This is a general purpose info pile guide: You'll find a short walktrough, and lists of info about the game here. For tips to beginners to get started, you can use the guide Tips & Tricks (without DLC) by Arkelia.


This is an old game, so this guide isn't all that useful. In fact, the main point for me to make this guide was simply see what it would take to create a comprehensive guide for any game (and this is a good game to test that, as the game isn't that big).

Due to this being a procedually created game, I've propably missed some minor information.

EASY
Just grind. This mode is difficult at the start, but very easy after you get the levels. You're going to die couple of times, especially to Lieutenant Shear (you need to backstab him, or he won't die). Unlock all the mercenaries, get some achievements, and so forth. Once your units start the game from the level 10, the game is very easy to complete.
Loot at the stats of the specific enemies or bosses in the enemy list if needed.


NORMAL
Here's more specific tips for the normal difficulty.

• Remember to search your house.
  
• Take time and kill everything. You will need the loot and gold.
  
• Use potions early (especially castle fights and barbarians). If you survive all the way to the last boss, you're most likely already strong enough to win easily (he's kinda pushover).
  
• Pick Hero type 3 or type 1.
  
• The following suggestions are the optimal ones (in normal, the mercs options you get are random):
  
  • First mercenary: Meledar The Crossbowman (type 3).
    
  • Second mercenary: Melee fighter, either Melic (type 1) or Darion (type 2).
    
  • Third mercenary: Ranged, either Zoe (type 1) or Velana (type 1).
    
  • Last mercenary: Melee fighter, either Melic (type 1) or Darion (type 2) - the one you didn't pick before.
• Give hero dodge, and one armor (best option is the rune that gives both armor and dodge).
  
• Put armor break runes to Ranged, and possible the melee.
  
• Armor ignore rune to Meledar (hopefully you get one). Also build him for damage (either crit, or str, including the ring rune).

WELL-KNOWN BUGS
- Erus the Wizard's arctype doesn't open despite using four potions. Instead, go to the last boss and simply use all the potions in your inventory: At some point the game should register what you're doing and open up the type.
- Using Erus the Wizard's type 1 ability can sometimes freeze the fight. Leave the game manually, and restart. To avoid this, use the other types of Erus (type 2 is far better).

THE HERO

DARION THE SPEARMAN

HALFARUS THE HUNTER

THEOGAL THE PALADIN

MELIC THE STANDARDBEARER

MELEDAR THE CROSSBOWMAN

JEDA THE ASSASIN

ZOE THE SCOUT

VELANA THE ALCHEMIST

ERUS THE WIZARD

List of game mechanics, excluding combat. The Jester at the start can explain the concepts in more detail.

Day/Night cycle:
- Time moves as you move around the map and search for items in the houses.
- After each day your enemies grow stronger.
- Changes the flavor text of buildings you arrive into.
- If your journey takes more than 18 days, the King is executed (changes ending, otherwise meaningless)

Exhaust Bar
- After each turn in battle, you lose some of the bar (total 12 turns).
- The winning turn does not count.
- Full stamina: + 5% accuracy.
- 3/4 of stamina: No effects.
- Half stamina: -1 strength for all units.
- No stamina: - 2 strength for all your units.

Quests:
- Some appear randomly, some are permanent and unlock you new mercenaries.
- Always worth the effort to complete.

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STATS
XP bar (max. level 10)
HP bar
Armor (1 armor cancels all damage from a single attack.)

Strength decides your damage.
Critical decides the chance to deal double damage.
Dodge decides the chance to avoid attacks.
Accuracy decides whether you miss or not.
Move you move this many hexes.
Range is your attack range (1 for melee)

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STATUS EFFECTS
Stun
- Unable to act for 1 turn.
Bleeding
- Take 1 damage at the start of your turn.
Poison
- Take 2 damage at the start of your turn.
Knockback
- Get pushed away from the unit inflicting the knockback.

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CONCEPTS
Dodge:
- Percentage chance to avoid enemy attack.
- Counterattack melee attacks you dodge.
- Attacks for backside cannot be dodged.

Melee Penalty:
- Once an enemy is in an adjadent square, your movement is reduced to 1.

Attack of Opportunity:
- Enemy tries to move away from you when they are in an adjadent hex.
- Enemy attacks your ally while adjadent to you.
- Ranged units and Invisible units have no AoO.

Overwatch
- Attack of Opportunity for ranged units (Must be activated like Guard).
- Can proc only once (twice for Halfarus).

Guard
- Increase Dodge (unknown amount).
- Counterattack if attacked (only once, twice for Melic).

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Enemy health and damage scale according to how much time has passed. These are the values I've seen when first meeting these units.


