USER MANUAL Nival Interactive January 1, 2002
CONTENTS Prologue.......................................................................................................................................... 3 What's included ............................................................................................................................... 6 System requirements........................................................................................................................ 6 Installation......................................................
Prologue This is the world of the Etherlords. Ether is this world's most basic element, the source of all things. White ether flows from the center of the universe, the symbol of this world and its greatness, the source of its power. White ether is fickle and unstable, and its flow dissipates into four lesser types of ether to form the infinite variety of nature.
The Four Races of the Etherlords The Chaots, Race of the Ether of Chaos (red) The children of Chaos are known by the scarlet sheen of their faces, which seem to be carved of rough stone. Chaots rely on their sturdy, powerful bodies and physical strength. Unruly by nature, few things cause Chaots any fear. All obstacles exist merely to be swept out of their way. Chaots have learned to control the creatures as aggressive themselves, those that live by force and go in packs – rats, wolves, Orcs, Kobolds.
before each mission starts. Generally, missions involve exploring territory, accumulating resources, developing magic, and destroying your enemies.
What's included User manual Game CDs (2) Box Game Registration card Etherlords T-shirt System requirements Minimal configuration: Windows 98/ME/2000, DirectX 7.0 or higher Pentium II 300 MHz RAM 64 MB AGP video-board with 3D accelerator, 8 MB onboard video RAM Monitor supporting 800x600 dpi resolution CD-ROM 4x Sound card Recommended configuration Windows 98/ME/2000, DirectX 7.
The Etherlords program group will be created in the Start menu of your computer. It includes links to launch the Etherlords game, read the “Readme” file containing the latest game information, to uninstall the program, and to visit Etherlords online (www.etherlords.com). Uninstalling the game To uninstall the game, choose Uninstall from the Etherlords program group in the Start menu.
** Once combat begins, it cannot be interrupted without consequences. Saving a game is not possible while in combat. Surrendering merely concedes defeat, and your hero will be lost. If your hero is defeated in combat, he is destroyed, but the mission does not necessarily end. With enough resources, you can summon new heroes in your Castle. Heroes can also be resurrected with the proper spell.
Plants (uncommon) Minerals (rare) Unique Mandrake Root Bloody Ruby Frozen Flame Black Lotus Poison Emerald Smoke Diamond Star Sapphire You normally need great quantities of uncommon resources (plants), so one of your goals should be to control as many gardens as you can and to develop them to increase their resource yield. The demand for rare resources (minerals) depends on your race, since every race has its own preferred mineral (see chart below).
Fortunately, the problems caused by lack of ether are reversible. Once you increase your ether resources or reduce ether consumption (e.g., canceling a global spell or dismissing a hero), the processes will begin functioning again. Finally, White ether is not an ordinary resource. Heroes and enemies gain white ether through special ether channels only during combat; there are no White ether sources found on the map.
Heroes can only purchase runes for spells that are in their Spellbook. The number of runes a hero can purchase and carry depends on his Resource skill. If a hero doesn’t have this skill, he may only buy up to 5 runes for any spell. The higher a hero’s Resource skill, the more runes he may have (See “Appendices, Hero Skills” for more). During each combat round, you will see a set of randomly selected spells from your hero’s Book appear in his hand at the lower left-hand corner of the combat screen.
task there, e.g. attack an enemy hero or a monster, pick up resources, capture a structure, enter a shop, learn from a Master, attack a Castle, etc. Heroes can move to any specified point on the map provided they can see it and there are no obstructions. Some portions of the map are not immediately visible (the "fog of war") but will become revealed as the heroes explore the map. Heroes will always try to take the shortest route to a selected destination, bypassing enemies when possible.
There are four types of alliances: Ethereal Truce Attacking the other party in ether or casting offensive global spells is not allowed. Helpful global spells act for both parties. Land Truce Attacking the other party’s heroes or structures is not allowed. Shared Access to Shops Parties can buy spells and runes in each other’s shops. Shared Field of Vision Territory and objects seen by one party’s heroes or structures are visible to the other party too.
