The Wizard’s Castle was published as code in the July 1980 Recreational Computing magazine. It was written by Joseph R. Power and appears to be the only game ever created by this developer.
Matt Barton talks about The Wizard’s Castle in his Dungeons & Desktops book. Calling it an impressive feat that all of the game’s features are crammed into some five thousand lines of code. The full article on Wizard’s Castle can be found here at Matt Barton’s blog: The Story of the Wizard’s Castle.
In an interview Joe Power stated that he got the idea for Wizard’s Castle from an early game called the Hobbit. Here is the source code for the Hobbit released in 1979 for in CLOAD for the TRS-80.
1 ‘COPYRIGHT (C) CLOAD 1979
2 ‘K. WILLIAMS, 3250 VERMONT SW, GRANDVILLE, MI 49418
5 RANDOMIZE(348)
8 DEFINT A-Z
10 DIM H(9,9),M(9,9),A(7),D(14),AC(7),Z(4)
20 A$=”RUBY RED NORN STONEPALE PEARLOPAL EYE BLUE FLAMEPALANTIR SILMARILL “
30 D$=”SCHLOCK YNGVI GOLLUM MARDUK LOKI AZATOTH DAGON FENRIS ABRACAX SAURON CTHULHU SATAN “
40 CLS:PRINT”H O B B I T”
45 FOR Q=1 TO 3000:NEXT Q
50 CLS
100 INPUT”DO YOU WANT INSTRUCTIONS”;O$
110 IF O$=”YES” OR O$=”Y” THEN 2220
120 INPUT”WHAT RATING (1-NOVICE 9-EXPERT)”;N
130 N=INT(ABS(N)):IF N<1 OR N>9 THEN 120
140 FOR X=1 TO 9:FOR Y=1 TO 9:H(X,Y)=5:M(X,Y)=1:NEXT Y:NEXT X
190 REM PUT WARPS
200 B=20+RND*N
210 FOR Q=1 TO B
220 X=RND*9 :Y=RND*9 :R=RND*9 :S=RND*9
230 IF X=SANDY=R THEN 220
240 H(X,Y)=R*10+S:NEXT Q
260 REM PUT DEMONS
270 B=N+3
280 FOR Q=1 TO B
290 GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=-Q:D(Q)=1
300 NEXT Q
310 REM PUT AMULETS
320 FOR Q=1 TO 7
330 GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=Q*100:A(Q)=1
340 AC(Q)=3:NEXT Q
350 REM PUT RUNESTAFF
360 GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=-1*(RND*(N+3)):D(13)=1:Z(3)=X:Z(4)=Y
370 REM PUT ORB
380 GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=10*(RND*9)+(RND*9):Z(1)=X:Z(2)=Y:D(14)=1
390 REM PUT CURSES
400 FOR Q=1 TO 3:C(Q,1)=1:C(Q,2)=10:C(Q,3)=10:NEXT Q
430 IF N<7 THEN 470
440 FOR Q=1 TO N-6:GOSUB 2440:C(Q,2)=X:C(Q,3)=Y:NEXT Q
470 REM PUT FLARES AND ORACLE
480 GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=4:GOSUB 2440:H(X,Y)=2
490 REM PUT HOBBIT
500 GOSUB 2440:K=X:L=Y:PRINT”ALL RIGHT FUR-FOOT “
510 P=125+RND(12-N)
511 T=1:G=0:W=0:F=10:GOTO 1530
520 IF T>P THEN 2120
530 T=T+1
540 IF N<7 OR D(14)=0 THEN 650
550 IF C(1,1)=1 THEN 570
560 T=T+1
570 IF C(2,1)=1 THEN 590
580 G=G-(RND*5)
590 IF C(3,1)=1 OR A(5)=0 OR D(14)=0 THEN 610
595 PRINT:PRINT”‘YOU ARE UNDER MY POWER NOW…'”:FOR Q=1 TO 500:NEXT C
600 ON (RND*4) GOTO 810,830,850,870