BOSSES
Bosses are immune to stuns, but not to poison, bleeding or knockback.

The Wolf Lord (Group)
Spawns with 1 normal wolf and The Wolf Lord

The Wolf Lord (Unit)

• 15 hp
  
• move 4
  
• damage 2-3

Lieutenant Shear (Group)
Spawns with 1 archer, 2 spearmen and Lieutenant Shear

Lieutenant Shear (Unit)

• 15 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Vanguard (takes no damage from frontal attacks, only back attacks)

Commander Barka (Group)
Spawns with 3 archer, 1 spearmen and Commander Barka

Commander Barka (Unit)

• 30 hp, 3 armor
  
• move 8 (Teleport)
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Teleport (ignore objects, enemies and allies when moving. Immune to attack of opportunity when moving)

The Dark Knight (Group)
Spawns alone.

• 50 hp, 4 armor
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Gain 1 armor at the start of your turn.

The Barbarian Chief (Group)
Spawns with 1 Elder, 1 Axe-Berserker, 1 Shield-Basher and The Barbarian Chief.

The Barbarian Chief (Unit)

• 40 hp, 2 armor
  
• move 8
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Has 3 attacks instead of 2
  
• Taunt (same as hero Theogal)
  
• Has a chance to stun at attack.

The Bounty Hunter
Spawns with multiple Thief, Thief Archer and Thief Bomber.

The Nemesis
Spawns with doppelgangers of your team.

• The copies do not have your runes or health but those are set to certain values.
  
• The copies are not immune to stun (unlike other bosses).
  
• The Hero has always 30 health, 2 armor, others about half of that.
  
• Sometimes one of the doppelgangers does not spawn, reason is unknown. Could be a bug.

The Duke of Esire (Group)
Spawns with 2 archers, 2 Shieldbearers, The Jailer and the Duke of Esire (Stage 1)

The Duke of Esire (Stage 1)

• 50 hp, 4 armor
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Regenerate 1 armor at the start of your turn.

The Duke of Esire (Stage 2)

• 50 hp, 4 armor
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Can only take 1 damage from front (use backstab).

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SPECIAL UNITS
The Jailer (The Duke of Esire Group)

• 25 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3

Druid (Eres quest)

• 16 hp, 3 armor
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Propably has same abilities as Erus (type 1), I killed him too fast to know for sure.

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NORMAL MOBS
Wolves (group)

• Fight
  
• Create a diversion (2 gold)
  
• Leave

Units:
Wolf

• 10 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3

Den Mother

• 10 hp
  
• move 1
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Spawns a Wolf-unit (it can immediatly attack).

Thieves (group)

• Fight
  
• Bribe (2 gold)
  
• Leave

Units:
Thief (Blue Coat)

• 6 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Invisibility (sometimes at the start fo the fight, sometimes they cast it during the fight)

Thief Archer (Red-Green Coat)

• 8 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Ranged 2

Thief Bomber (Purple Coat)

• 12 hp
  
• move 3
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Ranged (2), Bomb (50% chance to damage adjadent hexes)

Royal Guards (group)
Units:
Archer

• 5 hp
  
• move 3
  
• Damage 2-3
  
• Ranged attack (2)

Spearman

• 5 hp, 1 armor
  
• move 3
  
• Damage 2-3

Shieldbearer

• 16 hp, 3 armor
  
• move 3
  
• Damage 2-3

Barbarians (group)
Units:
Axe-Berserker

• 10 hp
  
• move 6
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Lifesteal on attack.

Shield-Basher

• 5 hp, 4 armor
  
• move 6
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Generate 1 armor at the start of the turn.

Elder

• 20 hp, 2 armor
  
• move 6
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Has a chance to stun at attack.

Bears (group)
Units:
Brown Bear

• 20 hp
  
• move 6
  
• damage 2
  
• Ignore armor on attack.

Units:
White Bear

• 20 hp
  
• move 6
  
• damage 2-3
  
• Break 8 armor instead of 1 on attack.

Area 1 Hometown
Buildings: Home, Blacksmith, Cottage, Watchtower
Enemies: Wolves

Area 2 Lands of the Duke Esire
Buildings: Old Oak Inn, Blacksmith, Castle, Cave, Cottage, Watchtower
Enemies: Wolves

Area 3 Belim, capital
Buildings: Three Rats Tavern, Blacksmith, Castle, Hovels, House, Round tower
Enemies: Thieves

Area 4 Belim, capital (again)
Buildings: Three Rats Tavern, Blacksmith, Castle, Hovels, House, Round tower
Enemies: Royal Guard

Area 5 Barbarian Mountains
Buildings: Rusty Hammer inn, Blacksmith, Castle, Snowy Cave, Cottage
Enemies: Barbarians

Area 6 Barbarian Mountains
Buildings: Rusty Hammer inn, Blacksmith, Snowy Cave, Cottage
Enemies: Barbarians

Area 7 Erasik Plains
Buildings: Dead End Tavern, Blacksmith, Castle, Burned Cottage
Enemies: Bears, Royal Guards

Area 8 Fight the Duke!
Buildings: Dead End Tavern, Blacksmith, Burned Cottage
Enemies: Bears, Royal Guards

MANDATORY LOCATIONS
Home:
You start next to this building. Search once for free loot. The Egg can be found here (may require multiple restarts).