B E Enemy’s hand † Field O † Your hand B E B – Spell Book, ♣ – Creatures' graveyard, E – ether, O – out of play monster that happens to be on "alien" terrain. If combat occurs between a hero and a monster belonging to the same territory or if both are on “alien” territory, the monster has the advantage. If two heroes start combat on either "home" or "alien" ground, the more experienced hero will have an advantage.
B E Enemy’s hand † Field O † Your hand B E B – Spell Book, ♣ – Creatures' graveyard, E – ether, O – out of play Spellbook: contains pages with spells; heroes always have 15 pages in their Book. Monsters usually have fewer than 15 pages, and the number of runes they may use is also limited. Some stronger monsters may have more than 15 spells. Cantrips can be cast any number of times. More complex spells can be cast only when there are enough runes available.
The Field is the arena where the hero, the enemy, and any summoned creatures are situated. This is where all combat takes place. Creatures that die on the battlefield are sent to the Graveyard. Creatures may rise from the dead, either by special spells or their own abilities; they may then return to the field or be summoned again from the hand. Creatures are located in the graveyard in the order they enter, i.e. recent arrivals are at the top, while the “older” ones are pushed down toward the bottom.
“Defense Phase” below). Some creatures may be temporarily unable to attack, including those resting after being summoned or after acting in the previous phase, creatures you “sent to rest” in exchange for some useful action, or creatures resting under the influence of enemy spells. Restless (a special ability) creatures don’t require rest periods. Creatures possessing the Berserk ability will always attack, even without your orders; it is impossible to bring them back.
The enemy’s attack phase When the enemy’s attack phase begins, he also receives new spells and ether quanta. The enemy may then cast any spells he received and/or summon new creatures. Any creatures he orders to attack will move to the original attack line. Control now returns to you for your defense phase. Your defense phase Attacks can be resisted in several ways. First, there are a few special spells available during the defense phase, but you may not possess them, as they are rare.
If your hero is defeated, you will have to continue the game without him, unless you have the global spell, “Resurrection.” Global Spells Aside from “ground combat,” the use of global spells is another route to victory. Your goal is to destroy or weaken the enemy’s Castle by means of an “ether attack.” Castles have structure points. When a Castle is attacked, it loses structure points as determined by the attacking hero’s level and his ether attack skill.
Duel Mode Duel is a separate game mode in which players perform no actions on the Territory map and can only fight enemies "one-on-one" according to regular ground combat rules. This mode can be either singleplayer (versus computer-controlled enemies) or between two human players. There are no script lines or missions in duel mode; heroes are prepared in advance and fight until victory is achieved. The sole objective in duel mode is to defeat the enemy. A duel may consist of several rounds.
Main Menu After the introductory movie, the first screen you will see is the Main Menu. New game – starts a new game (duel, campaign, or individual mission) Load game – loads any previously saved games Options – sets various game options. Quit – quits to Windows Game Options (-menu) This screen contains two sections: General Options and Combat Options. You can call up the Game Options screen at any time during the game by pressing the key.
The bottom part of the screen has a control bar with a number of buttons (from left to right): General Options page Exit to Windows Ends the game and return to Windows Main Menu Switches to Main Menu Save game Calls up the Save screen Load game Calls up the Load screen Info Calls up a window with information about the current mission Combat options page Surrender Surrenders to the enemy, stopping the current combat (available only from the Combat screen) General Confirm Applies all changes and
Game Screens All game screens can be divided into several groups: • Service screens (Main Menu, New Game, Duel, Mission Selection Menu, etc.
displays all available artifacts. Specialization and Skills windows display the selected specialization and skills for the hero. The grade of skill is indicated by the number of stars to the left of the skill name. Right-click on a skill or specialization to call up detailed information. The Spells section at the bottom displays 15 spell icons available in the hero's Spellbook.
