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I never finished Shadows of Darkness. Not only because of the famous speed crashes, but because of an event dead end I didn't find out about until many years later. I know now that you need to sleep in the inn the first few nights until the domovoi lets you recover Tanya's doll.

Before I take another shot at this, I was wondering if there are any other known plot dead-ends that I need to anticipate to keep the game moving?

jpnuar1 wrote:I never finished Shadows of Darkness. Not only because of the famous speed crashes, but because of an event dead end I didn't find out about until many years later. I know now that you need to sleep in the inn the first few nights until the domovoi lets you recover Tanya's doll.

Before I take another shot at this, I was wondering if there are any other known plot dead-ends that I need to anticipate to keep the game moving?

Not that I remember. But I only played QFGIV once or twice (probably due to speed bugs). So I don't have it committed to memory. Other people can probably better answer this. I do remember QFGIV being pretty difficult...

QfG4 can be pretty difficult, but the logic behind sleeping at the inn is sound - especially during the first few nights, and even more so if you don't have strong stats.

For a start, Mordavian nights are far more dangerous than Mordavian days because you get more random encounters, and against far more dangerous monsters. It is wise not to wander too far away from town, and to make a map as you go.

What makes QfG4 even more challenging is the fact that you can't get more than one healing potion and poison cure potion per day (at least from Dr Cranium). You can get more if you find the Thieves' Guild. So it is best to stay away from battle, at least to start with, and to train up your stats at the Adventurers' Guild.

I don't think there are any other logic-based dead-ends. There are other dead-ends if your computer is too fast - e.g. the infamous Error 52 and others.

To sum up, QfG4 may be challenging, but it is definitely worth it. Once you win, try it out with other classes too. They have their own paths and their own quests.

Good luck!

Thanks, although actually making it around Mordavia was never the big challenge for me. Back in the day I got to the point where I maxed all my stats and was just waiting for the plot to move forwards again (I got caught up sleeping at either of Erana's gardens to see where the visions went, and by the time they were done, I had missed the domovoi). Since finding the DOSBox installers here I've been replaying the first four games and am back in Shadows of Darkness now. As of so far it seems to be progressing as it should.

I think QFG4 is fairly merciful when it comes to Sierra-style dead-ends. Other than the Domovoi bug you mentioned, the series in general isn't known for its curve-balls, especially when each puzzle has 2-3 ways to solve it. Just save before wandering into the woods, entering a strange place or kissing strangers.

Or the monastery... doggone monastery! So many ways to die!