610 FOR Q=1 TO 3
620 IF C(Q,2)<>K OR C(Q,3)<>L THEN 640
630 C(Q,1)=0
640 NEXT Q
650 PRINT:INPUT”YOUR MOVE”;O$
651 CLS
660 IF O$=”WAIT” OR O$=”WT” THEN 1530
670 IF O$=”NORTH” OR O$=”N” THEN 810
680 IF O$=”SOUTH” OR O$=”S” THEN 830
690 IF O$=”EAST” OR O$=”E” THEN 850
700 IF O$=”WEST” OR O$=”W” THEN 870
710 IF O$=”MAP” OR O$=”M” THEN 890
720 IF O$=”FLARE” OR O$=”F” THEN 1110
730 IF O$=”KILL” OR O$=”K” THEN 2030
740 IF O$=”LAMP” OR O$=”L” THEN 1200
750 IF O$=”QUIT” OR O$=”Q” THEN 1460
760 IF O$=”TELEPORT” OR O$=”T” THEN 1420
770 PRINT”EVEN A STUPID HOBBIT LIKE YOU”
780 PRINT”CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT”
790 GOTO 520
800 REM NORTH
810 K=K-1
811 GOSUB 2460
812 GOTO 1530
820 REM SOUTH
830 K=K+1
831 GOTO 811
840 REM EAST
850 L=L+1
851 GOTO 811
860 REM WEST
870 L=L-1
871 GOTO 811
880 REM MAP
890 CLS:PRINT ” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9″
891 PRINT ” +—+—–+—–+—–+—–+—–+—–+—–+—–+”
892 FOR X=1 TO 9
893 PRINT X;”-| “;
900 FOR Y=1 TO 9
910 IF M(X,Y)>99 THEN 930
920 PRINT ” “;
930 PRINT M(X,Y);” “;
940 IF M(X,Y)>9 OR M(X,Y)<-9 THEN 960
950 PRINT” “;
960 NEXT Y
970 PRINT
980 NEXT X:PRINT
985 PRINT”YOU ARE AT (“;L;”,”;K;”)”:GOSUB 986:GOTO 520
986 IF G>-1 THEN 990
987 G=0
990 PRINT”YOU HAVE”;G;”GEMS”
1000 PRINT”AND THESE AMULETS:”
1010 FOR Q=1 TO 7
1020 IF A(Q)=1 THEN 1040
1030 PRINT” “;MID$(A$,Q*10-9,10),
1040 NEXT Q
1050 IF D(13)=1 THEN 1070
1060 PRINT” RUNESTAFF”,
1070 IF D(14)=1 THEN 1090
1080 PRINT” ORB OF ZOT”;
1090 RETURN
1100 REM FLARE
1110 IF F>0 THEN 1140
1120 PRINT”EVEN A SCATTER-BRAINED HOBBIT LIKE YOU”
1130 PRINT”SHOULD KNOW WHEN HE IS OUT OF FLARES”:GOTO 520
1140 F=F-1:X=K:Y=L
1150 FOR Q=-1 TO 1:FOR QQ=-1 TO 1:K=Q+X:L=QQ+Y
1151 GOSUB 2460
1159 M(K,L)=H(K,L)
1160 IF M(K,L)>99 THEN 1170:PRINT” “;
1170 PRINT M(K,L);” “;:IF M(K,L)>9 OR M(K,L)<0 THEN 1180:PRINT ” “;
1180 NEXT QQ:PRINT:NEXT Q:K=X:L=Y:GOTO 520
1190 REM LAMP
1200 INPUT”WHICH DIRECTION DO YOU SHINE THE LAMP”;O$:X=K:Y=L
1210 IF O$<>”NORTH” AND O$<>”N” THEN 1220
1211 Q=1:GOTO 1250
1220 IF O$<>”SOUTH” AND O$<>”S” THEN 1230
1221 Q=2:GOTO 1250
1230 IF O$<>”EAST” AND O$<>”E” THEN 1240
1231 Q=3:GOTO 1250
1240 IF O$<>”WEST” AND O$<>”W” THEN 770
1241 Q=4
1250 PRINT”THE MAGIC LAMP SHINES AND AT “;
1251 ON Q GOTO 1260,1270,1280,1290
1260 K=K-1:GOTO 1300
1270 K=K+1:GOTO 1300
1280 L=L+1:GOTO 1300
1290 L=L-1
1300 GOSUB 2460
1301 PRINT”(“;L;”,”;K;”) YOU SEE “;:M(K,L)=H(K,L)
1310 IF M(K,L)<0 THEN 1380
1320 IF M(K,L)>0 THEN 1330
1321 PRINT”AN EMPTY ROOM”:GOTO 1365
1330 IF M(K,L)>2 THEN 1340
1331 PRINT”THE ORACLE”:GOTO 1365
1340 IF M(K,L)>4 THEN 1350
