I am so lost and don't know what I am doing or supposed to do. I've seen postings about slates, drawing on slates etc.

Hi TLC!

From K'veer we learned that the ultimate goal of the game is to release that brown tablet that Yeesha talked to you about, and then make a choice about what to do with it. This is done by completing the four Ages (you'll see how).

So, just explore. Explore all areas. When you want some more, come back to this post...I'll give some nudges.

Also, you should read my post brief tutorial on the Bahro and the slates Here It should help.

Good to see you back in another Myst game!

Dadguy

Hi Dadguy

Your tutorial post really helped. If there was any mention of Bahro in the previous games, I totally forgot.

I went back into the game and finally noticed the hand icon to raise the slate, then saw how to draw on it.

Thanks again and I'm sure I'll need your help again. :kiss:

TLC, there is also this:

Tutorial about handling the slate....

I might have missed it, but in case anyone wants a short tutorial on picking up and dropping the slate, here it is. I have talked to a number of people that were confused.

1. You pick up the slate the first time by clicking on the slate at the pedestal (click when the slate icon appears). The slate will then go to the bottom of the screen.

2. Once you have it at the bottom of the screen, you can either drop it on the ground (clicking the edge of the slate when you get the slate icon with the DOWN arrow) or bring it up to write upon (clicking lower, on the face of the slate when you get the open hand icon).

3. Once it is brought up to write upon, you have three choices. You can drop the slate to the ground (click the icon of the slate with a DOWN arrow on it) or you can put it back in your belt (clicking in the bottom center zone with the pointed finger icon) or you can write on it by LEFT-CLICKING and dragging the round icon. If you drop it, the slate glows a bluish glow on the ground.

4. You can pick up the slate again by simply walking over it most of the time.

And this about a "back-up" button...

I like to BACK away from the slate after I drop it. This way I am sure to see the Bahro when he appears. With my mouse setup, I can go backwards by clicking the SCROLL roller down (not turning it, but clicking down on it).

Have fun!

Dadguy

I would add that one thing I've noticed is that if the Bahro touches it, but then disappears and leaves the tablet glowing there on the ground, it seems to mean he doesn't like your drawing, or can't recognize it; good time to run forward, pick it up, erase it, and then have another go at the drawing, otherwise the next time he comes back, he will take the slate back to the pedestal you took it off of (or else the original pedestal, sorry can't remember now how that worked).

You can tell when he likes/recognizes your drawing, because the first time he touches it, he will link out and take the tablet with him right away. Then if you go to the original pedestal, you'll find your new symbol on it, and can link there right away by touching it, and there you'll find the slate.

dadguy's method of backing away with the mouse scroll button is an excellent one, because you can see right away if the Bahro recognizes your new drawing, and takes it the first time, and if he didn't, you're in good position to run quickly forward over it to pick it up and try the drawing again. Sure saves time running back to the last pedestal to retrieve the slate.

Good catch on that clue, DrDEL! This will save lots of folks a lot of running.

Dadguy

Great clue from Dadguy about backing away! I've used it lots now, and it is wonderful.

One thing to remember though is that you can't always back up - I tried one spot yesterday but there was this big drop-off behind me so I couldn't back up - so when you're at a spot where you want to drop/lay down your slate, take a look around you first to see if you can back up.

I'm using the combined movement method but to back up I just hit the downarrow key on my keyboard. Unfortunately, I use the scroll button on my mouse for something else.

I checked the WT that's posted. In K'veer it shows finding 12 journals? I only have 5. Can I get back to K'veer from Tahgira (just after the pipes) to find the missing journals?

Yes TLC, just link back to the first pedestal in the ice cave..and from there to Direbo.. from Direbo just touch the linking book to go back to one of the restrooms in D'Ni / K'veer.

drdel, I got back to K'veer. Thank you. I found a couple more journals. I didn't notice, the 2nd elevator that takes you down further to the tunnels.

Okie, have you been under the floor yet?

PS before you go under the floor.. there is a fan control room with a switch to turn fans on (you can only get in there when the floor is up and you are up on it!)..and one journal there. Did you find that one?
Also, there is a Waystation room off of that; need to pop in there too.

drdel, Under the floor? I'll have to check that out. I did find a switch but couldn't figure out what it did. I'll have to go find it again.

I now have all of the journals and heading back to Tahgira.

neeeeeever mind, lol. forgot to turn on switch upstairs

I started it yesterday AM. I have done very little exploring on my own - have Bert's partial w/t and have done OK up to now. I have found and read all 12 journals, and followed the w/t up to taking the 12th journal, listening to Yeesha on the hologram device and clicked on the linking book to get back to Direbo - have opened all the gates from everywhere and am now trying to follow the w/t and do what it says BUT this last time I link to D. Esher does NOT show up and talk to me - anyone else have trouble getting him to materialize here? And when I follow the w/t and try to find the specified two landscape scenes I am totally lost, they do not look as the w/t describes.....HELP please
Love, Betty Lou

Betty, I didn't follow the walkthrough. I wouldn't worry about Esher not showing in Direbo... I only remember him appearing once there. The important meetings are in the other ages.

My guess is that you just have the islands in Direbo mixed up and are starting at a different island than the walkthrough takes.

