.INTRO .CENTER ********************** .CENTER InvisiClues(tm) .CENTER The Hint Booklet for .CENTER ZORK(R) II .CENTER ********************** [Copyright by Infocom, Inc. Provided for non-commercial use only, with the sole intent of making information available that would otherwise be lost. To whoever presently holds the copyright to the information contained in this file: if you think the existence of this file violates your copyright, please complain and the file will be removed. Transcribed by Graeme Cree.] Sample Question^ ---------------^ How many grues does it take to screw in a light bulb?^ A. Don't go on unless you've asked WHAT IS A GRUE?^ B. You could break a bulb, then hide and watch what happens.^ C. None. Grues are terrified of light.^ .ENDINTRO .MENU Zork II Invisiclues .LINK The Carousel Area .LINK The Oddly Angled Room .LINK The Bank .LINK Volcano Area .LINK The "Alice" Area .LINK The Wizard's Workshop Area .LINK General Questions .LINK More General Questions .LINK How Points are Earned .LINK For Your Amusement .MENU The Carousel Area .LINK What is the solution to the riddle? .LINK Is it possible to leave the carousel heading west? .LINK I'm getting tired of the carousel; can it be stopped? .LINK What do I do with the clay brick? .LINK How do I open the door in the Tiny Room? .LINK Is there a way to get past the ice in the Ice Room? .LINK Where do I find an Ice Pick? .LINK What is going on in the Topiary? .LINK How do I catch the unicorn and get the golden key? .LINK How do I enter the gazebo? .LINK How do I kill the dragon? .LINK Can I kiss the Princess? .LINK How do I open the door in the Guarded Room? .LINK What do I do about the lizard doorkeeper? .LINK How do I move the menhir? .LINK What do I do with the Grue Repellent? .HINT What is the solution to the riddle? .CLUE The word "tall" is somewhat misleading from the usual point of view. .CLUE Something deep, from the bottom, appears tall. .CLUE It is a well. Type: ANSWER "A WELL". The key words are "round", "tall", and "draw". .HINT Is it possible to leave the carousel heading west? .CLUE Not until the carousel has been stopped. .HINT I'm getting tired of the carousel; can it be stopped? .CLUE Yes. The ZORK implementors do have some compassion. .CLUE When you reach the point where a solution is possible, it should be fairly obvious. .CLUE It involves the buttons in the Machine Room. .HINT What do I do with the clay brick? .CLUE Be careful with it. .CLUE Burning it will make its use apparent. .CLUE It's plastic explosive. .CLUE Using a fuse may give you time to leave the area before it explodes. .CLUE Try inserting the black string. .HINT How do I open the door in the Tiny Room? .CLUE Have you looked through the window? .CLUE Are the spheres useful for anything? .CLUE Have you looked into the red sphere? .CLUE The door is locked from the inside. The key is still in the lock. .CLUE You can push the key out of the hole with the letter opener. .CLUE Try the old trick of slipping something under the door to catch the key. .CLUE Try using the place mat. .HINT Is there a way to get past the ice in the Ice Room? .CLUE Yes. .CLUE Have you tried melting the glacier with anything? .CLUE A large, portable source of heat might be useful. .CLUE There is one nearby. .CLUE You can lure the dragon into the Ice Room, thus solving two puzzles. .CLUE Have you noticed that if you attack or in some way annoy the dragon, then leave the room, he follows you? .HINT Where do I find an Ice Pick? .CLUE There is none. .HINT What is going on in the Topiary? .CLUE You're not going to let a few hedges scare you, are you? .HINT How do I catch the unicorn and get the golden key? .CLUE "The unicorn is a mythical beast." .CLUE Only one of royal blood may approach a unicorn. .CLUE Rescue the Princess from the dragon and watch what she does. .CLUE Follow her. .HINT How do I enter the gazebo? .CLUE You will not enter the dragon's lair while he lives. .HINT How do I kill the dragon? .CLUE You are too puny to harm him directly. .CLUE Even bombs have no effect! .CLUE Did you notice when you attack the dragon and leave, he follows you? .CLUE You can use this technique to lure him to the Ice Room. .HINT Can I kiss the Princess? .CLUE Only when she's sleeping. Don't try anything nasty. .HINT How do I open the door in the Guarded Room? .CLUE You will need a key to unlock it. .CLUE You have probably seen the key. .CLUE It is hanging from a red ribbon around the