Selecting missions The Mission Selection screen allows you to play a single mission on one of the maps included with the Etherlords program. Each map has its own objectives and conditions that must be met to accomplish the mission. You can select missions using various criteria. The left panel of the screen lists available missions. The first four buttons above allow selecting maps by size, from smallest (on the left) to largest. The fifth button calls up the full mission list.
To save a game, type its name in the text field at the bottom of the screen, then press the Save button. You can use any letter, number, or symbol except <~> (tilde). You can overwrite existing saved games (a warning message will be displayed). Loading games Select the appropriate game from the list, and then press the Load button. Use the scroll bar at the right to scroll up and down the list.
The Territory Map The Territory map is the main game screen, where heroes perform missions, collect resources, capture structures, and make contact with the opposition. This screen is strategic, as opposed to the tactical Combat screen. The Territory map consists of the game field itself, the resource panel at the bottom, and the game panel on the right. Game field (map) The camera can be used to rotate and zoom in and out of any visible portion of the map (see "Camera Controls").
If the destination selected is a structure or an opponent, an icon will appear on the hero's portrait on the game panel, a castle for structures or crossed swords for enemies. Once you issue the "End of Turn" command, the hero will go to the selected point and either capture or use the structure or start combat with the opponent. When selecting their route, heroes will try to avoid opposition if at all possible.
Display Heroes In this mode, the display panel shows all the heroes you control. The picture of the currently selected hero is highlighted. To select a hero, click on his portrait. Double-clicking a hero's picture brings up a screen with more details about your hero (see below).
Global Spells Management Select Castle: Click on any Castle to see what global spells have been cast on it. Available for selected player: This is the list of global spells you can produce in your Castle. Once a spell is selected, you'll see the amount of resources necessary to produce it below. Depending on your ether income, the production process may last more than one day. You can also adjust the amount of ether to be used for producing the spell by pressing the (+) and (–) buttons.
Diplomacy This button calls up the diplomacy screen. Here you can view and alter relations with your partners in a multiplayer game. It also allows you to trade resources, artifacts, and global spells. Relationships between the players are shown on the left.
Mini-map of the game field In the top right corner of the game panel, a mini-map of the current territory is displayed. The lighter rectangle represents the terrain visible on-screen in relation to the rest of the map. The mini-map does not change its orientation when the camera turns. A dark triangle shows the current camera position. When the arrow points straight up, the camera view is oriented due north, and the game field and mini-map orientations coincide.
Hero information screen This screen appears when you doubleclick on a hero’s portrait in the game panel. The top left corner shows the portrait, and the basic parameter values for Level, Life, and Sight. The upper right corner shows the cost (in ether quanta) to maintain this hero, his current experience points, and the amount of experience he needs to reach the next level. Artifacts: displays artifacts and found items containing global spells.
Exchange screen On the Territory map, heroes can swap artifacts, items containing global spells, or global spell components. Heroes cannot swap spells or runes. To make an exchange, heroes must be right next to one another on the map and one of them must be selected. To bring up the exchange screen, select one hero, then press and hold the key while clicking on the second hero. Select one hero’s item/artifact and drag it to the other hero’s “Artifacts” bar.
Buying runes Runes are needed to cast any spell more complex than a cantrip. The number of runes a hero can carry for any given spell is 5, unless he has the Resources skill. The left column of numbers displays the price of one rune for the spell selected in the Book. Below the price list are six buttons. The top row of buttons allow you to buy one rune for the selected spell, buy the maximum number of runes for the selected spell, or buy all possible runes for all spells.
Combat screen The Combat screen is the other basic game screen. This is where combat between heroes and opponents take place. Overall strategy occurs on the Territory map; combat tactics are performed on the Combat screen. The Combat screen is similar for both ground combat and ether combat. The main portion of the Combat screen shows the battlefield terrain and the positions of the combatants and their summoned creatures; the bottom part of the screen displays the combat panel.
