Throne Of Darkness FAQ 0.3 This FAQ Copywrite 2002 KJ By ModernSwordHacker A lil introduction about myself: Real Name: KJ Location: Singapore E-mail: tiancai_sakuragi@hotmail.com I love RPGs, so I decided to have a dig in the bargin bin of my local store and got this out. I’m still playing a little at a go, cuz I’m just a 15 year old and I have not got a lot of time for this game, but I will update at least once every week. I’m accepting all the help and opinion I can get for this game, but please don’t send me any hate mails. This is my first FAQ so forgive me if I screw up. This FAQ is written by me and me only, so if you wanna use this FAQ for any other purposes than just reading it, like posting, please ask for my permission. Some of the websites that have the latest version of my FAQ: GameFAQS.com Neoseeker.com Table Of Contents 1.1 Strategies 1.2 Characters 1.3 Walkthrough 1.3.1 Mori Castle 1.3.2 Castle Grounds 1.3.3 Mori Wilderness 2.3.1 Oda Castle 1.1 Strategies I. Try to put gamma up till u can see everything as clearly as possible. It is hard to see some enemies like skeletons and dead foot soldiers taking a poke at you in the starting castle and the caves. II. Try to give all spare items you encounter to the blacksmith or the priest. It is a lot better not to waste anything. Unless you cannot tolerate the frustration you get when you have to get everything when you kill the baddies, this will help in the long run. III. The swordsman, IMO, is the best small-fry killing machine once you equip him with two swords. He is quick and deadly. However, his spell, like the stats increasing skills, needs only one point as they do not increase with more points. Bug? IV. The wizard, archer, and ninja are weak and easily dispatched by the evil minions. Try to play as them and run when creatures overwhelm your group. More often you will end out dying than being the victor if you take them on head on. V. Always change characters when they take significant amounts of damage (like ¼ for me) as battles are quite unpredictable. The minions can sometimes gang up on one character than picking out your ranged attackers VI. Build up the whole force as a unit than train on only a few characters. This will help in the long run, trust me. Although the wizard and ninja die often, they are quite powerful in the end, and things will get difficult when your more powerful characters get injured badly and your low-levelled wimps cannot replace them at all. VII. Range attacks seem to get overpowered in the game, as your characters and monsters seem to be able to pump out arrows and shurikens by the dozens. Therefore, focus on the range guys first, as they can interrupt your attacks. VIII. Always kill the weaker guys before the powerful commanders of the packs, as even though they do not deal considerable damage, they can interrupt attacks. IX. Always use your leader for purchasing, repairing, identifying or any other cost-related actions as he has the highest charisma from the start. X. Save up on your components and try not to be too much into customizing your weapons or armor as you can get much better combos further in the game. Also try to customize magical items only, and then, only powerful ones. Items drop by the dozens, and the next thing you know, the next pack of monsters may just drop a much better killer sword than the godly item you just found. XI. At least be familiar with tactics, as it can make or break your game. Use at least three tactics, one melee, ranged, and spell, for versatility. XII. Always check out rivers and places where you can do range or spell damage when the poor sucker on the other side takes a pelting. XIII. Almost all the great armor in the game has an inhumane str to be used, namely almost 200! So only some people are able to utilize it quickly. If you think it’s not worth it, then don’t pump unnecessary points in str, like for ninja, archer or wizard who takes oh so many lvl. Ups to get that high! XIV. Dual wielding swords are really cool in the start, but they dwindle into lower usage as polearms really overtake them in damage but are slower. Your call, but it’s best to have a nice mix of everything in your arsenal! XV. Magic will get really powerful in the medium to end game phrase, especially those deadly area-effect spells. No risk of getting chopped by your enemies, and in the end you will be able to afford so much of those ki potions you’ll be dishing out ki-expensive spell after spell. XVI. However, a good mix of everything is essential in a party. Get too many range attackers and see how your guys will fall with the help of dumb computer AI. D’oh! 1.2 Characters 1.2.1 Leader That’s the jack-of-all-trades guy. He can do everything but ain’t quite effective in that. Could be modified into a swordsman, archer or wizard type, but not too terribly effective. Primary stat to pump: Anything of your preference, but a wizard is the most effective. 