Sport of Kings / Talmberg Horse Race - Win-but-Lose Race (Bug/Tips)

[Magnus Mercury]

I encountered what seems like a known bug with the "Talmberg Horse Race" quest, and wanted to share what I did to get past it. This is the quest for the actual race that happens as part of the "Sport of Kings" quest.

I was able to beat the other riders using Zora's horse, and my journal said that I had won. However, when I went to speak to Sir Divish after the race, he acted like I either came in last or missed the race. I tried reporting the result to Zora afterwards (just in case it was only an issue with Divish's dialog), but that indicated complete failure as well.

While I found some older threads with the same issue, I didn't see any suggestions on a solution. Since I restarted and was able to successfully complete the race in first place (with matching dialog from the NPCs), I wanted to share what I did:

• Restarted the game
  
• Left the quest starting area (outside Talmberg castle) and re-entered while riding Zora's horse
  
• While outside the quest starting area, I dismounted and re-mounted Zora's horse
  
• I did not skip time (though I noticed that around 1100, the spectators started wandering off)
  
• When the race starts and Divish is giving his speech, I set the "Talmberg Horse Race" quest to be active/tracked

I strongly suspect that either leaving and reentering the starting area or setting the quest to be tracked was what fixed it. But I can definitely confirm that 1) this bug still exists and 2) it's not a case of "if you encounter the bug, you'll never be able to win the race".

Hopefully this helps any other players who encounter the same issue!

[danilo.schoeneberg]

I have played the game for 4000 hours and never was there any issue with this quest, so I guess some mod inteferred with it. I probably ran that race 30 times if not more.

[Actalo]

The Talmberg race sucks because the horse Henry is given - is a crappy horse. If that's Neuhof quality, then Neuhof deserves its fate.

That said, it's easy to cheese the race by parking your personal horse near the race start, jumping off the Neuhof horse after the race starts, getting on personal horse, doing the race, jumping back on Neuhof horse to complete the race.

Divish is old and blind so he doesn't notice the 'ol switcheroo

[danilo.schoeneberg]

Originally posted by Actalo:

The Talmberg race sucks because the horse Henry is given - is a crappy horse. If that's Neuhof quality, then Neuhof deserves its fate.

That said, it's easy to cheese the race by parking your personal horse near the race start, jumping off the Neuhof horse after the race starts, getting on personal horse, doing the race, jumping back on Neuhof horse to complete the race.

Divish is old and blind so he doesn't notice the 'ol switcheroo

Complete bollocks, if I may say so. The opposing horses are all below 30 in speed, that's the level of pebbles. The key is to hang back on the way to Uzhitz. The opponents deliiberately bumb into your horse, draining its stamina. Ride into Uzhitz last. On the way back, their horses run out of stamina and they have to trot. Use that to overtake them. Ride into Neuhof mill 2nd or 3rd, Then, on the way back to Talmberg, veer left across the creek and you win easily as all the other riders take a detour. This quest is ridiculously easy.

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by Actalo:

The Talmberg race sucks because the horse Henry is given - is a crappy horse. If that's Neuhof quality, then Neuhof deserves its fate.

That said, it's easy to cheese the race by parking your personal horse near the race start, jumping off the Neuhof horse after the race starts, getting on personal horse, doing the race, jumping back on Neuhof horse to complete the race.

What i did was bring the Dappled grey to the race start point. and get on my horse. Started the race on my horse and at the very end at the finish line I switch back the the dappled grey, to cross the finish line. worked like a charm, once in normal and once in Hardcore. Also, I dont feel bad about racing on my horse, since I bought him from Neohof (Tulpar)

Only problem I ever had with the race, was if i leave the meeting area within an hour of the race start or if it fast forward time a little too much.

[danilo.schoeneberg]

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

Originally posted by Actalo:

The Talmberg race sucks because the horse Henry is given - is a crappy horse. If that's Neuhof quality, then Neuhof deserves its fate.

That said, it's easy to cheese the race by parking your personal horse near the race start, jumping off the Neuhof horse after the race starts, getting on personal horse, doing the race, jumping back on Neuhof horse to complete the race.

What i did was bring the Dappled grey to the race start point. and get on my horse. Started the race on my horse and at the very end at the finish line I switch back the the dappled grey, to cross the finish line. worked like a charm, once in normal and once in Hardcore. Also, I dont feel bad about racing on my horse, since I bought him from Neohof (Tulpar)

Only problem I ever had with the race, was if i leave the meeting area within an hour of the race start or if it fast forward time a little too much.

Why? You can easily win the race with Zora's horse by cutting the way from Neuhof windmill to the quarry. Seriously folks, if you need to cook up elaborate cheating scheme, I think yout didin't understand the quest. Divish literlly say 'you need to know the lay of the land', and that's exactly what wins the race. While all other racers go throght Talmberg on the way from Neuhof mill to the quarry, you just veer left at the tanners, hop over the creek and win by a miile on Zora's horse.

