Date: Thu, 08 May 1997 22:35:33 -0400
From: Michael Brawley <pusk@internetmci.com>
Subject: DWFAQ v 1.1
DARK WIZARD FAQ V 1.1
Here you go, an update to version 1.1, some things I have added are things
like the new Mysteries section, and otherwise general corrections. I am busy
playing through with the only ruler I have not beaten the game with yet,
Amon. So now my information should be a little more precise. Anything new or
changed/corrected in any way is marked with an asterik.
Here are is some basic info
CHARACTERS____________________________________________________________________________
THE RULERS
ARMER XIII- Armer is a powerful character in the field of battle, however
he leaves much to be desired in the field of MAGIC. Generally I
consider Armer the easiest character to use, seeing as how I tackled
the entire mainland Cheshire with him in under three months. Not only
that but his armies seem to function more effectively. Armer has
the best Economy and Command Stats. He gains money quickly and thus
makes best use of hired characters
ROBIN- Robin is perhaps one of my favorite characters to use. Robin has
extremely high attack stats, and relatively high command and economy
stats. Robin is the second easiest character to go through the game
with. Robin's magic is decent, while useful she has MEGAHEAL instead
of the more powerful and useful MEGARESTORE. Robin's armies tend to
move a little slow, but nonetheless, powerful.
CRYSTAL- Crystal has the most powerful magic, by far. On the other hand
however, she is best kept OUT OF BATTLE. If she is ganged up on she
can be killed quickly. Crystal is a very efficient character. Her
economy strength is listed as 90 in the game, this is BS. She recieves
a significant amount less money than Armer and Robin. When using
Crystal be careful as to how many troops you hire.
AMON- Amon is easily the hardest character to use. He has very few summon
creatures that actually help, and in addition to that his economic
strength is 10, so you have to be very careful with hired characters.
However Amon does have the benefit of powerful magic (MEGARESTORE to
say the least) and one of my favorite creatures, the Lichs. When using
Amon, keep him off the front line, he's best left standing on the
castle and chanting spells (i.e. Blade Storm)
THE SUB-CHARACTERS__________________________________________________________
DIANA (Armer)- Diana is Armers sub-warrior character. She has strong
offensive power. Generally keep on the front line, and she'll gain
a good amount of levels. She can easily form the front line and hold
it.
* MARIE (Armer) Also one of Armer's sub characters. She is the Sub-magician.
She is not a particularly useful character. She tends to die quickly
because her magic is too short-ranged. Make use of her as best you
can.
DAVID (Robin)- David is Robin's Sub-warrior. David wasn't a particularly
useful character either. He doesn't gain attack power fast enough and
thus tends to lag behind your hired warriors. David is however still
a useful character in the sense that later on he gains enough strength
to be strong. Stick with him, condition him if you need to.
KAIL (Robin)- Kail is Robin's Sub-Preist. Kail is perhaps the absolute
most useless Sub-Character in the game. He doesn't have very good
healing spells at his disposal, and he dies very easily. This is an
exceptional pain in the A$$ when finishing off Karmak. Trying to
condition him to prevent him from being useless is also exceptionally
difficult, because healing spells do not give much experience, and the
only other way to get it is on the front line, exposed to all the
enemies.
MARCUS (Crystal)- Marcus is a useful character. He tends to do a lot of
damage when he strikes. He is also rather durable. keep him on the
front line and he is very useful.
KATRINA (Crystal)- Katrina is Crystal's apathetic Sub-Preist. Katrina
is useful in the sense that she's not so weak she's incapable like
Kail. Keep Katrina on the second line and when a monster is knocked
down to 1 HP or so, give it to her, and she should be just fine.
ANDREW (Amon)- Andrew is also a useful Sub-Warrior. He is similar to
Marcus in just about every aspect.
* SUSAN (Amon)- I don't even know where to begin with Susan. The programmers
obviously made a little boo-boo when laying in her stats. Despite being
a Sub-Magician, when she reaches fourth-class she gains 24 attack power
per level. She quickly and easily soars to unbelievable attack power.
