23-Sep-93 15:01:31-GMT,25553;000000000001 Received: by CAMIS.Stanford.EDU (4.1/inc-1.0) id AA09485; Thu, 23 Sep 93 08:01:29 PDT Full-Name: Info-Mac Moderator Resent-Message-Id: <9309231501.AA09485@CAMIS.Stanford.EDU> Return-Path: Received: from Rosie.UH.EDU by CAMIS.Stanford.EDU (4.1/inc-1.0) id AA24777; Wed, 22 Sep 93 11:40:00 PDT Received: from Jetson.UH.EDU by Jetson.UH.EDU (PMDF V4.2-11 #3125) id <01H391KA6PNK91W6LM@Jetson.UH.EDU>; Wed, 22 Sep 1993 13:39:50 CDT Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1993 13:39:49 -0500 (CDT) From: "POU LEE (THE MUG@UH FELLOW)" Subject: Pathway Into Darkness Basic Survival Guide v.1.1 To: info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu Message-Id: <01H391KA7S8I91W6LM@Jetson.UH.EDU> X-Vms-To: IN%"info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu" Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT Resent-To: backmod@camis Resent-Date: Thu, 23 Sep 93 8:01:27 PDT Resent-From: Info-Mac Moderator Pathway Into Darkness Basic Survival Guide (v.1.1) This file is a cursory survival guide for PID, intending to offer basic information for completion of the game. Please send me (st2c9@jetson.uh.edu, or poulee@cs.uh.edu) any correction or better tips/solutions. This file is version 1.1, dated September 22, 1993. What's New: More playing tips for players with normal characters and several error corrections concerning saving zones. ************************************************************* General Playing Tips Save constantly. This is especially true is the lower (physically) levels where heavy-damage-inflicting monsters roam. IMHO, this game is most enjoyable if one plays it mission-oriented style: before playing, set up an objective like the killing of ten monsters or the procurement of a certain object, before saving again. Use the saving zones as mission bases. Whenever heavy damage has been sustained, revert. Each resting will cost 7 minutes of time. In other words, every hit sustained is time lost. This game IMHO is very heavy on resource management. Most important resources are time and ammunitions. Ammunition will cease to be of extreme concern once the Ammo Duplication Cedar Box is obtained. Time will always be of extreme concern. Each resting takes 7 minutes and will allow one to recover about 1/7 of total health points. Ammo is duplicated in a minutely base. Incremental resting is recommended once the Ammo Cedar Box is obtained: might as well produce ammo in resting, even though it is inefficient since ammo can be produced every minute while one meaningful resting period is 7 minutes. Command key sideward dodging is essential in minimizing hits in the easier levels. Recommended tactics for normal characters at easier level is Tango style movement with ambush style firing: run forward several steps before retreating all those steps back and be ready to side step behind walls to induce bad guys advancing into ambushes. Recommended tactics for normal characters at harder level is Waltz style movement with assasin style firing: run forward several steps before retreating necessary number of steps back around a defensable corner, turn body around until the gun is pointing at most 45 degree from the anticipated advancing path of the approaching monsters. Commence firing once any part of the monsters is seen. If a monster (particulary those like Skitters (& Ghast) that can shoot straight and fast travelling ammo) is known to be approaching, hide around the corner at most 45 degree to its approach. Commence firing upon sighting any part of it in the gun sight. Once hit, it will stop and try to return fire but can not do so because it can not shoot at an angle. Weapons should be fired at point blank range whenever possible to ensure maximum damage while conserving ammunition until one procures the Cedar Box for ammo duplication. The only exception is with fragmentation grenades in the case when they are plenty: fire them as far as possible to allow for reloading, thus a second shot. Weapon accuracy is included in consideration for performance evaluation at the end of the game. Number 1 priority is to obtain the Cedar box for ammo duplication. Usage of crystals and potions should be extremely judicious or else one may have a hard, if not impossible, time overcoming certain situations in the game. Learn to aim and shoot straight first. Then learn to shoot at an angle hidding around the corner, ambushing incoming monsters at or nearly at point-blank range. Never slug it out with monsters face to face. Always try to draw them into ambushes in which they can not shoot back. Be efficiently patient whenever possible: saving 1 minute of waiting by going out rushing around looking for monsters is definitely not worth the while if one has to spend 5 minute recuperating from the wounds thus sustained. Try to recover as many artifacts as possible since this process improves one's health points. Try to visit every square of any level to recover ammo clips in the early game. Later on, like after the level Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate, one may not wish or in fact, recommended not to do so if one has the Cedar Box and knows where all the goodies like potions and artifacts are. The program takes around 4 to 5 second to reload the Grenade Launcher. To reload the M-79 in less than 2 seconds, allow it to break open right after firing before immediately command-2 to shift to inventory window. Double-click on the M-79 to unwield it before double-click it to wield it again. It will be reloaded and ready to be fired again. Command-1 to shift back to game window to continue firing. Before quaking down the Sentinels' shields, wait a little standing a little to the right of the center of the path to attract Skitters to apprach on the other side of the shields. Their rolling web spindles will be stopped by the shields if the Sentinels sit in the way. Blast the Skitters with Fragmentation grenades. HE or Projectile grenades will be stopped by the shields but not Fragmentation ones. Remember to set the bomb before leaving Who Else Wants Some? ************************************************************* About Monsters Name Recom kill Weapon Other weapons Headless knife guns Zombie guns Banshee blue/orange crystal(s) Ghouls knife guns Ooz guns Invisible Demon guns Nightmare guns Electric Orb guns Skitter guns Sentinel green crystal Flamethrower guns Ghast guns Venomous skiter guns Greater Nightmare guns (amour piercing) Purple Monster none Green Ooz none (get poisoned) ************************************************************* One Possible/recommended Route Ground Floor -> Never Firing -> Lock&Load -> They May Be Slow -> But They're Hungry -> Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!! -> Ascension -> Wrong Way! -> Welcome, Tasty Primate! -> (need a lot of Walther P4 ammo and the orange crystal, if one has not been conserving ammo, ie. killing almost all Headless and Ghouls with the knife, this route is not recommended!) Feel the Power -> A Plague of Demons -> We Can See in the Dark, Can You? -> Happy Happy, Carnage Carnage -> The Labyrinth -> Beware of Low-flying Nightmares! -> Need a light? -> Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate -> Watch Your Steps -> I'd Rather Be Surfing -> Warning: Earthquake Zone! -> Don't Get Poisoned! -> Please Excuse Our Dust -> But Wait!-That's Not All! -> Where Only Fools Dare Tread -> Who Else Wants Some? ************************************************************* Potions: Clear Blue: healing Bubbling Red: time slowing Pale violet: temporary invulnerable/iron skin Thick Brown: poison -> to get by the Green Ooz ************************************************************* Crystals: (Judicious usage of crystals is strongly recommended; i.e., don't use them unless it's absolutely necessary) Yellow: Communication with dead soldiers Blue: Freeze Orange: Burn Green: Earthquake (area damage) Violet: Lightening (area damage) Black: Stoning (not many uses) ************************************************************ Ground Floor Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Ghouls (knife, guns); Zombie (guns) Saving Zone(s): Initially only 2: NW and NE corners. After unlocking gates, 2 more: SW and SE corners. Ladder(s): NW: up to Lock&Load NE: up to Never Stop Firing SW: down to Wrong Way! SE: Feel the Power Objective(s): pick up the Walther P4 pistol and talk to the Dead German Soldier. Problem(s): the 2 locked gates near the central region. Solution(s): Alien Pipe. ************************************************************ Never Stop Firing Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns) Saving Zone(s): S center. Ladder(s): S center down to Ground Floor Objective(s): pick up the Yellow crystal behind the locked door in the N. Problem(s): the locked gate in the N. Solution(s): Pull both chains that are located in the NW and NE corners. ************************************************************ Lock&Load Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns) Saving Zone(s): 3 Near SE corner. Near NW corner. NE corner. Ladder(s): 2 SW corner: down to Ground Floor NE corner: up to They May Be Slow Objectives: Emerald in the room by the SE Saving Zone. Dead German Soldier near the SE corner. Dead German Soldier in the NW corner. Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ They May Be Slow Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns) Saving Zone(s): 2 NW corner. NE corner. Ladder(s): 3 NW, NE corners: up to But They're Hungry S center: down to Lock&Load Objectives: Dead German Soldier (Hans) between center and S. Small Ammo dump in a room full of bones near center. Dead German Soldier in a room near N center. Blue Crystal behind a secret/hidden wall section in the room of the above Dead German Soldier. Silver Bowl in a room near the Blue Crystal room. Problem(s): Blue Crystal behind a secret/hidden wall section. Solution(s): Walk through the wall. ************************************************************ But They're Hungry Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns); Banshee (Blue crystal) Saving Zone(s): 2 Near NE corner. Near SW corner/the ladder leading up to Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!!. Ladder(s): 4 Near SE corner: down to They May Be Slow SW corner: down to They May Be Slow Near NE corner: up to Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!! Near NW corner: up to Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!! Objectives: Dead German Soldier near NE corner. Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!! Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns); Banshee (Blue crystal) Saving Zone(s): 2 East of the Center. Near SW corner. Ladder(s): 3 Near NE corner: down to But They Are Hungry! Near SW corner: down to But They Are Hungry! Near Center: up to Ascension Objectives: Large Pearl near (N) the East of the Center Saving Zone. Dead German Soldier at the W side (toward NW corner). Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ Ascension Monster(s): Headless (knife, guns); Zombie (guns); Banshee (Blue crystal) Saving Zone(s): 1 E/SE side. Ladder(s): 1 SW corner: down to Evil Undead Phantasms Must Die!! Objectives: Dead German Soldier near NW corner. Alien Pipe around center. Problem(s): None. Solution(s): None. ************************************************************ Wrong Way! Monster(s): Zombie (guns); Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns) Saving Zone(s): 2 Near NE corner Near SW corner Ladder(s): 7 Five near center: 4 down to Welcome, Tasty Primate!; 1 up to Ground Floor 1 NW ladder: down to Welcome, Tasty Primate! 1 SE ladder: down to Welcome, Tasty Primate! Objectives: Orange Crystal: S locked room right by the central lounge Clear Blue Healing Potion: W corridor/locked room of the central lounge Problem(s): Locked Silver doors. Solution(s): The Silver Key in the level below ************************************************************ Welcome, Tasty Primate! Monster(s): Zombie (guns); Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns) Saving Zone(s): 2 1 near center. 1 near SW corner. Ladder(s): 7 4 ladders near center: up to Wrong Way! 1 ladder at SE corner: up to Wrong Way! 1 ladder at NW corner: up to Wrong Way! 1 ladder near N center: down to We Can See in the Dark, Can You? Objectives: The Silver Key at the NE corner. Dead German Soldier near S center. Problem(s): Locked Silver Doors Solution(s): The Silver Key ************************************************************ Feel the Power Monster(s): Ooz (guns); Ghouls (knife, guns) Saving Zone(s): 1 Around NW corner. Ladder(s): 2 SW corner: up to Ground Floor NW corner: down to A Plague of Demons Objectives: Around NE corner: Clear Blue Healing Potion Dead German Soldier: center Gold ingot: by Dead German Soldier Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ A Plague of Demons Monster(s): Ghouls (knife, guns); IR Demon (guns); Banshee (Blue crystal); Ooz (guns) Saving Zone(s): NE corner NW (on the other side, go S first) of central ladder Ladder(s): Around NW corner: down to Beware of Low-flying Nightmares! center: up to Feel the Power! Objectives: Silver Door: near SE corner Cedar Box: behind Silver Door Dead American Soldier: N of central ladder IR goggles: with the Dead American Soldier Problem(s): Invisible Demons Solution(s): IR goggles ************************************************************ We Can See in the Dark, Can You? Monster(s): Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns); Ooze (guns) Saving Zone(s): 2 1 close to SE corner. 1 close to N center. Ladder(s): 2 1 near the SW corner: up to Welcome, Tasty Primate! 1 near the NE corner: down to Happy Happy, Carnage Carnage Objectives: Bubbling Red Potion: NW corner Dead German Soldier: close to (NE) the ladder up to Welcome, Tasty Primate! Problem(s): Frenzy rats Solution(s): turn off flashlight ************************************************************ Happy Happy, Carnage Carnage Monster(s): Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns); Ooze (guns) Saving Zone(s): 1 S of the 2 ladders Ladder(s): 2 2 near the center: right up to Labyrinth; left up to We Can See in the Dark, Can You? Objectives: Dead German Soldier: near the Saving Zone Dead German Soldiers(MP-41): N center, before the Beige Locked-Door Room with the Yellow Arrows Alien Pipe: with one of the Dead German Soldiers Red Cloak: in the Beige Locked-Door Room with the Yellow Arrows Clear Blue (Healing) Potions & Thick Brown (Poison) Potions: in the Beige Locked-Door Room with the Yellow Arrows Problem(s): Hordes of miscellaneous monster after Beige Door Solution(s): Bubbling Red Potion of Time Slow or Corner defense tactics with Orange crystal: Step on the Green Arrows while facing 90 degree from the doors; run back straight toward one of the corner as soon as one steps on the Green Arrows; commencing shooting at the sides of targets as they rush out of the door; pay attention to hit points/drink Healing Potion when necessary; after the slaughter of the initial onrush/wave of the horde, more will wait on the