I finished taking notes. I made a detailed version (which will help in making a TAS) and a trimmed version useful for RTA - this version has notes that are useful for me in particular for doing normal speedruns and they might be harder to understand. Basicly, something like "guy [1 2]" means you talk to the guy with dialogue options 1 and then 2. [mash] means I just click fast until the text is gone, even if there is more text than there could have been. Those cases need to be looked at when actually producing the TAS. The overall route is already pretty much set in stone though.
detailed
### Maze
- 72 coins in deadend area. (6 second detour)
- greenfire gives 5exp each.
possible to get (5+10+10) exp
- pot riddle, best way to do it:
-- top slashdown
-- top slashright (get two), proceed very far right
-- two more slashes to get out
TODO: Test if middle switch is faster than breaking pots.
- Big Chest
-- 450exp
-- Oil of Water Invulnerability
-- Oil of Air Invulnerability
-- 200 gold
--> lv 3
- Sister welcome-home dialogue,
both options are equally fast.
### Zaratan
- visit Babazar
"3) Whats wrong Babazar" (3screens)
"1) I will do it" (10 screens)
- get Sunfire shard (1 use)
(( --> 360exp ))
OR "3) Whats wrong Babazar" (3 screens)
"2) do it for 300 gold"
- get Sunfire shard (1 use)
(( --> get 300 gold, 360exp ))
"1) or 2) did see mermaid, didnt see" (both 1 screen)
- visit mermaid
"1) Yes" (4screens)
"1) I promise"
- master visits you
"2) I always have time for you" (? screens)
"2) I have to go" (1 screen)
1 small boar is 10exp
(( - NPC on street, white shirt red hat
-- -5 gold, 90 exp (2 second detour) ))
- Qadi
"1) do your bidding" (2 screens)
father:
"2) I have treaty"
"1) sign it" (8 screens total)
wassab:
"1) pile in the street that needs cleaning"
"4) treaty"
sister:
"1) smiling face"
"2) its hart for me to imagine" (3 screens total after previous option)
Qadi:
360 exp
mermaid:
270 exp
- go back to town, storm breaks, emergency
"2) I will go" (1 screen)
killing enemies that trap the Caliph = worth 160 exp
Caliph:
450 exp
"1) how is your daughter" (3 screens)
in town speech:
"3) that's not fair" (1 screen)
"1) I will clear my familys name" (0 screens)
mermaid:
"1) I bring grave news"
"2) must find way to Bandar" (4screens)
-go to southwest, climb on turtle
-sandwhirlwind is 60exp
- nearby golden chest
= big key, 60 gold inside
-another nearby chest
= small key, 40 gold inside
(have 367 gold now)
-archer is 80exp, skeleton is 80exp, zombie is 40exp
but you only kill top left skeleton(for a key) and 2 skeletons inside ship (240exp)
-Mage in room gives 0exp.
Shard of magic missile (12 uses, optional)
healing potion (optional, mandatory if you want 600exp from father)
air potion (optional)
Chest has 250 gold, 5 gems
-Activate green thing in realm, then go back outside.
statue:
"2) let us sail"
"sail to Bandar OR to Zaratan" (those two can apparently be done interchangably)
(sail without encounter!)
### Zaratan Sorcerer Tower:
Sorcererplate:
"1) I come..." (5 screens)
"1) yes, I will prove" (1screen)
80 gold in barrel (optional, 0.75 sec detour)
64 gold, 4 healing potions (optional, 0.5 sec detour)
solve both riddles beyond the green sea.
Sorcerer plate before green sea:
"1) I may not be worthy" (2 screens)
10 gems, 3 big healing (optional)
(mandatory fights: 360exp)
(when reaching little isle, no fights)
east part sorcerer plate:
"North"
"South"
"3) I dont know" (1 screen)
west part sorcerer plate:
skip diagogue (if it saves time)
press switches from top: 1,2,4
west part woman:
"2) I shall" (1screen)
"2) if he attacks" (1screen)
"1) it is true" (2screen)
green face:
1000exp
( 5 gems, 100 gold, 2 big healing (golden chest, optional) )
moving plate riddle:
press switch in middle
sorcerer plate:
"2) should be killed" (1screen)
(glitch hunt note: cant move between fire tiles)
( 2 gems, 1 big heal in green pot (optional, 0.5sec detour))
800exp
( 1 extra healing, 1 extra healing from both green chests - reachable over green soup (optional, 0.5sec detour))
Sorcerer plate:
"1) 2)" (3 screens)
"1) 2) 3) 4)" (4 screens)
Sorcerer plate:
"1) Yes I promise" (1 screen)
( 350gold, sunscorch x15 in green chest (optional 0.25sec))
green face:
"1) who is guy who controlled muliban" (3 screens)
1200exp
Sorcerer human:
"2) desperate need" (4 screens)
"2) I just talk to him?" (3 screens)
"3) must go" (2 screens)
### Shibaz
when entering building, downwards is scroll "Heart of Stone". Take.