I got to level 80 and she had over 1200 attack power. I easily killed
Karmak with her, and even brought Velonese down in a single blow. In
addition the this, she is also the only character in the entire game
that can get all four summon element spells, despite thier relative
uselessness.
GAMEPLAY____________________________________________________________________
Now as for actually playing the game. Here a few discrepancies, and
important gameplay notes I have found.
THE TIME LIMIT- The instruction book says that easy difficulty setting
gives you more time before Arliman returns, this is BS. All the easy
setting does is start you with 6 units instead of 3. I reality the is no
time limit. When the game reaches the month of Mauge (I think it's mauge)
on about the 20th day it backs up to Gren. You cannot ever run out of
time. I guess the designers never figured you'd have to play that long.
GAME EVENTS- It is very important to note that many events in the game
cannot and will not occur until you have talked to certain people. So the
lesson in this is TALK TO EVERYONE.
GOOD vs EVIL- No matter who you pick you always start with a fighter,
and fighters are always good. So this allows the armies of the evil
characters to use more of the weapons in the game.
ARLIMAN'S RETURN- No matter how long you wait, it will never happen
the only way to fight Arliman and truly complete the game is by having
your ruler use the Light Jewel. You are then confronted by Sabrina, who
tells you she will unlock Arliman, if you agree then she says she will
release him in 10 days. Again no matter how long you wait it will never
happen. You only fight Arliman AFTER you finish off Velonese.
UNUSABLE CHARACTERS- Certain unique characters in the game cannot be
acquired in any way, these characters include but are not limited to,
the ninja girl, ninja guy, and Kimberly. For the ninja girl it makes no
sense for them to waste time drawing a character you cannot get, however
no matter what, you cannot get her, so don't waste your time trying.
MONSTERS AND TROOPS----------------------------------------------------------
SERPENTS- The Serpents are very useful. They have astronomical HP and
Attack. A little slow, but a recommended monster.
PEGASI- They are weak and vulnerable. They however deal a lot of
damage to undead, useful up to Aracna, but after that they are
essentially worthless.
CENTAURS- Rather useful up to certain point. They make excellent support
troops, being the only monster with a ranged attack
* CHIMAERAS- Useful flying support troops, they move quickly and grow
slowly, stick with them.
MANTICORES- They are absolutely identical to chimaeras.
HYDRAS- While they are much like serpents, they are far less useful, they
grow slow and move even slower, good maybe for holding a defense para-
meter.
DRAGONS- LAWFUL (Fire)- Belong solely to Armer, they are cool looking
and very powerful.
NEUTRAL (Ice)- Belong to Robin, they are slow to grow and
while still useful they tend be less efficient.
CHAOTIC (Wyverns)- Belong to Crystal, the only flying dragon,
and incidentally the coolest. (Especially the Wyvern Rider)
UNDEAD (Zombie)- Belong to Amon, weak, slow, and generally
the most useless dragon in the game, you do however need on the get
a dragon rider.
SKELETONS- Completely useless. Slow, powerless, slow to advance, and weak
LICHS- Very useful, have paralyze attacks.
COCKATRICES- They have a stoning attack, but are too slow to stay on the
front line, and it doesn't work very often.
ROCS/PHEONIXES- They fly, they spit fire, but they don't do much damage.
HARPIES- The fly, the throw ice, they are a little stronger than rocs,
generally more useful.
HIRED PERSONNEL
ELVES- Make good archers and magicians, but shouldn't be made warriors.
DWARVES- Make good warriors, but they're slow. Never make a dwarf wizard.
HOBBITS- Make excellent priests, but sorry anything else.
HUMANS- Nothing spectacular, make decent in any warrior class, and always
have good movement.
Warriors---
Archers (Neutral)- They are powerful and ranged, use aplenty, can also
use swords, but not very well.
Knights (Lawful)- You always have at least one, rather useful, can use
spears, which tend to be powerful.
Berserkers (Chaotic)- Really big, really strong. However, only Amon and
Crystal can use them. :(
Magic Users---
Priests- Nessecary troop support, always make them hobbits. Neutral
priest become monks, and ultimately druids, who are powerful fighters.