Above the opponents are displayed their Life ratings. Above creatures, two parameters are displayed as follows: Power/Toughness. Damage to a hero’s Life is displayed in red flashing numbers as it occurs. A damaged creature’s Toughness is displayed in red. There may be additional icons displayed above heroes and creatures, indicating their properties, current state of the creature (resting or active), the effect of cast spells (e.g.
To use a creature's special ability, select the creature, then click on the appropriate icon in the top row of the combat panel (see below) when it is in “Enchantments” mode. Camera management The Combat screen has two options for camera management, automatic and manual. To switch between these modes, use the Options screen (press ). Automatic mode In automatic mode, the camera will select the "best" perspectives during the combat to show the current actions by the heroes and creatures.
To view the contents of the graveyard, select your hero or the opponent on the battlefield and switch the bar to this mode. When any creature is selected in graveyard mode, or if there are no Enchantments cast against the selected character in Enchantments mode, the top bar disappears from the screen. In Enchantments mode, the top bar shows both enchantments cast against the selected character and any special abilities the character may possess.
• creatures. When the cursor is placed over a valid target, it changes to the “magic” cursor. The spell is cast immediately once you click a valid target. If the spell's description includes a variable parameter, you must set the value in the Information Window to be used for casting the spell as described above. Once cast, spells disappear from the hand. Any spell higher than a cantrip will expend the appropriate rune(s).
Players will have to create heroes with preset parameters in advance; this information will be stored in the players' computers. The player who set up the server chooses the game's resource level, number of rounds, and arena. The Duel starts if both players agree on game conditions. Players choose their heroes' parameters and portraits independently; you'll be able to see the enemy's picture only in the Combat screen.
There’s plenty to do, but there’s time for that later: click on the Etherlords button on the left to enter the Etherlords room. Find or Start an Etherlords Server: Once you’re in the Etherlords room, you can meet and greet other players, find open servers, or create your own server. The top half of the application lists all available servers, including the number of people playing and your connection speed (measured by the “ping” value; a lower ping value equals a faster connection).
Credits Nival Interactive Game Design Executive Producer: Project Manager: Evgeny Ivanov, Dmitry Devishev, Alexander Mishulin, Oleg Glazounov, Serge Orlovsky, Andrey Emelyanenko Serge Orlovsky Andrey Emelyanenko Lead Programmer: 3D Engine Programming: Evgeny Ivanov Evgeny Ivanov, Yuri Blazhevich Game System Programming: AI Programming: Combat AI Programming: Interface Programming: Special Effects Programming: Sound Programming: Network Programming: Editor and Tools Programming: Installer and Autorun: EL
Network Administration: Technical Support: Dmitry Nemtchinov, Vladimir Filkov Mikko Vedru, Evgeny Ermakov Administration: Alexander Ivanov, Elena Rubanova, Olga Chapurskaya, Ekaterina Nepomnyaschaya Testers: Adam ‘Amrith’ Lawson (USA), Alexander ‘Warper’ Anikin (Russia), Alexander ‘Sher’ Wolkov (Russia), Atle ‘Odin’ Wilson (Norway), Bogdan ‘Warge’ Vovnenko (Ukraine), Brendon ‘Startrekfreak’ Green (Australia), Chris ‘Silvarea’ Rush (USA), Cliff ‘Cliff-R’ Roman (USA), David ‘Dar’ Williams (USA), Dennis J
Appendices Characters' parameters In Etherlords, heroes and monsters are described by a number of numerical parameters that determine their magical and combat abilities. A hero’s parameters often improve by successfully completing various missions. Each hero has a unique Specialization and set of skills that he can acquire to become even stronger. Your enemies also have certain unique abilities and properties.