neck of the unicorn. .CLUE You will also need to do something about the lizard doorkeeper. .HINT What do I do about the lizard doorkeeper? .CLUE It cannot be killed. .CLUE It can be satisfied by a particular treasure. When you find it, it should be obvious. .CLUE There is a box of rare candied insects at the bottom of a pool of water. .HINT How do I move the menhir? .CLUE Blasting will have no effect on it. .CLUE You will not be able to get past the large menhir until you have mastered the Wizard's power, which first requires solving most of the other puzzles in the game. .CLUE One way to move it is to use the wand to "float" it. .CLUE Another way is to ask the demon to move it for you. .HINT What do I do with the Grue Repellent? .CLUE Read the label. .MENU The Oddly Angled Room .LINK Does the club have any use? .LINK How do I reignite the club? .LINK What do the glowing diamonds signify? .LINK How do I break the glassy substance? .LINK What is the signifigance of the convention of wizards? .LINK Why does my sword glow when I am at the bottom of the stairs? .LINK What in the world do I do in the Oddly Angled Room? .HINT Does the club have any use? .CLUE Examine it. .CLUE It is a baseball bat. .CLUE It is a clue to the nature of this maze. .HINT How do I reignite the club? .CLUE If you examine it, you'll notice that it was never ignited. .HINT What do the glowing diamonds signify? .CLUE Progress. The brighter they glow, the closer you are to solving the puzzle. .HINT How do I break the glassy substance? .CLUE It cannot be done with the club. .CLUE You might try the bomb, but it won't get you anywhere. .CLUE The solution to the problem of the Oddly Angled Room has nothing to do with breaking walls. .HINT What is the signifigance of the convention of wizards? .CLUE You've been fantasizing again. .HINT Why does my sword glow when I am at the bottom of the stairs? .CLUE You are one room away from a dangerous creature. .HINT What in the world do I do in the Oddly Angled Room? .CLUE If you solve this without any help at all, my cap is off to you! .CLUE The maze was meant to confound maze mappers. .CLUE There are nine rooms. Almost all of the room connections are probabilistic - sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. (If you repeat any direction often enough, you'll travel through all the rooms.) .CLUE Have you noticed all of the baseball clues: the Babe Flathead bat, "You'll never get past first base at this rate..."? .CLUE The glowing diamonds are baseball bases - the brighter they glow, the further you've progressed. .CLUE Left-handed pitchers are sometimes called "southpaws." .CLUE The solution is to walk in the directions of a standard baseball diamond, starting from home plate (where the bat is): southeast, northeast, northwest, southwest. (It is admittedly a very difficult puzzle - apologies to non-American Zorkers). .MENU The Bank .LINK What is the curtain of light for? .LINK How do I turn off the alarm system? .LINK How do I get out of the Small Room? .LINK How does carrying the portrait affect where I will end up? .LINK How many places can I get to from the Depository? .LINK How do I get into the vault? .LINK How do I get out of the Vault? .HINT What is the curtain of light for? .CLUE Have you read the bank brochure? .CLUE Have you tried touching it? .CLUE Have you tried throwing anything at it? .CLUE Have you tried walking through it? .HINT How do I turn off the alarm system? .CLUE Are there any switches or electrical devices in the area? .CLUE Does the Wizard have any appropriate spells? .CLUE Unfortunately, the alarm system remains foolproof. You must find another way to remove treasures. .HINT How do I get out of the Small Room? .CLUE You came in through a door, didn't you? .CLUE Like most doors, the curtain door has two sides. .CLUE The other side of the door may not be apparent. .CLUE Try walking through the south wall. .CLUE Once the curtain door has closed, the only way out is to give the Gnome something valuable. If you have nothing of value, you will be trapped forever. .HINT How does carrying the portrait affect where I will end up? .CLUE Any association between items you are carrying and the room to which the curtain door leads is purely coincidental. .HINT How many places can I get to from the Depository? .CLUE Seven, inlcuding four through the curtain. .HINT How do I get into the vault? .CLUE The curtain door leads to four locations. .CLUE It is completely