THE ELDER SCROLLS CHAPTER 2: DAGGERFALL FAQ, version 0.97
*Authors:
Dave Humphrey [email protected]
Andrew Frankling [email protected]
Michael Bodenhoff [email protected]
CHANGES SINCE THE LAST EDITION (version 0.96)
1) Updated Demo Information
2) Updated DAGGERFALL Preview
3) Updated Monster Descriptions
4) Updated Bug Alert! Section
5) Updated DAGGERFALL FAQ Locations
6) Expanded Wrap Up Section.
7) Updated information about the DAGGERFALL Box Cover Artwork
8) Updated DAGGERFALL Release Date
9) Added an Assumption to the Encounters Section
10) Updated DAGGERFALL Description
11) Renamed DAGGERFALL System Requirements Area & Updated it
========== INDEX ===================================================
(1) General Information - Answer to some basic questions
(2) Description of DAGGERFALL - What features DAGGERFALL will include
(3) DAGGERFALL Previews - Info about the Poster and Screenshots
(4) Encounters - Info on what you are up against
(5) Artifacts - Serious Hardware
(6) Bug Alert! - No it isn't only your computer
(7) Information about BETHESDA Softworks - Some info on an awesome
company
(8) DAGGERFALL Information Sources - Where to find DAGGERFALL
information, where all this came from
(9) Wrap Up - That's all for now
====================================================================
(1) GENERAL INFORMATION =============================================
What is DAGGERFALL anyway?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ELDER SCROLLS (TES) CHAPTER 2:DAGGERFALL is the
sequel to the award winning role playing game TES:ARENA released
in 1993. DAGGERFALL will be 'free-form' 1st person perspective
(you know, like DOOM) role playing game. A 'free-form' game
is a game in which the player has a large, sometimes infinite, choice
of what to do, unlike some games where the player has to do
everything in a given order in at given time and sequence. See (2)
for a detailed description of what features DAGGERFALL will include.
When will DAGGERFALL be released?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
*The current official Bethesda policy is "Late January 1996". If you
order the DAGGERFALL Limited Edition you are "guaranteed" to get
it earlier than this.
Its release date was initially going to be February 1995.
Tell me about the Demo
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The DAGGERFALL Demo is out.
The demo is currently 10.3 MB zipped (46 MB unzipped), which
includes a swap file on your hard drive similar to the one in
Windows 3.1x.
It is available from:
http://www.bethsoft.com/cgi-bin/daggerfall.cgi:
http://happypuppy.com/games/link/daggerfa.htm
Is should eventually be available from CDs on Game Magazines.
Download dagdemo1.zip (5.38MB), dagdemo2.zip (4.71MB) &
dagread.me file (2KB)
Both zip files must be unzipped with the -d option. The demo does
not work with the Matrox Millenium video card; a fix is being worked
on. Windows 95 users must boot to DOS before playing the demo.
It includes demo versions of the character generator, the item
maker, the potion maker, the spell maker, a tour of sites of interest,
and a playable dungeon. Your character is a pregenerated male
16th level spellsword. There is no save in the demo. The Demo's
3D rotatable automapping function combines the areas covered by
your various dungeon attempts; until you log out of the demo proper.
*The dungeon is off the pit of jagadha. It consists of 4 8x8x8 3D
blocks. Each block loosely has 8 "levels": there are many partial
levels, intersecting ramps between the levels, stairs, balconies,
overhangs and rooms with different height ceilings. (Prepare to get
lost. The map won't be out for some time.)
So how do I order DAGGERFALL & What is In the Limited Edition?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You can order the DAGGERFALL Limited Edition from the online Bethesda
shop at:
http://www.bethsoft.com/cgi-bin/order.cgi
It can also be ordered by ringing 1-800-677-0700, which is toll free
for American customers.
It can also be ordered by mail:
Customer Service-DAGGERFALL Pre-Order
Bethesda Softworks
1370 Piccard Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
Bethesda accepts all major credit cards, money orders, certified
checks, cashier's check and personal checks. All certified
checks, money orders, cashier's checks and personal checks
must be in US dollars. Your credit card will not be charged
until the game ships. Personal checks will be cashed in September
to ensure that it clears prior to shipping the game.
The "credits" that you get for registering on the Bethesda WWW page
are worth $US0.50 each when you order the game.
The serialised limited edition of 10,000 copies costs $US99.99.
Shipping costs are currently being determined for non-American
customers. The Limited Edition includes:
- the DAGGERFALL demo will be shipped to you upon release
- DAGGERFALL will be delivered to you before its general
release
- a Limited Edition DAGGERFALL T-Shirt (100% cotton) Features
the DAGGERFALL Box Cover design on a black background
- a "World of Tamriel" mousepad
- a Limited Edition DAGGERFALL poster
- overnight Federal Express Delivery included in the US
Orders for the regular edition are not yet being accepted.
*What are the system requirements/recommendations for DAGGERFALL?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently, the minimum system requirements stand at:
- 486DX2/50 MHz IBM PC or compatible running DOS 5.0+
- 8MB RAM
- 512-540KB Base Memory (Not Yet Finalised)
- 2x CD-ROM Drive
- VLB or PCI VGA graphics card
- Minimum of 30Mb Hard Drive Space
- Supports: Aria, Ensoniq, Roland, SoundBlaster, UltraSound.
