Common Issues and FAQ

• What is Keep on the Borderlands?
  
  KotB is a mod for Ataris' Temple of Elemental Evil PC game. It is an entirely new module taking place elsewhere in Greyhawk, based on B2: Keep on the Borderlands by E. Gary Gygax. It is for starting level characters up to about 5 or 6.
  
  
• Can I play it without the Temple of Elemental Evil?
  
  No.
  
  
• What exactly do I need?
  
  You need Atari's Temple of Elemental Evil game, patched to version 2, as well as Microsoft .NET v2, and the Keep on the Borderlands Demo itself.
  
  
• Where do I get these from?
  
  Links for the downloads are available from HERE. The game is available from Amazon and bargain bins everywhere.
  
  
• Where do I find complete installation instructions?
  
  In the same place - HERE.
  
  
• What about patches?
  
  Also available HERE at the bottom of the post.
  
  
• Do I need the latest version of the Co8 mod?
  
  No. This is a completely seperate module.
  
  
• Can I just transfer my PCs from the Player folder?
  
  No. KotB includes feats and skills not found in ToEE.
  
  
• Ok, I'll roll new PCs. What about the P&V pack?
  
  KotB is NOT compatible with the portraits part of the P&V pack, for various reasons. The final (1.1) version of the Demo - finished and undergoing beta-testing as of 1 Dec 2008, release imminent after that - will include completely new portraits and voices as per the Co8 5.5 release. Just play without them for now, you can have them on your next run through.
  
  
• Next run through?
  
  A lot of elements of KotB, such as many of the monsters on the maps as well as their locations, are randomised, so no two games are the same. Lots of replay value, especially as different alignments.
  
  
• What sort of party should I create?
  
  Depends on alignment, really. A LE party should have a Hextorite presence: LG should have an Heironeoan focus. Less lawful parties should definitely have a rogue. All parties will do well with at least one person who has a decent Survival skill.
  
  Regarding clerics, there's a surprising amount of undead. Don't fill your ai follower slots though!
  
  Bards will have the most fun as face characters. An all human party (for the feats) will need someone with a very high Int since they won't get the extra languages Demi-Humans get. TN parties should use a Druid or Ranger. There's a lot of animals out there in the woods around the Keep...
  
  
• I started playing, but how do I get off the Shopmap? Where is the Jade Empress?
  
  The Shopmap predates the Jade Empress - you do it the old fashioned way, by talking with the Armourer. He will give you the option of saying "I'm ready to adventure" - take that option and follow his advice.
  
  
• Where do I find information about the new skills, feats and other new stuff in the game?
  
  In the Players Guide, which installs to the root folder (Atari / Temple of Elemental Evil). Please read it, it will answer many many questions.
  
  
• I'm wandering around the Keep - how do I get out to the Lizardman Lair, Mad Hermit and other maps I remember from the PnP module?
  
  Seriously, read the Players Guide.
  
  
• A few NPCs don't have much to say and a few areas seem rather empty.
  
  Its a Demo. The full version will have more. This still has over 100 NPC dialogues and more than 20 completable quests.
  
  
• The NPCs don't have voices.
  
  So you have a 60mb smaller download to get the Demo The planned voice actors - two groups of them - fell through at the last moment (a few weeks before the release) so I made the decision to release without them. The final version should have voiced NPC followers and major characters.
  
  
• When does the full version of the game come out?
  
  The Raider map and much of the Inner Bailey are well underway. If enough people work on the Caves of Chaos concurrently, they should be knocked over in... well, much less than the 2 1/2 years the Demo took
  
  
• This free mod is amazingly bug-free compared to some titles I have paid good money for, but I still found a small error. Where do I report it?
  
  Bug reports HERE please. Be as specific as possible.
  
  
• What about questions, quest help, that sort of thing?
  
  Start a thread in this forum
  
  
• Can I get all the new weapons and armour from Co8?
  
  Yes: this little military outpost has a suprisingly large range of merchandise to offer. I guess we call that one a suspension of belief - a necessary one to ensure people get to play the game the way they want. There are very few magic items though: its a starting level module, after all.

 

The following is a list of some of the things you might find for sale, or even be able to create, in and around the Keep. This list allows you to think about what you might want without having to shell out the money then shift-click.

• Potion of Explosions:
  
  A combustable liquid that can be thrown and causes fire damage to the victim.
  
  
• Climbing Kit:
  
  Provides +2 to Climb.
  
  
• Scholar's Kit:
  
  Provides a +2 bonus to Spellcraft.
  
  
• Healer's Kit:
  
  Provides +2 to Heal.
  
  
• Eyeglasses:
  
  Provides +2 to Appraise.
  
  
• Spyglass:
  
  Doubles the bearer's Survival score when checking to spot random encounters.
  
  
• Rope:
  
  Necessary to use the Climb ability, both climbing up and down.
  
  
• Grappling Hook:
  
  Necessary to use the Climb ability to climb up.
  
  
• Brimstone Powder:
  
  A volatile powder that, when thrown, will explode in a blinding flash, dazing all those nearby.
  
  
• Knockout Gas:
  
  This potion, when thrown, releases a gas that may put those in its range to sleep.
  
  
• Ink, Quill and Parchment:
  
  Keeps a record of certain events on your journey, particularly those that may change (variables and such). WIP in the Demo. Also has, in the index, a complete copy of all the books you may have read along the way.
  
  
• Bottle of Acid:
  
  A flask of acid that can be thrown, causing 1 die of acid damage to the victim. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Bottle of Distilled Acid:
  
  A flask of acid that can be thrown, causing 2 dice of acid damage to the victim. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and Distillation equipment.
  
  
• Bottle of Purified Acid:
  
  A flask of acid that can be thrown, causing 3 dice of acid damage to the victim. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Purifying Bath.
  
  
• Bottle of Eruptive Acid:
  
  A flask of acid that can be thrown, causing both fire and acid damage to the victim. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Purifying Bath.
  
  
• Flask of oil:
  
  A combustible liquid that can be thrown and causes fire damage to the victim.
  
  
• Smokestick:
  
  An alchemical device that can be thrown and creates a fog of cloud, providing concealment to those within. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Tanglefoot bag:
  
  A pouch that can be thrown and coats its targets in a sticky substance, briefly hindering movement, spellcasting, and attacks. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Armour Oil:
  
  A lubricant that can be applied to metal armour, reducing the armour check penalty by 1. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Lockslip Grease:
  
  A lubricant that can be applied to an ordinary lock to reduce the DC by 1. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Antitoxin:
  
  An alchemical mixture that provides a +5 bonus to saves against poison for 1 hour. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Alchemical Capsules:
  
  Small capsules that are attached to a weapon and, when activated, coat the weapon in an oil that provides an alchemical elemental bonus for 1 round. Comes in Quickflame (fire), Quickburn (acid), Quickspark (electricity), Quickfrost (cold) and Positoxin (as Holy Water) varieties. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and a Cauldron.
  
  
• Cerulean's Condenser
  
  Condenses potions down to a tincture, meaning you only need a few drops, effectively doubling the charges (usually 1) in the potion. Can be crafted with the Alchemy skill and Distillation equipment.