.INTRO .CENTER ********************** .CENTER InvisiClues(tm) .CENTER The Hint Booklet for .CENTER ZORK(R) I .CENTER ********************** [Copyright by Infocom, Inc. Provided for non-commercial use only, with the sole intent of making information available that would otherwise be lost. To whoever presently holds the copyright to the information contained in this file: if you think the existence of this file violates your copyright, please complain and the file will be removed. Typed in from the original hintbook by Henrik Dittmann. Proofreading by Paul David Doherty.] Sample Question^ ---------------^ How many grues does it take to screw in a light bulb?^ A. Don't go on unless you've asked WHAT IS A GRUE?^ B. You could break a bulb, then hide and watch what happens.^ C. None. Grues are terrified of light.^ .ENDINTRO .MENU Zork I Invisiclues .LINK Above Ground .LINK The Cellar Area .LINK The Maze .LINK The Round Room Area .LINK The Dam Area .LINK Old Man River .LINK The Coal Mine Area .LINK The Land Beyond the Chasm .LINK General Questions .LINK How Points are Scored .LINK For Your Amusement .MENU Above Ground .LINK Where do I find a machete? .LINK How do I cross the mountains? .LINK How do I kill the songbird? .LINK Is the nest useful for anything? .LINK How do I open the egg without damaging it? .LINK How do I fix the broken canary? .LINK Are the leaves useful for anything? .LINK How do I open the grating? .LINK How do I get off the roof of the house? .LINK Once I have the canary in an undamaged state, what do I do with it? .LINK How do I get the brass bauble? .LINK How do I open the front door? .LINK How do I get into the house? .LINK Can I eat the lunch? .LINK How do I get into the dungeons? .LINK What is a grue? .HINT Where do I find a machete? .CLUE There is none. The game must have _some_ limitations. You can't expect to walk to the nearest airport and fly to London to see the British Museum... .HINT How do I cross the mountains? .CLUE Play ZORK II. .HINT How do I kill the songbird? .CLUE What a concept! You need a psychiatrist. .HINT Is the nest useful for anything? .CLUE In China you might make bird's nest soup. .CLUE This is not China. .CLUE In other words, no. .HINT How do I open the egg without damaging it? .CLUE _You_ don't. .CLUE Have you tried saying OPEN EGG? .CLUE It takes a great deal of manual dexterity and the proper tools. .CLUE Someone else in the game can do it. .CLUE Only the Thief can open the egg. Give it to him or leave it underground where he will find it. .HINT How do I fix the broken canary? .CLUE It is broken beyond repair. .CLUE No one can fix it. Really! .HINT Are the leaves useful for anything? .CLUE They're great for hiding gratings. .CLUE They can be taken, counted, or burned. .HINT How do I open the grating? .CLUE You must unlock it. .CLUE You need the skeleton key. .CLUE It can be unlocked only from below. .CLUE The grating and key can be found in the Maze. .HINT How do I get off the roof of the house? .CLUE How did you get up there? .CLUE Someone from Infocom would love to hear how you did it. .CLUE This is one of those questions which was put in here for the sole purpose of teaching a lesson -- do not use the presence or absence of a question on a certain topic as an indication of what is important, and don't assume that long answers indicate important questions. .HINT Once I have the canary in an undamaged state, what do I do with it? .CLUE Something is attracted to its singing. .CLUE It is also a treasure. .CLUE Try winding it in the forest. .HINT How do I get the brass bauble? .CLUE You must open the egg first. .CLUE See the previous question. .HINT How do I open the front door? .CLUE It cannot be knocked down. .CLUE It cannot be destroyed. .CLUE It cannot be opened. .HINT How do I get into the house? .CLUE Have you checked all sides? .CLUE There's a window in the back which is partly open. Open it and climb through. .HINT Can I eat the lunch? .CLUE Try it. Try the water, too. You can't be afraid to try _anything_ in ZORK I (but it may make