Re: Blackmagic

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

none@none.net writes ...
> 
> I still think this was one of the best games from it's era.

     Black Magic is among the better 'action adventures' for 8-bit Apple II's.
The IIgs game Warlock seems to have borrowed quite a lot from Black Magic.


> I'd like to know if there is a manual or faq any where though. I've finished
> it numerous times but i was wondering if there is a save game, continue or
> level skip command.
>

     The original manual says nothing about a Save Game or Level codes, etc.. It
looks like Black Magic is supposed to be finished at one sitting. Evidently, the
only thing written to disk is your Name, Rank, and Experience ('Score') in a top
20 roster when you win or get killed.



> I remember seeing screen shots in a magazine i have some where showing the
> game at the point after all the eyes have been collected and placed in the
> statue and with a score of zero at apprentice level.

     Kind of makes you wonder if the screen shot was genuine (i.e. from a real
game).  You'd expect to see a large Experience number and high Rank for someone
who was on the brink of winning.

 

> Any other cheats or
> interesting info is more than welcome.
 ....

     A check of the usual sites for docs and/or hints got nowhere. The info below
is from the game manual. (I'll upload it to Asimov and ACN Tarnover.)  It may
help in a few places.



Black Magic
by Peter Ward
from DataSoft (1987)


     The good King Tauraus has been dethroned and the once happy and
prosperous land of MariGold has fallen beneath the influence of the 
Evil Red Warlock, Zahgrim. Zahgrim siezed power by defeating the 
kindly wizard, Anakar the Wise, and turning him to stone. And, just
to spite Anakar, Zahgrim scattered his six eyes across the land so
that they could witness its ruin.

     You were apprenticed to Goff, the lone remaining Good Wizard in all
MariGold (until he was killed by demons). Though the odds are against you,
your quest is to recover the six eyes of Anakar and replace them in the
stone statue. Only thus may you learn the secret means to destroy
Zahgrim and free MariGold!



Movement (Joystick required)

Left or Right to run in that direction
UP to jump or climb
Down to duck or climb down


Shoot (you must be moving to shoot arrows)

Fire button to shoot arrows Left or Right
Aux button to shoot diagonally up


Cast Spell

While standing still, press both buttons and move joystick to
select the spell (displayed in your status display).


Misc. Commands

Pause-        SPACE (press again to resume)
Reset game-   CTRL-R
Sound ON/OFF- CTRL-S



Objects- you get them by walking over them.

o- Eyes of Anakar- each looks like a big eye which just sits there and
   looks around. (There is always one on the first screen.) You must 
   collect all 6  before traveling to the statue.

o- Spells- tiny scrolls; collect as many as you can.

o- Food- fruits, tiny turkeys, etc.; you need Food to keep going.

o- Arrows- found in ammo boxes; these show up in your status display 
   under the >>---> symbol. (No arrows will be added if you are carrying
   the maximum allowed.)




Creatures- most are Zahgrim's servants; a few are friendly and/or useful.

o- Death-spitting plant- duck to avoid its missiles. You can kill
   it by firing an arrow into its mouth.

o- Demons, bats, ghosts- these appear as soon as you collect the first
   Eye. Their touch drains Health points. Some are easy to kill; others
   require more than one direct hit.

o- Water monsters- may rise up from streams, etc. and try to drag you
   in. They are not affected by arrows.

o- Prisoners- the guys in boxes. Walk through the box to release the
   prisoner.

o- Trolls- round orange magical creatures that hop around. They will trade
   various favors in exchange for food.

o- Rocs- huge birds that swoop down and carry you for some distance.
   Arrows will drive them away if you do not want to be carried.



Obsticles and Pitfalls

o- Lava pits- deadly. You can often cross a lava pit by shooting down
   stalactites from the rocky ceiling to create a bridge.

o- Stalacmites- block your path. Shooting with a arrow clears them.

o- Water pools- can drown you if you fall in (cast Blink to get out).
   You can cross some pools using a hand-over-hand rail. Casting Chill
   will freeze the water so that you can walk across.

o- Guillotines, crushers, and spiked beds are other obsticles to avoid.



Spells- As you advance in rank, you can cast more different spells. The
   number shown for "Spells" in your status display is the total number
   of spells you can cast. Several spells have a limited duration. 
   Note: Choosing "Abort" cancels a casting without using up a spell.


Apprentice can cast ...

o- Blink- transport to another spot (usually moves you somewhere to the
   left of your current location).

o- Vanish- shows only a shadow; demons, birds, and plants can't see or
   bother you. You can't pick up stuff, cast spells, or shoot arrows
   while vanished.


Wizard can cast the above plus ...

o- Chill- freeze water and all demons chasing you (does not affect the
   death-spitting plants).

o- Trap- creates a trap between yourself and demons.


Sorcerer can cast the above plus ...

o- Conjure- lets you create Food or Arrows; or, you can Heal one Health
   point. 

o- Fire- calls up flames and helps clear the area of demons; it also
   thaws out a Chill spell.


Necromancer can cast the above plus ...

o- Bolt- lets you shoot through walls (and at demons)

o- Fear- causes demons to fear and avoid you.



Misc. Information

There is no Game Save or Level codes for restarting play. Black Magic
does offer a chance to place among the top 20 "Masters of Magic" according
to your Experience (Score) and Rank when you win or get killed.

Deamons, bats, and ghosts do not appear until you collect an eye.

Once the eyes are restored to the statue, you will learn of Zahgrim's
secret vulnerability and be ready to journey to the Red Warlock's
dark castle for the final trial.
  

Good luck!

Rubywand