1341 PRINT”THE SPARE FLARES”:GOTO 1365
1350 IF M(K,L)>5 THEN 1360
1351 PRINT”GEMS”:GOTO 1365
1360 IF M(K,L)>99 THEN 1370
1361 PRINT”A WARP”
1365 K=X:L=Y:GOTO 520
1370 PRINT”THE “;MID$(A$,(M(K,L)/100)*10-9,10):GOTO 1365
1380 PRINT MID$(D$,-M(K,L)*10-9,10)
1385 IF K=Z(3) AND L=Z(4) THEN 1365
1390 PRINT”AND HE IS SO ANGRY HE COMES AFTER YOU”
1400 H(X,Y)=H(K,L):M(X,Y)=M(K,L):M(K,L)=0:H(K,L)=0:K=X:L=Y:GOTO 1530
1410 REM TELEPORT
1420 IF D(13)=0 THEN 1440
1421 PRINT”LAME-BRAIN HOBBIT MUST BE SUICIDAL”
1430 PRINT”TO TRY AND TELEPORT WITHOUT THE RUNESTAFF”:GOTO 520
1440 INPUT”X-COORD “;L:IF L<0 OR L>9 THEN 1440
1441 INPUT”Y-COORD “;K:IF K<0 OR K>9 THEN 1441
1450 FOR Q=1 TO 7:A(Q)=1:NEXT Q:G=0:M(K,L)=H(K,L):GOTO 1530
1460 REM QUIT
1470 INPUT “DID YOU REALLY WANT TO QUIT”;O$:IF O$=”YES” OR O$=”Y” THEN W=1:GOTO 1481
1480 PRINT”THEN DON’T SAY YOU DO”:GOTO 520
1481 PRINT:IF D(14)=0 AND W=1 THEN PRINT”WELL, LITTLE HOBBIT, YOU WON THIS ONE” ELSE PRINT “TOO BAD YOU DIDN’T WIN, HOBBIT”
1482 PRINT:GOSUB 986
1483 PRINT:PRINT”AND YOU KILLED THESE DEMONS:”:Q=0
1484 Q=Q+1:IF D(Q)=0 THEN PRINT MID$(D$,Q*10-9,10),
1485 IF Q”YES” AND O$<>”Y” THEN 1510
1500 PRINT”SOME HOBBITS NEVER LEARN”:GOTO 100
1510 PRINT”MAYBE DUMB HOBBIT NOT SO DUMB AFTER ALL”
1520 GOTO 9999
1530 PRINT”YOU ARE AT (“;L;”,”;K;”)”:M(K,L)=H(K,L)
1540 IF M(K,L)<0 THEN 1850
1550 IF M(K,L)=0 THEN 1650
1560 IF M(K,L)=2 THEN 1660
1570 IF M(K,L)=4 THEN 1630
1580 IF M(K,L)=5 THEN 1620
1590 IF M(K,L)<100 THEN 1790
1600 PRINT”WHERE YOU FIND “;MID$(A$,M(K,L)/10-9,10):A(M(K,L)/100)=0:GOTO 1640
1620 Q=(RND*5):H(K,L)=0:M(K,L)=0:G=G+Q:IF G>=0 THEN 1622
1621 G=Q
1622 PRINT”HERE YOU FIND”;Q;”GEMS”
1623 PRINT”YOU NOW HAVE”;G;”GEMS”:GOTO 520
1630 F=F+10:PRINT”HERE YOU FIND THE SPARE FLARES”
1640 H(K,L)=0:M(K,L)=0:GOTO 520
1650 PRINT”LOTS OF HOBBIT TRACKS IN THE DUST”:GOTO 520
1660 PRINT”YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ORACLE”
1670 IF A(4)=1 THEN 1690
1680 PRINT”THE OPAL EYE COMPELS IT TO ANSWER A QUESTION”:GOTO 1720
1690 IF G>19 THEN 1700
1691 PRINT”BUT YOU ARE TOO POOR TO ASK ANYTHING”:GOTO 520
1700 INPUT”WILL YOU SPEND 20 GEMS FOR 1 QUESTION”;O$
1710 IF O$<>”YES” AND O$<>”Y” THEN 550 ELSE G=G-20
1720 PRINT”WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW THE LOCATION OF”:X=0:Y=0
1730 INPUT”(EX: TO FIND THE OPAL EYE TYPE 400)”;Q
1740 FOR R=1 TO 9:FOR S=1 TO 9:PRINT”MUMBLE “;:IF H(R,S)<>Q THEN 1760
1750 IF Q<>0 THEN M(R,S)=H(R,S):X=R:Y=S:Q=0
1760 NEXT S:NEXT R:PRINT:PRINT
1770 IF X<>0 THEN 1780 ELSE PRINT”EVEN THE ORACLE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE THAT IS”:GOTO 550
