dtgreene: Exile 1-3, the first iteration of the series, were never sold by GOG. You can download them for free from Spiderweb Software's site.

The Avernum series, the second iteration, is sold as Avernum: The Compete Saga.

The third iteration games are sold separately as Avernum: Escape From The Pit and Avernum: Crystal souls. (The third game, which will likely be called Avernum: Ruined World, doesn't have a third version yet.)

lordhoff: Thanks. The package I got had six so I assume that's the "Complete Saga". Strange though, there's no manual with Avernum I just a broken help file which I thought was only true with the very original "I".

dtgreene: Let me try to explain again:

In its early years, Spiderweb Software made a series of games known as the Exile series. These were the first games in the series, and are 16-bit programs that will not run on 64-bit Windows. (You can load a 32-bit Linux installation in a virtual machine and run them in WINE in the VM, however, as a workaround.) These are the first versions of the games.

Later, Spiderweb Software remade the 3 Exile games under the title Avernum 1-3. (Note that the subtitles were dropped.) These versions are 32-bit and will therefore run on modern OS's. Of note, these versions switched from an overhead view to an isometric view, and there are other changes. It is these version that you most likely have. Note that Avernum 4-6 were entirely new games, not remakes, when released.

Even later, Spiderweb Software made *another* set of remakes of the first 2 Avernum games. These remakes are sold separately on this site, and are notable in that their titles include the subtitles that were missing from the previous remakes. One obvious gameplay difference is that the skill system is completely different; you now have a skill tree rather than a list of skills. They also added battle disciplines (which were first introduced in Avernum 5).

Does this help?

Darvond: The help is all ingame. Typically there's a question mark next to the menu button.

dtgreene: Let me try to explain again:

In its early years, Spiderweb Software made a series of games known as the Exile series. These were the first games in the series, and are 16-bit programs that will not run on 64-bit Windows. (You can load a 32-bit Linux installation in a virtual machine and run them in WINE in the VM, however, as a workaround.) These are the first versions of the games.

Later, Spiderweb Software remade the 3 Exile games under the title Avernum 1-3. (Note that the subtitles were dropped.) These versions are 32-bit and will therefore run on modern OS's. Of note, these versions switched from an overhead view to an isometric view, and there are other changes. It is these version that you most likely have. Note that Avernum 4-6 were entirely new games, not remakes, when released.

Even later, Spiderweb Software made *another* set of remakes of the first 2 Avernum games. These remakes are sold separately on this site, and are notable in that their titles include the subtitles that were missing from the previous remakes. One obvious gameplay difference is that the skill system is completely different; you now have a skill tree rather than a list of skills. They also added battle disciplines (which were first introduced in Avernum 5).

Does this help?

DeadFishEye: About the remakes: there are more pertinent differences regarding the game's mechanics and history? How different the game became with the changes to the skill system? Do you recomend to play them instead of the original versions, for a first playthrough?

dtgreene: In any case, Spiderweb Software is known for providing substantial demos of their games; why not go to avernum.com and try them out before you spend money on them?