AD&D: Heroes of the Lance
Game Guide
by Ed the Moogle
Version 1.2
Copyright 2001 Ed the Moogle

Not official in any way. Don't copy or alter this FAQ without permission. If
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and it must not be used in any kind of money-making scheme, including but not
limited to: Appearing with ad-banners, pop-up windows, within frames, or within
any kind of publication. I am not to be held responsible for any damages done
with this file or it's contents. Latest version is at http://www.gamefaqs.com.
Check the latest version before you e-mail me with questions or comments, or
before telling me I'm an idiot because I made a mistake. Failure to do this
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If you see this FAQ on any of these sites, or any other site that uses my files
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This guide looks best in 640x480 resolution in Windows Notepad.

What you will NOT find in this FAQ:

-Flaming or bashing of Heroes of the Lance, for 'tis a most excellent game!
-Funny humor pertaining to this game in general!
-Game Genie/Pro Action Replay codes, because I do not yet know of any.

What you WILL find in this FAQ:

-Cheesy humor, written by none other than myself!
-All the info you could ever need on HOTL, outside of patch codes!
-The word "Cheese" no less than four times from this point on!

-FAQs: Frequently asked questions from the confused and enlightened alike.
-Controls: For those who still don't know how to pick up objects...
-HEROES: Can't have a game called "Heroes of the Lance" without heroes, right?
-Items: From Michael Jordan Cologne to Quivers, it's all here.
-Spells: Magic Hammer...Burning Hands...decisions, decisions...
-Enemies: Oh no! Not the nude dwarves!
-Closing: The Credits and Contact Information, where heroes get their dues.

*****************************************
**Section I: Frequently Asked Questions**
*****************************************

Q. Why'd you write an FAQ for Heroes of the Lance, of all things?
A. Why, to help those that have not yet completed this most excellent gem of
games, of course!

Q. Do you seriously like this game, or are you being sarcastic?
A. I do like this game, actually. It's not as bad as most people make it out to
be. Granted, it's not the BEST game out there, but it certainly doesn't deserve
most of the criticism it's gotten.

Q. Ugh...this game is awful! It's impossible to control, and the dungeon mazes
are impossible to get through!
A. See the aptly named "Controls" section for help with
the first (quite passable) obstacle! As for the second, read on in the
Frequently Asked Questions section!

Q. I can't get out of this first room. That pit is too wide for even Raistlin
to cross!
A. Indeed, bards the world over have sung of unawars't knights and mages, who
have tried to leap the pit in vain. One thing I have noticed from these tales,
though, is that all of these heroes did not hold the Up or Down key when their
compass' directions where highlighted in order to enter the nearest door! 'Tis
a shame.

Q. Ahh! My heroes are being slain by an invincible, shin-kicking dwarf!
A. You must use logic, fellow hero! Hold Down and Forward simultaneously on the
controller, then hold the B button to aim your attacks low, and put any
would-be invincible enemy in your sights!

Q. Ach! A black dragon be whacking down my fellow heroes like weeds!
A. Quickly, sir, there is no time to spare! Have Goldmoon cast the Deflect
Dragon Breath spell (see "Spells" section for more info). This will temporarily
nullify the acidic scourge, allowing you to jab away at the black beastie!

Q. Ahh, that last bottle of Michael Jordan Colog...err...Potion, hath increased
my Heroism. And what doth this do to help me?
A. It doth bost your heroes morale and further entrust your heroes to a place
in the legendary HOTL hall of fame, it doth! Only true heroes reek of
excellence!

Q. Avast! I am cursed to spend eternity starting sentences with vowels if this
ghost doth beat me! And the spectre hath the upper hand!
A. A dire predicament, indeed. To escape such a situation, one must use either
the magical attacks of Raistlin or Goldmoon to defeat the unholy image, or
simply run away from it.

Q. I feel a sudden urge to go out and purchase a bottle of Michael Jordan
Cologne after playing this game. Is this normal?
A. Indeed, it is. MJ Cologne is the preferred fragrance of HOTL players
worldwide, and the urge meets them all eventually. Rush to the nearest store
without delay!

