THE SHADOW SUN


#### Description ####

While many people have described this game as Skyrim like, it 
is far closer to an old point and click adventure.

As such maps and boss battle have defined thresholds and there 
is no walking between map areas.
 

#### CHARACTER BUILDING ####

The max level you can obtain is level 10 (maybe 11 if you open 
every lock and disarm traps) so there is not much time to 
flesh out a multi-class character so plan accordingly.

One of the things that makes character creation more confusing 
in T.S.S. is the fact you have to choose how SMART or STRONG a 
character is BEFORE you get to read how SMART you need to be 
to cast a spell.

To make things easier I've included a list of all SKILLS 
(Attacks, Spells, etc) and the minimum required STATS to 
enable full use of them by level 7


#### STATS How Strong or Smart you are etc. ####

Here and the 6 game stats and what they most affect.
 
STRength – Fighting skills

DEXterity – Thief skills

ENDurance – Your Ability to take damage

PERception – Ranged weapons and Trap detection

INTelligence – Spell casting

CHArisma – Negotiating 

Stats affect how well you can perform a skill and if a stat is 
to low some skills will not be available.

When you start a new character you have 30 points evenly 
dispersed over 6 stats. 
So you start with STR 5 DEX 5 PER 5 END 5 INT 5 CHR 5

You also get 5 free points to assign as you see fit, it's also 
possible to siphon points from a stat like Intelligence to 
make a strong but dumb warrior.

But what if you want to create a Warrior who casts spells and 
open locks?

It's possible due to the fact you get an additional STAT point 
for every level you gain, so with an additional 9 points 
possible you can easily raise at least four stats to 8 and 
enable a bucket load of skills. 

So you are better off concentrating on 4 stats to raise VS 
spreading the points evenly over all six stats. 

Of all stats to ignore Charisma looks to be pretty low use in 
the game..... Magic items can also be counted on to raise 
stats as well.

My final level 10 stats were
STR 8 DEX 8 END 7 PER 8 INT 8 CHR 5

While wearing all my magic items 
STR 11 DEX 9 EDN 9 PER 8 INT 9 CHR 5


#### Skills are your special abilities like casting spells ###

For every level gained you get to unlock three additional new 
or more advanced skills, it is not a bad idea to save the 
unlock points from levels 5 and 6 to purchase tier three 
skills that become available at level 7    

Most beginning skills will require a minimum of 4 points in a 
single stat like strength, but a higher level skill may 
require 8 points in two different stats in order to use it. 
Skills are broken down into three tiers, with tier two 
becoming available level 4 and tier three becoming available 
at level 7

When picking skills for your character try to choose skills 
that complement each other by having similar stat 
requirements, like choosing OPEN LOCKS and STEAL as both 
required a dexterity of 8

But a bad choice would be to choose DISARM TRAPS as it 
requires 8 points in INTelligence and NOT DEXterity... So skip 
that skill if your character has no other use for high 
INTelligence
(A spell casting thief would need INTelligence)
I would level your Heal spell at the first chance you get 
(level 4) as the better versions of the spell cures POISON!! 
Let me tell you poison killed me more than anything else in 
the game.

Focus on getting 5 Offensive skills plus Heal leveled up early 
on, the reason being is that a total of 6 skills fit on the 
quick attack bar.

It's no fun having to change attack bars during combat.

Area effect spells and attacks are easier to use than ones, 
which require targeting, so earthquake and whirlwind are good 
choices.


Most of my skill points ended up in the first four skill trees 
with the fifth largely ignored, see the below example

On the first Skill bar I had the following skills
 
WEAPONS PROFICIENCIES (Sword, Bow, Shield)
ATTACK (Cripple, Whirlwind, Mighty Blow, Precise strike)
MAGIC (Earthquake, Frostbite) 

On the second Skill bar I had the following skills
 
THIEF (Unlock, Steal)
MAGIC (Heal)

Just because you found a magic dagger does not mean you need 
to waste points unlocking all the weapon proficiency in the 
game.

Because rewards come quick and you're probably minutes away 
from finding a magic long sword that's better than the dagger 
anyway.

If I had to choose two weapons types to develop it would be 
bows and shot or long swords... AVOID Crossbows as they fire 
very slow lowering the listed damage

Don't spend points on both Intimidate and persuade as they 
seem to net the same result.....  If I had to choose one to 
pick intimidate has easier to match stats.
 

### The Broken Thief Skill Tree ###

Money is sparse early on so Lock Picking and Pickpocketing are 
nice skills due to the fact no one notices you steal.

Ok at the auction house (quest) they notice... if you steal... 
even if hidden....disguised as a tree... after drinking an 
invisibility potion.... the lady is a witch I tell you.

Sadly the rest of the thief skills are broken or useless.

