How are the different spell symbols located and installed?

[MasterWuuf]

I finally decided to pick four members, mainly to get extra spell symbols.
I would think a fireball would be accessible by now in my game.
Sadly, I am missing a number of the magic symbols for my spellbooks.
How do I find/get these other symbols???
Thanks

[Sphenx]

I don't understand what do you mean by extra spell symbols ?
Are you searching for spells list ?

[Prince of Elves]

I vaguely remember having played a version that sends you to hunt for the runestones first before you can use the respective symbols in a spell. They are scattered all over the world (and I think I got one by clicking on the fireplace at "home" but it's been ages).

However, that's not part of the original design. Someone invented it for an RTC dungeon I believe and it got used in others too after the fact, even in remakes of the originals.

[Sphenx]

For RTC DM1, yes you have the spellbook rule and you need to activate symbols/runes from scrolls.
I don't see it the case for RTC DM2. Are you talking about DM1 or DM2 and RTC or not ?

[Ameena]

Yeah I'm guessing you're playing RTC in "RTC Mode" or whatever it's called, so you get a spellbook at the start and have to inscribe the runes in there from scrolls as you find them (I think?). So the one for Fireball is all the way down on Level Seven, I seem to recall, in the one bit of short corridor that's accessible before you use any Ra keys.
If you play RTC in "DM Mode" (I can't remember the name exactly), it should be like the original in that you can cast any rune any time you like. Same with other clones like CSBWin and such - as far as I know, RTC is the only one that has that spellbook mechanic, I think?

[MasterWuuf]

I am playing Skullkeep RTC. I found a spell list in the Encyclopedia, however I believe the spells might be for a different version.

I have played/finished Skullkeep before. I believe I purchased the original DM2: Skullkeep at a store,
so it seems the spells are different than the list I found.

The term I should have used is RUNES.

Ameena...Regarding RA keys: Are there any RA keys in Skullkeep?

[Ameena]

Oh, I missed which forum this was posted in and thought you were talking about the original DM, whoops . There might be a Ra key somewhere in DM2 but I can't remember. Might be the "Sun key" that's used on one of the doors/gates in the outside areas.

[Sphenx]

You're correct about the Ra key, to open the gate out of the Sun Clan village.
I did not play DM2 RTC a lot, but spells don't seem different than retail DM2 for me. I did not tested them all though. I still don't get what you'd find different for spells/runes.

[MasterWuuf]

If you have three characters, they each have a set of runes in their own spellbook.
Those different runes are all useable for each character...unless one of your characters is killed.
If that happens, the extra runes in that individual's spellbook are lost to the rest of the members.

I figure there is no way to transfer runes to other spellbooks, so that might just be an inconvenience. Ha. Grrr.
I don't seem to be finding many spell/rune parchments showing up, so far.

Also, do you get the different 'power' runes by practicing to higher levels?
I'm only able to cast second level spells at this point.
The fireballs are still one of my favorite fireworks, yet I long for the sixth-level, life crushing, spectacle of that sixth-level fireball.

[Prince of Elves]

Power runes are hidden in places too.

If you want to keep on playing that version, keep in mind that probably not many have played it so you'll get even less help than just with default Skullkeep (which is already neglected by most DManiacs )

[Ameena]

I've never used the spellbook version - for DM1 I played it a bit before switching to "non-spellbook" and later switching to CSBWin anyway, and for DM2 I still have the original disk so can play that using DOSBox .

[MasterWuuf]

Power runes are hidden in places too.

If you want to keep on playing that version, keep in mind that probably not many have played it so you'll get even less help than just with default Skullkeep (which is already neglected by most DManiacs )

I'll have to keep on running around, I guess.

RE: "...not many have played it so..."
Our oldest son likes DM2 much better than the original DM.

I actually purchased the original DM2: Legend of Skullkeep from a game store, before I had a PC to play it.
Yet I still don't recall seeing all the adventurers in that version.
It was confusing, seeing the different characters others were using.

[Sphenx]

I'm curious but still confused ... What dungeon/module are you playing in RTC ? this is not the default DMII.txt provided with RTC, right ?
I'd like to test that.

[MasterWuuf]

It's RTC. It starts out saying it's Return to Chaos, but when you open the application it is Return to Skullkeep.
George Gilbert is shown as involved in this one. File version 1.0.0.1 Date created 5/3/2008
Does that help?

[Sphenx]

Thanks ! So you are playing "Return to Skullkeep" mod by THEO for RTC ! You would have said that in your first post That's absolutely not DM2.
I did play it a little some time ago but did not get very far yet. I may not be able to help much here. I only got 4 symbols.
For reference, here is what it looks like:

[MasterWuuf]

I have been descending (with a rope) down every hole I could find.
I finally picked one of the holes that dropped me into a good (yet dangerous) spot.
I've gained some ground, as far as going other places, but haven't found anymore scrolls with runes.

I picked a fourth character, so I could get the rune that allowed the 'light' spell (hate torches).
But now I wish I could have managed with three characters, since in this game the different characters are found along the way.
I'll get by, but I sure would have liked being able to check out the different characters, as well as the runes they could offer.
You can't check that out when you've already picked four champions.

