Games PC CIRCLE OF BLOOD-THE SHADOW OF THE TEMPLARS User Manual

[UK] USERS GUIDE

The computer program and its associated documentation and
materials are protected by National and International Copyright
Laws. Storage of the computer program and its associated documen­tation and materials in a retrieval system, reproduction, translation,
copying, hiring, lending, broadcasting and public performance are
prohibited without the express written permission of Virgin
Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd. All rights of the author and
owner are reserved world-wide. This program and its associated
documentation and materials are sold according to Virgin Interactive
Entertainmentís terms of trade and conditions of sale, copies of
which are available on request.

Broken Sword c1996 Revolution Software Ltd. Published by Virgin
Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Virgin
is a registered trademark of Virgin Enterprises Ltd.

Epilepsy Warning

Please read this before playing Broken Sword!

A very small percentage of individuals may experience epileptic
seizures when exposed to certain light patterns or flashing lights.
Exposure to certain light patterns on backgrounds on a television
screen or while playing computer games may induce an epileptic
seizure in these individuals. Certain conditions may induce
undetected epileptic symptoms in persons who have no history of
prior seizures or epilepsy. If you, or anyone in your family, has
an epileptic condition, consult your doctor prior to playing. If you
experience any of the following symptoms while playing a computer
game: dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of
awareness, disorientation, any involuntary movement, or
convulsions, immediately discontinue use and consult your doctor
before resuming play.

This product is exempt from classification under UK Law. In
accordance with the Video Standards Council Code of Practice it is
considered suitable for viewing by the age range(s) indicated.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Started.....................................................page

System Requirements
Installation under MS-DOS
Installation under Windows 95

Introduction.........................................................page

Beginnerís Tutorial...............................................page

Cursor Control Overview
The Adventure Begins

General Playing Guide.......................................... page

Moving Around
The Inventory
Examining Things
Collecting Objects
Using Objects
Conversation
Using Map Screens
Making Phone Calls
The Control Panel

General Hints........................................................page

1

2

4

8

12

Customer Support.................................................page

13

GETTING STARTED

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

486 66 Mhz PC

Vesa 2.0 compatible SVGA card

100% Soundblaster compatible

sound card

Mouse

2 x speed CD ROM drive

RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Pentium PC

Vesa 2.0 compatible SVGA card

100% Soundblaster compatible 16bit

sound card

Mouse

4 x speed CD ROM drive

INSTALLATION UNDER MS-DOS

If you are running Windows and you wish to install from DOS, first exit to MS-DOS.
Place the Broken Sword CD in your CD-ROM drive, and select that drive by typing “D:” (or
whichever drive letter is assigned to your CD-ROM, followed by a colon symbol) and pressing
Enter. Now type “INSTALL” and press Enter. The installation program will then guide you
through the sound setup utility and Broken Sword installation options. Whenever you wish
to play Broken Sword, ensure you are in MS-DOS mode, then make sure you are in the
directory Broken Sword was installed in. The default directory is C:\SWORD, so if this is what

you selected, type “CD\SWORD” and press Enter. Now type “SWORD” and press Enter. The

game will now begin. If you are experiencing problems, please refer to the Troublshooting
section of the manual.

INSTALLATION UNDER WINDOWS 95

Place the Broken Sword CD in your CD-ROM drive. The first time that you insert the CD into
the computer you will be asked if you wish to install Broken Sword. Choose the INSTALL
box. The installation program will then guide you through the Broken Sword installation
options. If Broken Sword has been installed, when the CD is inserted, then the options to
PLAY, CANCEL or UNINSTALL will be displayed. Choose PLAY to run Broken Sword. Choose
CANCEL if you don’t wish to play Broken Sword. Choose UNINSTALL if you wish to remove
Broken Sword from your computer. If the CD has been inserted into the computer, Broken
Sword can be run at any time by clicking on the START button and selecting PROGRAMS,
REVOLUTION SOFTWARE, BROKEN SWORD.