Q. Wtf? Waterfall!!
A. A waterfall of Excellence! It refills the HP of all of your living
characters! Isn't that Excellent?!

Q. What's that cauldron do?
A. I'm not yet sure what the mysterious cauldron does. Among other things, it
has been argued that it is a cauldron of AWESOMENESS, a container for large
quantities of Michael Jordan cologne, or one of the elusive Distant Alarm
Bells. Unfortunately, none of this seems to matter, as there doesn't appear to
be a way to reach it or otherwise interact with it without falling down the pit
that it is hung over.

Q. Hey, what do all these treasures and stuff do?
A. Treasures such as Pouchese and Quivers are used as ammunition for
Tasslehoff's hoopak and Riverwind and Tanis' bows respectively. Other items
such as gems and shields are simply for extra points at the end of the game. Of
course, any true hero will desire to collect all of them to increase their
score!

Q. Oh, no! Goldmoon just kicked the bucket. Can I revive her?
A. Unfortunately, no. Once Goldmoon is killed, she cannot be revived, as she is
the only one with the power to use the Raise Dead spell.

Q. But if Goldmoon is dead, I can't beat the Dragon!
A. Don't give up yet, fellow hero! Have one of the three others able to equip
it- Sturm, Riverwind or Caramon- equip her Clerical Staff. They will be able to
make use of some of Goldmoon's spells, and they will also be able to use it to
defeat the dragon.

Q. They're all dead! Can I still beat the dragon?
A. Unfortunately, no. None of the other four heroes are able to wield the staff
for any length of time, lest they be harmed by a brilliant flash of light.
You'd best start over or go back to a previous save.

Q. Umm, Goldmoon/another staff-wielding character fell into a pit. Can I get
the staff back?
A. Nope. Once someone falls down a pit, all of their stuff (not to mention the
person themself) is lost. You'd best go back to an old save.

Q. I just used Final Strike with Raistlin. Can I get him back?
A. Unfortunately, the Final Strike spell obliterates every trace of Raistlin's
being, so there is no chance of him being revived after the Final Strike is
used.

Q. Can anyone else use Raistlin's staff if he dies?
A. Nope. Anyone who attempts to take the staff will be harmed by a flash of
light. Unlike the Blue Crystal Staff, however, it is not required to win the
game.

Q. Why can't I equip/get rid of Sturm's Long Sword +3?
A. According to the Dragonlance storyline, Sturm's Long Sword +3 is a memento
of his late father, and thus he refuses to get rid of it. Unfortunately, he is
also unable to wield it, so it's mainly just going taking up space in his
inventory. The only way to get rid of it is to kill him off (you can revive him
after doing so) and not pick it back up.

Q. Why haven't you written a complete walkthrough for this game, Ed? I'm lost!
A. Well, the game isn't too long or too terribly tough to figure out from start
to finish (plus, I can't remember the path from start to finish anyway). There
are just a few things to keep in mind. Taking a door to the north or south will
take you to the same room, for one. Secondly, whenever you see a round,
oval-shaped object in the back wall, press Up to go into it. This will take you
to the next level down. After passing through a third tunnel like this, you
will be very close to the end of the game.

But if you still need help, you can check out one of the two Heroes of the
Lance walkthroughs, available at www.gamefaqs.com .

Q. AAHHH! B...B...BIG BLACK DRAGON! HELP!
A. Fear not, fellow Hero! The end of the game is but a stone's throw (six steps
in HEROIC terms) away, and defeating this monstrosity is, in actually, easier
than it appears.

Step One: Move Goldmoon/the person with the Blue Crystal Staff to the front of
the line.
Step Two: Have Goldmoon (if she's alive) cast Prayer.
Step Three: Have Goldmoon (or someone else with the Staff) cast Deflect Dragon
Breath.
Step Four: Hold B, then press Forward to throw the staff into the Dragon's
face, thus killing it instantly.
Step Five: Run to the right while avoiding the falling chunks of debris, and
grab the Discs of Mishakal.
Step Six: Wait around for a few seconds, crack open a Coke, and enjoy the
excellent endgame sequence.