[Prince of Elves]

Well, you can always scout the area and once you know where other characters are hidden start a new game and check them out. Hopefully by then you'll know where some important runes are hidden away too.

It's really been a while since I tried that game but I seem to remember that the FUL rune wasn't too far from your house and in some place related to fire. Where there some pipes with valves in the basement that released a flame when opened? Try clicking that flame if so (or maybe it was in the fireplace in the main room).

Maybe I should try it once more so we can miserably fail together.

[MasterWuuf]

I'm curious but still confused ... What dungeon/module are you playing in RTC ? this is not the default DMII.txt provided with RTC, right ?
I'd like to test that.

SKWIN: Dungeon Master II for Windows is a truthful port of Skullkeep.
I copied this version information from the Encyclopedia.
Would I find this version to be closer to the original?

The runes used for spells, in the version I'm using now, seem to be different than my Dungeon Master 2: The Legend of Skullkeep Adventurer's Guide.
I've also noticed the version I'm currently using bombs every once in awhile (perhaps even twice in awhile )

[Prince of Elves]

I took a quick look into Return To Skullkeep these days and the creator of the dungeon states that it is longer and more difficult than the original plus some spells are changed. And it's very apparent right from the start as you don't even begin in that basement with the frozen characters and you don't seem to get your living room either (or maybe they are behind one of the locked doors in the area, didn't venture really far...)

So yeah, if you want the original you should stick to SKWIN. Though even the DM2 that's available for RTC will be closer to the original than RTS is.

[Ameena]

Yeah the original DM2 doesn't have the spellbook, that's definitely some kind of alternative version. All the runes should be available from the start just like in DM/CSB.

[Sphenx]

SKWIN: Dungeon Master II for Windows is a truthful port of Skullkeep.
I copied this version information from the Encyclopedia.
Would I find this version to be closer to the original?

Yes it is, SKWin is not a clone, this is a port of Dungeon Master 2 original code. Though it is primarily based on japanese PC-9821 version. But it is still not fully working. That said, I just refreshed the package SKWin package.
But you'll probably get the best DM2 experience using the PC-DOS version with DOSBox.

"Return to Skullkeep" is a custom dungeon for RTC which uses DM2 assets but it is a completely different game. It is not resembling at all "The Legend of Skullkeep". That explains the differences you see with spells, etc ...

[MasterWuuf]

I downloaded the package and checked it out. I don't recall seeing the place a person shows up before.
I purchased Skullkeep for the PC, decades back, actually before I even had a computer with a CD player. Ha.

I kept it until I bought a decent PC and played it, yet don't recall that place with all the adventurers available?
Odd, but perhaps I found the one I'm currently using and was able to make it work back then?

I'll play around with the SKWin version for awhile.
Still, the 'difficult' one I've been playing may be a challenge I won't be able to ignore.
Thanks for the help...although I may need more help along the way.

[Ameena]

Yeah the adventurers are all asleep in cryo-machine things (the equivalent of the DM/CSB portraits) in the small cave system where you start off - just up the ladder from there is the "base" room, with the table, the VI altar, the door to the outside area with the glops, etc. You start with one of your character slots already filled with a guy called Torham Zed (but I seem to recall you can rename characters any time you like in this one), but can get up to three more from the ones on display as you would expect.

[MasterWuuf]

Yes it is, SKWin is not a clone, this is a port of Dungeon Master 2 original code. Though it is primarily based on japanese PC-9821 version. But it is still not fully working. That said, I just refreshed the package SKWin package.
But you'll probably get the best DM2 experience using the PC-DOS version with DOSBox.

The package I downloaded and ran shows a bunch of information beneath the game. Did I do something wrong?

[Sphenx]

Nothing wrong. It is basically debug information of what's ongoing within SKWin.

[MasterWuuf]

It's RTC. It starts out saying it's Return to Chaos, but when you open the application it is Return to Skullkeep.
George Gilbert is shown as involved in this one. File version 1.0.0.1 Date created 5/3/2008

So I downloaded the SKWin Skullkeep and that seems to be like the 'original on disk' one I purchased decades ago.

I played it for awhile, then decided to go back to the ("Return to Skullkeep" mod by THEO for RTC?) game,
realizing it's almost a whole new game. Ha, what an understatement!

Anyway, I'm enjoying the challenge of limping through the place, learning a little each time I play.
I finally found my first (of four) pieces of the puzzle to get me through the door that continues the game elsewhere.

I also found out you can transfer the runes within a potion to your spellbooks.
Early on, I would have purchased all the potions for sale, allowing me to have the use of a few extra runes.
Since the spells are different from the original Skullkeep, I played for a long time, not knowing how to make a healing potion.

I also found a parchment that had an entire group of runes.

I've thought back, many times lately, of my initial introduction to the original Dungeon Master.
Late 1980's. Atari ST. No internet access. Nobody I knew who had even heard of Dungeon Master.
I don't know how difficult it will be to complete this "Return to Skullkeep" mod/game,
but I find myself wondering why people didn't seem to play it that much?