Hi Sharon, the game should be easier now that you're a vet! I think I've played it 9 or 10 times now, & I STILL get lost in places!

I liked Morrowind, too, but I've only played it once. Did you play elder Scrolls 4, Oblivion? The last time I tried it, I got so frustrated with people not being where they were supposed to be that I quit.

My all-time favorite game is Vampire the Masquerade- Redemption. Have you played that one?

Well, back to the Lands! See you there.

Barb

No, I haven't played Oblivion yet. I have it and I've tried it briefly, but I didn't take the time to learn the controls or how to get around properly. I remember I didn't understand how to use the compass/thingy and I was confused by speechcraft. Seemed like I just kept saying things to tick the one guy off.

At the time, I was playing other games (mostly Morrowind) and I haven't gotten back to it yet. From reviews I learned that the enemies leveled up with you and for some reason they didn't include levitating in the game. That was a major disappointment for me.

I have Skyrim for the Xbox 360. I have not done anything there yet either, but for turning it on. Apparently creating a character is a long process given all the choices you have to customize. I'm really looking forward to this game and will probably play there next on completing LOL1. I have the strategy guide for Skyrim, but haven't looked at it yet. It is something to anticipate.

How are you doing? What level of the caves are you on?

No, haven't tried any of the vampire games, but they look good. There are still more RPG's that I own that I haven't played yet. Such as Arcanum, Arx Fatalis, The Witcher (beyond a brief introduction and some fighting).

I wish I were a better player so I could get to all my games sooner, but at least I have a LARGE stock pile of games to look forward to

Hi Sharon, I finished the caves and the swamp, now I'm getting ready to start the mine. That's the hardest part of the game, IMO. I have Skyrim, but the only computer I have that it'll play on is my new one with Windows 7. It's so big and dark that I can't see the keyboard well enough to type on.

I highly recommend both Vampire games. They're my favorites. I enjoyed Oblivion, but like you I never understood speechcraft. The characters give you quests, but then they're never in the same place, so sometimes I couldn't find them to complete the quest. The game and music are very beautiful, though.

You're lucky to have so many good games left to play!

Hi Barb, it's great to see you've come so far! Maybe we'll run into each other in the mines. I'm trying to map the different levels of the mines now. I was having some trouble with the rock creatures, but now I can take them down. The hardest part of the mines is figuring out where the pits and teleportation devices take you and the right "triggers?" you have to set.

My computer won't play Skyrim (or mostly any of the newest games). I bought an Xbox for it. I always used a combination mouse/keyboard/gamepad for Morrowind. I find movement much easier with the gamepad.

It's going to take me a while to circumnavigate these mines though.

Hi everyone esp. Sharon! Just wanted to post that I found something on Amazon that might help with your travels in LOL:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HV9JT6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=AZHKU59MRO6L4

Good luck!
Tracy

Thanks Tracy

Sure!

Perfect Tracy, thank you! I'm stuck in the mines right now. I need to find a key. I think I have the items I need to get the machine working, so will try that next. That clue book with the maps looks just the thing I need. -- Have gotten another ingredient bottle .

Have ordered the book and will do what I can in the meantime. What are you playing? Anything from the Darkside?

That's the same hint book I have, Sharon. It should help you greatly, I just finished the mines this morning & started the white tower. Which level of the mines are you on? I have all the ingredients I need except the earth powder. I'm dreading the top floor of the tower!

Darn Now I've fallen behind! I've been on all the levels and have started the machine. I know there is a locked door around there somewhere. I don't remember where that door is and I haven't come across the key for it yet. These pits/transformation devices have me thoroughly confused.

And, for some reason I have been tinkering with my settings for different programs/windows and I've been messing up my system. I did a restore, but some stuff didn't change back. I really need to do a reformat. Kind of hesitant to do it, because I worry I'll have trouble getting the internet back on line and I'm totally dependent on the web.

Well, I think I'll take the bull by the horns -- Save what I don't want to lose, open the system and dust it out; add my ram and reformat. I think I'll call my isp provider to ask about any setting info I might need and hope for the best.

I'll be back...

SharonB

You're braver than I am, Sharon! I don't touch anything on my computer, just let my husband do it.

The mines are so confusing! Since you've started the machine, you can go through the door that was flooded. That will take you to the shiney key, used on level 4 to get to Paulson. Are you getting that clue book? It will help a lot. Good luck!

Hi Barb, yes I'm in the process now. I have to find all my system discs before I reformat, but was able to back up some stuff. Difficult because I have to rely on DVD's to back up to and I only have 4 left, but I managed. I hope.
Once I have my system discs, I'll have to actually pull the plug on the computer. . I consider myself either very brave or very stupid . Anyway, this has been a long time coming.

I thought I had thoroughly mapped what I could, but don't remember seeing a flooded area. I'm just going to have to take a good look around .

