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-- [3c] ---------- The secret resource: Lava

"I discovered something about the lava by accident, and a fairly costly one at that: the lava is REALLY explosive - like missiles.  This can be EXTREMELY useful:

Suppose you're in level 2 (the one with the very large room near the start), and you're going to get the red keycard, which is defended by about 4 or 5 robots.  As you may recall, there'a large lava pit in the middle of the room, which at least one of the robots is always directly above.  Instead of aiming at the robot, aim at the lava right below it and fire a blast or two.  The blasts will cause the lava under it to explode, and blow the robot above it apart!  Also, since the shots are sufficiently far from the robot, it won't try to dodge the blasts!
The Vulcan can be nice here: it's extremely high rate of fire turns the lava into an exploding pool of fiery death (what vivid language :).
This also can work well against humans: fire above them so they dive into the lava, then blast the lava around them.  Either you'll kill them, or they'll accidentally shoot the lava and commit suicide - you get their stuff either way."
-Scott Adams, via alt.games.descent

-- [3d] ---------- How can I beat the big bad robot at the end of level 7?

Adam Pletcher of Parallax Software recommends:

"Here's my method.  Once the smaller guys are gone, keep circling the pillar, always moving forward.  When he comes into view, lay on him with the quad lasers.  Keep your nose pointed at him, keep moving forward, and also slide up or down to avoid his missiles.  If the smart blobs from the missiles are getting too close to you, hug the pillar tighter or duck into one of the cross tunnels.  It should only take 5 or 6 passes like this to nail him."

-- [3e] ---------- How can I detect cloaked robots?

Meghan Mendenhall contributes:
"First, you know you are up against a cloaked robot when you unexplainably get hit at close range.  Turn around (they tend to prefer to attack your rear) and back up.  Try and find a corner or niche to hide in, so you're only attacked from one side.  Launch a few flares, and watch for an interference pattern against the wall.  Cloaked robots look like they are made out of slightly dirty celophane. Once you see it, blast away! Spreadfire cannon is recommended because of its fast firing  rate and wide coverage. When the robot explodes it decloaks, so you can see debris."

-- [3f] ---------- A Walkthrough of Level 7

BIG thanks to Mike Lorant (mikel@ucc.su.oz.au, also "Dense" on
IRC's #descent) for writing this section.  Obviously, this section contains major spoilers.  Read at your own risk.

1. Getting the blue key

At the start of the level go straight ahead up the ramp and follow the corridor around to the right.  At the room fly thru the far left hand door and into a large room with a passover bridge in it.  Then exit via the corridor directly above from where you started.  The corridor will bend to the left and then dip down the slope.  Fly through the corridor with the grating on the left hand side and out the other end.  Follow the corridor past a T junction and around through the rechargerator and over to the next T junction.  See diagram 1.  Turn left and grab the blue key.

Diagram 1
       _____
/  R  \
/  ___  \     B = Blue Key
/  /   \  \    1 = 1st T junction
   |  |_____|  |   2 = 2nd T junction
| 2   B   1 |   R = Rechargerator
|   _____   |   E = Entrance
   |  |     |  |   X = Exit
   |==|     |==|
   | X|     |E |

2. Getting to the blue door

Head back to the second T junction and turn left where there should be a door in front of you.  There will be grating on the left hand side with a door down the end.  Continue up the rising corridor and down the other side until you enter a large spherical area and to the blue door on the southern side of the room.

3. Getting the yellow key

Pass through the small corridor into the room with a red star shaped structure and exit straight ahead (upward direction).  As the corridor points upwards watch out for the 2 cloaked Medium Lifters.  The corridor will level out again and continue following it.  It will then dip a short distance away and passes past a yellow grating with lava below it.  The grating that is above you sometimes contains a Class 1 drone so watch out for its missles.  It is recommended that if it is there you destroy it because it can be a hinderance when tackling the next enemy.  The corridor will turn left at the bottom and at the end of it will be a
Supermech firing missles that lock on.  Level out and grab the yellow key.

4. Getting to the yellow door

Return to the beginning of the level (where you started).  There will be a yellow door on the left hand side, just below and behind the ramp you came from.  See diagram 2. Go through the yellow door.

Diagram 2

          |  |____
       |  |R |   _Y
     __|  |  |  |
__         |     S = Start
|        |     Y = Yellow door
|   __   |     R = Ramp
       |  |  |  |
       |  |  |S |

5. Getting the red key

Pass down the long dark corridor with grating on the left hand side with a yellow door down the end.  There will be a small cavity directly ahead which you can fly up.  Go through there and fly to the top.  Watch out for the Supermech firing missles which lock on.
There will be a cloaking powerup at the top and just over the other side will be the red key.  Grab the red key.