Inn
"You have many options available at the inn."

• Recruit mercenaries
  
• Regain stamina (Rest for 2 gold)
  
• Waitress (Store: Food items, sometimes lockpick)
  
• Random Inn challenge (You can try only once. Victory depends on mercenaries)

Blacksmith
"You have many options available at the blacksmith."

• Insert runes to weapon and armor.
  
• Merchant who sells (Runes).

Castle of the Duke of Esire
The end boss fight takes place here.

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NORMAL LOCATIONS
Loot from buildings is very much random, and later stages give better loot. Average houses only give potions.

Loot Buildings:

• Provide loot, various options like rest or shops. The contents are random each time.
  
• Cottage, Cottage Ruins, Burned-down House, Hovels, House.

Garrisons:

• Provide loot, sometimes stores, often include fights.
  
• Watchtower, Round tower, Outpost.

Natural locations:

• Loot, rarely fights or stores
  
• Cave, Snowy Cave, Cellar.

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RARE LOCATIONS (+NPC)

Castle
Fight against Royal army units. Gives Rare loot and gold.

Frozen Lake
Sometimes loot.

Marketplace
"As you enter the market's valley, you have number of options available."
One random event and 3 random merchants can be accessed.

Convoy
Often fights, sometimes loot.

The Minstrel (NPC)
- Asks you about his song. Gives some rewards.

The Jester (NPC)
- Pay 2 gold to play rock, paper, scissors against him. Winning earns 6 gold.

The Thief Master (NPC)
- Sells rare, top level runes.

The ♥♥♥♥♥ (NPC)
- She sells rare items (Combat items like Amulet of Strength, or tools like Pendulum).

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LEGENDARY LOCATIONS
Tomb of the Heroes
The Crevasse
Dragon Sanctuary
Ancient Sewer

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CONSUMABLES
Potions

Mushrooms
Half of them have good effects (heal HP), others are harmful.

Scrolls, Food and Loot
One-use consumables. The loot can be sold, and some of them are use in few events.


PERMANENT
Tools and Combat
Tools are used in events (to get better loot), and they do not get consumed. Combat items improve your mercenaries in battle. Do note, that the effect of combat-enhancing items does not stack!

* The Pendulum is a better lockpick.
* The Pillow heals your team for 2 when you use a campfire or Inn.
* The statue head propably triggers some event, but I have yet to use it.

Runes are found and bought around the map. They can be bought from 2 gold to 5, and resale value is much lower.


WEAPON RUNES
Weapon and armor has 0 slots at the start and 3 at the highest level after upgrades.
Missing from the picture:

• "Mysterious rune". It does nothing on it own, but when you have all three equipped (achievement), they give +6 str, +40% crit, 1 armor and 20% dodge.
  
• "Lifesteal 2 health on attack."
  
• "Your attacks cannot miss or be dodged."

ARMOR RUNES
Weapon and armor has 0 slots at the start and 3 at the highest level after upgrades.

RING RUNES
Rings have only 1 slot. No upgrades.
Missing from the picture:

• "Increases experience gain by 30%"
  
• "-50% accuracy, + 3 strength"

WEAPON AND ARMOR (UPGRADE MATERIALS)

TAVERN GAMES:
Darion: Wrestling
Halfarus: Insult matches
Theogal: Drinking games
Melic: Card games
Meledar: Poetry
Zoe: Singing
Jeda: Darts
Velanna: Juggling
Erus: Chess

ACHIEVEMENTS (Progress)
The Wolf
Triumph over the Wolf Lord (world 2 boss).

The lieutenant
Defeat lieutenant Shear (world 3 boss).

The commander
Defeat commander Barka (world 4 boss).

The Knight
Triumph over the Black Knight (world 5 boss).

The Barbarian
Triumph over the Barbarian Chief (world 6 boss).

The Incorruptible
Do not deliver one of your companions to the Bounty Hunter.

The corruptible man
Let the bounty hunter take away one of your mercenaries

The Best
Triumph over your Nemesis (world 7 boss).

The Tension
Reach the last region before the final showdown (world 8).

