I am at the stone chair and have tried for hours to solve the puzzle of tuning the crystals! Does anyone have any hints that can help or a saved game?
I have liked all the Myst games until this one; the puzzles are terrible!

Thanks,

Check this FAQ by the Fellowship about the spider chair and tuning fork. Hope this helps.

Here's an excerpt from the FAQ that MaG mentions:

Spider Chair Strategy:

1. Before setting the sliders on the spider chair you must be certain that the gears under the chair are set correctly. If you push all three sliders to the very top of the console, and the knight in the top right lock does NOT tremble and retract, then you know that the gears aren’t set correctly.
2. Setting the sliders is tricky. The slider opening/window tends to “slip” downwards. Put the center of the slider window slightly ABOVE the green circle marker you’re aiming for – it’s more likely to stick there.
3. When you pull the slider to the bottom, there is a slot ZERO possible below slot 1. Make sure you don't go too low when trying to set slot #1.
4. Each slider sequence (i.e., 6-12-4 is one sequence) can be set in any order – you don’t have to go left, center, right each time.
5. Once the first two sliders are in position for a sequence, you don’t have to accurately set the third slider at all – you just have to move the third slider up or down PAST the third setting, hitting it for only an instant as you continue to the next setting without letting go.
6. The final setting is easy – just bring all the sliders up to the top as fast as you can. Even here, though, they can slip down – make sure they’re completely at the top.
7. The order of the settings: 6-12-4, 3-1-7, 10-5-5, 12-12-12.


Here is the step-by-step fastest order for tuning the Spider Chair Crystals

RIGHT SLIDER to 4.
LEFT SLIDER to 6. (Timed portion doesn’t begin until you set the center slider.)
CENTER SLIDER to 12 up at the very top (don’t let go) CENTER SLIDER to 1.
LEFT SLIDER to 3.
RIGHT SLIDER past 7 (don’t let go), then down to 5.
CENTER SLIDER to 5 (center slider knob on a horizontal line with the right slider knob).
LEFT SLIDER TO 12 (go past 10 without stopping).
CENTER SLIDER TO 12.
RIGHT SLIDER TO 12.

Wow what a great strategy Becky! I'm saving that for the next time I play this game!

Failing all that (and I did) send a call out to Dadguy to rescue you!!

You know, now that I look at that list of instructions -- nobody should ever have go through something like this in a GAME!

Yes, Dadguy is the man.

Dadguy has helped me many a time with the Myst games. He is the greatest!

Am I the only one who really loves this puzzle?

Geez, if I ever create a game, no one will play it :-\

Tomer -- why do you really love this puzzle?

heh, good question.
Well, firstly, I find the design verging on geniousness. I'm a sucker for puzzles that are not local but that are complex enough so you'd have to manipulate elements of it in several parts of the world in order to solve them. (power crystals, tuning, etc...)
Secondly, I found it well integrated with the world's theme. A little vague still was indeed the reason for Sirrus to create such an elaborate lock to this chair, I admit.
I have no problem with timed sections in puzzles as long as they're (as far as I'm considered) reasonable (without having all your knuckles hurt after knowing the correct solution). I understand some hate this and respect that, and that's why it might have been a good idea to somehow incorporate the option of choosing gameplay with no timed puzzles, or to offer an alternative solution (rarely happens though).

So a logical, well integrated and complex puzzle is almost welcomed!

Answers your question, Beck?

Hi Tomer -- I agree that it can be enjoyably challenging to solve puzzles where you manipulate elements in several parts of the world.

What is problematic about this one is that just the timed portion in and of itself is extremely challenging -- so much so that people regularly need a saved game to get by it. And Myst games aren't supposed to be aimed at a demographic that's used to/expert in timed challenges. A multi-stepped puzzle using different parts of the gameworld. Fine. A timed challenge. Well, okay. But combining the two? Nooooooo. People aren't sure if they're failing because they didn't get all the steps right. Or if they're failing because they just aren't fast enough.

Then add to it the factors that the sliders tend to slip out of position downwards, and that the "zero" slot at the bottom is confusing and unnecessarily complicates the challenge.

Yes, two difficulty levels on this particular puzzle would have been a realllly good idea.

My own "take" is that the developers, when they designed it, had no idea how hard it actually would be for people.

I love this puzzle too. I love it because I worked with it and practiced so I could solve it each time. I can understand how some folks find it frustrating. :-)

If anyone needs help, I am still here. Hope the FAQs document helped and made sense.

Cheers,

Dadguy

Hi dadguy! Sorry to impugn the integrity of a puzzle you love. How many hours would you say you've spent in the chair???

Becky I sure Dadguy has spent more time in the chair completing other Boomers saved games then he has for himself!

But isn't it wonderful to have a saviour, 'cos I'm sure there are a lot of us out there that would never have progressed without.

Kaki's Sister -- I'm sure he has spent a lot of time there helping others too. I'm expecting to hear about 100 hours.

Besky, I have spent very little time in the chair, since it is timed and you have to be quick. :-) heheh So, 30 seconds times 300 or so solves equals about 2 1/2 hours. Of course this doesn't include the time I spend there gazing at the crystals.

Folks, thanks for the comments, but if you use that FAQ guide and understand it, it is an easily reproduced solution. The mouse may slip off of the slider, and the slider (annoyingly) slips down one slot when you drop it sometimes.... but (especially with the latest patch) this is a puzzle to be loved. :-)

And, as always, if you aren't having any fun solving it, please contact me here and I'll be happy to help.

Cheers, all!
Dadguy

Wow Dadguy 2 1/2 hours in the chair! I'll bet you could do that puzzle blindfolded! A lot more time then we thought Becky!

Dadguy, you ARE good at this puzzle if that's the total time you've spent. (I've seen how many people have asked for help.)

I'll stop thinking about you as a prisoner of the chair.

I've never played the patched version. It sounds like that makes a difference.

The patch makes a "subtle" help, but subtle is all that this puzzle needed. Understanding the puzzle gets you through. :-)

Thanks all!

Dadguy :-)

Thanks for the great tips! I think I set the gears correctly, but will check it and then give the puzzle a few more tries.

Appreciate it! This site is the best!!

I did it and this solution was the one I used. First, I did go back and check the gears and they were not properly set. Duh! Once that was done, it only took me a couple of times using this solution and I finally tuned the crystals!!
Thank you all for you help!

Glad you succeeded!

Yay KJane!! Big congrats... it feels good to beat a toughie!

Cheers,

Dadguy