Line #24 VideoGame/QuarterstaffTheTombOfSetmoth


1	[[quoteright:302:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/QuarterstaffTheTombOfSetmoth_4701.gif]]
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3	''Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Setmoth'' was a WesternRPG made for the Platform/AppleMacintosh, created by Amy Briggs (of ''VideoGame/PlunderedHearts'' fame), Scott Schmitz, and Ken Updike, and released in 1988 by the {{Creator/Activision}}-subsidiary incarnation of Creator/{{Infocom}}. The plot was simple. You, the blacksmith Titus, are charged with finding out what happened to the Tree Druids living underground.
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5	[[LateToTheTragedy Something very bad.]] And that's not even getting into the SealedEvilInACan.
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7	The gameplay was remarkably complex. If you got more characters to join you, you could have them go their separate ways; and the game has the DevelopersForesight; many actions had results that were unheard of at the time. However, GuideDangIt issues quickly required a StrategyGuide to be built ''into the game'', and even that didn't cover everything.
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9	One such thing was the utterly complicated {{Feelies}}[=/=]CopyProtection. A wooden "coin" covered with letters, and when added to a compass, ''and'' when one solves 4 different riddles; gives you the magic words you use the Identify Wand. Curiously, one could technically beat the game simply through SaveScumming the effects of items; (although most wands also had activation words.)
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11	Oh, and by the way. "Gurz" identifies Keys; "Nesoe" identifies Potion; "Odeeps" identifies Wands, and "Falp" identifies Scrolls. It's ancient {{abandonware}}.
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13	----
14	!!The game contained examples of the following tropes:
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16	* BlastingItOutOfTheirHands: You can actually do this. Commanding someone to shoot an arrow at a weapon held in someone's hand or their inventory and being successful (this can be tricky) actually results in the item being dropped. Everyone can drop their weapon.
17	* BossButton: The original version has a "boss is coming" command which opened an "Excel folder" window, though considering that the game was still visible behind the window, and the folder included a file damningly named "Resume", it wasn't very effective.
18	* GuideDangIt: Oh, very. For example there are invisible items. These invisible items can only be seen if you break one of four single use items in the same room; or if you type in the exact items name when interacting with them.
19	* HopelessBossFight: The Granite Statue in the Circular Hall has ''1000'' HP (most have around 100-200, and a successful hit takes off 10-20 damage) and can kill you in 2-3 hits. You are expected to run through the room, beat the puzzle to open the door to which way you want to go, and lick your wounds on the other side.
20	* MissingSecret: There is no secret room behind the L-shaped corridor. Examining the gamecode shows this.
21	* SaveScumming: How anything is accomplished.
22	* SealedEvilInACan: Curiously, the game doesn't really hint that Setmoth is able to get out. You mostly break into his Tomb because you can. Better be able to kill the demon, because [[NiceJobBreakingItHero otherwise]]...
23	* StrategyGuide: Built into the second version of the game.
24	* TitleDrop: The Subtitle "The Tomb of Setmoth" is obvious enough; but "Quarterstaff" is rather curious. There ''are'' a couple of Quarterstaves in the game (and the one in the Grand Druid's sepulcher is one of the best weapons against demons that is [[AnIcePerson Cold Elemental]]) but there's nothing mentioned in the backstory.
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Context VideoGame / QuarterstaffTheTombOfSetmoth