5) Shadow on the Sand Solution

[champskees]

Book V: Shadow on the Sand

Lone Wolf meets Arabia! Love this adventure, in fact it is probably my favourite in the Kai series. It shares a few similarities with Flight in the Dark; great pace, interesting encounters and Banedon! I feel that it also concludes the first five books well whilst providing a nice hook for the Magnakai series.

If completing the Kai Series (Books 1-5):

It was only as an adult that I discovered that you do not have to get arrested in order to complete the first section of the book. Choosing to surrender is an option from paragraph 1 and by doing so, you effectively skip half the book! The problem for a minimum stats character surrendering though is that you will likely be fighting at a combat ratio of -2 with 20 Endurance vs a 21 Endurance enemy who ignores the first round of damage. If you possess the Sommerswerd, the superior option is to injure your hand and fight the Elix to acquire the Oede Herb. Even if you do not have the Sommerswerd, you should still evade the guards to acquire some last minute goods (follow the walkthrough for part I but instead of going to 139 go to 31 and instead of going to 68 you will go to 154, drop a meal to buy a potion of alether).

The only issue with fighting the elix is that you have a 30% chance of missing the jewelled mace. Even without the mace, the final enemy at the end of the book should be easy to kill even for a minimum stats character if you use the +4 Alether and have acquired all of the special items over the past four books. Following this solution, LW will have a weapon that he has Weaponskill with so you will not be at a disadvantage.

If completing the Kai series & the Magnakai Series (Books 1-12):

If you are intending to carryover to the Magnakai series after completing Shadow on the Sand, it is strongly recommended that you place your concentrated Alether potion into safekeeping. The optimal path will depend on your initial CS and EP scores. The table below indicates which path to follow in order for this walkthrough to provide you with the highest rates of success for future books. Essentially, it is still the optimal choice for a low CS character to fight the elix. Otherwise, it is recommended that LW is captured after shopping at the Alether store. High CS characters should also pick up the Jewelled Mace by fighting the Yas.



Black Kai Path: Fight the Elix, using all of your healing potions and alether to give you a slight edge.
Green Magnakai Path: Fight the Elix.
Blue Magnakai Path: Buy several Alether potions, miss out on the Jewelled Mace.
Red Magnakai Path: Buy several Alether potions, fight the Yas to acquire the Jewelled Mace. 

Skills (9):
• Camouflage
• Hunting
• Healing
• Weaponskill
• Mindblast
• Animal Kinship
• Mindshield
• Mind over Matter
• Tracking

Kai Books:
From previous books, you have the following items:
• Backpack
• Sommerswerd +8CS (1)
• Shield +2CS (2)
• Silver Helm +2CS (3)
• Padded Leather Waistcoat +2EN (4)
• Chainmail Waistcoat +4EN (5)
• Blue Stone Triangle (6)
• Map of Sommerlund (7)
• Dagger of Vashna (8)
• Laumspur Potion (+5 En when used) (1)
• Laumspur Potion (+5 En when used) (2)
• Laumspur Potion (+4 En when used) (3)
• Potion of Alether (+4 Cs when used) (4)
• Potion of Alether (+2 Cs when used) (5)
• Gold Crowns (24-42)
Start with:
• 0-9+10 Gold Crowns (34-50)
• Map of Vassagonia (9)
Up to four items:
Take Meal (6)
Take Meal (7)
Take Laumspur Potion (+4 En when used) (8)

Magnakai Books:
From previous books, you have the following items:
• Backpack
• Sommerswerd +8CS (1)
• Shield +2CS (2)
• Silver Helm +2CS (3)
• Padded Leather Waistcoat +2EN (4)
• Chainmail Waistcoat +4EN (5)
• Blue Stone Triangle (6)
• Map of Sommerlund (7)
• Dagger of Vashna (8)
• Gold Crowns (24-42)
If Green Path:
• Potion of Alether (+2 Cs when used) (1)
Start with:
• 0-9+10 Gold Crowns (34-50)
• Map of Vassagonia (9)
Up to four items:
If Green Path:
• Take Meal (2)
• Take Meal (3)
• Take Laumspur Potion (+4 En when used) (4)
If Blue/Red Path:
• You do not need any items.
Items to place into safekeeping:
• Laumspur Potion (+5 En when used)
• Laumspur Potion (+5 En when used)
• Laumspur Potion (+4 En when used)
• Potion of Alether (+4 Cs when used)
If Blue/Red Path:
• Potion of Alether (+2 Cs when used)

