Mines of Qyntarr(DOS/Windows) FAQ/Walkthrough
copyright 2007 by Andrew Schultz schultz.andrew@sbcglobal.net
Please do not reproduce for profit without my consent. You won't be getting
much profit anyway, but that's not the point. This took time and effort, and
I just wanted to save a memory of an old game and the odd solutions any way I
could. Please send me an email referring to me and this guide by name if
you'd like to post it on your site.
================================
OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
2. VERBS AND SUCH
3. GENERAL ADVICE
3-1. TO SCORE
3-2. WAYS TO DIE
3-3. ROUGH OUTLINE
4. THE WALKTHROUGH PROPER
5. APPLE VS PC DIFFERENCES
6. A SIMPLE STREAM-EDITING TRICK
7. VERSIONS
8. CREDITS
================================
1. INTRODUCTION
I am indebted to Shay Addams's Quest for Clues for much of this walkthrough
and, in particular, for saving me from the tedium that would have sapped my
energy before I approached the puzzles that were cryptic for all the wrong
reasons. However, I've noticed on the web that other people have had problems
with it. This is because the DOS and Apple versions are subtly different,
assuming indeed that the Quest for Clues walkthrough works for one system,
and knowing it does not work for DOS. The differences aren't numerous, but
they are there.
Mines of Qyntarr(MoQ) is a text adventure in the style of Zork, but with more
puzzles and more locations, and fewer cool gadgets in the game box(but hey,
the manual's relatively readable, and it contains some monsters not actually
referenced in the game!) The only problem is that the puzzles are based on
stupid catch phrases and aphorisms, or barring that, graffiti located
elsewhere on the huge map. Then there are the weird items you have to examine
to turn them into something more useful/interesting/value. The most difficult
part is lighting a lighter, and that's because the parser is screwy. Oh, you
need a really good online dictionary to find what "funambulate" means too.
And of course there is a woman who randomly takes your items. So you can't
just sed and grep this walkthrough to get through the game, as you might with
some walkthroughs. You have to stagger the commands. I'll explain that later,
for the technologically inclined.
But basically you need to find treasure and dump them in a "points well,"
eventually getting a brand new item from the well, which you can use to
defeat the super evil guy. Along the way, there's a Zorkish area, a subway,
and a town. There's no real logical connection between them. I have to admit,
when I was a kid, an idea of a game like this where you get participation
points("Hmm. TAKE THE VALUABLE JEWEL. +2 points. Yippee!") with the
possibility of failure("EAT THE CANDY. Oh no! It had a razor blade in it! Oh
well, try again") was awesome. I tried to make one, and it went roughly along
these lines, and it did some weak copying of Zork too(this game has a yallou
and a blooble. Zork has grues. All sound like mangled colors. It also has a
rotating hall, like in Zork II, only it doesn't spit you out randomly--which
contradicts the overall randomness of the game. Hmm.) Then again, I liked
Choose Your Own Adventure books in all their arbitrary random glory and was
hoping they'd come out with a 1000 page one so I could say I read a 1000 page
book.
Yeah, it's a real triple turdburger of a text adventure, with packets of fart
sauce on the side and a complimentary coupon good for a threatened sequel to
worry about. Thankfully, it is explained so badly and is so full of useless
items that you don't HAVE TO GET THROUGH THEM ALL, though you may lose sleep
over not getting all 500 of 500 points. But in case you were stuck on any
abandonware versions of it, there is NOW A GUIDE THAT GETS YOU THROUGH IT.
Did I mention that Sir-Tech, who created this game, also created the annoying
Wizardry series? The one where you had to buy the first game, which sucked
and had a simple solution once you knew, to play the second and third on the
old Apple IIe? I sort of wanted to solve this game and then break the text
adventure apart as a measure of revenge for all that.
This FAQ doesn't get all the points and if anyone knows how to, it would be
great to know. If you could insert the right moves in my walkthrough and send
them to me so I wouldn't have to play over EVERYTHING, then I'd love to see
it, just to fill everything out.
You can get this game from www.the-underdogs.info. ftp.apple.asimov.net does
not seem to have an image for Mines of Qyntarr, but really, one is enough.