Stealth attacks almost never grant the 3x multiplier, and 
since Boss battles start with long conversations you never get 
to use stealth attacks when it counts.

Setting traps is useless due to how easy the game is and de-
activating traps is next to useless as all but one trap can 
easily be walked around.

Here's the list which has the required MINIMUM stats you will 
need by level 7 in order to open up the most advanced version 
of each skill.

STAT requirements "Weapon Skills" at level 7

Short Blades------DEX 8
Long Blades-------STR 8 and DEX 8
Blunt Weapons-----STR 8
Axe---------------STR 8
Bow---------------PER 8
Shield------------STR 8

STAT requirements "Attack Skills" at level 7

Cripple-----------None
Whirlwind---------DEX 8
Knockback---------STR 8
Mighty Blow-------STR 8
Precise Strike----DEX 8
Rage--------------END 8

STAT requirements "Spell Casting" at level 7

All Spells--------INT-8

STAT requirements "Thief Skills" at level 7

Stealth-----------DEX 8
Evasion-----------DEX 8
Open Locks--------DEX 8
Disarm Traps------INT 8
Steal-------------DEX 8
Set Traps---------DEX 8

STAT requirements "General Skills" at level 7

Intimidate--------STR 8 and CHR 8
Persuade----------INT 8 and CHR 8
Barter------------PER 8 and CHR 8
Luck--------------None
Toughness---------END 8
Gifted------------INT 8


#### STAYING ALIVE and Companions ####

"Don't get hit" as your character is the only one who stays 
DEAD 

If a companion "DIES" they will wake up once combat is over.

So use NPC's as Linemen and while using ranged attacks if a 
battle is proving difficult.

If instead you want to fight face to face with the bad guys, 
make sure someone like "Abbaddas" is healing you while you 
fight.

Abbaddas (a bad ass) is a good all-around lineman who tends to 
keep the bad guys from rushing you, but don't stand in the 
doorway blocking him as he can't run at the bad guys with your 
dumb butt blocking the door.

NOTE: Save any Biscuit’s, Bones or Chew toys you find as they 
build loyalty with your animal companion when given to it.

 
###  Spoilers / Walkthrough  ###

### Things not to sell ###

Books, Deadly Poison, Snake head Amulet, Oat Biscuits, Lamb 
Bones, Chew Toys, Meteorium.... Store any books you find at 
your hideout... everything else can be sold as you see fit and 
purchased back at full price if you screw up.

### Things to sell ###

After level 4 it's safe to sell Alchemical fire, Weak poison, 
Acid flasks as they will no longer affect battles to any 
significant degree. 

Unless you are having great troubles with the battles I never 
found a reason to carry more than 5 healing potions. 

After you've completed the "find my three books quest" all 
books can safely be sold. 

### Who should I buy from? ###

This game is very short and saving your money to create an 
epic end all beat all character is kind of pointless at 
current...

BUT at one point in the game a merchant in the grand market 
becomes available 
(eugalP ehT eruC uoY retfA) and she has the best gear 
available.


### Where's Waldo ### 

Every time you complete a main quest, you will need to walk 
the city maps again to see if new quests have opened up. 

(YES IT SUCKS) 

Also non-quest giving people in homes will reward or comment 
on your adventures, so you will need to talk to them 
occasionally as well. 

YES!! Even if someone doesn't have a ? or ! Above their head.



#### Walkthrough ####


As most quest in this game are cross the room, kill the rats, 
get some gold. I will only mention the main story quest and 
some optional quest that have life or death choices involved. 


### Auction House Quest ###

In one of the early quest you will be asked to buy a statue 
from an auction house. 

The only way I've found to finish this quest is pay 50 gold!!

Here's the problem I have with this quest, having completed 
the game and done all of the side missions the required 50 
gold to purchase the statue is NOT worth the reward!! 

Now if the reward was epic I wouldn't mind, but it's pretty 
lame (TNI 1+ romrA cigaM) so not very epic and not worth 50 
gold

So I'd skip this quest till after you have tons of money.

### Save the Weapon Smith ###

When you enter the fine weapon store a shakedown is in 
progress.

If you save the weapon smith from a maiming he will offer to 
create a Meteorium weapon of your choosing. 

While he requires 10 pieces of Metorium to complete the weapon 
there are close to 20 pieces scattered across the map in case 
you miss a few.

This will be your best weapon for most if not all of the game.

 
### Rescue the Diplomats ###

You are given a choice of two ways to start the rescue; one is 
to kill some guards and steal their uniforms and the other is 
to sneak in via the sewers.

Despite the game making you announce you plan up front it's 
still possible to go either path after you leave your hideout.

So save your game before Killing the guards or Entering the 
sewers as either option CANCLES out encounters you would have 
had if you made the other choice. 