Part I
001
104
142 You have the Animal Kinship discipline.
134
095 You have the Mind over Matter discipline.
184
153 You possess the Tracking discipline.
042
169 Do not buy a sash.
113 You have the Healing discipline.
053
157
016 If Blue/Red Path: Take Tinderbox (1). 
051 Lose 1 Endurance. You have the Tracking discipline.
173
096
164 Lose 1 Endurance.
----------------------------------------------
If Blue/Red Path:
031 You possess a Tinderbox.
143
----------------------------------------------
If Kai/Green Path:
139
094
081 Note: You have contracted Limbdeath.
166 Note: Cannot use Shield until Limbdeath cured. Lose 3 Combat Skill until cured.
055
162 Lose 1 Endurance. You have lost the use of one arm. Lose 1-10 Endurance.
114 Use 1-2 Laumspur Potions here (+4-8En)(3-6).
--------------------------------------------
090 You possess the Healing discipline.
006
103 Restore 2 Endurance.
071 If you possess a Tinderbox: Drop Tinderbox (0).
-----------------------------------------------
If Kai/Green Path:
054 You need the Oede herb.
068
027 Take Laumspur Potion (+4 En when used) (4-7). Pay 5 Gold Crowns (29-45)
027 Take Rendalim’s Elixir (+6 En when used) (5-8). Pay 7 Gold Crowns (22-38)
027 If endurance below maximum: Buy & consume Larnuma Oil (restore 2 endurance), pay 3 Gold Crowns (19-35). If you are progressing to the Magnakai series it may be worth consuming the Laumspur Potion here (4).
160
126 You possess both Hunting and Camouflage disciplines.
170
137 Eat a Meal (-1 Meal) (3-7). You have the Tracking discipline.
037
149
100 Take Copper Key (10).
057 If Kai Path: Use Potion of Alether(+2Cs) (6).
057 Fight CS 17 EN 32 Elix. You have not fought an Elix before.
002 Limbdeath cured. Restore 3 Combat Skill. Note Shields can be used again.
002 Take Oede Herb (+10 En when used) (4-7).
-----------------------------------------------
If Blue/Red Path:
054 You do not need the Oede herb.
154 Take 7 Potions of Alether (7). Pay 28 Gold Crowns (6-22).
179
197
025
069 Lose Everything (you will pick it all back up later though).
138
004 Take Sword(1). Fight CS 14 EN 21 Palace Gaoler. Enemy ignores damage in first round.
If fight lasts longer than 4 four rounds:
      180 You possess the Mindblast discipline.
      045
Otherwise:
      165
078
102 Take 6 Gold Crowns (12-28).
102 Take Gaoler’s Keys (9).
102 If Red Path: Take Dagger/Warhammer if proficient (2).
150
122 You possess the Gaoler’s Keys.
136 You possess the Camouflage discipline.
186
052 Take 4 Gold Crowns (16-32).
140
083 Add note: Bronze Door ‘67’.
181
If Red Path:
      097
      194 Fight CS 14 EN 28 Yas. You possess the Mindshield discipline.
      035 Take Copper Key (10).
      035 Take Jewelled Mace (11).
014 Take all of your Equipment that was confiscated.
131 Take Meal (8). Use the Potion of Laumspur immediately (restore 4 Endurance).
058 Use combination. Turn to Para 67.
-----------------------------------------------
067
200

Part II
201
285 Lose 2 Endurance.
317
------------------------------------------
If Blue Path:
372 Lose 1 Endurance. You possess the Mind over Matter discipline.
269
------------------------------------------
If Red/Green/Kai Path:
338
279
215 You possess a Copper Key.
246 You have the Tracking discipline.
220
-----------------------------------------
352
313 You do not have these items.
282 You have the Mind over Matter discipline.
295
207 Take 8 Gold Crowns (24-46).
224 You have the Animal Kinship discipline.
308
343
264 You have the Mindshield discipline. You possess the Sommerswerd.
315
221 You have never been given a Crystal Star Pendant.
275 Roll 0-9:
        • 0-4: 374
        • 5-8: 254
        • 9: 261 Death.
361 Fight CS 18 En 25 Drakkar for three rounds.

