Estimated 5:32 when compared to Renault's 2007 unofficial but famous run.

This is the original EGA version of the game, so is a different run from the already accepted QFG1 runs which were done on the VGA remake.

[ON THE VERSION]

This is run on the official GOG.com settings, which sets DOSBox to a fixed 10,000 cycles. Actually, it is the GOG.com DOSBox configuration files, but run on an older version of the game. This run was done on version 1.00 of the game, which was known as Hero's Quest I. It was later changed to Quest for Glory by Sierra in subsequent versions and on through the series due to a copyright issue. The GOG.com release is version 1.20.

The only change to the DOSBox configuration file is to output to OpenGL instead of Overlay to allow Fraps to record.

The reason it is run on version 1.00 is because there is a specific exploit that eliminates having to save the Baronet and allows immediate safe entry into the final area of the game. This knocks off a good two minutes or so which is explain in detail below.

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[CREDITS]

Of course, I want to thank SDA for hosting such a great service. It is always my first place to check for speed runs, and the community is always super friendly and helpful. No trolls on these forums that I've encountered. :)

Renault's 2007 run was the major inspiration to running this game, and the completion and acceptance of the other categories made me want to finish out the cycle. I was thrilled when I first saw Renault's run, but was disappointed as very few people ever went back to try and improve on it despite it being a fantastic game. After trying to duplicate his attempt, I realized his keyboard skills far outpaced my own and shelved the idea for the VGA version. Once the VGA runs were done, it was a matter of taking what I had learned and applying it to the earlier version, as there were a number of optimizations discovered. Running the VGA version and routing that one adjusting the route for this EGA version very easy.

There are a number of differences between this and the VGA remake done by Sierra a few years later, and where those places occur I will mention it through the scene by scene commentary.

Finally, as a minister, I have to give credit to God for giving me a little extra leisure time to practice the series of games I enjoy.

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[A NOTE ABOUT THE CLASSES]

I feel that this is the fastest route barring the discovery of a newer glitch or a way to avoid the Fort to transition to night. The major differences in class routes have to do with saving the Baronet, and since this is not done at all, this poses a different kind of problem with the different classes.

The Thief and Magic-User routes are COMPLETELY identical in Any%. Here is an example of what I mean:
The Thief spends points to get 5 Magic, raises Climbing to 35 and leaves 5 extra points once this is done (usually for Strength).
The Magic-User spends points to get 35 Climbing (he already has magic) and leaves 5 points once this is done (usually for Strength).
Because their skills are identical for purposes of the route, what is done with the Thief can be done with the Magic-User with absolutely no difference in action. It would be boring to submit an identical run to this with the Magic-User.

The only difference in route is with the Fighter, who does not have enough starting skill points to get both Magic and Climbing. This is easily fixed by spending points on Throwing instead, but that changes the opening route slightly as he cannot climb over the back-alley wall. However, once the Fighter gets some Rocks and easily obtains the Spirea Seed with his 45 Throwing skill, the route merges and becomes identical from there at about the 1:00 to 1:30 mark. This may end up being about as fast because of the RNG of Strength and the door to Troll's Cave, because the Fighter takes less time about 90% of the time. The difference in time is likely only about a maximum 20-30 seconds, and even that might be less.

This is strictly a version 1.00 problem because you can skip saving the Baronet only in this version.

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[SCENE-BY-SCENE COMMENTARY]

CHARACTER CREATION:
Points allocation in character creation emphasizes magic, climbing and a little extra to strength. The extra points to strength make for much more consistent opening of the door to the Troll's Cave, which was an area that could eat a few seconds with bad RNG. Climbing 35 is entirely for collecting the Spirea seed. Climbing 30 occasionally does not always work on the Spirea Seed cliffs, but Climbing 35 is 100% safe. Magic is for the Open spell and the Calm spell.

TOWN PURCHASES:
I begin by pressing the + button on the keyboard to max the game speed. Once I gain control of the actual character, I buy the Open spell by heading to the left of the screen and then over to the General Store to buy two flasks (one for Fairy Dust and the second for the Flying Water).

TAVERN:
I head into the tavern to get thrown out twice. This changes the time to "sunset." I guess the idea is that when you make Crusher the Bouncer mad, he roughs you up for a while before throwing you out on the front door. This is key.