( 75 gold optional)
Book "Tribute". Memorize.
When proceeding through building, scroll "enemies". Take.
Statue left:
"1) inspect" (1screen)
"1) put gold" (1screen) x 34 (~ 8 sec longer than reciting oath from book)
- 34 gold
"2) leave alone" (0 screen)
Statue right:
"1) inspect" (1screen)
"scroll Heart of Stone"
2100exp
Purple chest:
-7 gems (have 8 left) (8sec walk + 6sec detour)
get Moonstone shard (stronger sword)
Reach carpet guy bottomright on sand between 2 bushes.
"2) seek knowledge" (1 screen)
"4) isle of genies" (1 screen)
### Shibaz maze
1 rune = 350exp.
burning bridge has a rune glitch that gives 350exp every 1 sec
and clears a rune each time
Do rune glitch until 6 runes cleared, then proceed bottomleft
Take right path, step on rune, go back take left path, step on all runes
Go over skeleton bridge
1750exp
Ride carpet
Carpet guy:
"4) bye" (0 screens)
### Shibaz Library
After putting mirror in chest:
"3) inspect rudely "
2800exp
go to boat
### Jizar Island of Genie Lords
Fire genie guard:
"1) or 2)" (1 screens)
"1) what are those routine matters / how may I" (1 screens)
"1) I beg you" (3 screens)
> bring snake
Reptilian seller:
demands half of gems in possession (have 4)
Fire genie guard:
"1) yes" (1 screens)
"1) as you want" (1 screens)
1000exp
"1) " (3screens)
> bring coal
(( guy wants 50 (bargain=40) gems but only have 4
go to trade place, trade for ~35 gems = worth 385 gold)) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coal seller:
"1) hottest coal"
"1) too much" (bargain)
"5 gems less" (bargain further)
"fair price"
-35 gem (have 0)
fire genie guard:
"1) yes" (1 screen)
"1) as you want"
1000exp
"3) hear plea" (7 screens)
> bring veil woven
merchant woman:
wants 80 gems (best bargain)
((have to trade more gold to gems.
80 gems = worth 880)) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fire genie guard:
"1) yes" (1 screen)
"1) as you want"
1000exp
"1) urgent" (1 screen)
"1) urgent" (~3 screens)
> bring bottle of emptiness
Go to Bandaar and talk to Inn owner
### Senat
Chest:
Bottle of Emptiness
Shard of Sunscorch
big healing
600 gold
### Jizar
fire genie guard:
...
"2) It is empty!"
"1) nothing is inside" (1screen)"
"1) by my honor it is so" (3 screen)
1000exp
800exp
SISTERS:
talk to them alternatedly and try to leave asap.
WATER:
"1) pray continue with your story" (4screens)
keep saying "Pray continue with your story"
say "NOW will you help against elfreet?" (1screen)
"2) tell me about" (6 screen)
CAVE:
(~5 screens)
"1) What is it you desire" (1screen)
SISTERS:
Talk to them alternatedly.
"1) Swim to Zaratan and back" (1 screen)
"1) will do what I claimed" (1 screen)
"1) Yes" (6screen)
1200exp
CAVE:
"2) Yes" (3screen)
1200exp
Touch storyteller
WATER:
"2) Yes" (2screen)
1200exp
"I go at once"
FIRE:
Use the elfreet potion.
"2) who is behind it" (1screen)
"2) who are the nameless" (3screen)
1600exp
"gtg"
-receive moonstone
-now Lv6
go to bandar palace
### Bandaar
Bandar town guards:
"3) stand aside" (2screens)
"2) I shall take your words under advice" (1screen)
"3) one day you will eat.." (1screen)
palace entrance guards:
"1) I want to enter" (1screen)
Vizier:
"1) thank you for hospitality" (5 screens)
"2) im noble birth" (3screens)
"1) i will resolve it (2screens)
"I'm just passing by (1screen)
Go into first hallway and then try to leave.