That way you can play both paths and see which you like 
better.

So remember 
DO NOT kill the guards if you want to go the sewer rout.
DO NO ENTER the Red Sheath SEWER if you want to kill the 
guards.

NOTE: A perception score of 7 or more makes wandering the 
sewers a cake walk as you should easily spot traps, hidden 
doors and treasure.

The prison itself is standard fare of "Kill guards" then kill 
"Boss guard" rinse wash repeat.

Once you make it to the diplomat he will ask you to rescue his 
friends


### WOW nice cut scene ###
  
So now that we know you can be trusted to rescue diplomats, 
let's follow the note handed to you in the town square and 
gain another NPC


### Stop the Taint (Plague) ###

This new NPC asks you to purge the taint (stopping the plague) 
and the process is divided into three boss battles in three 
different areas.

### Kill the tainted Queen (Bug Boss) Dunes Area ###

You are asked to kill a queen who has been corrupted by an 
evil influence.

Once inside her lair you will encounter a maze that starts 
with a crack in the wall. Don't panic as this isn't a real 
maze as making a wrong choice just moves you back to the start 
of the maze.

In the Maze you will be faced with multiple paths from which 
to choose. So pick a path and then check your map, IF you are 
in a new area "YOU PICKED THE GOOD PATH"

IF on the other hand you are back at the start of the maze you 
picked wrong, So it never takes more than three tries to find 
the correct door to go further into the maze.... 

If need be write down the good doors like
Left-Right-Right-Straight etc.

The BOSS battle is simple "kill the queen" no tactics are 
required


### Investigate the Farmlands (Wizard Boss) Swamp Area ###

Explore the area and follow the VERY LINEAR path to the evil 
wizard, there are hidden Gators in the swamp areas. 

The BOSS battle is simple "kill the wizard" no tactics are 
required


### Investigate the Quarry (Golem Boss) Canyons Area ###

Be careful wandering this map as there are rabid mice? So if 
you get swarmed by them, retreat a little and let your NPC's 
take the brunt of the damage.

Later in the map POISON attacks happen more and more 
frequently... so having the 2nd tier Heal spell or (telumA 
daeH ekanS) for poison is a good idea. 

This boss battle is the first one with a bit of tactics, so do 
as the foreman says and stuff clay in your ears the moment you 
arrive on the quarry floor.

Seconds after arrival a floating stone head begins attacking 
with a death beam from its mouth, so make sure to stay behind 
the head and club the snot out of it.

Once the head takes enough damage the rest of the body arrives 
and needs to be beat down as well.

** You've cured the Taint ** 
(Epic merchant in now open in the Grand Market) 

### Kill the Informant ### 

While not a required mission this sub-quest does have you 
decide a person’s fate so I included my take on it. While the 
informant may beg for his life and tell you that everyone is 
just as bad (which is true) you will miss out on some minor 
treasure (mooR neddiH) and lose a merchant if you don't kill 
him.

### Kill the Priest ###

This area plays out a lot like the Prison area in that you 
have regular guards and elite guards to face off against... 
POISON will be used on you so be ready.

Once again you will be faced with killing a man, BUT I had 
more fun letting him live and facing the fury of "THE SPIDER"

The Snake Head Amulet is a vital item for this quest line... I 
hope you didn't sell it.

### Storming the Castle (Hotel California) End of Game ###

Sadly once you enter the palace YOU CAN'T LEAVE so spend all 
of your money before entering the palace as there's no more 
story once you face off against the big boss.

Don't miss the Hidden room in the area with all of the 
(sraJ yalC) as you will miss a nice item...not that you will 
get much time to use it.

The first boss battle is against a fire wizard and can be 
hectic IF you forget to watch your health.... you can avoid 
his fire waves in the alcoves if needed.... 
Rushing the wizard only causes him to teleport so instead just 
get near him and use your bow with poisoned arrows to turn him 
into a pin cushion.

The final boss battle is more difficult as your henchmen will 
probably pass out and leave you by yourself... 

Just remember to drink a heal potion if needed... add Deadly 
poison to your weapon and don't bother hitting him in the 
front as he takes no damage.... 

But he keeps teleporting once I get at his back!!! 

First anticipate his teleport to the other end of the room and 
start heading over there BEFORE he teleports.... secondly USE 
STUN ATTACKS once you finally get at his back. 

He CAN'T teleport if STUNED 

"We won... Kind of... Well maybe not....sigh"


### WHAT'S NEXT ###

No one knows if the “THE SHADOW SUN” story will ever be 
completed as it's obvious from the notes and skills lists that 
a great deal more was cut from the game to get it out the 
door.

I like you was shocked at how short this game was, but I hope 
this guide was useful and not too boring.

Thanks

Marty