A word about the patch...

[Bokken]

I downloaded and instaled the unoficial patch a couple of days ago and I just wanted to get some opinions on it. Are you for it, again's it etc.
The reason why I ask is that although I am sure they have fixed some fine bugs in the game, I have been really annoyed with it since instaling it. One example is when I go to the Town Hall, as you all know the guy there will say a certain dialog as soon as I walk in. Problem is that if I switch characters he will repeat the dialog and if I switch to another character he will repeat it again etc etc.
Same thing happens in the Blacksmith, the Temple and anywhere else. It gets really frustrating. So what I'm wondering now is if it is better to just play the game without the patch at all so if anyone could tell me the goods and bads of both I'd really appreciate it!

[Bungleau]

I didn't know the patch caused that. It's been a long time since I've played unpatched, so I just don't remember. I'd given up on the dialog as something I just couldn't change...

I first installed the patch when I kept crashing while trying to get out of Shurugeon Castle. I've kept it installed ever since. I figure that the minor downside of long dialog was worth having a more stable game.

Others play without the patch. I guess it's a matter of principle.

[Asmodeus]

You should probably play the game once all the way through without the patch, then play it again all the way through with the patch to decide. It's kinda an iffy thing. Some like the patch, some hate it.

The patch fixes a few things, but takes several things away as well. Things I like about the patch: It minimizes the "Funky Chicken" dance characters do when trying to pick things up (but dosen't do away with it altogether); it allows the Vampire's Ring to be equipped; it fixed the Jathil quest bug where you could never get credit for the quest.

What I don't like about the patch: It takes away the ability to do the unlimited gold trick; while in the shops/guilds, it ignores input or clicking on buttons while the shopkeeper is talking so you can't do the switch trick to hold onto quest items (like the Assassin's Dagger); it forces you're desktop's wallpaper to permanently display the sentance "D.W. Bradley is God!" OK, I made that last one up!

Anyway, the jist of it is that the patch corrected a few minor cosmetic things, and took away most of the cheats. Like most patches, it seems that its main purpose was to weed out anything that might unlawfully benifit the characters--some designers just can't stand for their game to be beat too easily.

If you haven't minded the game too much up till now, I'd stay with the unpatched version. Just my opinion, of course.

Good luck!

[img]graemlins/firedevil.gif[/img]

[Bokken]

My thanks to both of you for the advice. I think I'll re-instal and play unpatched to see how that goes for a while.

[Packrat]

The dialog bug isn't caused by the patch, I'm playing w/o, and it still happens. I've even had it happen outside of town, when I wasn't changing characters.

You have to be careful in the shops, sometimes if you don't let them finish their lines, the result doesn't register. ie no points, no promotion, no quest

[ 04-16-2002, 04:52 AM: Message edited by: Packrat ]

[Wyvern]

Within the BEST TIPS thread (somewhere in the middle, I believe - check the index on page 1,post 1) there is a post that tells you what the patch fixes and what it takes away. I always recommend that folks read that post before installing the patch.

I personally have never installed it and do not plan to install it. I've never had any real problems with the game running and I rather like some of the "perks" of the unpatched version!

Especially fun when I've taken a friend's saved game (patched version) loaded it on my machine and used the gold cheat to make them 85 million gold richer in less than 5 minutes! lol!!

Wyv