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by danilo.schoeneberg:

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

What i did was bring the Dappled grey to the race start point. and get on my horse. Started the race on my horse and at the very end at the finish line I switch back the the dappled grey, to cross the finish line. worked like a charm, once in normal and once in Hardcore. Also, I dont feel bad about racing on my horse, since I bought him from Neohof (Tulpar)

Only problem I ever had with the race, was if i leave the meeting area within an hour of the race start or if it fast forward time a little too much.

Why? You can easily win the race with Zora's horse by cutting the way from Neuhof windmill to the quarry. Seriously folks, if you need to cook up elaborate cheating scheme, I think yout didin't understand the quest. Divish literlly say 'you need to know the lay of the land', and that's exactly what wins the race. While all other racers go throght Talmberg on the way from Neuhof mill to the quarry, you just veer left at the tanners, hop over the creek and win by a miile on Zora's horse.

First off, droping off the dappled horse at the start point, using your horse for the race then switch back at the finish line isnt all that elaborate.
Why? because i feel the need for speed and I wasnt feeling it on the nameless one. And the game allowed it. so why not?

You enjoy the game your way, I'll enjoy it my way, nothing wrong with either.

[danilo.schoeneberg]

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

Originally posted by danilo.schoeneberg:

Why? You can easily win the race with Zora's horse by cutting the way from Neuhof windmill to the quarry. Seriously folks, if you need to cook up elaborate cheating scheme, I think yout didin't understand the quest. Divish literlly say 'you need to know the lay of the land', and that's exactly what wins the race. While all other racers go throght Talmberg on the way from Neuhof mill to the quarry, you just veer left at the tanners, hop over the creek and win by a miile on Zora's horse.

First off, droping off the dappled horse at the start point, using your horse for the race then switch back at the finish line isnt all that elaborate.
Why? because i feel the need for speed and I wasnt feeling it on the nameless one. And the game allowed it. so why not?

You enjoy the game your way, I'll enjoy it my way, nothing wrong with either.

Let me guess, you chose the 'race horse' perk and think it is normal hobbling about on ahorse as if someone pt a video on 1.5x speed.

[Actalo]

Originally posted by danilo.schoeneberg:

Let me guess, you chose the 'race horse' perk and think it is normal hobbling about on ahorse as if someone pt a video on 1.5x speed.

Ain't no hobbling at 1.5x speed, sir.

[Magnus Mercury]

Originally posted by danilo.schoeneberg:

I have played the game for 4000 hours and never was there any issue with this quest, so I guess some mod inteferred with it. I probably ran that race 30 times if not more.

I don't use mods, so those definitely weren't a factor for me. And this is the first bug I've encountered in KCD (which I think is a testament to the quality of the dev team's work).

I also used Zora's horse for the entire race, so there weren't horse-switching shenanigans to interfere with quest completion. FWIW, I do have the "Racehorse" perk but I use Pebbles as my "main" horse (I haven't purchased any others).

[SympliKrazi]

I feel the need... the need for speed!
Racehorse perk and military horseshoes all the way baby!
tbf, I've lost count how many times i've toppled of my steed from crashing into bushes or traversing steep inclines. My equine is practically a motorbike (=

[uglyface2]

I watched a video where someone recommended tailing the first-place rider until after you get the ribbon from the quarry. There's a path on the way back to the start that veers off and leads you back to the start that none of the other riders take, and it cuts off so much time that the other riders don't have a chance.

https://youtu.be/7Xqy6_v9IAA?si=ncie6n0InInH58hS

[Echolecter]

The quest is bugged, or better said Sir Divish is bugged due to the DLC. I experienced an issue where he never showed up at the start of the race. Problem was that I completed rebuilding the town before doing the race. This caused Sir Divish to be fixed in place without any possible interactions (or combat), at different places in Talmberg. I had to complete the race before finishing the church and inform him afterwards.

For the race itself, follow the leader and take the shortcut at the end, The horse provided is fast enough to stay you in the race. Just keep an eye on stamina during the event. You need to show up at the right time and wait, don't go anywhere once you've arrived.

[jeffronomicon]

Is there a time sensitive aspect to initiating this quest? When I did, no one showed up to race and I won by default.

[Magnus Mercury]

Originally posted by jeffronomicon:

Is there a time sensitive aspect to initiating this quest? When I did, no one showed up to race and I won by default.

I know there's a time-sensitive element to starting the race (after you've started the quest). If you're late, you'll miss the race and Sir Divish is pretty aggravated. It's the same response I was originally getting even when I won the race.

I've seen guides mention pushing the other contestants out of the start area so they don't count as present, but I never had any issues with the other racers showing up.

[Kryten]

Originally posted by Magnus Mercury:

(...)
I've seen guides mention pushing the other contestants out of the start area so they don't count as present, but I never had any issues with the other racers showing up.

I tried that and it worked, since I am not very good at riding :D It takes a bit of time and fiddling around though, so its a bit annoying.
Divish is indeed blind it seems, but the other riders are also not the smartest bunch, not moving a few meters to take part in the race....