Part 1: Introduction, Back To The Front, You Will Do What I Say, When I Say

Okay, call me a purist. Or a dork, I don’t really care which epithet you wish to throw my way. I refuse to acknowledge the Sierra Hero’s Quest games by their ‘Quest for Glory’ moniker simply because, hey, I grew up playing Hero’s Quest, dammit, not Quest for Glory.

Welcome to the first instalment of the LP for arguably the best Sierra adventure game produced: Hero’s Quest 1: So You Want To Be A Hero? I know that there are several LPs already done of the Quest for Glory series, so this isn’t necessarily being done to shed a ton of light onto a game that folks don’t know a whole lot about. HQ1 is a game that I’m really comfortable with, having played it to death growing up, so I think it’d be a good game to pop my LP cherry on, and it will allow me to spend time trying to make this LP entertaining, rather than going over everything in the game in detail.

HQ1, is an adventure game that has some RPG elements to it. Like most Sierra games released around this time, the majority of interaction is done through a text parser, although there is one mini-game that you can play if you’re a Magic User, as well as the game’s combat system, which was a new feature tacked on to this particular game.

You pick one of three character types: Fighter, Thief or Magic User and progress through the game using their unique skillsets. Fighters tend to use brute force, while a Thief tends to be more subtle and avoids direct confrontation. Magic Users are sort of a mix between the two, having a higher offensive output than a Thief, but not being as robust as a Fighter. Each character has their own way to overcome the game’s various obstacles, which adds to the game’s replay value, as you can go through and find different solutions to the same situations. This becomes even more prominent later on in the series, as the puzzles become more varied and a new character type is introduced.

The best thing about this game, though? Despite being a Sierra title, there’s no bullshit Roberta Williams insano logic required to pass through the game. Solutions to your problems are pretty much common sense ones that don’t require absurd abstract thought exercises, and/or trial and error attempts at puzzles in the game, which is a nice change.

Anyway, enough preamble. Let’s create a character!

I’m going to pick a Fighter, mostly because they’re the most straight forward class, they’re the ones I always played when I was younger and because I can highlight the Thief related stuff in a bonus update. Magic Users don’t really have anything cool or noteworthy in this game, aside from one minigame which I’ll show when we get to it.

Here’s the stats screen. Stats play an important role in the HQ1. The stats on the left hand side, Strength, Intelligence, Agility and Vitality, all affect your HP, SP or MP (listed at the very bottom)as well as affecting the the stats on the right hand side, such as Weapon Use or Pick Locks, determine your rate of success using those abilities. Basically, the more you do something, you’ll see stat increases. Luck seems to increase randomly, although I’m not entirely sure what it does.

The blue bar in the middle there has some extra points you can assign to other stats, which is something we need to do. Fighters, being the brute force class that they are, don’t have any skill in Stealth, Pick Locks, Climbing or Magic, the first three being Thief abilities. While they don’t get any special abilities, they do get some special equipment that the other two classes don’t, namely a sword and shield.

If you really want to, though, you can take some of the points allocated to you and give a character an ability they normally don’t have. You can increase stats that you already have points in by 5 in a 1:1 ratio, or you can increase a stat you don’t have points in by 5 in a 1:3 ratio. In other words, to raise this Fighter’s stats by 5 in Magic, it would cost 15 of the 50 stat points available, whereas I could increase Weapon Use by 5 for a cost of 5 stat points.

As you can probably see, it’s mathematically not possible to get a sword and shield and have all four abilities in the game, but there is a way to workaround that which doesn’t involve the cheat console. Basically, it involves using the numberpad on your keyboard and tinkering around with the stats. Unfortunately, I’m creating this LP from a laptop, so I can’t demonstrate it. But if you want to create a character with all 4 stats, it is possible!

I like being able to climb and I want to use magic, so I’ll invest in both of those stats. Vitality and Strength affect both Stamina and a character’s HP, so I’m going to split the rest of my points between those two stats, as you can never have enough hit points.

All that is left is a name. Let’s see. Kind of dorky looking, poor fashion sense, Sierra game. Hmm…

That’s right, he does remind me of the protagonist from Phantasmagoria 2. In spirit, if not in appearance. Curtis it is.

Now that we’ve got a name and our character created, time to actually play Hero’s Quest 1!