other side of doors; change facing now in order to be able to peep into the door at some monsters in order to fry them with the orange crystal/ get ready to retreat back right after the zapping; eventually all monsters will rush out to meet their fate. ************************************************************ Beware of Low-flying Nightmares! Monster(s): Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns); Ooze (guns) Saving Zone(s): 2 near NE corner. S center. Ladder(s): 2 NE corner S center Objectives: Diamond Necklace: center of the NW corner/N center/W center/center area Gold Door: near SE corner Gold ingots: behind Gold Door (Dead German Soldier: behind Gold Door) Problem(s): Gold Door Solution(s): Gold Key ************************************************************ The Labyrinth Monster(s): Electric Zapping Orbs Saving Zone(s): 0 Ladder(s): 4 NW corner: up to Happy Happy! Carnage Carnage! NE corner: up to Beware of the Low-flying Nightmares! SW corner: down to Need a light? SE corner: down to Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate Objectives: Around center: Violet crystal Problem(s): the paths change every time one enters. Solution(s): none. ************************************************************ Need a light? Monster(s): Ghouls (knife, guns); Nightmare (guns); Ooze (guns); Flamethrower Monster (guns) Saving Zone(s): 1 N of center. Ladder(s): 1 center: up to the Labyrinth Objectives: Dead American Soldier: SE corner of the inner square Dead American Soldiers (Radio beacon, new half of bomb code 287->658, IR goggles): 4 in the SW corner room. Amyst Ring, Bubbling Red Potion, Thick Brown Potion, Clear Blue Healing Potion: the end of the SW corner room/corridor Problem(s): Flamethrower Monster Solution(s): Violet crystal(?); expenditure of much ammo (with usage of crystals, not strongly recommended). One approach is once one has entered the room, salvage all usable equipment's from dead soldiers ASAP, run toward the end. The Flamethrower monster starts walking from the end. Try to beat it to the first corner nearest to the end of the corridor. Position oneself halfway on the corner facing it as it walks up. Freeze or burn it motionless when there is room besides the monster so that one may squeeze through as it stops. Run toward the end of the corridor past the door to pick up all the goodies at the end as the monster starts to rumble back. By the time it almost reaches the end, other monsters should have come in behind it and start shooting at it in trying to shoot at one's character. Pump all but one Projectile grenades into it. Pump MP-41/ Walther ammo into it. Use blue/orange crystals with good timing to prevent it from throwing flames while one pumps ammo into it. Eventually (60 to 100 rounds of AK-47 SABOT ammo) it will disintegrate. Use a fragmentation grenade if more than one is available to take out the other small monsters if one has run out of resources. ************************************************************ Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate Monster(s): Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Sentinel (Green Crystal) Saving Zone(s): 4 S of N center N of center Near SW corner N of W center Ladder(s): 4 N center: up to the Labyrinth 2 around S center: down to Watch Your Steps 1 NE corner: down to I'd Rather Be Surfing Objectives: Red Velvet Bag (Healing Potion): SW (on the other side of the wall) of the Saving Zone Clear Blue Healing Potion: SE of the N Saving Zone Problem(s): Sentinel Solution(s): Green Crystal ************************************************************ Watch Your Steps Monster(s): Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Sentinel (Green Crystal) Saving Zone(s): 1 NW corner Ladder(s): 2 near W center: up to Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate SE corner: up to Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate Objectives: Green Crystal: S center 2 Sapphires: 1 at N of the center, 1 around the center Dead American Soldier (Greg): NE corner The Nuclear Device: (S of Greg) E center. Problem(s): Jumping Insects Solution(s): Exploding Pods ************************************************************ I'd Rather Be Surfing Monster(s): Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Sentinel (Green Crystal) Saving Zone(s): 2 Close to N center Center Ladder(s): 2 SW of NE corner: down to Warning: Earthquake Zone! Between W center and Center: up to Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'Intrate Objectives: Clear Blue Healing Potion: NE of the S center Dead Cuban Soldier(AK-47): Suffocation Chamber/near NE corner Problem(s): Suffocation Chamber Solution(s): Red Cloak & Patience (3 hours) (Remember to remove it afterwards) Time to mass produce ammunitoins! ************************************************************ Warning: Earthquake Zone! Monster(s): Ghast (guns); Green Ooze (None); Purple Burping Monster (None) Saving Zone(s): 2 N center Center of the center/W center/SW center/S center Ladder(s): 2 NW corner: up to I'd