69) Crystal of Storms Solution

[Sunil]

Note this isn't the shortest route, far from it, but probably the most interesting! I count 231 references!

1

84 Cirrus = home
36 Lucky
321 Silas, Hovers, 10 gold
49 Rabid Rat Horde SKILL 6 STAMINA 10
109 2 ears of corn (2 x 3 STAMINA)
243
15 Cirrus = home
327 own chest, 2 dried fish (2 x 2 STAMINA), healing potion (4 STAMINA), 2 gold
65 unlocked chest, Chest Creature SKILL 5 STAMINA 6
238 fire oil, Incus ledger page
91 sleep +2 STAMINA
395 metal eye
387 roll 5 or 6, get strange metal object, codeword EYE-SPY
134 other chest, Potion of Might (+2 A.S.), 1 gold
335 exploding grapes, lose 2 STAMINA, Grapes of Wrath SKILL 7 STAMINA 8
32 take corrosive grapes
168 go towards yelling, Marauding Dragon Fruit Tree SKILL 8 STAMINA 9
303 Meet Maude, +1 LUCK
24 or 329 (either option fine)
364 war hammer, healing potion (4 STAMINA)
137 head towards smoke
51 Silas, charge hovers, -2 STAMINA, Storm Crystal Shard
376 Scarecrow SKILL 6 STAMINA 5
271 get 2 cabbage leaves, hand axe, calming potion
255 go north
346 goblin flyer Grax
80 charge up hovers (don't have honey or goop), -1 gold
146 go to Cumulus -Silas
193 Test LUCK
12 Lucky
88 not home isle, bread (-1 gold, 2 STAMINA), apple pie (-2 gold, 3 STAMINA), healing potion (-2 gold, 4 STAMINA)
261 head towards Methedus
311 Dav not with you, Tunneller Beast SKILL 8 STAMINA 9
289 silk cloth, 2 stink fruit (2 x 2 STAMINA)
64 mini cyclone, -2 STAMINA
104 meet Methedus, codeword BUBBLE
5 storm crystal shard
121 follow Methedus, fall -1 STAMINA
46 Methedus' shard (+1 LUCK), codeword BOREAS
351 head towards Hazi
355 coin bag not empty
307 Dav not with you
171 storm drain, stench -1 STAMINA
79 follow tracks, Test SKILL
383 successful, retrieve all gold, plus 2 gold
336 codeword Hazi
282 storm crystal shard
185 dried cuttlefish 2 STAMINA, dagger (+1 A.S.)
27 meet Daxa
342 fly to Altos
103 Mother Cloudkin, -3 STAMINA
30 farm, Cloudkin Staff, woman's help (+2 A.S. for this fight), Stormkin SKILL 10 STAMINA 10
277 Altos not home isle, Nemi gives pear (2 STAMINA)
40 Head to watchhouse, test LUCK
7 Lucky
44 fight toad Giant Toad SKILL 5 STAMINA 7
181 sticky toad goop
131
380 use corrosive grapes
306 test your SKILL
225 Successful, Altos not home isle
110 Sky Watch Officer SKILL 7 STAMINA 7
374 reduce him to 3 STAMINA
81 let him live, codeword GALEN, Crumpled Note, Apple (2 STAMINA)
328 head to waterfall
75 walk along bank
299 look at paw prints
237 enter cave
50 Nemi not with you
285 use calming potion on Flapps, +1 LUCK, longsword (+1 A.S.)
20 cabbage leaf for Kritch
8 fly to Incus, you have the codeword GALEN
337 2 gold, potion of proficiency (+2 A.S.)
90 giant crab SKILL 8 STAMINA 9
199 crab pincer, crab meat (3 STAMINA)
60
331 you have Incus ledger page
308
242 head to east docks
10 rest for few hours +3 STAMINA, Octoman SKILL 10 STAMINA 10
106 reduce him to 5 STAMINA
266 speak to him, Caleb gives 2 gold, +1 LUCK
17 ask him about Doombringer
281 ask about survivor
144 ask his name
94 show incus ledger, codeword RENARD
295 Caleb cries out
86 kill him to put out of misery
56 you have codeword RENARD
118 head to house, test your LUCK
207 Lucky avoid debris
235 you have storm crystal shard from Cirrus
42 explore upstairs
274 explore further
296 explore even further brass button Test your Luck
153 Lucky piece of paper, codeword BOREAS
345 you showed shard to Methedus
74 head to docks
161 head to Matix's home
230 meet Matix
62 you have Strange Metal Object = doobry
384 charge hovers -1 gold, fly to Asperitas
270 fight Harpies SKILL 7 STAMINA 6 and SKILL 6 STAMINA 6
195 help Yurik
169 pay him 1 gold (-1)
257 you have codeword Hazi, Potion of Might (2 STAMINA, +2 A.S.), +1 LUCK, codeword Vizigg
111 head to workshops
325 head by yourself
250 let Nix charge boulder, Giant Metal Hand SKILL 8 STAMINA 11
108 Goblin throws powder -2 STAMINA
198 find Thingie
293 head to residential area, you have codeword EYE-SPY
317 follow metal eye
339 roll 5 or 6, follow eye
38
287 go round back of house, Wheelies SKILL 6 STAMINA 6 and SKILL 6 STAMINA 6
358 potion of fire oil, dried fruit 3 STAMINA, 2 gold
350 explore upstairs, you have codeword EYE-SPY
29
389 overload eye-spy mechanism, -(1d/2) STAMINA, Wotsit
149 leave property, Howl Cat SKILL 8 STAMINA 9
