I'm looking for a guaranteed way to get Bruno to appear in QFG1, and specifically the VGA version for right now. I'm close to a 100% speedrun of the game, but Bruno's ONE point is the one thing I am missing.

Does anyone know EXACTLY when Bruno will appear at the town gate?

As I recall, he's always loitering outside the town gate in the afternoon of Day 2.

Also, he always returns to the town gate after the secret meeting at the target board. You have to allow him a little time to get there before you do though -- and if he finds you in the woods on the way, you're dead.

I've tried this approach as well. :/ I haven't been able to find out why I seem to miss him sometimes, because this is exactly what I remember.

Hmm, odd.

Well, if this Wikia page is reliable, he is found at midday.

I've been trying for the past 15 minutes, with loading a saved game after rushing to save the bear. I was able to get Bruno to appear ONCE in all of my reloads after watching the meeting at the target. :/

EDIT: Yeah, I read that wiki article also. That's not the whole story with Bruno, unfortunately.

After the secret meeting, if I head back to the gates, he's always there... even if he's *actually* still in the forest. (I have a memory of seeing him there, running south a screen or two, then dying)

I don't got anything else there, though. Sorry.

You can always find him at midday outside the town gate.

I would love to agree with you, but it is not nearly that simple. It does seem like there's a link, but it's not consistent at all. :( That being said, it's the only way I can get Bruno to appear on day 1. I just can't make it happen every time, even when I do things the same things.

I don't think Bruno ever appears on day 1. He starts appearing on day 2. I'm pretty sure from day 2 on he's always at the town gate at midday, except when he's at the archery range for the secret meeting. Is it more complicated than that (when he will and won't appear)?

I've seen him appear on Day 1. I was a little surprised since that was the first time I'd seen him do so.

Are we to assume we can't trust this guy show up consistently and on time? Typical unpredictable rogue...

What happens if you spam the entrance area? Walk in and out repeatedly?

That was my first instinct to fix it, thinking that maybe it's on a random appearance timer or something. But it does nothing. I went back and forth about twenty times just to make sure.

FINALLY!!!

1. Free the bear.
2. Watch the scene/do not kill the Brigand.
3. Go to the bar/get the note.
4. Head out of town.
5. Head south and immediately back north.

I still have no idea why, but this has been 100% consistent for me.

EDIT 1: Expect 100% QFG1VGA runs later in the week. At LEAST the Thief. :D

EDIT 2: In fact, this method works so well, I can get Bruno to appear at the gate, and if I head south into the forest to fight the Brigand, Bruno is still there to throw daggers at me! LOL

EDIT 3: The nice thing about figuring this out is that now I can build variations around it to find out EXACTLY what the heck is going on. It isn't linked to the note, but it appears that it is linked to the Tavern. I do not need to get the note, but it isn't until after I get to the Tavern that Bruno appears.

I wondered if it was a "cutscene" that triggers it, but it isn't. I went to the Healer's Hut rather than the Tavern and left and Bruno DID NOT appear. I then went into the Town and left, and still no Bruno. I went into town, then to the Tavern, did not grab the note, and Bruno immediately appeared outside.

I do need to see the scene between Bruno/Brigand south.

EDIT 4: Holy crow this method is specific. I did this:
1. Go to bar, get note.
2. Climb out back alley.
3. Save bear.
4. See Bruno/Brigand.
5. BRUNO DID NOT APPEAR.
---
6. Went to bar.
7. Back to town gate.
8. Went south and then north.
9. BRUNO DID NOT APPEAR.

It seems like there is a very specific order of events and triggers.