2. VERBS AND SUCH
You can use arrow keys and/or the numpad for directions, which is kind of
cool.
(go/run) D U N S E W NW NE SE SW
You can also refer to an item you used in a previous command as "IT"
You can also use . to separate commands, or you can use AND too. But then G
takes both these commands.
A bad command does not cause game time to pass.
Annoying stupid verb you don't want to type because it leads to an unfunny
joke:
HELP
(Oops. I bet you went ahead and tried it. I'm sorry, I tried to warn you,
but--well, if you have this document, why did you think you NEEDED help?
Especially from a game incompetent at being, well, a GAME.)
Useless(as far as I know) verbs in the qyntarr.txt file:
APPROACH ATTACK BREAK CALL CLIMB CLOSE EXTINGUISH FIGHT FOLLOW JUMP KICK KILL
KISS LIFT LOCK PLACE PLAY PRESS PULL PUNCH PUSH SEARCH SMASH STAB THREATEN
THROW UNLIGHT UNTIE WAIT WAVE
Useful pedestrian verbs(the sort that appear in any text adventure):
CUT (x with y)
DROP (x)
DRINK (x)
EAT (x)
ENTER (x)
EXAMINE/READ (x)
G (i.e. perform previous command again. BUT BUT BUT if you type in a compound
command DO X.DO Y it tries to DO X.DO Y again.)
GET/TAKE (x and y and z and ..., or even ALL)
INVENTORY(I)
LOOK (requires at)
OPEN
QUIT (VERY useful for your sanity)
REMOVE (x, i.e. something you WEAR)
RESTORE
RING (x)
SAVE (goes to prompt asking for slot)
SAY/YELL (don't need quotes)
WEAR (x)
Useful detailed verbs:
DIAL (number)
FEED (x to y)
GIVE (x to y)
LIGHT (x with y)
UNLOCK (x with y)
TICKLE (x with y)
3. GENERAL ADVICE
First, save every ten moves. This is even more important in MoQ because of
the old lady that appears randomly and takes an item of yours.
You can hold about ten items. If you are wearing an item, you are not holding
it. However, you can only wear one around your neck at a time, and you can't
wear the uniform and the parka at the same time. There's no difference
between carrying the yellow feather and lead suit.
If you want to cheat up to looking other things to do that this walkthrough
may have forgotten, look in the *.MOQ files.
3-1. TO SCORE
There are three ways to score in the game:
1) dispatch an enemy
2) drop a valuable item in any of the wells(same points for each)
3) get to a room you couldn't before
Which items give you how many points seems to have been decided arbitrarily.
3-2. WAYS TO DIE
--Feed the piranha fish the orange packet
--Walk into the mine without the lead suit
--Choose door I
--fight with the pirate
--lock yourself in the fridge
--wear the gas mask too long
--lock self in bank vault??
--play the piano
--go into the winter area without a parka
--wait around the anthill with the frankfurter
--attack the dragon
--walk the tightrope without the medallion
--extinguish lantern & walk around a bit
--get caught by the steel scorpion
--EAT FOOD in the Dining Room and then don't say "taedow"
--wear the lead suit across the small pool
There are also ways to avoid completing the game, i.e. drop an item down the
well before you solve a puzzle with it, or eat all the foods with no way to
get back to the "inner area" i.e. the part where you get the crystal pyramid,
above the clouds.
--get lost in the sewer complex by going anywhere but east from the dank
passage
(more later)
3-3. ROUGH OUTLINE
You need to goad the blooble back to the main area to break the glass case.
Then you need the gas mask to get the geiger counter and the lead suit to get
the packet. You need the medallion to get past the chasm, where you can get
to the inner area via the turnstile. You need the feather past the "right"
door before you go to the turnstile to get past the ogre in the inner area
and get the uniform. Then you need to go through the cold area to get to the
town, where you can get the crowbar and the steak. Use them to get below.
Wear the uniform to get beyond and get the orb. Then retreat and drop all the
treasures you found in a well. Drop the penny in the fountain in the inner
area. Get the crystal pyramid and retreat to near the start. Put it on the
platform and go forward to meet the king and tell him "AMNOTH SAYS HELLO."