Bethesda uses the Miles Design sound drivers
- Joystick or Microsoft compatible mouse.
There are some added features for gamers with systems that exceed
the minimum requirements.
*Debate is currently raging among DAGGERFALL Demo Gamers whether or
*not it runs slowly. Here are some tips to help you optimise its
*performance:
*1) While you can run the Demo on 8MB RAM, 16 MB is strongly
*recommended
*2) Your character will move faster is you use the mouse for
*movement, rather than the keyboard. Remember the further the cursor
*is away from the centre of the screen, the faster you will move.
*3) In your CONFIG.SYS file, set FILES=99 & BUFFERS=55.
*4) In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, create a 2MB SmartDrive utilising
*the /X switch.
Whats this I hear about the sequels to DAGGERFALL?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Details remain sketchy. I doubt that even Bethesda has thought this
through fully yet. Whether there will be add-on mission disks for
DAGGERFALL will depend on the amount of requests Bethesda gets.
Bethesda does have plans to do a Gold Enhanced Edition of DAGGERFALL.
The sequel to DAGGERFALL: "THE ELDER SCROLLS
CHAPTER 3", may run under SVGA. It will probably not be a native
Windows 95 application. You will be able to import your character
}from DAGGERFALL, meaning that the opinions that the various NPC
Types have formed about your character will be carried over.
====================================================================
(2) DESCRIPTION OF DAGGERFALL ======================================
*TES: DAGGERFALL is set in the area of Tamriel surrounding the Iliac
*Bay. The Bay is bordered by 2 of Tamriels Provinces, Hammerfall
*and High Rock. DAGGERFALL includes many additions and improvements
*to the ARENA gameworld such as:
An SGI Machine was used to create a 3-D, texture-mapped
engine, Bethesda's new full, 3-D X(n)gine(Tm) (also used in
Bethesda's THE TENTH PLANET and the soon-to-be-released
Terminator: Future Shock), which promises to redefine the
role-playing genre. The new engine allows quicker actions,
unrestricted viewing angles and complete freedom of movement.
Having taken 3 years to make, this powerful proprietary
technology allows full 360 degree rotation with fully
textured polygons, multiple shaded light sources, VGA
graphics and specialised video effects. The X(n)gine can
create weather such as snow, sleet, and fog, as well as
realistic shading and a fully contoured fractal terrain. In
DAGGERFALL, the player can stop by a stream and watch a
waterfall while listening to the ambient sounds of birds and
running water, and thus actually feel like they are there.
- the X(n)gine will not support 3D Accelerated GFX boards in
the initial DAGGERFALL release; but it is certainly planned
- the video refresh rate will vary depending upon what is on
the screen at any given time. The 3D X(n)gine should average
between 16-20 frames per second and should probably never
have to do more than 40. It has no ceiling.
- a fully topographical landscape with elevations marked every
6 metres, an area the size of Turkey
- thousands of towns, fortresses and villages to explore
- texture maps considerably more complex and detailed than
ARENA's, allowing for larger, even multi-story buildings.
- much improved plot over ARENA; your character is asked to
undertake a special mission for the Emperor and obtain
artifacts before rival groups of the court of the town of
DAGGERFALL can get them & use them to instigate an uprising.
In investigating the court of DAGGERFALL, stories of madness,
unrequited love, dark sorcery, seduction, betrayal, and a plot
to recreate a powerful force from thousands of years past
will be revealed.
- the plot is a lot more "active" than ARENAs, involving many
non player character types. For example, you can arrive
at a town to find it under siege
- keeping with TES "open ended" philosophy, it is even
technically possible to win by working against the Emperor
- conversation remains handled via a menu driven branching
strategy, with the new feature of being able to select
your conversational goal.
- greatly improved player interaction with NPCs, both in
dialogue and action. For example, depending on the
circumstances, the completion of say a mini-quest by a
character will be remembered later on either
positively or negatively by a particular NPC social
group, a NPC, a NPC's family, the NPC's allies or enemies,
or all of the above. DAGGERFALL keeps track of your
characters reputation with each NPC. This applies even
to characters that are imported into later games in the TES
series. Player language skills, though based on the common
tongue, will reflect specific groups & social affiliations
and will also affect interaction with NPCs. Character
clothing, weapons & armour, which can be changed in shops,
also affects NPC interactions
- adventure in intricately designed caves, castles, homes,
highlands, lowlands, rivers, cliffs, sand dunes, swamps,
underwater and different dimensions: a whole range of
environments
- many objects in the world have mass and can be moved or
picked up by the character. These objects follow the normal
laws of physics eg. inertia. Some objects, such as houses
and pebbles, can't be moved.
- buy & use houses, castles, ships and other crafts. Property
can be furnished with furniture & treasure. Option
available which will protect your property against burglary.
- travel from town to town by foot, horseback, horse drawn
carriage or ship. Beware! you can be attacked while using
any of these transport methods.
