TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

GENERAL OVERVIEW.......................................................................................................................2

2.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS................................................................................................................2
2.1
2.2

3.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS..................................................................................................2

RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................2

HELP.......................................................................................................................................................3
3.1

IN-GAME...........................................................................................................................................3

4.

INTERFACE...........................................................................................................................................3

5.

GAME WORLD.....................................................................................................................................3
5.1
LOCATIONS........................................................................................................................................3
5.1.1
Town Locations........................................................................................................................3
5.1.2
External Locations...................................................................................................................3
5.2
INTERLOCATIONAL TRANSFERENCE..................................................................................................4

6.

HERO......................................................................................................................................................4
6.1
6.2
6.3

7.

MAIN PARAMETERS..........................................................................................................................4
DEPENDENT PARAMETERS................................................................................................................4
SKILLS...............................................................................................................................................4

WEAPONS/ARMOUR..........................................................................................................................5
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4

8.

METALS USED IN THE GAME.............................................................................................................5

WEAPONS..........................................................................................................................................5
ARMOUR...........................................................................................................................................5
SPECIAL ITEMS..................................................................................................................................5

CHARACTERS IN SPELLS OF GOLD..............................................................................................5

8.1
8.2

9.

EXTERNAL LOCATIONS NPC.............................................................................................................5

CHARACTERS MET IN BUILDINGS.....................................................................................................6

BUILDINGS IN SPELLS OF GOLD...................................................................................................6

10.

MAGIC................................................................................................................................................6

11.

GODS IN SPELLS OF GOLD..........................................................................................................6

12.

ECONOMIC/POLITICAL SYSTEM..............................................................................................7

12.1
13.
13.1
13.2

TRADE...............................................................................................................................................7
BATTLE SYSTEM OF THE GAME................................................................................................7
PHYSICAL DAMAGE RATE.................................................................................................................7
NON-PHYSICAL DAMAGE..................................................................................................................7

14.

HERO'S KARMA..............................................................................................................................8

15.

QUESTS..............................................................................................................................................8

15.1
15.2

NON-STORY QUESTS.........................................................................................................................8
STORY QUESTS..................................................................................................................................8

1.

General Overview

The name of the game is Spells of Gold (SoG for short). This
is an RPG in which a highly developed economic system (trade) is
present. The game is set in the world of fantasy. The Hero, as a rule
(but this is not a demand), has to carry out some trade between
different locations. All the trade routes are by land. To easily carry
vast amounts of goods the Hero has got a special item a Magic
Sack of Monroke. While traveling and trading the player is going to meet with robbers
and bandits, merchants and mages, wandering warriors and monks, hermits and
different kinds of evil spirits (warlocks, skeletons, undead ones and what not). He may
talk to them or trade with them, fight with them or, if necessary, escape from them. It is
also possible to pay or get ransom from them.
The Hero develops himself throughout the game by gaining experience, learning
new skills and acquiring new types of weapon and armour. It is also of interest to note
that the player is able to explore a great many unknown worlds.
The global task here is to accomplish one of the three story lines.
To feel sure and ready for local and global game quests the Hero may choose one
of the two ways: he may develop and master his fighting habits and become a Warrior,
or he may acquire some magic skills and become a Mage, or both.
One of the features is a multi-level system of character development. For
example, in the beginning of the game the Hero knows about nothing but the existence
of the world he lives in with several cities where he travels, trades, accomplishes
quests, gains experience. But as soon as he reaches a certain level in his development,
he discovers that there is a whole world system with the worlds connected by magic
gates (Portals). From now and on the Hero may travel to new worlds, meet with new
types of enemies. He may receive new quests as well as exercise new magic and, of
course, be provided with ample opportunity to develop himself.
It is important to note that the non-linear story of the game fully depends on the players
actions. It means that good and bad acts will be taken into account and affect the
following ones, defining the way for the Heros development.

2.

System Requirements

2.1
Minimum System Requirements
PC running Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP
Pentium P150 or equivalent
32 megs system RAM
2 megs VRAM
Sound Card
4 speed CD ROM drive
300 megs hard drive space
2.2
Recommended System Requirements
PC Running Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP
Celeron 266
64 megs system RAM
2 megs VRAM
Sound Card
12 speed CD ROM drive

700 megs hard drive space

3.

Help

3.1
In-Game
Help consists of several screens which contain information about the controls, hotkey
shortcuts etc. Besides, right-clicking of the mouse on some game screens (for ex.,
dimension window) will bring up help information on this point.

4.

Interface

The interface in Spells of Gold is designed to be clear and simple to use. The main
options, controls, save/load game are accessed through the menu. Operations with the
Inventory and distribution of Experience Points are avaliable on the Hero screen. While
the Hero is on a location use the mouse to controle him (go to the marked point/attak the
enemy/pick up the item). Mind the cursor it changes depending on the action
(main/attaking/cursor-hand).

5.