302 you have codeword Vizigg
126 see bell tower
352 head to bell tower, test STAMINA
234 Successful Test SKILL
309 Successful
83 puzzle, next number = 68
68 enter Vizigg's home
319 hide behind furniture, test LUCK
240 Lucky
162 hide behind cabinet, see Gremlin, Test SKILL
363 successful kill gremlin
122 shine light on paper
218 read message
111 back to workshops
379 leave Asperitas -1 gold
226 head back to Incus
125 give Matix thingie
375 give Matix wotsit
187 sleep +2 STAMINA, reach Barnacle
54 descend towards Nimbus, Barnacle has your Initial SKILL -1, STAMINA 20
186 explore surface
312 vomit -1 STAMINA, Great White Squark SKILL 9 STAMINA 10
259 fresh calamari 3 STAMINA
120 continue on surface
215 investigate boat, codeword RESCUE
22 search for conductor rod
203 head underwater
85 head for caves
231 left passage
41 fight giant electric eel SKILL 8 STAMINA 8
172 Conductive gland (-3 STAMINA on opponents), Test SKILL
316 successful, avoid rockfall
101 right passage
190 heads towards light, -2 STAMINA (and -2 from Bathysphere STAMINA), Wraithfish SKILL 9 STAMINA 12
14 brass rod, silver goblet, you have codeword RESCUE
132 see glowing light
305 investigate light, dried crab meat 3 STAMINA, potion of might (+2 A.S.), +2 LUCK
191 head towards dim shape, you have codeword BUBBLE
112 meet Methedus again, potion of Power, 3 STAMINA, +2 A.S.
3 see another bathysphere
393 investigate, waterproof firesticks, greater healing potion 5 STAMINA
290 meet Tideus sea giant
166 give him food, Tideus SKILL 9 STAMINA 18
267 reduce him to 10 STAMINA, conch shell
377 enter citadel
344 flooded right corridor, Shark-kin attacks -2 STAMINA from Bathysphere, Shark-kin SKILL 9 STAMINA 9
365 trident (3 STAMINA damage if roll 4 to 6)
280 upper door
188 meet Halleck, Test STAMINA
113 successful
148 cleaver, pumpkin pie 3 STAMINA
212 climb above test SKILL
360 successful at jump
313 search room, black candle, potion of Proficiency (+2 A.S.)
43 climb back down, don't have codeword NIMBI
347 back in antechamber
252 go towards steps, fight Amphibious Spinefish SKILL 7 STAMINA 6 SKILL 6 STAMINA 7 SKILL 6 STAMINA 6
283 talk to Officers
77 ask about Nimbus
356 ask about injured Officer
107 give healing potion, +2 LUCK
197 ask about survivors
330 leave Officers
390 codeword NIMBI
127 half-flooded hallway
145 roll 5 or 6, Potion of Might (+2 A.S.)
73 -1 STAMINA
124 you have firesticks or fire oil, +3 STAMINA
288 head towards library
398 fight Saltwater Crocodile SKILL 8 STAMINA 8
66 win
219 cut open its stomach, copper ring, potion of Might (+2 A.S.)
18 reach library
239 read A Sting in the Tail, Giant Scorpion SKILL 10 STAMINA 10
373 cut off its Stinger (+1 extra point damage)
292 head downstairs, test SKILL
34 successful, miss blade but get hit by fireball (-1 STAMINA)
210 meet Vizigg
272 he explains what happened
98 you have codeword Boreas
11 ask about his state
82 ask about Nimbus
59 ask about the broken storm crystals
338 ask about Great Door
170 greater healing potion (5 STAMINA)
228 you have copper ring
115 you have a silver goblet
6 you have black candle
206 Vizigg has all his required items (+1 LUCK)
63 you give him hovers, Nimbus starts moving, test SKILL
28 successful avoid debris
216 Vizigg dies, ward on Great Hall disappears
224 enter Great Hall
370 meet war golem, Krazic and Boreas, Test SKILL
165 successful, avoid rubble
208 Boreas begins chanting
391 roll 5 or 6, Mudclaw SKILL 5 STAMINA 4
392 Boreas merges with golem, blow conch, Tideus arrives his stats SKILL 9 STAMINA 10
99 give greater healing potion (+5 STAMINA Tideus)
114 give potion of might (+2 SKILL, +2 STAMINA Tideus)
324 give potion of power (+1 SKILL, +3 STAMINA Tideus), Tideus stats now SKILL 12 STAMINA 20
129 Tideus takes on Goblin War Golem SKILL 11 STAMINA 30 (you fight alongside, +2 to Tideus A.S., damage to Golem 3 STAMINA)
222 if you and Tideus win first two A.R.s test your SKILL
155 successful, avoid the rubble, Tideus throws it back, -3 STAMINA and -1 SKILL from golem
388 if you and Tideus win next three A.R.s test your STAMINA
300 successful, golem topples to ground, -half remaining STAMINA from golem
100 continue the battle
69 you win the battle, Boreas tries to escape, caught by Stormborn, Krazic is captured
400 Nimbus back in the centre of Pangaria.