- use banks to safely deposit gold, get letters of credit &
take out 1 or 3 year loans to finance large purchases
- join guilds, temples & knightly orders to help enhance
your character's reputation with various social groups;
trade goods and services, even smuggle
- new spells include identify, polymorph, shadow, slowfall,
telekinesis, teleportation, waterbreathing and water walking:
there are some 78 standard types
- create more unusual and powerful spells with the spellmaker
- customizable spell duration icon which flashes towards the
end of the spell period
- new improved special effects eg. polymorphing
- surface dependent walking sounds
- 3-D graphical movement is handled much more efficiently
than in ARENA
- random monster encounter will be largely done away with. It
will only occur where it has a direct relationship to the
plot, or in a "cleared out" dungeon in a period of time
- Each created character, must take 3 primary
skills, 3 major skills, and 6 minor skills. When characters
begin the game, they are naturally better at the primary and
major skills, and worse at the minor and miscellaneous skills
(the latter being the skills not chosen, but in which
advancement can still be made with great difficulty). It is
easiest to advance in primary and major skills, because of
the formula used to check the chance of increasing a point
every night, and due to you're character being most likely to
use the primary and major skills and thus advance in them.
Advancement of your character's primary and major skills will
cause them to advance in their class as well.
- customizable character classes. Characters will be able to
take on up to 7 special advantages/disadvantages, which
will increase/decrease the amount of experience needed
to make the next level.
- Bethesda has attempted to reduce the potential power of high
level characters in DAGGERFALL by including negative effects
for some of the items produced by the ItemMaker and by
ensuring that, for instance, "high level characters face up
against up high level monsters". There will be no
"levelling up" like that occurring in ARENA, an orc
will remain a weak monster, regardless of your level
increasing the relative "toughness" of some of the monsters
* - the imbalance in ARENA towards spellcasting character
* classes has been partly addressed by allowing all non-spell
* casting classes in DAGGERFALL spell points equal to half
* their intelligence.
- advanced, multi-channel, digitized sound effects and music
- although speech will be a part of the game, there was not
enough room to implement full speech
- enjoy a large variety of song/ballad lyrics written
especially for DAGGERFALL
- a large variety of quests and adventures offered by
individuals and guilds
- a standard character generator similar to ARENA will also be
available, allowing you to choose one of the 18 character
* types from that game
- create potions and magical items as an extension of ARENA'S
SpellMaker. Like in character creation, items can be made
more powerful if a side effect is included
- Magical items appear with a green background in your
inventory
- have eavesdropping ability
- you can choose an option so that the terrain will have an
affect on your constitution
- read virtual books graphically covering aspects of Tamriel
- Like ARENA, the layout of major dungeons are fixed. The
random dungeons will be more variable than those in ARENA.
- import your old ARENA character into DAGGERFALL or begin a
new one; most spells can be transferred over
- Unlike ARENA, there will be no dungeon riddles
- a new CHILDGUARD feature which allows parents to set the
amount of violence and sex displayed with password protection
- will be a CD-ROM only game
- the following Virtual Reality Helmets will be supported:
Virtual I/o, CyberMaxx, Forte VFX1
"What is wonderful about ARENA and DAGGERFALL is that you can be
and do whatever you want with virtually no limitations," said
Bethesda President Chris Weaver. "Aside from all the
sophisticated technology operating in the background we think
that freedom is one of the most important features of TES series.
The vast detail of the computer world we have
created and the freedom to explore and live an unhindered life
has hit home with numbers groups of "non-standard" role players.
A case in point is the thousands of ARENA users over age 55. We
are very gratified by such cross-over demographics."
"We've taken the best elements from the highest quality game
engines out there, and improved upon them", said President Chris
Weaver. "X(n)gine has the immediacy of DOOM and DARK FORCES and
the greater flexibility of DESCENT all in one engine."
"X(n)gine is the most sophisticated 3-D engine currently
available." Weaver said. "The speed, clarity and dynamics are
better than all the others within the 3-D genre. It's as
realistic as you can get within the current limitations of the
PC. We believe it is also the fastest at moving real world polygons."
====================================================================
(3) DAGGERFALL PREVIEWS =============================================
For a wide range of DAGGERFALL Information:
a) The Unofficial Elder Scroll Pages (Still Under Construction):
http://www.newforce.ca/~jackel/esp/esp.html
Has a whole range of goodies including some not found at the Bethesda
Site.
b) the Bethesda Software WWW Page:
http://www.bethsoft.com/cgi-bin/daggerfall.cgi
ftp.bethsoft.com/pub/ScreenShots/DAGGERFALL/
*c) the Bethesda Library Section in the GAMPUBA Forum on Compuserve
*Both b) and c) provide access to the Box Cover Artwork, DAGGERFALL
*Midis and DAGGERFALL Screenshots listed below
Box Cover Artwork:
dagboxc.gif (256 colour 550x757 194KB)
dagboxc.tif (true colour 625x860 1.6MB).
dagboxc.zip (zipped true colour version 908KB)
*The Box Cover Depicts the Underking, one of the most powerful bad
*NPCs in DAGGERFALL
DAGGERFALL Midis:
Note: These are general MIDI files and should be played with a sound
card
capable of wavetable synthesis.
dag_l.mid
dag_2.mid
dag_3.mid
df_mid_1.zip - (this zipped 10KB file is the only file available for
downloading)
DAGGERFALL Screenshots:
As the final release date for DAGGERFALL draws nearer, Bethesda
claims it will be releasing new straight-from-the-game screenshots
almost every week. The various zipped files available are not listed
here.
