38) Vault of the Vampire Solution

[champskees]

Vault of the Vampire is actually one of the first 400-section FF books I had read (I got in through the Adventures of Goldhawk series) when I was a teenager. I loved it then; I still love it now, admittedly not as much due in most part to the high Skill level required to complete the adventure. At the end of the book, you must fight the Count; he is tough, and I recommend a Skill score of 11+ for this adventure. It is also recommended you have a Luck score of 9+ & Stamina of 18+.

Faith to be gained using this method: +7/8 (just before confronting the Count: +5/6).

- Ignore the coach, and ask a local how to get to the castle.
- Take 2 Gold Pieces.
- Try to parley with the figure, whoever it is (2 Damage).
- Take 2 Food.
- Valderesse the Ranger is with you.
- Go in & talk with him (+8 Stamina).
- Take Garlic.
- Test Skill. Fail = 1 Damage.
- Walk up & enter the half-open front gates.
- Open the door in the south.
- Move to the west door in the storeroom.
- Open the west door & go through.
- Test Faith +2. Fail = Fight Sk 6 St 5 Zombie. Fight Sk 7 St 7 Zombie.
- Try to get past it (D6 Damage).
- Press on upwards.
- Test Luck. Fail = Try again until successful. Note that this walkthrough assumes you make this test.
- Test Faith +3. Fail = Ring the bell.
- Take Magic Sword (+1 Luck, +1 Faith).
- Head for the main north doors.
- Open the north door.
- Open the east door.
- Test Faith +2:
        o Success:
                o Get past them and through the entrance to the main kitchen.
        o Fail:
                o Stand in the doorway and fight.
                o Fight Sk 6 St 5 Zombie.
                o Fight Sk 7 St 5 Zombie.
                o Fight Sk 6 St 6 Zombie.
                o Head to the main kitchen to the east.
- Take 6 Food.
- You are not searching for herbs for an Alchemist.
- Open the west door.
- Fight Sk 7 St 7 Tigerskin Rug.
- Take Treasure (worth 4 Gold Pieces).
- Take 2 Measures of Brandy (each restores 4 Stamina).
- Take Silver Mirror.
- Head down the eastern side passage.
- Open the north door.
- Take Book of Healers.
- Talk to him.
- Ask about getting into the library (-6 Gold Pieces or equivalent).
- Take Silver Key ‘378’.
- Leave the Sage to his musty old books.
- The Sage has given you an item, so follow his directions.
- You have a Silver Key. Turn to Para 378.
- Take Book of Swords ‘188’.
- Fight Sk 6 St 6 Zombie.
- Fight Sk 7 St 6 Zombie.
- You have neither affliction.
- Open the silver handled door in the middle of the south wall.
- Talk to him (+4 Stamina).
- Take Crucifix.
- Show Gunthar a book.
- You have the Book of Healers.
- You do not have an affliction.
- Take Potion of Healing (restores 4 Stamina).
- Open the north door closest to you (4 Damage).
- Fight it, weakened as you are (take a Brandy or the Potion of Healing before you fight).
- Fight Sk 8 St 11 Minor Thassaloss.
        o -2 to your Skill for duration of combat.
        o Each round, Roll D6. 1-3 = 1 Damage to you.
- Leave, hoping for less formidable opposition elsewhere.
- Open the north door along the corridor.
- You have a Magic Sword.
- Fight Sk 7 St 9 Vampire Mist.
        o +1 to your Skill for duration of combat.
        o If you are hit twice:
                o You do not have the Curse of the Healer.
                o 1 Damage to you every round until enemy is killed.
- Add Note: You have destroyed a Coffin (+1 Faith).
- Follow the corridor round to the south, past this door.
- Open the second easterly door.
- Talk with him.
- You have not met her.
- Take Castellan’s Keys.
- Take Silvered Stake.
- Add note: ‘Forward & Back’, code for magical lock.
- You have the Castellan’s Keys.
- Open the second door halfway along the southern spur.
- Run for the north door in this room.
- Roll D6. 1-2 = 1 Damage. 3-4 = 2 Damage. 5-6 = 3 Damage.
- Take Treasure (2 Gold Pieces).
- Take Ring of Regeneration (+2 Stamina at end of each fight).