Rather Be Surfing W center: (teleporter) to Don't Get Poisoned Objectives: Dead Cuban Soldier: near NE corner Lead Box: between W center and center Violet Potion: SW of the N center Saving Zone Problem(s): Green Ooze Solution(s): Get poisoned. Problem(s): Purple Burping Monster Solution(s): Wear Gas Mask and run around ************************************************************ Don't Get Poisoned! Monster(s): Venomous Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Greater Nightmare (armor-piercing gun ammo, projectile grenades) Saving Zone(s): One's arrival square/first room/area. Teleporter(s): Three in the first room: S one to N teleporter of another small room/area of 3 teleporters; W one to the center teleport (N side) in the fourth area; E one to the center teleport (S side) in the fourth area; the 2 teleporters in the fourth area are back to back. Three in second small room/are: N one to the S teleporter of the first room/area; E one to W teleporter of a third area; W one to E teleporter of a third area (with the exit/advancing teleporter at the S room) Three in third medium size area: the one in the Southern room leads to Please Excuse Our Dust; the other two back to second room/area. Two in fourth area: back to first room. Objectives: Violet Invulnerability(temporary) Potion in the N center of the third area with the exit/advancing teleporter. Blue Clear Healing Potion at the center of the third area. Blue Clear Healing Potion at the SE corner of the fourth area. Blue Clear Healing Potion near (E) the SW corner of the fourth area. Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ Please Excuse Our Dust Monster(s): Venomous Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Greater Nightmare (armor-piercing gun ammo, projectile grenades) Saving Zone(s): 1 by the arrival room/first room. Ladder(s): Arrival room/first room: SE corner: back to Don't Get Poisoned S center: E teleporter in the second small room/area. NW corner: W teleporter in the second small room/area. Second room/small area: N: S T in third room; W: NW corner T in first room; E: S center T in first room. Third room/small area: S: N T in second room; W: SE corner T in fourth room; E: N center T in fourth room Fourth room: N center T to E T in 3rd room; SE corner T to W T in 3rd room; SW corner T to next level, But Wait!-That's Not All! Objectives: Arrival room/first room Blue Clear Healing Potion near the NE corner. Blue Clear Healing Potion S of the W center. Fourth room Blue Clear Healing Potion between center and NE corner. Bubbling Red Potion near the SW corner. Blue Clear Healing Potion NE of the SW corner. Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ But Wait!-That's Not All! Monster(s): Venomous Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Greater Nightmare (armor-piercing gun ammo, projectile grenades) Saving Zone(s): 1 Before arrival square. Ladder(s): Arrival area The teleporting room with 4 T's: S: to N T in the same room; N: to S T in the same room; N side T: to around NE corner; S side T to center. After all four have been used, the N side T leads to 2nd area. Second area The teleporting room with 4 T's: S: to N T in the same room; N: to S T in the same room; N side T: to NE corner; S side T to arriving square of the 2nd area. Center: to next level, Where Only Fools Dare Tread Objectives: Arrival area Bubbling Red Potion at the SE corner room. Violet Potion at the NE corner room. Second area Bubbling Red Potion at the center. Clear Blue Potion at SW corner room Clear Blue Potion around SE corner, before the 4 Teleport room entrance. Problem(s): None Solution(s): None ************************************************************ Where Only Fools Dare Tread Monster(s): Venomous Skiter (guns); Ghast (guns); Greater Nightmare (armor-piercing gun ammo, projectile grenades) Saving Zone(s): 3 N of S center. Near SE corner. N of center. Ladder(s): Between the two Southern Saving zones: back to But Wait!-That's Not All! by the center Saving Zone By the central Saving Zone: W T in the 2nd Four-T room Objectives: Clear Blue Potion SW of center/NW of the between S/center Saving Zone Dead Cuban Soldiers: SW corner Gold key: with one of the Dead Cuban Soldier Black Crystal: around N center Problem(s): Several Four/Three-T rooms Solution(s): Wear Red Cloak and try all T's (remember to remove it once one is teleported to the final showdown) ************************************************************ Who Else Wants Some? Monster(s): Roomfuls of all regular types of monsters one type after another Saving Zone(s): 0 Ladder(s): After elimination of each roomful/type of monsters, a teleporter will appear (make sure rest up fully before stepping in) Objectives: convert/kill the Spirit of the Alien being into the Alien Gemstone after the elimination of the last roomful of monsters Problem(s): roomfuls of monsters Solution(s): fragmentation grenades, bubbling red potions, clear blue healing potions, violet potions ************************************************************