In the town you need a steak for the tiger in the zoo below.
The treasures you need to find include:
--ruby
--onyx king
--jeweled collar
--diamond
--feather
--doubloon
--money bag
Also, some foods transport you to different places. Since some transport you
to the same place, you don't need everything you see. The apple may seem like
a food, but if you bite it, it is plastic. But it's also a treasure that
gives you points.
Grape: Dome room in inner sanctum
Pear, Peach and Frankfurter: Roundhouse room N of applause room
Pretzel: Piano room
4. THE WALKTHROUGH PROPER
I looked ahead for Quest for Clues's walkthrough for hints a lot. I think my
ideas combined with it will give a pretty pared down walkthrough of the game.
The parts where it didn't work when translated from the Apple to the PC
should all be corrected, for those who have suffered a long time trying to
solve it. The programmers removed some rooms and shuffled some items. There
are many ways to go about the game, but for the start of the game it is
pretty linear, and then you need to try to organize what to eat, when. You
have to go to the inner sanctum twice.
A lot of times you may want to say "GET ALL" instead of "GET XYZABC AND
DEFGHI" but I spelled it out so the walkthrough is not too cryptic.
The dome and roundhouse rooms are good places to put things if you've filled
all 10 inventory spots.
Optional things, mostly examining items and such, are in parentheses.
I'm not sure exactly what you need to drop in the fountain, but I think that
the apple is irrelevant to the game. Perhaps you only need X treasures.
>S
>E
A saber hangs over the mantel. A lantern stands on the table.
>Get all
You get the brass lantern.
You get the sharpened saber.
>Fill lamp with oil
You fill the lantern with oil from the small keg.
>W
>W
>LOOK AT NEEDLES
[+5/5]
You find an old lighter under the pine needles.
>Get lighter
You get the old lighter.
>LIGHT LIGHTER WITH HAND
(I s*** you not, pops.)
The old lighter sparks, but it fails to ignite.
>G
Sparks fly as a small flame sputters and dies.
>G
A steady flame burns atop the lighter.
>Light lamp with lighter
(At least we're varying the TYPE of redundancy.)
You light the brass lantern with the old lighter.
>W
(Get parchment and read it
You get the torn parchment.
The torn parchment reads:
### DEATH WARRANT ###
For treason against the king
Amnoth is hereby sentenced...)
>SW
>GET KEY
>NE
>E
>S
>S
>SE
>GET PEN
>SE
>GET IDOL
>NW
>NW
>D
>GIVE PEN TO PIRATE
[+10/15]
The pirate accepts your gift with a smile. "Aha!" he exclaims. "A pen
bomb! That certainly beats my old cutlass. Just what I need for navel
warfare!"
He dives into his belly-button, causing a rather odd noise as he
disappears.
(let's do this backwards, for fun. The note is not useful for puzzles but
gets you 2 well points.)
>W.W
>GET NOTE AND READ IT
The wrinkled note reads:
- The pen is mightier than the sword -
>E.E
>S
>S
>E
>E
>GET MASK
>W
>W
>W
The idol whispers "Beware."
>Wear mask
You wear the gas mask.
The idol whispers "Beware."
The gas mask filters the air...
>W
[+5 points, registers next move]
>GET COUNTER
(The geiger counter isn't actually useful with this walkthrough, but it gives
you points if you dump it in the well)
>E
(If the air starts to get stale, REMOVE MASK)
>E
>E
>E
>SW
>UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY
>OPEN IT
>SW[+15 points, registers next move]
>S
>S
>REMOVE MASK AND DROP IT IN WELL[+2,37]
>GET CANDELABRUM AND DROP IT IN WELL[+3,40]
>DROP LIGHTER, NOTE, COUNTER AND KEY IN WELL[+10,2,2,5,59]
(You can also drop the idol in the well, but it won't give you the warnings
which might help you the first time through)
>W
>W
>NW
>NW
>NE
>NE
>SW
The blooble is following you furtively. He is licking his lips.
>SW
The blooble continues to follow you...
>SE
The blooble continues to follow you...
>SE
The blooble is still following you...