Q. The ending mentions a sequel. Is there a sequel to this game?
A. Yes, actually, there is! It's called Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Dragons
of Flame, and it appears on several computer consoles and the NES! It is
definitely a recommended play for those who enjoyed the first game!

Q. Where can I converse with other HOTL fans about this heroic game?
A. You can visit my site message board at
http://www.angelfire.com/games3/edthemoogle and then click on the image with
Mr. T talking about a message board to access my personal boards. You can also
look up one of the two message boards for this game and its Sega Master System
counterpart at http://www.gamefaqs.com.

Q. Wow! Suddenly, this game seems a lot more fun than I originally thought!
Thanks Ed!
A. Always glad to help another hero down the path to gaming excellence.

Q. What other hero? You wrote all these questions yourself!
A. Look out! A nude dwarf!

Q. AIEEEEEEEEEEE!
A. Ha ha. I'm bad.

Q.
A. I'm standing in a queue. I also like words that start with "Q." Queen,
Quick, Quiet...

************************
**Section II: Controls**
************************

The controls in Heroes of the Lance are as follows.

When outside of combat...

Left/Right- Move your heroes in slow, HEROIC strides. Holding this button for a
short period of time will cause them to run.

Up-Left/Up-Right- Holding the directional pad diagonally up and left or right
will cause your heroes to instantly break into a run.

A- While running, press A to make your current hero jump.

Down+A- While standing still, hold Down and press A to duck down and avoid
enemy projectiles.

B- If your character has a long-range weapon, press and hold B to ready it. Tap
Forward on the directional pad to fire it.

Select- Brings up the menu.

When inside combat...

Note: The controls are the same as being inside of combat except as noted.

B + Up-Left/Up-Right - Attack upward. This is the only way to attack those
pesky ghosts.

B- Attack in front of you. This will be useful for defeating most enemies.

B + Down-Left/Down-Right - Attack downward. Useful for those annoying spiders
and shin-kicking dwarves.

While on the menu...

A- Confirm the highlighted choice.
B- Cancel out of the current menu.
Select- Exit menu.

***********************
**Section III: HEROES**
***********************

The statistics were taken from the intruction manual.

Goldmoon- The righteous babe of the Heroes of the Lance, and the only character
capable of using the Blue Crystal Staff to its full extents. She isn't a great
front-line fighter, though. Do keep her in the front row so she can use her
spells, though.

Strength: 12
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 16
Dexterity: 14
Constitution: 12
Charisma: 17
Hit Points: 19

Sturm- The most HEROIC hero of them all (his mustache says it all). Sturm is a
strong front-line fighter, and posesses strength that is beaten by only one
other character in the party. A worthwhile "backup" fighter in case your lead
character falls in combat.

Strength: 17 (+1 bonus)
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 11
Dexterity: 12
Constitution: 16
Charisma: 12
Hit Points: 29

Raistlin- Raistlin's low HP and overall low stats make him a character that
should be kept out of the front of the party at all times. However, Raistlin is
the only character who can wield the Staff of Magius, which is the party's
primary source of spell warfare. I don't recommend using the staves and scrolls
you find around Xak Tsaroth, as this will require you to move him to the front
row (although this can be useful in long-range combat). As a bonus, he also
hovers for a bit in the air when he jumps, allowing him to leap pits much
farther than an average hero could cross.

Strength: 10
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 14
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 10
Charisma: 10
Hit Points: 8

Caramon- The strongest physical fighter of all of the heroes, both in long and
short-ranged combat. Caramon can fight up close with a sword (and take a lot of
hits before going down), or throw his spear at long ranges to attack the enemy.

Strength: 18/63 (+3 bonus)
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 10
Dexterity: 11
Constitution: 17
Charisma: 15
Hit Points: 36

Tanis- A useful character, not only for his short-range combat ability but his
bow, which allows him to strike enemies from a distance. Has considerably high
ratings in all statistics. I like to use him as a "backup" character in case
one of my other two fighters is killed. Until then, though, I usually just keep
him in the back row.

