Catacombs

Games for Spectrum, C64, Amstrad, Amiga, Apple ][ and the rest of the 8-bit and 16-bit platforms. Pleas for help, puzzles, bug reports etc.

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Alastair
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#61 Post by Alastair » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:53 pm

I've been playing around with Catacombs and also trying to decode the messages hidden in the program. Within the web messages I have semi-decoded the following:

Code: Select all

It worked a þ5the ªstuck to the @ªand has been ü—ý«
Which I take as "It worked a treat(?) the (something) stuck to the web (or spider) and has been (your guess is as good as mine)". If I am right then we will need to find something to throw at the web.

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#62 Post by Alex » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:25 am

Interesting. I'm not at home right now, but I'll definitely try when I get back.

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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#63 Post by Alastair » Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:33 pm

I now have a few more words:

Code: Select all

It worked a treat the ªstuck to the @ªand has been completely removed.
Could it mean, "It worked a treat the web stuck to the X and has been completely removed." in response to the command, "clear web with X"? If so then we will have to find X. Would the trident work?


Additional.
The flamethrower takes care of the zombie.
Last edited by Alastair on Sun Nov 07, 2021 7:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: New information about the flamethrower.

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#64 Post by Alex » Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:13 pm

Just back I'll check it tomorrow.
Alastair wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:33 pm
The flamethrower takes care of the zombie.

You also found that in the code or did you manage to use it?

Did you also find something on how to remove the plug?

Alastair
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#65 Post by Alastair » Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:28 pm

Alex wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:13 pm
You also found that in the code or did you manage to use it?
I used it, but you need to have the purple sphere first - so thanks for the save game.

I have not been able to do anything with the plug.

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Uka
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#66 Post by Uka » Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:36 pm

Alastair wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 4:33 pm
I now have a few more words:

Code: Select all

It worked a treat the ªstuck to the @ªand has been completely removed.
Could it mean, "It worked a treat the web stuck to the X and has been completely removed." in response to the command, "clear web with X"? If so then we will have to find X. Would the trident work?


Additional.
The flamethrower takes care of the zombie.
Great, thanks!
However only Alex could try the trident there as we do not know yet how to unplug the lake.
Could you decipher something there as well? :)

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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#67 Post by Alastair » Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:26 pm

Uka wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:36 pm
Could you decipher something there as well?
It's still a work in progress but here is where I am currently with the deciphered text.

Edit.
Old version deleted. See below for the latest version.

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#68 Post by Alex » Sun Nov 07, 2021 11:31 pm

"Clear web with trident" does not woork unfortunately.
Alastair wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:26 pm
Uka wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:36 pm
Could you decipher something there as well?
It's still a work in progress but here is where I am currently with the deciphered text.
:thumb:

Code: Select all

Hitting the ªonly knocks it in tighter. @The ªis much too big to carry but you might be ü7to ýit ýƒ@You easily dislodge the *. @With a little üÃyou dislodge the *. @With some üÃyou manage to ýthe ªýƒ@Water rushes past the ªdragging you with it. @You fail to dislodge the *.
This part is about the plug I guess.

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#69 Post by Alex » Sun Nov 07, 2021 11:44 pm

Alastair wrote:
Sun Nov 07, 2021 8:28 pm


I used it, but you need to have the purple sphere first - so thanks for the save game.

Great :thumb: so the bug of the zombie no longer a problem because we can get rid of him before the bug occurs

The question is what is the use of the sphere?

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#70 Post by Alex » Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:33 am

I made a small list of the objects we still did not use (tell me if I forgot something):

red substance (you can't take it, but it has weight 0 so maybe you have to use it somehow)
wooden stake
old laundry (it contained a treasure , but you can also take it)
purple sphere
old poker
thumbscrews
spent match
furry ball
cool water

Note also the long rope can be used again after you have used it to climb down the railing.

I guess we must use at least the stake and the sphere somehow because why should you solve puzzles to take them if they are not needed.

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Uka
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#71 Post by Uka » Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:49 am

Alex wrote:
Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:33 am
I guess we must use at least the stake and the sphere somehow because why should you solve puzzles to take them if they are not needed.
I agree!
There is also a chance for any of the treasures to be used in other way before being put on the altar (like the wand in "Forestland").

And the riddles still remaining are:
1) Clearing the web;
2) Unplugging the lake;
3) Making the rider appear (the bug) / the horse making whoopsie.

At least the last action is clearly shown in the decoded text:
A sudden smell assails your nostrils, I think the rider's horse has done a whoopsie.
But is it (and the rider's appearance) random or should we activate it somehow?..

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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#72 Post by Alastair » Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:28 pm

Here is the latest version of "Catacombs_Text" - I have removed the earlier version.

Edit.
Old version deleted. See below for the latest version.

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Alex
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#73 Post by Alex » Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:00 pm

Thank you!

Unfortunately there is not a lot of text which gives a hint on what to do to to solve the last few problems. Apart from the things we already know like dislodging the plug and removing the web. I think I've tried to use all objects to stuck them to the web, but I did not succeed. There must be some way but that one just isn't the one I'm thinking of :lol:

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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#74 Post by Alex » Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:05 pm

Still trying but without succes

A strange thing I noticed. There are 3 different lines in the text which may refer to the plug:

@You easily dislodge the *.
@With a little üÃyou dislodge the *.
@With some üÃyou manage to pull the ªout.

Does this imply there is more then one way to remove the plug?
I thought about drinking something to become stronger but I drank the holy water and the cool water without effect. Maybe you should repeat the command pull plug several times?

Alastair
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Re: Catacombs/Cornucopia

#75 Post by Alastair » Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:48 pm

Alex wrote:
Fri Nov 12, 2021 11:05 pm
Maybe you should repeat the command pull plug several times?
That was one of the first things I tried, it doesn't work.

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