Spoilers & Solutions For Varying Storylines
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Asked Questions. For more information on the finer points of game play and strategy,
please consult the Game Help Forum
rather than e-mailing Angels and Cherubs directly for help as they will direct you back to
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(1) Developer’s Comments
On Varying Storylines
(2) I keep going broke in
Perwadjyt (Buto).
(3) Why can’t I import
wood at Saqqara?
(4) Why can’t I import
Granite in Dakhla Oasis?
(5) Why can’t I import
papyrus in Thinis, Middle Kingdom?
(6) Why do they keep asking
for debens in Waset (Thebes)?
(7) Why does my Kingdom
rating fall in Iunet (Dendera) when I fulfill requests from Abu?
(1) Developer’s
Comments On Varying Storylines
Pharaoh is scripted on a varying storyline. How you deal
with requests will affect the outcome of the mission. The best advice to deal with this is
(1) read your mission briefing very carefully and (2) make frequent saves in case you need
to go back to a specific point and re-play the request.
Nothing is truly random. All events and parameters are
scripted by the mission's creator, although there is some limited randomization within
scripted events, which affects the precise timing and quantities of goods or troops.
(Difficulty level affects this -- harder levels favor the higher quantities and shorter
times within the defined range). Player actions dictate what consequences flow from
initial scripted events.
So, a request for something (possibly randomized as to both
quantity and type) occurs within a defined timeframe (which might have some randomization
built into it). You fulfill the request, which sends you down one path. Or you fail the
request, sending you down a different path. Or you fill the request late, which might lead
to a third path. Rewards and punishments have similar provision for randomization, but
again within a defined range.
Missions will tend to flow a bit differently if you replay
them, and two players comparing notes will probably have slightly different stories to
tell. The broad story outline of a particular mission remains constant, though.
This is a good place to emphasize that the storylines in
some of Pharaoh's missions are very complex. Your actions/inaction's can propel you down
paths that other players won't experience -- trade routes opening or closing, invasions
happening or not, requests being made or not. When players compare notes about missions,
it's quite likely that they'll have different stories to tell, especially in the game's
later missions. And if you replay a mission, it's unlikely to unfold exactly the same way
it did the first time you played it.
Impression's
Conan: Thinis is a great example of how the story line can
change. It's in the middle of a Civil War between Henen-nesw and Waset. A set of trade
routes will shut down near the beginning depending on whom you support (through complying
to requests or accepting bribes.) Unless you continue to support the wrong side, the trade
routes you need to win the mission can be reopened, though it will probably cost you.
Impression's
Balshazaar: The storyline in Thinis is quite important to your
decision-making during scenario play. Make sure that you read the mission briefing
carefully enough to be able to determine who the good guys are, and who the enemies are.
Think of yourself as a neutral city at the beginning of a civil war and then use the
information in the mission briefing to determine which gifts from which cities to accept
or refuse. One "path" is quite a bit more difficult than the other...
The city that is requesting the weapons gets attacked by a
very large army. They make a desperate request for weapons, but sometimes even that isn't
enough to save them (i.e.- it's all part of the story, there are times when you can't
fulfill every request or save every city.) Basically, for every request
event, there are three possible outcomes depending upon whether you comply on time, comply
late, or refuse to comply. Most of the missions are complex in regards to
scripting.
Spoilers/Help
for the desperate:
The following outlines the solutions to some of the Fatal
decision cities. If you want to try your luck, stop here. If you are desperately stuck
…. Read on.
(2) I keep
going broke in Perwadjyt (Buto).
During these first few
"training" missions, try to learn the concepts being introduced, meet the
immediate goals, and win the scenario quickly. Build only what you need to achieve
victory. Making money is not the point, and is indeed impossible. However, the cash
provided to you is roughly double what you'll need to win if you build wisely. Tax
Collectors are introduced in the next mission, Nekhen. Even then, taxes merely slow the
rate of your treasury's decline. You won't earn profits until you learn trade in the
following mission, Men-nefer. From that point on, profitability is important.
(3) Why can’t I
import wood at Saqqara?
Selima Oasis will offer you a gift of 1600 pomegranates in
the early part of the mission. This gift must be accepted, or you will offend them and
they will respond by "cutting back" and severing your sole supply of wood
forever.
(4)
Why can’t I import Granite in Dakhla Oasis?
There is a request for 15-20 wood or bricks at the
end of April, 4-5 years into the mission. (These are variable). The request is from Dunqul
Oasis. If you fill the request late, the trade route to Dunqul Oasis will open. If you
fill it on time, you will be offered a gift of meat. Basically, to make things simple, do
not refuse or forfeit the gift of meat. Accept the gift of meat. Then the trade route to
Dunqul Oasis will open and granite will be available.
If you do not comply with the request for wood/bricks (in
other words, if you refuse it) then your Kingdom Rating will drop and Dunqul Oasis will
never open as a trade city, you will never get granite, and you will have to restart the
mission in order to win.
(5) Why can’t I import papyrus in Thinis, Middle Kingdom?
There is an event at the end of April, 11 years into
Thinis, where Men-nefer, as a trade city, comes under siege. At the same time, there is a
request for troops at Men-nefer. You have 6 months to dispatch troops. If you win the
battle, trade with Men-nefer becomes available, and so does Papyrus. If you lose the
battle, your kingdom rating falls and the troop request is called again until you either
refuse it or win. If you refuse it, you will lose access to papyrus and Men-nefer trade
will not open again. Hint: you can send land based troops or water-borne troops to aid
Men-Nefer.
(6) Why do they keep asking for debens in Waset (Thebes)?
This is the parallel city to Thinis during the Civil War.
Your loyalty to the Inyotef family is being tested. If you give in to the demands for
money, you will find yourself in a heap of trouble. You must be prepared to fight the
extorting cities and supporters of the Hene-nesw to prove you are worthy. And you must
honor the requests for food and goods and troops from the supporters of the Inyotef to
defeat the Hene-nesw.
(7) Why does my
Kingdom rating fall in Iunet (Dendera) when I fulfill requests from Abu?
It's a bug. Just after you start Iunet, a request comes
through for fish. If you send the fish, thus opening a trade route with Abu, roughly 2
years into the game you may start getting messages like - "even though trade has
opened with Abu, the people are displeased and your kingdom rating falls." It
continues to fall until Pharoahs army comes and wipes you out.
Ironrod of Impressions states:
"Our QA department is looking at the problem with Iunet and evaluating possible
remedies. Meanwhile, we recommend that you either play the alternate city of On, or use
the Pharaohs Tomb cheat to skip to the next mission. We apologize for disrupting
your campaigns."
 
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