deterministic (i.e., non-random). .CLUE The location to which it leads is determined by the direction from which you entered the Depository. .CLUE If you enter from the east, you will be transported to the East Viewing Room; if you enter from the west, to the West Viewing Room. If you enter from the south (e.g., the Chairman's Office) you will be transported to the Small Room. .CLUE You can leave the Small Room by walking through the south wall (thus entering the Depository from the North). .CLUE If you enter the Depository from the north, you will be transported to the Vault. .HINT How do I get out of the Vault? .CLUE How did you get out of the Small Room? .CLUE Try the north wall. .MENU Volcano Area .LINK What are the basket and canvas for? .LINK Once I've determined what the basket and canvas are, how do I use them? .LINK How do I leave the top of the volcano without being killed? .LINK Which of the three paths down to the valley is best? .LINK What do I do at the mines and smelter? .LINK How do I extend the lava tube? .LINK What do I do about the gnome? .LINK How can I translate the books? .LINK How can I open or remove the rusty old box? .LINK Who is M. Agrippa? .HINT What are the basket and canvas for? .CLUE The canvas is attached to the basket, as is the receptacle. .CLUE You can get into the basket. .CLUE This is a deflated balloon. .HINT Once I've determined what the basket and canvas are, how do I use them? .CLUE Once you inflate the balloon, you will find a card with instructions for use. These hints deal with inflation. .CLUE Not all balloons use hydrogen or helium. .CLUE Remember that hot air is less dense and therefore rises? .CLUE Burn something (such as the newspaper) in the receptacle. .HINT How do I leave the top of the volcano without being killed? .CLUE You don't but isn't it a glorious death? .HINT Which of the three paths down to the valley is best? .CLUE Ask the scarecrow. .CLUE Beware of the lions and tigers and bears. .CLUE I suppose you'll soon be skipping and singing, "We're off to see the Wizard". .CLUE If you haven't guessed by now, this is a nonsense question. .HINT What do I do at the mines and smelter? .CLUE Have you tried processing ore? .CLUE Did you dig for the lode of mithril? .CLUE I find it amazing that you got this far, since there are no mines or smelters in Zork II. Keep in mind the warning in the introduction: Do not use the presence or absence of a question on a certain topic as an indication of what is important, and don't assume that long answers indicate important questions. .HINT How do I extend the lava tube? .CLUE This is not possible. .HINT What do I do about the gnome? .CLUE The volcano gnome appears only if you are stranded on a ledge. He will help you, but only for a fee. .HINT How can I translate the books? .CLUE A Zorkish-to-English dictionary would be useful, wouldn't it? .CLUE So, of course, there isn't one. .CLUE You cannot translate them. .HINT How can I open or remove the rusty old box? .CLUE It has an oblong hole chipped into it. .CLUE Nothing short of blasting will open it. Someone seems to have done you a favor by creating a hole in which to place the bomb. .HINT Who is M. Agrippa? .CLUE Didn't he design the Pantheon in Rome? .MENU The "Alice" Area .LINK Can I get up the well, and if so, how? .LINK What does the engraving say? .LINK How do I catch the magic mouse? .LINK Can the writing on the cakes be read? .LINK Can the Mad Hatter be cured? .LINK How do I get back down from here? .LINK What do the cakes do? .LINK What can I do with the flask of poison? .LINK How can I get the object under the water? .LINK How do I cross the chasm? .LINK How do I control the robot? .LINK What is EBCDIC? .LINK What is a footpad? .LINK How can I take the red sphere? .LINK What do the buttons do? .HINT Can I get up the well, and if so, how? .CLUE Yes. .CLUE What is a well for? .CLUE Have you tried putting water in the bucket? .CLUE Get in the bucket, then pour water in it. .HINT What does the engraving say? .CLUE It is the logo for a Frobozzco subsidiary, or "Frobozz Magic Well Company" as can be clearly read at the top of the well. .HINT How do I catch the magic mouse? .CLUE Have you tried using the green cheese? .CLUE There is no mouse. Sorry. .HINT Can the writing on the cakes be read? .CLUE On all but one, it is too small to see with the naked eye. .CLUE Not even the robot can read it. .CLUE A magnifying glass would be useful. .CLUE