Gorvifal

[496 Crows]

*spoiler warning*

I neglected to pay attention to the paintings, since I assumed the map would be identical to that of the original game, and so I probably overlooked some crucial hints -- has anyone sorted out how to actually reach Gorvifal on this new map yet?

In the original game, there was a secret wall down a hidden passageway which you could simply path through; however, in this remake, it no longer seems possible to simply walk through the secret wall, and there are some slight variations on the map making me suspect that it was moved. Still, I can't seem to walk through *any* walls on the map (I applied a brute-force technique), so I most likely mised something crucial here, probably hinted at in the paintings I rushed past. Any hints?

[Princess Vera]

In the Avernum series (as opposed to Exile), you need to press a hidden switch to open up secret passages inside towns/dungeons. In the outdoors, you can see secret passages because the walls are differently-colored, and open up when you walk into them.

The other way to find secret passages is to use Move Mountains on funny-colored bits of walls (or on tall rocks that seem to be in the way of getting into a spot)... look for somewhere on the south side of the dungeon where you can do that.

[Daredeviler_21]

That brings me to my related question, what allows you to "use" the buttons to open secrets?

[SpanielBear]

Originally posted by Daredeviler_21:

That brings me to my related question, what allows you to "use" the buttons to open secrets?

Most of the time just clicking the grey switch on the wall (I'm assuming that's what you mean?) will open the door or whatever, but some are locked until a specific event is triggered.

[BRYAN?!?!]

I believe tool use plays a part as well? Or cave lore. If it’s not high enough it will give you the message that you notice a switch but are unsure how to use it.

[Daredeviler_21]

Originally posted by BRYAN?!?!:

I believe tool use plays a part as well? Or cave lore. If it’s not high enough it will give you the message that you notice a switch but are unsure how to use it.

This is what I'm talking about, I'm not sure which skill it is.

[Princess Vera]

It's not cave lore. But I'm pretty sure you don't need a minimum tool use skill for the tan-colored wall switches. They usually are *always* there and you can *always* press them. There might be a few exceptions, but I can't think of any yet.

Some levers and lots of doors and chests have minimum tool use skill. You need around 10 (give or take) tool use to beat the game, but more for the extra stuff in the game. But again, unless someone who's tested it can correct me, I am pretty sure switches that open hidden doors don't check your stats.

[Daredeviler_21]

Originally posted by Princess Vera:

It's not cave lore. But I'm pretty sure you don't need a minimum tool use skill for the tan-colored wall switches. They usually are *always* there and you can *always* press them. There might be a few exceptions, but I can't think of any yet.

There are actually a lot, I've found more wall switches that won't activate than I have switches that do. Sounds like your skills just happen to be high enough to not notice how bad this really is.

Either way, I'm making a guide for beginning the game on Torment mode, and will end up creating a cheat character to test things out, including what the hell is needed for these damn wall switches

[Princess Vera]

Ah, whoops. At least I was right about it being tool use. I went back to check the values and it looks like it's actually a mix. Lots of either non- or low-TU switches I can find, and most are 8 or under. A very few are over 10, and I think none of those I found are essential to beating the game. A person playing between easy to hard levels would probably have about that much TU (8+) if they looked for Gorvifal after or just before the roach pit.

Someone else has probably already checked the values and put a list up somewhere. One of the beta testers usually does something like this. I don't think you need to reinvent the wheel for this one...

[496 Crows]

Oh ♥♥♥♥, there was a switch, which I had missed -- that bricklay camouflages it so well! Thanks for the comments B-)