much as LSL or SQ or even KQ which were far more straight forward, relaxing and enjoyable.

Replaying Hero's Quest right now - I am remembering why I didn't replay this very much either.
Not that I dislike it - but I hate how slow you heal... and how hard money is to come by, so healing potions aren't easy to purchase.... which means a lot of down time or running away.

Which does not feel heroic at all.

[Rath Darkblade]

This is another reason why I like playing thief. It's riskier (breaking into houses etc.), but the rewards are greater. And you don't have to feel un-heroic if you have to run away from combat, either.

As for the fighter running away from combat -- consider him (to start with) as a level 1 fighter, facing insurmountable odds. To start with, he'd be lucky to kill a goblin. A Brigand or a Saurus would be a level-3 or level-4 monster -- way too hard. Maybe best to train against the goblins until his skills improve.

Yes, it's very slow to heal. Maybe rest at Erana's peace? Or wait 'til nightfall and rest in the stables 'til daybreak (when stable-master wakes you up?)

Easiest of all is playing this as rogue-with-magic, as I said. You can then avoid the dangerous ogre by casting Erana's Peace, and you can avoid the kobold by casting Fetch on the key.

[Tawmis]

This is another reason why I like playing thief. It's riskier (breaking into houses etc.), but the rewards are greater. And you don't have to feel un-heroic if you have to run away from combat, either.
As for the fighter running away from combat -- consider him (to start with) as a level 1 fighter, facing insurmountable odds. To start with, he'd be lucky to kill a goblin. A Brigand or a Saurus would be a level-3 or level-4 monster -- way too hard. Maybe best to train against the goblins until his skills improve.
Yes, it's very slow to heal. Maybe rest at Erana's peace? Or wait 'til nightfall and rest in the stables 'til daybreak (when stable-master wakes you up?)
Easiest of all is playing this as rogue-with-magic, as I said. You can then avoid the dangerous ogre by casting Erana's Peace, and you can avoid the kobold by casting Fetch on the key.

Downside for sleeping at the stables (and I am not sure if it's the same at Erana's Peace) - you don't recover all of your hit points (which is also annoying).
Strangely, the one brigand (one or two?) I've run into so far, seemed to go down easier than a goblin.
I keep going over to what I call the "goblin camp" and fighting until I am low on HP, just because I know I will typically get silver from them (and build up skills).
Except for when, it turns out to be four (or more - after killing one of three - it doesn't go down lol) - and I am forced to run.
Which I discovered, if you do this - there's no dead goblin to loot even if you killed a few (which is also annoying).
So my routine right now is mostly - goblin camp, fight till I am low on health, go back to the castle, practice if he's around, then stable work.
Then wait until it's night to sleep either at the stable, Erana's Peace, or the hermit's cave.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Can you wait until it's night-time? One of the things that annoyed me about QfG1 is that you're not allowed to rest for more than 10 minutes at a time, and even if you haven't rested fully, the game will often tell you "You are too impatient to rest right now".

Which makes me want to scream "No I'm not! I'm not fully healed up yet!"

Fortunately, this is fixed in QfG2, where you can rest for free at the Katta's Tail Inn for as long as you wish.

[Tawmis]

Hmm. Can you wait until it's night-time? One of the things that annoyed me about QfG1 is that you're not allowed to rest for more than 10 minutes at a time, and even if you haven't rested fully, the game will often tell you "You are too impatient to rest right now".
Which makes me want to scream "No I'm not! I'm not fully healed up yet!"
Fortunately, this is fixed in QfG2, where you can rest for free at the Katta's Tail Inn for as long as you wish.

You can rest for 10 minutes depending on Stamina. I think once your Stamina reaches whatever % that it begins to say, "You're too impatient now."

Because I've done "rest" and pressed enter, F3, enter, F3, etc - until it gives me that message - which will heal like 1 to 5 points of health and stamina.

I was thinking you could rest at the Inn in HQ/QFG1 - but apparently not the case. Which ... why call it an Inn then?

And to be clear, when I say "wait till it's night" - I mean do things like throw rocks, which brings down your stamina - then rest repeatedly. Rinse/repeat.

And I tested - resting at Erana's Peace gives full health and stamina vs the stable does not.

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh, yes. Throw rocks, climb trees etc. (By the way, the rocks in QfG1 look more like triangles made of paper. Did you notice?)

You can rest at the inn in QfG1. (By "inn", I presume you mean the Hero's Tale Inn by the gate, not the tavern where they serve bad drinks). It just costs money to rest there, but it's better rest - full health & stamina, like Erana's Peace - but less risky to get there.