1780 PRINT”THAT WHICH YOU DESIRE WILL BE FOUND AT (“;Y;”,”;X;”)”:GOTO 550
1790 IF K<>Z(1) OR L<>Z(2) THEN 1830
1800 IF O$<>”TELEPORT” AND O$<>”T” THEN 670
1810 PRINT”OH WOW!!”:PRINT”LUCKY HOBBIT NOW HAS THE MIGHTY ORB OF ZOT!”
1820 H(K,L)=0:M(K,L)=0:D(14)=0:GOTO 520
1830 Q=INT(M(K,L)/10):K=M(K,L)-(Q*10):L=Q
1831 G=G-(RND*5):IF G>-1 THEN 1530 ELSE G=0:GOTO 1530
1840 REM DEMON
1850 IF K<>Z(3) OR L<>Z(4) THEN 1870
1860 PRINT”BOLD HOBBIT THIEF NOW HAS THE RUNESTAFF”:H(K,L)=0:M(K,L)=0:D(13)=0:GOTO 520
1870 M(K,L)=H(K,L):IF M(K,L)>-1 THEN 1530
1871 PRINT”UH OH – YOU JUST RAN INTO “;MID$(D$,ABS(M(K,L))*10-9,10):Q=0
1880 Q=Q+1:IF A(Q)=0 THEN 2010
1881 IF Q<7 THEN 1880
1890 INPUT”HOW MUCH OF A BRIBE DO YOU OFFER HIM”;B:PRINT
1900 IF B>0 THEN 1930
1901 PRINT”NORMALLY “;MID$(D$,-M(K,L)*10-9,10);” WOULD EAT YOU,”
1910 PRINT”BUT HE IS AFRAID THAT YOU ARE SICK OR SOMETHING”
1920 PRINT”SO TEARS YOU INTO SHREDS INSTEAD”:GOTO 1481
1930 IF B=INT(B) THEN 1960
1940 PRINT MID$(D$,-M(K,L)*10-9,10);” DOESN’T UNDERSTAND DECIMALS,”
1950 PRINT”SO HE EATS CONFUSING LITTLE FUR-FOOT”:GOTO 1481
1960 IF B<=G THEN 1990
1970 PRINT MID$(D$,-M(K,L)*10-9,10);” DOESN’T LIKE HOBBITS WHO OFFER MORE GEMS”
1980 PRINT”THAN THEY HAVE, SO HE EATS YOU”:GOTO 1481
1990 G=G-B:IF B>(RND*(-M(K,L))) THEN PRINT”HE TAKES YOUR BRIBE”:GOTO 550
1991 PRINT”THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, SO HE EATS YOU”:GOTO 1481
2010 PRINT”BUT THE “;MID$(A$,Q*10-9,10);” PROTECTS YOU”:GOTO 520
2020 REM KILL
2030 IF M(K,L)<0 THEN 2040
2031 PRINT”YOU HAVE TO FIND A DEMON TO KILL IT”:GOTO 520
2040 PRINT”WHICH AMULET DO YOU ATTACK WITH”
2050 INPUT”(EX: OPAL EYE = 400)”;Q:IF Q>700 THEN 2050
2051 Q=Q/100:IF A(Q)=0 THEN 2053
2052 PRINT”YOU DON’T POSSESS THAT ONE, STUPID!”:GOTO 520
2053 IF AC(Q)>0 THEN 2055
2054 PRINT “THE “;MID$(A$,Q*10-9,10);” IS RECHARGING”:GOTO 520
2055 AC(Q)=AC(Q)-1
2060 REM
2070 PRINT”THE “;MID$(A$,Q*10-9,10);” ATTACKS AND “;MID$(D$,-M(K,L)*10-9,10);
2080 IF (RND*Q)+3>(RND*-M(K,L)) THEN 2090
2081 PRINT” IS STAGGERED BUT NOT DEAD”:GOTO 520
2090 PRINT” DIES”:B=(RND*50):D(-M(K,L))=0:G=G+B:M(K,L)=0:H(K,L)=0
2100 PRINT”AND HERE IS HIS HOARD OF”;B;”GEMS”:GOTO 520
2110 REM WIZBACK
2120 IF W>0 THEN 2150
2121 PRINT”OH NO!!!”
2130 PRINT”THE WIZARD HAS RETURNED”: IF D(14)=1 THEN 2170
2140 PRINT”BUT THE ORB OF ZOT PROTECTS YOU – FOR NOW”:W=RND(9):GOTO 650
2150 W=W-1:IF W<>0 THEN 650 ELSE PRINT “SOME HOBBITS KNOW WHEN TO QUIT”
2160 PRINT “YOU DIDN’T.”
2170 PRINT “WHAT A DELICIOUS LOOKING TOAD YOU MAKE”:Q=0
2180 Q=Q+1
2181 IF D(Q)=1 THEN 2190
2182 IF Q=12 THEN 2200
2183 GOTO 2180