Strength: 16
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 13
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 12
Charisma: 15
Hit Points: 35

Tasslehoff- Tasslehoff's overly low statistics make him a character that is not
overly useful in short-range combat. However, he excels in long-ranged battle
like no other. His hoopak fires attacks very rapidly, meaning that one can take
down an enemy from a distance with relative ease. Best used in places where
enemies guard the edges of pits and will knock you in when you try to cross. He
also has the distinct ability of spotting and removing traps while in the lead
of the party, making him useful.

Strength: 13
Intelligence: 9
Wisdom: 12
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 14
Charisma: 11
Hit Points: 15

Riverwind- The second-strongest short range combatant of all the heroes, and a
long-range archer to boot. One of the better characters to have in the front
ranks of your party.

Strength: 18/35 (+3 bonus)
Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 14
Dexterity: 16
Constitution: 13
Charisma: 13
Hit Points: 34

Flint- A short, armored dwarf with the ability to evade most high-aimed
projectile attacks effortlessly. CHe's ealso a pretty strong fighter to boot,
and has the highest HP total of any character. Useful when fighting large
groups of enemies.

Strength: 16 (+1 bonus)
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 12
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 18
Charisma: 13
Hit Points: 42

Recommended Starting Party

>From left to right (Front Row)

Caramon   Sturm   Goldmoon    Raistlin

Skid Row

Flint     Tanis   Tasslehoff  Riverwind

*********************
**Section IV: Items**
*********************

There are numerous items to be found within the city of Xak Tseroth. Some will
prove useful to your characters in combat, others will simply be there to add
to your score at the end of the game.

Magical Items

Item             Effect

Gem Ring         Increases the user's defense to a larger degree than the Ring.
Ring             Increases the user's defense.
Scroll           Allows the Magic Missile or Lightning Bolt spell to be invoked
once. Can only be used by Raistlin.
Wand             Allows the Magic Missile spell to be invoked once. Can only be
used by Raistlin.

"Points Only" items

Item              Point Value

Bracelet          5000
Cheliese          50
Coins             50
Disks of Mishakal 2000
Gems              10
Gold&Silver Bars  50
Knives            100
Shields           100

Note: I have not yet found a Bracelet. Does anyone know where to find one of
these?

Potions

Potion Type        Effect

Green              Invokes the Heal Light Wounds spell on the user
Blue               Invokes the Heal Major Wounds spell on the user
Yellow             Increases the user's Heroism and confidence*
Red                Invokes the Charm spell on the user
Orange             Increases the user's strength

*I'm not sure what effect this has upon the user yet. Any help?

Other Items

Quivers- Arrows for Tanis and Riverwinds' bows.
Swords- Weaponry, of course! Your characters can equip these for use in
short-range combat!
Spear- Caramon's throwing spear.
Pouches- Ammo for Tasslehoff's mighty rock-slinging Hoopak!
Long Sword +3- Sturm's fearful blade. However, he cannot wield it.
Staff of Magius- Raistlin's staff. Very useful thing to have.
Blue Crystal Staff- Goldmoon's staff. A necessity to complete the game.

**********************
**Section V: Spells***
**********************

Staff of Magius Spells (Magic User spells)
Note: To use one of the "attack" spells (denoted with an "@") as a
long-distance attack, you need only cast it once. Subsequent casts can be
handled by holding down the B button and tapping Forward, much the same as
firing Riverwind or Tanis' bow. Raistlin must be in the front of the line to do
this, however.

Note: The staff of Magius has 100 Charges.

Spell              Charges    Descriptor

Charm              1          This will temporarily stun a monster.
Sleep              1          This temporarily immobilizes a monster, leaving
                            it open to attack.
Magic Missile@     1          Fires a long-range projectile attack.
Web@               2          Temporarily immobilizes the first monster it
                           hits. Lasts longer than Sleep.
Detect Magic       1          Makes a magical item on the screen sparkle.
                           (not sure where this spell can be put to use)
Detect Invisible   2          Shows the locations of any onscreen invisible
                           objects (not sure where this can be put to use)
Burning Hands@     1          A projectile attack that inflicts more damage'
                           than Magic Missile, but has less range.
Final Strike       All        This move completely obliterates Raistlin and
                remaining  all onscreen enemies. Can only be used when out
              charges    of "Combat" range.