1.2.2 Archer IMO ranged attacks totally rules the game, as it can interrupt attacks and is very rapid. However, this guy will be chopped liver if you let him in the frontline. Primary stat to pump: Dex to 200 for his bows, then either HP or ki for an archer-wizard type. 1.2.3 Brick The strongest guy in the arsenal, I think this guy was designed to use polearms, so I let him stay that way. Primary stat to pump: Str to 200 for him to use his damaging weapons. 1.2.4 Swordsman My favourite character who can dual wield two swords. Give him two quickly as his single hand style in quite slow IMO (it’s a leaping slash) Primary stat to pump: Dex then Str for his killer swords and those armor to prevent him form becoming chopped liver… 1.2.5 Wizard The weakest guy from the start, he is easily killed (only 50 HP) but very powerful in the endgame when his spells become sort of Frozen Orb type of powerful. Requires strategy and patience to use, however. Primary stat to pump: Ki at first, to compensate for the high ki uber spells, but then when you can spam ki potions (and you really should when you start casting spells by the dozens) ki ain’t much of an issue. Spell to use: IMO Lava ring is the most powerful skill for him, max out that and your wizard will be gaining levels almost like a trainer (heh heh) 1.2.6 Ninja Walks the delicate line between the archer and wizard. However the silent assassin is great at thrown weapons. Primary stat to pump: I prefer to up his HP first, as he, together with archer and wizard, are definitely not front line material. Dex is also a big concern, as his thrown weapons require high dex to use. Ki is also feasible, because hey, he’s a lil wimpy wizard after all! 1.2.7 Berserker The guy who definitely uses his strength and a big-ass polearm to smash minions to hell and back (wait a minute, aren’t they from hell?) Primary stat to pump: Str and Dex for this guy, cuz his HP is already enough to be your regular cannon fodder. 1.3Walkthrough I’m writing for the first clan (Mori), so I do not know the stories for other clans. Please forgive me! 1.3.1 Mori castle 1.3.1.1 Mission: The general of the invading forces is inside the castle. Find and eliminate him. The daimyo has escaped the initial slaughter, and he orders you to find the undead commander and kill him. The first guys you have are your leader, archer, and brick. Advance each floor slowly, and then check for all the items then are dropped or in chests. Also break barrels that contain stuff. The drums are beatable, but indestructable. My guess is that they are used in multiplayer games. As always, archers should be killed first. Any items that has 0 durability should be dropped and forgotten about, as they are no use even when you give them to the blacksmith. 1st floor Mori bedroom Only some of those dead foot soldiers for target practice, and to get you warmed up for some slaughter afterwards. 2nd floor Dining room You should find the swordsman just beside the stairs, so talk to him and he will teleport back to the shrine room. Shadow commanders and skeleton archers start to appear in this floor. Archers are the top priority, so go for them first. The wizard will be beside the stairs down to the third floor. 3rd floor Throne room The ninja is just there, so you know what to do. This floor is populated with the familiar monsters, so just make quick work of them and then descend. 4th floor Ground floor The last member of your proud clan is here, so click on him. There’s a new guy on the block too, a neandleskull who looks huge and intimidating and rightly so. It has significant knockback, so don’t rush it like a stupid fool and get knocked back and repeat that dumb approach again. Instead, leave this guy for later in group confrontations and gang on him. The commander, Buaku the Blade, is on this floor with his group of merry undead. It will be a tough battle, so don’t worry if your comrades die. When Buaku dies, he will drop a unique sword of his own. 1.3.2 Castle Grounds 1.3.2.1 Mission: One of the Dark Warlord’s socerers is near our portal gate and is attempting to take control of it. Stop him before he can summon reinforcements. 1.3.2.2 Mission: The blacksmith and priest fled the citadel during the attack. They will aid us greatly in our fight against the Dark Warlord. 