User Guide

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).

You use artifacts in a similar way: switch the lower bar to the Artifacts mode by pressing the lower icon

to the left of the Hand bar. Artifacts use charges in the same manner that spells use runes. The

frequency with which an artifact can be used during a single combat depends on the hero’s Artificer

skill.

Dispelling enchantments

Players can cast enchantments on either their own or an enemy’s characters. These enchantments can

be helpful (e.g. Strength) or harmful (e.g. Envenom). Enchanted creatures will be marked at the end of

each turn – heroes and creatures with helpful enchantments will have a blue circle rotating around them,

while harmful enchantments are signified by red circles. Enchantments cast on heroes or your own

creatures can be dispelled in two ways. One method is to cast a spell of your own, such as “Lesser

Disenchant,” to dispel the harmful effect. Under some conditions, an enchantment may be dispelled by

expending Life and/or ether quanta (e.g. to remove the Synthet enchantment, “Immobilize,” from one of

your creatures). To do this, select the creature or hero and click on the enchantment's icon in

Enchantment mode.

Multiplayer games

General

Etherlords can be played in Duel mode via a LAN or the Internet; players can also connect to the

GameSpy master-server. Players can also play through a special GameSpy Arcade client program

bundled with the game. Please refer to the “How to Play Etherlords in GameSpy Arcade” section

below.

Support for multiplayer games on the territory map will be available soon as a special patch (with

supplemental manual). Currently, network games can be played by only two players: one of them will

set up a server on his computer, while the other will connect to the server as a client (see below for

details). When the two players agree to start the game, they establish a direct communication link and

other players will not be able to connect to them. Players will be able to send messages to each other

both while setting up the server and during gameplay; messages will be displayed in the upper section of

the screen or in the console window.

During a LAN game, servers are detected during broadcast request, and the list will be displayed in the

connection window. If a client wants to connect via the Internet, he must specify the IP-address of the

server; which will be saved for future game sessions. When you connect to the GameSpy master-server

(using either the built-in game screen or GameSpy Arcade), you enter the Etherlords title room, where

you can view existing game sessions, create your own game, or join an open session as a client. Players

can also chat with other visitors in the room.

LAN games are based on the TCP/IP network protocol. To play via the Internet, you must have an

Internet connection (= 19.2 K modem, cable/DSL, or a dedicated line). To launch your own server,

you’ll need direct Internet access (your IP-address must be available from the external network).