sense to SAVE your state first). .HINT How do I get into the dungeons? .CLUE The entrance is in the house. .CLUE Trapdoors can be hidden. .CLUE Move the rug. .HINT What is a grue? .CLUE Ask ZORK I. .MENU The Cellar Area .LINK Can the trapdoor be opened from below? .LINK How do I get up the ramp in the Cellar? .LINK How do I negotiate with the Troll? .LINK What do I do with the axe? .LINK Does the paint in the studio mean anything? .HINT Can the trapdoor be opened from below? .CLUE No. The only way to keep the trapdoor from closing behind you is to find another exit (other than the chimney, which is very limited). .HINT How do I get up the ramp in the Cellar? .CLUE "The ramp is too slippery to climb." .CLUE Is there a way to make it less slippery? .CLUE No. You won't ever get up the ramp. .HINT How do I negotiate with the Troll? .CLUE Trolls tend not to be conversational. They require a much more direct approach. .CLUE You won't get past the Troll while he is conscious. .CLUE Kill him with the sword. .HINT What do I do with the axe? .CLUE It can be used as a weapon, but isn't really necessary for anything. .CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank.<< .HINT Does the paint in the studio mean anything? .CLUE The artist was sloppy. .MENU The Maze .LINK How do I get through the Maze? .LINK What do I do with the rusty knife? .LINK What do I do with the skeleton? .LINK Can I use the broken lantern? .LINK How do I get past the Cyclops? .HINT How do I get through the Maze? .CLUE It is essential that you make a map of the Maze. .CLUE All ten directions are used: N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW, UP and DOWN. .CLUE Some passages lead back to the same room. .CLUE Rooms can be marked by dropping objects. (However, the Thief can be a pain.) .CLUE There are 22 rooms west of the Troll Room. .HINT What do I do with the rusty knife? .CLUE If you had your sword when you took it, the pulse of blinding light should have served as a warning. .CLUE Try throwing the knife or attacking someone with it. .HINT What do I do with the skeleton? .CLUE Let the dead rest in peace. .CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank.<< .HINT Can I use the broken lantern? .CLUE If you think it's useful, there's this bridge you might be interested in. .HINT How do I get past the Cyclops? .CLUE Fighting isn't always the answer. .CLUE There are two solutions. The alternate begins at clue 6. .CLUE What happens if you hang around too long, or give something to the Cyclops? .CLUE He's hungry, isn't he? .CLUE Feed him the lunch and water. .CLUE Do you remember your mythology? .CLUE Take a very close look at the commandment in the black book. .CLUE The Cyclops is scared silly of the name of his father's nemesis, ODYSSEUS (first letter of each line in commandment -- some computer screens are narrow and make this more difficult to see). The Latin version of the name, ULYSSES, is also accepted. .CLUE For fun, try saying ODYSSEUS elsewhere. .MENU The Round Room Area .LINK How do I get the platinum bar? .LINK How do I kill the rock? .LINK Is there anything special about the mirror? .LINK How do I enter Hades? .LINK Can I get anywhere from the Dome Room? .LINK Can I go up from the Torch Room? .LINK How do I get out of the Temple area? .HINT How do I get the platinum bar? .CLUE For ZORK I releases (revisions) 1 through 14, the only solution to this problem begins at clue 7. For ZORK I releases 15 on, there are two solutions -- the preferred solution begins at clue 2, the alternate at clue 7. .CLUE What is causing the loud roar? .CLUE Is there a way to control the flow of water? .CLUE Solve the puzzle of the dam. .CLUE Does opening or closing the dam gates affect anything downstream? .CLUE Open the dam gates. Wait until the reservoir is empty, then close the gates. Take advantage of the silence in the Loud Room while the reservoir refills. .CLUE This solution to the Loud Room requires no object or information from elsewhere in the game. .CLUE The solution has something to do with the room's acoustics. .CLUE What happens whenever you say something? >something?