Run Information

Run Information
Completion Date			Oct. 22, 2015
State			Obsolete
Tag			Large-skip glitches
Tag			Character: Magic-User
Internal Comments:
Comment State	Information	Checkpoint	None
This... was a total surprise. Estimated time is about 2:17.
Links
Verification Thread

Run Comments
[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 explained in detail below. The dagger glitch that this displays is available in all versions, however. --- [CREDITS AND THE WESLEY GLITCH HISTORY] 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. :) There are a number of differences between this and the VGA remake done by Sierra a few years later... but this isn't one of them. The "Wesley Glitch" was a game-changer for the VGA version, and I did not expect to see it in the previous EGA version. It was discovered in the VGA version when my son Wesley bumped my hand and made me click the dagger instead of the Dispel Potion. On muscle instinct, I went to click the Brigand Leader but missed slightly and threw the dagger... which unlocked my character and allowed me to walk out, effectively ending the game without the need to complete 90% of the game. Thus, the Large Skips category was birthed. ::FAST FORWARD TO NOW:: I noticed, when planning a new marathon route, that money from the VGA version of Quest for Glory 1 does not transfer as intended, as it is linked to throwing the Dispel Potion and the cutscene thereafter. If you skip throwing the Dispel Potion and export your character, when you import into Quest for Glory 2 you will only have 1 Gold... which is a deal breaker in the faster QFG2 VGA remake by AGD Interactive. Using the Dispel Potion and exiting normally gifts an additional 220 Gold in the VGA version. It went unnoticed in my previous marathon runs because of the "sell beard" glitch that allows for infinite money and skipping the money changer (HUGE time saver). There is no "sell beard" glitch in the VGA remake of QFG2, but running to the money changer is made easy thanks to the option to make the city have a simplified layout. However, with only 1 Gold piece to exchange, you do not have NEARLY enough money to make the necessary purchases to beat the game. This set me on a quest to find a way to make it happen... which fizzled out in QFG2VGA quickly. Despite being buggy, it is not buggy enough to give me the money I need (yet), and I could think of no way to make the money quick enough to beat the original EGA version. There was about 5 minutes to save in my marathon runs, and I was bound and determined to find a way to make it happen. So, remembering the Wesley Glitch from the VGA version and having just completed the EGA version, I decided to give it a shot... ... and it worked. Better yet, it gives the Gold bonus that the VGA remake lacked. Not 220 Gold, but enough to make the run happen. Why would glitch work in the earlier version? Easy enough to speculate: the VGA remake wasn't a complete remake, but a facelift. The VGA remake of this game copied most (if not all) of the code of the EGA version, and was adjusted where necessary for interface and updated the graphics. Pretty cool. It would mean that the glitch was in the EGA version and then was copied to the VGA. The other possibility is that this was intended to test the end of the game... and they used the same method in both games figuring it wouldn't be discovered. Without ask the Coles, I don't think I'll find the answer. 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. --- [A NOTE ABOUT THE CLASS] This combines all of the EGA skips together... which makes the Magic-User the overall best. The Fighter and the Thief have to buy the Magic ability for 15 points at character creation, whereas the Magic-User has it by default and doesn't have to buy Strength. Since saving the Baronet is not required, Stealth isn't necessary. Since making the Dispel Potion is not necessary, Throwing and Climbing are unnecessary. By pooling all of the extra points for a Magic-User into Strength, you can open the rock door to the Brigands Fort in one attempt, which saves yet MORE time. That being said, theorhetically any of the character classes could do this EXACT route with no differences. The Thief, even with the lowest Strength after character creation, would still likely move the rock door in one attempt. The benefit is importing to future games during a marathon with 60 Strength, which cannot be understated. Also, in the QFG2 VGA remake, any core stats a different character class doesn't have (such as Stealth for a Thief) is increased to 1. --- [SCENE-BY-SCENE COMMENTARY] CHARACTER CREATION: Explained above. Everything into Strength. THE REST OF THE GAME: Buy the Open Spell and then head north to Erana's Peace to get the Calm Spell. Calm is necessary for getting past the minotaur. Head south to the Antwerp and head in through the secret passage to the Brigands Fort. The rest of the game plays out the same until reaching the Brigand Leader's room. Instead of throwing the Dispel Potion, however, you have to "throw dagger," which aims at some random, unknown target and unlocks movement for you character. The HAREST part of the game is now lining yourself up with the exit. The diagonal movements make this a bit more consistent, but it is still difficult. If you do not go fast enough, the scene changes to Elsa and you will die. Interestingly enough, this can only be done on MAX speed. I experimented with trying to grab Baba Yaga's mirror and then exiting, but I am fairly certain that this is impossible even in a tool-assisted run. You can grab the mirror, which is neat, but that would result in you being able to defeat Baba Yaga without saving the Baroness or Baronet (which should be impossible). When I slowed the timer down to attempt getting both, which usually increases accuracy, the scene changes immediately after throwing the dagger to Elsa and you die. At MAX speed, you get a few seconds of movement, and enough to escape and trigger the win screen. --- [AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT] ::drop microphone:: In all seriousness, better controls and parsing accuracy. The parser is not the most consistent with typing letters, which causes typos. It seems like it should read the keyboard straightfoward like a Word document, but that is not the case. There is a delay at times that causes mistakes to happen.