[sylas]

As we are assuming every battle is won, what are the recommended minimal stats?

[johnbrawn1972]

I am not at all sure about this. I am not sure whether it is even a good idea to go to Altos. The initial skill boost is almost essential. I interpret it as an initial skill boost though the wording is somewhat ungainly. Also the initial stamina boost helps as well.

The criss-cross nature of this book has left me with something of a headache. I am trying to figure out a way of not retreading your previous path. Is this a backward step from Scorpion Swamp?

I am not at all sure you should follow the cockroach into the sewer.

Somehow using the Potion of Might against the lightning erm thingy seems a good idea it is just a matter of working out a route.

If others wish to interpret the skill and stamina boosts as somehow not initial boosts that is their prerogative but the word permanent makes it hard to interpret otherwise in my opinion.

[sylas]

Oct 30, 2020 16:27:15 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

I am not at all sure about this. I am not sure whether it is even a good idea to go to Altos. The initial skill boost is almost essential. I interpret it as an initial skill boost though the wording is somewhat ungainly. Also the initial stamina boost helps as well.

The criss-cross nature of this book has left me with something of a headache. I am trying to figure out a way of not retreading your previous path. Is this a backward step from Scorpion Swamp?

I am not at all sure you should follow the cockroach into the sewer.

Somehow using the Potion of Might against the lightning erm thingy seems a good idea it is just a matter of working out a route.

If others wish to interpret the skill and stamina boosts as somehow not initial boosts that is their prerogative but the word permanent makes it hard to interpret otherwise in my opinion.

