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As usual, there are always a large number of requests for hints and spoilers on lots of topics. Here I've tried to compile various hints and spoilers and organize them in some fashion. Feel free to Contact the Webmaster to contribute any suggestions, spoilers not included here, or links to sites that include hints. The various topics are sorted according to the date on which they were last updated or added.

Please Note: Many of these hints are based on the personal playing preferences of a wide variety of people and are included only as helpful suggestions. You might also want to check out the Redguard Cheats page which may contain those hints which are closer to cheating.

The Old Quarter - 23 February 1999

Early in the game you should be confronted with a large closed gate in town. You will soon find out that this is the old quarter of the city which was closed off and destroyed by Lord Richton's men and his dragon in an attempt to crush the Restless League and any remaining crowns. Later in the game you gain access via the jail exit, but there is actually another way you can reach it at any time (put on your running shoes though...:).

Face the closed gate and follow the wall around to the right. You should soon come to a dropoff into the water. If you look carefully you will see a very narrow ledge close to the wall. You actually can't use this to walk on it, I've tried (and tried, and tried...). Look a little beyond to start of the wall and you'll see where the dropoff isn't so steep. It is possible to run and jump to this spot from which you can easily walk to inside the old quarter. I made it the first try so I don't know if I just got lucky or if its easy to hit. At any rate, its very possible. There are several gold sacks and some health potions lying around, perhaps a good target when you first start the game. The image to the right shows the approximate path you want to take and where you would wish to jump to.

Jumping Into the Old Quarter

As for getting out of the old quarter. I've tried to return the way I came but to no avail. The only route I know of is via the water (the closest scalable shore is to the South).

Island Teleporters - 11 December 1998

You may have noticed in your travels several round pads with a symbol of a bird in them. These form a network of teleporters which you can use to speed your travel around the island with. To use them you'll need to buy the Canah? Feathers for Gerrick in the General Store for 10 gold apiece. Once you start acculumating wealth this is a trivial cost and you should have plently to spare for a good feather supply. You are teleported to the location to which you are pointing in (or the closest one). If you look carefully there are notches on each one supposedly indicating the valid directions to the destinations. I've found that these indications are quite incorrect. There are 6 teleporters scattered throughout the island and the approximate directions to be taken to the other locations are as follows:

1. Town: The main town teleporter is near Avik the snake charmer North-East or so from the docks.
   • E: Dragon Door
   • SW: Dwarven Ruins
   • S: Saintsport
   • W: Ogre Mountains
   • N to NW: Devils Den
2. Saintsport: This one is right in the middle of this abandoned town.
   • W to SE: Dwarven Ruins
   • NW: Ogre Mountains
   • N: Town
3. Dragon Door: There is another teleporter in the far North-East of the island beside a large door, most likely used by Lord Richton's dragon.
   • NE: Devils Den
   • SW: Town
4. Ogre Mountains: Another teleporter can be found in these mountains South-West of town and just North-East below the Dwarven brdiges.
   • W: Dwarven Ruins
   • NW to S: Devils Den
   • E: Town
   • SW: Saintsport
5. Devils Den: Found to the North-West of town South-East or so of the start of the docks to the Isle of N'Gasta.
   • W: Ogre Mountains
   • SE: Town
   • E: Dragon Door
6. Dwarven Ruins: In the mountains just South-East of the bridges and East of the path to the dwarven ruins.
   • E: Saintsport
   • W to SW:Ogre Mountains
   • NE: Town

Secret Island - 10 December 1998

While I was returning over the wooden bridge to the Isle of N'Gasta to kill the necromancer I noticed an island I hadn't seen before. I had fallen into the water in about the 4th or 5th section in and was waiting for the sharks to get me, but none did. Deciding to try to swim for shore I noticed an island and a bridge not connected to the main section, just South of the main bridge (I think). Unfortunately I was killed by a shark before I reached it. My curiousty having been pricked, I took a look at the small island while not in the water next time. On it was several potions and gold sacs (4 of each I think). Unfortunately to get to it required quite a swim. After a dozen failed attempts at swimming there I noticed that a particular area of water surrounding the island contained no sharks. Instead of heading straight for the island I went around the backside of it and managed to make it up without confronting anything deadly. Once on the island you'll have to swim back to short, avoiding any of the shark infested waters again.

Healing - 5 April 1999

Although it may not seem it at first in the game, there are many ways of healing Cyrus with a wide range of associated costs. Here are the methods that I've found so far:

1. Health Potions: Health potions heal 15 health and cost 25 gold each at the mages guild. Additionally, lots can be found throughout your adventures (mostly in the various dungeons). Using the 'H' key makes you consume one of these potions.
2. Nidal at the Temple: Brother Nidal at the temple of Arkay can heal you to 100 health for only 25 gold. Use this as opposed to health potions whenever you are in town to save some cash. Note that after you get Kithral's diary and show it to Brother Nidal, he'll heal you for free (guess he doesn't mind picking up the tab).
3. Glass Bottle: Once you find the glass bottle in the destroyed hut South-West of town you can get very cheap heals. The first is absolutely free, merely fill up the bottle with pure water at the well in town. There are 20 uses held in the bottle healing 5 points each. Use this only if you have very little cash. You can increase the amount healed by purchasing Aloe from Gerrick at the general store. Mix the aloe in the water bucket and fill the bottle. This time each of the 20 uses heals 15 points, just as a health potion. The Aloe costs 15 for 3 sticks, or 5 gold each. Each Aloe stick creates 20 healing potions making the overall cost only 0.25 gold per heal, the best healing source you can find in the game. Note that pressing the 'H' key uses the potion in the glass bottle before any health potions.
4. Bandage: When you visit the Restless League's hideout you can obtain two bandages. Each heals 30 health once when used.
5. Demon Statue: The red demon statue North West of Saintsport can also heal you. Approach the figure from the front and climb onto the base so you're facing his stomach. If you offer a gold piece you will be healed 10 points. A good price if you are in the area and need healing.
6. Confronting Richton: This really isn't a method since it only happens once. After you deliver the amulet and confront Lord Richton you will be thrown into a cell in the catacombs. When this happens you are automatically healed to 100 health, so don't bother wasting health potions during the previous fight unless absolutely required.