>E
The blooble continues to follow you...
>E
The blooble continues to follow you...
>N
The blooble is still following you...
>N
The blooble notices the glass case resting on the stand. He scurries to
the case. Seconds later he has crunched and devoured it. Hopping from the
walnut stand, a greatly enlarged blooble winks at you ponderously before
waddling out the south exit.
What looks like a book is on the walnut stand.
>GET BOOK
Gosh! It seems the book was not a book after all! And no one will ever
be
able to learn what it was, because it disappears as you touch it, revealing a
small white object.
>TAKE PILL
>S
>S
>S
>S
>NW
>GET COWBELL AND RING IT
The cowbell is revealed as a mere dirty shell, which
shatters to uncover a silver bell.
>NW
>N
>GET MEDALLION AND WEAR IT
You can now funambulate.
(this means you can walk or dance across a tightrope)
>S
>SE
>SE
>E
>E
>NE
The idol whispers "Beware."
>NE
The idol chatters fearfully.
>GIVE PILL TO DRAGON
[+10/69]
The dragon sniffs at the pill you give him and quickly swallows it. A
moment later the dragon's cold clears up, but he is now growing sleepy from
the drug. The drowsy dragon staggers one way and then the other and finally
slumps to the ground in a deep sleep. The eastern exit is now unobstructed.
>E
>E
>GET COIN
>W
>W
>SW
>SW
>SE
>SE
>W
>GET SUIT
>E
The suit is too heavy to carry far. You drop it.
>D
>D
The idol whispers "Beware."
The Geiger counter you're holding is ticking...
>GET SUIT AND WEAR IT
>E[+5 points next move/74]
The idol chatters fearfully.
>GET PACKET
>W
>REMOVE SUIT AND DROP IT
>W
>W
>W
>NW
>NW
>W
>GET POT
>E
>SE
>SE
>SW
>SW
>S[+15/89]
>S
>S
>S
>REMOVE MEDALLION AND DROP IT IN WELL[+5/94]??
(frees up an inventory space as now you can wear the necklace)
>DROP POT AND BELL IN WELL[+5,20/119]
(You don't get points for dropping the parchment in the well, but you might
as well free up an inventory space.)
>N
>U
>GET ALL
>D
>E
>GET PARKA
>W
>SW
>SW
>GET CROSS
>NE
>NE
>S
The idol whispers "Beware."
>DROP RAG, TEACUP, TEAPOT, CROSS, IDOL IN WELL[+1,2,3,2,5/132]
(Again I will proceed as if you didn't drop the idol.)
>DROP SABER AND PACKET AND PARKA
>S
The idol chatters fearfully.
>CHOOSE I
As the crowd cheers, a guard opens the door marked "I"
and pushes you inside...
>GET PENNY
>D
>NE
>NW
>GET FEATHER
>SW
>D
>PUT COIN IN TURNSTILE
>SE[+20/152]
(READ WALL.READ GRAFFITO. Remember the letter-to-number you may find on a
phone.)
>NE
>NE
>NE
>DIAL 342463[+5/157]
>SW
>DROP PENNY
(You'll get it later, again--inventory space)
>W
>GET VIOLIN
(READ MOTTO)
>E
>NW
>GET SNOWSHOES (AND WEAR IT)
>SE
>SE
>GET PEARL NECKLACE AND OPAL
>WEAR NECKLACE
>NW
>S
>GET ALL
>S
>D
>E
>E
(READ WALL, READ WRITING)
>E
>E
>E
>TICKLE OGRE WITH FEATHER[+10/167]
>SE
>SE
>SW
>GET UNIFORM AND WEAR IT
>S
>GET DIAMOND
>N
>NE
>NW
>NW
>W
>GET FRANKFURTER
>W
>W
(NEED NECKLACE, SNOWSHOES, VIOLIN, FRANKFURTER TO CONTINUE)
>DROP PRETZEL
>S
>SAY CHECKMATE[+10/177]
>GET KING
>S
>S
>GET ALL
>S
>SE
>NE
>GET RUBY
(no room for the pear)
>EAT FRANKFURTER
>S
>DROP RUBY IN WELL[+20,1,5,0,14,2,15/234]
mug 1
king 5
doubloon 0
opal
feather
diamond
>N
>SE
>REMOVE NECKLACE AND CAST IT
>E[+10/244]
>GET CLOCK
(SW.READ SCRATCHES.NE to get bank code)
>S
>GET ALL
>N
>W
>GET NECKLACE
>NW
>S
>DROP CLOCK, PAINTING, NECKLACE, SCULPTURE IN WELL
[+2-16-8-15/285]
>GET ALL
>N
>NW
>CUT KNOT WITH SABER[+10/295]
>N
>GET BOW
>S
>SE
>REMOVE UNIFORM AND WEAR PARKA
>DROP SABER AND GRAPE
>W
>W
The steel monster is chasing you!