Heroes' specializations Kobolds' Cunning Orcs' Overrun Bats' Thievery Rats' Tenacity Stones' Wrath Fighters' Guile Cutters' Restlessness Pteros' Purifyin g Strike Veloses-Twins Dazzling Illusion Evil Eyes' Gaze Hornets' Interception Treants' Guile Snakes' Venom Finguses' Vitality Halos-Twins Aviaks' Cunning Gibberlings' Restlessness Lamias' Thievery Winds' Wrath Burn Relief Offering to Fire Fortunate Offering Discriminating Lightning Smoke Resistance Greater Energize Quick Repair Suffocation Resistance Sele
Suicidal Hunger Expert Artificer Ironskin Invulnerability Dexterous Hands Free Casting Thrifty Casting Tenacious Hands Raise Dead Rebirth Spell Translocation Physical Resonance Magical Resonance Adhesive Eternal Enchantments Dragon Skin Every time the hero casts the "Hunger" spell, there is a chance to prevent use of the “Regeneration” ability by the target creature The hero has a chance to use the artifact “free-of-charge” (without expending one of the artifact’s charges) The hero has a chance to negate a
Heroes' skills Heroes can gain various skills that give them extra abilities. Each skill has three gradations.
Creatures' abilities Name of Ability Cannot attack Elusive Zap Team Attacker Kobold's Battle Spirit Kobold’s Fortitude Orc's Rage Flying Armor Ghoul Ravenous Ghoul First Strike Berserk Restless Strength of the Fire Flame twister Ethereal Heat Taste of Blood Rat's Brotherhood Trample Living catapult Orc's Endurance Orc's Ritual Regeneration 1 (2, 3) Shadows of Dead Fatalist Raising from Dead Suggestion Haste Unblockable Discard 1 (2, 3) Poisonous Cannot get up Disenchant Cannibalism Lifetap Parasite 1 (2, 3)
Tick's Voracity Debilitating Poison Snake’s Venom Summon Tick Death Spores Insidious Eye Fright Fingus' Battle Spirit Malicious Eye Fear Violent Eye Horror Ethereal Thief 2 (4, 6) Flap of the Wing Aviak’s Battle Spirit Silent Hail Strength of the Winds Ethereal shield Lamia’s Sisterhood Lamia’s magic Scorch Spectral Curse Deadly fatigue Damnation of the Sky Wall Breaker Earthly Damnation Toughness of all Ticks increases by 2 Power and toughness of enchanted creature are reduced by 1 Enchanted hero receives
List of Spells Chaots' creatures (P = power, T = toughness) Class Cantrip Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Ether Name 1 Stink Rat 1 Wall of Burning Rock 1 Kobold Shaman 2 Disease Rat 3 Orc Shaman 4 Plague Rat 4 Rock Wall 6 Doom Rat P/T 1/1 1/3 Description 0/1 1/2 1/2 3/4 0/10 4/5 Rest: deals 1 damage to target creature or hero Rest, pay 1 ether: removes 1 creature from target hero's graveyard Rest: get 1 ether Rest, pay X ether: removes X creatures from target hero's graveyard Walls can
Class Cantrip Cantrip Common Eth 1 3 1 Name Zap Fire Wave Polymorph Common Common Common Rare 1 2 3 1 Winds of Flame Earthquake Burning Graves Disintegrate Common Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare 2 2 2 1 3 3 Whirling Ashes Catastrophe Flame lick Geyser Supernova Cannibalism Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Unique Unique Unique Unique Unique 3 3 4 5 4 6 1 1 1 2 2 Lightning St orm Ether Breeze Annihilation Rift Volcano Ether Storm Ash storm Call Lightning Comet Tremor Ethereal Resonance Unique 4 Firestorm
Unique Unique Unique 7 7 7 Air Elemental Earth Elemental Fire Elemental 3/6 6/6 6/5 Unique Unique Unique Unique 9 9 9 9 Red Dragon Black Dragon Blue Dragon Green Dragon 9/8 8/9 8/8 7/8 Restless. Unblockable Restless. Trample First Strike. Restless. Creature that received damage from Fire Elemental can not use Regeneration ability until the next round Flying. Rest: deals 3 damage to all enemy creatures without Flying ability Flying. Rest: destroys target rested creature Flying.