- You have met Gunthar Heydrich.
- Test Skill+2. Success = Add note: You have destroyed a Coffin (+1 Faith).
- Head for the west door.
- Fight Sk 8 St 7 Horned Vampire Bat.
        o Each round, Roll D6. 5-6 = 2 Damage & 1 Damage every round until enemy is killed, when enemy killed take another 3 Damage.
        o If you are hit twice:
                o You do not have the Curse of the Healer.
                o Add the Curse of the Bat as an Affliction.
- Take Treasure (worth 4 Gold Pieces).
- Test Luck.
        o Success = +1 Luck.
        o Fail = -1 Skill, 2 Damage.
- Add note: You have destroyed a Coffin (+1 Faith).
- Open the first desk drawer.
- Take 4 Gold Pieces.
- Try opening the safe.
- Take Crypt Key.
- Test Faith +3. Success = Strike at the undead thing (2 Damage to enemy).
- You have a magic sword.
- Fight Sk 10 St 14 Spectre.
- Roll D6. 1-5 = -1 Skill.
- You have fought a Minor Thassaloss in the castle.
- Use clue: Go forward one letter, then next letter go back one.
- Transcription reads: ‘He he in the Armour of Siegfried the Chainmail of the Valiant One, Three Hundred & Fifty separate links of finest armourers craft’. Turn to Para 350.
- Take Magical Chainmail (+1 Skill in combat, +1 Luck, +1 Faith).
- You do not have the Affliction.
- Test Luck. Fail = 4 Damage.
- Enter the tomb of Boris the Drunkard.
- Investigate the sarcophagus.
- Inspect the contents of the bottle.
- Take Brandy (restores 4 Stamina).
- Head for the T-junction along the corridor.
- Open the south door.
- Walk towards her.
- Take Spell Ring.
- Roll D6 three times to obtain three different spells.
        o 1 = Forcewall
        o 2 = Greatstrike
        o 3 = Jandor’s Bolt
        o 4 = Luckspell
        o 5 = Shatter
        o 6 = True Heal
- If you have Shatter:
        o Cast the spell at it.
- If you do not have Shatter:
        o Fight Sk 10 St 15 Major Thassaloss.
                o Each round, Roll D6. 1-5 = 1 Damage.
- Take the northern steps.
- Open this door.
- Wait a while to see if anything happens.
- Take Holy Water.
- You have a Stake.
- You have a Crucifix.
- Test Faith+4.
        o Success = Restore Stamina to Initial Value.
        o Fail = +3 Stamina.
- You have the Book of Swords. 188/2 = 94. Turn to Para 94.
- You are ready to do this (+4 Stamina).
- Take Magic Sword ‘Nightstar’ (+2 Skill vs. Vampires, +1 Skill vs. Other enemies, +1 Faith, +2 Luck).
- Go down southern stairs.
- Roll D6. 1,2 = 1 Damage. 3,4 = 2 Damage.
- Test Faith+6.
        o Success:
                o Get an item out of your backpack.
                o Use Silver Mirror (free 2 Damage against Count).
                o Throw Holy Water at him (D6+1 Damage to Count).
                o If you have Greatstrike or Jandor’s Bolt, cast a spell (both if possible).
        o Fail:
                o You are wearing Garlic (2 Damage).
                o If you have Greatstrike, use this spell.
- You have a Magic Sword.
- Fight Sk 13 St 21 Count Reiner Heydrich.
        o Fight until Count’s Stamina is 4 or less:
        o If you have Forcewall Spell:
                o Cast the spell.
        o If you do not have Forcewall Spell:
                o Heal with Brandy, Trueheal, Luckspell or Potion of Healing.
                o Add 8 Stamina to Count & continue fighting until he reaches 4 or less Stamina again.
- Fight Count until he is defeated.
        o -2 to Count’s Skill.
        o If you are hit twice, death.
- You have destroyed at least two coffins.
- You have the required items necessary (+2 Faith, +2 Luck).
- Free Nastassia (+4 Stamina).
- You have not met Katarina Heydrich before.
- Test Faith+4. Fail = Death.
- Make a first attack using your sword.
- Fight Sk 10 St 8 Katarina Heydrich.
        o If your Stamina falls below 6, Sk 6 Natassia will aid you in the fight (Yep, she’s useless. Still, cool that Keith thought of that).
- You sheathe your sword & lead the girl back home, to the hero’s welcome that rightfully awaits your return.