I can't see how it boosts Initial Skill. Nothing says it can, not even a different interpretation of the wording. Add 1 to Skill permanently, even if it takes Skill beyond its Initial level. So if Skill was 10/10; it is now 11/10, where the Initial value of 10 stays the same. Obviously adding 1 to Attack Strength would have made more sense, as would specifying that both current and Initial scores are boosted. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

[johnbrawn1972]

Oct 30, 2020 16:59:34 GMT sylas said:

Oct 30, 2020 16:27:15 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

I am not at all sure about this. I am not sure whether it is even a good idea to go to Altos. The initial skill boost is almost essential. I interpret it as an initial skill boost though the wording is somewhat ungainly. Also the initial stamina boost helps as well.

The criss-cross nature of this book has left me with something of a headache. I am trying to figure out a way of not retreading your previous path. Is this a backward step from Scorpion Swamp?

I am not at all sure you should follow the cockroach into the sewer.

Somehow using the Potion of Might against the lightning erm thingy seems a good idea it is just a matter of working out a route.

If others wish to interpret the skill and stamina boosts as somehow not initial boosts that is their prerogative but the word permanent makes it hard to interpret otherwise in my opinion.

I can't see how it boosts Initial Skill. Nothing says it can, not even a different interpretation of the wording. Add 1 to Skill permanently, even if it takes Skill beyond its Initial level. So if Skill was 10/10; it is now 11/10, where the Initial value of 10 stays the same. Obviously adding 1 to Attack Strength would have made more sense, as would specifying that both current and Initial scores are boosted. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

No. The boost would mean nothing then. This is even more obvious with the stamina increase. It would mean going from 14 to 17 and straight back to 14 once a fight has finished. The word permanent means nothing then. Why is that?

[sylas]

Oct 30, 2020 20:49:10 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

Oct 30, 2020 16:59:34 GMT sylas said:

I can't see how it boosts Initial Skill. Nothing says it can, not even a different interpretation of the wording. Add 1 to Skill permanently, even if it takes Skill beyond its Initial level. So if Skill was 10/10; it is now 11/10, where the Initial value of 10 stays the same. Obviously adding 1 to Attack Strength would have made more sense, as would specifying that both current and Initial scores are boosted. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

No. The boost would mean nothing then. This is even more obvious with the stamina increase. It would mean going from 14 to 17 and straight back to 14 once a fight has finished. The word permanent means nothing then. Why is that?

Because otherwise it would last only for the duration of the encounter.

[johnbrawn1972]

Oct 30, 2020 21:03:39 GMT sylas said:

Oct 30, 2020 20:49:10 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

No. The boost would mean nothing then. This is even more obvious with the stamina increase. It would mean going from 14 to 17 and straight back to 14 once a fight has finished. The word permanent means nothing then. Why is that?

Because otherwise it would last only for the duration of the encounter.

That is precisely what I have just said. There would be no difference between Ian Livingstone in Crypt and what Crystal does here and the effort has been made here along with the use of attack strength bonuses. Where does it state everything has to be stated in exactly the same way as, say,  in The Seven Serpents?

[sylas]

Sorry I'm not really understanding what you mean.

[Sunil]

Oct 30, 2020 15:08:08 GMT sylas said:

As we are assuming every battle is won, what are the recommended minimal stats?

I would say SKILL 10, STAMINA 20, LUCK 10 should be a decent set of stats. The War Golem has SKILL 11 but you can augment Tideus's stats to give him SKILL 12.

[johnbrawn1972]