< >>something?<< .CLUE Type ECHO. .HINT How do I kill the rock? .CLUE How silly! .CLUE The term "living rock" is metaphorical, and should not be taken literally. .HINT Is there anything special about the mirror? .CLUE Breaking it is not a good idea. .CLUE Looking into it can be fun. .CLUE Did you ever try touching or rubbing it? .CLUE There are two Mirror Rooms. Touching the mirror in one transports you to the other. .HINT How do I enter Hades? .CLUE You must exorcise the evil spirits. .CLUE For a hint, turn the page in the black book. .CLUE It requires the bell, book and candles. .CLUE Ring the bell, light the candles, and read the black book. .CLUE The order in which you perform the ceremony is very important. Also, you must be holding the candles when you light them. Speed is of the essence, too -- don't waste any more time than is necessary between steps. .HINT Can I get anywhere from the Dome Room? .CLUE Yes. It is likely that you have seen the necessary equipment. .CLUE It is found in the Attic. .CLUE Tie the rope to the railing. .HINT Can I go up from the Torch Room? .CLUE No. .HINT How do I get out of the Temple area? .CLUE You'll never reach the rope. .CLUE You can leave from the altar end by going down, but "you haven't a prayer of getting the coffin down that hole." .CLUE Or solve the puzzle of the granite walls. .CLUE The altar has magical powers. What is usually done at altars? .CLUE Try praying. .MENU The Dam Area .LINK How do I blow up the dam? .LINK How is the control panel operated? .LINK What is the green bubble for? .LINK What do I do with the object which looks like a tube of toothpaste? .LINK What is the screwdriver for? .LINK What do the buttons in the Maintenance Room do? .LINK Can I stop the leak? .LINK What is the pile of plastic good for? .HINT How do I blow up the dam? .CLUE What a concept! .CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank.<< .HINT How is the control panel operated? .CLUE You can turn the bolt. .CLUE You need the wrench. .CLUE You must activate the panel. (Green bubble lights up.) .HINT What is the green bubble for? .CLUE It indicates that the control panel is activated. Use the buttons in the Maintenance Room. .HINT What do I do with the object which looks like a tube of toothpaste? .CLUE Read the tube. .CLUE Brushing your teeth with it is not sensible. .CLUE It doesn't oil the bolt well. .CLUE Gooey gunk like this is good for patching leaks in water pipes or boats. .HINT What is the screwdriver for? .CLUE You'll know when the time comes. .HINT What do the buttons in the Maintenance Room do? .CLUE Try them all. You should be able to find out. .CLUE The blue button causes a water pipe to burst. .CLUE The red button turns the lights on and off. .CLUE The yellow button activates the control panel at the dam. (The green bubble is now glowing.) .CLUE The brown bubble [sic] deactivates the control panel. .HINT Can I stop the leak? .CLUE Yes, but not with your finger. .CLUE Isn't there some sort of glop you could apply? .CLUE Use the gunk in the tube. .HINT What is the pile of plastic good for? .CLUE What is the valve for? .CLUE Did you try blowing into it? .CLUE You need the air pump, which is north of the Reservoir. .CLUE Solve the dam problem, or figure out the mirror. .MENU Old Man River .LINK Can the river be crossed? .LINK What will placate the River God? .LINK How do I get back from across the river? .LINK How do I control the boat? .LINK How do I carry a pointy object onto the boat? .LINK How do I go over the falls? .LINK What is the significance of the rainbow? .LINK How do I get through the crack in the Damp Cave? .LINK How do I turn myself into an insect? .HINT Can the river be crossed? .CLUE Not without a boat. .HINT What will placate the River God? .CLUE What have you tried to throw into the river? .CLUE There is no River God. Anything thrown in is lost forever. .HINT How do I get back from across the river? .CLUE If you launch the boat from Sandy Beach, you can