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Magician, The (magician-solution.txt)

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THE MAGICIAN (Magick Enterprises) 1984
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Written by Russell J. Hall for ZX Spectrum 48K
Using The Quill by Gilsoft

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Solution & Hints by Strident
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This adventure was written and sold by Russell J. Hall, a Sheffield-based magician well-known in
magic circles for his long-running magic shop and Magick Enterprises business.

The object of the game is to retrieve all your various magic props (and your "lovely
assistant" Rita) so that you can perform your magic show to impress your agent. Beware the
machinations of your arch-rival, Amazing Grace.

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"Dear Mr Bunco, I shall be at the Palace Theatre at 7.30 on Saturday. I'm looking for a
top-class act for a season at the London Palladium and so look forward to seeing your usual
performance, including the dove productions, card tricks, rabbit from top hat, and the egg bag,
climaxed of course by the sawing in half of your lovely assistant, Rita.

Yours, Dirk Loofah"
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TIME - Will give you an indication of how close to the performance you are
SCORE - typing this starts your performance and ends the game

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Hints & Spoilers
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You will be evaluated against the criteria in the letter when your time runs out, your are on the
stage with the required items, or when you type SCORE. 

The best ending awards you with a contract at the London Palladium but there are other endings based
on your score and actions during the game.

100% ...a season at the London Palladium
90% ...a summer season at Blackpool
80% ...a ten-minute spot on Channel 4.
70% ...some spots at the Attercliffe  W.M.C.
60% or below ... a spot at the night-before party of the Brimington Common Conjuror's
Convention

There is a slight scoring bug with the top hat. Don't remove/drop it, because it will stop you
getting 100%.

There are also various sudden-deaths, typical for an adventure of this period including accidentally
falling into the trapdoor (you have a limited number of turns after pulling the lever before this is
a possibility),climbing the drain pipe, trying to drive your car and crashing, climbing the rope and
climbing over the orchestra rail.

There are also various ways to lose objects permanently; the top hat can be lost if worn when
climbing, the egg will break if smashed, the rope will be lost if cut and the dove cage can be
broken.

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FULL SOLUTION (for 100%)
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(You start outside the theatre)
I (you are wearing a raincoat & are carrying a letter)
READ LETTER (from your agent)
DROP LETTER,
E, E, S,
GET KEYS, 
W, W, W (to your car),
INSERT KEY
TURN KEY
OPEN DOOR
S
GET BAG (for the egg and bag trick)
N
GET KEYS
W
OPEN BOOT [using keys]
GET EGG (for the egg and bag trick)
DROP KEYS,
E, E, E, E, E (back to the theatre)
N (into the foyer)
E (to the ticket office), OPEN CABINET,
GET PAPERCLIP,
W, W (to the manager's office),
OPEN DRAWER (in desk),
GET BATTERIES,
E, N,
GET TORCH,
U (onto the stage),
INSERT BATTERIES,
MOVE RUG (to reveal a trapdoor),
E (to the wings),
PULL LEVER (everything is on a timer now... don't mess about),
W, D (it is dark),
TORCH ON (in the storage area),
S, GET CARDS (for the playing card trick),
N, MOVE FLATS (reveals a door),
TURN KEY (stiff), TURN KEY (opens),
E, GET BASKET,
W, U, E, PULL LEVER (to make the stage safe again),
DROP TORCH, W,
DROP CARDS, DROP BAG, DROP EGG (safe to do so here), 
S, W (ladies cloakroom),
GET LEOTARD, GET TIGHTS (both for Rita),
E, U,
W, S (to green room),
SIT (find a card),
GET KING (the remaining card for the playing card trick),
N, W, W (to dressing room),
GET CAT, E, DROP CAT (so the rabbit isn't scared),
W, GET RABBIT (in wicker basket),
E, E, E, DROP RABBIT,
E, UP (to the flies),
TIE ROPE (to the cage of doves),
LOWER CAGE (so the doves safely reach the stage),
D, S (to the prop store),
EXAM TOOLS,
GET SAW (for the sawing a lady in half trick),
N, E, PICK LOCK (with paperclip),
DROP PAPERCLIP,
OPEN DOOR, S (to where you find the Lovely Rita),
(in this solution, we've skipped going to the dressing room to find out she was kidnapped but
you would probably have enough time to do that),
GET RITA (she changes into her clothes),
REMOVE RAINCOAT, DROP RAINCOAT, N (Rita is following you, you'll need her help to move the
box),
W, N,
GET BOX (for the sawing the lady in half trick),
S, W (back to the stage),
DROP BOX, DROP SAW, GET CARDS (combine them with the King),
DROP PACK (of cards),
S,
GET HAT, GET TAILCOAT,
WEAR HAT, WEAR TAILCOAT,
W,
U (to the stage for the performance)

[You have scored 100% Congratulations. Your agent has booked you for a two-month season at the
London Palladium!]

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solutionarchive.com --- June 2025