If Drakkar defeated:
288 You have never been given a Crystal Star Pendant.
Otherwise if Drakkar not defeated in three rounds:
382 You have never been given a Crystal Star Pendant.

294
323 Roll 0-9:
        • 0-2: 250 You have the Healing discipline.
        • 3-9: 312 You have the Hunting discipline.
210 You have the Healing discipline.
377
339
302 Restore 3 Endurance.
283
359 Restore 2 Endurance.
300 You do not have a Black Crystal Cube.
------------------------------------------------
If Blue/Red Path:
247 Roll 0-9:
        • 0-2: 337
                  225
                  211 Restore 2 Endurance.
                  318
        • 3-9: 383
------------------------------------------------
If Kai/Green Path:
247 Roll 0-9:
        • 0-2: 337
        • 3-9: 383
                  235 You have the Healing discipline.
                  344 Give him the Oede herb (3-6).
                  321
                  356
                  281 Take Jewelled Mace (11).
241
225
211 Restore 2 Endurance. Take Bottle of Kourshah (+4 En when used) (4-7). Pay 5 Gold Crowns (22-41)
318
------------------------------------------------
272
342
296
362 Pay 1 Gold Crown (21-40).
237 Restore 1 Endurance.
376
202
386 You have the Tracking discipline.
292
206
331 3 Oasis. 7 Cities. 3 Islands. Number is 373. Turn to Para 373.
373
320 Eat a Meal. (-1 Meal) (2-7).
286 You have the Mind over Matter discipline.
214
395 You possess a Blue Stone Triangle.
245
289 You possess the Sommerswerd.
311
350 Lose 3 Endurance. Lose Sommerswerd. You have the Mindshield discipline.
      If Kai Path: Use Potion of Alether (+4CS next combat) (5).
      If Blue/Green/Red Path: Use Potion of Alether (+2CS next combat) (1-6).
253 Fight CS 20 EN 40 Dhorgaan. +5CS if using Jewelled Mace, otherwise use alternate weapon if skilled.
335
268
400 Take Sommerswerd. End of Book V.

Chance of success if completing Books I-V (Kai Books):


Chance of success if continuing on to the Magnakai series:

[Nym90]

I have to quibble slightly with your proposed solution. If you don't get limbdeath, when you reach the herb-mistress, you can buy Alether potions and there is no limit to how many you can purchase.

I have to think being able to take 8 Alether potions with you into the Magnakai series will, in the long run, make this the better path to follow.

There is the downside of having to fight the Palace Gaoler with no Sommerswerd, but he only has 14 CS, so it would seem that your odds are pretty good even with a minimum stats character especially if you have Weaponskill with Swords as you can grab a sword before fighting and would then have a 14 CS (10 plus Mindblast plus Weaponskill). Even without Weaponskill with swords you are only at -2 CS ratio.

An additional benefit to this route is being certain to be able to get a Jewelled Mace.

You may also want to consider saving the distilled Alether for the Magnakai series. I haven't done the math on that to determine where the most effective place to use it is for a minimum stats character, but there are some very difficult fights coming up.

However, having a backpack full of regular Alether, you can use one of those instead.

[champskees]

Nov 8, 2018 18:45:55 GMT Nym90 said:

I have to quibble slightly with your proposed solution. If you don't get limbdeath, when you reach the herb-mistress, you can buy Alether potions and there is no limit to how many you can purchase.

I have to think being able to take 8 Alether potions with you into the Magnakai series will, in the long run, make this the better path to follow.