In later versions, you need to save Baronet before noon to hear the password for the secret cave. Since the early part of the day is no longer necessary, the only thing I need daylight for after my purchases is to catch the Spirea Seed. The plants don't spit at night.

Another difference between this and the VGA version is this back-alley wall. While this is still the best place to train, after a few attempts at climbing the wall the game will tell you that you are going to attract unwanted attention if you continue trying. You have to exit and re-enter that screen with takes about a half of a second and then you can make another 2-5 attempts before you have to reset the screen again. The number of attempts you can make before you have to re-enter the screen is random, from what I can tell. That does not happen in the VGA version, and the wall is the best early place to train because of it. With my Climbing skill at 35, it is just the fastest way out of the town for my next destination.

SPIREA PLANT:
The next obvious difference between the EGA and VGA versions is the use of keyboard for almost all movements. The screens north/south and east/west don't always line up right, so getting caught on bushes is common. It is almost always quickly fixed. It's more difficult with doors, but at least with the doors there isn't the constant threat of RNG encounters with monsters. They are far more frequent in the EGA version, and nearly impossible to avoid when the game speed is turned up to the highest. Luckily, there are no encounters, although you do get to see a goblin chase me.

I reach the plants, climb up and immediately press the up key which activates catching for some reason. This is pretty much perfect RNG.

ERANA'S PEACE AND THE STABLES:
Getting the Flowers and Calm goes straight forward, with a little bit of keyboard frustration.

The next thing is to transition to night. When you type "rest" it only advances 10 minutes at a time. In the VGA version, you have the option to rest for 60 minutes at a time. This makes resting in the EGA version tedious, but also has the unfortunate side-effect of not allowing enough time to pass for night to actually start. Luckily, the stables scene can skipped by simply pressing enter again after agreeing to work.

MEEPS, FAIRIES, DRYAD, FLYING WATER AND THE DISPEL POTION:
I run to the Meeps through the special goblin arena, because that elimiates a few screens for bad RNG encounters. The Meeps give me the fur, the Faeries give me the dust, and I sleep at the Dryad's Tree and get the Acorn. Running straight east, I get the Flying Water and head north and get the Dispel Potion. Fast and uneventful.

THE ANTWERP AND THE FORT:
Once I reach the Antwerp and the secret entrance to the Brigand's Fort, you have to position yourself VERY specifically to find the keyhole. I have no idea why it is so specific, but once you find the keyhole it is a matter of unlocking the door with the Open spell and forcing the door with Strength. You build strength with every attempt and do not lose stamina. The exact strength needed to open the door seems to be RNG affected, either by how much you randomly gain with each attempt or whether or not it actually opens. This was great RNG, by my estimation.

The biggest time saver is here, where I type "hiden goseke," which is the password that I shouldn't know because I never listened to the Brigands after saving the Baronet (because I never did). This only works in version 1.00, and was patched out in every other version I tried.

I cast Calm immediately to prevent the Minotaur from moving too far to the right. He just travels back across to the rock to sleep, so the closer he is to it, the faster you can get to the next action. Cast Open, open the gate and enter the Fort. The Fort area goes quick.

BRIGANDS CAFETERIA:
This section is pretty straight forward, with little difference from the VGA. The triggers for each event are pretty specific, and when the game speed is turned up, you do not really have to wait between the next actions in the text-parser. You also do not have to wait for the chandelier to fall on the Stooges like in the VGA version.

YORICK'S ROOM AND THE END OF THE GAME:
This area is dangerous at this high of a game speed. In particular, the false last door falls quickly and kills you if you do not get out of the way. By mentioning Elsa in the EGA version, Yorick disappears. If he doesn't disappear, he trolls you with all kinds of trash that stuns you and pretty much makes everything impossible to do in time. Throw the potion at Elsa and exit the door, which costs me a second because I get stuck for some reasons. Annoying.
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[AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT]

Better controls, but even then, the RNG alone makes this a difficult run to beat. If EVERYTHING went right, I could see sub 5:00 being possible, but ONLY if everything went the way you want it. I would love to see what a TAS would look like.f