>SW
The steel monster is chasing you!
>S[+15/310]
The steel monster that followed you in here is quickly drenched with water,
and is already showing signs of rust. The great scorpion is slowing down as
the rust accumulates in its black joints. Finally, the beast takes its last
step before its limbs completely stiffen.
>N
>NE
>NW
>N
>NE[+10/320]
>N[+10/330]
>N
>PLAY VIOLIN WITH BOW[+20/350]
>NW
>D
>N
>N
>U
>GET GAVEL
>D
>S
>W
>NW
>NW
>N
>N
>SE
>GET CROWBAR
>NW
>E
>S
>NW
>GET CAKE
>SE
>NE
>GET BOUQUET
>SW
>SE
>N
>DROP CAKE, GAVEL, BOW, VIOLIN AND BOUQUET IN WELL[3-2-2-3-2/362]
>REMOVE PARKA AND SNOWSHOES
>DROP PARKA AND SNOWSHOES
(no points for dropping them in the well, so why bother)
>S
>NE
>NW
>GET STEAK
>SE
(peach is E SW of here)
>S
>SW
>GET LETTER
>NE
>W
>SE
>GET APPLE
>NW
>E
>E
>OPEN COVER WITH CROWBAR[+20/382]
>WEAR UNIFORM
>D
>E
>E
>E[+20/402]
As you pass under the arch, the guard says "Good evening,
Barney!" and continues his watch.
>SE
>NE
>FEED STEAK TO TIGER
>GET COLLAR
>U
>FEED PACKET TO WHALE
The little whale gulps the packet of food without chewing.
Rumbling oddly, the whale begins to grow. In minutes it completely fills
its home. In fact, its broad back forms a path across the (former) pool.
>SW
>GET ORB
>NE
>D
>SW
>NW
>W
>W
>W
>U
>W
>NW
>N
>REMOVE UNIFORM AND DROP IT IN WELL[4/406]
>DROP COLLAR, CROWBAR AND LETTER IN WELL[10,2,4/422]
>EAT GRAPE
(dome room)
>GET PRETZEL
>W
>W
>U
>N
>N
>E
>DIAL 50379
>E[10/392]
>GET BAG
>W
>W
>GET PENNY AND THROW IT IN FOUNTAIN[25/457]
You watch your coin sink to the floor of the fountain. The eagle atop the
pedestal suddenly ruffles its feathers. Before you can make a wish on your
coin, the eagle speaks...
"Welcome. I have waited long for one to unravel the mysteries of this
place as you have done. I am the guardian of an object which may be of use
to
you. I will give this object to you. Do not betray the trust I am placing
in
you by failing in your great task."
The great bird becomes green metal once more as a crystal pyramid floats
to
the ground by your feet.
>GET PYRAMID
>EAT PRETZEL
>DROP BAG AND APPLE IN WELL[10,2/469]
>N
>N
>NE
>NE
>W
>W
>N
>N
>W
>W
>NE
>NE
>N
>N
>E
>PUT PYRAMID ON PEDESTAL
The pyramid drops toward the top of the pedestal, but slows to a stop
about
five inches above the golden triangle. The pyramid slowly turns until the
three corners of its base are aligned with the three corners of the triangle.
The crystal then begins to glow with a brilliant white color and lowers
itself
onto the pedestal. When the pyramid touches the golden triangle, a
tremendous
flash of light illuminates the entire area. You are momentarily blinded...