See you soon, I want to catch up with you

You may be past me very soon, Sharon! Somehow the riddle scroll has disappeared from my inventory! I got all the way through the white tower & into Yvel when I realized it. I have to have it to show Sadie and Geron or I can't complete the game. The last save game I have with the riddle scroll is at the beginning of the mines. So I would have to do all that part over again & I don't know if I want to do that or not! I may have to wait a few days & see how I feel about it. This has never happened to me before & it's very irritating!

Good luck with your computer!!

Awww Barb, that is the pits!

That's the trouble with inventory -- you lug stuff around you never need and when you do need something it goes missing!

The good news I have successfully opened up my very dusty system and added in the ram I had sitting around for a while. It was a tight fit and I had to remove my graphics card first to make room. Now it's all back together, clean and shiny and the hardware is working!

Then, I reformatted. That went successfully as well. My recovery disc added in some bloat ware, but on the whole not that much. I was back to 186 gb of free space So I started updating my drivers, windows etc. I was adding stuff in and taking stuff out all day.

The bad news: Most of the stuff I saved did not restore. I lost the data on all my inventory collections (books, movies, games), and a bunch of other stuff -- including the database for my organizer program. However, I was prepared for this to happen and it will not be a problem to start over.

Good news again:
Lands of Lore saves did restore so I don't have to start all over there!

I was playing last night and found I had not been on Level 2 beyond falling into a pit and transporting out. Now I've got lots of area to discover. I had just fought off a swarm of lightning creatures when the lights went out! It was 1:30 in the morning and a big storm had taken me unawares...

Its morning again, the electric is back on and I'm ready for action! I'm going back down the mines to show them who's boss! Hope to see you there, Barb, if you're not too discouraged. I know how annoying it can be to have to go that far back!

Go Get 'em SharonB

Hi Sharon, congrats on getting your computer back together. I'm impressed!

Looks like we're back in the mines together! I started over on level 1 & I'm now doing Level 2. I haven't seen you yet - I thought maybe you were hiding in Paulson's room!

I wasn't going to keep playing, but the game kept drawing me back!

I heard about the big storms out your way - hope you didn't have any damage. We need some rain & relief from the heat! We haad a brief shower last night, but it probably didn't do anything but make it more humid! How are things in Alabama, Looney?

Hi Barb and Looney! I'm really glad I reformatted. My system is running much faster now and the case/motherboard is running cooler.

Received the Clue Book and it's really good. I try not to look at it too often, just when I can't find a key or there are some pits/transporters I can't seem to figure out.

Haven't seen you either, Barb We are probably at opposite ends of the same level.

Didn't realize there was so much more to discover in the mines. Much bigger than I had thought. If you heard an explosion, that was me. Set off the gas leak and knocked down a wall

Back to the mines!

There ya go Sharon, that is how to handle a maze.

Hi Sharon, I'm so glad you got the hint book. It will make it much easier getting through the mines. I use it a LOT in there! The first time I played the game I didn't have it, & made it through by just going to every spot I hadn't been to before. I finally figured everything out, but it's so much easier with a map!

I finished the mines again & I'm heading for the white tower. I always check to make sure I have the riddle scroll before I save!

Maybe I'll see you in the tower!

Barb

Hey Barb! I finally - thanks to the clue book maps - made it thru the mines. Have entered Yvel Woods and found the White Tower, but wasn't sure I was supposed to go there next. I don't have the last ingredient. I don't even know what it is supposed to be.

Do you have to have notations on all the ingredients for the recipe? I have only 2 notations which tell what they are.

Getting my behind kicked by these Uber Orcs!

Hi Sharon, Before you go to Yvel, do the white tower. You should still have one Vaelin's cube - you'll need it for the top floor. As for the ingredients, you need 4 - swamp water, honey, a red heart from one of the rock monsters in the mines, and you still need earth powder, which is found in Yvel city. Go there after you do the tower. Find Geron (north part of the city), show him the riddle scroll, & he will tell you to see Sadie to get earth powder. Do that, then go back to the tower & make the elixer.

Barb, I don't have a second vaelins cube. The one I had got used up when I broke down Scottia's barrier to get into Yvel Woods. I read that there is a vaelins cube needed to get thru the White Tower and one will be dropped in Yvel Woods after you kill the right orc.

Unfortunately, I did not get the fireball scroll when I went thru Urbish mines. I think I need that to fight these Orcs. I found that I can pick one up in the White Tower.

So the gist of it is I need to go to the White Tower and get the Fireball scroll and then go to Yvel Woods and pick a fight with some Orcs until I get the Vaelins Cube and then go back to the White Tower to finish it off.

Then I think I need to go to Yvel City and find Geron who will tell me what to do next. Phew!

I have my work cut out for me. But this warrior will prevail. I just need a nap first...

I don't think I ever used the fireball scroll against enemies. I used spark (I think it's called) and swords. You will get a vaelin's cube when you kill one of the Orcs - he's up north, near Vulture's Chasm. You don't actually HAVE to have a Vaelins cube to do the tower - it just makes it a lot easier because you can kill ghosts with it. If you have a green sword, that works against them, too.

Good luck - you're doing great!