Help, please, with the Vanarhost Vampire

[faerhart]

I'm a 45 yr. old female Wood Elf Ranger 12.

Here's the situation:

After proceeding through the castle to the "transport post", I realized the confrontation with VV would take place and decided to back-track and pick up the booty left behind first. I transported back to Blackdelve, and dropped everything that wasn't necessary, all my mana potions, healing potions, armor, weapons, (except for one gate scroll…), and returned to the castle in my skivvies. I collected all the odds and ends and was about to transport back to Blackdelve to sell it all, when I must have taken a few steps in the wrong direction, because I triggered the VV confrontation sequence. I got dropped into the pit with the creatures, and of course, immediately "gate-scrolled" out of there because I was getting my butt kicked.

I sold all of the extra booty at the store, picked up and re-equipped myself and returned to the castle, thinking I could retrigger the sequence, (I had been able to retrigger other sequences, ie; the queen ant, the giant spider….). I made my way back through the castle, and when I reached the upper level, the creatures from the pit had been let loose and attacked me at various points, so I killed them all as they came throughout the castle.

Here's the problem: when I came to the VV confrontation point, there was the large square hole in the floor where I had previously been dropped, but I can't get beyond it, there's the "invisible barrier", like when you wade too far into the water. I've searched the entire castle brick by brick and can't find another way out. It appears that walking past the "check point saved" posts, saved the game and I can't retrigger the sequence or go any further.

BTW, on my back-tracking I figured out that the portraits on the walls could be smashed and booty falls out; I had hoped that would trigger a door opening or something, but it hasn't. However, there is one portrait that I can't seem to smash, but it appears to be more of a glitch in the system, than something significant. It's one of those areas where my arm and weapon disappears into the wall….

OK, so, have I totally screwed the pooch on this one? The only last save I have is back in the lava fields!! Don't tell me I have to go all the way back there again??? Can anyone help me? And what's up with the locked door in VV wife's room, (the one with all the pretty pillows)?

[cjmnews]

There have been a few reports of problems gate scrolling at that point in the game. A good discussion is seen here

http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=30010

Basically because you walked back, you appear to be stuck.

I'll add one suggestion that could solve the issue for you, but it may not. WALK back to town and gate scroll back. You may end up in the pit again. I'm not sure if it gets erased like the guy in the above post says or not.

A bit of advice. If you don't have the ruby yet, talk to the guy who's daughter you rescued at his house BEFORE you finish Vanderhost's castle. This is another area you can get stuck with.

Let us know if my idea works.

[faerhart]

Thanks CJ, for the link.

Duh! I had no idea a gate scroll worked both ways.... When I read that the lightbulb popped on over my head and I said: Ah-ha!! Of course!

Although I did have to go back to a previously saved game, it was only to the entrance of the castle, I thought my last save was in the lava fields, so that wasn't so bad.

Once I knew that the scrolls worked like that, it made the game so much easier, and faster to play. (duh again) And, I was very happy about the changes in enemies and booty, excellent.

So far this game has been a blast! I can't get enough of it. My only complaint is that it occasionally locks up and I have to restart; that's happened twice. But I can live with that considering the incredible graphics, sounds, characters, plots, quests, equipment, etc, etc..... it was worth getting another PS2 for the other room so my hubby could go to bed when I can't stop playing!

Thanks for the help.

Cheerwell, Mary

[cjmnews]

I understand the confusion on the gate scrolls. They didn't exactly tell you that it worked like that in the manuals. Also it looks like you use 2 gate scrolls to go to town and back, but really you only use 1. It's like the recall potions from the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance games (which I recommend).

The freezes happen to all of us. As I have stated before this game needs about 4 months of QA and rework to finish it up to a truely playable form.

I hope you got the ruby before you rescued the gnome from the vampire's castle. That is one bug that most people can not work around.

I was really hoping the walking back to town and using the gate scroll would work.

My wife plays her gameboy while I do Champions of Norrath, and I usually get tired first since I get up 2 hours earlier than she does. We did complete the first level together, but she lost interest in this game. Not nearly as fun as Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance. I built a shadow knight up solo to join with her ranger if she decides to play the 2nd or 3rd difficulty.

Glad to see you're having fun.

[faerhart]

Yup, I got the ruby first.

You know, I've been looking at the Baldur's Gate games for quite a while, my hubby's been playing it for the longest time on his PC. I prefer the PS2 to PC play though.... For some reason I thought BG was only for the PC, when I found out I could get a version of it for the PS2, I was thrilled. The BG series is now on my wishlist, and Christmas is just around the corner.

[Sugarbaby7]

I have BG dark alliance 1 and 2..I would say these are addicting and most fun to play. The play style is almost identical to CoN and the humorous comments by the chars are always interesting. It is also fun to play through again on higher difficulty levels which will reward the player by unlocking secret chars. So if you are already a fan of CoN then I am sure you will enjoy the BG series on PS@. Happy gaming!