Thanks Zanthia and Schwab for the info. I couldn't get the Reforce to work because I am using ME as my OS. It won't work with that. Been there done that.
I will look for the .exe the way you said, Zanthia
and see if that will help.
This whole thing is turning legitimate buyers into game hackers and pirates. Go figure!

Thanks Schwab for the Atari tech link. I got the
game to work by going into DXDIAG and increasing
the refresh rate to 75hz and using End It All to
close down everything except the game.
I had to recreate a party again and start all over, but at least it works. Truth be known, I
haven't shut it down yet. We have two computers
that work on the net so my husband can surf without problem. I envision my laptop remaining on for months so I can finish the game because I'm too chicken to turn it off.

Good to hear you found a solution, Debra!
Luckily you didn't get too far in the game so re-starting isn't so painful.

My party is in the big old Temple now and I'm pretty confused, there are quests in there and I'm never sure whether to do them.

Plus the game slows to a crawl during big battles, I might try that "end it all" command myself...

Let me know before you get to the town of Nulb, I encountered a quest bug there that you may be able to get around.

BTW, the lead designer, Tim Cain, is doing an online chat tonight, hopefully he will discuss the possibility of patches..

Okay, I've started over and adjusted my party! I fired my Bard (he really wanted to be a Rogue) and my Sorcerer (absolutely NO help in combat at all). I kept everyone else.

So my party is now:

Human Fighter
Human Fighter
Human Cleric (instead of Halfling Sorcerer)
Elf Rogue (instead of Halfling Bard)
Half-Orc Druid (hey, why not, Druids don't need intelligence).

I already like it better. LOVE Turn Undead.

HOWEVER. Pickpocket/Sleight of Hand is still very bothersome. My Rogue has a great skill level (9 or something) and, while he can get "Success"es, he NEVER seems to pluck any actual loot. Does anyone know what gives?

And can anyone give me a hint as to who can supply the "Full Heal"s necessary for a few quests in the Hamlet of Hommlet?

I do like that the game feels very deberately paced, much more like I imagine a P&P D&D session would go. Battles feel more tactical. I like the turn-based very much indeed.

The graphics are a bit improvement over the grotty look of Arcanum. The gently moving leaves in the trees is nice. And everything has a homey, hand-painted look.

Ray, the game doesn't tell you what you stole, you can check your inventory to see, but if you only got money it's anyone's guess how much unless you knew how much you had beforehand.

I'll give you a hint on the healing, you can get some free in the temple. Look everywhere...

SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


There's a scroll of full heal in the St.Cuthbert's
library if you need it for the sick child of the
woodcutter.

debra, i am glad to hear that you have the game up and running now

schwab, the chat did mention the patch.

hear is an part of it where the patch is mentioned:

[Exitium] [Arcana] Question: If there is to be a patch...when can we expect an acknowledgement of what will and wont' be fixed/changed
[TimCain] We are planning for a patch that will not invalidate save games - rule #1
[[Troika]Steve] I know locally at Troika we've made changes to the codebase and fixed bugs, there was infact a build made after the gold build that Atari chose not to go with, and we continue to work on things when we have time.
[[Troika]Tom] I hope we can make an official (or unofficial) announcement by next week
[[troika]hnguyen] as i've written earlier on the forums, everyone who is helping to report bugs and link savegames really helps A LOT!
[TimCain] Atari has not told us whether or not they want to pay for a patch, so we will have to see what we can do on our own time

Well, I hope Atari pays for a patch since they were the ones rushing the product out the door!

Well, I'm leaving town for three weeks (see my fascinating and utterly self-aggrandizing post in the Mixed Bag forum) and I'm hoping the patch will be ready upon my return!!

I haven't been having too many problems but if the patch addresses game performance and fixes certain quests then the game will be much more fun.

My party just hit level 7 and can make it through most of the combat (with a little luck) but there really are a variety of enemies and sometimes I need to re-load and try a different strategy.

Debra, how far are you now?

My group is at level 3 and we're still in Hommlet.
I'm really taking my time and doing the side quests. We cleaned out the bandits and the Master.
Why don't they let you know what that 1+ breastplate does or the magic ring you get or the
cloak of Elvenkind? They don't need to be identified again do they?
Schwab, have you finished Nulb? I found out I was
not ready for Trolls

Debra, that identify issue is a pain and they should have done it differently. Supposedly they were sticking so close to the D&D rules that they forgot that folks playing a CRPG don't have a dungeon master to explain what magic items do.
You could also look these items up in the D&D books, or download a PDF file but I think they should have just put full descriptions in the game.

I've just been going by what little description they give (ring of invisibility, ring of protection +1 are pretty obvious), but some items are a mystery (rope of entanglement, fungus figurine???).

I did as much in Nulb as I could, except for 2 broken quests. Trolls are a real pain since they can only be beaten into unconsciousness, then you have to shower acid or fire to kill them (one fire arrow won't do it a la Icewind Dale).
I avoid trolls if I can.

Tell me about the work camp quest. I can't find
anyone that talks about the shipment records.
I've tried different times of day but the only one
there is the cook (?)

Try going east of the tower during the day, that's where the work area is. There is a man there with some secrets to share...

There is only one man there and he keeps telling
me he's busy. Tell me more.....