Nox (computer game)
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| Nox | |
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| Developer(s) | Westwood Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Westwood Studios |
| Latest version | 1.2b |
| Release date(s) | January 31, 2000 |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) ELSPA: 15+ |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Media | 3x CD-ROM |
| Input | Keyboard, Mouse |
Nox is a computer role-playing game developed by Westwood Studios that was officially released on January 31, 2000.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The game Nox is placed in a typical medieval fantasy world full of monsters, warfare, and insanity. However, the game's concept is that the player character, Jack, is not a native inhabitant of this world but rather a modern Earth trailer park denizen. Jack is pulled through a portal in space opened up by Hecubah, the evil Queen of Necromancers. She wants the Orb, a mantelpiece decoration belonging to Jack. Jack lands in an Airship flying above Nox with his TV. The Airship is owned by the Airship Captain "Jandor", who was the warrior of old who defeated the necromancers. Jack is destined to become a great hero in this strange land. The three character classes that are available to the player are the Warrior, Conjurer, and Wizard. Each class has its own divergent game layout, with each player class "path" representing a different series of missions and levels. Nox uses a fluid isometric viewpoint.
[edit] Player Classes
[edit] Warriors
Warriors are masters of physical combat. They use the strongest armours and most powerful weapons. They have high health and speed, but use no magic at all. Utilizing melee weapons to the greatest degree, an enraged warrior is a fearsome foe.
Should their quarry constantly remain outside their reach a warrior can use a device resembling a grappling-hook to catch and reel-in their prey, or use shurikens to damage them from a distance. If a warrior's prey is a spell-caster, the warrior can evoke a terrifying battle-cry, temporarily disabling the ability to cast spells, allowing the warrior to more easily dispatch his adversary.
[edit] Conjurers
A Conjurer focuses his abilities mainly on nature based spells. They are a balance between Wizard and Warrior. They can also be called Archers, because they use ranged weapons.
A Conjurer can summon creatures found in the game. In order to do so, a scroll must be found for the creature. Only one large, powerful creature can be summoned at a time, but multiple smaller creatures may be summoned simultaneously. Each potentially summonable creature has a "size" or value, depending on how powerful they are, which can be one, two or four (but not three). The spell caster has a space at the top of the screen allocated where their creature's picture, health and stats are displayed. It is a grid with four sections. A powerful creature with a value of four would take up the entire space of all four blocks, whereas two creatures with value two and two can appear side by side in the space. Four creatures with a value of one each can be summoned simultaneously and viewed at the top of the screen together. One creature with a value of two and two with values of one could be summoned as well, enabling the user to summon different combinations of enemies at any one time depending on their situation. The most possible number of creatures that can be summoned at a time is four. When a creature is summoned, the player can instruct it to "hunt" (It will seek out enemies in the general area), to "guard" (It will remain still in a position without moving and stay there until new orders are received, although it will attack any enemies that come near it), to "escort" (It will stay close behind the player and kill anything that harms him), or to "banish" (kills the creature).
Conjurers can also summon a highly specialised beast known as a "Bomber". They are similar to Wizard Traps but can move about and seek out enemies independently. Note: With the latest official patch you can only summon up to 2 Bombers instead of 4.
[edit] Wizards
Wizards are the most powerful magic users in the game, but can only use staves or fists to attack via melee combat. Though the wizards can moderately defend themselves using their staves, the intelligent wizards rely on their magic to avoid direct combat altogether. Spells like "Force Field" and "Invisibility" allow wizards to become masters of espionage.
Wizards can place Wizard Traps which are essentially magically constructed landmines, in which a wizard can place up to 3 spells. By facing a certain direction and setting a Trap, a wizard can focus directional spells such as Fireball and Death Ray on specific areas, maximizing damage. These Traps are naturally invisible except to Warriors who use the skill Eye of the Wolf or Conjurers who cast the spell Infravision. If he so wishes, a wizard gifted with the spell Trigger Trap may manually detonate his Traps from a distance, allowing the wizard to lock on and assassinate a target without even being in visual range.
[edit] Weapons
While not as diverse as other games in the area of different weapons and armours, Nox still maintains an impressive variety of weapon and armour abilities. Weapons may have enchantments that add fire, electrical, and poisonous damage, as well as a variety of other effects. Weapons can be grouped into several different categories, and distinguished by their statistics.
