Question:   After launching Might & Magic 8 I receive this message: "Direct Draw Error DDERR_UNSUPPORTED in file D:\MM8\MM8\Code\Screen16.cpp at line number: 2880" What does this mean?

Answer: It means you need to disable the 2D video toggler. The easiest way to do this is to:

(With the Install CD, Disc 1, in the drive)

1. Click on Start Button in windows then click on Run
2. Type in D:\ support \2dvideo.exe, then hit OK (If your disk drive in not labeled as the "D" drive, substitute the proper letter.)
3. On the toggler window, click disable, then OK

You should be able to launch the game at this point.

Question: When the user attempts to open a characters inventory by double clicking on the inventory or by using the hotkey the game returns the user to the Windows Desktop.

Answer:

In most cases this problem can be easily resolved.

Please follow the steps listed below:

1. Start Might and Magic VIII
2. Load the saved game that is crashing when attempting to view the inventory.
3. Select the character that is affected by left clicking on the portrait once or until it is highlighted.
4. Open the spell book by left clicking on the spell book icon in the upper right corner of the display.
5. Now left click on the set spells icon in the lower left corner of the spell book.
6. Exit the spell book and open your inventory.

This should solve your problem.

Question: I've rescued Cauri Blackthorne, but Jeebes doesn't credit me with completing the quest, and I can't get my Dark Elf promoted. What's going on?

Answer: When you have restored Cauri Blackthorne, She'll start up a dialogue panel with two options: (1) "Thank you" and (2) "Patriarch".

The first option expresses her gratitude for your efforts on her behalf. the second option is the trigger for both the eventual completion of the quest and for her to promote any Dark Elves in the party to Patriarch. You will not get the opportunity to talk with her in this fashion again, so if you skip the Patriarch option at this time, you'll never be able to complete the quest (or get promoted). If you have skipped this option, you'll need to go back to a save from before you revived her if you wish to get any Dark Elves promoted.

Dark Elves of Cauri's stature are not used to being ignored, and rarely grant boons. Don't pass up what she'll only offer once.

Question: I've been to [name of town], and I don't get the town as a destination option for Town Portal. Is this a bug?

Answer: No. This is a refinement to the game we added for Might and Magic VIII. Since Town Portal is a Water-based spell, instead of merely entering a town to lock it in as a destination, you'll need to have tasted of the waters of the town's magical fountain. This does mean that some locations (such as Murmurwoods) will never become destinations for Town Portal (they have no fountain).

Question: Why doesn't Might and Magic VIII support my 3dfx Voodoo 3 video card properly?

Answer: You are using the Win9x BETA drivers. You should use the WHQL certified Win9x drivers from www.3dfx.com.

Question: I have completely drained Balthazar's Lair, but the shops are still all flooded.

Answer: You'll need to have the Herd Leader agree to an Alliance before the shops will be available. To do this; you first need to bring back Overdune Snapfinger as a witness to the Lake of Fire. Then you will receive the Alvarian Merchant Council quest to enlist the aid of three out of five factions within Jadame. If you have already drained the Lair, just complete the other steps before talking to the Herd Leader again.

Question: I'm looking for the Pirate Outpost, but I can't find it. Why isn't it where it's supposed to be?

Answer: You haven't gotten the appropriate quest yet. You have no reason to go there until you have gotten the quest.

Question: How do I get to Regna/Haricksburg?

Answer: You won't be able to get there until very late in the game (there is a certain quest you'll need to get after you have gotten all of your allied factions to join your cause). You can't get there via Town Portal until you have already drunk from the fountain in town. There will be no boats going there until you have solved the quest.

Question: When I try to get my dragon promoted to Great Wyrm, and have met all of the conditions, I'm not getting the option for promotion. Why not?

Answer: You are going to the wrong place. Once the Dragons Faction has joined the Alliance, the Dragon Leader will be in the Merchant's Guild in Ravenshore with the other factions' representatives in the Alliance. You should go there to get promoted. The repeating image in the cave is an illusion spell the Dragon Leader set to discourage would-be fortune hunters from getting greedy where his treasure was concerned.

Problem When I'm in the library of the Merchant's Guild of Alvar, I notice a secret door. However, I can't open it. Why not?

Answer: You won't be able to open it until after you have brought Overdune Snapfinger back to the Guild headquarters in Alvar. By that point, the Guild will have finished construction on the door.

Question: I can't get to [quest item]. Is this a bug?

Answer: No. There are some doors, buttons, etc. that can only be activated once the appropriate conditions have been met. Sometimes you need to have a certain character in your party (and have them selected as the active character), sometimes a certain event needs to have taken place.

Question: How do I exchange party members?

Answer: You'll need to dismiss the character you want to replace by clicking on the Dismiss button twice from within the Stats screen, outdoors. Next, enter the Adventurers' Inn. Select the character you want, then click on the Hire button.

Question: I have successfully installed Might and Magic VIII.   When I try to run the game, it keeps asking me for disk 2.   How do I fix this?

Answer: Some systems have the Disconnect box checked in their CD-ROM options. This is an option for SCSI CD-ROMs, and apparently can cause some problems with IDE CD-ROMS.   If they've got an IDE drive, uncheck this box, and the second disk should run fine.

1. Right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties."   This will open the "System Properties" window.
2. Click on the "Device Manager" tab.
3. Click on the plus symbol next to CD-ROM.
4. Double click on the CD-ROM listed on the second branch.
5. Click on the "Settings" tab.
6. Uncheck the Disconnect box.
7. Click "OK."
8. Click "OK."
9. Restart your computer.
10. Also, use Disk 2 (the Play Disk). It's located on the back side of the black divider in the CD jewel case.

Question: When I enter the Abandoned Temple, all I see is a wall in the way after I talk with Simon. What do I do?

Answer: Turn to the right, and look down (by pressing the [Delete] key a few times). You should now see the stairs leading down.

Question: When I play in Software, the townspeople wear clothing accessorized in three different colors, based on their social status. When I run the game in Hardware, they are accessorized in only one color. Why is that?

Answer: There some inherent limitations of the sprite-based game engine interacting with how 3D Accelerators blend colors. We went with the result that looked best overall.

Question: I have an Nvidia Riva 128 based video card and cannot see the monsters or NPCs in the game.   How do I fix this?