Hello,
I'm Peter Lok. Decades ago (1993) I wrote Quenzar's Caverns as shareware for Windows 3.1. Over the years a few people have reached out about it and I see it is in the Internet Archive now. While this software is not abandonware, it is no longer sold or supported and only runs on older versions of Windows.
DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility for anything that happens when anyone tries out this ancient software, so use at your own risk. However, there are nag screens as it was shareware. I enclose the registration and tip sheet for it below which has the code to disable the nag!
Registration Instructions For Quenzars Caverns V1.5 or Pulse
Pack 1
Thank
you for registering your copy of Quenzar's Caverns with Pulse Ventures Ltd.,
and supporting the concept of shareware.
We hope you get many hours of playing enjoyment from the game.
To remove the registration reminders for Pulse Pack 1
(Windows 95 only)
1. Locate the Registration Program Icon amongst your other Pulse Pack
Program Icons in the Pulse Pack menu folder.
2. Run the program and enter the password diamondgem
To
remove the registration reminders, follow the steps listed below for Windows
3.1 or 3.11.
1. Start up windows.
2. Open up the group
containing your Quenzar's Caverns icon.
In the installation example, Figure 1, the icon is in the Games group.
 |
| Figure 1 |
3. Select the Quenzar
icon by clicking the mouse once on it.
In Figure 1, Quenzar is selected and shown in highlighted print.
4. Click on the File
menu of Program Manager. This will bring
up the File menu, see Figure 2 below.
 |
| Figure 2 |
5. Now select the Properties
option by clicking the mouse on it. This
will bring up the dialog box shown in Figure 3.
 |
| Figure 3 |
6. Click on the Command
Line: edit box to place the cursor after the path and the name of the
executable. In Figure 3, the path and
the name of the executable is c:\sw\quenzar\quenzar.exe. Now type in the password diamondgem
after the program executable name, leaving a space between the name and the
password. The text will scroll if you
reach the right hand side of the edit box.
In the example, the contents of the edit box will now read c:\sw\quenzar\quenzar.exe
diamondgem, see Figure 3 again for for an example. The password will disable the shareware
messages and enable random dungeon generation.
7. Press the OK button
to accept the change you have made.
8. Double click on the
Quenzar icon to play Quenzar with random dungeon generation.
9. Please note that
this password will have to be reentered if you ever delete the icon from
Program Manager and create a new one.
Keep this sheet for future reference.
To
remove the registration reminders, follow the steps listed below for Windows95.
The process is similar to the process for Windows 3.1.
 |
| Figure 4 |
1. Right mouse
click on the desktop so you see a popup menu with the item New, the pick
Shortcut on the next level down. This
will bring up the following dialog.
2. Browse or type in
the path to the Quenzar.exe file and type in the password diamondgem after the program name in the edit box.
3. Click the Next
button and continue on to create the shortcut on your desktop.
4. Double click on the
desktop icon to play the game without the registration screens.
NOTE FOR QUENZAR 1.0
USERS:
Replace the password diamondgem with the password authentication
delta to run 1.0 without the registration notice
screen. Keep the password lower case
with a space between the words.
QUENZAR'S CAVERNS TIP SHEET for V1.5+
Quenzar's Caverns can be a tricky little
game. It is a challenge as you must face
shock traps when navigating the dungeon and husband your resources to fight
monsters. This sheet will explain some
of the details of the game, giving you a better understanding of how it
works. Use the Randomize Items function, or play an advanced level to get even more challenge out of the game!
A
FEW SAFETY TIPS FIRST:
1. Do not rush around in
the dungeon when moving. It is too easy
to blunder into a shock trap.
2. Always use your best
weapons and armour, particularly armour.
For example, it may pay to use a two-handed sword with leather armour to
do more damage against a large opponent such as a goblin, but you should
usually use a one handed weapon with your armour and use a shield if you can
for the extra protection. Using a
weapon, shield, and armour is definitely better against bats, rats,
spiders, hounds, and other creatures
that do not do as much damage and are not that tough. MORE ARMOUR IS GOOD, even though it reduces
your chances of hitting in combat!
3. Now that I have said
more armour is good, if you are having a problem hitting monsters, check your
modified dexterity. Hitting is based
upon a random number generated between 1 and 20 vs. your modified dexterity. If your modified dexterity is only 8, then
you only have a 40% chance to hit. You
may wish to adjust your armour / shield mix.
I like small shields (unless the Dragon Shield is available), and
chainmail as a non-magical mix. A
modified dexterity from 8 - 10 is satisfactory.
4. Also use the Defend
option when facing dangerous opponents when their dexterity is much higher than
yours if you are wearing armour.
Quenzar, the vampire, minor demons, etc., fall in this category.
5. Use your ability to
use healing potions, change weapons, and other objects in the middle of a
combat to your advantage.
6. See what types of
items are contained in certain types of furniture and only search the ones you
need. For example, do not search weapons
racks if you already have the Dragon Sword or another magical weapon to avoid
setting off any traps.
7. When trying on rings,
save them up until you have a few scrolls, of which one is a remove cursed
items hopefully, before you use the rings.
Wearing a cursed item around is discouraging and items should only be
tried when you know what they are!
Finding the lens of identity early in the game is always a big bonus as
it reveals the identity of everything you find.