cross the river to the west to White Cliffs South. .CLUE It is also possible to cross the rainbow. .HINT How do I control the boat? .CLUE Read the label. .CLUE You can say BOARD (or GET IN), DISEMBARK (or GET OUT), LAUNCH, and LAND (or a direction towards a landing area). You can also let the current carry you. .HINT How do I carry a pointy object onto the boat? .CLUE Pointy objects can puncture a plastic boat. You should not carry them on. Put them in the boat before boarding or put them into a container, such as the brown sack, first. .HINT How do I go over the falls? .CLUE Just stay in the boat and wait. .CLUE Well, what did you expect? .CLUE "I see no intelligence here." .CLUE By the way, have you ever taken a close look at the word ARAGAIN? .HINT What is the significance of the rainbow? .CLUE You can cross it and get the pot of gold. .CLUE You do not click your heels together three times while saying "There's no place like home." .CLUE The description of one of the treasures, and the result of manipulating it properly were meant to be subtle hints. .CLUE Raise or wave the sceptre while standing at the end of the rainbow. .HINT How do I get through the crack in the Damp Cave? .CLUE "It's too narrow for most insects." .CLUE You don't. .HINT How do I turn myself into an insect? .CLUE Build a cocoon? .CLUE Not bloody likely. .MENU The Coal Mine Area .LINK What do I do about the bat? .LINK How do I get beyond the Smelly Room? .LINK How do I find my way through the coal mine? .LINK Is the basket on the chain useful? .LINK How do I get through the narrow passage from the Timber Room? .LINK What source of light can I bring into the Drafty Room? .LINK What is the timber for? .LINK How do I use the machine? .LINK What is meant by the "Granite Wall" in the Slide Room? .LINK Is the coal good for anything? .LINK Is the gas of any use? .HINT What do I do about the bat? .CLUE It's a vampire bat. .CLUE Have you never watched an old horror movie? .CLUE Use the garlic. .HINT How do I get beyond the Smelly Room? .CLUE If your lantern battery is dead, forget it. .HINT How do I find my way through the coal mine? .CLUE I would think you were an expert maze-mapper by now. .HINT Is the basket on the chain useful? .CLUE Anything that complex in ZORK I is useful. .HINT How do I get through the narrow passage from the Timber Room? .CLUE "You cannot fit through this passage with that load." .CLUE Did you try dropping everything? .HINT What source of light can I bring into the Drafty Room? .CLUE Matches. .CLUE (Well, no one said they would work in a draft.) You can't carry a light source in. There is another way. .CLUE Why might the room be drafty? .CLUE Did you ever wonder where the shaft with the basket led? .CLUE Objects, including light sources, can be placed in the basket. The basket can be lowered and raised. .HINT What is the timber for? .CLUE It makes the room more interesting and the adventurer more confused. .HINT How do I use the machine? .CLUE The switch description should remind you of something. .CLUE Try putting something inside and turning the machine on with the screwdriver. Have a dictionary handy. .CLUE You can make a diamond from coal. .HINT What is meant by the "Granite Wall" in the Slide Room? .CLUE Evidently the ancient Zorkers did not have strong truth-in-advertising laws. Take nothing for granite. .HINT Is the coal good for anything? .CLUE It is a source of carbon. .CLUE One of the most valuable gems is made of carbon. .CLUE Diamonds are pure carbon in crystalline form. They are created under tremendous heat and pressure. .HINT Is the gas of any use? .CLUE It's great for blowing up dim-witted adventurers who wander into a coal mine with an open flame. .MENU The Land Beyond the Chasm .LINK How do I cross the chasm? .LINK How do I build a bridge? .LINK Why doesn't the magic word "plugh" work in the land beyond the chasm? .HINT How do I cross the chasm? .CLUE There's no bridge. .HINT How do I build a bridge? .CLUE An interesting idea... .CLUE The timber might be useful. .CLUE But then