army.gif (640x400 149KB) and cameron.gif (640x400 121KB) are both
shots from the opening animation we showed at CES: the former
is of the army of DAGGERFALL meeting the army of Sentinel at
the Battle of Cryngaine Field, and the latter is of Cameron,
the late king of Sentinel, preparing for battle at his castle
in Hammerfell.
battle1.gif (320x200 38KB) Under the attack of a Lich near the Pit of
Jagadha
battle2.gif (320x200 38KB) A better, if unappreciated view of the
approaching Fireball
battle3.gif (320x200 41KB) A Shield Spell for defense
battle4.gif (320x200 38KB) A Fireball Spell for offense
battle5.gif (320x200 39KB) The Fireball Spell makes contact
battle6.gif (320x200 35KB) One last look at the standing Lich
battle7.gif (320x200 35KB) The remains of the Lich
bow.gif (320x200 41KB)
charfem.gif (320x200 29KB) character sheet of a female
charmale.gif (320x200 29KB) character sheet of a male
chars.gif (320x200 20KB) (formerly called newflats.gif) From the
obscure temples, covens, and guilds, here are several of the
more extraordinary people of DAGGERFALL
crypt.gif (320x200 39KB)
dagger2.gif (320x200 29KB) A Daedra Seducer welcomes you into her
temple
dagger3.gif (320x200 34KB) In an ancient, crumbling cathedral of a
forgotten god, a resident giant scorpion defends its lair.
dung01.gif (320x200 32KB) Standing in the Dungeon of Citainth,
battling an orc warlord
dung02.gif (320x200 32KB) Swimming through the Dungeon of Citainth
dung03.gif (320x200 32KB) Swimming through the Dungeon of Citainth
dung04.gif (320x200 34KB) Flying through the Dungeon of Citainth
dung05.gif (320x200 31KB) Standing in the Dungeon of Citainth,
battling an orc warlord
dungeon1.gif (320x200 42KB)
faces_1.gif (320x200 22KB) A gallery of some of the more notable
citizens of the Iliac Bay, taken from their dialogue
portraits: the diplomatic Lady Northbridge, one of the
mysterious Dark Brothers, the tyrannical Baron Shrike of
Lainlyn, the indiscreet Queen Mother of DAGGERFALL, the noble
Acolyte, the Shaman Charvek-si, King Gothryd of DAGGERFALL,
and his grandmother the mad witch Nulfaga.
faces_2.gif (320x200 29KB) More of the DAGGERFALL cast of characters
taken from the dialogue portraits: the priestess Britsa, the
horrific Underking, the revered Oracle, the unfortunate Queen
Aubk-i of DAGGERFALL, the Lord-General of DAGGERFALL, the
dark-elven sorceress Karethys, the ineffectual mage Popudax,
and Baroness Dh'emka of Lainlyn.
jagadha0.gif (320x200 34KB) An overhead view of The Pit of Jagadha
jagadha1.gif (320x200 31KB) Casting a Frost Spell
jagadha2.gif (320x200 32KB) Your Frost Spell collides with a Fire
Daedra's fireball
jagadha3.gif (320x200 30KB) You're allowed a moments rest after the
battle
jagadha4.gif (320x200 34KB) The remains of the Fire Daedras
jagadha5.gif (320x200 34KB) The remains of the Fire Daedras and a
Frost Daedra
jagadha6.gif (320x200 34KB) The remains of the Fire Daedras and a bag
of gold
jagadha7.gif (320x200 33KB) A cavern off of The Pit of Jagadha
jagadha8.gif (320x200 35KB) Same cavern with a slain monster at the
other end
jagadha9.gif (320x200 29KB) Same cavern from another angle
newmon.gif (320x200 21KB) A Daedroth, a Giant Scorpion, a Frost
Daedra, an Orc Shaman, and a Fire Daedra
newtow1.gif (320x200 37KB) shows a picture of a woman riding a horse
past you in town. (Old Screenshot)
newtow2.gif (320x200 31KB) shows you approaching a house in the
country wielding your sword. (Old Screenshot).
newtow03.gif (320x200 42KB) a quiet courtyard in the little village
of Straclyde, north of the Wayrest city-state
sca0013.gif (320x200 32KB)
scr0003.gif (320x200 24KB)
scr0010.gif (320x200 31KB)
scr0013.gif (320x200 25KB)
scrshot1.gif (320x200 39KB)
scrshot2.gif (320x200 45KB)
scrshot3.gif (320x200 40KB)
scrshot4.gif (320x200 26KB)
scrshot5.gif (320x200 42KB)
scrshot6.gif (320x200 40KB)
scrshot7.gif (320x200 45KB)
scrshot8.gif (320x200 39KB)
scrshot9.gif (320x200 34KB)
scrshota.gif (320x200 36KB)
scrshotb.gif (320x200 33KB)
spell.gif (320x200 40KB)
swamp.gif (320x200 25KB) was taken in Bothidori Marsh during a fight
with a brood of wereboars
*tam_map.gif (320x200 66KB) A map of Tamriel
town01.gif (320x200 40KB) shows a rumble between the player and a
battle maiden in the town of Anticlere
town02.gif (320x200 31KB) is a shot taken while scurrying over the
rooftops (you can, of course, break in through a window, but
the view is not as nice), with a view of Anticlere Castle in
the distance
town03.gif (320x200 34KB) shows one of the shady characters from the
Dark Brotherhood giving the player an assassination
assignment
town04.gif (320x200 34KB) shows a clandestine meeting between the PC
and Lady Flyte on her balcony
town05.gif (320x200 39KB) is another view taken from the rooftops of
Anticlere, over a silversmith's shop
town06.gif (320x200 32KB) is a town square during New Life Festival,
an all-night-long celebration held on the first of the year.