Crystal of storms. 11/14/7 to 12/17/7(?)I have counted permanent as initial otherwise it is stupid
. The lack of skill bonuses is ferocious
-If your home island is Cumulus, the island of trade
- 2d6 <=skill=ok >skill=-3 stamina. If Cumulus is your home isle
- 10gp. Short sword. +1 stamina. Healing Potion. Dav
-If you want to check out the market stalls. -4gp Bread and Apple Pie
-If you want to head for Hazi’s place on the far side of the market
-If your coin bag still has some money in it
- -all gp. If Dav is with you
- +1gp. If you are determined to get it back
-If you decide to head for the rooftops
-To continue over the rooftops
- -3 stamina. Cockroach queen sk7 st7
-All gp restored when taken +3gp. Healing honey. Dried fish
-Hazi. If you don’t have the storm crystal shard from Cirrus
-Dried cuttlefish. Ornate dagger +1 attack strength. If you want to go to the mill
-If Dav is with you
- +3 initial stamina and current stamina. +1 attack strength this fight only. Tunneller beast sk8 st9
-Silk cloth. 2 dried stink fruit
- -2 stamina
-Bubble. If you do not have the storm crystal from Cirrus
-Methedus’s shard
-If you want to find the local Goblin flyer and head for one of the other islands
-If you want to investigate the Sky Bridge to Cirrus and see if you can find the aeronaut’s helmet
-Lose Dav. Continue into the mist
-Lightning Serpent sk9 st9
-Aeronaut’s helmet +1 initial skill and +1 current skill
-If you want to investigate the plume of blue-green smoke
-If you want to investigate the shed
-Scarecrow sk6 st5
- 2 cabbage leaves. Hand axe. Calming Potion
-If you want to head to the north of Cirrus and search for a Goblin flyer
-If you have silk cloth
-If you have some healing honey
-If you’d like to take the flyer to Incus
-Otherwise
-Giant crab sk8 st9
-Crab pincer. Crab meat
-To head for Matix’s home in northern Incus
-If not
- -1gp
- 1st Harpy sk7 st6 2nd Harpy sk6 st6
-To help Yurik pick up the pieces of the broken vial
-To give him 1 Gold Piece to help pay for the damage
- -1gp. If you have the codeword Hazi on your Adventure Sheet
-Greater Potion of Might. Vizigg
-or north, further into the maze of workshops and laboratories
-If you want to head off to investigate for yourself
-Let Nix charge the metal boulder and see what happens
-Giant metal hand sk8 st11
- -2 stamina
-Thingie
-You can head west towards the where the residents of Asperitas live
-If not
- 1d6 1-2=2d6 <=stamina=ok >stamina=-1 stamina 3-4=2d6 <=luck= >luck=2d6 <=stamina=ok >stamina=-1 stamina 5-6=ok
-Quietly go to the back of the house and see if you can find another way in
- 1st Wheelie sk6 st6 2nd Wheelie sk6 st6
-Potion of fire oil. Dried fruit. 2gp
-If you want to explore the upper floor of the house
-If you do not have the codeword written on your Adventure Sheet
-Do you want to try to overload the charge and destroy the Eye-Spies
- -1d6/2 stamina. Round up. Wotsit
-Alternatively
- -1gp
-If you have located the Thingie
-If you have a Wotsit
-If you have now given Matix everything she requested
- +2 stamina
-Bathysphere sk11 st20
-If you want to explore the surface
- -1 stamina. Great White Squark sk9 st10
-Fresh calamari. If you want to continue exploring the surface
-If you want to investigate the stranded boat
-Rescue. If you agree to help and take the Barnacle down, in search of the conductor rod
-If you want to head towards the caves
-To take the right fork
-If you want to turn back and leave the caves
- -2 stamina. Enraged wraithfish sk10 st12
-Brass rod. Silver goblet.If you have the codeword Rescue written on your Adventure Sheet
-If you want to investigate the light
-Crab meat. Potion of Might. +2 luck. Or dive towards the dim shape
-If you have the codeword Bubble on your Adventure Sheet
-Potion of Power
-If you want to investigate the other bathysphere
-Waterproof firesticks. Greater Healing Potion
-If you have it and want to give it to him
-Tideus sk9 st18
-Conch
-To pull the Barnacle up next to the steps
- 1st Amphibious spinefish sk7 st6 2nd Amphibious spinefish sk6 st7 3rd Amphibious spinefish sk6 st6
-To ask them what happened to the Nimbus
-If you have asked him everything you want to
-Nimbi. If your stomach has taken control and you want to see what’s left in the kitchens
- 2d6 <=stamina=ok >stamina=-1 stamina. -1 skill
-Large cleaver. Pumpkin pie. If you want to climb up to the room above
- 2d6 <=skill=ok >skill=-2 stamina
-Black candle. Potion of Proficiency. To climb back down to Halleck in the room below
-If you have the codeword Nimbi on your Adventure Sheet
-If you want to venture down the half-flooded hallway
- 1d6 1-2=-3 stamina 3-4=ok 5-6=Potion of Might
- -1 stamina. If you have some waterproof firesticks
- +3 stamina
-If you want to fight it
-Saltwater crocodile sk8 st8
-Cut open the creature’s stomach and see if it’s eaten anything interesting
-Potion of Might. Copper ring
-A sting in the tale: A collection of unexpected endings
-Giant Scorpion sk10 st10
-Stinger
- 2d6 <=skill=-1 stamina >skill=-2 stamina. -1 stamina
-If not
-To ask what has befallen him
-If you are done asking him questions
-Greater Healing Potion. If you have a copper ring
-If you have a silver goblet
-If you have a black candle
-If you have given Vizigg all the requested items
-To give Vizigg your hovers
- 2d6 <=skill=ok >skill=-2 stamina
- 2d6 <=skill=ok >skill=-2 stamina
- 1d6 1-2=Hydra sk9 st13 3-4=1st Kokomokoa sk5 st5 2nd Kokomokoa sk5 st5 5-6=Mudclaw sk5 st4
-If you want to give Tideus a Greater Healing Potion
-If you want to give Tideus a Potion of Might
-If you want to give Tideus a Potion of Power
-If you’ve given him everything you can
-Goblin war golem sk11 st30. Tideus sk12 st20(+2 attack strength. +1 damage)
-If you and Tideus are the first to win two of the first three attack rounds
- 2d6 <=skill=-3 stamina. -1 skill to enemy >skill=-3 stamina. -1 skill to you. If you and Tideus win two of the first three attack rounds
- 2d6 <=stamina=- half stamina of enemy >stamina=-3 stamina to you
-If you and Tideus win the battle