Good luck.

Dadguy

Thanks DG, I will go back in at my last snapshot and proceed from there. Now I have to learn how to use my slate...!
Love, Betty Lou

OK, back to basics with me please. I understand how to put the slate up on the pedestal and how to draw a symbol and how to erase it. My problem is that I don't understand which symbol I am supposed to be drawing or where I find a clue that would tell me what to draw....for example, I can 'link' to Taghira by pressing the symbol on the pedestal and going there - the symbol on my left facing the pedestal, and the only symbol carved on the large stone surface below where the slate will go....is this the symbol I am supposed to draw? and where do I get a 'dictionary' of what each symbol means to the Bahro? They may know what it means, but I sure don't. To learn how to communicate with them I have to know what the heck I am asking them to do for me, don't I?
Thanks for the help.
Love, Betty Lou

Hi Betty Lou
I'll try to give a few slate pointers while we wait for dadguy!

First, the pedestals are a way to link around within a world, sort of like the linking books in other games.
What you want to do is look for other pedestals, say in Tregira, and check the symbols on them. Duplicate each symbol on your slate, one at a time, let the Bahro pick it up. If he understands your communication, he'll take the slate and put it on the pedestal with the symbol you've drawn. He'll also make a little mark on the original pedestal. It means you can link directly to the new pedestal from the original one.

Why is this important? Well, some places in these worlds you cannot take a slate yourself. For example, in Tregira after you get out of the ice cave, you'll find yourself at the bottom of a ladder. Try carrying the slate up it. You'll find you cannot do it. However, by checking the symbol on the pedestal at the top of the ladder, and duplicating that on a slate, you then drop it for the Bahro to pick up and you'll find that the Bahro is quite happy to link up to that pedestal and put the slate on it.

In some other worlds, you will be able to see the symbol on a pedestal from quite far away. Or, you'll be able to see a pedestal symbol which is not so far away, but just plain inaccessible in any normal way. No way for you to get there, except to etch that symbol on the slate, let the Bahro pick it up, and make a little link for you on the original pedestal of that world..then you'll be able to link there.


Second use of the slate. There are some special symbols around these worlds. They don't appear on a pedestal, but they will appear within a slate shape, for example, etched onto a cliff face. They are instructions to the Bahro to make something unusual occur, like heat, or rain. These symbols are for more than just making interesting weather; they are essential to solving the puzzles in these worlds. Once you've successfully drawn one of these symbols, you'll see a little copy of it recorded on the slate, so you won't have to draw it again, just erase anything on the slate, then touch the little copy, and the slate will redraw it for you if you need it again.

Well said, DrDel.

One last item, the "envelope" shaped symbol on the various pedestals never have to be drawn on the slate. This is the Pedestal #1 symbol. It is available automatically on every pedestal except Pedestal #1 (the first one you come to when linking from Direbo). This symbol is the link back to Pedestal #1 from all of the other pedestals in an Age.

Hope you enjoy the game!

Dadguy

Thank you so much Dr. Del and DadGuy for this help. Now let's go see if I can make use of your instructions in the Taghira Age, my first 'journey'..... I will be back if I get stuck or am having trouble....thanks again :kiss:
Love, Betty Lou

Ah, yes, your description of the slate and how to use it is excellent and thanks guys. Now I have a question SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER regarding the diagram in the hut of the pipe layouts and the blue and red circles at the pipe junctions - I assume this is a diagram of the (steam) pipes outside by the lake? What I don't understand is how someone playing the game can "see" the actual pipes laid out in this configuration unless a view of them can be seen from up high somewhere...and then if you cannot see them from a higher up view how do/did you make a decision which valves to turn and which way to turn them? I am in awe of anyone who plays these games without a w/t or guide to help them 'pick up' on such an obscure clue (at least it is obscure to me!). How did you guys figure that out please? And someone mentioned checking a 'pool' when turning the valve handles left or right - what pool? and where it is and how did you have enough time to check it after turning each valve? Doesn't compute for me I'm afraid.....
Love, Betty Lou

I didn't actually look at the real pipes while adjusting the blue and red valves. I just figured it out directly from looking at the diagram in the hut. It's easy enough to see where a right or left turn on each valve will direct the water/steam.. well I thought so.

Betty,

The answer is that we try EVERYTHING. Considering combinations, we are like pitbulls, going back and trying something else if we don't get success.

Most folks don't have the patience, and get frustrated. I get DETERMINED!

Not that I don't use walkthroughs. I do. If it weren't for MaG, I'd be committed by now...

(Thanks MaG.)

Dadguy

I did it! I 'beat' that (steam) timer and have my heat symbol on my slate, and can turn the heat on at will....my next problem is that I do not see a "path across the frozen lake" - I must be blind or something. It would be good if Bert had included a snapshot/picture of the starting point of this path, cause I am not seeing it at all! Any help hints nudges and/or shoves would be greatly appreciated.....
I have to admit that if I did not have a walkthrough for each and every one of these games I would never get very far at all....not tenacious enough I guess and just don't see a clue and how it relates to an action....it must be me! So glad you guys are here to help poor little ole me when I get stuck
Love, Betty Lou :kiss: