Wizardry IV Guide

Some of this information is in based on to the Wizardry I Walkthrough, the Wizardry II Walkthrough, and the Wizardry III Walkthrough. See those pages for related information.

The Return of Werdna is considered one of the hardest Role Playing Games ever created. In the game you play Werdna, the villain from Wizardry I. Robbed of your Amulet by do-gooder Adventurers, you awake from a long slumber, defenseless and at the bottom of a 10 level dungeon. Although you can summon monsters to travel with you, the game is based on a single person navigation. Clawing your way up the 10 levels is quite a challenge, and then the fun begins...

Allies

Werdna can summon a different group of monsters on each of the 10 levels of the dungeon. Below is a list of what monsters are availale to summon at each pentagram.

Guide to Wizardry IV - The Return of Wernda

Version 3 (July 11, 2001)
Author: Stephen S. Lee (ssjlee@shell.rawbw.com)

Introduction to This Guide

As with Version 2, you are free to distribute this guide wherever you please, and amend it as you see fit, so long as you give me proper attribution.

I recently replayed Wizardry IV for the third time, and felt that an update was in order. Version 1 of this guide was written in 1990, way back when I was in high school, and bored. It was written only to amuse myself, and wasn't intended for general consumption (especially with the lack of Internet access back then, and the note at the end of the Grandmaster ending telling you not to help others).

Several years later, I was reading comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg and noted a cry for help for Wizardry IV. No written widely available walkthrough existed, so I hastily trimmed mine down for general consumption, and unleashed Version 2 onto Usenet. (I got rid of about 85% of the material. Other than the list of guardians, there was nothing important there.)

Another half-decade passed, and the walkthrough is now to be found in many locales all over the Web, amended in many cases. It is still missing many things, however, so here is this update, which adds:

• Updated contact information (the old e-mail address, being an *.edu one, is long dead). Feel free to contact me with any requests, questions, or corrections.
• Some commentary on just what this game is, anyway.
• Collector's information -- I am an avid collector of old game packages, so I just have to get this in somehow, heh.
• Information about the Wizardry Archives version, which plays somewhat differently from the original floppy-based version.
• A little more information on the game endings.
• Explanations for some of the more obscure puzzles.
• Some more information on combat strategy.
• Elimination of some irrelevant things that I didn't scrap when stripping down for Version 2.

So What is Wizardry IV, Anyway?

The original Wizardry I was a classic adored by many (although I believe IV, V, VI, and VII are all superior games). Unlike the Ultima series, however, the Wizardry creators chose a different tack in sequels: writing for veterans. This had the unfortunate side-effect of making II, III, and especially IV accessible to but a narrow audience. Nevertheless, they are still good games even today if you are a veteran player (though II and III are heavily reliant on combat and maze-mapping). When David Bradley assumed creative control of the series, the beginner was thought of once again (though his games are by no means easy!)

Wizardry IV places you in the role of Werdna, the evil wizard who was defeated at the end of the original Wizardry. You were researching a powerful, mysterious magical amulet; this research was cut short by a rudely interrupting party of do-gooder adventurers. You were killed and your body imprisoned in a great ten-level underground fortress. Well, now you have revived, and seek revenge on your captors, recovery of your drained powers and the amulet, and naturally, world domination. (In my world, you were also a bad former starting pitcher for the Flagstaff Foozles -- the less said of your 8-ish career ERA, the better.)

Wizardry IV was the first CRPG I know of to explicitly pit you as the bad guy fighting an array of do-gooders. It was also written to be extremely difficult -- it is widely regarded by veterans as the most difficult CRPG ever written. Few are the people who can solve the game entirely without help. (When it existed, Sir-Tech's helpline was very helpful in a couple of tight spots.) You'll fight with the aid of monsters summoned from pentagrams; you can only control in that you can choose which monsters. You'll deal with an incredibly intricate maze: the dungeon rapidly becomes difficult to map, and mapping is absolutely essential to success (unless you steal someone else's, or use this guide). You'll deal with puzzles, many of which are maddeningly difficult or obscure. You'll also find much more text than in the first three Wizardry games, which is definitely a plus. There are also five endings to the game (not counting just getting killed outright), one of which is the Grandmaster Ending that is meant to a test of the truly elite.

If you want to play the game (without a walkthrough), experience with Wizardry I is absolutely essential (though you cannot transfer characters either to or from Wizardry IV). This is not just for the experience; you need to be familiar with the game mechanics, and there is also a puzzle late in the game that requires intimate knowledge of the original game.

Game Package Information

You can legally obtain Wizardry IV in three different packages: the Ultimate Wizardry Archives compilation on CD, and an early and a late version of the original floppy-based version.

The Ultimate Wizardry Archives is still not too hard to find in stores both brick-and-mortar and dot-com, and on eBay or GameTZ. It's non-trivial to get, but it's far easier to get than many other adventure or RPG packages. A fair price for a new package is $10-15 or so, although you might be able to get it for less on eBay or GameTZ.

It comes in a large black box with the familiar logos in red and gold on it. Its contents are:

• 1 CD in a jewel case. On it are all seven Wizardry games, including both the original and Gold versions of Wizardry VII.
• Manual (256 pages, covering all seven games).
• Manual addendum (orange 20-page booklet; not relevant to Wizardry IV).
• Reference card (white 8-page small square booklet).
• The standard Interplay Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.
• An ad for Interplay's RPG's (for all the game collection completists like me!) Interplay, not Sir-Tech, distributed the package. (Sir-Tech's distribution arm is out of business, though the actual game-writing part still lives.)

This is the package you're most likely to get Wizardry IV in if you just want to play. (Any attempt to ask me for or give me information on how to get it not-so-legally will be at best blissfully ignored. I don't exist for the purpose of being a distributor of old games, thank you very much.)

The old original Wizardry IV package has a LOT of parts, and is not easy to find with all the parts. There are two similar package types. Both of them have the following in common (this assumes you have the PC version):

• Small two-piece box (black front, white back), the same size as the other original Wizardry packages.
• One floppy disk (both 5.25" and 3.5" versions exist).
• Manual (14 pages).
• Mordor Charge Valid Card List. This is the copy protection, and is printed in that irritating black-on-dark-red-paper fashion. This copy protection doesn't exist in the Archives version. (As bad as it is, it doesn't hold a candle to the Wizardry VI protection scheme, which was THE most awful scheme EVER, and was additionally robust enough that it was to the best of the knowledge never properly cracked by the pirate community; only the Archives version is properly cracked.) The booklet does have a slight gameplay hint or two on it. Also, the correct copy protection number is calculated from the other numbers, not stored as game data.
• Technical reference card ("The Special Effects Department"). This is the same card found in the late version of Wizardry I, and in Wizardry II and III.
• Spell reference card. This is the same card found in the other Wizardry games above. Sort of a pity, as you can't cast Priest spells, and a few spells work differently anyway.
• "Importantant Notice for People who have never played Wizardry before" (yellow sheet of paper). This is in case you couldn't figure out by looking at the game package that this is for experts only.
• A pad of graph paper (same as in other Wizardry games of the era).
• A pink tournament registration card. You fill this in in you finish the game (you wlil get three numbers to put on the card -- these tell, or told, Sir-Tech how well you did). I never sent in mine -- pity, I'd love to own that certificate they sent you now.
• "Has the first problem got you groping in the dark?" A solution to the first puzzle in the game, sealed with a sticker bearing the dragon logo.
• The Mordor Charge Card. This isn't necessary to actually play the game. Before, it functioned to get you cool promotional items from Sir-Tech. Now, it's of interest to game collectors. It's the piece that's most likely to be missing from the package, so whether it is present or not has a significant impact on how much the package overall is worth. The number on the front of the card is unique (yes, it *is* different for every card).
• Black cardboard holder for the Mordor Charge Card. It's sealed with the sticker bearing the dragon logo, and folds open to reveal the card and some information on what material benefits it used to grant.
• Warranty registration card (for you completists out there).