Blue Crystal Staff Spells (Clerical Staff Spells)

Note: To use one of the "Attack" spells (denoted with an "@") as a
long-distance attack, you need only cast it once. Subsequent casts can be
handled by holding down the B button and tapping Forward, much the same as
firing Riverwind or Tanis' bow. Goldmoon must be at the front of the line to do
this, however.

Note: The Blue Crystal Staff has 200 Charges.

Note: Spells that can be used only by Goldmoon are noted with an Asterisk (*).

Spell              Charges    Descriptor

Cure Light Wounds  1          Heals 1-8 HP of one HERO.
Protect from Evil* 1          Weakens enemy and trap damage for a short time.
Find Traps         2          Shows all hidden traps onscreen (falling rocks,
                            etc.)
Hold Person*@      2          Temporarily renders an enemy unable to move.
Spiritual Hammer*@ 2          A medium-powered projectile attack.
Prayer*            3          Lessens the amount of damage taken temporarily.
Cure Crticl Wounds 5          Restores 5-27 HP to one HERO.
Raise Dead*        5          Restores a fallen ally to life (only works if
                           the character's display shows a grayed-out
                        portrait, and not a tombstone)
Deflect Drgn Brth  10         Protects all of the HEROES from the deadly acid
                            breath of dragons.

************************
**Section VI: Enemies***
************************

Human Warrior- Human Warriors are possibly the least of your worries in Xak
Tseroth. Four whacks with a sword will do them in.

Bozak Draconian- A pesky opponent, indeed. They will often prefer to back up
and fire magical spells from a distance. The best way to defeat these monsters
is to get close and whack away at them in close combat, where they are not
nearly as deadly. Just watch out for their "dying shot", where they fire off
one last round of magic before fading from the battlefield.

Aghar- Nude dwarves have been the bane of many who play HOTL, but if one knows
how to deal with them they can be defeated with relative ease. Just hit 'em
four times to defeat them, and back away when they begin striking you
repeatedly.

Giant Spider- One could think of them as a weaker version of the Nude Dwarves,
in the fact that they are defeated in much the same way but only take two hits
to destroy.

Hatchling Black Dragon- One of the deadliest enemies in the entire game. These
guys will rush into battle, getting just close enough to bombard the player
with deadly dragon breath. However, when this attack is rendered ineffective,
they will simply try to back up until they are back in acid-spewing range.
Should they back into a wall or be defeated beforehand, they should no longer
be a problem. These guys seem to be immune to most magic spells, so be careful.

Ghosts- Nearly-invisible baddies that are a pain in the neck to fight. Use some
Magic or long-range attacks to take them out quickly.

Wraith- Only vulnerable to magic attacks, these flying spectres are little more
than annoyances. I often prefer to just run past them.

************************
**Section VII: Closing**
************************

I would like to thank the following HEROES who made this FAQ possible.

-TSR, for creating Dungeons and Dragons, for without it this game would most
likely not have been made!

-FCI, the creators of this most excellent game! "Not just kid stuff," indeed!
More like "HEROES stuff!"

-The many authors who have composed the excellent Dragonlance series of books!

-Rick Wilson and George MacDonald, the authors of the HOTL instruction manual,
for it was very helpful in creating this guide.

-Everyone at the HOTL Crew: Sturms Mustache, Brak/Eagle Eyes/Mr T Rocks/[insert
whatever name he goes by now], BrakZero, thefullhomey, Sabin Rene Figaro,
matt91486, Psycho Penguin, LeeverBane, glenn frog knight, c pdm rb (did I spell
this right?), Caffiene Commando, Ricky Retardo, hover
over poop, Marvel Man, and anyone else I may have not listed here, for bringing
recognition to this sorely underrated piece of AWESOMEware!

-The person on EBay who sold me this game, for without it I would have to
settle with the cheesey ROM version!

-CjayC, for posting this FAQ. Now if I could only talk him into posting my
updated review...

-My excellent Pentium 166 computer, obviously.

This FAQ appears no thanks to...

-Nintendo Power, for naming this one of the worst games of all time in their
100th issue!

-My printer, for being a worthless piece of $&@%war
