Ruins of Cawdor

[nasarius]

First of all...WOW. Thank you! Once upon a time I loaded up Cawdor in a debugger and tried to see if I could at least get it to the beginning screen, but I didn't have much luck. I'm very happy to see that someone smarter than I was able to do it, and I would love to know how it was done.

I'm not necessarily asking for code (though that would be nice), but what tools did you (PaTchX and Macros) use? How much did you have to change?

Thanks again. I'm going to go see how much of the game is playable. I dropped my INN subscription before Ruins of Cawdor was released, so I never got to play it. I guess no one's played it in ten years...amazing.

 

[patchx]

First of all...WOW. Thank you! Once upon a time I loaded up Cawdor in a debugger and tried to see if I could at least get it to the beginning screen, but I didn't have much luck. I'm very happy to see that someone smarter than I was able to do it, and I would love to know how it was done.

I'm not necessarily asking for code (though that would be nice), but what tools did you (PaTchX and Macros) use? How much did you have to change?

Thanks again. I'm going to go see how much of the game is playable. I dropped my INN subscription before Ruins of Cawdor was released, so I never got to play it. I guess no one's played it in ten years...amazing.

This was done by going through the .exe and removing network-related calls. Tools used were:
dosbox
bochs
ida

Best regards,
-p

 

[CygnusX1]

Was there ever a walkthrough created for RoC? First time I've ever played, have leveled up to 11, but can't get past the rune hall, or get the blacksmith to help me out, etc, etc.

Was there a NEED to have parties to get anywhere past the first couple maps?

 

[patchx]

Was there ever a walkthrough created for RoC? First time I've ever played, have leveled up to 11, but can't get past the rune hall, or get the blacksmith to help me out, etc, etc.

Was there a NEED to have parties to get anywhere past the first couple maps?

That is a very valid question. At this point I've got no idea - need to look further into the game engine.

If you can get me a screenshot with the circled square that you are having trouble with, I can look into the logic and let you know.

Best regards,
-p

 

[CygnusX1]

That is a very valid question. At this point I've got no idea - need to look further into the game engine.

If you can get me a screenshot with the circled square that you are having trouble with, I can look into the logic and let you know.

Best regards,
-p

I'll try to work on a screen shot later if I can. Basically what I'm looking at right now is the main foyer had doors that can only be accessed by certain races (or at least a party led by such).

As a knight i've completed the L1: Chivalry Room, fully mapped the rune room as well as the stables. The rune room the door on the far right wall and about halfway down the map says the "Door Won't Budge".

I haven't mapped out all of the rune plaques yet, so I may need to hit the runes in a certain order to pass? Unsure right now.

Rune Door Coordinates: 16 across, 10 down.

 

[nasarius]

Thanks for the reply, patchx. Removing the modem-related interrupts was my first idea, but I guess I never quite got it right.

The only online resource I've ever found about RoC is this:
http://lolo.com/~orion/cawdor.html

 

[CygnusX1]

Thanks for the reply, patchx. Removing the modem-related interrupts was my first idea, but I guess I never quite got it right.

The only online resource I've ever found about RoC is this:
http://lolo.com/~orion/cawdor.html

Thanks for the link. It'll definately be interesting to see if anyone can access these room by themselves. So far I am having absolutely no luck.

 

[nasarius]

Here are all the clues in the Runed Room, extracted from RESOURCE.002. It's a pity they aren't written in iambic pentameter. I'm going to have to re-read Macbeth...

A: This wyrd sister lives no more
A: Save words here writ in living stone.
A: And for a life knee deep in gore
A: Beyond the grave I must atone.
A: Cawdor's bones are full of beasts.
A: Thy challenge: to defeat them.
A: To help my soul I can at least
A: Leave hints an thou canst read them.
A: Each clue thou findst upon these walls
A: Is split in sections various.
A: Together they will tell thee all
A: To kill the most nefarious.
A: Not all my clues are openly writ.
A: Some messages are obscure.
A: But when deciphered by thine own wit
A: Thy victory they'll ensure.

