Might and Magic IX: Writ of Fate

The ninth game in the Might and Magic series. The game switched to be completely in 3D, powered by LithTech engine. The game seems to be based on the foundation made for Legends of Might and Magic (LOMM). Many files that seem to be unused are just the assets from Legends of Might and Magic that made it into this game.

Sub-Pages#

Prototype Info Notes

Hidden Development-Related Text#

Data Tables#

The game stores a lot of data in data tables similarly to the previous games.

Spell Effects#

In the data table Spells there is a column named SpellFX which supposedly describes for the developers what visual effect the spells should have in the game.

Scripts#

The game uses a script system, mostly for handling things such as in-game events, AI and cinematics. Many scripts are really well-commented.

Dragon#

;
;   Dragon.scr
;   Jeff Leggett
;   11/14/2001
;
;   Implementation of the Dragon King
;
;   Optionally, the dragon can start out hidden.  When
;   Triggered, he will fly in from above and land.
;
;   We have 4 attacks:
;
;       1.  Fireball attack
;           - This attack is a simple fireball projectile that
;           does radius damage on impact.
;
;       2.  FlameThrower attack
;           - This attack sends continuous bursts of fire 
;           in the direction that we're pointing...
;
;       3.  Wing attack
;           - This does no damage, but can be used to push
;           players away from us...
;
;       4.  Hand Attack
;           - We do this instead of a wing attack sometimes.
;           
;
;   After each attack, if we've attacked the current 
;   target long enough, we decide whether we should
;   switch to another target.  Targets that are out
;   of range are ignored.  Targets that we don't have
;   a clear shot at are randomly ignored.  The last 
;   target to do damage to us gets a higher priority.
;   This higher priority is proportional to his distance
;   away from us...  (ie: if someone along way off is 
;   hitting us, while we have many more targets near us,
;   we have a less chance of switching to that target than
;   if they're close to us...
;
;   After each attack, we also check to see if there are
;   a lot of targets within our wing attack distance.
;   if so, we'll switch to one of them and do our wing attack...
;   
;   

Cat#

;
;   Cat.Scr
;   Jeff Leggett
;   08/03/2001
;
;   Behavior:
;
;       - Go from actor to actor and hang out with them
;       - When a dog comes after me, run away in various
;       directions
;
;

Dog#

;
;   Dog.Scr
;   Jeff Leggett
;   08/03/2001
;
;   Behavior:
;
;       - go from actor to actor and hang out with them
;       - Search for cats.  If a cat appears, then we'll
;       go chase him until we are "tired".  
;       - Follow the player for a while perhaps....
;
;
;

Yanmir#

;
;   YanmirPatrol.scr
;   kd 10-26-01
;   Parameters
;
;   Specialized patrol script for Yanmir the giant.
;   When triggered, Yanmir runs to a SquishVictim and kills it.
;   Then he begins his routine patrol of the Fort.  He kicks
;   any closed doors. (Added Sfx with FrostDust and DoorQuakes)
;   Cool Factor = HIGH!!
;
;   0 - Marker Root name  (ie for Markers Mrk0, Mrk1, Mrk2  "Mrk" is the root name)
;   1 - Number of Markers
;
;   2 - Second Root name for marker path. (Optional)
;   3 - Number of Markers. (Optional)   
;
;   4 - FireObject Root Name (FrostDust in this instance)
;   5 - EarthQuakeObject Root Name (DoorQuake in this instance)
;   
;

;
:OnDeath
;
; just in case some freak figures out a way to kill me
; give the completed quest key <--------TL
;

;
:KickTheDoor
;   [Specialized grouped subroutines.]
;   Yanmir encounters a Door Object, kicks it, opens it
;   and we get to see stirred up FrostDust, shaking walls
;   and door slammin' Sfx.
;

;
:PlayScene
;   [Specialized grouped subroutines.]
;   Triggered to play out the SquishVictim and PlayAnims
;   associated with SquishVictim stuck to Yanmir's Boot.
;

Unused Characters#

Warrior Character (LOMM Class Model)#

The party uses the Warrior character model as a representation in the 3D world. That can be observed in the prototype when going into spectator mode which leaves the player model in place while allowing to travel around the map.

Dragons#

There's a quest in the game regarding Dragon King. However, Red and Earth dragons are also present in the game's files, although apparently never used. They all use the same model.

There are different script files for each dragon. The main script commentary for the dragon AI can be found in the development text section.

;   Implementation of the Red dragon.
;
;   The dragon starts out asleep.  It doesn't notice anyone
;   until they do damage.  We then wake up and start
;   attacking.

Unused Areas#

The release version of the game includes a couple of project files (.ED) for the maps. That allows to view and edit them using DEdit tool, while the other maps are compiled and no longer editable. The following maps have project files:

• Afterworld
• Anskram Keep
• Arslegard City
• Bathhouse
• Beethoven
• Chasm of the Dead
• Bootcamp

GREATGATE.DAT#

The early version of the Arslegard gates. The cutscene for the first visit starts automatically after the map is loaded.

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