Timeless Bauble changed...?

[TaoLibra]

Anyone who doesn't already know what the Timeless Bauble did in SAIS (perhaps because they never played it) may wish to avoid reading the WW question below, as it might spoil the mystery for you.

On the other hand, maybe not. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

************************************************** **********

I found the Timeless Bauble in WW, and I attempted to use it as it was used in SAIS. However, when I entered the name of an item (the name of the best engine to be specific, correctly spelled, and which I know exists in WW because I found one later), the… uh, occupant claimed not to know what that item was and gave me something else instead. <font color="red">(And the *&amp;^%$#@! laughed at me, too! Yeah, you better disappear buddy, or I'm gonna wipe that laugh off yer ugly face with a Tachyon Ray…)</font>

So my Question is: Is that a Bug? Or some kind of evil Trick, deliberately planted by the twisted, sadistic Overlords at Digital Eel, just to mess with our heads?

[Arralen]

Maybe you got the name wrong ?

[TaoLibra]

Nope, I'm sure I got it right. Even if I hadn't been sure though, I've actually tried it several times, with different items; and I have been careful to choose only items that I am certain are in Weird Worlds, and I have been very careful to spell them correctly. Same results, every time. (Four or five occasions, so far.)

Have you (or has anyone else) gotten the Timeless Bauble in WW and used it successfully? If so, then perhaps there's just something wrong with my installation…

[Combat Wombat]

Always worked fine for me. Its only worth using to get a particle vortex cannon anyways.

[Fingers]

TaoLibra: certain items are unique, ie. there can only be one of them in the game at any one time. If that item is somewhere on the map then it can't be in Fomax's vault. This means that wishing for something particularly powerful or valuable has a chance of failure (especially so on the large map).

[TaoLibra]

Ahhh… well, that makes sense, I suppose. I shall try it again, and ask for something that isn't a unique item…

[James Sterrett]

Actually, as a matter of risky strategy, it's worth it to ask for that item once the game's gone about halfway. You run a solid risk of losing points, but if the Item is *not* present in the game, you get it then and there, giving you the time to get a much better score.

[Cyberis]

Thanks for sharing that information Fingers http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif, that's good to know. I have only come across this once in WW and I asked for the cloaker. In fact all I entered was "cloak" and fomax knew what I meant. IMPRESSIVE!

[Arralen]

IIRC, the cloaker isn't unique, there are at least .. ok, I better shut up, I think http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[nihilix]

Fomax does his best to please; pretty good about finding what you want. And he starts with the front of a string, so 'hyperdr' is all you need.

HOWEVER...

If you merely ask for 'hyper' - well, there are a number of items that start out that way. I asked for an 'anti' (graviton shunt - black holes to explore! AND worth a lot!) and got the antichronon pulse blaster... not as disappointing as getting a fuzzy lummox, to be sure, but I won't make THAT mistake again!

[zircher]

For the science mission, asking for a mirror is very handy.
--
TAZ

[PvK]

Heh. First time, I decided to try something generic. Wishing for Shields got me a potted plant or something.

Second time, on the advice here, I tried asking for Hyperdrive, and got a Six Finned Bloater. Serves me right. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

PvK

[James Sterrett]

You won't get the hyperdrive [or any other unique item] if one already exists on the map...

I typically ask for the hyperdrive anyway, because even if I don't get it, I now *know* it's out there on the map....

[ZylonBane]

I'd like to suggest a change for the patch--

If you type in something that exists elsewhere on the map, have him say something like, "An excellent choice, but I don't have one of those."

The current feedback is ambiguous, in a frustrating, annoying way. "Did I type it wrong or did he really not have the item I wanted?"

[MagicPants]

One neat trick is that you can ask for items you can't normally find. My favorites are "Nova Cannon" and "Lava Pod Launcher" since they aren't on the map, you can always get them.

[PvK]

Those are very clever tricks, MagicPants.

I had rememered the rule backwards and wasn't getting much out of my baubles lately. I thought it would only work if the unique thing did exist. Is Temporal Flux Shield unique? I didn't seem to be able to get it. I think I'll try Nova Cannon next time! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

PvK

[eelektrik]

Lava Pod Launcher doesnt work for me, shoulda wished for the Nova Cannon, since that always works...

Edit: The non-findable items that you can wish for appears to be only the Nova Cannon, Graviton Disintegrator, and Mass Driver. The first two being the weapons of the Yellow Kawangi, and the third being found on the derelicts.

[RTyp06]

"Lava Pod Launcher doesnt work for me, shoulda wished for the Nova Cannon, since that always works..."

I like to wish for the "Cobalt Torpedo" ...the awesome longrange torpedo from the Domociles(sp).. But since I upgraded to WW 1.11 it doesn't allow it anymore.

Never tried the Nova Cannon or the Lava Pod...