Adventure by Program Power - 3: Puzzle Hints

Spoilers alert! This is a hints page for anyone who may be stuck on a certain puzzle or at a certain place without wanting to resort to a full walk-through. To use it, look for the question that matches your current problem, then search below for its corresponding hint.

1. What do I need to do to complete the game?
2. How do I refill my lamp with the oil?
3. What should I do with the red scarf?
4. How do I get into the closed cavern entrance?
5. I can't move anywhere from the Edge of the Precipice.
6. What should I do with the frog?
7. How do I use the cage?
8. What should I do with the glass slipper?
9. How do I get past the lake?
10. How do I kill the rat?
11. How do I kill the spider?
12. What use is sleeping?
13. What do I do in the banquetting room?
14. I am caught in the scrubby landscape past the dragon.
15. What is the password for the question at the start of the game?
16. What do I do with the tiny plant?
17. Where does the princess run to? How do I stop her?
18. What are the seven treasures?
19. Where is the pearl?
20. Where is the ring?
21. How do I get into the dungeon?
22. How do I escape from the dungeon?
23. How do I prevent the Ming vase from breaking when I drop it?
24. Where does rubbing the lamp have any effect?

Hint 1:

There are two goals in the game. As outlined in the instructions, the main aim is to bring back the princess from the magic caverns, while a secondary goal is to collect the treasures scattered around (there are seven in total). Your progress is reflected in your score (type SCORE): you receive 50 points per treasure that you are carrying, and 100 points per treasure that you have placed in the Left Luggage Office which is found near the starting location of the game. Deducted from your score is the number of turns you have taken, so the less moves you require the higher your score.

Important: due to a bug (oversight?) in the original game, there is no "end of game" winning message even if you return with the princess and have located all treasures! In addition, do not drop the princess at any location as she will run back to the caverns. Since there is no game logic to check for successful completion of your adventure, it can be considered as when you have all 7 treasures in the Left Luggage Office & are carrying the princess.

Hint 2:

It is not possible (or necessary), as your lamp has unlimited light. The oil is not used in the game.

Hint 3:

It is not used in the game.

Hint 4:

Give the magic command. Hint: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

Hint 5:

Although you cannot move in any compass direction, you can use GO BACK to move to the previous location.

Hint 6:

Try various actions - not all will lead to a successful result however. You may need to resort to violence.

Hint 7:

It is not used in the game.

Hint 8:

It is not used in the game.

Hint 9:

You cannot, however it can be a useful source of water.

Hint 10:

You can't kill it directly; instead you need to attract an owl to help (you may have heard one hooting nearby). He does not like your lamp light though.

Answer 11:

You can find a weapon in the forest outside the caverns.

Hint 12:

For something fun, you can try dreaming. However it does not progress you further.

Hint 13:

There is nothing special here.

Hint 14:

Unfortunately this is a nasty trap, and there is no way to escape from the landscape. Avoid going this way.

Hint 15:

This is red herring; there is no correct password. You must answer "no" to the question asking whether you are a wizard. (This is a tribute to an early version of the original Colossal Cave adventure, which used this question to allow administrative access).

Hint 16:

Find a way to water it.

Hint 17:

There are two situations where the princess runs off. The first is when you free her from the spell; in this case she can be found again in the Black Magician's bedroom in the castle. The second situation is if you are carrying her and drop her, no matter where you are (even outside the caverns!). In this case, the princess  runs to the bedroom in the white tower. There is no way to prevent her from running, apart from never setting her down once you carry her.

Hint 18:

The seven treasures are: valuable coin, large diamond, silver ingot, superb pearl, gigantic ruby, golden ring, Ming vase.

Hint 19:

It is in the maze of tunnels.

Hint 20:

It is in the dungeon.

Hint 21:

You will be thrown into the dungeon for either of two actions: attempting to KISS the princess, or attempting to STEAL one of the treasures. However in only one of these cases will your keys be removed from your possession!

Hint 22:

Unlock the dungeon door with the bunch of keys. You must find a way to bring the keys with you into the dungeon - if you do not have them then there is no way to escape.

Hint 23:

Use LEAVE instead of using the usual DROP command.

Hint 24:

In two locations: the mysterious black room & the magician's room.