Run Comments

[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 explained in detail below. The dagger glitch that this displays is available in all versions, however.

---
[CREDITS AND THE WESLEY GLITCH HISTORY]

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. :)

There are a number of differences between this and the VGA remake done by Sierra a few years later... but this isn't one of them. The "Wesley Glitch" was a game-changer for the VGA version, and I did not expect to see it in the previous EGA version. It was discovered in the VGA version when my son Wesley bumped my hand and made me click the dagger instead of the Dispel Potion. On muscle instinct, I went to click the Brigand Leader but missed slightly and threw the dagger... which unlocked my character and allowed me to walk out, effectively ending the game without the need to complete 90% of the game. Thus, the Large Skips category was birthed.

::FAST FORWARD TO NOW::

I noticed, when planning a new marathon route, that money from the VGA version of Quest for Glory 1 does not transfer as intended, as it is linked to throwing the Dispel Potion and the cutscene thereafter. If you skip throwing the Dispel Potion and export your character, when you import into Quest for Glory 2 you will only have 1 Gold... which is a deal breaker in the faster QFG2 VGA remake by AGD Interactive. Using the Dispel Potion and exiting normally gifts an additional 220 Gold in the VGA version. It went unnoticed in my previous marathon runs because of the "sell beard" glitch that allows for infinite money and skipping the money changer (HUGE time saver). There is no "sell beard" glitch in the VGA remake of QFG2, but running to the money changer is made easy thanks to the option to make the city have a simplified layout.

However, with only 1 Gold piece to exchange, you do not have NEARLY enough money to make the necessary purchases to beat the game. This set me on a quest to find a way to make it happen... which fizzled out in QFG2VGA quickly. Despite being buggy, it is not buggy enough to give me the money I need (yet), and I could think of no way to make the money quick enough to beat the original EGA version. There was about 5 minutes to save in my marathon runs, and I was bound and determined to find a way to make it happen.

So, remembering the Wesley Glitch from the VGA version and having just completed the EGA version, I decided to give it a shot... ... and it worked. Better yet, it gives the Gold bonus that the VGA remake lacked. Not 220 Gold, but enough to make the run happen.

Why would glitch work in the earlier version? Easy enough to speculate: the VGA remake wasn't a complete remake, but a facelift. The VGA remake of this game copied most (if not all) of the code of the EGA version, and was adjusted where necessary for interface and updated the graphics. Pretty cool. It would mean that the glitch was in the EGA version and then was copied to the VGA.

The other possibility is that this was intended to test the end of the game... and they used the same method in both games figuring it wouldn't be discovered. Without ask the Coles, I don't think I'll find the answer.

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.

---
[A NOTE ABOUT THE CLASS]

This combines all of the EGA skips together... which makes the Magic-User the overall best. The Fighter and the Thief have to buy the Magic ability for 15 points at character creation, whereas the Magic-User has it by default and doesn't have to buy Strength. Since saving the Baronet is not required, Stealth isn't necessary. Since making the Dispel Potion is not necessary, Throwing and Climbing are unnecessary.

By pooling all of the extra points for a Magic-User into Strength, you can open the rock door to the Brigands Fort in one attempt, which saves yet MORE time.

That being said, theorhetically any of the character classes could do this EXACT route with no differences. The Thief, even with the lowest Strength after character creation, would still likely move the rock door in one attempt.

The benefit is importing to future games during a marathon with 60 Strength, which cannot be understated. Also, in the QFG2 VGA remake, any core stats a different character class doesn't have (such as Stealth for a Thief) is increased to 1.

---
[SCENE-BY-SCENE COMMENTARY]

CHARACTER CREATION:
Explained above. Everything into Strength.

THE REST OF THE GAME:
Buy the Open Spell and then head north to Erana's Peace to get the Calm Spell. Calm is necessary for getting past the minotaur. Head south to the Antwerp and head in through the secret passage to the Brigands Fort. The rest of the game plays out the same until reaching the Brigand Leader's room.

Instead of throwing the Dispel Potion, however, you have to "throw dagger," which aims at some random, unknown target and unlocks movement for you character. The HAREST part of the game is now lining yourself up with the exit. The diagonal movements make this a bit more consistent, but it is still difficult. If you do not go fast enough, the scene changes to Elsa and you will die.

Interestingly enough, this can only be done on MAX speed. I experimented with trying to grab Baba Yaga's mirror and then exiting, but I am fairly certain that this is impossible even in a tool-assisted run. You can grab the mirror, which is neat, but that would result in you being able to defeat Baba Yaga without saving the Baroness or Baronet (which should be impossible). When I slowed the timer down to attempt getting both, which usually increases accuracy, the scene changes immediately after throwing the dagger to Elsa and you die. At MAX speed, you get a few seconds of movement, and enough to escape and trigger the win screen.

---
[AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT]

::drop microphone::
In all seriousness, better controls and parsing accuracy. The parser is not the most consistent with typing letters, which causes typos. It seems like it should read the keyboard straightfoward like a Word document, but that is not the case. There is a delay at times that causes mistakes to happen.