The Victory
Finish the game in easy mode.

The Hardship
Finish the game in normal mode.

The Party
Have a team of 5 mercenaries in one party.

The Contents
Unlock all mercenaries and their archetypes.

• Requires the DLC character.

ACHIEVEMENTS (Challenge)
The End
Finish the game in less than 18 days. Easiest to accomplish if you get the stage skip scroll and skip one or two later areas.

The Weapon
Reach the maximum level of a weapon (level 3).

The Armor
Reach the maximum level of a piece of armor (level 3).

The cause
Equip the 5 mercenaries in your party with the rune on the ring.

The Expert
Have a mercenary reach level 10. Do this in easy difficulty, nearly impossible in normal difficulty.

The Insomniac
Finish the game without using a campfire. If I'm not incorrect, sleeping in taverns counts as a "campfire".

The Accident
One mercenary knocks out another with collateral damage. Darion the Spearman and Velana the Alchemist are capable of this.

The challenge
Finish the game with a party of 4 mercenaries. The Barbarian Mountains are especially difficult with a team of four. Remeber to use potions.


ACHIEVEMENTS (Exploration)
The Player
Win at every game available in the inns. Requires multiple playthroughs, see the list at the top for reference.

The Advice
Tell the Minstrel what you think of his song. The minstrel is an NPC that randomly appears in later levels. He gives you three choices, and you get the achievement no matter what you answer.

The Deal
Buy a rune from the Thief Master. Thief Master is an NPC that randomly appears in later levels.

The Challenge
Win a game of rock-paper-scissors against the Jester.
The Jester (NPC) is a different character from the Tutorial Jester, who randomly appears in later levels. His pattern with (at least when I played against him) was scissor, then paper, then rock - and repeat.

The Burglar
Lock pick 15 chests. Both Lockpick and Pendulum count for this achievement. Chests are found at random.

The Rubberneck
Touch 6 monoliths. Monoliths are rare buildings that randomly spawn into worlds. The ones that glow red hurt you, others teleport you back to start of the world or give experience.

The Treachery
Get a loan from the Banker and do not pay it back. The banker is an NPC that randomly appears at the start of a world. He gives 15 gold, and asks for 25 gold back right before the last boss. The fight is standard Royal Guard fight.

The Loan
Get a loan from the Banker and pay it back.


ACHIEVEMENTS (Other)
The Philanthropist
Complete all co-op quests in the game at least once.

The combo
Equip a mercenary with a mysterious set of runes. These runes can only be found in the Castle fights, as far as I know.

The egg
Witness the hatching of the egg. Search your house at the start of the game and restart the game if you don't get "The egg" item. Once you have it, walk back and forth in the world 1 for 41 days until it hatches.

The Explorer
Find and interact with all 4 legendary locations. They are The Tomb of the Heroes, The Crevasse, Dragon Sanctuary and Ancient Sewer.


DLC ACHIEVEMENTS (Can't help you much with these, sorry)
The Detour
Visit Necropolis (DLC area).
The quest to unlock Malda leads you to Necropolis. This provide you with The Detour and The Skeleton achievements. On replay if you travel to Necropolis with Malda in the team - you'll unlock her Secret Item - Voodoo doll
(by fasmike3)

The Skeleton
Triumph over the skeleton king.

The Witch
Unlock Malda's secret item.

The Hero
Unlock the hero's secret item.


The Spearman
Unlock Darion's secret item.
The DLC achievements for unlocking secret items of mercenaries require you to go to the Necropolis. They will ask you if you want to help them find their item. If you successfully finish their mission, you unlock the item.
Thereafter, whenever you visit an inn and already had that mercenary (not hired in that map), you can buy their item from the merchant there. The items allow mercenaries to use all of their archetype abilities.
(by Mitillos)

The Archer
Unlock Halfarus' secret item.

The Paladin
Unlock Theogal's secret item.

The Banneret
Unlock Melic's secret item.

The Crossbowman
Unlock Meledar's secret item.

The Scout
Unlock Zoe's secret item.

The Assassin
Unlock Jeda's secret item.

The Mage
Unlock Erus' secret item.

The Alchemist
Unlock Velana's secret item.

The Vampire
Triumph over the vampire.


The Matrix
Visit the behind-the-scenes map.
The Matrix achievement requires that you find (usually from castles, in my experience so far) a scroll that teleports you to the behind-the-scenes area. There, you will find an inn, a blacksmith, and several houses. These will give you 5 of each material used by the blacksmith (which means not quite enough gold), a bunch of runes and potions, a few hundred gold, and something similar to a full heal. The boss at the end of the region is a collection of the other bosses, so be prepared.
(by Mitillos)