6. Getting to the red door

Return to the start of the level and and fly up the ramp that you initially flew through when getting the blue key.  At the end of the corridor go through the door straight ahead and you will enter a tiny corridor with a door down the end.  See diagram 3.

Diagram 3

  ___| 2|_
/        \
1   /\     |
\  \/     |    E = Entrance
\ ____   /    1 = Go through on way to Blue door
|  |     2 = Go through on way to Red door
/  |
/  /
| E|

As you enter the next room there will be a door on the top far left hand side.  After going through that you will find another corridor that will dip down downwards.  However, watch out for two secret doors behind you that will open when you are halfway down the corridor.  Two Automated
Scout Robots will come from those two chambers (left and right side).  Continue down to the end of the corridor into a large arena room.  The floor will be volcano shaped entrance with a red door on the inner northern end.  Go through the red door.

7. Killing the Shareware Big Boss

Note that the red door will be unopenable from the other side so you will have no escape.  Read section [3d] for details on tactics to destroy him.  Good luck!


Part [4].  CHEATS and SECRETS

-- [4a] ---------- What are the cheat codes?

Type the following directly in the game, regardless of your current keyboard mapping setup.

GABBAGABBAHEY = Cheats enabled!
SCOURGE       = WowieZowie Weapons!
MITZI         = All Keys!
RACERX        = Invulnerability On/Off!
GUILE         = Cloak On/Off!
TWILIGHT      = Shields Recharged!
FARMERJOE     = Warp to Which Level?

***The following cheat codes work ONLY in the registered version***

BUGGIN        = Turbo mode; everything (including enemies) speeded up
BRUIN         = Extra Life!
BIGRED        = SuperWowieZowie Weapons!  (includes ALL weapons)
FLASH         = Illuminates a path to the exit
AHIMSA        = Turns off enemy ships' firing
BIOPSYTOYS    = Blows the reactor immediately
POBOYS        = Also blows the reactor immediately
ASTRAL        = "Ghost" mode; go through doors, etc. (NOT walls)
PORGYS        = MEGA WowieZowie Weapons!  (Must be seen to be believed)
LUNACY        = Robots move fast, fire seldom

You might want to change your "bomb" key to something that won't conflict with these codes, otherwise you might blow up before you finish typing it. :)

Note that when you use cheat codes, your score drops to 0.
Hence, use these codes only as practice runs.
(Thanks to adliber@aol.com)

You CANNOT use the cheat codes in a multiplayer game, unless you are using a hacked .EXE file.  Please don't send me any mail asking how to do it or how to get a copy, as I will simply trash it.

-- [4b] ---------- Is there a list of secrets in Descent?

Adliber@aol.com writes:
"In level 4 there is a long reddish tunnel which has a gate at the end.. one you open the gate you see one of these purple areas on your right... about 3 green medium lifter robots show up out of this area.. if successful you blast them and three more show up you can shoot them until no more robots come out, and think that's it right?  Well now for the bonus... if you back out of the area through the gate you came in, and come back in to the same area again...more robots come out again... shoot them, until no more come out... the benefit is that when you shoot them you'll get the blue sphere that replenishes your shields... I did this about three times... (that is back out from the area, and re-enter) and was able to replenish my shields all three times. After all the robots were killed for the 3rd time.. no more came out but I had replenished my shields from 25 to about 85!  By then
I really needed the shields and it was the only place where I could replenish them... I found this by accident, and will try the same on other purple areas."

Adliber also writes:
"I found a hidden room by accident in Level 1...there is a hidden room in the ceiling and it's full of goodies; it has about 3 or 4 packs of missiles and assorted ammo.  When you get to the yellow area with the floating "stars" that replenishes your energy... find one of the video screens on one of the corner walls...look up at the ceiling, and you will see (faintly) a door... shoot at it and you will be able to go up into that room... There are two entrances to this area but the easiest one to spot is the one by the video screen on the wall.  If you cannot see it... just shoot at the ceiling where you see the video screen in this area..."

First Level secrets by Sven Neuhaus:
"1) From the start, turn right/down.  Next intersection, turn right.
Turn left in front of the prison, turn right in front of the ventilation.  Now turn either right or left.  The next corner you are approaching has a secret entrance at the ceiling.  Contains vulcan ammo and rockets.

2) From the start, turn left/down.  Follow the path.  Turn up to fly into the new room.  Fly towards the left back corner.  The wall there has a horizontal seam on it.  Fire at the door or fly close to open it.

3) Inside the second secret, right behind the second secret's entrance, but at the ceiling.  Secret contains a Small Hulk and a
Laser.

4) Inside the second secret, turn left after you entered the second secret door.  Move down through the hole in the floor.  Turn right.