Dragon Fogel
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 2922
Registered: 06-21-2014
IP: Logged

I'm feeling pretty lost in general in this hold, and this is playing on normal mode rather than hard.

What am I even doing in this level? Am I trying to unlock all the blue doors? There doesn't seem to be a clear goal otherwise, but maybe I've just missed something.

I'm also finding it really hard to work out what short-term goals I should be pursuing, starting from the second level. I feel reasonably confident in my ability to untangle the first level.

At this point, I'm not even sure what kind of advice I'm asking for. I feel like I'm just wandering around, grabbing stat boosts that seem feasible, and continuing until the boss is manageable. But my overall sense is that I'm not grabbing the stats very efficiently.

I guess any advice on a general approach to take or any important things to focus on acquiring would be helpful. One specific thing I could use clarification on is that there are a couple of seep/waterskipper rooms where I can get free stats by using an invisibility potion - is that safe to do or is there an better option for using the potion later?

Nuntar
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 5539
Registered: 02-20-2007
IP: Logged

You need to read the three scrolls behind blue doors to summon the level boss and progress in the hold.

I can't help much with the other questions, it's years since I played this

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50th Skywatcher

Red-XIII
Level: Smitemaster

Rank Points: 800
Registered: 08-05-2012
IP: Logged

I used the invisibility potion in the forgotten temple 4N as soon as possible, and still managed to progress nicely, without even using altars in the early levels, so I don't think it's an issue if you want to use the invisibiity potion somewhere else. The following levels have some tough monsters, you could even use the potion to save some health on them, or to get the most amount of gems for free as possible in the later levels.

As for some general advice on what to focus/ which goals you want to achieve in order, as Nuntar said, you need to open three blue doors in the collapsed chamber. This will make a boss appear somewhere (read this as well: https://forum.caravelgames.com/viewtopic.php?TopicID=36664) which will give you flippers, allowing you to clear the water part of the disused sewers. Then, you should proceed to the broken stairwell level, which is located to the east of the sewers. There is also a knight shield in the water part of the sewers, but I got it after juggling a bit between the broken stairwell and the other levels, so I'm not sure when it's best to take it.

As for the blue doors, I opened them in this order, though I'm not sure if it's the best: NE seal, SE seal, and NW seal.
I got the steel shield immediately before opening the last seal.

Another thing, if you are planning on taking the skeleton key in the disused sewers 1N3W, do it before ever entering the broken stairwell level, as the key will magically transform into a green key.

Lastly, have you found the secret room

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There's not some other world out there where everything's gonna be okay.
There's just this one, just this rock.
-33th Skywatcher