[TallSilentGuy]

Thanks for providing us with the very helpful map. *sarcasm*

[champskees]

Ah, the village idiot.

Let me first say I appreciate your feedback! It is great to have an insightful and important person such as yourself comment on this solution. By doing so, you have contributed in ways you cannot fathom. Thankyou, really.

Note how the above comment manages to be sarcastic without having to point it out to the reader. Your attempt is more akin to Homer Simpson sarcasm, see below:

Of course, sarcasm being the lowest form of wit, I imagine you are so obtuse you need things spelt out considering you struggle with its use. As part of my charity work for this year, I will try and break down each part of your problem and see if I can address it.

Your first problem: You expected a map and did not find what you were looking for.

My thoughts: In no part of this solution, nor at any time do I suggest that I will provide a map of this book.

Your second problem: You expected a helpful map and did not find what you were looking for.

My thoughts: This solution is intended to assist the reader by providing the best path through the book. No map is required. This solution is more helpful than a map to the book because it goes further by providing you with step by step instructions on how to successfully complete the book.

Your third problem: You believe the word 'solution' is synonymous with 'map'.

My thoughts: A solution can be in the form of a map, however there are often many different methods of solving a problem and many ways of presenting those methods. Generally, a graphic representation of a solution to a problem is more easily understood, but does not allow for a more thorough analysis and discussion of any particulars. My interests lie in the latter.

Understand? Good. Now get back on the special needs bus and try not to embarrass yourself further.

[The Editor (Alex B)]

As the Admin I probably shouldn't give a thumbs up (like) to that sort of language champskees, but frankly the poster deserves it!

[dreeee]

champskees, yr detailed solutions are alws appreciated.

[Hanky]

Thanks for not giving us a map.

[thealmightymudworm]

Aug 29, 2019 9:21:14 GMT Hanky said:

Thanks for not giving us a map.

You are the lamest troll I've ever encountered – including a troll in a mini adventure I read once that only had one leg. 

[stevendoig]

I may put up MY map I drew during my latest playthrough.

However, I can guarantee it will not be a 'helpful map'

And you must not laugh

[Hanky]

OK, I though writing that after reading TallSilentGuy's commant that mine was witty and humourous.
You know ... thanking Champskees in a non sacarstic for NOT giving us a map but a working solution...

It wasn't an attempt at trolling, or spitting a Champskees's work at all and I guess it backfired a little.

I guess a at the end of my sentence would have helped.

Sorry.

[thealmightymudworm]

Aug 30, 2019 11:17:05 GMT Hanky said:

OK, I though writing that after reading TallSilentGuy's commant that mine was witty and humourous.
You know ... thanking Champskees in a non sacarstic for NOT giving us a map but a working solution...

It wasn't an attempt at trolling, or spitting a Champskees's work at all and I guess it backfired a little.

I guess a at the end of my sentence would have helped.

Sorry.

Ahh...

I thought as I was writing it that there was just an outside chance that you were doing that. But having another unregistered person, with no post history, popping that up with no indication of irony made me think it was much more likely to be the same idiot back without even a new trolling idea.

I'm reminded of the Simpsons ep in which the victim of a face-swap by Sideshow Bob can't understand why someone looking like Sideshow Bob in Sideshow Bob's cell scrawling "Bart Simpson will die!" all over the walls isn't being understood as an expression of concern...

...although that's probably unfair on you. Other posters held their fire. My apologies.

Um... welcome to the forum.

[Hanky]

Yeah, that's the problem with written comments : They can be completly taken the wrong way.

So, don't worry, no offense taken and thanks for the ... err ... let's call it welcome.

I'm doing all the FF books and google brought me here for the walkthrough, so I'm not sure I'll post much, but if it appears I'll extend my stay, I'll make an official account.

[thealmightymudworm]

Well I hope you do stick around. There's quite a lot of fun stuff on here now.

So you're playing through all the gamebooks? You might like to look at Doigy's recent attempts for comparison.

More generally, here's Greenspine's index of all the individual book discussion threads.

[lordomnibok]

Aug 30, 2019 14:58:33 GMT Hanky said:

Yeah, that's the problem with written comments : They can be completly taken the wrong way.

So, don't worry, no offense taken and thanks for the ... err ... let's call it welcome.

I'm doing all the FF books and google brought me here for the walkthrough, so I'm not sure I'll post much, but if it appears I'll extend my stay, I'll make an official account.

Ah well, it's all been cleared up in a friendly manner, that's all that matters in the end. Welcome to the forum and good luck with getting through the books. Speaking of stevendoig's attempts, I do hope he finishes his marathon at some point as it was a great read, imo, though I certainly understand his need for a break.

[champskees]

Aug 30, 2019 11:17:05 GMT Hanky said:

OK, I though writing that after reading TallSilentGuy's commant that mine was witty and humourous.
You know ... thanking Champskees in a non sacarstic for NOT giving us a map but a working solution...

It wasn't an attempt at trolling, or spitting a Champskees's work at all and I guess it backfired a little.

I guess a at the end of my sentence would have helped.

Sorry.

That is actually pretty funny.

[daredevil123]

Aug 31, 2019 2:20:12 GMT champskees said:

Aug 30, 2019 11:17:05 GMT Hanky said:

OK, I though writing that after reading TallSilentGuy's commant that mine was witty and humourous.
You know ... thanking Champskees in a non sacarstic for NOT giving us a map but a working solution...

It wasn't an attempt at trolling, or spitting a Champskees's work at all and I guess it backfired a little.

I guess a at the end of my sentence would have helped.

Sorry.

That is actually pretty funny.

I agree; it's a shame it's hard to get irony to work over the internet. Welcome to the forum Hanky!

[Sunil]

The inscription reads "Herein", not "He he in".