water.gif (320x200 28KB) is a shot of an Argonian reptilian player
investigating the south end of the Iliac Bay, the tropical
water off the village of Abibon-Gora
====================================================================
(4) ENCOUNTERS=====================================
*ASSUMPTION: "Monster Types", "NPCs" & "Random Events" is a
*summation of the results of the FAQ Authors dissecting the Demo
*Files, verifying as much as practicable with Bethesda, & making some
*educated guesses. Exact details are likely to change at short
notice.
MONSTER TYPES
There are 43 main monster types, which are listed below. Further
there are approximately 100 monster subtypes, varying by colour and
characteristic. An ! means that you can learn the language of the
particular monster, which could allow you to negotiate.
*Alternatively, casting the Tongues spell would temporarily have the
*same effect A # indicates those able to be encountered in the demo.
The information in the brackets, where it occurs, covers:
FIRST BRACKETS: known special attacks/defenses
SECOND BRACKETS: best known ways to fight the monster
*THIRD BRACKETS: gives alternative names
*ANCIENT LICH#; (spellcasting, normal weapon immunity)
*(Get in a straight line of fire & as close as possible without
*meleeing. Cast Shield, Spell Absorption & as many Fireballs as
*required)
CENTAUR!;
DAEDRA LORD!;
DAEDRA SEDUCER!;
DRAGONLING!;
DREUGH#;
FLESH ATRONACH;
FIRE ATRONACH;
*FIRE DAEDRA!#; (fire resistance, spellcasting)
*(Spell reflection. Cast Cold spells).
*FROST DAEDRA!#; (cold resistance, spellcasting)
*(Spell reflection. Cast fire spells)
GARGOYLE;
GHOST#; (silence, paralyzation)
GIANT!;
GIANT BAT;
GIANT EEL;
GIANT SCORPION; (NA) (NA) (Giant Scorpian)
GRIZZLY BEAR;
HARPY!;
HORSE;
ICE ATRONACH;
IMP!; (NA) (magic)
IRON ATRONACH;
LAMIA;
*LESSER DAEDRA!#; (normal weapon immunity) (offensive spells)
*(Daedroth)
LICH#; (spellcasting, normal weapon immunity)
*(Get in a straight line of fire & as close as possible without
*meleeing. Cast Shield, Spell Absorption & as many Fireballs as
*required)
MUMMY;
NYMPH!;
ORC;
ORC SERGEANT;
*ORC SHAMAN#; (spellcasting) (conventional weapons more effective
*than Spell Reflection & Offensive Spells at higher character levels)
ORC WARLORD#;
PLESIOSAURUS;
RAT; (disease)
SABERTOOTH TIGER;
SKELETON WARRIOR#; (NA) (NA) (Skeletal Warrior/skeleton)
SPIDER#;
SPRIGGAN!; (NA) (regeneration)
VAMPIRE; (normal weapon immunity, spellcasting, vampirism)
VAMPIRE ANCIENT;
*WEREBOAR; (normal weapon immunity, lyncanthropy) (NA) (lycanthrope)
*WEREWOLF; (normal weapon immunity, lyncanthropy) (NA) (lycanthrope)
*WRAITH#; (spellcasting, normal weapon immunity)
*(Spell reflection, cast offensive spells)
ZOMBIE;
*In addition, there are a number of other species in DAGGERFALL that
*do exist but which dont fit into the above list of 43 monsters:
*DAEDRA PRINCE;
DRAGON!; (NA)(NA) (Wyrm)
SLAUGHTERFISH;
*A further grouping doesnt sit comfortably anywhere:
*DWARF; {part of Tamriel Folklore?}
*GIANT GOBLIN; {part of Tamriel Folklore?}
*GOLEM; {one may exist}
*TROLL; {part of Tamriel Folklore}
*ZOMBIE; {one of the 43 monsters above, referred back to the Bethesda
*Art Department for reworking. Status Unknown)
*There are also 12 major bad NPC types that you will have to deal
*with, of which the UnderKing, monks, nightblades, faerie! (fey)
*are examples.
NPCs
There are some 295 "NPC types" in DAGGERFALL, whether they be
nobility, laymen, humanoids, professions, nations or one of the 20
distinct factions of some of these. Their particularly
characteristics can be ascertained from the "factions.txt" document
that comes with the DAGGERFALL demo. Future versions of this FAQ
will explain all the parameters listed in this document.
Some NPC descriptions, (both good & bad) are listed in various
screenshot descriptions in the DAGGERFALL Preview Section.
