Nethergate
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Nethergate is a computer-based historical-fiction fantasy role-playing game by Spiderweb Software available for the Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms. The game was released in 1999 by Jeff Vogel, and was Spiderweb Software's first game to feature a 45° Isometric viewing angle. Nethergate offers the feature of being able to play on either side of the story, as Celts or Romans. The game has a plot which allows for several endings and many side quests.
[edit] Plot
The Player begins with a party of four characters, who are either "A small band of Roman Soldiers sent to the Shadowvale to complete a mysterious mission," or a "Band of young Celtic warriors told by your chief to go to the village of Nethergate for mysterious reasons." Your linear missions coincide for both sides to a certain extent. Romans are first faced with retrieving a satchel with vital information for Shadow Valley Fort from a nearby mine infested with Goblins, while the Celts' first mission is to acquire a bronze token from a nearby pit in which Goblins have made their fortification. From there, both sides make their way to the house of the Three Crones, who are very similar to the Three Fates of Greek Mythology. The Crones aid the Romans in interfering with the Celts' Mission to get a contract from the Sidhe Faeries who lived in the valley long before humans by imprisoning you if you are a party of Celts, and telling you what you must do next as Romans, as well as rewarding you for missions which involved grave robbing and assassination. The next location of travel is a ruined faerie hall, in which you acquire a contract between the Sidhe and the village of Nethergate, explaining that the party must retrieve three magical items: a Fomorian’s Stone Skull, The Eye of Cathrac, and the Crown of Annwn. Once these items have been acquired, the party journeys to the Spire of Ages, where the Celts aid the Faerie leader in escaping this world, while the Romans attempt to interrupt him. In the "best" ending for both sides, Shadow Valley Fort is destroyed, the village of Nethergate is evacuated, and the enchanted weapons meant for the Celts have been destroyed. Incidentally, the war dramatized was evidently real, and the "best" ending evidently reflected what happened, although naturally there were no fairies involved in the real one. This game purports to be more of a story of what really happened, and ends with the Roman government hushing up the whole thing, rather like a pre-medieval Roswell.
[edit] Gameplay
Nethergate’s gameplay is in an isometric view, and is somewhat a stepping stone between that of Blades of Exile and Avernum, as it uses the pseudo-3D of Avernum, with a battle and conversation system which more resembles Blades of Exile
Nethergate is unique among Spiderweb Software games in being the only game to use a spell system consisting of Spell Circles, instead of the "Mage" and "Priest" spell system featured in the Exile and Avernum serieses. Certain Circles have skill restrictions on them based on the character's level of Druidism, skill in other circles, and Faction.
Spell Circles
Health Circle – Available to Celts and Romans, can only be as high as Druidism Skill, contains spells used for healing characters
War Circle – Available to Celts and Romans, can only be as high as Druidism Skill, contaisn spells used for shielding and boosting your characters, as well as causing harm to hostile NPC’s
Beast Circle – Available to Celts at start of game, Romans must earn it by completing a quest, may only be as high as War Circle skill for Celts, fixed value for Romans, contains spells for summoning creatures
Craft Circle – Available to Celts at start of game, Romans must earn it by completing a quest, may only be as high as the War Circle skill for Celts, fixed value for Romans, contains spells for aiding in travel around the game
Spirit Circle – Available to Celts at beginning of game, Romans must find it, may only be as high as the lower of Craft or Beast circle as Celts, fixed value for Romans, contains spells for damaging magical creatures and blocks
Nether Circle – Grouping of five spells, which may only be used by the Celts, also the most powerful and hard-to-find spells