again, maybe not. .CLUE A valiant attempt, but this is getting you nowhere. .HINT Why doesn't the magic word "plugh" work in the land beyond the chasm? .CLUE "A hollow voice says Fool." .CLUE Should nonsense words work anywhere in ZORK I? .CLUE Remember the warning in the introduction. Do not let the presence or absence of questions, or the lengths of the answers, influence your game. .MENU General Questions .LINK Why does the sword glow? .LINK What do I do about the Thief? .LINK How many points are there in the game? .LINK How do I get out of the dungeons? .LINK What is the significance of all the engravings? .LINK How do I kill the Thief? .LINK How can I recharge my lamp? .LINK What happens when you die in ZORK I? .LINK Who is "the Other Occupant?" .LINK How do I go over the falls without killing myself? .LINK Where is HELLO SAILOR useful? .LINK Why do things move and disappear in the dungeon? .LINK Where are the treasures the Thief took from me? .LINK What do I do with the stiletto? .LINK Who is the lean and hungry gentleman? .LINK Where can I use the shovel? .LINK Is there any significance to all the granite walls? .LINK Which object is best for casting images? .LINK How do I get into the Strange Passage? .LINK How do I get into the Stone Barrow? .HINT Why does the sword glow? .CLUE Elvish swords are magical, and glow with a blue light when dangers (particularly dangerous beings) are near. .HINT What do I do about the Thief? .CLUE Discretion is the better part of valor. .CLUE You can almost always avoid a confrontation by walking away. Although you may be robbed, at least you won't be killed. .HINT How many points are there in the game? .CLUE 350. Any time you say QUIT, RESTART, or SCORE, this is pointed out. .HINT How do I get out of the dungeons? .CLUE There are six exits. .CLUE The chimney will allow you to carry one object at a time in addition to your lamp. .CLUE Once you find an exit other than the chimney, the trapdoor will not close behind you. .CLUE Probably the easiest exit (conceptually) is by way of the grating. You will probably come across the other three exits while solving some of the harder problems, but it is not necessary to find more than one to complete the game. .HINT What is the significance of all the engravings? .CLUE critic, I. Q. Roundhead, wrote a ten-volume study of the engravings of the ancient Zorkers. To make a long story short, he concluded that the Zorkers were very strange people. .HINT How do I kill the Thief? .CLUE The Thief is a cunning and dangerous opponent, skilled in the martial arts. Novice Zorkers would do well to avoid him. .CLUE It is possible to distract him for one move by giving him something of value. .CLUE The nasty knife is a marginally more effective weapon to use against him. .CLUE As you gain in points, you become a better match. .HINT How can I recharge my lamp? .CLUE What makes you think you can? .CLUE It is always best to conserve resources. You can prolong its life by turning it off whenever you can and using alternate light sources. .HINT What happens when you die in ZORK I? .CLUE You may appear in the forest with your belongings scattered (valuables below ground, nonvaluables above). .CLUE You may wander as a spirit until you find a way to resurrect yourself. .CLUE ZORK I is as fair as baseball. Three strikes and you're out. .CLUE You become a spirit if you have visited a certain location before death. .CLUE The location is the altar in the South Temple. .CLUE Try praying at the altar. .HINT Who is "the Other Occupant?" .CLUE "He of the large bag." .CLUE The Thief, of course. .HINT How do I go over the falls without killing myself? .CLUE Why not ask, "How do I cut off my head without killing myself?" .HINT Where is HELLO SAILOR useful? .CLUE Are you sure you want to know? .CLUE Absolutely certain? .CLUE To quote the black book, "Oh ye who go about saying unto each: 'Hello Sailor': Dost thou know the magnitude of thy sin before the gods? ... Surely thou shalt repent of thy cunning." .CLUE Nowhere. (You were warned.) .HINT Why