There is the downside of having to fight the Palace Gaoler with no Sommerswerd, but he only has 14 CS, so it would seem that your odds are pretty good even with a minimum stats character especially if you have Weaponskill with Swords as you can grab a sword before fighting and would then have a 14 CS (10 plus Mindblast plus Weaponskill). Even without Weaponskill with swords you are only at -2 CS ratio.

An additional benefit to this route is being certain to be able to get a Jewelled Mace.

You may also want to consider saving the distilled Alether for the Magnakai series. I haven't done the math on that to determine where the most effective place to use it is for a minimum stats character, but there are some very difficult fights coming up.

However, having a backpack full of regular Alether, you can use one of those instead.

Yes the Magnakai series will change the solutions somewhat.

Initially I just wanted to work out the best odds of completing the Kai series (Books I-V), which I think I have done. 

If I have a look at the next set of books, I might go back and write in a flow path i.e. if you are going to complete the Magnakai books then...

Ultimately I am envisioning having stat blocks that show the percentiles for completing each series of books, so it will look something like this:

% for Completing Book I-V
% for Completing Book I-XII
% for Completing Book I-XX

One of my upcoming dilemmas is whether to continue to use the Kai Healing skill during the Magnakai adventures. I understand Dever allows it as a 'bonus' for those who completed the Kai series, but seems dodgy lol. And can the Kai Mindblast still provide a +2CS bonus...and Hunting in some of the less desolate areas... What are your thoughts on this?

[Ofecks]

Always use the loyalty bonuses. The MK series can still be challenging even with them active.

One of the Heroic SS achievements for this book is to kill Haakon in combat, but survive with only 3 or less EP remaining. Yeesh.

I forgot to mention that in book 2, the updated "S" fork of Seventh Sense adds a 2nd Epic Failure cheevo where you have to die in combat to Halvorc. Pretty funny.

Here's a list of the Kai series meta-achievements, awarded if you survive all 5 books and meet certain criteria:
- Complete Kai series with By-The-Book ruleset (as interpreted by devs)
- Complete Kai series with Hardcore ruleset (nerfs the 'Swerd, starting EP/CS, adds permadeath, and a few other things I don't remember; Seventh Sense S' hardcore mode is completely different)
- Collect many weapons (11 points total, special item and certain "named" weapons are worth 2 points)
- Collect many potions (12 total, a few odd items count towards this - Holy Water, Herb Pad, Kourshah)
- Collect tools, treasure, and money (13 points total, all eligible items are worth 1 point, except the Gold Ring in book 2 [worth 5]; 85+ gold crowns)
- Kill a "boss" in each book (Gourgaz, spear Helghast, Akraa'Neonor, Barraka, and Haakon)
- Complete Kai series completely unarmed (Seventh Sense S only)
- Complete Kai series in 15 minutes, without deaths or restarts (Seventh Sense S only)

I found out you cannot get the Potions and Treasure meta in the same run on BTB rules due to backpack space limitations (there is no storage until Book 5) UNLESS you pick up the Gold Ring in book 2 (that path is not taken during the highscore run).

[Nym90]

Nov 8, 2018 20:32:17 GMT champskees said:

Nov 8, 2018 18:45:55 GMT Nym90 said:

I have to quibble slightly with your proposed solution. If you don't get limbdeath, when you reach the herb-mistress, you can buy Alether potions and there is no limit to how many you can purchase.

I have to think being able to take 8 Alether potions with you into the Magnakai series will, in the long run, make this the better path to follow.

There is the downside of having to fight the Palace Gaoler with no Sommerswerd, but he only has 14 CS, so it would seem that your odds are pretty good even with a minimum stats character especially if you have Weaponskill with Swords as you can grab a sword before fighting and would then have a 14 CS (10 plus Mindblast plus Weaponskill). Even without Weaponskill with swords you are only at -2 CS ratio.

An additional benefit to this route is being certain to be able to get a Jewelled Mace.

You may also want to consider saving the distilled Alether for the Magnakai series. I haven't done the math on that to determine where the most effective place to use it is for a minimum stats character, but there are some very difficult fights coming up.

However, having a backpack full of regular Alether, you can use one of those instead.

