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Crown of Mardan (BBC)

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:09 pm
by Gunness
Has anyone played this game?
I've mapped a large part of it (I think), but I haven't found a weapon yet, and I'm getting rather tired of dying all the time.

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:29 am
by terri
I'm having some trouble getting the boots. I have the objects I need, but whatever I type, I still get the same question about how many pair I need. so how exactly do I say how many I want?

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:13 am
by Gunness
Well, that's just one of the places I'm stuck in. I've tried every conceivable phrasing.

Some other points of interest:
1. What do I do about the bear? I've tried feeding it sugar and other things. But perhaps it's just a red herring? It's possible to reach this location from another (to the east) but then you can't go back.
2. The Red Baron has a sword, and I've been thinking about getting it from him.
3. The fat man in the Ferry Inn talks about rum for a dragon. Does this refer to the bottle of rum in the general store, or to the barge with barrels of rum?

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:44 pm
by terri
I too met the bear and he didn't want the lollipop. I haven't yet found the sugar to give to him. Do you suppose that with the sugar and the flour (and maybe something else) the baker will bake you something special? Where is the sugar?

I would think that objects you see may be red herrings, but people and things you meet - no, not really, or at least they shouldn't be, since they usually block an entrance to another location.

I haven't yet come across the Red Baron.

I too have heard what the man said at the inn, but also don't know what that means.

The instructions say that each dragon has a weakness - so maybe that means that a specific vice needs to be satisfied, i.e. you've got to give that dragon something. So far I have only seen one dragon, the one with the chilblains. Have you found anything to give him?

I also need some help with the guard (around the windmill area). Can't get past him. Does bribing work here?

Also, the red jacket. How come wearing it doesn't get you past the red guards? Do you need to have something else?

What about the bat, and the fox catching the grebe?

The fisherman mending the nets. If you're late getting there, he is not there. Is it possible to wait and he shows up again, or are there irretrievable "windows of opportunity".?

Nice game, but a touch obscure.

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:53 am
by terri
I have made a bit more progress. Got the emerald and talked to the bat. So I will pick up from where I left off and try again.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:23 am
by terri
Have you managed to get the sword from the red beared man?

The sugar is for the parrot.

I found a use for the red jacket.

Still cannot get the boots.

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:21 am
by Gunness
Okay, since my time for playing this is rather more limited than I had anticipated, I'm going to need some help:
1. What, then, is the use for the jacket (a simple nudge will suffice)
2. Is there a bug in the game? If I wear the shell and then approach the grebe, the beginning of a message prints on screen, scrolls off and the machine locks up.
3. Any suggestions for the white dragon? I tried rubbing its feet with rum and covering them with my jacket, but to no avail.
4. I take it that the parrot's code is for the safe? No luck with the sword yet. None with the boots either. Perhaps they are for the dragon?

Have a nice weekend!

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:40 am
by terri
1. The jacket: I think you need it by the basket. Though you seem to have gotten up there without it. So maybe you need it later (see #4).

2. Try talking to the bat, not the grebe.

3. My suspicion too, is that you need two pairs of boots, one for yourself and one for the dragon. But I cannot find the words to tell the shoemaker I want two pair. Otherwise, why would he ask how many you want? I don't know whether this is a bug, or just "not the correct verb" problem.

4. The parrot's code is for the safe I think. But you gotta disarm the guy with the sword. I've tried all kinds of things, like reflecting light with the mirror. Here also I think you need the right verb which I haven't found yet. One probably needs the sword to enter the rooms (there are four) in the fortress.

So- looks like we both need help. Com'n fellow players - take pity on two frustrated souls...

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 2:44 pm
by Gunness
1. Yes, you need the jacket by the basket. I just never noticed.
2. I already talked to the bat, but I'm sure the grebe also has something important to say.

You didn't have any luck with the white dragon?

Apart from that, we're stuck in the same spots. So please, someone else - help us!

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:39 pm
by terri
Come on , fellow adventurers. No one is willing to help us out in this? Yes, everyone has some unfinished games, but play this one. While it may have some random elements, at least it's not as bad as some I've played. We need a lot of minds here. Join the forum.

Terri

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:07 pm
by Amby
I finally got a working image of this game and will give it a go.

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:47 pm
by Alastair
I think the version I downloaded is bugged. Using BeebEm 3.0, with three of the hardware profiles the game hangs after giving the boots (two pairs) to the dragon in the cave, and with the fourth profile the game fails to load.

For what is it is worth, after giving the corn and sheepskin to the shoemaker type MAKE TWO PAIRS, then go back to the dragon and GIVE BOOTS. Slowing the emulator down shows that the dragon will help you before leading you through the caves and the game hanging. (Typing MAKE ONE PAIR and giving the boots to the dragon causes the dragon to put the boots on his hind feet before walking off on his hind legs! However going west still causes the game to hang.)

If anyone can locate a better download please tell.

Alastair.

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:39 am
by terri
We must be playing the same version because the same thing happens to me.

However, you can go east, and find yourself at the bottom of a ravine with something jutting out. If one could get out of there....

Also, BTW, did you manage to figure out what to do with the bearded man with the sword?

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:05 am
by terri
There is also another "crash/freeze" when you try to chase the fox away from the grebe, who thanks you and flies off.

Notwithstanding the dragons and the barons, I presume that one does not need to do things in order, assuming that you have the objects you need.

Has anyone got past the solitary guard at the bridge?

Where is the black baron found?

What good is the loaf of bread?

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:26 pm
by Gunness
Alastair wrote:Itype MAKE TWO PAIRS, then go back to the dragon and GIVE BOOTS.
Argh! I had tried every conceivable variation of "TWO BOOTS", "2 BOOTS", "MAKE BOOTS", "TWO PAIRS", and what have you. Bloody stupid parser! Nice to know the right command at last.
I suggest we press on for a bit further, to see if there are workarounds to the bugs at the dragon and the grebe. If they persist, I'll contact Dave at Stairway To Hell, which seems to be the primary BBC site these days, and see if he knows of a better version.