Game World

5.1
Locations
The game world in SoG is presented by a number of locations. Location is a limited area
which has its entrance/exit on which the Hero moves and various actions are performed.
Location types: town, external.
5.1.1 Town Locations
There are various structures in the towns. Battles are impossible here. While visiting a
town, the Hero may meet different characters; he may talk to them and get some
information.
The option of entering a building is also available. In this case the interior screen of the
structure will pop up providing various options as well as conversation options such as
talking to the owner or visitors.
In the towns the following options are available: trade, armour repair, rest at inn, getting
education at different types of schools; to visit the mayoralty or a temple, to join a guild,
to receive a quest etc.
5.1.2 External Locations
The game area outside each city's gates where battles are possible is known as external
locations. Leaving a town the Hero finds himself on the external location. The external
locations in the game are the Portal area a special area with magic gates for transition
from one world to another; teachers' dwellings locations with abodes of lonely teachers
who can provide knowledge or quests to the Hero. Bandits' and evil spirits' dens also
belong to this type of locations.

5.2
Interlocational Transference
City's gates and Portals make it possible to transfer from one location to another. Portals,
as well, provide transference between different worlds.

6.

Hero
The Hero is the only character in the game for the player to control. His main
characteristics are parameters and skills that improve and change throughout
the game. Skill improvement is one of the main game play features.

6.1 Main Parameters

In the beginning of the game the main parameters Strength, Dexterity,
Intelligence, Constitution, Willpower, Charisma. have basic statistics available
to the Hero. Throughout the game the Hero develops his Battle, Mage and Merchant Skill
Levels. He gains points which he may distribute to the main parameters. The main
parameters affect the dependent ones.
6.2
Dependent Parameters
Parameters which depend on the interaction of other ones are called dependent. Here
belong Health, Manna, Attack, Defence, Damage, Armour, Magic Power, Luxury, Max.
Weight Allowance, Student Points, Student Points Restore Rate etc.
Health Hero's life indicator
Manna magic energy store
Attack more accurate strikes
Defence ability to parry a blow
Damage amount of damage the Hero inflicts by a successful attack (depends on the
type of weapon)
Armour Hero's ability to absorb damage (depends on the armour the character's
wearing).
Magic Power factor defining the amount of damage the Hero's spells inflict (depends
on the spell basic parameters).
Luxury indicator of how successful the Hero is as a trader. The attitude/discounts at the
stores as well as the bandits'/robbers' interest in the Hero depends on his prosperity.
Max. Weight Allowance the whole equipment, both the Hero has on and in his
"rucksack", has some weight. (This doesn't concern the goods in the Magic Sack of
Monroke) This parameter shows how much the Hero can carry without being
encumbered.
6.3
Skills
Skill improvement takes place when the Hero studies at school. The Hero's skills cannot
be improved to the level higher than the teacher's one. That is why having gained a
certain skill level the Hero has to look for a more advanced school. Studies demand a
certain sum of money and a number of student points. (Their number decreases while the
Hero takes lessons. But with the time the points restore.) The number of student points
and their restore rate depend on Intelligence and Literacy. There are 22 skills in three
groups Common, Spiritual, Battle available to the Hero. The number of each skill
level ranges from 5 to 20.

7.

Weapons/Armour

7.1
Metals used in the game
Metals in SoG are used as resources to creat weapons/armour. Each type of metal has
definite characteristics which will affect the items made of it. The main metal parameters
are Weight, Armour, Damage, Durability, Price.
7.2
Weapons
The Hero may use the following types of weapons: One-/Two-Handed Sword, a TwoHanded Axe, One-/Two-Handed Mace (Club), a Bow, a Crossbow. Each item has
individual value depending on the type of the weapon and the metal it is made of.
Different types of weapons has, as well, different rate parameters assigned to them. That
is a One-Handed Sword is considered to be "the quickest" weapon, and a Two-Handed
Axe "the slowest". Moreover, each type of weapons demands definite Hero
characteristics (Strength, Constitution etc.)
7.3
Armour
Armour is a kind of protective clothing the Hero puts on to absorb or reduce damage.
There are following types of armour in SoG: Helmets, Ring Mail/Armour, Armlets,
Gloves, Boots/Grieves, Shields. Armlets and Gloves are pair armour (may be left or
right) and should be worn/bought according to their assignment. Metal armour is made
of various resources.
7.4
Special Items
Various Rings and Amulets belong to the group of Special Items. They acquire value due
to their ability to improve Hero's Characteristics.
Weapons, Armour, Special Items are kept either in the character's "rucksack" or the Hero
is wearing them.
The type of Weapons and Armour is reflected on the Hero in the game field.

8.

Characters in Spells of Gold

Throughout the game the Hero meets with various NPC.

8.1
External Locations NPC
All the NPCs of the external locations may break down as follows:
Bandits
Undeads
Beasts
Warriors
Monks
Merchants

Each NPC has its own characteristics Level, Life, Battle (Attack, Defence, Damage,
Armour), Character's Movement Rate, Damage Prevention.
These parameters become available to the Hero if he's gained enough skill points in
Anatomy (Monsters Study).
8.2
Characters Met in Buildings
To present characters which can be met in the buildings, face-images are used in the
dialogue windows.

9.