The top "NPC Types", mainly nations, are listed here, with their
power ratings. These are likely to have the greatest long run
effect on your game of DAGGERFALL:
Name Power
DAGGERFALL 8000
Wayrest 8000
Sentinel 6000
Lainlyn 5000
Oblivion 5000
Satakalaam 5000
The Septim Empire 5000
Abibon-Gora 4500
Mournoth 4500
Archmagister 4000
Dwynnen 4000
Menevia 4000
You will have the fortune (or misfortune!) to interact with many of
the less powerful NPCs as well, perhaps right down to the lowliest:
Name Power
Cyndassa 5
Lord Auberon Flyte 5
Lord Plessington 5
The Acolyte 5
Remember, each of these NPC Types will be forming opinions of you
based on your actions; even into the sequels of DAGGERFALL. But
your character is not the only one who interacts with NPCs in
DAGGERFALL. NPC types interact with each other, and many
have allies and enemies. You may get caught in the crossfire!
This Section will eventually tell you which NPCs you need to
interact with to complete the optional DAGGERFALL plot.
RANDOM EVENTS
These will further enrich your DAGGERFALL experience. Tamriel is
divided up into 65 towns/regions for the purpose of generating
random events. The type of events that can occur are: Bad Harvest;
Crime; Famine; Mad Wizard Nearby; New Ruler; New TGM(?) Plague;
Prices Down; Prices Up; Scary Holi (?); TGM Executed (?)
TGM In Jail (?); TGM Set Free(?); War; War Lost; War Won
Witch Burnings
Future versions of this FAQ will explain the impact of random events
in more detail. Please note that some random events have stages
eg. War Beginning
====================================================================
(5) ARTIFACTS=====================================
ARENA had 16 artifacts. DAGGERFALL has 13 of these, all bar the
Ring of Phynaster, Oghma Infinium & King Orghnums Coffin.
ASSUMPTION: the DAGGERFALL treatment of artifacts is the same as
ARENAs.
The FAQ Co-Authors understand that there are no artifacts in the
Demo
While you are holding one artifact, you cannot get another artifact
quest. Go to a shop (or bank in DAGGERFALL?) and leave your
artifact for repair. It can only be repaired if it is below maximum
charge. Then get another artifact quest in your log book, pick up
your repaired artifact(s), and go on the quest for the new artifact.
To get an artifact quest, pick a NPC and ask them 10-20 times. If
after 3 or 4 requests you get 'I know nothing' type replies, go to
another NPC. Eventually you will get something like "A is at Inn B
trying to sell a map to find artifact C'. If you want the artifact,
go to this person A to negotiate a price for the artifact rumour;
if you dont want this particular artifact repeat the process, &
all the artifacts you do not have should be mentioned. An
individual artifact in ARENA could be found in any Tamriel province
bar one; this excluded province changed every time you started a
new game. When you are on an artifact quest, the map to the second
dungeon will be in a chest somewhere on the 4th level of the first
dungeon. The artifact will be in the 4th level of the second
dungeon, which is in a different province to the first dungeon.
ARTIFACT EXPLANATION
Object Description / Weight (kg) / Condition When Found /
Unhaggled Down Price for the Artifacts Rumour in Gold Pieces
USE: Normal class restrictions apply, eg. mages can't use the Ebony
Blade, as it is a katana. Artifact rings and amulets can be worn
simultaneously with their normal counterparts. Each artifact
disappears after a fixed number of uses, (the number increases with
your characters level), & will then only be available through a
quest again. You can increase its life expectancy by not using its
artifact properties, or by having the item repaired (the latter
restores the item to its original number of charges it had when
you first found it). Repairing artifacts in ARENA was normally
expensive. It is unknown whether DAGGERFALL contains the ARENA bug
allowing you to have artifacts repaired for 13 gold by a shopkeeper
in less than 15 hours
AURIEL'S BOW
Elven LongBow / 1 / New / 800
USE: -3AC overall, damage: 2-12, fires spell (save vs. Magic) that
kills type unknown, provides invulnerability to lesser attacks
AURIEL'S SHIELD
Kite Ebony Shield / 8 / ? / 710
Use: -3 AC overall, Fire and magick resistance
CHRYSAMERE
Claymore / 14 / New / 560
USE: damage: 2-18, heals, resist fire, reflect spells
EBONY BLADE
Ebony Sword / 6 / New / ?
Use: damage: 3-16, unknown death spell, save vs. magic
EBONY MAIL
Ebony Plate Armour / 16 / ? / ?
Use: AC -9 overall, resist fire, spells; shielded
LORD'S MAIL
Plate Armour / 16 / New / 500
USE: torso -9AC, resist spells, regenerate, cure poison
NECROMANCER'S AMULET
Robes / NA / ? / 680
Use: -9AC overall, absorb/reflect spells, regenerate, increases
users intelligence
RING OF KHAJIIT
Ring / NA / ? / ?
USE: -6AC overall, invisibility, user becomes non-target, increases
users speed
SKELETON KEY
Key / NA / ? / 830
Use: once per day, anyone can unlock non-magically locked doors or
chest. Skilled lockpickers can open some magically locked doors.
SPELL BREAKER
Tower Shield / ? / ? / ?
Use: ?
