RA2: Ship of Horror Online Player's Guide

Necessary Programs

     RA2: Ship of Horror is designed for use with SSI's Unlimited Adventures, and cannot be played without this program. To find out more about Unlimited Adventures, you need to view the Helpme.txt file included in the zip file.

    The numerous hacks included with this module require UAShell to function properly. The game will be unplayable without this program. UAShell is a freeware program and can be downloaded from the UA File Archive. If you already have UAShell, I recommend updating to the current version, or at least version 9.10, with which Ship of Horror was created. Versions older than 8.82 are incapable of handling some of the more recent hacking discoveries which are used in this module.

Installing the Game

    Well, first you must download the file, which can be found at the UA File Archive, or my own website. Then just follow the directions below..

1. Place the ra2.zip file within your main FRUA directory.

2. Extract the zip file to this directory, using the instructions below:

Using Winzip: Simply click on the file ra2.zip to open it, then extract it to your main FRUA directory. Make sure that the option to "Use folder names" is checked in the Extract window. Then Winzip should automatically create the necessary directories and set everything up for you.

Using Pkunzip: Open a DOS window and go to the directory where ra2.zip is now located. Then type "pkunzip -d" to extract the files into the proper directories.

3. Once these steps are completed, start up UAShell and select Designs, then Apply, then ra2.dsn. This will install all of the hacks needed to play the adventure. Then just select Designs, then Run to begin the game!

Character Information

    If you want to use the pre-generated party that is included, you don't need to read any further in this section. Instead, you can read about the included characters on the Characters page. If you wish to transfer your characters into the design from some adventure other than RQ1: Night of the Walking Dead, RA3: Touch of Death and/or RA1: Feast of Goblyns, please read on...

    Transferring Characters: So you would like your own characters to continue their adventures in Ravenloft? Well, if you must, just copy the character files into the ra2.dsn/Save directory, start the game, add your characters and play. There are a few things to keep in mind however. First, Ship of Horror was designed for adventurers from eighth to tenth level, for ideal gameplay and challenge.  The game will still be enjoyable with higher-level characters, but be aware that most of the battles will be very easy. Lower level characters will have a very difficult time with many of the combats.  The other major factor is regarding the large number of  hacked items. Because so many items have been replaced or altered, there will be display problems if you enter the game with equipment. It would be a good idea to drop all items before transferring the characters into the game. For these reasons, I strongly recommend creating new characters or using the pre-generated party that is included.
 

Playing the Game

    Underwater Combat:  Yes, you heard right, underwater combat!  There will be a few times your adventures take you below the waters and to the ocean floor, and you'll encounter some hostile creatures in the gloomy waters found there.  Once you dive into the depths, you'll find your movement is slowed, the swing of your weapons is less powerful, and you will be unable to cast fire-based spells.  There are some beneficial effects as well; as indicated in the Player's Handbook, the area of effect for the Ice Storm spell will be larger, and just wait until you see what a Lightning Bolt can do...

    Searching vs. Looking: Searching is seldom necessary during this adventure, until perhaps the final stage. If you seem to be stuck or are specifically looking for something that you can't seem to find then you should search, but otherwise it's really a waste of time.  A much better alternative, and my suggestion, is to use the Look command. Most of the time you can "Look" at a door to read the sign hanging above it or "Look" at a statue to examine it. The Look command can also trigger an action. For example,  if you find yourself staring at a wall that you suspect might be a secret door, try using Look to activate it.

    Fear Checks: An important part of any Ravenloft adventure, fear checks are a way of role-playing the terror that is experienced during game play.  Although they are not found in standard UA, I was able to implement an approximation of a fear check which you will encounter just once. The effects of fear can be very dangerous, as it can leave your characters paralyzed with terror at the beginning of a battle.

    Gathering Information: A big part of this adventure is a mystery.  Talk to everyone you can.  There will be times aboard the Endurance that you are free to roam the ship.  I've designed the adventure in a way that the NPCs are constantly moving about the ship, and it is safe for you to assume that if an NPC has moved, he or she has something new to say.

    Enchanted Items: Don't expect to find a trove of magical items in this adventure.  This is not the fantasy world of the Forgotten Realms; magic is much more rare in Ravenloft.  You will find a few items, but remember that this is the fourth adventure in a series of six, and there is more to come. Your characters will gain bigger and better weapons as they grow in experience.  The best weapons so far were to be found in Feast of Goblyns, if you explored very thoroughly.  Still, the final battle will yield some items handy to your magic users.

    Area View: I usually try to leave Area View on for most maps, just to help you out if you get lost.  Unfortunately, this game was large enough that I needed to arrange some of the areas in creative ways; therefore, I had to leave Area View off in some places.  Sorry about that, but there aren't really any mazes.  You can do it.

    Saving your Game: Because I like to use event chains, there are places where saving a game, exiting play, and returning later can get you stuck. I've eliminated all the crucial problems, but not some of the minor ones. If you go to a training hall, save, quit, and return later, just press the "Look" command to retrigger the event chain and you'll be fine. If you get stuck, reload your last saved game and "Look" to get back on track.

    The Password: I have locked the editor with a password. I have done this simply because I want to urge you not to look through the art or pick through all the dungeons before you play the entire game at least once, as this will surely spoil many of the surprises found throughout. Once you have completed the adventure, you can unlock the editor with my name, Darius.

    Final Note: This adventure combines both the mystery found in Night of the Walking Dead and Touch of Death with the large scale adventure found in Feast of Goblyns.  If you feel lost, confused and even clueless at times, don't worry. You're supposed to be. But don't give up. All things will be revealed to you soon enough.  There are many, many helpful clues strewn about the game and everything will be explained in time.  Just make sure you pay attention to what the major NPCs (and your own PCs) say as they will direct you towards your next course of action.  Also, since this adventure is somewhat large, you might want to take notes; especially if your playing sessions are spread out over time.