A weapon's durability is influenced by the wear it receives not just from landing hits on an opponent: accidentally hitting a stone wall will degrade the weapon over time. Trading blows with an opponent's weapon, as the Great Sword can, will take an even heavier toll on the weapon. Perhaps more realistic than other roleplaying games is the fact that a weapon which is brought to zero durability disintegrates. The window around the weapon will turn yellow when the weapon is moderately damaged, red when it is significantly damaged. When the weapon turns red, repairing is advisable or the weapon might fall apart during a battle. A weapon or piece of armor can be repaired by talking to any shopkeeper. The price per repair depends on how much the item costs, and how badly it is damaged. Dropping a weapon on a pool of lava is one way to swiftly reduce the weapon to ash, so it is not advised.
[edit] Armour
Armours in Nox may have enchantments on them for protection against certain types of attacks. Nox Armours are made out of many different types of materials. The material's durability is also highly dependent on its strength. However, this does not apply to inner clothing including the clothes Jack brought with him to Nox or medieval shirts and pants, which are indestructible. Many powerful amours can be found in treasure chests and barrels throughout the game.
[edit] Spells & Skills
Certain spells may only be used by Wizards and Conjurers respectfully, while some spells may be used by both classes. Only Warriors may use Skills. Certain "self-enchanting" spells such as Haste, Lesser Heal or Protection spells can be "inverted" by holding the Shift key. Holding Shift while casting the spell will allow the spell-caster to cast the spell upon an ally. Spells can be upgraded to increase their power. There are 4 levels of upgrade to make for 5 levels for each spell. This only applies to Wizards and Conjurers.
[edit] Gameplay
Three modes of gameplay were available: Solo, Multiplayer, and Solo Quest. Solo is a multichapter, single player quest in which the player chooses a character class and proceeds through the game following a specific story variant based on the selected class. Each of the classes paths intertwine along the way so the player can see how the areas change over time.
[edit] Warriors
Warriors start in the subterranean fortress of Dün Mir. After proving that they are worthy of his talent, Warriors are then apprenticed by the Warlord, Horrendous. Fully fledged Warriors are called Fire Knights. The player starts just outside Dün Mir and has to pass through the Gauntlet inside the fortress to gain glory.
[edit] Conjurers
Conjurers begin their mission outside the Village of Ix. The player starts in a tiny forest clearing near a small cave opening leading to the Village of Ix.
[edit] Wizards
Wizards begin their journey in Castle Galava and are instructed by the ArchWizard Horvath. The player starts near a beach near Horvath's Apprentice's house.
[edit] Multiplay
Nox did not enjoy the level of sales or success of Diablo, and was extremely limited in its multiplayer capability because Westwood didn't advertise very well.[citation needed] Furthermore, multiplayer functionality was limited to Westwood's own servers, which were not as extensive as Blizzard's Diablo servers and lagged constantly.[citation needed]
Eventually, major server exploits and hacks, led to the diminishing of online play. A handful of Nox players from both forum communities still play the game online, however.
In the summer of 2000, months after Nox was released, a tournament sponsored by Westwood was held in their headquarters in California. The winner was a wizard who went by the name "Hadok3n".
[edit] Characters
[edit] Jack
Jack is the main character of the game. Living with his girlfriend, Tina, he was watching television in his living room when a portal opened up, sucking him, a mantelpiece decoration, and the television into The Land of Nox. The decoration turned out to be the Orb, the final piece of the legendary Staff of Oblivion. He and his television were thrown onto the Airship of the Airship Captain, where his journey to save The Land of Nox begins.
Just as Hecubah's, Jack's fate depends on the path the player choses him to take. As a Warrior, he defeats the Necromancer Queen and is immediately brought back to his trailer via a magic portal. As a Conjurer, he additionally manages to capture the remaining Necromancers' souls (including Hecubah's) and it is suggested that he stays in the Land of Nox as its Guardian, just like Airship Captain Jandor before him. And as a Wizard, he purifies Hecubah's soul of the Necromancers' corruption and makes her forget her old evil ways, and it is probably suggested that he stays in the Land of Nox starting a whole new life there - with the reborn Hecubah.
Upon completing one of the three storylines, the Airship Captain's voice is heard during the credits advising to play a more difficult scenario, the Wizard's one being the last and, possibly, the most revealing one.
[edit] Jandor - The Airship Captain
Jandor was the hero in the Necromancer Wars, where he slew hundreds of Necromancers and trapped their souls into the Orb. The Necromancer Wars were responsible for the many beings buried in the Field of Valor. When he grew old he became the watcher over the world, the airship captain; he is known by many but few can say they know him well. Drifting from one area of Nox to another, he keeps a watchful eye on Nox. He is revealed later in the game to be the legendary Jandor.