Wizards- Not nessecary, but fun. Keep them off the front line when
possible, evil ones are the best, they become Warlocks.
STRATEGY--------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are a few long time strategy secrets and tricks of mine, they will
get you out of jams, and help you persevere.
THE RETREAT TRICK- Best soldier on a search mission, enter a battle and
immediately retreat, you lose nothing, and you troop is again
available. (Just make sure you post guards)
THE ROLLING LINE STRATEGY- When I play, I have my troops form two front
lines. The alpha rolls forward and destroys the first wave of enemy
troops, allowing the Beta to roll in and destroy the second wave. It
continues like that for turn after turn, providing an inexorable
advance.
CONDITIONING- Remember you get experience for getting hit. If your troop
can take a full turn of abuse from six enemies, single him out, and
restore him every turn. He will gain levels quickly.
SURROUNDING- When you get close to an enemy ruler, punch into his summon
hexes adjacent to him, and he can't summon anything new there.
CIRCLE ATTACK- Split into two main groups and go in reverse circles to
your target, the computer tends to completely ignore one of them.
* DEMON BEATING- If the enemy ruler drops below about 30% health, he/she
will always (well just about) use Megarestore. Beat up on him for a
while to gain levels.
* AVOID INSTRUCTION BOOK STRATEGY- The instruction book says to deploy
slower troops first. NEVER EVER do that. It causes giant traffic
jams, especially on certain maps. Always deploy the SLOWER troops
LAST.
* THE CASTLE GUARD DILEMMA- Always keep in mind that you can only post
guards to three castles at a time. I have worked my self into
really bad strategic situations here before.
* RULER CONDITIONING- Is your ruler down and weak (Fighting Karmak and
still first level?) Than go into a battle and march, alone, straight
towards the enemy ruler. He'll surround you pretty quick. Watch your
HP and then chant spells like Hellfire and Melt Earth. Be patient
and watch your levels fly.
THE OPPOSERS-----------------------------------------------------------------
ARACNA- A strategic idiot, He uses lichs a lot though so be swift to
kill.
AQUA- He simply tries to overwhelm you, he summons as much as possible.
Rolling line is very useful, but don't underestimate him.
SHEENA- She is very smart, but a little slow to the punch. She tries to
build larger armies for attack, which allows you to sweep in close
faster. She also makes avid use of flying creatures and that annoying
teleport spell. She has little HP however and will fall quickly.
KARMAK- He is a dick. He is smart and uses similar strategy to Aqua. At
the same time he makes avid use of zombie dragons and lichs. Be cautious
wedge a person next to him as soon as possible, so he stops summoning
dragons.
* VELONESE- Velonese uses brute force. He summons large creatures with
unrelenting consistency. Otherwise though, he is strategically
challenged.
* ARLIMAN- Arliman is tough (if you don't have Susan). Keep in mind
you must have Slayer to deal the final point of damage to him, and
also keep in mind that you can deploy troops ANYWHERE in the castle.
Plug up the monster generators as fast as possible. He follows
similar strategy to Velonese but smarter. He has some 1000 HP (IN
HIS FIRST FORM).
* WARLORD- Exactly like Velonese, but smaller creatues, and much
dumber.
THE NO-NOS-------------------------------------------------------------------
* NEVER- Deploy less than 12 troops, if you do the computer does stuff
like summon a class four lich every turn, which is nearly impossible
to stop.
NEVER- Forget to update equipment. It may be expensive but when you're
getting you but kicked, you'll be sorry you didn't buy it.
And Finally,
NEVER EVER- Let your ruler get singled out, or venture out on his or her
own. That's an excellent way to get them killed. * (unless... see
strategy section)
SOME SECRETS-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE TIME GLASS- One, you must pray in the church where they talk about
the hobbit rod one-hundred times in a row, they give the hobbit rod.
Dig in a patch in the middle of a small wasteland a few maps south.
Two, search the spire of land below Velonese's castle during battle.
When activated BY YOUR RULER, these give you another turn free.
THE GHOST SCYTHE- A small one space island to the east contains an item
called the rusty whip. Take it to the dwarf town and have it tempered.
