It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
First of all, I'd like to say how excited I was to find this game on GOG. I played it to death when it was new, and 21 years later, I am still impressed by the myriad gameplay options.

Anyway, first question: is "vitals" armor more important than "limb" armor? If a character's weight limit won't allow both to be heavy, would he/she be better off with heavy vitals and lighter limb? And secondly, I frequently need to alt-tab out of the game to look up a saint, and that sort of thing, but when I do, the game reverts to a tiny box in the upper left of the screen. Is there a way to prevent that, or at least get full-screen back without re-starting? Also, alt-V doesn't seem to do anything. Does the game have different graphics settings in its current form? Thanks in advance for any info.
avatar
Vanamond3: [snip] And secondly, I frequently need to alt-tab out of the game to look up a saint, and that sort of thing, but when I do, the game reverts to a tiny box in the upper left of the screen. Is there a way to prevent that, or at least get full-screen back without re-starting? Also, alt-V doesn't seem to do anything. [/snip]
I can't readily answer your first and third question, since I don't have access to the game or manual at the moment, but I can answer the second one: you can press [Alt]+[Enter] to switch between windowed mode and full screen.
Post edited October 02, 2013 by Zerotown
While browsing a bit for info about the use of [Alt]+[V], I found the following info:

VISUALS: There are three levels of visual presentation, with the current selection shown by a checkmark. This choice affects the way pictures are shown with various menus and messages.

Full visuals are the default selection and strongly recommended. It provides the full flavor of the game, and helps you envision medieval reality.

Quick visuals instantly fade into the background, without requiring a left-click or return. This option is provided as a convenience for impatient "high-speed" players.

None means that the pictures are suppressed. This option is intended for extremely slow computers or hard disks. Suppressing the pictures significantly increases game speed, but also damages the game's appeal and "flavor."

So, it appears that the toggle doesn't affect the visual quality of the game in a traditional sense, but only controls the way that illustrations are shown. If you want the game to look (slightly) different, I suggest you edit the game's Dosbox-file to experiment with SAI-shaders and the like.
Post edited October 03, 2013 by Zerotown
If I remember correctly, all the information on the effects of different types of armour is in the cluebook which comes with the game on GOG, so you can look it up there if you like.
Thank you both. Alt+enter works, and I had overlooked the cluebook, which I am pouring over now. I don't believe the game included that when I had it before, so there's some really interesting stuff in there. :)
I read this on a fairly thorough Darklands site awhile ago. I'd have to look it up for the exact name. It's been awhile.

I'm pretty sure there's a 50/50 chance of having either your Vitals or your Limbs targeted for each swing, then the calculation is done with that armor. So if you were wearing Plate on your Vitals, and Leather for your Limbs, there's 50% chance the game would consider a single attack as targeting Plate, and a 50% chance of it targeting Leather.

Maybe the cluebook has this info too. I'm curious.
The vitals armor is lighter, and the limb armor is cheaper, so if you need to mix-match armor pieces, get heavier vital armor since it is more bang for its weight.

Cluebook says that the chances are 50/50, so Madoverlord was right.
Post edited December 28, 2013 by tristanlist
avatar
Vanamond3: First of all, I'd like to say how excited I was to find this game on GOG. I played it to death when it was new, and 21 years later, I am still impressed by the myriad gameplay options.

Anyway, first question: is "vitals" armor more important than "limb" armor? If a character's weight limit won't allow both to be heavy, would he/she be better off with heavy vitals and lighter limb? And secondly, I frequently need to alt-tab out of the game to look up a saint, and that sort of thing, but when I do, the game reverts to a tiny box in the upper left of the screen. Is there a way to prevent that, or at least get full-screen back without re-starting? Also, alt-V doesn't seem to do anything. Does the game have different graphics settings in its current form? Thanks in advance for any info.
Q1 50/50 CHANCE
Q2 ALT + ENTER
Q3 PRINT THE saints out for reference