Try reading it through the flask in the Pool Room. .HINT Can the Mad Hatter be cured? .CLUE There is no cure for advanced mercury poisoning? .CLUE What Mad Hatter? .HINT How do I get back down from here? .CLUE The reverse of the way you got up. .CLUE If the bucket has gone back down, you're stuck. The water evaporates in 100 moves. .HINT What do the cakes do? .CLUE Experiment with them. Try eating them. You can't be afraid to try anything in Zork II (but you may want to SAVE your state first). .CLUE Reading them will tell you something. .HINT What can I do with the flask of poison? .CLUE Kill yourself or others. .CLUE Examine it. .CLUE Examine it. Look through it. Use it as a magnifier to read the writing on the cakes. .HINT How can I get the object under the water? .CLUE You cannot successfully enter the water. .CLUE There is no valve to drain the pool or plug the leak. .CLUE There is a way to make the pool evaporate. .CLUE Try throwing the red ("evaporate") cake into the pool. .HINT How do I cross the chasm? .CLUE There is no way to cross while in your small state. .CLUE Once you return to normal size, the chasm will be a small crack again. .HINT How do I control the robot? .CLUE Read the instructions. .HINT What is EBCDIC? .CLUE It stands for Extended Binary-Coded-Decimal Interchange Code, which IBM equipment often uses instead of ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Exchange). .HINT What is a footpad? .CLUE It is not a doormat. .CLUE Check the dictionary. .CLUE It means "thief" (i.e. you). .HINT How can I take the red sphere? .CLUE Have you noticed that when the cage falls, you don't die immediately? .CLUE You have time to tell the robot to lift the cage (if he is in the room). .HINT What do the buttons do? .CLUE If you push them, you are electrocuted. .CLUE You can experiment with them by ordering the robot to push them. .CLUE The buttons control the electromagnetic field which spins the Carousel Room. .CLUE The square button increases the spin to high speed. The round button decreases the spin to low speed. The triangular button flips the field from the Carousel Room to the Low Room, releasing the iron box and causing the carousel to stop spinning. (Note: increasing the speed and flipping the field up to the Low Room is dangerous. .MENU The Wizard's Workshop Area .LINK Can I open the Wizard's trophy case? .LINK How do I take the Wizard's wands from the wand rack? .LINK What do I do with the yellow sphere? .LINK How can the owl be released? .LINK What do I do with the black sphere? .LINK Can the flying owl be caught? .LINK How do I detach the stands from the bench? .LINK What are the stands for? .LINK Does the pentagram have any signifigance? .LINK What do I do with the palm tree? .LINK How do I kill the serpent? .LINK How do I enter the aquarium? .LINK How do I satisfy the demon? .LINK What do I do once I've satisfied the demon? .HINT Can I open the Wizard's trophy case? .CLUE Not directly. .CLUE Treasures you were carrying when you died or which the Wizard has "filched" from you are kept in his trophy case. If you acquire the Wizard's wand, you can "filch" them back. .HINT How do I take the Wizard's wands from the wand rack? .CLUE You don't. They can't be taken. .HINT What do I do with the yellow sphere? .CLUE You've been fantasizing again. .CLUE There is no yellow sphere. .HINT How can the owl be released? .CLUE The owl and the other memoriabilia in the Trophy Room are protected by a powerful spell which cannot be broken. .CLUE No kidding! .HINT What do I do with the black sphere? .CLUE Have you tried looking into it? .CLUE The creature with the horrible face has freed you to return to your quest after dying. Can you return the favor? .CLUE It has been alleged that demons are conjured up using pentagrams. .CLUE Try placing the black sphere in the pentagram. .HINT Can the flying owl be caught? .CLUE Don't you have your owl net handy? .CLUE The FANTASIZE spell does not include a flying owl. Where did you see it? .CLUE If every question in this book were pertinent to the game, the questions themselves would give far too much away. Questions such as this should convince you to ignore questions that are not of immediate use. .HINT How do I detach the stands from the bench? .CLUE You don't. .HINT What are the stands for? .CLUE Their colors should be revealing. .CLUE Rubies are red, sapphires are blue, diamonds are clear. .CLUE Try putting the crystal spheres in the