Zero Sum Game: Hints and Solutions Hey there. I've broken this file into two parts: HINTS and SOLUTIONS. You can search for the following key words: BABY, CHIPPY, SLOTH, NYMPH, MAURICE, MERCHANT, SIREN, TROLL, SEAGULL (or KEY), GUARDIAN, DARLENE/BENNY, SKELETONS. The ENDGAME portion is under SOLUTIONS only. GENERAL WARNING: It is possible to put the game in an unwinnable state. So, here come the HINTS: [The first is forward, the other(s) backward -- so as not to give too much away.] BABY: 1. Remember the goal of the game! Try FULL SCORE again. 2. ?ybab a morf ekat uoy dluow tahW CHIPPY: 1. Remember the goal of the game! Try FULL SCORE again. 2. ?knumpihc a dnif uoy dluow erehW SLOTH: 1. Did you kill or push the sloth? 2. .htols eht tsap teg t'nac ouY NYMPH: 1. Did you kill her? 2. .yrroS .skool rof ereht tsuj si hpmyn ehT MAURICE: 1. Did you ask Maurice to follow you? (MAURICE, FOLLOW ME) will do the trick. 2. ?ti teg uoy dluoc woh -- meti tnatropmi na seriuqca eciruaM MERCHANT: 1. Did you try to give any money to the merchant? Or give him something else? 2. ...raep elohw rehtona no sdnah ruoy teg dlouc uoy spahreP SIREN: 1. How would you get to siren isle? Maybe if you built a boat, or bought one? 2. .no retal taob a htiw enoemos teem ll'uoY If you're on SIREN ISLE: 1. Did you uncork/cork the siren? 2. ...nires eht kroc dluoc esle enoemos ebyaM TROLL: 1. Remember the goal of the game! Try FULL SCORE again. 2. ?od ot uoy tnaw rehtom ruoy dluow tahW SEAGULL (KEY): 1. Pushing, climbing, or chopping the pole down doesn't seem to work. Try something else. 2. ?elop eht pu og dluoc esle enoemos ebyaM 3. ?snroca yna toG GUARDIAN: 1. Have you thrown a bunch of stuff at it? 2. ?taem denosiop tuoba tahW DARLENE/BENNY: 1. Be sure to follow him/her around and watch everything that s/he does. 2. Is s/he carrying anything interesting? 3. .kcahs dekcolnu eht edisni reh/mih tel ot erus eb, yek eht teg uoy ecnO SKELETONS: 1. You can't defeat the skeletons on your own. You should get a poweful ally. SOLUTIONS: Big Old Spoilers here! BABY: Suck on the candy. Put it in the baby's hand. CHIPPY: Put chippy in the hollow in the Giant Oak. If Chippy is in the area, PUT/THROW ACORN IN HOLLOW will also work. MAURICE: Let him get the pear, kill him (before Darlene/Benny offs the merchant), and then take his pear. (Note for the lighthearted: you can play 95% of the game with Maurice alive, if you wish. You just won't be able to finish it.) MERCHANT: Give Maurice's pear to the merchant. SIREN: When Benny/Darlene is on the ocean shore, get in the boat -- twice. When you're on siren isle, uncork the siren and give the cork to Darlene/Benny. TROLL: Apologize to the troll. SEAGULL (KEY): When Chippy is present, throw an acorn at the gull. When he's halfway up the pole, distract the gull by climbing the pole. Finally, order chippy to fetch (CHIPPY, FETCH or CHIPPY, GET) when he's in the nest. SAY "FETCH" will also work. GUARDIAN: Pour the honey on Chippy, then cover him with any weed clump (poison!). Finally, throw him at the Guardian. Note: You can CUT GUARDIAN OPEN to get Chippy back. BENNY/DARLENE: The hero is good for 2 things: transportation to Siren Isle, and the scroll. You'll need to get the scroll while s/he is inside the Shack (naked, that is). You'll need to hide under the bed in order to grab it. To get to Siren Isle, follow the hero to the ocean shore and get in his/her boat -- twice. ENDGAME: The spell combines ALL dead tissue in the area -- cast the spell in the cave when one (and only one) dead body is present. Especially Chippy. (Yes, you have to kill him first.) Afterwards, return to your home. Note: You need to undo *all* of your actions before Chippy's revival. All but the sapphire puzzle, that is. When you're finally at the dining table: GIVE SAPPHIRE TO MOM.