STAFF OF MAGNUS
Staff / 3 / New / 590
Use: damage: 1-8, regenerates hit and spell points
VOLENDRUNG
Dwarven War Hammer / 16 / New / 620
Use: damage: 3-18, gives health to user, paralysis, leaches strength
WARLOCK'S RING
Ring / NA / ? / 770
USE: reflects spells, increases users speed, heals
====================================================================
(6) BUG ALERT!=====================================
*Bethesda has indicated that there may be further bug fixes to the
*DEMO; including a better optimisation of the code. The FAQ Authors
*believe an updated DEMO would be very worthwhile, especially since
*it is a major part of the advertising for the game. However,
*Bethesda is rightly focussing most of its attentions on the game
*Please provide one of the FAQ Co-Authors will any Demo Bug Details
*that dont appear below, along with enough information for us to
*attempt to recreate the bug. The first 5 bugs are well known to
*Bethesda; the company has promised to have them fixed for the full
*game. The others may require some lobbying to Bethesda! Our
*understanding is that they are using the release of the Demo to
*attempt to eradicate a whole range of bugs from the game, if not the
*demo
*1) If you pick some chain boots from Monster inventory the game
*will crash
*2) Using the keyboard for movement is slower than the mouse
*3) There is no monster AI (eg. dodging your attacks)
*4) Monsters get stuck in the walls
*5). It is occasionally possible to vanish into the void (the area
*outside the demo)
6) Character occasionally steers constantly to the left after
having moved backwards
7) When a monster dies close to a wall, you cant get at its
treasure
*8) If you rest while your weapon is equipped, you often cant
*reequip it
*9) Helmet Icons often have a black border
*10) Casting a spell while kneeling on a downward slope appear to
make
*the spell effects come from above your head
*11) It is possible to see the black background behind where two
*walls meet when you look at it from a certain angle
====================================================================
(7) INFORMATION ABOUT BETHESDA SOFTWORKS ============================
Info on BETHESDA, as well as key staff:
BETHESDA SOFTWRKS
Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Bethesda is the fourth
largest privately held publisher of PC Entertainment software.
Bethesda's success and long standing technical expertise has
attracted world-class programmers as well as veterans of
Hollywood animation studios. The company is the entertainment
software division of Media Technology Limited, an international
engineering research and development firm founded by members of
the Architecture Machine Group at MIT.
BRUCE NESMITH
ROCKVILLE, MD (20 May 1995). Bethesda announced today the hiring
of Bruce Nesmith, as its Senior Producer. Nesmith, the well-known
creator of "Ravenloft (r) Campaign Setting, Dragonstrike (r)
Board Game," Introduction to AD&D"(r), "Gamma World"(r),
"Fourth Edition" and scores of other role-playing games, is one
of the most experienced writers in the role-playing community. As
Creative Directory of TSR for the past seven years, he was in
charge of the development of many of TSR's best selling titles.
"We are very pleased to have attracted someone of Bruce's
caliber," said Christopher Weaver, President of Bethesda.
"His extensive background in all manner of role playing over the
past twenty years is a unique resource which we intend to utilize
to the fullest. Bruce will be an integral part of the core group
that directs the future development of role playing at Bethesda."
Nesmith commented that he would miss his friends and colleagues
at TSR, but was excited about the prospect of creating cutting-
edge products at Bethesda. "Bethesda is really committed to
redefining numerous genres and they are one of the few groups
that has the capability to do it," he said. "Of all the companies
that have courted me over the years, Bethesda is the only one who
impressed me as having the critical proportions of ability,
experience and vision necessary to pull off their plans. The
opportunity to become an integral part of such an organization
was just too exciting to pass up."
Nesmith comes on at a time when Bethesda has stepped firmly into
the elite "A" group of computer entertainment publishers.
Computer Gaming World recently chose their TES: ARENA
"Best Role Playing Game of 1995" (ARENA also received "Best" awards
}from Computing Game Review, Computer Player and Games Magazine and
five other industry awards). Praised as the most realistic and
captivating role-playing game on the market, ARENA elevated the
category of fantasy role-playing to a new level.
With the success of ARENA, there has been extraordinary
anticipations for the release of DAGGERFALL. Bethesda's multi-
player showing of THE TENTH PLANET utilizing their revolutionary
X(n)gine (tm) 3D technology at the recent Electronic Entertainment
Exposition (E3) in Los Angeles, caused quite a stir at the show.
THE TENTH PLANET is the first original science fiction program
developed in conjunction with a major Hollywood producer.
Centropolis Entertainment, award-winning developer of such hit
movies as "Stargate" and "Universal Soldier" is the creative
partner in the venture.
Info on the DAGGERFALL Lead Programmer:
JULIAN LEFAY
Julian Lefay is Chief Programmer of Bethesda and joined shortly after
its creation in 1987. He is considered by many as one of the key
technical people in the entertainment multi-media industry as he
combines a rare mix of programming knowledge and computer language
skills with proven design capability and music composition experience
Lefay began programming in Europe in the early 1980's and quickly
became known as one of the best Amstrad and Amiga programmers during
the high period of Commodore's success. His programs have won
numerous industry awards in virtually every category. His TES:ARENA,
has developed into the most award-winning Role Playing Game of 1995.
He is currently finishing the next TES sequel, DAGGERFALL.
Info on the Bethesda Software President:
CHRISTOPHER S. WEAVER
Christopher Weaver is President of Bethesda and CEO of Media
Technology Limited. Weaver was formerly Senior Technical Advisor and
Chief Engineer to the House Subcomittee on Communications for the US
Congress, Vice President of Science & Technology for the National
Cable Association and directed the Office of Technology Forecasting
for the American Broadcasting Company in New York.