Yes the Magnakai series will change the solutions somewhat.

Initially I just wanted to work out the best odds of completing the Kai series (Books I-V), which I think I have done. 

If I have a look at the next set of books, I might go back and write in a flow path i.e. if you are going to complete the Magnakai books then...

Ultimately I am envisioning having stat blocks that show the percentiles for completing each series of books, so it will look something like this:

% for Completing Book I-V
% for Completing Book I-XII
% for Completing Book I-XX

One of my upcoming dilemmas is whether to continue to use the Kai Healing skill during the Magnakai adventures. I understand Dever allows it as a 'bonus' for those who completed the Kai series, but seems dodgy lol. And can the Kai Mindblast still provide a +2CS bonus...and Hunting in some of the less desolate areas... What are your thoughts on this?

I think the Kai disciplines should be useable in the Magnakai series.

I like your idea of showing multiple optimal paths based on different objectives.

[Nym90]

Any idea yet when you'll continue these walkthroughs into the Magnakai series and beyond? I find them very interesting and useful.

[Lost Wolf]

Nov 9, 2018 3:11:34 GMT Nym90 said:

I think the Kai disciplines should be useable in the Magnakai series.

It's not "should". They are usable.

If I remember correctly it was answered by Joe Dever himself.

[Nym90]

Dec 20, 2018 11:46:40 GMT Lost Wolf said:

Nov 9, 2018 3:11:34 GMT Nym90 said:

I think the Kai disciplines should be useable in the Magnakai series.

It's not "should". They are usable.

If I remember correctly it was answered by Joe Dever himself.

Thanks for correcting my imprecise phrasing.

Book 6 doesn't actually make any mention in the text of what the Kai disciplines are and what their bonuses are, perhaps because it was intended as a hidden loyalty bonus that only readers of books 1-5 would know about. Also, the book says you may carry Weapons and Special Items over from the Kai series, but makes no mention of Backpack items. It seems to me that they also should be able to be carried over, but did Joe ever comment on this?

[Lost Wolf]

Dec 20, 2018 20:55:34 GMT Nym90 said:

Thanks for correcting my imprecise phrasing.

Book 6 doesn't actually make any mention in the text of what the Kai disciplines are and what their bonuses are, perhaps because it was intended as a hidden loyalty bonus that only readers of books 1-5 would know about. Also, the book says you may carry Weapons and Special Items over from the Kai series, but makes no mention of Backpack items. It seems to me that they also should be able to be carried over, but did Joe ever comment on this?

it was not much correcting phrasing, just wanted to make it clear for the occasional new reader that might find the thread

But I also missed the second part of the discussion and didn't understand your answer fully. I apologize.

I'll give my opinion on the matter too.

If you don't use the loyalty bonus you're kinda forced to take Curing as one of the three picks of magnakai disciplines. Without it I failed three times in a row.

And without the sommerswerd and other special items from books 1-5 a boost to CS is also kinda mandatory.

Otherwise book 6 is difficult to beat.

In the equipment section of Kingdoms of Terror says you can choose "items" from the list, in addition to items you might already possess in the same way you did with Gold Crowns (previous paragraph) which specifies to add GC you got from books 1 to 5*

"You can take five items from the list below, again adding to these, if necessary, any you may already possess."

The -again- refers to how you add new GC to the previously owned

The list of "items", referred generically like that, includes weapons, special items and backpack items.

So I'd say the answer was already given in the book itself

*and oh boy, in book 6 you really need all the GC you could get

[champskees]

Dec 6, 2018 21:20:58 GMT Nym90 said:

Any idea yet when you'll continue these walkthroughs into the Magnakai series and beyond? I find them very interesting and useful.

Really wanted to read through all the Magnakai books again to remember all the key items and encounters, then write the solution, write the code, possibly run a few different scenarios. Currently reading Book 7 lol, getting there.

Now i've got some time off work i'll probably be able to focus and make some real progress, solutions will probably take a couple of months to get to the internet. We will see...

Has been good to get some support/clarification on rules etc, definitely feel better using legacy skills from the Kai books.