[gghh]

Any map by anyone? :-)

[pip]

Oct 30, 2020 16:59:34 GMT sylas said:

Oct 30, 2020 16:27:15 GMT johnbrawn1972 said:

I am not at all sure about this. I am not sure whether it is even a good idea to go to Altos. The initial skill boost is almost essential. I interpret it as an initial skill boost though the wording is somewhat ungainly. Also the initial stamina boost helps as well.

The criss-cross nature of this book has left me with something of a headache. I am trying to figure out a way of not retreading your previous path. Is this a backward step from Scorpion Swamp?

I am not at all sure you should follow the cockroach into the sewer.

Somehow using the Potion of Might against the lightning erm thingy seems a good idea it is just a matter of working out a route.

If others wish to interpret the skill and stamina boosts as somehow not initial boosts that is their prerogative but the word permanent makes it hard to interpret otherwise in my opinion.

I can't see how it boosts Initial Skill. Nothing says it can, not even a different interpretation of the wording. Add 1 to Skill permanently, even if it takes Skill beyond its Initial level. So if Skill was 10/10; it is now 11/10, where the Initial value of 10 stays the same. Obviously adding 1 to Attack Strength would have made more sense, as would specifying that both current and Initial scores are boosted. Unfortunately, it doesn't.

This is also how I understand it. I don't see any ambiguity here.

From the stats I've calculated, it's not worth it to fight the Lightning Serpent. The helmet may be great, but the fight to get it is too risky, and going for it ultimately slightly lowers your winning odds.

Either way, you will need a high initial skill score to win this (I'd recommend at least skill 11). Low skill characters may as well be rerolled right away.

This book has good writing and a nice, coherent world, but gameplay-wise I find it pretty disappointing. Key items are easy to find as you can keep returning to unexplored areas if you didn't find them the first time, and there are extremely few instant deaths. The difficulty solely rests in how lucky you are with the dice (especially when you roll your initial skill). And, despite the book's non-linearity, I reckon it's not worth it to look for a "true path" because there isn't really one, only some paths that are slightly worse than others. At first glance, it may look like you have tons of options to choose from to try and improve your chances, but whatever you do really doesn't matter that much. 

Another disappointment was how the codewords were used, since many of them don't actually make any difference in gameplay (you just get slightly different flavour text). Almost like this book is meant to be read, but not played.