appropriate stands. .HINT Does the pentagram have any signifigance? .CLUE It has been alleged that pentagrams are used by wizards to conjure up demons. .HINT What do I do with the palm tree? .CLUE Admire its beauty. .HINT How do I kill the serpent? .CLUE A fish out of water... .CLUE Have you tried breaking the aquarium glass? .CLUE As serpents are rather dangerous, you should stand far back and throw something at the glass. .HINT How do I enter the aquarium? .CLUE You might try typing: ENTER THE AQUARIUM .CLUE There is no way to enter the aquarium and live. .HINT How do I satisfy the demon? .CLUE Have you tried following his instructions? .CLUE If you have been wondering what to do with all the treasures, you now know. .CLUE You must give him the fancy violin, moby ruby, zorkmid coin, Flathead stamp, zorkmid bills, portrait, golden statuette, pearl necklace, gaudy crown, and golden key (minus any you had in your possession when you died or any that were "Filched" from you). .HINT What do I do once I've satisfied the demon? .CLUE You should as the demon to give you something. .CLUE It's something you need to finish the game; you've seen it but haven't been able to get it. .CLUE It's the wizard's wand. Type: DEMON, GIVE ME THE WAND, or DEMON, KILL THE WIZARD. .MENU General Questions .LINK What is the object of this game? .LINK What should I do with the treasures I've found? .LINK What do I do about the Wizard? .LINK How many spells are there in this game? .LINK What does the FANTASIZE spell do? .LINK How do I cast a spell? .LINK Is there anything special about the spells the Wizard mumbles? .LINK Where should I play the violin? .LINK How can I get the pearls back from the housekeeper? .LINK How do I get past Cerberus? .LINK Where does saying HELLO AVIATOR cause something to happen? .LINK What do I do for light when my lamp runs out? .LINK Can the demon help me? .LINK Where do I find the white sphere? .LINK Are the spheres useful for anything? .LINK How many spheres are there? .LINK What do I do with the perfect rose? .LINK How do I go down the staircase landing without being killed? .MENU More General Questions .LINK What do I do with the heads on poles? .LINK What is the signifigance of "Feel Free"? .LINK I have all the points but somehow don't feel finished. What do I do? .LINK I've finished the game but don't have all 400 points. What's going on? .LINK I haven't finished the game and I don't have all 400 points. .HINT What is the object of this game? .CLUE Part of the object of this game is to discover the object of this game. .CLUE If you just keep solving puzzles, eventually you will find that you have finished the game. .HINT What should I do with the treasures I've found? .CLUE This is one of the puzzles you must solve. It really doesn't matter where you keep them. You will find out what to do with them later in the game. .HINT What do I do about the Wizard? .CLUE You need to discover and master the source of the Wizard's powers in order to complete the game. Until you do, he will create a lot of mischief for you. .HINT How many spells are there in this game? .CLUE There are 12 that the Wizard commonly casts on you. .CLUE There are seven others that have special purposes. .CLUE The 12 are FALL, FLOAT, FREEZE, FENCE, FIERCE, FERMENT, FEAR, FEEBLE, FUMBLE, FILCH, FANTASIZE, AND FIREPROOF. The seven are FRY, FUDGE, FLOURESCE, FREE, FROBIZZ, FROBOZLE, and FROBNOID. .HINT What does the FANTASIZE spell do? .CLUE Sometimes it causes you to see a bizarre object that isn't there in the room. .HINT How do I cast a spell? .CLUE You'll need a wand. .CLUE Read the white book. .CLUE Point (or wave) the wand at the object to be ensorcelled. Then incant the spell (e.g. SAY "FLOAT") .HINT Is there anything special about the spells the Wizard mumbles? .CLUE No. They are the same ones he says aloud. .HINT Where should I play the violin? .CLUE Carnegie Hall? .CLUE Where is HHELLO SAILOR useful? .HINT How can I get the pearls back from the housekeeper? .CLUE What housekeeper? .CLUE Are you sure that you are playing Zork II? .HINT How do I get past Cerberus? .CLUE The FIERCE spell is not recommended. .CLUE The FLOAT and FEEBLE spells are not strong enough. .CLUE Even the demon can't overcome him (them?). .CLUE Try taming him by putting on his collar. .CLUE The collar is found behind the menhir. .HINT Where does saying HELLO AVIATOR cause something to happen? .CLUE The same place HELLO SAILOR and HELLO