Dragon Warrior I Online Manual

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The Story of Dragon Warrior

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In olden days of yore, the realm of Alefgard was cloaked in darkness. According to legend, a brave warrior, Erdrick, brought light back to the land by defeating an evil being. He used the balls of light bequeathed to him by a friend to drive off the enemies of Alefgard. He then gave the balls of light to King Lorik, who unified Alefgard. The land was at peace for many generations.

In the time of King Lorik XVI, the balls of light were stolen from Tantegel Castle by the evil Dragonlord, and once again the kingdom of Alefgard was plunged into darkness. Many travellers fell prey to the merciless fangs of monsters, and the beautiful countryside was transformed into poisonous marshes that hindered travellers. It was also rumored that several towns and villages were destroyed; wiped off the face of the land by ghosts and dragons.

Many brave warriors tried to recover the balls of light, but none of them ever returned from Charlock, the Dragonlord's dark castle. The people longed for peace, but did not give up hope. The great seer Mahetta predicted that "One day, a descendent of the valiant Erdrick shall come forth to defeat the Dragonlord."

Who is this brave soul? There is only one possible answer.
You.

Your quest is to find and defeat the evil Dragonlord. The time has come. This is the start of your adventure.

Welcome to the Realm of "Dragon Warrior"

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Jump to Begin a Quest-- Jump to Continue a Quest-- Jump to Change Message Speed
Jump to Copy a Quest-- Jump to Erase a Quest

Insert the Dragon Warrior Pak in the NES Control Deck and turn the power on. The title of the game will appear on the screen and the opening music will start to play.

Press the Start button, then the display will change to the one on the right.

You can choose an option by moving the arrow cursor with the control pad. Press A to activate your choice. The screen will change to something similar to this.

Begin a New Quest
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If you are going to start a new game, bring the arrow cursor to "BEGIN A NEW QUEST" and press the A button on Controller 1. The display will change to the one shown at right. This is where you can register your name. * Use the Control Pad to select a letter then enter it by pressing the A button *If you make a mistake while entering your name, bring the arrow cursor to "BACK" and press the A button. The cursor in the name window will go back one space for each time you press the A button. *You can enter names up to eight characters long.

Now that you've entered your name. Next, press the A button, then the display will change to that shown at right. This is where you can select the message speed. You can choose an option by moving the arrow cursor with the Control Pad, and then pressing the A button. Now the game screen will appear. Let's get on with the adventure.

Continue a Quest
(to continue saved games)
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If you wish to continue a previously saved game, move the arrow cursor to "CONTINUE A QUEST" and press the A button.

The display will change to show the Adventure Logs. Here you can continue any one of three previous adventures which can be stored as Adventure Logs in the Imperial Scrolls of Honor. Once you have chosen an adventure, you will continue that adventure with all the strength and items you had when it was saved.

Change Message Speed
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Select the Adventure Log for which you want to change the message speed by using the control pad and then pushing the A button. You will then be asked: "Which Message Speed Do You Want To Use?" Again, use the Control Pad to choose the Message Speed for your Adventure Log- either Fast, Normal, or Slow- then push the A button.

Copy a Quest
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This option allows you to copy the attributes of one character that has been recorded on an Adventure Log to another Adventure Log.

You might want to make a copy of an Adventure Log to protect against possible erasure, or if a friend wants to play at a higher level.

First, select the Adventure Log you want to copy by using your Control Pad. Then push the A button. You will be given a choice of Adventure Logs to which you can copy. (You can only copy into an Adventure Log that does not already contain a character's quest.) Push the A button to select the Adventure Log you want to copy to.

You will then be asked Yes or No: Yes if you want to copy, No if you have decided against making a copy.

Erase a Quest
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Select the Adventure Log you want to erase. The status of the character in the chosen Adventure Log will be displayed. You will then have to answer Yes or No: Yes if you want to erase the Adventure Log, and No if you want to keep it as it is.

If you select Yes, the character is gone forever and cannot be retrieved. Make sure you really want to erase a game before using this option.

How to use the Controller and Displays

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Control Pad

This moves your character up, down, left and right. When entering commands, this pad moves the flashing arrow cursor in the command window in the same direction.

A Button When you press this button, the command window appears on the screen and you can enter commands. Use the Control Pad to bring the arrow cursor to the command that you wish, then press the A button.
If you press this button while the down arrow is flashing in the text window, the next text window will be displayed. B button Press this button to cancel a command.

Screen appearance

The command window will appear when you press the A button while you're in the walkabout mode.

Your present status will be displayed in the status window. LV is your level. HP is hit points, your life force. Mp is magic power. G is gold. E is experience. See More about your character for more details

Entering Commands During Walkabout Mode

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Jump to Talk-- Jump to Status-- Jump to Stairs
Jump to Door-- Jump to Spell-- Jump to Item
Jump to Search-- Jump to Take

Talk
Back to Enter Commands

When you choose this command, you can speak in the direction you are facing. (See image at right) You can't speak to anybody unless that person is right in front of you.

However, you can speak to people in shops and inns, etc. if you're standing at the counter. (See image at right)

Status
Back to Enter Commands

You can find out just how much strength you possess in many different areas. See More About Your Character for details.

Stairs
Back to Enter Commands

Place your character on the stairway and choose this command to go up or down stairs (see image at right)

This command won't work if you're not directly over the staircase (as the character in the image right is)

Door
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You can open doors if you have a key. Use keys wisely. You can only use a key once and you will need a key for each door.

Spell
Back to Enter Commands

You can chant magic spells. Use the Control Pad to choose the spell and press the A button to cast the spell. This command doesn't work if you haven't learned any spells yet.

Item
Back to Enter Commands

Choose this command to use the items that you have acquired. Select an item with the Control Pad, then press the A button to use that item. The item menu appears over the command window as shown in the image to the right.

Search
Back to Enter Commands

Use this command to search the area at your feet.

Take
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Use this command to open Treasure Chests. Move over the Treasure Chest and use this command to take what is inside. (See image at right)

If you are not directly over the treasure chest (As the character in the image right) You cannot use this command

Entering Commands During Fighting Mode

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When you leave a castle or town, lots of monsters will come out to attack you. If you happen to bump into one of them, the game will automatically enter the fight mode.

Carry on fighting while keeping an eye on your hit points until the enemy is defeated

Fight

You can fight monsters with any weapons you may have or with your bare fists (if you have no weapons).

In most fights, you won't be able to defeat the enemy with one blow. You may suffer some damage, but you can carry on until you've defeated the monster.

Run

As you suffer damage, the Hit Points in the status window will go down. When you have no points left, that's the end of your game. So, run away if you think you're dangerously close to that point. Remember, running away can sometimes be a very important "fighting" technique.

Spell

You can chant a spell instead of using weapons. In a fight, spells can heal wounds or inflict damages on the enemy.

Item

Use this command to recover your life force with the herbs you are carrying.

More About Your Character

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You can examine your status by choosing the status command!

Level

This tells you your level as a warrior. You're at level 1 at the beginning of the game. As you fight monsters and gain more experience, your level goes up, your strength increases, and you learn more spells.

HP (Hit Points)

This shows your life force. Hit Points will decrease when an enemy inflicts damages on you. Don't forget, when this number reaches zero, that's the end of you and the game!

Maximum HP

If your life force is very low, it can be restored to maximum force by staying at an Inn. Also the maximum HP goes up with each level and you'll be able to withstand more damage.

MP (Magic Power)

This is your power for chanting spells. This power goes down each time you chant a spell. Some spells use more or less MP than others.

Maximum MP

You can restore your magical power to maximum strength by staying at an Inn.

G (Gold)

This is the money you have obtained. You get some gold for each of the monsters you defeat. And when you've saved up enough gold, you'll be able to buy weapons, armor, and items.

E (Experience)

This is your fighting experience. You gain experience by defeating the enemy. The stronger the enemy, the more experience you get. As you gain experience, your level goes up and your strength increases.

Strength

This number increases as your level goes up.

Agility

Your character becomes faster at higher levels. This means that you can more easily avoid the enemy or run away.

Attack Power

The higher this number, the more damage you can inflict on monsters. You can increase your attacking power by becoming stronger and acquiring more powerful weapons.