1

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations, you’re about to shape the destiny of a hero. Broken Sword
uses advanced programming, animation and storytelling techniques to put
you right into the heart of the most amazing, outlandish, and exciting of
tales. This is the culmination of over two years’ effort by a team of expert
programmers and designers, a veteran layout artist, cartoon movie animators,
professional scriptwriters, and the music composer Barrington Pheloung ­whose credits include the soundtrack for the ëInspector Morse’ TV series. The
result is a game unparalleled in terms of rich gameplay and sheer spectacle.

If you’ve never played an adventure game before, don’t worry. Broken Sword
has been designed to cater for the novice as well as the gaming expert, and
to this end has one of the simplest yet most powerful user interfaces yet
devised. Control throughout the game is possible using simple mouse point­and-click commands, and you’ll soon discover that all manner of complex
actions and conversations can be carried out with the minimum of effort.
Similarly, you’ll find the exploration of strange locales and searches for vital
clues will soon become second nature, as will the way in which Broken Sword
embroils you in a living, evolving story, with events unfolding as you make
progress. A sharp mind, a thirst for the truth, and an inquisitive eye are all
the tools you need to play an adventure game. So gather your wits and let
the story begin.

2

PROLOGUE

Mystical secrets from medieval times, assassins dressed as clowns and

beautiful photographers are only the first pieces in a jigsaw puzzle which
will transport you and your on-screen partner from the streets of Paris to
the farthest corners of Europe and beyond, into the legend of the ancient
Knights Templar. This is a story of an American abroad who - by a single
twist of fate - is given the opportunity to turn from tourist to detective, and
becomes the one person who can thwart the devilish plans of a band of
megalomaniac fascists. And who knows, he may even get the girl in the
process.

As the game opens we witness the fateful events which will transform young

Californian George Stobbart from a regular guy on vacation into the main
protagonist in the story of Broken Sword. Sipping his coffee as he sits outside
a cafÈ in Paris, George can’t help but feel that the French are treating him
with a certain amount of disdain. It seems just being American is reason
enough to be treated with suspicion, and it’s an attitude which makes George
all the more determined to prove himself. This perhaps goes some way towards
explaining his attempts to woo the cafÈ’s waitress, but his smooth moves
are cut short by the arrival of another customer - a distinguished gentleman
attired in hat and overcoat, and carrying a briefcase.

Any disappointment is soon forgotten as the bizarre antics of an accordion-

playing clown catch George’s eye. Waltzing around amidst a barrage of
balloons, the clown disappears inside the cafÈ. The clown reappears moments
later and George notices that he’s no longer carrying the accordion. Instead,
our hero notices the other customer’s briefcase in the clutches of this
greasepaint-covered madman. Before he can even attempt to make sense of
what is happening a huge explosion blasts the front of the cafÈ clean away
and envelops George in flames. Thrown into the air, George tangles with one
of the café parasols, which

miraculously shields him from the worst of the blow.Our American friend

attempts to crawl from under the parasol, dazed and confused by the
explosion, concerned for the safety of the waitress, and anxious to find out
just what connects the man in the overcoat, the malevolent clown, the
briefcase, and one almighty bomb blast. Never in his most fevered imaginings
could George predict the dark events to follow. And only with your help will
he ever succeed in unraveling the mysteries of Broken Sword.

3

BEGINNER’S TUTORIAL

CURSOR CONTROL OVERVIEW

All in-game actions are achieved using the on-screen cursor, the mouse to direct
this cursor, and the left and right mouse buttons. When it’s possible to directly
control George - i.e. when there’s no event or conversation taking place - an
arrow-like cursor will be visible on the screen. Depending on the current situation,
the left and right mouse buttons will instruct George to carry out certain tasks.
A quick reference guide to the possible cursor shapes and the effect of the
buttons is shown below.

Left or right mouse button... George will walk over to the pointer.

Left mouse button................ George will examine the object in

question very closely.

Right mouse button.............. George will simply look at the object.

Left mouse button............... This prompts George to operate or use

the object in whatever way he can.

Right mouse button............. George will look at the object.

Left or right mouse button... George will pick up the object.

Right mouse button............. George will look at the object.

Left mouse button............... George will attempt to engage the

person in conversation.