Buildings in Spells of Gold

There are following types of buildings in the game:

- Shops/Stores (provide trade, talk, quests)
- Inns (provide rest , talk, quests)
- Armourers (provide weapon/armour trade, talk, repair, quests)
- Alchemists (provide potions/amulets trade, talk, identification of charms, quests)
- Schools (provide learning skills/spells, talk, quests)
- five Gods' Temples (provide donations, prayers, learning prayers, talk, quests)
- Mayoralties (provide buying patents, paying tolls, talk, quests)
- Guilds (provide joining them, paying entrance fees, services, quests)
These buildings are visualised by five types of architecture used in the game.

10.

Magic

The Magic System in SoG includes three large spell groups.

1. Simple Magic is a number of basic spells available to the Hero from the
very start. This type of magic does not demand complex skills and therefore
is not powerful enough.
2. Elemental Magic comprises more powerful spells divided into groups
according to their elemental nature (air, water, fire, earth, metal).
3. The most powerful spells are those of Supreme Magic. This type of magic
becomes available only at the advanced level and consists of the three
following groups: Magic of Order, Magic of Balance and Magic of Chaos.

11.

Gods in Spells of Gold

According to the theological system of the game there are 5 gods (Oterion, Balaor,
Joella, Tennara, Enaryth).
It's up to the Hero to choose which one to worship. It should be kept in mind that the
gods do not get on well with one another. This means that one god's favourable attitude
to the Hero will lead to disgrace of the others. To gain the god's favour the Hero should
regularly donate money to him and accomplish the quests which the Temple of this god
provides. As an exchange the god will grant extra points to the Hero's characteristics.
Besides, each god offers his/her own set of prayers to use when necessary. The Hero may
learn the prayers at temples as well.

12.

Economic/political system

There are 28 main worlds in the game with 2-6 cities each. The Hero may visit every city
either looking for a more profitable trade deal or just to satisfy his interest. To enter a
town with a centralized power (there are Mayoralties in such towns) the Hero will have to
pay the entrance toll. The amount of the payment may vary from town to town. However,
at the Mayoralty the Hero may buy a patent for a free of charge entrance to the city.
12.1 Trade
Only stores and trade posts provide buying/selling options. There are 40 kinds of goods
in the game for the Hero to buy and/or sell. Each city has its own choice of goods. Be
aware the choice may change with the season. Moreover, each article has its own
parameters: price and the factor telling how fast it will spoil. It is true that with the time
some goods may loose in quality, in other words, spoil. One cannot get much money for
the spoilt goods, you know. That's why buying goods with a high deterioration factor
implies shorter travels.
The following skills are of great importance for successful trading: Trade (implies
discounts and the size of the Magic Sack), Geography (implies the speed of the Hero's
movement within the bounds of one world), Portal (implies the Hero's speed of
transference through the Portals).

13.

Battle System of the Game

13.1 Physical Damage Rate

The battle starts when the rivals are close enough for a strike (further, the battle distance).
For the melee attack the battle distance is 1. And for the range weapons it should be
more. The battle is seized either if one of the rivals dies or is out of the battle distance. A
fighter dies when his health parameter is below 0.
Physical damage may be: cut (inflicted by swords, axes), stab (inflicted by arrows), blunt
(inflicted by maces, clubs). Each NPC is susceptible to a certain type of damage.
13.2 Non-Physical Damage
The following types of damage belong here:
Magic- various spells
Blinding the enemy does not see the target but keeps on attacking if the Hero is within
the battle distance
Slowing down the rival slows down
Palsy the rival does not move
Poisoning the rival loses health points
Curse The rival's battle skills are decreasing
Each NPC is susceptible to a certain type of non-physical damage

14.

Hero's Karma

Karma indicates the Hero's attitude to the world (and vice versa). Global karma consists
of Light Karma kind deeds, and Dark Karma unkind deeds. Prevalence of this or that
Karma defines the trend of the Hero's development.
Besides, NPC's attitude towards the Hero is also taken into consideration. It is not always
favourable. If the Hero accomplishes this or that NPC's quest his attitude may be
improved. NPC with a favourable attitude may offer some discounts for the services or
share some information with the Hero etc.

15.

Quests

15.1 Non-Story Quests

To receive a non-story quest the Hero should have enough points to undertake it. In this
case the following characteristics prove to be of major importance: NPC's Attitude
towards the Hero, Battle/Mage/Merchant Level of the Hero, Karma. On accomplishing
the quest successfully the Hero will be granted a sum of money, extra experience points
or Karma points and, of course, gain a favourable attitude of the NPC which has provided
the quest. In case the things has gone wrong and as a result the quest has not been
accomplished the Hero will lose a few of Karma and NPC's Attitude points. As the skill
levels and NPC's attitude grow the Hero may receive more complex quests and, as a
consequence, a more profitable award.
15.2 Story Quests
The Hero receives story quests as he travels through the game. There are three ways to
complete the game. They are the White Way, the Black Way and the Grey Way. It's up to
the Hero to choose his own. It is possible to quit one way for another. Story Quests are
necessary to complete the game.