In the case of the earlier package, that's all you get. The later package has a few differences:

• Stickers on the front of the package reading "Hint Book BEGINNER LEVEL Enclosed" and "Suggested Retail Price $19.95", plus a sticker boasting of a couple of rewards.
• Yes, the hint book is enclosed. Far too many people had too much trouble without it, apparently. It's eight pages long, and has only the barest essentials needed for solving one of the four regular endings. (If you want the Grandmaster Ending, there's little help to be found here.)

Though it's not all that easy to find, demand for it isn't particularly high either, so $40-50 is a rough estimate of how much a complete package in good shape is worth (after all this time, packages will tend to be damaged or incomplete, however). IBM versions are worth more than non-IBM versions (this is generally true in collecting old games).

Running Wizardry IV

Running the Archives version of Wizardry IV on a modern computer is (unlike many older computer games) relatively straightforward. It's perfectly happy either in pure DOS or in a Windows DOS box, and runs fine for the most part. However, a few messages will appear too quickly for you to read. You may need to use a program like Mo'Slo to slow down the game enough for you to read them.

Walkthrough

So, you're stuck, eh? Well, here is a complete detailed walkthrough to this game. It assumes that you are aiming for all three major classes of endings -- I've tried to add some comments on items that are not essential to other endings, but haven't tried to be thorough about this. It's slanted towards doing things as soon as possible -- in some cases, it's easier to do things later, but for purposes of game flow, I won't change what I originally wrote much. (OK, so I'm being a bit lazy.)

Since this is an ASCII-text-only guide, and I don't feel like rendering complicated maps into ASCII, this guide gives explicit directions which I have never double-checked. They therefore may not be wholly accurate, though they should be close, and in any event all major puzzle solutions should be accurate. I wrote the directions from my maps, which I found to be inaccurate in a few places for 4 Down (so that is the most likely level to have incorrect directions). [Ed: Along with the HTML conversion of this guide are all floormaps]

There is still some information in the walkthrough I'm not quite certain about, but unless I know it is wrong, I didn't remove it. Let me know if something is not quite right. There is also some irrelevant information that has survived two rounds of cuts; in particular, many of the things below should be obvious. I might eventually abridge the text in a future version.

General Notes

• Unlike other adventure games and RPG's, you should not save your game left and right, as doing so revives all the guardians on the current level. It's better to save only when you have reached a major milestone. And don't save far from a pentagram if you don't have decent monster support left; otherwise, you may find yourself surrounded by guardians you cannot defeat. However, saving does move Trebor's ghost (see below) far away from you. If he starts to get uncomfortably close, you can escape him by saving the game and reloading from the same spot.

• For regular guardians, there are 24 different pictures (3 for each class). The picture often is an indication the strength of the enemy. Here are the classifications:

FIGHTERS
I. Multi-colored, with weapon held low
II. White, looks like he has a mustache
III. White, has arms spread wide, looks like he has a mask, has a shield

MAGES
I. Wears a tasseled cap, has a grainy smile
II. Happy-looking guy who seems to be holding a radiant object in an upheld arm
III. Shadowy figure with a purple face, very grim

PRIESTS
I. Old man facing you and wielding a large shield
II. Older man (with lighter colors) facing downward
III. Distant man with "DISPEL" coming from his hands

THIEVES
I. Man leaning way back
II. Man wearing patch, holding an unconcealed dagger, faces his right
III. Hides behind a blue wall, looks decidedly evil

BISHOPS
I. Does not hold a book, wears glasses
II. Upright, rather nerdy-looking fellow
III. Wears glasses and holds a book