8. Use healing potions
before restoration potions. Use
restoration potions when your strength is low (low is at your discretion, but
1/3 or less is good).
9. Once you have a magic
weapon, you can dump your other weapons as you won't be needing them.
10. Watch your point value
vs. the monster's point value. This is a
good indicator of how tough they are.
11. When you are weak at
the beginning, running into a goblin can be a treasure trove. Using a grenade to obtain good armour, a
shield, and a good weapon can give your character a good start.
12. Save a grenade for
Quenzar's bodyguard at the end of the game. Grenades also have 1 chance in 8 of
doing a point of damage to Quenzar.
13. Run away from the
horror as it doesn't hit too well, or use grenades if you have them to
spare. Killing it is most satisfying for
some reason though.
14. Use potions carefully,
except for pink ones. Potions other than
red or pink can permanently raise or lower your attributes. Red potions can cure you of all wounds or
poison you in some cases.
15. Pink potions and
scrolls are always good.
16. The talk option is
also underused by most people, and it is extremely handy to buy off tough monsters like vampires, or goblin chiefs.
The money you use to pay them off stays on their person, so if you come
back later, you can get some back by slaying them. Don't be too cheap when bribing.
17. Heal often with the
Healing Spirit as long as your money holds out.
NOTE! You do not need the Dragon Shield and Dragon Sword to kill Quenzar
- they just help.
ARMOUR/SHIELDS
IN ASCENDING VALUE : WEAPONS
IN ASCENDING VALUE:
|
Armour/Shields
|
Protection
|
Dex.
Mod
|
|
Weapons
|
Damage
|
Hands
Used
|
|
none
|
0
|
0
|
|
hands
|
0
|
0
|
|
padded armour
|
1
|
-1
|
|
dagger
|
1
|
1
|
|
leather armour
|
2
|
-2
|
|
club
|
2
|
1
|
|
chainmail armour
|
3
|
-3
|
|
shortsword
|
3
|
1
|
|
partial-plate armour
|
4
|
-4
|
|
sword, mace
|
4
|
1
|
|
plate armour
|
5
|
-5
|
|
long sword, morningstar
|
5
|
1
|
|
magic chainmail
|
4
|
-3
|
|
battle axe
|
6
|
1
|
|
magic plate
|
5
|
-4
|
|
spear
|
6
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
greate axe
|
7
|
2
|
|
none
|
0
|
0
|
|
magic sword
|
7
|
1
|
|
small shield
|
1
|
0
|
|
halberd, greatsword
|
8
|
2
|
|
shield
|
2
|
-1
|
|
magic glaive
|
9
|
2
|
|
large shield
|
3
|
-2
|
|
Dragon Sword
|
9
|
1
|
|
dragon shield
|
4
|
-2
|
|
Dark Sword
|
8
|
1
|
MONSTER STATS (read at your own
risk of losing surprises):
|
NAME
|
Avg. Str.
|
Avg. Dex.
|
Avg. Int.
|
Armour
|
Attack
|
Special
|
|
blob of slime
|
20
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
|
giant rat
|
2
|
10
|
1
|
|
2
|
-1 to hit
|
|
giant spider
|
1
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
|
poison, -2 to
hit
|
|
killer rabbit
|
5
|
15
|
3
|
|
2
|
-1 to hit
|
|
skeletal guard
|
9
|
8
|
3
|
armour
|
weapon
|
|
|
goblin guard
|
11
|
10
|
7
|
armour
|
weapon
|
|
|
goblin chief
|
13
|
10
|
10
|
armour
|
weapon
|
|
|
black hound
|
9
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
flame
|
|
trapper plant
|
13
|
6
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
|
|
giant lizard
|
14
|
12
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
cave bat
|
2
|
12
|
1
|
|
2
|
-2 to hit
|
|
cave troll
|
15
|
8
|
5
|
armour
|
weapon
|
|
|
minotaur
|
16
|
11
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
cave kraken
|
15
|
12
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
tunnel frog
|
5
|
13
|
1
|
|
1
|
poison
|
|
ghoul
|
10
|
10
|
3
|
|
1
|
|
|
imicon
|
10
|
11
|
2
|
|
|
-1 to hit
|
|
minor demon
|
15
|
13
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
imp
|
6
|
15
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
vampire
|
14
|
14
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
vampire drain
|
|
giant
|
16
|
7
|
6
|
armour
|
weapon
|
|
|
medusa
|
10
|
10
|
14
|
|
1
|
stone gaze, 1/2
to hit
|
|
blood wisp
|
6
|
12
|
1
|
|
1
|
strength
drain, -2 to hit
|
|
giant snake
|
6
|
10
|
1
|
|
1
|
poison, -1 to
hit
|
|
Healing Spirit
|
1
|
|
15
|
|
|
heals you
|
|
Quenzar the
Wizard
|
14
|
13
|
16
|
m-chain
|
d-sword
|
spells
|
|
large golem
|
20
|
10
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
gargoyle
|
16
|
13
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
automaton
|
14
|
10
|
2
|
m-plate
|
halberd
|
|
|
dragon
|
18
|
12
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
flame
|
|
Slithering
Horror
|
30
|
6
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
regeneration
|
Press
ALT-F1 to activate the secret blast spell when there is a monster in the room.
This costs you strength.