FOOTPAD cause something to happen. .CLUE Nowhere. .HINT What do I do for light when my lamp runs out? .CLUE If you have oer 200 points and are in the dark with a burned-out lamp, wait for the Wizard to arrive. He will cast the FLOURESCE spell and you won't need a light source (however, there are unfortunate side effects). .HINT Can the demon help me? .CLUE He is mightier than the Wizard. .CLUE He will help you if you help him. .CLUE Once you have satisfied him, he will perform a deed for you. .CLUE Ask him to give you the wand or to move the menhir. .HINT Where do I find the white sphere? .CLUE Try looking into the blue sphere? .CLUE It is actually clear, not white. .CLUE For any man with half an eye^ What stands before him he may spy^ But optics sharp it needs and keen^ To see what is not to be seen^ -"Sleuth" .CLUE Clear glass is invisible under water. .CLUE It is in the aquarium. .HINT Are the spheres useful for anything? .CLUE What if they were called crystal balls? .CLUE Have you tried examining them? .CLUE Try looking through them. .CLUE When you look into one, you see the view from the next one in the chain (somewhat like the palantirs in The Lord of the Rings). .HINT How many spheres are there? .CLUE Have you ever died in ZORK II? .CLUE There are four. .CLUE You will create the fourth with the first three. .HINT What do I do with the perfect rose? .CLUE Admire it's beauty. .CLUE Must something so beautiful have any other use? .HINT How do I go down the staircase landing without being killed? .CLUE In later releases (revision) of the game, the landing is guarded by "magical" runes. .CLUE "Magical wardens," "green lines of enormous power," "close in on you as if searching for something. .CLUE You may proceed down the stairs and to the finish if you are carrying the Wizard's wand. .HINT What do I do with the heads on poles? .CLUE We suggest that you not disturb the remains. .CLUE Let the dead rest in peace. .HINT What is the signifigance of "Feel Free"? .CLUE Both words begin with an "F". .CLUE This is an inside joke. It is what one Implementor says to another Implementor offering suggestions for changes in a game. It has no signifigance. .HINT I have all the points but somehow don't feel finished. What do I do? .CLUE Type: SCORE .CLUE The grue repellent label is a very subtle hint. .CLUE The Crypt is a "place of death." .CLUE It is too light to see the door to ZORK III. .CLUE When the crypt is dark, the door is visible. (Of course, the crypt will never be dark if you are flourescing.) In release 18 and later, you will need to be carrying the wand also. .HINT I've finished the game but don't have all 400 points. What's going on? .CLUE Don't let it bother you. You have really completed the game. .CLUE Treasures in the Wizard's trophy case are not required to satisfy the demon. Each treasure not give to the demon will leave you with fewer points. .HINT I haven't finished the game and I don't have all 400 points. .CLUE So what else is new? .TEXT How Points are Earned Treasures: Their Values and Locations^ (Use only as a last resort) .FIX TREASURE VALUE WHERE FOUND pearl necklace 15 in the Pearl Room gold key 15 hanging on the unicorn dragon statuette 20 in the chest red sphere 20 in the Dingy Closet fancy violin 20 in the iron box portrait 20 in the Bank Chairman's office moby ruby 15 in the Lava Room zorkmid bills 25 in the Bank Vault blue sphere 20 in the Dreary Room package of candy 15 under the pool of tears black sphere 30 you create it gaudy crown 20 in the rusty box clear sphere 20 in the aquarium Flathead Stamp 10 in the purple book gigantic dog collar 15 in the Kennel gold zorkmid coin 20 on the narrow volcano ledge Wizard's wand 30 the Wizard has it .UNFIX OTHER POINTS^ Other points are gained by: solving the riddle (5), getting to the top of the well (10), killing the dragon (5), entering the Wizard's Workshop (10), solving the Oddly Angled Room maze (5), entering Cerberus' room (10), entering the Crypt anteroom (3), entering the Crypt (2), and giving treasures to the demon (2 each, maximum 20).^ .ENDTEXT .TEXT For Your Amusement Have you tried: ...setting off the bomb in the Dusty Room and then waiting in the balloon tied to the ledge?^ ...petting or killing Cerberus after putting on his collar?^ ...removing Cerberus' collar?^ ...attacking the Princess?^ ...taking the serpent?^ ...diagnosing yourself while under certain spells?^ ...waiting around the Topiary?^ .ENDTEXT