do things move and disappear in the dungeon? .CLUE The Thief is constantly moving about. .CLUE There is a high probability that he will take valuable objects (except the gold coffin) which you have seen. There is a much lower probability that he will take a nonvaluable object (again, only if you have seen it), and he may later decide to drop it. .HINT Where are the treasures the Thief took from me? .CLUE As he wanders about stealing things, he puts them in his bag. Whenever he stops in his Treasure Room, he drops off the valuables he has collected. .CLUE You can get the contents of the bag by defeating him in a fight. .CLUE The Treasure Room is guarded by the Cyclops. .HINT What do I do with the stiletto? .CLUE Congratulations! Getting the stiletto is rare. If you keep it away from the Thief, he won't attack you. .CLUE It is a weapon, nothing more. .HINT Who is the lean and hungry gentleman? .CLUE The Thief. .HINT Where can I use the shovel? .CLUE It will dig only into very soft soil. .CLUE Try it in the sand. .CLUE The sand in the Sandy Cove [sic] is most promising. .HINT Is there any significance to all the granite walls? .CLUE There are only two true granite walls. .CLUE While next to a real granite wall, you can transport yourself to the location of the other by saying the name of the room. .CLUE The two granite walls are in the Temple and the Treasure Room. .HINT Which object is best for casting images? .CLUE What are you talking about? .CLUE >>This space intentionally left blank.<< .HINT How do I get into the Strange Passage? .CLUE This is not necessary to complete the game. .CLUE See the alternative Cyclops answer. .HINT How do I get into the Stone Barrow? .CLUE You'll know when the time comes. .CLUE When you have all 350 points, you'll be able to enter the Barrow. .TEXT How Points are Scored .CENTER Progress Points .CENTER --------------- .CENTER (Use only as a last resort.) You get 10 points for getting into the house, 25 for getting into the Cellar, 5 for getting past the Troll, 13 for getting to the Drafty Room, and 25 for getting to the Treasure Room. These points plus all the treasure points make 350. When you have all 350 points, the twentieth treasure will appear in the case -- a map which leads (indirectly) to 400 more points (ZORK II). .CENTER Treasures: Their Values and Locations .CENTER ------------------------------------- .CENTER (Use only as a last resort.) .FIX value value treasure (touch) (case) where jewel-encrusted egg 5 5 in nest in tree clockwork canary 6 4 in the egg beautiful painting 4 6 Gallery platinum bar 10 5 Loud Room ivory torch 14 6 Torch Room gold coffin 10 15 Egypt Room Egyptian sceptre 4 6 in the coffin trunk of jewels 15 5 Reservoir crystal trident 4 11 Atlantis Room jade figurine 5 5 Bat Room sapphire bracelet 5 5 Gas Room huge diamond 10 10 you create it bag of coins 10 5 in the Maze crystal skull 10 10 Land of Living Dead jeweled scarab 5 5 buried in Sandy Cave large emerald 5 10 in the buoy silver chalice 10 5 Treasure Room pot of gold 10 10 End of Rainbow brass bauble 1 1 the songbird has it .UNFIX .ENDTEXT .TEXT For Your Amusement Have you ever: ...opened the grating from beneath while the leaves were still on it?^ ...tried swearing at ZORK I?^ ...waved the sceptre while standing on the rainbow?^ ...tried anything nasty with the bodies in Hades?^ ...burned the black book?^ ...damaged the painting?^ ...lit the candles with the torch?^ ...read the matchbook?^ ...tried to take yourself (or the Thief, Troll, or Cyclops)?^ ...tried cutting things with the knife or sword?^ ...poured water on something burning?^ ...said WAIT or SCORE while dead (as a spirit)? Words you may not have tried: HELLO (to Troll, Thief, Cyclops)^ ZORK^ OIL (lubricate)^ XYZZY^ WALK AROUND (in forest, outside house, or inside house)^ PLUGH^ FIND (especially with house, hands, teeth, me)^ CHOMP^ COUNT (candles, leaves, matches)^ WIN^ MUMBLE (or SIGH)^ LISTEN (especially to the Troll, Thief, or Cyclops)^ REPENT^ WHAT IS (grue, zorkmid, ...)^ YELL (or SCREAM)^ SMELL^ .ENDTEXT