Our Favorite Deaths
One of the most important traits in Shadowgate is staying alive. However, that denizen of the realm of death loves nothing more than to usher young heroes into its land of the eternal dead. So, to honor the Grim Reaper and perhaps keep him at bay while we develop this game, we’ve picked some of our favorite death texts from the original (Go easy on us! These were the first things we wrote at the time :)
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You have opened a magic portal into deep space. You are immediately sucked through. The lack of air causes you to quickly lose consciousness. The Grim Reaper quickly embraces you!!
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Kneeling down next to the fountain, you drink a handful of the acidic water. You can't scream because you no longer have a throat, let alone a larynx!!
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You thrust the sword in your chest, blood begins to flow, suicide won’t help in your quest. The Warlock Lord will surely triumph now!
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As you try to pass the seemingly harmless slime, it quickly engulfs your body, dissolving it in seconds. You die instantly. No pain, no nothing. You were slimed.
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As you remove the candle from its pedestal, the floor collapses, and you go with it. As you fall into darkness, you tell yourself that there must be a bottom to this pit. Your suspicions are confirmed as your head smashes into stone!
What are your favorites? Share those in the comments or on the forums on zojoi’s website. Heck, share some NEW ones and maybe we will use them in the upcoming version!
The Zojoi Team
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Early Bird - INITIATE: The FINISHED SHADOWGATE GAME like you've never seen before via DIGITAL DRM-free download for Windows or Mac. Plus a five-pack of our favorite WALLPAPERS in tons of resolutions.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $15 or more
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INITIATE: The FINISHED SHADOWGATE GAME like you've never seen before via DIGITAL DRM-free download for Windows or Mac. Plus a five-pack of our favorite WALLPAPERS in tons of resolutions.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Pledge $30 or more
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NOVICE (Addition): We've decided to ADD a few more things to this digital tier! If you have already pledged to the Novice tier, you will get these rewards as well! If you want to pledge to the Novice tier, you can pledge to either $30 tier to get all the rewards. First, we're adding a 2014 digital wallpaper calendar "THE WORLD OF SHADOWGATE" in a boat load of resolutions. This 14 month calendar (going back to November of 2013) will feature the many fantastic locations outside the castle - all illustrated by Chris Cold. (NOTE: We will also provide each illustration without the calendar overlay for convenience.) Second, we are offering you a DIGITAL VERSION of the cloth MAP in many resolutions as well!
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NOVICE: An awesome tier featuring the digital, DRM-free, haunting Shadowgate SOUNDTRACK by composer extraordinaire Rich Douglas. You also get the 60 page DIGITAL BOOK "The Art of Shadowgate" illustrated by master painter Chris Cold. Your name will also be added to the Shadowgate website as an official backer! Plus all previous rewards.
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ACOLYTE: NOTE THAT THE SECOND $45 TIER IS NO LONGER VALID. The first reward is a series of exclusive commentary videos. These streaming and/or downloadable videos will walk you thru the game while the Zojoi team shares insights, notes and humorous stories from design to art to audio. It's a must have for players that like to know the inside stories behind the games' development. The second reward is a digital COMIC HINT/WALKTHRU featuring all the rooms within Shadowgate in illustrative form!
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APPRENTICE: Take this EPIC Shadowgate title on the go with your very own digital iOS or ANDROID TABLET version. Plus, your name PERMANENTLY etched digitally in the final game credits! And all previous rewards.
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Early Bird - ADEPT: The game ships in a never-to-be-made-again COLLECTORS BOX created specifically for displaying the game in all its glory. And what's inside? A retro CLOTH MAP of the Shadowgate world, of course! You'll also get a full-sized Shadowgate POSTER that will blow your mind! Plus all previous rewards.
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ADEPT: The game ships in a never-to-be-made-again COLLECTORS BOX created specifically for displaying the game in all its glory. And what's inside? A retro CLOTH MAP of the Shadowgate world, of course! You'll also get a full-sized Shadowgate POSTER that will blow your mind! Plus all previous rewards.
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Early Bird - ENCHANTER: You get the CARD GAME "Quests of Shadowgate", created specifically for the Shadowgate universe by MIDDLE EARTH Collectible Card game designer, Coleman Charlton. We'll also include EXCLUSIVE Jair and Lakmir cards that will NEVER be created again! Plus all previous rewards.
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ENCHANTER: You get the CARD GAME "Quests of Shadowgate", created specifically for the Shadowgate universe by MIDDLE EARTH Collectible Card game designer, Coleman Charlton. We'll also include EXCLUSIVE Jair and Lakmir cards that will NEVER be created again! Plus all previous rewards.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013Add $15 to ship outside the USPledge $200 or more
42 backers
DRUID: A cool, 60+ page SOFTCOVER BOOK "The Art of Shadowgate", featuring dozens and dozens of room and character illustrations to impress your friends. You also get the OFFICIAL backer T-SHIRT featuring the Shadowgate logo! Plus all previous rewards.
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MAGICIAN: We ship you an exclusive 18" STAFF OF AGES replica made of resin from master craftsman Kenny Hudson. You also get upgraded to the HARDCOVER version of "The Art of Shadowgate." You'll also get a LIMITED EDITION physical SOUNDTRACK from Rich Douglas! Plus all previous rewards.
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MAGUS: This is it! Be the envy of Shadowgate fans everywhere with a FULL-SCALE 72" STAFF OF AGES made of resin and featuring a beautiful blue calcite sphere (Other-worldly power sold separately). Plus all previous rewards.
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WIZARD: Become one of the legendary CIRCLE OF TWELVE wizards featured in the game. You get to help name the wizard and create a back-story and skill set for this character. Your creation shall be featured in the library and other locations within the magical keep. Plus all previous rewards.