B: Cawdor's doors have mighty wards,
B: Protections hale and hearty.
B: An thou wouldst earn thy just rewards
B: Thou wilt need a balanced party.
B: Thou canst not force an entryway
B: Be thou strong or willful.
B: But oft a group can make their way
B: As can a thief most skillful.

D: gYoun allcomM saw a volley dal
D: siH cafe thob raif dan swimone
D: If hout muts ghfti mih hent eb dlag
D: uToh wares het rnwoC of soCimrn

E: Mdgi moysry ie hpt Lhtsashi
E: 'Ttg hsio ta mrrr hge sdkeeaa
E: Utplus teys hahh a mrgstro giin
E: Agg wadddi a Lleeee Darnns.

J: Tk dBfg oiea ihlaneol dqrsuctoe' ssome
J: Tnbt fhewal oeo nyudnis entrgs
J: TBt otkhhh lhn hii oeue ealss etl t'ss
J: TOs hdhrei yeat min ngsge.

F: Macduff's heroic fighting spirit.
F: sashfff'rherMocugdctingiiiipt
F: Will set thy face to frowning.
F: illsetttcygaehirooffwWnn.
F: If thou wouldst know how not to fear it
F: Iiahhuuldsknwwwnooooootttttffre
F: Then use the Cup of Drowning.
F: TtCfDsroowighheeennnuup.

G: Macbeth's shade is strongest of all
G: aaaaaaaaa abbBc cc dddeeeeee ee eee
G: But an thou earns his pocket
G: ffg gh hhhh hhhhH iii iikkll
G: Then in thy hands mayhaps will fall
G: llll ll LmM nnnnn nnooooo pprr ssss
G: The blessed Healing Locket.
G: sss ssssttt tttttTT uuwyy'

H:  Thou hast solved clues that I did brew
H:  With means anagrammatic.
H:  But these last clues are those that thou
H:  Solve with means cryptographic.

I: The Healing Locket's all that might
I: Ward off my sisters's power.
I: Use it steadfastly through the fight
I: And watch it make them glower.
I:  Bkw Kwqgmoy Glhuwb'c qgg bkqb amykb
I:  Nqti ljj ap cmcbwtc'c flnwt.
I:  Scw mb cbwqijqcbgp bktlsyk bkw jmykb
I:  Qoi nqbhk mb aquw bkwa yglnwt.

C:  Fancel epadsce teh mrrrduee's balde
C:  Btu he sllit flees hsi golom.
C:  If thuo wosdutl bets daeeft hsi shead
C:  Tehn wedil teh Cckar of Dmoo.

It would seem that only a group (Thou wilt need a balanced party) or a thief (As can a thief most skillful) will be able to proceed. I've tried picking the lock with a thief, though. Hmmmm.

 

[CygnusX1]

Looks like this download may be short lived at this point :-(

An other thing that was odd, according to that link you posted, as a Knight in the Chilvarous room I should have gotten the Deflect Spell. Any other races that get in will get teleport. My character is a knight, but I still ended up with Teleport....interesting.

 

[slohand]

Well we definitely have a start of something, i for one have played more Cawdor than i ever had the chance to play before. which was none until this. Slo

 

[CygnusX1]

Well we definitely have a start of something, i for one have played more Cawdor than i ever had the chance to play before. which was none until this. Slo

Same here, I was drooling when I got the notice it was available for download. I lost my INN account a month or so before RoC came out.

 

[patchx]

Thanks for the reply, patchx. Removing the modem-related interrupts was my first idea, but I guess I never quite got it right.

The only online resource I've ever found about RoC is this:
http://lolo.com/~orion/cawdor.html

Very nice find, nasarius!

 

[patchx]

Looks like this download may be short lived at this point :-(

An other thing that was odd, according to that link you posted, as a Knight in the Chilvarous room I should have gotten the Deflect Spell. Any other races that get in will get teleport. My character is a knight, but I still ended up with Teleport....interesting.

I'll look into the teleport thing.

-p

 

[patchx]

Here are all the clues in the Runed Room, extracted from RESOURCE.002. It's a pity they aren't written in iambic pentameter. I'm going to have to re-read Macbeth...

A: This wyrd sister lives no more
A: Save words here writ in living stone.
...
...

