Random Thoughts on Bloodwych

                    Sent in by Bill Wernham

(Mostly concerning a one-player game, though I have also
completed it as a two-player game.)

Your team is best made up with one of each of the character
classes ie a fighter, a mage, an adventurer, an archer.
Use the following combination for a well balanced team.

Class          Psyche Types           Magic Types

Fighter.........Spade..................Green
Mage............Clubs..................Yellow
Adventurer......Hearts.................Red
Archer..........Diamonds...............Blue

This  way each character will be able to use the magic  artifacts
relative to his/her magic alignment.

When buying spells, buy only in order that they are offered, and
only buy spells corresponding to the character's magic colour.
Do not be tempted to skip spells or dodge from colour to colour,
as most spells will be required to complete the game. When a
character has all the spells for his/her colour, then feel free
to let him/her pick and choose.

At the beginning of the game, select 3 of your chosen group, then
select, one by one, the other characters in the game, rob them of
all their goodies, then dismiss them and kill them. When this has
been done, then recruit your last member. You will need to do
this in order to get enough food to get you started in the game.

In a two-player game the same format applies, but share the loot
as food is really tight. It is a good idea for one of the two
players to select the skeleton as part of his/her team, as he
does not require food.


Set up your team in the following format:
Spade "Fighter"     Heart   "Adventurer"
Club  "Mage"        Diamond "Archer"

Your diamond is your best leader as he/she is the only one who
can see "magic walls". Also as he/she is your archer,  he/she
can also attack from a distance.

Always have attacking spells made up in advance.

Do not bother buying armour for your team at the traders, but
sell excess weapons instead. You will find more than enough
armour as you enter the game. In a two-player game it's best to
buy some, though you will find enough eventually.

When fighting monsters, never fight them head on. Find a square,
lead them to it and fight them there; that way you will be able
to attack from the side and from the back as you move around the
square.

In a two-player game, when food is getting tight, before you
attack a monster or character, trade with them first. Ask if they
have anything to sell. They will then sell you one item eg a
shield or sword. Buy it, then ask again if they have anything to
sell. They will then sell you food for 1 gold piece.  You will
have to repeat the asking and offering format, but at least you
get food. You should be able to get enough food to keep you going
using this method.

You will find magical rings for each colour. Only the character
with the same alignment can use the rings. The rings enable the
character to cast spells without using mana, but the rings must
be recharged after being used 5 times. Anybody who has a recharge
spell can recharge a ring. It is best to wear the ring in the
left hand (right one as you look at the screen)

Most puzzles are easy to work out, this is true more so in the
one-player game. In the two-player game you will have to work
together to solve some of the puzzles.

The game is played all on one level, the stairs are only a
means to go from one part to the next.

Monsters can open doors once you have opened them, so if you're
looking for a place to hide, remember to lock the door using a
common key if you don't want to be attacked in your sleep.

The mazes in the game are easily solved, as they mostly work on
the "spinner system".

There is one rather tricky puzzle in the one-player game, where
you have to collect a crystal from the wall. On the floor in
front of the crystal is a teleport system. In order to avoid
being teleported, you must leave one of your group in the
location where you would be teleported to. This also applies at
the end of the game when you place the crystals in their allotted
positions. In a two-player game, one of the players just remains
behind in these locations.