Man:
"Perhaps another time" (1~2 screen)
Yellow girl:
"2) No" (2 screen)
"2) correctly" (2screen)
"1) I accept" (7screen)
Trade officer:
"3) trade business" (1screen)
"2) Sumia sent me"
Baker:
"2)"
1000exp
"1) 2)"
go directly into dungeon.
Pick up old key from floor in 2nd room.
Kill 3 spiders.
Attack grass wall 8 times, press switch.
Pull rock on plate in hallway, go into room and do same as above.
Zyclop:
"die"
Go in his room and do same as above.
Dont kill cyclop
Kill 3 zombies in room with 1x sunfire.
~1500~2000exp?
Kill all stone enemies with sunfire or similar weapon
Place 2 weights on 2 plates in room
silver switches:
4th from above
ring of protection +3 (optional)
Father:
"1) I must know" (2 screen)
"2) nevermind that" (8screen)
"1) what else" (1screen)
"gtg"
1200exp
Go back through the old dungeon.
The normal exit is blocked by a glitch
that happens if you skip the 1st visit.
The glitch doesn't exist if you did the
complete 1st visit.
((do not give back key))
Go to palace entrance, read scroll
Obdel (old man in banquet):
1000exp
"1) about time" (4 screens)
"5) go on" (2 screen)
"1) if clears family name" (4 screen)
"1) how do you know this" (7 screen)
"1) alas indeed" (1 screen)
"1) gtg" (2 screen)
"2) farewell" (0 screen)
go to teleportation room and warp.
push cart, go to bottom room.
blue woman:
"1) Catspaw"
1000exp
go behind door
sneak outside into Caliph bedroom,
right room has secret path.
get 2000 gold (optional), book
put key in bed.
Teleport back.
Go to southwest room, read scroll in drawer.
1400exp
Go to town entrance:
"1) continue to watch"
Obdel:
"1) sorry"
"2) you're lying"
1400exp
((ignore man next to boat))
Sail to Katraz.
### Al-Katraz
[no more notes, please see the RTA trimmed version instead]
RTA trimmed, continuing from Al-Katraz
### Al-Katraz
Key from left fire.
Left side - guard [2 2]
Meditate Left.
---
Kill right guy.
Meditate right.
---
Passage entrance [2"bazan"]
---
Captain [mash]
rusty key in bed
unlock Tarik
Tarik [1 3 1]
kill wizard
leave
---
bring brother under deck.
sail to Aballat.
### Aballat
northern iron pot.
go under deck.
bro [mash]
muliban [4"act" 1]
sail to Al-Naqqil.
### Al-Naqqil
left room, kill enemies = 1 necklace
top right, kill wizard = 1 necklace
top left secret way, kill guy = 1 necklace
bottom left = teleporter
---
top right
top right
back
bottom left
top left, back
top right
MOONSTONE:
bottom right
top left
top right
bottom right
top right
break orb.
top right.
---
statue [2 "destroy nameless"]
---
top right,top left
top left
bottom right, bottom left
{riddle} bottom left
kill.
girlfriend [2 "gtg"]
---
bottom left, back
kill.
muliban [mash]
There are different strategies for Al-Katraz. On Al-Katraz, there are two fractions fighting each other. Each fraction's leader has a key for a nearby room where you have to go in and meditate. In order to get the two keys, you can bring peace to both fractions or side with one fraction and kill the other. Or you can kill both fractions. Instead of killing a leader to get the key, the key is alternatively hidden in a place where you can go and get it for a small detour.
I think in TAS you would want to just kill everyone. In RTA it's better to get the left key from the top left fire and not cause harm on the left side, but kill the right side (because their hidden key poses a much longer detour).
In the Al-Katraz dungeon, you can skip the pirate captain fight by just ignoring him. But when you bring your brother outside, those enemies might block your brother. Should be doable in TAS though.
I finished two normal runs at the moment on "very easy". The latter one being the fastest time with 1h27m27s. I think I can bring the game down to 1h22m. TAS should get 1h05m, maybe even below 1h.
---
edit: I made a game resouces page:
http://tasvideos.org/GameResources/DOS/AlQadimTheGeniesCurse.html
This works though. I can see plasma being useful in other places too. Should be worth a try to compare plasma vs parasol vs wing.
Plasma doesn't clear the ground in the bonkers fight sadly. But maybe you can bring a helper (you need one later anyway I think).
It looks like Plasma really fails in the next room where you need a cutting ability.. You'd need a bird helper.
1:24 could the wing dive glitch be used?