Defend Power

A higher defense rating means that an enemy's attack will inflict less damage.

Getting to Know the Terrain

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Jump to Outdoor Features-- Jump to Indoor Features

Let's take a walk around the wide expanse of Alefgard

	Plains You can walk about normally as fewer monsters live here.
	Forests You can also walk through forests. But more monsters are lurking here.
	Mountains Mountains will slow you down a bit. More importantly you'll come across many enemies. If you don't want to bump into a lot of monsters then keep out of the mountains.
	Craggy Mountains Very, very steep mountains. They are impassible.
	Swamps Poisonous swamps. For each step you take you lose two hit points. Keep an eye on your HP rating when you take a walk in the swamps and use herbs and spells to keep your life force high.
	Entrances to Caves When your character arrives at one of these, you'll automatically be transported inside. Once inside, make sure you're carrying a fiery torch. If you go inside a cave by accident, don't move. Use the stairs command to leave or risk being lost in the darkness.
	Bridges Beware of bridges! When you cross a bridge you'll arrive at an area where stronger monsters live.
	Castles and Towns You can enter a castle or town that you've come across. Just step on the tile and you'll automatically be transported inside.

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Indoor features

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Here are some of the things you will find in castles and towns

	Shop Counters Go straight to the counter if you want to talk to the shopkeeper
	Doors You can open doors with the "door" command if you have a key.
	Roofs All houses with roofs have an entrance. Sometimes, you must search for the entrance
	Stairs Steps for going up or down. Use the stairs command.
	Barriers 15 points worth of damage is inflicted on you if you take a step on one of these. You need lots of courage and physical strength to pass through these barriers.

Shops

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This is where you can buy and sell weapons, armor and items

Sit down at the counter and talk business!

First off, go to the counter and try talking to the shopkeeper on the other side. He will ask you what you want to buy (or sell).

When you're selling, the shop keeper will accept things at half the price you bought them for. Alefgard businessmen are very stubborn. You won't be able to haggle over the price.

Weapon Stores

They sell lots of weapons and armor. Look for the signboard on the right (Some of the stores down put out signs!). Goods differ from shop to shop.

General Stores

Fiery torches, herbs, and other goods are available for purchase. You can also sell items that you've picked up on your adventure.

Inn

When you stay overnight here, you can restore the maximum HP and MP that you lost during your adventure. Look for the Inn sign (picture on right). Each Inn charges a different price.

Key cutter

He sells magical keys that can open any door. However, it's up to you to find out which town the key cutter lives in.

Magic water merchant

There's a rumor in the kingdom that there are shops that'll sell you magical water that protects you from monsters. But we don't have much information on this. If you're interested, search for it!

Your Weapons and Armor

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Jump to Weapons-- Jump to Armor-- Jump to Shield

Weapons

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	Bamboo Stick: Just a simple length of cut bamboo. It's cheap, but not very powerful.
	Club: A shaved oak bough with an easy-to-hold grip. More powerful than the bamboo stick.
	Copper Sword: A long sword made from copper that will inflict a fair bit of damage to the enemy.
	Hand Axe: An iron axe made especially for fighting. Powerful but difficult to wield.
	Broad Sword: A light, strong sword made of steel that's really powerful.

Armor

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	Clothes: Made of thick cloth, they don't really protect you too much from the enemy. Even so, it's better than nothing and it does lessen the damage inflicted by the enemy a little bit.
	Leather Armor: Sewn together from fragments of soft leather, it is useful in combat. It's light and easy to move about in, and it gives you more protection than the clothes.
	Chain Mail: Made from light metallic thread sewn together. Light and easy to move about in, it will considerably lessen the damage that the enemy can inflict on you.
	Half Plate: A strong piece of armor made from beaten out iron panels. Although you can't move about so fast, it really protects you from the enemy's blows.
	Full Plate: Made from specially fabricated steel, this is really durable armor. It'll protect you from almost all enemy attacks.

Shields

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	Small Shield: A rectangular shield made from cow and goat hide. Light and easy to handle, it is the most widely used shield in Alefgard.
	Large Shield: Cast from iron, this shield has a delicate engraved design on it's front. Of course, this durable shield has far more protective power than that of the small shield.