Right mouse button............. Instructs George to look at the person.

Left or right mouse button... George will leave the current scene via

this exit.

Left or right button............. George will walk across the scene to

reveal an area that was previously
off screen.

4

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

The following tutorial is recommended for beginners only. If you’d rather embark on Broken Sword without
the least bit of prompting, then skip over to the General Playing Guide. However, the following steps
represent only a tiny fraction of what’s in store.

1. Once you’ve loaded Broken Sword and the opening sequence has completed, you’ll
find our hero George Stobbart standing outside the wreckage of the café. The first step
is to get your bearings and have a good look around. First try moving him around the
place. Using the mouse, move the on-screen cursor over to the far right, and click the
left mouse button.

2. That’s a start. Now let’s try combining moving around with actually performing
some kind of task, instructing George to take a closer look at the café’s shattered
windows, for instance. Move the cursor over the remains of the café window until the
cursor changes from an arrow to a magnifying glass. Click the left mouse button, and
George will walk over and examine the glass.

3. That’s the basics over with, now on with the adventure. Think back to that opening
sequence, and remember which way the clown made his getaway - you’ll recall he ran
from the café towards the archway by the café. Go back to the café exterior and follow
his steps. To do this move the cursor over the archway at the far right of the scene.
The cursor will change to a pointing hand. Click the left mouse button and George will
leave by this exit.

4. Now this alleyway looks promising. Perhaps the clown made his escape by climbing
that drainpipe. Place the cursor over the pipe - the arrow will change to show a set of
moving cogs. This symbol indicates that George can use an object. Simply click the left
mouse button again and he’ll attempt to shimmy on up.

5. Maybe the clown is still here, hiding out in one of the rubbish bins. Place the cursor
over a bin lid and the cursor will change to represent a magnifying glass. Click the left
mouse button to look inside. Make sure you inspect all the bins.

6. Still no luck? That only leaves one possible exit - the manhole. Place the cursor over
the manhole (the arrow will change to show a set of moving cogs) and click the left
mouse button. George does his best, but can’t get it open. If only George had some
kind of lever with which to open the cover. Let’s go back to the main street for now,
and come back to the manhole when George is better equipped. Move the cursor to the
alley entrance (the cursor will change to a pointing arrow again) and click the left
mouse button.

5

7. Survey the scene in the street carefully, and you’ll notice a newspaper lodged at
the foot of the street lamppost. It may be useful, so place the cursor over the paper ­the arrow should change hand moving with a picking up motion. Click the left mouse
button again. George will now reach over and take the newspaper. Now is probably a
good time to check out the level of damage in the café itself - that waitress may need
help. Place the cursor at the doorway and the click the left mouse button. George will
enter the cafe.

8. Inside the café things look bad. Let’s check on the health of the waitress first - move
the cursor over her slumped body. The arrow will have changed to a mouth, this indicates
it’s possible to communicate with the poor girl. Click the left mouse button and George
will walk over to her, help her up and start talking.

9. Much of the conversation will flow without any need for your input, however she
may ask a few questions while chatting. At these moments two hand icons will appear
at the bottom of the screen, one with thumbs up, the other thumbs down. Click on the
former to answer yes to her question, otherwise click on the
latter.

10. Eventually you’ll have the opportunity to ask the waitress about specific topics.
The faces of the old man and the clown will appear in the bar at the bottom of the
screen, along with a green arrow. Click on one of the images to talk about that subject,
or the green arrow at the left to end the conversation. Notice that it’s sometimes possible
to ask about the same subject again, and that new topics are sometimes added during
the course of a conversation. When you’ve discovered as much as possible, leave the
waitress and continue your investigations. You may wish to examine the dead body,
otherwise direct George back into the street.

11. Perhaps the workman down the road can be of help. Move the cursor to the rear
of the scene, by the workman’s tent. The cursor will change to a pointing hand icon.
Click the left mouse button and George will exit the scene and reappear by the workman.
Alas, before you get a chance to speak to the workman the police arrive on the scene,
determined to find out whether George was involved in the explosion. There’s no option
but to watch as he’s frog-marched back to the café for questioning.

