Wizard’s Crown seems far more a strategy game than a role-playing game. It has quite a tactical combat system with the focus on character development and improvement. There is quite a strategic impact on the weapons that you choose to deploy and the spells which you cast. The game has been criticized for its difficulty, and I can see why. There is an advanced injury system that involves bleeding and specific types of injuries, a morale system which can affect how you search and the success of your endeavors, an encumbrance system that has you constantly juggling items in your inventories, and a robust tactical system that involves, scanning, stealth, proper tactical placement dependent upon close combat, missile weapons and spells. The struggle to avoid being ambushed or to attempt to ambush is very real.
Ten hours into Wizard’s Crown provided a steep learning curve. I realized that I had rushed through character creation and that I was not developing my classes appropriately. Once I made my out of the poor sections of the city and started exploring the ruins I found that I was losing the struggle to merely survive. I decided to completely scrap the entire game and start over.
I gave much more thought to my party make-up as well as how I wanted to equip them. Once I started progressing through encounters I had a very specific game plan for each character’s development. I noticed, as I continued to progress, that I had a much stronger party. I was seeing success and having more enjoyment as well.
I had saved a girl from thugs in one of the poor sections of the city. Upon her rescue she told me to seek out her father’s mansion which resides to the northeast outside of town. Once I was strong enough to make the trek I was rewarded with a +2 broadsword. It was my first magic item added to equipment and luckily it would not be my last.
I spent as much time in the city as I possibly could. I would wander through the residential district and the poor areas of the city hoping to encounter thugs. I’ve noticed that the thugs in the city are the easiest opponents to combat. I used these encounters to slowly improve my characters until the mayor rewarded me for cleaning up the city.
I also discovered that the Rusty Nail Inn located within the city served as a sort of mini dungeon. I encountered several thieves and bandits within the establishment.
My thief in the party also discovered a secret door. A master assassin and his henchmen were discovered in a secret room beyond the door. They were able to provide me with information as to where I might find the next dungeon.
I now find that my party is strong enough that I am beginning to successfully explore the ruins south of the city. I am going to continue to grind in this fashion and once I feel confident, I am going to explore the old thieves guild which is easily found in the ruins.
The games graphics are pretty terrible for the time and really just a step above text, but this is all about advanced strategy and tactics over any eye candy. I am enjoying my experience with Wizards’s Crown so much more now that I realized my mistakes and started all over.
There is an overarching quest to be fulfilled here which involves the Crown of the Emperor. It is supposed to grant power and wisdom to whomever wears it. There is an entertaining story concerning the crown found in the documentation which comes with the game. We are to assume that we have been hired by the old wizard Kaitar to recover the crown and restore peace to the land. I am sure that the crown lies within a dungeon somewhere within the ruins south of town.
Thus I am currently exploring the ruins until I feel confident enough to enter the old thieves guild, which I believe is the next dungeon to explore based on the intel uncovered at the Rusty Nail.
Wish me luck…….