[edit] The Warlord Horrendous
Master of the Fire Knights of the Fortress on Dün Mir, the Warlord Horrendous trains Warriors. Irritated by inevitable comparisons to Jandor, Horrendous has spent a lifetime trying to prove himself superior to every man he meets. His weapon is one of the pieces of the Legendary Staff of Oblivion: The Halberd of Horrendous. He was killed by Hecubah with just one Death Ray when he challenged her to a duel. However, the player has to kill him if he or she is playing as a Wizard.
[edit] Aldwyn the Conjurer
The Master Conjurer in all of Nox and former hero of the Necromancer's War, Aldwyn lives in a small cottage east of the Village of Ix. Semi reclusive, he occupies his time researching how new beasts can be charmed and summoned. He aids the High Priests in the Temple of Ix in watching over one of the components of the Legendary Staff of Oblivion: The Weirdling Beast.
[edit] Horvath the Arch-Wizard
Long ago, Horvath was one of the principal architects of the Staff of Oblivion, an artifact used by Jandor to put an end to the Necromancer's Armies. Horvath lives in Castle Galava, training apprentices and tending to various affairs of concern to the community of Wizards who live there. He watches over a piece of the Legendary Staff of Oblivion: The Heart of Nox.
Horvath is killed by Hecubah after the player adds the Heart of Nox to the Halberd of Horrendous if playing as a Conjurer or Wizard. Although he is the ArchWizard of Galava, his Lightning spells have no effect on the Queen of Necromancers, Hecubah. Hecubah killed him with three Death Rays and Horvath's body disappeared, his robe dropping to the floor and casting Dispel Undead, but to no avail as Hecubah was not an Undead. Surprisingly, Horvath has only 200 hitpoints, the same as a Grizzly Bear.
[edit] Hecubah
Hecubah is the Queen of Necromancers. Hecubah plotted to release the Necromancer souls from the Orb when the Legendary Jandor killed them. She sends her armies of Undead and Ogres to terrify the People of The Land of Nox. Hecubah opened a portal to mordern times and stole the Orb, the final piece of the Legendary Staff of Oblivion, from Jack, the main character. She has incredible powers and demonstrates it by killing the ArchWizard of Galava, Horvath.
The sorceress' fate depends on what path the player chose to take in the game. The Warrior simply kills her at the spot, the Conjurer turns her servants, Ogres, against her and has her executed by them, while the Wizard, in an cliffhanger-like twist ending, somehow purifies her soul, turning Hecubah to an innocent young girl who apparently doesn't remember any of her past.
[edit] Faithful Necromancer servant of Hecubah
This Necromancer is very irritating, he will appear multiple times in the game. The first time he appears is under the Field of Valor where he is determined to kill you then have you included in Hecubah's army of undead. He cackles madlly and starts casting spells at you including Missles of Magic, fireball, and invisibility. After you supposedly kill him he burns up into a pile of bones but is reborn, leading to another fight in a later level.
[edit] Monsters
This list shows the monsters in Nox. Those that are in Italics cannot be summoned, while the others can be.
- Bandit, Archer
- Bandit, Warrior
- Bat
- Bear, Black
- Bear, Grizzly
- Beholder
- Carnivorous Plants
- Cave Spider
- Cave Spider, Small
- Dryad (Quest Only)
- Demon Lord (Quest Only)
- Ember Demon
- Gargoyle
- Ghost
- Giant Leech
- Golem, Mechanical
- Golem, Stone
- Imp
- Kylerean
- Lich (Quest Only)
- Lich Lord
- Mechanical Flyer
- Mimic
- Necromancer
- Ogre
- Ogre Lord
- Ogress
- Scorpion
- Shade
- Skeleton
- Skeleton Lord
- Spider
- Spider, Small
- Spider, Spitting
- Troll
- Urchin
- Urchin Shaman (Quest Only)
- Will O' Wisp
- Wolf
- Wolf, Black
- Wolf, White
- Zombie
- Zombie, Vile
[edit] Trivia
- In one of the laboratories in Castle Galava, players will come across Tesla Coils, which greatly resemble the Soviet Tesla Coils from the Command & Conquer: Red Alert series that was also made by Westwood Studios.
- The game originally was built with a female character who was later removed. The female vocals and 3D weapons are still in the game.
- The game originally had several spells that where later removed from the game. File modification let a few of them be used and shed some light on the others.
A few of the unused spells:
- Arachnaphobia,
- Mana Burn,
- Regeneration,
- Plasma,
- Blind,
- Firewalk,
- Phantom,
- Death,
- Meteor Storm,
- Freeze,
- Villain
- Explosion Of sillyfaces
[edit] External links
- Nox at MobyGames
- Nox at GameFAQs
- Nox Forum An extremely active forum
- Website of Neal Hallford - A contributing writer to Nox
- NoX Wiki
- NoX Download
