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Darklands

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Darklands
Darklands cover
Developers
MPS Labs
Publishers
Retail MicroProse
Original digital Atari
Current digital Retroism
Current digital Nightdive Studios
Release dates
DOS 1992
Windows (DOSBox) October 13, 2011[1]
macOS (OS X) (DOSBox) May 9, 2013[2]
Linux (DOSBox) July 24, 2014[3]
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view
Genres RPG, Sandbox
Themes Medieval, Fantasy, Europe
Darklands on HowLongToBeat
Darklands on MobyGames
Darklands on Wikipedia

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

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Prompts for answers from manual, code wheel, etc.
Floppies or CD-ROM. Use DOSBox and install the .07 Patch.
DOS
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
GOG.com
Prompts for answers from manual, code wheel, etc.
Pre-packaged with DOSBox.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Prompts for answers from manual, code wheel, etc.
Pre-packaged with DOSBox.[4]
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
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.

Extra content in digital versions

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

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\DARKLAND.CFG
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\SAVES
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
320x200 only.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
For DOSBox toggle with Alt+ Enter (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
For DOSBox use an unofficial build (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
60 FPS
120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
For DOSBox use the DOSBox Mapper (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Controller types

Audio

Sound options from game's config/installation utility
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]
  1. Rename PSOUND.DLB to PSOUND.DLB.old.
  2. Rename PSOUND.DLC to PSOUND.DLC.old.
  3. Rename PSOUND.DB to PSOUND.DLB.
  4. 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]
  1. Run DOSBox and mount the game as normal
  2. Go to <path-to-game>.
  3. 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

  1. Run INSTALL.EXE.
  2. Selected Reconfigure hardware option(s)
  3. Ensure a non-Roland soundcard is selected (such as the SoundBlaster).
  4. 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

This section may require cleanup to meet basic quality standards. You can help by modifying the article. The discussion page may contain useful suggestions.
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
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 5.0
Processor (CPU) IBM 386 or compatible
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
Hard disk drive (HDD) 82 MB
Video card (GPU) DirectX 7 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

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data.

References

  1. New release: Darklands ● GOG.com - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  2. Mac Game Update: 10 New Classic Additions ● GOG.com - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  3. GOG.com Now Supports Linux! ● GOG.com - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  4. Darklands · AppID: 327930 · Steam Database - last accessed on 9 June 2023
  5. Verified by User:Garrett on 7 April 2021
    Alchemy symbol challenges are still present in versions sold digitally; as in the retail versions, giving the wrong answer exits the game. Tested with the latest GOG.com version; Steam also still has the protection according to the various Steam discussions posts about it.
  6. Steam Community - last accessed on May 2023
  7. Problems with sound, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com - last accessed on May 2023
  8. Darklands README.TXT, "SIMULTANEOUS ROLAND & SOUND BLASTER SUPPORT"