How to Play
You play The Shadow Crown by reading and typing. The game describes where you are, you type a short command like GO NORTH or TALK TO GARETH, and the world answers. No reflexes needed: just curiosity.
What is a text adventure?
A text adventure, also called interactive fiction, is a game told in words. Instead of moving a character with a controller, you tell the game what to do in plain English. The genre began in the late 1970s and 1980s with games like Colossal Cave Adventure and Zork. The Shadow Crown keeps that spirit and adds illustrations, a map, autosave and a quest log.
Your first five minutes
Try these in the free demo, in this order:
> LOOKRead where you are: the Village Square of Eldergrove, the heart of the village.> EQUIP SWORDYou start with a rusty sword and a torch, but the sword is not in your hand yet.> NORTHWalk into the Prancing Pegasus Inn.> TALK TO GARETHMeet the innkeeper. He sells supplies and hears every rumour.> TALK TO STRANGERSpeak to the hooded figure in the corner. He has something for you.> READ MAPStudy what he gave you, and choose where to go next.
Command list
You do not need to learn these first. Short, simple commands work best: a verb, then a thing. Type HELP in the game to see them at any time.
Moving
NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST- Walk that way. Short forms: N, S, E, W
UP, DOWN- Climb stairs, ladders and mountains. Short forms: U, D
GO BACK- Return to where you just were
READ MAP- Look at the map of Frostwynd
Looking around
LOOK- Describe where you are again. Short form: L
LOOK AT <item>- Examine something you are carrying
SEARCH- Search this place for hidden things
INVENTORY- Your items, health, magic, gold and level. Short form: I
People
TALK TO <name>- Speak to someone, e.g. TALK TO GARETH
ASK ABOUT <topic>- Ask a follow-up question
GIVE <item> TO <name>- Hand something over, often to finish a quest
BUY <item>, SELL <item>- Trade with the innkeeper and the merchants
Items
TAKE <item>, DROP <item>- Pick things up and put them down. Watch the weight
USE <item>- Use or drink something, e.g. USE HEALTH POTION
EQUIP <weapon>, WEAR <armour>- Equip a weapon for damage, armour for defence
UNLOCK <thing>- Open a locked door or chest, if you have the key
Fighting and magic
ATTACK <enemy>- Start or continue a fight, e.g. ATTACK GOBLIN
AGAIN- Repeat your last attack
FLEE- Run from a fight you cannot win
SEARCH <enemy>- Loot a defeated foe
CAST <spell>- Use magic, once you have learned a spell
SOLVE <answer>- Answer a puzzle or riddle
The game
HELP- Show the command list. Short form: H
STATISTICS- Your stats and records
RESTART- Start a new adventure
Fighting
Combat is turn-based. Type ATTACK and the name of your enemy, then AGAIN to keep swinging. After each blow the game tells you how the fight is going. Keep an eye on your health with INVENTORY, drink a potion with USE HEALTH POTION, and if a fight is going badly, FLEE. Defeated enemies can be searched for loot.
Better weapons and armour make a big difference. Buy them from the merchants, find them on enemies, or have one forged.
How to get unstuck
- Type LOOK again and read every word. Exits, objects and clues are all in the description.
- Talk to everyone, then talk to them again. What people say changes as your adventure goes on.
- Use ASK ABOUT to dig deeper, for example ASK ABOUT IRON at the forge.
- Check your INVENTORY. The answer is often something you are already carrying.
- Try SEARCH in places that feel important.
- Hurt? Rent a room at the Prancing Pegasus and SLEEP to restore your health.
- Still stuck? See support, or email us.
Saving
The game saves automatically as you play. Close it any time and pick up where you left off. Each device keeps its own save.
For veterans
If you cut your teeth on Zork or Colossal Cave, try a few of the old magic words. And whatever you do, do not wander around in the dark. It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