12. Back inside the café, Inspecteur Rosso will do most of the talking. When he asks
you a question, a topic bar will appear at the bottom of the screen. This will contain
either a thumbs down and a thumbs up icon, or the former together with a picture of
the clown. To answer no, click on the thumbs down icon. Otherwise left click on the
other displayed icon.

6

13. Once back outside the café, try getting George to chat with the photographer. To
do this move the cursor over her image - again the arrow will transform into a small
mouth. Click the left mouse button to initiate a conversation. The girl will reveal some
very useful information. Again a topic bar will appear at the bottom of the screen at
key points in the conversation. When you get the chance, click on each topic to talk
about them. Ask enough questions and the photographer may give George her telephone
number. Left mouse click the green arrow icon at the left of the topic bar to end the
conversation.

14. Now back to that workman. Click on the rear exit again to pay him another visit.
Show him the newspaper. To do this move the cursor to the top of the game screen ­an inventory bar will appear, displaying all the objects George is currently holding.
Click the left mouse button with the cursor over the image of the newspaper. Now move
the cursor back down into the play area - the newspaper will follow. Place the cursor
and newspaper over the workman and click the left mouse button again. After some
grumbling he’ll take the paper, help solve your first clue, and leave you to look after
his site.

15. While he’s gone, George is free to rummage around. Move the pointer over his
toolbox. The cursor will change to display a set of cogs. Click the left mouse button to
use the toolbox. George will find a handy T-bar tool - exactly the sort of thing which
could be used to open that manhole cover - and place it in his inventory.

16. Move the cursor to the top of the screen to bring up the inventory bar. Move the
pointer over the T-bar tool and click the left mouse button. Now move the pointer and
tool over the manhole cover. Click that mouse button again, and watch the results. Et
voila - as they say in Paris. The sewer system awaits, and George isn’t the kind of hero
to let a mild stench put him off. From now on, though, he’s relying on you to guide
him!

7

GENERAL PLAYING GUIDE

MOVING AROUND

To move George around a location, simply move the mouse pointer to an area of the
screen and press either mouse button. If it’s reachable, George will walk over to that spot.

As George moves around the camera will sometimes pan to reveal more of a location.
Some areas may be several times larger than the area visible on screen. The beckoning
hand icon indicates that there are unseen areas of a location to check out.

Each location visited may contain any number of possible exits, some obvious, others
more cunningly hidden. If you see what looks like an exit, move the cursor over it. If the
cursor image changes to a pointing hand, this indicates a possible exit. Click either mouse
button and George will walk over and leave the current location by this route.

THE INVENTORY

The inventory is a visual display of all the objects which George is currently holding. It
can be viewed whenever the cursor is visible by moving the pointer to the top of the screen.
A bar will appear showing everything in his possession. To exit the inventory and get back
to the game, simply move the cursor back into the main playing area again. Advice on
how to place objects in the inventory and use objects already held are detailed below.

EXAMINING THINGS

As the game progresses, George will encounter various situations where a closer look at
an object or person is desirable. To do this, simply sweep the on-screen cursor over the
desired item. Note that if George is not near the item in question, he’ll first automatically
walk over to it.

If the cursor changes to a magnifying glass then a click of the left mouse button will
prompt George to examine the object very closely. He will take a quick look at such an
object by clicking the right mouse button.

If the cursor looks like a mouth (i.e. the cursor has been placed over a person), a set of
moving cogs (i.e. the cursor is placed over a usable object), or a lifting hand (i.e. the cursor
is over a collectable object), the a click of the right mouse button will let George know
that you want him to take a quick look at the item in question.

If you wish George to examine an object that’s already in his possession, simply move
the pointer to the top of the screen. This will bring up a display of all the objects currently
held. Move the cursor over the desired object and click the right mouse button to
examine it.

COLLECTING OBJECTS

If there’s one thing George Stobbart is adept at, it’s collecting things. You’ll be amazed at
what he can hide away in his trusty jacket. If you see an object you think George should
take, move the cursor of the item. If it’s collectable then the cursor will change to show a
hand moving with picking up motion. Clicking the left mouse button will instruct our hero
to nab the object and place it in his inventory. Note that some objects may require precise
timing to swipe them - particularly if they’re right under the nose of unhelpful people.