*Search for even more types of weapons and armor.

How to Use Your Items

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	Fiery Torch This lights up the dark and gloomy underground labyrinths. It's made from slender fresh wood and is soaked in pine resin and oil. You can buy it at almost all general stores.
	Herbs A medicine made from pulverized and mixed mandoragora root and mugwort. Just one herb package will restore 20-35 of your HP points.
	Dragon's Scale Legend has it that this fell from a dragon's body a long, long time ago. A light green fossil that fits in the palm of your hand, it has mysterious powers and slightly increases your defensive power.
	Wings Another legend has it that, when lightning strikes and kills a Wyvern, it's wings fall down to earth with their magical flying powers still intact. Using these wings will bring you back to Tantegel Castle.
	Fairy Water Magical water taken from a spring by a silver ladle on the night of a full moon and purified at the altar of the goddess Aura. It is said that you can travel for some time while warding off those in your way if you sprinkle some of the water on your body. However, the power of this water is not effective in caves or against evil monsters with great power.
	Key Special keys that open closed doors. Although you can use them on any door, you lose one for each door you have opened.

*Naturally enough, there are more items. What power will new found items hold in store for you? Only you can find that out.

Though the fiery torches, herbal packages, wings, magical water, and keys are reduced by one each time you use them, you won't lose other items even if you experiment with them.

Magic Spells

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You've just set out on your travels and you know no spells whatsoever. But as you fight on, you'll gain experience and as you grow in level as a warrior you'll be able to learn new spells as your level increases.

Heal
If you use this spell when you've been wounded in battle, you can be cured without having to stay overnight at an Inn.

You can use this spell whether you're walking about or in battle. For each time you chant the spell, you can gain 10-15 extra HP points and lose 4 MP.

Hurt
A spell you will use for fighting. When you chant it, little balls of fire spurt out of your fingertips.

One chant of this spell inflicts 2-15 points of damage on the enemy, and you lose 2 points of MP.

Sleep
Chant this spell if you come across some really disagreeable monsters. It will make monsters fall into a deep, deep sleep.

You lose 2 points of MP for every spell. It doesn't work every time.

Radiant This spell will light up caves when you find yourself groping around in the dark. Brighter than a fiery torch, you'll be able to see far ahead.

Stopspell
Of the various monsters you'll come across in your travels, some of then will attack you with spells. When that happens, chant this spell. If the spell is successful you can block the monster's spell casting ability from working for the duration of the battle.

Outside
If by chance you lose your way deep down in some dark, gloomy labyrinth or if you find that you haven't enough strength to get back up to the world above, then this is the spell for you. It'll warp you back to the world above in no time at all.

Return
When you've travelled too far away from home or you find that you just can't return to Tantegel Castle, use this spell to soar high in the sky and return.

Repel
This spell will cloak you in a magical aura that protects you from the monster attacks. However, it won't work in foul smelling caves. And just like Fairy Water, monsters stronger than you will be able to initiate battle without fear.

Healmore
Some of the Dragonlord's henchmen are so strong that they inflict more than 30 points of damage in a single attack, in which case "heal" or healing herbs won't work in time. This is a more powerful version of "heal" and will restore 75-100 HP points each time you use it.

Hurtmore This is a more powerful version of "hurt". Legend has it that those who can chant this spell can summon up lightning and attack the enemy with it. When you've chanted the magic spell, knife-like lightning is fired from your fingertips and destroys almost all enemies.

Visit the King and Have Your Deeds Recorded on the Imperial Scrolls of Honor (to save your game)

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Visit the King to save your game.

Your adventure is much longer than you think, so long that you'll never achieve your goal in a single day.

To save your game, you must return to Tantegel Castle and visit King Lorik on the second floor.

Another thing, even when you're not ending the game we advise you to go and visit the king, for example, at each promotion in level.

CAUTION: TO AVOID DAMAGING SAVED INFO, HOLD THE RESET BUTTON AS YOU TURN THE POWER OFF.

How to Start Off on the Right Foot (What you must do at the beginning of the game)