Darklands is a singleplayer role-playing game set in a fictional version of medieval Germany. The player can create a party of up to four characters and freely explore the world. A main quest exists, but does not necessarily have to be followed.
In cities and during encounters, the game is primarily played from a text-based interface where the party has many available options. Those usually factor in the characters' skill values and items. Travel is done on an overworld map of medieval Germany. During combat and in certain locations like dungeons, the game switches to an isometric view and uses a real-time with pause system for fighting and exploration.
General information
- GOG.com Community Discussions
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
- Darklands groups.io discussion group
- Website
- Wiki
- Manual and clue book
Availability
- All versions require the manual to answer alchemy symbol copy protection challenges (for digital versions refer to
<path-to-game>\manual.pdf
).[5] Just open the manual PDF and search it (Ctrl + F) for the required keyword.
Both the GOG and Steam versions include additional content besides the manual: namely the cluebook, a game map and the reference card. For GOG, those can be downloaded under Extras. For Steam, they can be found in the game folder under <path-to-game>\Bonus Content
.[6]
Essential improvements
Patches
- The latest retail patch is the .07 Patch. Patches do not integrate the previous patches and must be installed in order. The GOG.com version already has this patch.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.
Save game data location
Video
Input
Audio
Sound options from game's config/installation utility
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
|
Surround sound |
|
|
Subtitles |
|
|
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file. |
General MIDI audio |
|
Roland MT-32-compatible MIDI only. |
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
German |
|
|
|
|
Issues fixed
Sound problems (GOG.com)
- Use this fix if the audio sounds unusual (e.g. random sounds rather than clashing weapons during combat).
Rename sound files[7]
|
- Rename
PSOUND.DLB to PSOUND.DLB.old .
- Rename
PSOUND.DLC to PSOUND.DLC.old .
- Rename
PSOUND.DB to PSOUND.DLB .
- Rename
PSOUND.DC to PSOUND.DLC .
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
DOS video modes |
VGA |
|
Simultaneous MT-32 music and SoundBlaster digital speech
- The game can be modified to support the MT-32 and SoundBlaster simultaneously.
Rename and overwrite files[8]
|
- Run DOSBox and mount the game as normal
- Go to
<path-to-game> .
- Run the following commands:
COPY PSOUND.DLC PSOUND.DC COPY PSOUND.DLB PSOUND.DB COPY ASOUND.DLC ASOUND.DC COPY ASOUND.DLB ASOUND.DB COPY RSOUND.DLC PSOUND.DLC COPY RSOUND.DLB PSOUND.DLB COPY RSOUND.DLC ASOUND.DLC COPY RSOUND.DLB ASOUND.DLB
- Run
INSTALL.EXE .
- Selected
Reconfigure hardware option(s)
- Ensure a non-Roland soundcard is selected (such as the SoundBlaster).
- Save and exit
INSTALL.EXE .
Notes
- Roland MT-32 music will not be correct unless either a real MT-32 or an MT-32 emulator is configured to run in DOSBox.
- To restore normal functionality, run the following commands in DOSBox:
COPY PSOUND.DC PSOUND.DLC COPY PSOUND.DB PSOUND.DLB COPY ASOUND.DC ASOUND.DLC COPY ASOUND.DB ASOUND.DLB
|
Utilities
- Darklands Quest Lister v.1.1 by Michael Petzold: Enables you to generate a list of your current quests from a save file. Very useful as this is the only non-manual way to track such quests. Just copy the dlqs.exe into the same game folder where the DARKLAND.EXE already is.
- DarkLand Quest: DarkLand Quest allows you to view quests for DarkLands and see an interactive map that tracks all your quests. Developed by Alberto Pineda, maintained by Ricardo Pineda.
- Darklands All-in-One Chart v1.0 by bongo64738. An Excel spreadsheet that includes an occupations progression table, city table, potion maker and saints lists. A detailed description can be found here
- City Tracker Spreadsheet v1.0 by Paul Moloney: An Excel spreadsheet containing a row for each city in Darklands, showing hardcoded values (such as map coordinates, quality of blacksmith, bowyer and so on) with empty fields to fill with values particular to your instance of the game (for example, saints, formulae and physician quality).
- Saints selection spreadsheet by vakarr: a fully sorted and searchable saints selection spreadsheet. It has optional filters for every characteristic or possible use. A Y/N column lets you find all the ones you have and pick the one best suited to your purpose or the one with the lowest requirements or the one with the closest saint's day.
- Darklands Map Tool by Savcho Savchev: Flash based; enables you to find towns from a clickable list. There is also a live online version.
- Darklands Saints Tool by Savcho Savchev: Flash based; enables you to view details of saints from a clickable list. Also allows you to view which saints offer particular benefits (for example, travel by water). There is also a live online version.
- Darklands Alchemy Tool by Savcho Savchev: Flash based; enables you to view details of potions from a clickable list, showing the required ingredients, quality, and risk involved. There is also a live online version.
- Character Editor v2.2 by Dan Collins ("jugglindan)": Enables you to edit characters' stats and appearances.
- Darklands Editor v1.1 by Steven J. Cotellesse: Enables you to edit characters' stats (older than the Character Editor by Dan Collins and not as fully featured)
- Darklands Monetary Converter v1.1 by Jerry "Deth-B0y" Kelly: Enables you to convert "complex" monetary amounts (expressed in Florins, Groschen and Peffenigs) to "simple" monetary amounts (expressed in Peffenigs only) and vice versa.
- World Regeneration Tool by Dan Collins ("jugglindan)": Enables you to randomise and regenerate an existing world by rebuilding destroyed villages and other locations. Can also shuffle the world by altering the random seed used by the game to calculate item availability in various locations (saints, ingredients etc.). The seed also determines which villages and castles are good or evil.
- Darkland Explorations: A site containing details on Darklands file formats and interactive maps.
- Wendigo's Web-based Character Generation app: A web-based tool which simulated the Darklands character generation function enabling you to map and plan characters out.
Even more helpful files can be found here.
System requirements
DOS | Windows | macOS (OS X) | Linux |
DOS |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
5.0 | |
Processor (CPU) |
IBM 386 or compatible
| IBM 486 or compatibles |
System memory (RAM) |
2 MB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
22 MB | |
Video card (GPU) |
VGA graphics | |
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP, Vista | |
Processor (CPU) |
1.8 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
512 MB |
1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
82 MB | |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 7 compatible
| DirectX 9 compatible |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) or later |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz+ |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
|
Video card (GPU) |
64 MB of VRAM |
Notes
References