8

USING OBJECTS

There are two types of usable object in Broken Sword - those which can be collected for
later use, and those are not removable from a scene but are nevertheless usable.

To use an object which George has already collected, simply move the mouse cursor to
the top of the screen. The inventory of currently held objects will appear. Left click on an
object to select it. The cursor will now change to show the object attached. It’s now possible
to place it over a person (the cursor will change to a mouth with the object attached) or
other on-screen object (the cursor will change to an alternative icon with the object
attached). If possible George will use the object appropriately. To place the object back in
the inventory, move the cursor back to the inventory bar at the top of the screen, and
press the left mouse button again.

If you wish George to use a visible object which cannot be picked up, place the cursor over
it - if it’s usable the cursor will change to a show a set of rotating cogs. Now click the left
mouse button. George will attempt to use the object in the appropriate way, first walking
over to it if necessary.

CONVERSATION

During his adventure George will encounter many weird and wonderful characters - some
helpful, others indifferent, and a few potentially deadly. Sometimes they will automat­ically engage him in conversation; at other times you will want George to chat with a
particular person. To do this place the cursor over the person - the cursor will change
from an arrow to a mouth. Clicking the left mouse button initiates the banter - when it’s
possible to direct the flow of conversation the inventory will appear at the top of the
screen, and a list of subjects will appear in a topic bar at the bottom.

Because George is a clever sort of chap, he only needs prompting for topics of conver­sation - he’ll deal with the rest of the work himself. These images in the topic bar at the
bottom of the screen may represent objects, events or people. Click on whichever you want
George to ask about.

Note that the range of possible subjects will be dictated by knowledge already gained by
chatting with other characters, witnessing other events, or visiting certain locations. Once
you’ve discovered something new, having another chat with a character may give new
things to talk about.

Note also that if an image remains in the topic bar after being selected once, then it’s
possible to inquire further about that subject. Only once the image disappears does a line
of conversation become exhausted.

George can also ask questions about objects in his inventory. To do so, simply move the
cursor over the desired object and click the left mouse button. He can ask about the same
object as many times as you like, though such perseverance is rarely rewarded.

Occasionally, George may be asked a question. In this case thumbs up and thumbs down
icons may appear in the topic bar. To reply yes, left click on the thumbs up icon. To give
an answer of no, left click on the thumbs down icon.

To end a conversation left click on the green arrow icon at the far left of the topic bar.

9

GENERAL PLAYING GUIDE continued

USING THE MAP SCREENS

At various stages in the game, the view will switch to display a map. Locations which
George can visit are highlighted with red pins and accompanying place names. Simply
place the cursor over the desired location and click the left mouse button, and George will
travel there. Note that as you progress further into the game, more destinations may
become available.

MAKING PHONE CALLS

As George continues with his amateur sleuthing, he may accumulate phone numbers by
various means. He will automatically scribble these down on the back of an envelope.
Instructing George to use a telephone in one of the locations will bring up a view of this
envelope. Simply place the cursor over the number you want him to dial, and click the
left mouse button. Moving the cursor to the bottom of the screen (the cursor will change
to an exit location hand) and clicking will instruct him to forget about making a call.

THE CONTROL PANEL

Provided you are not in middle of a conversation with someone, you can access the control
panel by pressing the ESC or F5 key on your computer’s keyboard. This will bring up the
following list of options:

SAVE:

RESTORE:

RESTART:

EXIT:

Click on the this with the on-screen pointer to store your current position. A
list of ten save game slots will appear. If there are already ten saved games,
then click on the scroll bar arrows to the right of the display to scroll through
the list. To save your game in a slot, simply point the cursor at an empty or
previously used slot and press the left mouse button. Now type a name for
your saved game, using the Delete key to remove an old name or correct
mistakes, and press Enter when you’re happy. To confirm the save, point the
cursor over the Save button and click the left mouse button. Alternatively,
click on Cancel to abort the save. Remember to give your saved games logical
names, to help you remember at what stage you made them.