SAMURAI
I. Injured-looking guy holding a banner with an apparently Chinese symbol on it
II. Looks like a Revolutionary War soldier
III. Menacing figure in a close-up with a curved hat; looks like a samurai as sterotypically depicted

LORDS
I. Guy in white armor with a funny look on his face
II. Hand wearing a gauntlet wielding a Blade Cusinart' that is activated (this is a weapon with a button; when one pushes the button, four blades whirl around at incredible speed)
III. Very pleased-looking guy bearing a flag with a red cross on it

NINJAS
I. White-robed person in the process of kicking
II. View of the torso of a man dressed in white
III. Evil-looking fellow with all his face except his eyes concealed with green

Picture I for all classes except Ninjas appear on levels 10 down to 8 down. Picture I for Ninjas and Picture II for other classes appear from 7 down to 5 down. Picture III for all classes, with a few Picture II's, appears on levels 3 down to 1 down (the Cosmic Cube, in other words). Level 4 down is a mixture of Pictures II and III (the main groups, though, are mostly Picture II's).

Here's how to use these pictures to your advantage. A MAKANITO spell (under the right circumstances; I haven't figured out exactly what they are as of this writing) will almost always destroy Picture I characters, have a modest chance of slaying a Picture II, but has nearly zero effect on a Picture III character. A LAKANITO always kills a Picture I, has very high chance of killing a Picture II, and occasionally defeats a Picture III.

• You should try to fight all battles you come across ... this solution indicates some of the tougher battles. Many battles won't give you anything essential to victory, and you do not gain experience or skill by fighting as you do in just about any other RPG, so you might want to skip some battles -- though you run, you will encounter the enemy you ran from again. If you don't save the game, you can eventually beat all that level's guardians and explore in peace (Trebor's ghost excepted; see below).
• Trebor's ghost haunts the dungeon, and will seek you out. If ever you meet him, he will instantly slay you. Eventually, you can dispel the curse you put on him and so end the trouble, but that will be a long time in coming. You will hear him as you both wander the level. There are several things you can hear, which indicate how close he is. If he starts to get close, run for safety on another part of the level (being a ghost, he can pass through walls and over obstacles), or save and reload. In the original version, the ghost moves in real time (yes, the original Wizardry IV was not purely turn-based), so in the main dungeon view you can't be slow about moving around (the ghost does not move when you are in combat, at a pentagram or other event square, or encamped). In the Archives version, he does not move unless you press keys while in the main dungeon view (this includes keys that do not normally do anything).
• Always keep at least ONE slot open in your main inventory, and at least TWO open in the Black Box if you have it. The game has a wisecrack response if you find a special object but have no room for it. (At least the game doesn't crash or demonstrate flaky buggy behavior like Wizardry VI when this happens.)
• If a battle exhausts you, run quickly back to your local pentagram. While running as such, try not to fight any major battles.
• Don't worry much about body armor. In most cases, you're safe behind a wall of monsters (as long as you have three groups of monsters around, you won't be a target of melee attacks) and even if you do get exposed, wearing Robes probably won't help if an enemy can swing 16 times at you for 400 damage.
• The number of keys you press counts towards your score in the end. If you care about that, avoid making typing errors, and don't wander around needlessly (which also puts you in peril of Trebor's ghost). And, when you cast a spell, only enter the first letter, then choose from the list the computer provides.
• Avoid using Captain Thorin's Mordorcharge card. (There is a chance you'll be caught for using a stolen credit card. Try it just to see what can happen.) Use cash only for the Oracle, and never refuse him if you have the cash. There are about 40 hints dispensed by the Oracle, and many of them are crucial to solving the game if you lack an explicit walkthrough. They come in a fixed sequence.

Continued in the Level-by-Level Walkthrough

Created, maintained and © by John Hubbard (write to me). Disclaimers. Hosted by Dreamhost. Last modified: January-04-2003.