I'm experiencing missing sound notifications while playing JA1; Forgetful mercs makes no comment when they forget their orders, Mercs doesn't mention encountering an enemy/finding an object etc. etc.

The support-section for the game seems to suggest that it has something to do with Dosbox, but isn't very helpful beyond that. I've tried alternating between various graphic-settings, to no effect.

Has anyone experienced similar problems (and managed to fix them)? I'm on Windows 7 64 bit SP1 system with onboard graphics.

Well, this is a bit embarassing...

I've found the solution myself.

It is not a technical issue at all, rather it was caused by not outfitting my mercs with radios!

So: If you wonder what those radios do, they let your mercs provide audio feedback during missions!

Just glad I didn't contact GOG Support with this...

Yes, the extended ears work as radios as well.

As for the camera and alarm clock, I honestly don't think they serve any purpose in JA1. There is a mission in Deadly Games, where you need the camera, though.

One of the things that has baffled me over the years is the difference between the knife and the combat knife. The combat knife seems to require an additional AP to use, so I suspect it may cause more damage, but I have been unable to confirm it.

(I marked your reply as the solution, since I'm unable to it with my own post, hope that's all right.)

For me, I've never been able to deal damage using normal knife only. Combat knife always does damage. Though I'm thinking this might only apply to people wearing armor (i.e. both do damage if no armor worn, combat knife only if armor is worn). Been very long since I played it. Maybe you could try on your own mercs and check (without, and with different kinds of armor).

Radios are also responsible for a text messages appearing on a screen ("found an item, spotted the enemy unnoticed etc). Without them you would get a stopped merc, but with no information why he\she did stop.

Knives are pretty non-accurate, thought relatively powerful items (they do a good damage, compared to, say, S&W pistol vs armor, in case of no damage - its simply a miss). As knife accuracy also influenced by a hidden value, different for various mercs, and its not 100% to hit even on a "max aim" 99.7% of time its much better to shoot a gun pointblank on a "cheapest aim". This is a 100% hit no matter the merc stats are, increase the damage due to "low aiming" and work from diagonal squares too. Leave a knives for a snakes, thats what they are for.

Agree on knives.

I ran a small test, where I had Scully stab Hurl repeatedly (Sorry, Hurl!) and the numbers came out like this:

Knife vs 0% armor: 41.4 damage
Combat knife vs 0% armor: 53.8 damage

Knife vs. 25% armor (kevlar vest, helmet): 26.2 damage
Combat knife vs. 25% armor: 43.4 damage

Knife vs. 75% armor (trt. spectra shield, trt. kevlar helmet): 11.0 damage
Combat knife vs. 75% armor: 21.5 damage

The numbers are averages based on 20 succesful stabs for each configuration - 10 stabs in the back, and 10 in the front - so they could be off by some margin. Nevertheless, combat knife is clearly the better option.

It didn't seem to matter what direction the victim was facing, but against heavy armor I DID score better with stabs from behind.

Also, you miss quite a lot! An accomplished knife-wielder as Scully took 192 attempts to rack up 120 succesful stabs vs. Hurl. I suspect this number varies quite a lot, based on who does the stabbing and who is on the receiving end, but, as noted, you are better off just using guns.

It IS fun to shank someone, though.

"Tyson style" JA1 run? Knives + Rocks, eh.

Cool. Thanks both.

I doubt I'd have the patience :-)

Well, next issue: Sun goggles! Do they actually do anything?

+smth to a view range.

That makes sense. I'll try to se if I can detect what kind of bonus they give.