2190 PRINT”AND YOU GET FED TO “;MID$(D$,Q*10-9,10):GOTO 1481
2200 PRINT”AND YOU GET STEPPED ON BY THE WIZARD”
2210 PRINT” S Q U I S H ! !”:GOTO1481
2220 PRINT”IN THIS GAME YOU BECOME A HOBBIT THIEF”
2222 PRINT”TRYING TO STEAL THE ORB OF ZOT FROM”
2224 PRINT”THE CASTLE OF THE EVIL WIZARD.”
2226 INPUT”HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE”;O$:CLS
2228 PRINT”THE CASTLE IS A (9 X 9) MATRIX FILLED”
2230 PRINT”WITH MANY THINGS. AMONG THESE”
2232 PRINT”THINGS (FOLLOWED BY THEIR NUMERIC REPRESENTATION”
2234 PRINT”ON THE MAP) ARE:”
2236 PRINT”GEMS (5), WARPS (11 THRU 99), SPARE FLARES (4)”
2238 PRINT”DEMONS (-1 THRU -12), AN ORACLE (2), AND”
2240 PRINT”AMULETS (100 THRU 700).”
2242 INPUT”HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE”;O$:CLS
2244 PRINT”ALSO HIDDEN IN THE CASTLE ARE THE RUNESTAFF”
2246 PRINT”AND THE ORB OF ZOT. THE ORB IS DISGUISED “
2248 PRINT”AS A WARP AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT IS”
2250 PRINT”TO TELEPORT INTO ITS ROOM DIRECTLY.”
2252 PRINT”IF YOU TRY TO MOVE INTO ITS ROOM YOU WILL”
2254 PRINT”GO PAST IT IN THE SAME DIRECTION.”
2256 PRINT”TO TELEPORT YOU MUST USE THE RUNESTAFF”
2258 PRINT”WHICH IS DISGUISED AS A DEMON. BE CAREFUL”
2260 PRINT”WHEN YOU TELEPORT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE YOU LOSE”
2262 PRINT”ALL YOUR AMULETS AND GEMS (NOTE: YOU MAY ALSO”
2263 PRINT”DROP SOME GEMS EACH TIME YOU MOVE).”
2264 INPUT”HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE “;O$:CLS
2266 PRINT”FIND THE ORB AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN BECAUSE”
2268 PRINT”THE WIZARD WILL RETURN SHORTLY AND ONLY THE”
2270 PRINT”ORB CAN PREVENT HIM FROM DOING TERRIBLE THINGS”
2272 PRINT”TO YOU.”
2280 REM
2290 INPUT”HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE”;O$:CLS
2291 PRINT”THE LEGAL MOVES ARE:”
2300 PRINT”NORTH OR N”
2310 PRINT”SOUTH OR S”
2320 PRINT”EAST OR E”
2330 PRINT”WEST OR W”
2340 PRINT”WAIT OR WT”
2350 PRINT”MAP OR M”
2360 PRINT”FLARE OR F”
2370 PRINT”LAMP OR L”
2380 PRINT”TELEPORT OR T”
2390 PRINT”KILL OR K”
2400 PRINT”QUIT OR Q”
2410 INPUT”HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE”;O$:CLS
2420 GOTO 120
2430 REM A
2440 X=(RND*9):Y=(RND*9):IF H(X,Y)<>5 THEN 2440:RETURN
2450 REM B
2460 IF K>0 THEN 2470
2461 K=9
2470 IF K<10 THEN 2480
2471 K=1
2480 IF L>0 THEN 2490
2481 L=9
2490 IF L<10 THEN 2500
2491 L=1
2500 RETURN
9999 END
65399 ‘** DONE – PRESS ENTER TO RETURN TO MENU **
Powell may state that he derived the idea from the Hobbit but the 8 x 8 grid-based game actually traces it’s origins back to the mainframe Star Trek game released in 1971.
