Re: SSI-RPGs : Infos needed

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Kosh writes ...
> 
> Hello there,
> 
> I have trouble with several SSI-RPGs because I'm lacking the maps
> contained in the Adventurers Journal.
> Especially, I am looking for scans of the maps to
> 
> Death Knights of Krynn
> Dark Queen of Krynn
> Secret Silver Blades
> Curse of the Azure Bonds
> Buck Rogers - Countdown to Doomsday
> Pool of Radiance
> Gateway to the Savage Frontier
>

     You have run into the best 'copy protection' scheme devised. No
disk can be protected from copying; but, lots of stuff in an
"Adventurer's Journal" manual is a different matter.

     The importance of 'Journal maps varies somewhat from game to game.
In Pool of Radiance they are very helpful; while, in 'Azure Bonds, they
are mainly just nice to have. Possibly, some game 'cheat' site has the
maps.

     You do not say how you are getting around needing the text
information included in the 'Journals. If someone has gone to the
trouble of putting the contents into Text files, fine. If it is via
walkthroughs, you are missing out on much of the fun. Otherwise, winning
games like Pool of Radiance could be something of a chore.

     Most of the games you list are fine adventures guaranteed for many
hours of challenging fun. If the 'Journal texts are not available, your
best bet is to 'bite the bullet' and shell out $10-$15 each for the
boxed originals on comp.sys.apple2.marketplace or at a local swap
meet.   

      
 
> I am also desperately looking for the decoder wheel of Curse of the
> Azure Bonds. If anyone has it or a scan of the wheel, please send it to
> me.
> ....

     Another way around the wheel is to eliminate it from the game. The
following is from Zorro in Computist #75:

 1. Use a disk copier to copy all 8 sides of the original diskettes

 2. Using Copy II+ or some other sector editor utility ...

    On the Boot Disk copy at Track $03, Sector $0E 
    change Bytes $0E-$10 from 20 51 18 to 4C 33 17.

    On Side 1 of the Disk A copy at Track $02, Sector $00
    change Bytes $0E-$10 from 20 51 18 to 4C 33 17. 



          
Rubywand