You get the ghost scythe, A powerful weapon for evil priests.
BEAST RIDERS- In the game you recieve three items, the Dragon Ring, the
Flying Cloth, and the Flying Saddle. When one of your fourth class
warrior types use these items next to beasts, they become beast riders.
The Dragon Ring gives a Dragon Rider, the Flying Cloth a W. Horse rider,
and the Flying Saddle, a Griffin Rider.
FIGHTING ARLIMAN- To fight Arliman, have you ruler use the Light Jewel.
* SHINOBI HAMLET- Have a troop holding the Shinobi Knife search the strange
looking tree on Little Algain Island. Behold the Shinobi Hamlet. Any 4th
class warrior type can train to become a ninja. When you do, they turn
into Shinobi. However you can only train ONE ninja.
ELEMENTAL WEAPONS- Search the castle where an enemy ruler made thier last
stand and find thier elemental weapons.
* GOLD AND SILVER AXE- Take a troop carrying a battle axe to the town of
Spring at noon and go to the town square, your troop will drop the
battle axe in the fountain. A girl will then show up and retrieve your
axe for you. First she comes back with the Gold Axe, don't lie, admit
that it isn't yours (otherwise it only has 5 attack power and is only
worth 1900 gold). Second she comes back with the Silver Axe, again
decline the axe. Finally she comes back with your Battle Axe, now
say it's yours, she responds with "No way, no one would use a crummy
axe like this, how about I give you both these axes instead," now you
get both the Gold and Silver Axes, the Gold has 35 attack and is
worth 19000 gold, the Silver has 45 attack is effective aginst undead
and is worth 10000 gold. If you're playing Robin or Armer just sell
them, otherwise... (I LOVE WARLORDS)
* THE GRIFFIN CAVE- Somewhere on the southern tip of Karmak's island
there is a cave where you can get free Griffins. Take your ruler's
Sub-Warrior there at Evening (I think) and you can get free
Griffins to add to your army, (This is so you can always get a
Griffin Rider).
* THE WINGED HORSE FOREST- In the northern area of Karmak's Island is
a forest just above a castle, have your Sub-Priest/Magician search
the dead center of this forest, Behold free Winged Horses. (This
serves the same purpose as above, so you can always have a W. Horse
rider.)
* THE HIDDEN GREAT SWORD- Somewhere in Aracna's territory is a small
one hex island, search it, behold a free Great Sword.
* THE BOAT- On the same map with the Wind Shrine, there is a town in
the upper left corner of the map, search the hexes the town is on,
and behold, a boat that allows the character carrying it to traverse
on water.
* THE HERO ARMOR AND SHIELD- In the southern region of the map, near Asai
castle are two demolished towns, search them to find the Hero Armor
and Shield, If you are playing Robin or Armer, give them to your Ruler.
* THE GAIA ARMOR- Near Tara castle is a cave guarded by a serpent, kill
serpent and take a DWARF character into the cave. He can move the
boulder and save the guys inside. As reward you are given Gaia Armor,
which can be used by Mages and Priests.
* MYSTERIES--------------------------------------------------------------------
As much as I have played this game, some things still baffle me....
THE USELESS SPRING- Near Karmak's island and just a couple castles
east of Cheshire is a strange area where there a three mountains
arranged in a triangle in the middle of a forest. Search in the
center of these mountains, and you will find a spring which put
quite bluntly, does absolutely nothing in the game. What I think
it may be related to is some way to get free dragons as you can
griffins and w. horses.
If you know anything about these, please drop me a line, and will investigate
If your info gets me anywhere, I post it in this FAQ and give you credit for
the leading info. Would be much appreciated
OTHER------------------------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ has been written for you by:
Veritech (James Brawley)
If you wish to contact me, please E-mail: (Let me know what you want to
see in the next update)
pusk@internetmci.com (The address is not registered to me,
but my brother instead)
And finally I hope you enjoy this game, and can avoid the frustrations I
met when playing through, courtesy of my advice.
SO, HAPPY WAR TO YOU.
--Boundary_(ID_4Y+KGrLAJIgEBOEHodIebQ)--