It would seem that only a group (Thou wilt need a balanced party) or a thief (As can a thief most skillful) will be able to proceed. I've tried picking the lock with a thief, though. Hmmmm.[/QUOTE]

Here's what I've discovered:

Later in the game you come across some guys that tell you the following:

[COLOR="Blue"][I]"Huzzah!  Huzzah!  And thrice Huzzah!  Thou hast climbed to the topmost peak of Cawdor, and my sisters have fled to the dubious safety of the tombs.  Return thee to The Runed Room."

"I will leave the most secret door ajar so that thou wilt be able to follow us and end at last our unholy lives."[/I][/COLOR]

Then quest flag is set that will open that door ~/

Oh yeah, I've also found this: it's quite the opposite - you must NOT be in a party to pass through that door:
[COLOR="Green"]"These narrow stairs will force you to descend single file."[/COLOR]

Best regards,
-p

PS: My belief at this point is that the game is probably playable at least most of the way through. I've yet to see proof that any KEY areas are inaccessible (and I don't mean the "test" areas at the entrance - they are not required to finish the game). If somebody discovers a truely impassable area, I'll look into fixing the code to make it passable.

 

[CygnusX1]

Here's what I've discovered:

Later in the game you come across some guys that tell you the following:

"Huzzah! Huzzah! And thrice Huzzah! Thou hast climbed to the topmost peak of Cawdor, and my sisters have fled to the dubious safety of the tombs. Return thee to The Runed Room."

"I will leave the most secret door ajar so that thou wilt be able to follow us and end at last our unholy lives."

Then quest flag is set that will open that door ~/

Oh yeah, I've also found this: it's quite the opposite - you must NOT be in a party to pass through that door:
"These narrow stairs will force you to descend single file."

Best regards,
-p

PS: My belief at this point is that the game is probably playable at least most of the way through. I've yet to see proof that any KEY areas are inaccessible (and I don't mean the "test" areas at the entrance - they are not required to finish the game). If somebody discovers a truely impassable area, I'll look into fixing the code to make it passable.

That's cool about the Rune Room door. There are however, several instances where it's showing that parties are needed to get through.

According to that brief walkthough page that Nasarius found. There are as follows:

There are six guild rooms, one for each guild. In all the guild rooms when you complete the last of the six (usually by meeting Galatea) you will be taught the Shield spell, which is essential to gain the higher levels. There is no preferred order to the first floor guild rooms. However, the rewards for each character are generally highest in that character's guild's room, so there is some small benefit from completing that room first.

Is there a way to get in these rooms without a party in order to get the needed shield spell?

Also:

Rooms on the stairs are always easily entered once you have completed the main task of the level. But most of the other rooms, at least on the next two floors, require a combination of characters for initial entry. Each room's name gives the hint as to which guilds are needed. Wizards are M(ages) or W, Barbarians are B, Rangers R, etc.

This suggests that parties are needed here as well.

Thanks again for playing with this code, this is an awesome job to even get to play this game at all!

 

[oblaidon]

Cool, RoC downloaded great. The only thing is that it is too easy. I already have death darts and many other spells. How do I name my character or start a new one?

 

[CygnusX1]

Cool, RoC downloaded great. The only thing is that it is too easy. I already have death darts and many other spells. How do I name my character or start a new one?

Were you able to get past the guild doors and go upstairs?

 

[patchx]

How do I name my character or start a new one?

Not really sure what you mean ... ?

-p

 

[patchx]

Is there a way to get in these rooms without a party in order to get the needed shield spell?

The fix has been updated with the class check removed for the entrance rooms. Slo - grab it at the usual place.

Meanwhile, it can be downloaded from http://yserbius.googlepages.com

EDIT*** UPDATED FILE CAN NOW BE DOWNLOADED IN THE DOWNLOAD AREA. thanks PaTchX for the fix

http://www.yserbius.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1957

Note that the file has been updated yet again, at 4:30 pm today - grab the latest version, I've canged the code
to always return true whenever game queries whether there is a certain class present in the party.

Best regards,
-PaTchX

 

[slohand]

Ok i have revised the Download with the new patch and it can be downloaded.. It works great for me.. Thanks PatchX for the patch Slo