Unique 2 Power of Balance Unique Unique 4 7 Greater Disenchant Curse of Hunger If the caster has fewer ether channels than his opponent, the caster gains 2 ether channels Removes all enchantments in play Each enemy creature damages itself by X, where X is its power Vitals' creatures (P = power, T = toughness) Class Cantrip Cantrip Common Common Common Common Common Ether 2 3 2 2 3 4 4 Name Spitting Fingus Tick Warrior Treant Sapling Bee Warrior Treant Great Treant Magic Hornet P/T 0/2 2/2 1/1 1/1
Common 3 Thief Common 3 Rare Rare Rare Rare 1 4 4 4 Unique Unique Unique Unique Unique 2 2 2 3 3 Blessing of the Woods Spiritual Web Strength of Woods Dominance Endurance of the Woods Ancient Forest Haste Ether Thorns Enlightenment Fatal Disease Unique Unique 4 4 Vitality Envenoming Creature gains Discard (3) ability (opponent must discard 3 random spells from his hand aft er being hit by creature with Discard (3) ability) Power and toughness of the enchanted creature increase by 2 Controller o
Common 9 Steel Mechos 8/6 Rare 1 Wall of Illusion 0/2 Rare 3 Phantasmal Wall 0/6 Rare Rare 4 5 Wall of Distortion Bronze Mechozaurus 0/8 4/3 Rare 7 Iron Mechozaurus 6/4 Rare 9 Steel Mechozaurus 8/6 Unique Unique 1 1 Bronze Abomination Mini Hopper 1/2 1/2 Unique 2 Hopper 2/3 Unique Unique 3 4 Iron Abomination Maxi Hopper 3/4 3/4 Unique Unique 4 4 Wall of Daggers Cutter Man 2/5 7/4 Unique Unique 5 6 Steel Abomination Sawer Man 5/6 9/6 Unique 6 Female Fighter 6/6
Rare 3 Repair Station Rare 3 Delusion Rare Rare 3 4 Depressing Gas Madness Unique Unique 1 2 Weak Toxin Overload Unique 2 Redirect Unique Unique 4 3 Data Attraction Revive Unique 5 Strong Toxin Recycling. Pay 1 ether: returns target creature from graveyard to hero's hand, deals 1 damage to enemy hero Enchanted creature swaps power and toughness.
Artifacts Amulet of Ether Defense Amulet of Huntress Amulet of Purification Amulet of Unity Ring of Command Ring of Destruction Ring Of Healing Ring Of Paralysis Rod of Colossus Rod of Defense Rod of Dominance Rod of Fire Rod of Insanity Rod of Konung Rod of Lightning Rod of Reflection Rod of Resurrection Scroll of Bless Scroll of Dust Scroll of Maggot Enchanted creature cannot be targeted by spells or abilities Summons the Huntress: First Strike.
Resources Name Non-accumulative Ether Unusual resources – plants Mandrake root Black lotus Rare resources – minerals Blood ruby Poison emerald Star sapphire Smoke diamond Unique resource Frozen flame Source Ether sources (red, blue, green, black) Mandrake garden Black lotus garden Ruby mine Emerald mine Sapphire mine Diamond mine Fire glacier Shops and their wares: Apprentice's Lab Common magic spells Summoner's Hut Common summoning spells Sorcerer's Lab Rare magic spells Summoner's Tower Rare summ
Castle Bane Shock Resonance Clock of the Apocalypse Combat only Enchanted hero deals 150% damage to the enemy Castle If enchanted Castle is damaged, this spell retaliates by damaging all enemy castles with equal reciprocal damage Each game round damages all castles, increasing by 1 point of damage each round after the spell is cast (e.g. first round, 1 damage point; second round, 2 damage points, etc.
Game Controls Legend Key combinations are shown as <1st key> + <2nd key>; to perform the operation, press and hold the first key and then press the second one. Mouse controls: Symbols Description Left button click Right button click Double click Action Clicks left button Clicks right button Double-clicks (left button) Pressing and holding the right mouse button over an object always calls up a contextual tool tip window describing the object.