>N
>N
"I see by your mode of dress that you are an outlander. I presume you
have
come in behalf of those poor rabbits of buried Qyntárr.
"No matter, fool. Aken shall smash you as he smashed Qyntárr itself!"
The old man rises from the throne and takes a few steps toward you. He
stands at the top of the steps leading to the dais.
Trembling, you raise the Orb and hold it level with your eyes.
Aken laughs. "You are thrice a fool! You think that because you hold
that
pretty trinket, I am defeated? You are mistaken."
>SAY AMNOTH SAID HELLO[5/474]
The aura descends toward you. Suddenly the Orb feels warm in your hand,
and you see a face once more in its depths. The aura is drawn into the Orb
like water into sand.
Now Aken loses his confidence and begins to back toward his throne. He is
too late. A great searing beam like a bolt of lightning is hurled from the
Orb and strikes Aken full in the chest. He is enclosed in writhing blue
flame. He seems to wither. He is gone.
Where the king stood is now a statue of black stone. On its face is an
expression of mortal terror.
For a moment, Aken speaks to you, but the room seems silent as if the
King's voice exists only within your mind...
"I am destroyed. Qyntárr is freed, and much that I have done is undone.
"But do not rejoice overmuch. You have not found the scroll of Baellon,
and there is still K'Vin. Oh yes, there is always K'Vin."
You are standing on the familiar path by the pedestal. But the pedestal
is now scorched and blackened, and there is a cooling lump of molten glass on
it. A great castle now stands where there was only forest before.
Suddenly people begin streaming up the path from the entrance to Fibiod to
the west. They are joyful and singing. They surround you and acclaim you as
their savior and hero. Aken's last words quickly fade from your mind.
There is silence as one of their number, an elder, steps forward. He
begins to speak.
"You have delivered us from the darkness and oppression that have cursed
our lives. There is no adequate way for us to thank you. But please take
this medallion in token of our appreciation. By it you shall be known as the
true friend of Qyntárr."
He hangs the medallion around your neck.
Now the silence is broken as the people resume their celebration. "Come,"
they say to you, "Come to the feasting." Arm-in-arm, you walk with them as
they sing.
5. APPLE VS PC DIFFERENCES
The ruby appears to be under/by the anthill in the Apple, according to the
Quest for Clues walkthrough, but it is in the Cloudy Hall in the PC.
There is no croquet mallet in the PC version of the game.
You need to do something different to the queen in the PC version("SAY
CHECKMATE") vs in the Apple("APPROACH QUEEN").
I suspect the point totals are different too as the doubloon gets you no
points and everything's so haphazard anyway.
6. A SIMPLE STREAM-EDITING TRICK
In this document, type at a dos prompt:
type mines.txt | grep "^>" | sed "s/^.//g" > cmds.txt
Then you can cut and paste cmds.txt to a DOS command window running Mines of
Qyntarr. This should work, unless the lady reaches in and steals an item. So
maybe only go with 20 items at a time. You may also wish to lump commands
together with periods so that you can push space when you need to, to make
sure she is not there.
End of FAQ Proper
================================
7. VERSIONS
1.0.0: sent to GameFAQs 3/21/2007, able to complete the game but only 474/500
points.
8. CREDITS
Thanks to www.the-underdogs.info for having this game. I can't blame them for
it being bad. They didn't force me to play it.
Thanks to Shay Addams and his Quest for Clues book without which walking
through this game would have been stultifying indeed. Thanks to Sandy Walton,
the original writer whose data he compiled/edited.
Thanks to the usual GameFAQs gang, current and emeritus. They know who they
are, and you should, too, because they get/got some SERIOUS writing done.
Good people too--bloomer, falsehead, Sashanan, Masters, Retro, Snow
Dragon/Brui5ed Ego, ZoopSoul, War Doc, Brian Sulpher, AdamL, odino, JDog and
others I forgot. OK, even Hydrophant in his current not-yet-banned message
board incarnation. I am not part of his gang, but I want him to be part of
mine.
Special thanks to odino for showing the way with these text adventures.
9/1/12 Amby's note: posted with permission of the author Andrew Schultz.