Welcome to our town. You are lucky to have made it down from the mountains before the snow blocked the pass again. It’s gotten pretty dangerous outside of town, I understand. Many monsters have been trapped around here with the late snow. Between them and the brigands, we certainly could use a Hero around here.

Excellent! Looks like I found the right place to be a Hero.

I am Sheriff Schultz Meistersson.

Bless you.

Everyone thinks they’re a comedian. No, that’s my name. It’s Schultz Meistersson. This is a Germanic inspired town, didn’t the lederhosen tip you off?

No, I tend to be pretty oblivious about things. Once, I lost my money pouch underneath my bed. I didn’t have any rations, so-

Look, that’s fascinating, but I’m a busy man. No time for chit-chat. My companion over there is Otto von Goon. He serves as my deputy and he’s pretty good at breaking arms, if you catch my drift.

Gotcha. I’m Curtis Craig, freshly graduated from the Famous Adventurers Correspondence School. I sort of needed a career change and felt that with the skills I learnt in my last job, I’d be pretty well suited for this adventuring gig.

Humph. That certainly doesn’t sound like a very heroic name, but, if you’re up to it, we could really use your help.

Hey, that’s what I’m here for. What can you tell me about these brigands?

There’s a whole band of brigands hiding out somewhere in the mountains around us. They robbed a merchant last week. Got a fair amount of treasure, I hear. The merchant’s friends with the innkeepers over at the Hero’s Tale Inn, where he spends most of his time now.

You also mentioned monsters. What sorts of monsters are running around?

The monsters come down from the mountains every winter, but they’re usually gone by now.

Spielberg a popular winter getaway for monsters?

Something like that. If you want more information about the monsters that are native here, you should talk to Wolfgang over at the Guild Hall.

Will do, thanks Schultz. First, though, I need to grab a bite to eat. I’m really jonesing for a jalapeno and honey grilled cheese.

Thanks. What exactly do you have here?

Very good food, very good drink. Finest in town. Sit, rest, you will be served by my Shema.

Sure thing. One second, though, I heard that there was a merchant friend of yours that hangs around here. Where is he?

My friend, Abdulla, is recovering from his robbery last week. He will be around come suppertime.

Gotcha. Well, enough talk. I’m hungry!

I’m starved! What do you have on the menu?

We have very good stew of newborn lamb along with honey chicken for a mere 3 silvers.

No jalapeno with honey grilled cheese?

No.

Well, the stew sounds within my budget, so I’ll take that.

Shema promptly serves Curtis his meal, which he consumes in record time.

That stew sure hit the spot and. Wait, what the hell are you doing, Shameen?

I am merely grooming myself, good sir. I am a Katta, and that is how we keep our fur so clean.

Err, what exactly is a Katta?

Colloquially, we are what you would call ‘cat-people.’

Cat-people. I see. With apparently the same hygiene habits as regular cats. Oh dear god…

I do not want to know what goes on in that kitchen. I do not want to know.

Did you say something?

Err, no. Nothing at all. I’ll be seeing you now, Shameen. Great place. No, seriously.

Well, now that I’ve eaten I guess now would be a good time to-WHAO, what the hell is THAT?

There’s pyro? Wow, that seems awfully extravagant. Hey Little Old Lady, why haven’t you gone to the zoning board about this place?

Of course you’re asleep. Somehow, that’s not at all surprising. Well, this place got my attention, so let’s check it out.

What a mess. We’ve got a pentagram on the counter there and the number 2 drawn on the floor. And what the hell is with those clouds? Man, the humidity from those can’t be good for whatever spellbooks this place sells. Now, where the hell is the clerk?

Gah! What the hell is this? You look like a cross between Marilyn Manson and Ronnie James Dio.

Greetings. I am Zara and my companion is Damiano. The items in this shop are designed for those skilled in the use of magic. We have very little for ones such as you who have not been initiated, but what we have could prove useful.

Seriously, what the hell is with that pallor of yours? Have you been outside in the last decade?

Not as such, no. I only come out at night, the moon my only source of light.

O…kay. Um, what sort of magical items do you have for sale?

I can sell you learning scrolls and enchanted potions. I have scrolls of Flame Dart, Open and Fetch available. The scrolls are magical: you have but to read the spell and you will learn it.