Select this option to abandon your current position in the game and re-load a
previously saved position. Again, ten saved game slots will be displayed. Click
on the appropriate saved position to load it. If the slot you wish to restore
from isn’t visible, use the scroll bar arrows to cycle the display through the
slots. Once you’ve selected the position to load, click the cursor over the Restore
button, or click on Cancel to abandon the restore.

Warning - selecting this option will abandon your current position and begin
the adventure anew. Only select this option if you are absolutely sure about
starting from scratch. As a precaution, you will be asked to confirm the action.
Point and click on the appropriate button.

Exits the game and returns you to the MS-DOS prompt, or Windows 95 if Broken
Sword was launched from there. The game will double-check that you’re sure
about your decision - simply click on the Yes or No buttons.

DONE:

Select this to leave the Control Panel and return to the game proper.

10

VOLUME:

Clicking on this option will bring up a mini mixing desk. Three volume dials
are displayed, for speech, music and sound effects. Left clicking with the
cursor at the top centre of a dial will raise the volume on both left and
right speakers, while doing so with the cursor placed over the bottom centre
of a dial will lower it. By moving clicking the left mouse button with the
cursor to the left or right sides of the dial, it’s possible to raise and lower
the left and right channels separately.

SPEED:

TEXT OPTION:

Press P to pause the game.

There are two playing speeds for Broken Sword, affecting the rate at which
the view pans around as George moves through a location. Selecting this
option will bring up a menu giving you the opportunity to select the faster
ëHare’ mode or the more sedate ‘Tortoise’ setting. If you find that the
computer is displaying the screen slowly, particularly during panning, then
it’s a good idea to select the tortoise.

If you wish subtitles to be displayed while you are playing Broken Sword
then select the text option.

11

GENERAL HINTS

If this is your first adventure, or you’re making slow progress in Broken Sword’s
world of intrigue, remember these five elementary rules.

1

Look closely at everything: Clues are often staring you in the face, so make
sure you fully survey every scene, and remember to examine at all the objects
you come by on your journey. Also be sure to check for all possible exits from
a location.

2

Be talkative: A good detective leaves no thread of conversation unexplored.
Grill everybody you meet about every possible subject and all objects in your
possession. If it’s possible to continue talking about a previously discussed
subject then do so - it’s amazing what vital information can be gleaned by
persistent questioning.

3

Explore all avenues: Sometimes the most innocent objects can be essential to
success. Don’t be afraid to try using an object in an unlikely situation. The
problems and puzzles you’ll face in Broken Sword are very logical, but when
the old grey matter doesn’t yield results, experiment.

4

Save your game regularly: If one thing is certain it’s that our hero is about to
get into all kinds of dangerous situations. Regularly saving your position means
you won’t have to retrace every step of the adventure.

5

Keep notes: The tale told in Broken Sword spans several countries and features
countless personalities. Be sure to make notes of crucial information and clues
for later reference.

6

Use the cursor to search: Move the cursor over objects that maybe of signif­icance to search for ‘hot spots’ with which you can interact.

7

And... Don’t cross the road until the little man shows green.

12

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

ON LINE INFORMATION

Users with Internet access can keep up with the latest releases and news from
Virgin Interactive Entertainment Ltd by pointing their web browser at
http:://www.vie.co.uk/vie.

CUSTOMER SERVICES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

You can contact our customer services and technical support line on 0171 368

2266. When you call please ensure you are sitting in front of your computer
with paper and pen handy. Gather as much pertinent information about your
computer before you call: make, model, attached peripherals, RAM and hard
disk space, graphics card, monitor, and full listings of your CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

You can fax your technical support problems on 0171 468 2003.

Should you find your game to be faulty, please send the faulty disc (not the
game packaging) back to the address below, enclosing a covering letter to
explain the problem. We will endeavor to replace the disc within 28 days.

Customer Services Department
Virgin Interactive Entertainment (Europe) Ltd
2 Kensington Square
London
W8 5RB

13