1.3.2.1 Once you go out you will get your second mission to kill the sorcerer who guards the portal, and a third one to find the cowards who escaped the castle. Slaughter those brainless troops outside, while taking care to heal once in a while at the daimyo. Once you cross a bridge to the lower left, you’ll get pelted by ranged skellies on a building. Rush in the door to make their lives (or unlives?) miserable and pelt others below. Then slowly work your way down for the sorcerer called Majin(can’t miss him). The trick to killing his weenies and him is to kill the archers and a few other guys if you can, then rush back to heal, then back again for the sorcerer. He casts spark seekers and a three-way lightning bolt, both which possesses knockback ability, so you really have to bring the fight to him! (Why can’t he take control of the portal when you can at a click of a button? Maybe he doesn’t have a mouse? The miracles of RPGs nowadays…) 1.3.2.2 After he’s dead, secure the portal and go out of the castle to see the stupid blacksmith who is so conveniently alive even though you have to wade through countless groups of evil monsters! So then he goes back (teleport?!? Where’s MY scroll of town portal?) and now you can finally chuck those useless items of yours to him and make some good stuff to support your rag-tag party. 1.3.3 Mori Wilderness 1.3.3.1 Mission: We will need warriors to help hold back Zanshin’s army. Go to Castle Oda and ask Daimyo Nobunaga if he can send his samurai to assist us. 1.3.3.2 Mission: The Dark Warlord’s army has captured the villagers. Try to rescue them, for we will need their help in defending the castle. 1.3.3.3 Mission: You must capture all eight portal gates. Zanshin, the Dark Warlord, is using the Wilderness Portal Gates to attack the castles. We must hinder his access by capturing the Portal Gates. 1.3.3.4 Private mission: The leader must check on the priests who brought him up. Once out, you will have to go to the southeast, along the waypoint, fighting enemies. The upper path is not accessible, as they are chock full of demons. Then you will find the priest who is helping some villagers fight demons, and he will return to his temple. One villager will then give you the quest to find their wives and children. Finally you can identify those magical stuff you found! Remember, use the leader always, as he can get the most discounts. The villagers that you have to rescue is somewhere on the east side of the map, which is away from the waypoint, as the waypoints only point to the important quests, and not the optional ones. Once you fight some pesky gakis, and see a unique debu grinding some bones out of children happily, and not even taking any notice to you attacking his cronies. (OUCH!) Then concerntrate on him, while taking a moment to admire the A.I of some a pathetic creature. Those villagers are at the top left corner of the village, with some stakes that can be broken. Break it, and enter to receive an Agrikato and NO (?) rewards. Exit the Morino village and you will see a six pack of skeleton archers guarding your first portal. Mow through them (or open a can!) and take the portal. Score one for the good guys! The waypoint will split into a blue and yellow one as you gradually progress down, so you can take the blue one for awhile for some Kappa fun and experience before having to go back as the Dark Warlord’s army is fully entrenched in this position. That guy really can spawn monsters by the dozens huh. Sigh. As you continue down the Mori wilderness, the leader will suddenly give you his personal quest. The temple is also to the right of the map, away from any waypoints. Once you find the temple, speak to the priest with the leader and see the first cutscene of the game. (Cool comical takes huh? Never have I seen such scenes in an RPG!) Then the priest would give you a unique amulet before dying. How sad… To avenge him, wander around the temple compounds until you hear a waterfall. Enter the waterfall by the back, with the amulet equipped on the leader. In the cave there are lots of kappa, which aren’t really THAT powerful in the cutscenes. (I don’t see any chest being cut open when I die… Ok, I’ll skip those gory details) You’ll receive lots of the kappa components as rewards, but hold onto them first, as it is better not to waste those valuable shells. Suizan isn’t really that powerful a Kappa, and he dies easily like the others. The idol he drops can grant any of your characters an easy 8 plus spell points if offered to the water god, so make your choice carefully who you want to offer it to. The wizard is a feasible start to make his spells increase that much needed damage. (This is a contribution from Animemasterd. Thanks!) 2.1 Oda Castle You firs clear the citadel of the enemy commander (Baku again). And then rid the citadel of the enemy wizard (Majin). Then you find the blacksmith and priest. (Ed’s note: So I assume this is the same for all the castles.) Then you must go a mansion in the Oda wilderness and free the villagers and then go to the citadel of Tokugwa and ask for help.