The Star Trek game (which I actually played on Plato when I first began this blog and covered the early 1975 CRPGs) consisted of 8 x 8 quadrants and each quadrant was in turn made up of 8 x 8 sectors. Each sector could contain a Klingon warship, a Federation starbase, a star, etc. The Wizard’s Castle is a similar grid-based game but with an RPG setting.
Note the name of the kingdom in the game’s background: N’dic. There is a bit of a story behind that name. Joseph Power did not have a computer of his own to program on and he ended up getting permission from the owner of an East Lansing Michigan store called New Dimensions in Computing. He wrote the lines of the program on the Exidy Sorcerer on display at the store. The kingdom title, N’dic, pays homage to the store owner’s generosity.
When the game begins you choose your race from the following: elf, dwarf, man, or hobbit. You then choose between male and female and are then given base statistics for strength, intelligence, and dexterity based on your prior choices. You then have 8 points to distribute among the three attributes. I chose an elf and also allocated all 8 of my points into strength. You are then given a starting gold total of 60 gold pieces to buy starting equipment.
You can see by the picture depicted above that you begin play on an 8 x 8 grid. I was able to get the version working that was cracked by IPCO and an unfortunate by-product of this is that you can SEE every single portion of the map. In the regular version all of the map points are hidden by a fog of war. You only uncover what they are by moving into the area. One of the pieces of equipment you can purchase are flares. When you light a flare it reveals your immediate surroundings or in gaming aspects it would allow you to see adjacent grid spaces. This makes the flares an extremely valuable commodity. One of the treasures that you can find in the game is a lamp and the lamp serves to show you your surroundings on a grander scale. Even with the entire map exposed I found the game to be fun and challenging.
Each room or spot on the grid can has as contents one of the following:
E – the entrance / exit of the Castle
U – stairs going up
D – stairs going down
P – a magic pool you can drink from
C – a chest which may be opened
B – a book which may be opened
G – from 1 to 10 gold pieces
F – from 1 to 3 flares
W – a warp which transports you to a different level or different spot on the map
M – a monster (there are 12 different monster types)
V – a vendor where you can purchase more supplies
. – a blank spot on map
The game is text-based and as you move around the consequences of your actions are displayed to you.
When in combat you have three options that are available to you. You can choose to (A)ttack, (B)ribe, or (R)etreat. You do not gain any benefits from defeating these dungeon denizens. There is no experience to be gained and thus no level increases.
Whenever your intelligence becomes higher than 15 you gain the ability to cast spells as well. There are 3 to cast:
Web – traps the monster in a sticky web
Fireball – hits the monster with a ball of flame doing 2 – 1 4 points of damage
Deathspell – a contest of wills, whoever has the lower IQ dies
There are 8 major treasures that you can find throughout the castle aside from the Orb of Zot. They are listed below:
The Ruby Red – wards off the curse of Lethargy
The Norn Stone – has no special power
The Pale Pearl – wards off the curse of the Leech
The Opal Eye – cures blindness
The Green Gem – wards off the cures of Forgetfulness
The Blue Flame – dissolves books stuck to your hands
The Palantir – has no special power
The Silmaril – has no special power
Below are the 12 different types of monsters that you can encounter in the castle:
The game can prove to be somewhat difficult but the following strategy should get you to the finish line. I took a chance in the beginning with magic pools and books and used them to raise my attributes to 18 or higher. You HAVE to combat monsters because one of the creatures is guarding the fabled Runestaff. When you use the Runestaff you are teleported to a random Warp spot within the castle. Why would you want to teleport to a random Warp spot? Because one of the Warp spots…is not really a Warp spot..it is the secret location to the Orb of Zot. So once you have your attributes high enough that you can risk combat encounters, you battle all the dungeon denizens you can find until you obtain the Runestaff. Once you have the Runestaff in hand you keep teleporting UNTIL one of the Warps does not actually act like a Warp. Instead of teleporting you’ll find yourself kicked out adjacent to a Warp. Once this happens THAT particular Warp is the secret location spot for the Orb of Zot. You then go and get it. Once obtained you then make your way back to the 1st castle level to the (E)xit. Instead of pressing (U)p you want to go (N)orth from the exit and you’ll get the following screen:
It took me about 3 hours to win the game and though some might construe the game as simple this is highly entertaining for a game from 1980.
In the 90s there was a Windows conversion created of the game. I have not played the game myself but I hear that it is quite buggy. You can find the Windows conversion HERE
I was glad to come back in time and complete another offering from 1980.
Next up on the docket is The Dungeon Master.
Until next time…