If I try to get on the Tripodon when I have the Hourglass of Ashes, there is no way that I can get on. If I trade the Hourglass of Ashes for anything else, I can ride the Tripodon. What gives? Did anyone else have this problem? I'd really like to take the Hourglass but no matter what, if I have it, no Tripodon ride. Irritating or just not the right time for the Hourglass? <img border="0" alt="" title="" src="graemlins/woozy.gif" /> This is the end of Part 1, by the way. Too early for this kind of headache.

Be sure you are not holding any inventory item in your hands when you try to ride the Tripodon.

Later, be sure you are not holding anything when you attempt to push-pull crates. (Use the Zero key to put away items.)

Other people have had trouble getting on the Tripodon - try shifting your position slightly. Be sure you are lightly tapping the space, not holding it down.

Lastly, be sure you have the latest revision of the walkthrough, only two weeks old. Keep hollering for help if you need it!

Be sure you have traded for the compass. Without it, you cannot get out of Episode One.

Hi -

My suspicion is the way you are handling the space. Get close to the animal and lightly tap the space.

Hi Audrey - I replayed Episode One this morning to see if I could reproduce the difficulty getting on the Tripodon. It turns out that you cannot, as long as either guard is alive. (If you visit the city gates before you get the compass, there are two guards there, if you wait until the last moment to go there, there is only one - the other one is guarding a different location.)

Anyhow, the Tripodon will not respond while his owner, the guard is there. You must kill the guard. The most efficient way, though not very sporting, is to become invisible and shoot him in the back with the wrist jadgar. You can get a couple of shots in before he turns around and shoots back, and it only takes three shots to deharmonize him.