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ARCHMAGE: We'll FLY YOU OUT for a weekend with Shadowgate creators Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs in beautiful Virginia. You'll get to help brainstorm future Shadowgate titles as well as play QUESTS OF SHADOWGATE with Coleman Charlton. We'll visit Jefferson's Monticello, play board games and enjoy hours of wiffle ball home-run derby in Dave's backyard. You get all this plus previous rewards. (Domestic backers only).
Estimated delivery: Nov 2013
Comments
Creator Daniel Silvia on November 25, 2012
A fun suggestion, touching the dragon:
You reach out and offer your hand to the dragon in a gesture of peace. Moved by your trusting nature, it reciprocates by taking your hand... albeit at the wrist and in one bite. Then it takes your arm at the shoulder, then finally it exhales flame on your mutilated body so that it can enjoy the rest of you cooked. So much for giving peace a chance!
Creator Jonathan Shegryn on November 25, 2012
"You thrust *insert weapon/item name here* into your chest! Blood begins to flow! Suicide won't help in your quest! The Warlock Lord will surely triumph now!"
I especially found this one to be funny after I used the poker on myself.
Creator Christopher Rowlands on November 25, 2012
"Suddenly, the beasts begin to shudder and their eyes begin to glow red! The gargoyles, angered at your presence, spring from their frozen state and rip you to pieces! There's not enough left of you to even feed to the birds."
I liked a good lot of them but that was one that stood out for me.
Creator Niklas Wahlberg on November 25, 2012
I absolutely love the one with the slime, due in no small part to the hilarious swedish translation. "Du blev slemmad!" Comedy gold :)
Creator Andrew sheriff on November 25, 2012
This one will always be my favorite - "Shouting a battle cry, you catapult yourself off the
platform. You are brave, warrior, but stupid!! Your
body explodes as you plunge into the lava."
Creator Darklord on November 25, 2012
Hehe those are great I love, You were slimed!
Creator Björn Fallqvist on November 25, 2012
I preferred the one where the torches ran out.
Creator WP - Member, Mutant League on November 25, 2012
" Grim Reaper : "Please select mode of death. Quick and painless or slow and horrible."
Creator Marcus Nilsson on November 25, 2012
It has to be:
"As you try to pass the seemingly harmless slime, it quickly engulfs your body, dissolving it in seconds. You die instantly. No pain, no nothing. You were slimed."
and
"The firedrake screams triumphantly and gives you an eternal sunburn."
Although the space mirror is pretty nice too. And the thing in the room with the levers is probably my favorite monster even though the death text isn't my fav. ,
Creator Ian Kelly - A.M. Bartender of the AGL589 on November 25, 2012
@edward carpenter - I think the torch one was a glitch. The game interpreted it as an incorrect attempt to kill the werewolf, forgetting that it was already dead.
Creator Bobracha on November 25, 2012
The firedrake screams triumphantly and gives you an eternal sunburn.
Creator Adri on November 25, 2012
"You finally set your hair on fire, the rest of your body follows!"
"Shouting a battle cry, you catapult yourself off the platform. You are brave, warrior, but stupid!! Your body explodes as you plunge into the lava."
"You woke the sleeping guard from his beauty sleep. He decides to eat you for breakfast!!"
Creator edward carpenter on November 25, 2012
for me it's a mix of "Whoosh!! Flames suddenly shoot from the dragon's mouth!! Dragon flame engulfs your body. You pay for your curiosity with your life." and in the one tower,after you've killed the werewolf,if you use a torch on it,you got this(which never made sense,but was memorable) "You put the burning torch close to it. With a loud roar, the wolf pounces on you, taking your life!! The wolf's powerful jaws rip your throat out!!"
Creator Markus on November 25, 2012
It's been such a long time since I played Shadowgate. But I remember that a lot of the deaths didn't need to spell it out. Death was implied. Just like the alligator death Adam mentioned. The descriptions were so funny, I just had to die even when I knew what was coming :)
Creator Jarbas Porto on November 24, 2012
"You enter in the dark corridor to check if there's any monster coming to get you. There was."
Creator Zojoi on November 24, 2012
"You remove the latch and a mutated dog pounces on you!! It looks like the doctor put something in the dog's water. Before you can do anything else, the mutation quickly rips you apart!!"
I've no idea who that doctor was!
Creator Patrick Benware on November 24, 2012
Ken: Yeah, you needed a gauntlet for the flute. You'd scarf down a handful with or without it, though, I'm pretty sure.
Jair wasn't exactly known for thinking things through.
PS: Without thinking, you jump through the opening and immediately hear a loud click. Suddenly, the granite slab above you gives way and crushes you beneath it. It breaks every bone in your body.
Creator Ken Gagne on November 24, 2012
"A handful of acidic water"? How did the hand survive the transport of the water to the lips? I'm trying to remember, wasn't there an iron gauntlet?
Creator Adam D Ramsey on November 24, 2012
It's probably a tie between "As you move the pot, you realize that you have fallen for the oldest
trick in the book. You suddenly find yourself knee-deep in the moat. It seems that the alligators really enjoy your company!" and "You try to pass the slime but it engulfs your body, dissolving it in seconds. ...you die instantly. No pain, no nothing. You were slimed."
Creator Adam G. Van Kirk on November 24, 2012
"A battle cry dies in your throat, as the cyclops crushes your skull with his club."
Creator Zojoi on November 24, 2012
I wonder if they would die of boredom first :)
Creator Andreas on November 24, 2012
Not from Shadowgate, but in a fantasy book I read ages ago (forgot which one that was) there was a pit that was so deep that when falling into it, you'd die of thirst before hitting the bottom.