Fighting Tips - 5 April 1999

One of the most frustrating things when I first started the game was continually losing at sword fights...even the easiest opponent could often beat me. Here are a few tips that I've picked up along the way that may help you.

1. Patience: This is really the key thing in any fight. The game is not a shoot-em-up action game where you need quick reflexe to survice. Rather, a good wit and a little strategy go much furthur. Often I lose or am badly wounded when I try to rush my victory. A good offense is a good defense they say.
2. Practice: Your first stop when you start the game should be the Draggin Tale inn. After you talk to your friend Tobais and the barkeep Dreekius the chaps sitting at the table drinking can be easily convinced into a fight. You lose no health while fighting them and it is good experience combatting multiple opponents. Please note that these lads are quite drunk and are about the worst fighters in Stros M'Kai.
3. Aiming: This is actually one of the more difficult aspects I think. Unless you are lined up exactly with your opponent you will not hit him, and if you are too much out of line you cannot defend yourself either (unfortunately your opponents never seem to have a problem aiming for you). I think angle over which you can hit someone should be expanded to be a little more forgiving... but until it is here how I manage. The easiest way is to line up your right foot to point towards, if not slightly to the right, of your opponent. This is not so hard with one opponent but when you are fighting several in a small space it can get quite busy. If you swing and don't hit anything try rotating just a bit and try again.
4. Space: I've found that your opponent is more likely to hit you if they are closer to you. Try to maintain a pace or so distance, enough to retreat quickly but still allowing you to hit them. This is especially difficult in tight spaces. Note that you can make your opponent retreat slowly by pushing them (I haven't been able to push anyone over a cliff yet).
5. Jumping: An interesting move is attacking while jumping. If you can get the timing right you kill some foes without them being able to attack. The manouver goes something like: Defend Off-Jump-Attack-Defend On. This works best when you are downhill from your opponent, otherwise you'll have to attack later on during the jump. If you are hit before or while you start jumping your attack will always miss I find. You will have to adjust your attack time when in the air. I've found that while fighting on level ground I have to attack at the top of my jump. As long as your opponent does not attack you on the way up or before you attack him, it appears that he cannot hit you.
6. Facing Your Opponent: This sounds simple enough but can be tricky when fighting multiple opponents. They will usually sound off whenever they switch but I've seen people attack me from behind without much warning. It took me a few fights to get to know where to face to most effectively hit and defend.
7. Auto-Defend: This lifesaver will make Cyrus perfectly defend any incoming attacks if you aren't doing anything else at the time (although I think you can move around). I'd reccommend using this at least for a while when starting the game. Once your fighting skills increase you can turn this off (using F7) and how truly skilled you are.
8. Slash: The single slash is one of your basic moves. It is quick, which minimizes the amount of time your not defending but is short range.
9. Thrust: I find this move (Forward+Attack) to be one of the better attacks mostly due to its speed and range. If you miss you can quickly go back on the defense and it reaches farther than a slash.
10. Lunge: This has a furthur range than the thrust but I find it harder to pull off on the keyboard. Also, if you miss you are more vulnerable to an attack.
11. Running: If you hold the SHIFT key down with your sword out, you will run instead of walk. This is useful for putting a little distance between you and your opponent to quaff a few heals or to get in a more defensive position.

Finding Gold - 10 December 1998

Your survival in Stros M'Kai depends primarily on your health, your health on your supply of healing potions, and those potions on your spare gold. Furthur, gold can buy lots of other useful things, some of them required at one time or another. Please note that you can carry at most 500 gold. Heres a few places to find some extra cash:

1. Guards and other monsters generally carry some gold, if your sword skill is up to getting it.
2. Kotaro, the bald guy sitting on the docks, can give you a job paying 100 before, and 200 after you deliver an amulet from N'Gasta to Richton. If you have more than 300 gold you will lose some due to the 500 gold limit. You can collect the gold anytime until you defeat N'Gasta later on, making it a great safety resource in case your supply runs low.
3. In the lower harbour tower (near the docks with stairs leading to a 2nd story door), a chest in the bottom floor contains some gold.
4. In the town of Saintsport at the south end of the island is a house with some gold and potions lying around. There is also some gold lying outside in the town. Watch out for the crazy person here who will attack you.
5. South, down the shore from Saintsport is a ship wreck with some gold...and another crazy person to attack you.
6. North from the shipwreck is a skeleton of a large creature with some gold lying around.
7. North and slightly West from the bridge over the waterfall is a small cave with gold and yet another madman.
8. Supposedly if you also rhyme when you talk to the parrot you will find the location of 300 gold in buried treasure. This may be a one time offer since once you talk to the parrot you can't find anything out afterwards (or so I've found when I tried).

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