A member of the Directors Guild of America, the IEEE, the Society for
Cable Television Engineers and the American National Standards
Committee, Weaver pioneered some of the earliest academic and
commercial work in interactive laserdisk technology in the 1970's and
interactive cable projects in the 1980's.
Weaver holds numerous Masters and dual doctoral degrees from Wesleyan
University and MIT. He subscribes to Arthur C. Clarke's observation
that, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from
magic."
====================================================================
(8) DAGGERFALL INFORMATION SOURCES =================
Where to find DAGGERFALL information:
DAGGERFALL FAQ LOCATIONS:
* - Library Section 10 (Bethesda Softworks) of the GAMAPUB Forum
* on Compuserve
* - Library Section 9 (Computer RPGs) of the GAMERS Forum on
* Compuserve
- Posted occasionally to comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg,
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.misc,aus.games,
ncf.sigs.games.computer-games
- The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages
http://www.newforce.ca/~jackel/esp/esp.html
- Games Domain Site (HTML format)
http://wcl-l.bham.ac.uk/GamesDomain/faqs/dagerfal.html
- Happy Puppy Site
http://happypuppy.com/games/faqcht
- Microsoft Network, under Categories/Interests, Leisure &
Hobbies/Games & Gaming/Computer Games Forum/Computer Games
File Library/Role Playing
BETHESDA SOFTWORK's WWW Page: http://www.bethsoft.com
- register and fill out some stuff to get Emporium credits & a
different storyline to the unregistered surfers
- go to the 'CAULDRON' to access info on BETHESDA's new
products. DAGGERFALL is at the top of the list.
*BETHESDA Section of the Compuserve GAMAPUBA forum
DAGGERFALL SCREEN SHOTS: these can be found on the BETHESDA WWW Page
http://www.bethsoft.com/cgi-bin/daggerfall.cgi
ftp.bethsoft.com/pub/ScreenShots/DAGGERFALL/
DAGGERFALL PREVIEW: Old "SemiFAQ" & some screenshots
http://wcl-l.bham.ac.uk/gdreview/previews/pview004.html
THE UNOFFICIAL ELDER SCROLLS PAGES
http://www.newforce.ca/~jackel/esp/esp.html. The one stop for
everything concerning gaming in the TES series of games.
Developed by the DAGGERFALL FAQ Co-Authors!
MAGAZINES: Computer Gaming World, 1/95, 3/95, 8/95;
Strategy Plus, 8/95; PC Gamer 8/95;PC Power 8/95;
Next Generation 11/95
TES: ARENA FAQ: Since DAGGERFALL is the sequel of ARENA, some areas
game play will be similar. This FAQ will familiarise you
with what type of game ARENA is, and what DAGGERFALL may
be like. This is available via ftp at
ftp://wcl-l.bham.ac.uk/pub/djh/faqs/arena.faq and via the
Games Domain WWW Pages:
http://wcl-rs.bham.ac.uk/pub/djh/faqs/arena.faq
The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages:
http://www.newforce.ca/~jackel/esp/esp.html
Where we found DAGGERFALL information:
DAGGERFALL DEMO DOCUMENTATION
BETHESDA SOFTWORK's WWW Page: http://www.bethsoft.com
ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (E3) May 11-13, 1995
COMPUTER GAMING WORLD (CGW), January 1995 Issue, DAGGERFALL preview
FIONA JENKINS, ARENA Artifact FAQ Author
TED PETERSON, Chief Designer, DAGGERFALL
MOSH TEITELBAUM (LONEWOLF), the Bethesda WWW Page Maintainer
*Bethesda Section of the GAMPUBA Compuserve Forum
[email protected]'s postings on USENET groups such as
comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg
====================================================================
(9) WRAP UP ========================================================
If you have any suggestions, or find a mistake in this FAQ(contrary
to popular belief, we are _not_ perfect ;-), email one of us.
*The FAQ Co-Authors are currently fiddling with the demo file
*z.cfg: which contains an editor, cheat & a multiplayer function.
*Thanks to everyone who has contributed their experiences.
*The FAQ Co-Authors are also busily updating their Web Site, the
*Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages:
*http://www.newforce.ca/~jackel/esp/esp.html.
*Check it regularly over the next few months for even more resources
*on the world of Tamriel!
*We would like this FAQ to be available to as many people as
*possible. If anyone is willing to post this FAQ to
*America Online/Prodigy/Genie etcetera, please email one of us.
*There will be a Compuserve DAGGERFALL conference in the GAMAPUB
*Forum on November 29th at 9pm OHIO Time. Ted Peterson, the Chief
*DAGGERFALL Designer will be there; Julian LeFay, the Chief
*DAGGERFALL Programmer might be there. At least one of the FAQ
*Authors will try & make it as well.
This FAQ will grow substantially when DAGGERFALL is released. We
will eventually provide tips, a walkthrough of the optional plot and
the inevitable patch information.
The Elder Scrolls: DAGGERFALL, copyright 1995, BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
The Elder Scrolls: ARENA, copyright 1993, BETHESDA SOFTWORKS
DAGGERFALL FAQ, copyright 1995, Dave Humphrey, Andrew Frankling,
Michael Bodenhoff