That’s handy. Must not make for a lot of repeat business.

I also know of a wonderful spell you can learn if you know the secret of Erana’s Peace.

Erana’s Peace? Is that a competitor of yours?

No, fool. Erana was a powerful spellcaster who lived long ago. She cast a spell of protection on this town and brought peace to this valley. Her final resting place is due north of town and is called Erana’s Peace. It is a place of safety and healing.

Safe place north of here. Secret spell. Gotcha. Well, I’d love to buy a scroll off of you, but I’m sort of over budget as it is today. What about these potions you have for sale?

We sell Healing, Vigor and Magic potions. Healing potions cost 50 silver, Vigor 25 silver and Magic Potions 75. The healer outside of town makes them for me.

A healer? Who is she?

We are entities of Magic and Power. Matters such as that are of little importance.

You mean you won’t tell me who she is?

We choose only to answer questions which interest us. Do not persist with uninteresting questions.

Seriously?

We shall not waste our time further.

Wow, okay. Apparently Zara isn’t all that well versed in proper customer service techniques. Not good for an entrepeneur in a small market such as Spielburg. You’re a freaking specialty goods retailer, which is a precarious position, and being rude to potential customers isn’t good business practises. Time to go check out that Wolfgang the Sheriff was telling me about. He sounds like a grizzled veteran, a man of a thousand campaigns, looking for a partner to help him out and…

Oh, for the love of Christ. What is this place, nap central? Schultz spends his time hanging out with a manchild on his frontporch, there’s a granny who is comatose and now there’s this guy. Why is it that the most competent person in this town also happens to be a raging goth jerk?

And what the hell is that yellow thing in the middle? Sure as hell ain’t no Griffon I’ve ever heard of. Looks more like a bronzed duck or something. Okay. Enough complaining, let’s go take a peek at the logbook and sign up.

The last entry was made several years ago. It says: “Baronet Barnard von Spielburg killed a troll near the Flying Falls on this 23 day of Octember.”

Alright, left my signature. There’s a quest board over there, but there seems to be a complete lack of yellow punctuation marks, which goes against what I’ve learned in the Famous Adventurers Correspondence School. The text is yellow, though, so I guess it couldn’t hurt to check it out…

• Reward for return of lost ring. Inquire at Healer’s.
• Amber Alert: Reward of 50 gold coins for the safe return of Elsa von Spielburg. Inquire at the Spielburg Castle Gates.
• Reward of 30 gold coins for the capture or death of the brigand warlock. Description: short, ugly and wears brightly colored robes. Has a habit of laughing continually. Inquire at Spielburg Castle Gates.
• Wanted: Brigand Leader. Description: unknown, wears a cloak. Must provide proof of leader’s identity. Reward of 60 gold coins and title Hero of the Realm. Inquire at Castle Gates.
  
• Notice: Spell components needed. Cash or trade for potions. Inquire at Healer’s.
• Reward of 50 gold coins for information leading to the return of Baronet Barnard von Spielburg. Inquire at Castle Gates.

Wow, looks like Spielburg has got a fair share of problems, especially if that Baronet guy who killed a troll has gone missing. Looks like I’m going to have my work cut out for me. I guess I should talk to Wolfgang here.

Hey, Wolfgang, wake up!

Ach! I was so busy I didn’t notice you come in. Welcome, welcome. It is so seldom that we have new adventurers here. Most people think the valley is cursed!

Wait, cursed? That’s a new one.

Ja. What with the baron losing his son and daughter, all the monsters, Baba Yaga and now the brigands, it is one thing after another.

Baba Yaga? Who or what is Baba Yaga?

She is the center of our problems, I think. Baba Yaga is a powerful Ogress. The Baron tried to force her to leave this valley, but she cursed him. Now the Baron has lost everything but his land, and I don’t know how long he will keep that. What our valley needs is a hero.

I’m the man to do it! Well, technically not ‘man’, but let’s not get into technicalities, shall we? Anyways, thanks for the information, Wolfgang. Sheriff Schultz said you were the guy to talk to about the monsters around here. What can you tell me about them?

You can see some of the types of monsters that live around here if you look at the walls.

I see. Well, like everyone else in this town you’ve been a big help. See you later, Wolfgang.

ZZZZZZZZ!

Freaking narcoleptic.