Frequently Asked Questions About Wizardry 8 1. Release Date and System Requirements. 2. Story. 3. Characters and Role-Playing. 4. Graphics. 5. Combat. 6. Magic. 7. What is Wizardry? 8. Miscellaneous. 1. Release Date and System Requirements. Q: When will Wizardry 8 be released? A: When it's ready. At this time, we expect to release Wizardry 8 in Fall, 1998. Q: What are the system requirements for Wizardry 8? A: No system requirements have been set yet, though requirements are expected to be similar to other major '98 releases. (So yes, it will be Windows 95; no, it won't run on a 486.) 2. Story. Q: Does the story carry on from the last Wizardry? A: Yes, though you don't need to have played any previous Wizardrys to play Wizardry 8. Q: Does the story take place on Lost Guardia? A: No . . . but you can expect to see many of your favorite creatures and characters from Lost Guardia in Wizardry 8. You'll encounter the T'rang, the Umpani and, of course, the Dark Savant. There will be many new characters, as well. 3. Characters and Role-Playing. Q: Is Wizardry 8 a single-character game or a party-based game? A: You will control a party of six characters in Wizardry 8. In addition, NPCs may join your party from time to time, leading to a maximum party size of eight characters. Q: Has character creation changed? A: Yes. We've revamped the role-playing system to give experienced role-players more options and control, while at the same time allowing new players to jump in easily. More on these changes later. Also, Wizardry 7 players will be happy to learn that you can cancel character creation at any time in Wizardry 8. Q: Are there new character classes and skills? A: Yes. There is one completely new character class, and several new skills. All character classes have been tweaked to improve play balance, add new abilities, and generally make them cooler. Q: Are all the character races from Crusaders of the Dark Savant in Wizardry 8? A: Yes. Q: Can I import my characters from Crusaders of the Dark Savant or Wizardry Gold? A: Yes. Q: Can I import my characters from Bane of the Cosmic Forge? A: Your humble scribe currently has no information on this matter. 4. Graphics. Q: What sort of graphics will Wizardry 8 have? A: Wizardry 8 will feature a state-of-the art 3D engine. This high-resolution, true-3D engine allows incredibly complex environments and astonishing lighting effects. More importantly, this engine allows our talented artists and level designers to create the most visually stunning role-playing game ever. Trust us­your jaw will drop and your eyes will pop. Q: A 3D engine? Does that mean Wizardry 8 will be an action game, like Quake? A: No. See the Combat section. Q: Are the graphics in Wizardry 8 more like those in Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure or more like those in Wizardry Gold? A: Neither. Wizardry 8 uses a completely different graphics engine. Q: Where can I see a screenshot of Wizardry 8? A: We'll be posting screenshots here on the Web page in the future. But for the moment, check out the September issues of Computer Gaming World and PC Gamer. 5. Combat. Q: Is combat in Wizardry 8 real-time or turn-based? A: It's next to impossible to accurately command six characters in real time. While you're helping you mage cast a complicated spell, your fighter may be bludgeoned to death by a pack of vicious varmints. To give you better control, Wizardry 8 uses a phased (not turn-based) combat system. Of course, if you think a bit of time pressure adds to the excitement, we have options for that as well. Q: Phased, turn-based . . . what's the difference? A: In a nutshell, turn-based systems are "your characters go, then my characters go." In a phased combat system, which characters move when depends on a character's intitiative and other factors. Q: In Wizardry 7, monsters popped up out of nowhere. Is that how it works in Wizardry 8? A: You can see­and attack­monsters in the distance in Wizardry 8. This has led to several exciting new changes in the combat system. Q: Like what? A: Alas, I cannot reveal them at this time. 6. Magic. Q: What is the magic system like? A: The system is generally similar to the one in Wizardry 7. However, the spells themselves are being completely reworked, with new spells and new effects. 7. What is Wizardry? Q: So what is this Wizardry game you keep going on about? A: Wizardry is one of the most successful, longest running series of computer games in the world. In a Wizardry game, you create a party of customized characters and take them off on epic adventures in a fantasy world. The series began in 1981 with Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord for the Apple II computer. There are currently seven official installments of the series, along with various spin-offs, enhanced versions, and the like. (In Japan, there are even Wizardry animated movies, sound track albums, and playing cards.) 8. Miscellaneous. Q: Will there be an automap? A: Yes. Q: I heard from someone on the Internet that Wizardry 8 had been canceled! Is this true? A: There are people on the Internet who claim that Bill Gates has bought the Vatican, that aliens control the government, and that Elvis is alive and well and selling insurance in Florida. The rumor about Wizardry 8 being canceled is in the same category.