Gold Box Forgotten Realms GOG Transfer Guide

Introduction

This guide concerns the DOS versions of these games, more specifically the versions buyable from GOG.com. This includes all games in Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two except Unlimited Adventures. The information is not guaranteed to be true for other versions. To avoid typing out full titles every time, each game is given a 3-letter abbreviation.

Abbreviations Used

• POR: Pool of Radiance
• HIL: Hillsfar
• CAB: Curse of the Azure Bonds
• SSB: Secret of the Silver Blades
• POD: Pools of Darkness
• GSF: Gateway to the Savage Frontier
• TSF: Treasures of the Savage Frontier

General Instructions

Before moving on to the next game, load the desired save from the earlier one and (R)emove characters from the party. This will create up to 3 files for each character:

• Character File: All basic information about the character.
• Effects File: Current magic effects on the character. This includes the bonuses of paladins, rangers, and non-human characters, and is needed for those to be kept after transfer.
• Inventory File: The character's items. Some transfers will remove all items, making this irrelevant, but not all of them.

With a couple of exceptions, these files will be found in the cloud_saves\SAVE subfolder, and must be copied into that same subfolder for the next game. Note that there will be another SAVE folder outside of cloud_saves. While the GOG versions won't put new files into that, it must still exist for saving and loading to work. If a needed subfolder is not there, it can be manually (re-)created. It is not actually necessary to finish any game before exporting.

Pool of Radiance

• Character File: .CHA
• Effects File: .SPC
• Inventory File: .ITM (irrelevant for transfer)
• Export: HIL, CAB

Notes

• Characters can only be removed from the party at a training room.
• This game has no SAVE folder. The needed files will be found in POOLRAD instead.

Hillsfar

• Character File: .HIL
• Import: POR, CAB, GSF
• Export: CAB

Notes

• This game does not have a SAVE subfolder. Importable files can be placed in GOG's cloud_saves folder or directly in the Hillsfar folder.
• Only character files are needed.
• POR characters will keep any altered stats including extra CON from the Manual of Bodily Health.
  • Note that the extra CON only benefits single-class fighters.
• GSF characters will be recognized as CAB characters.
• CAB/GSF characters will have altered stats reverted to normal, but keep extra HP resulting from Girdle of the Dwarves.
• Paladins and rangers cannot be imported unless they have dualed into another class.
• This is the only game where completion actually makes a substantial difference for export purposes. (Information on this is not yet complete)
• After exporting to CAB, bringing back an updated .GUY file allows guild quests to be repeated.

Curse of the Azure Bonds

• Character File: .GUY
• Effects File: .FX
• Inventory File: .SWG
• Import: POR, HIL, GSF
• Export: HIL, SSB, GSF, TSF

POR Notes

• No items will be transferred. Characters will start with 300 platinum each.
• Stats outside of racial minimums and maximums are reverted to those values.
  • 18(00) strength on characters who can't normally have that will be retained.

HIL Notes

(Incomplete)

• HIL characters will keep any and all abnormal stats.
• They will automatically be brought to the highest levels their experience allows, but without a corresponding HP increase.
• Non-human characters will have a .FX file created for them.
• Their battle sprites will be the default unless the characters have an associated .CHA or .GUY file in CAB's SAVE folder.
• All gold will be converted to platinum, rounded up to 300 if the conversion is less than that. Greater amounts will be kept.
• Fighters that completed all guild quests will start with extra items: Wand of Magic Missiles, Potion of Healing.
• Certain journal entries are only referenced with one of these characters in the party.

GSF Notes

• GSF characters in the CAB's SAVE folder will be recognized as (C)urse characters.
• GSF Items that don't exist in CAB will transfer but be renamed.
  • They will retain their basic functionality, but lose special effects.

Secret of the Silver Blades

• Character File: .WHO
• Effects File: .SFX
• Inventory File: .STF
• Import: CAB, GSF
• Export: POD

Notes

• Change the extension of the .FX files to .SFX to keep effects, though some might change:
  • Invisibility from Dust of Disappearance will change to Magically Highlighted for the same duration.
  • Paralysis Resistance will change to Paladin Heal Cooldown.
• Characters will start with no items or money.
  • Stat alterations from equipped items will be retained even with the items removed.
• GSF characters in SSB's SAVE folder will be recognized as (C)urse characters.
• Bestow Curse will be removed from magic-user spellbooks, but can be re-learned.

Pools of Darkness

• Character File: .PC
• Effects File: .EFX
• Inventory File: .THG
• Import: SSB, TSF
• Export: TSF

SSB Notes

• SSB characters in POD's SAVE folder will not be recognized.
• The Pools of Darkness folder should have a subfolder called SECRET. Copy SSB's Save folder into that.
• SSB characters can be imported individually or as an entire party from an A-J save.
• Strength above 18(00) without a girdle equipped will be brought back down to that.
• CON raised by CAB's Girdle of the Dwarves will brought down by 1. This can cause a rather buggy change to the character's HP. The lowered CHA will remain.

TSF Notes

• TSF Characters in POD's SAVE folder will be recognized as (P)ools characters.
• TSF exclusive items will have their names changed. Weapons and armor retain functionality.

Gateway to the Savage Frontier

• Character File: .GUY
• Effects File: .FX
• Inventory File: .SWG
• Import: CAB
• Export: TSF, HIL, CAB, SSB

Notes

• CAB Characters will retain levels above the GSF caps.
  • 4th and 5th level spells still work.
• Items from CAB not normally obtainable in GSF are functional.
  • Ioun Stone Pale Blue is renamed "Ioun Stone Scrawled Note" but has the same effect.
  • The Girdle of the Dwarves is renamed "Girdle of Dwarven" but has the same effects. It is safer to use on multi-class characters created in GSF.
• Paralysis Resistance will be changed into a meaningless effect.

Treasures of the Savage Frontier

• Character File: .PC
• Effects File: .EFX
• Inventory File: .THG
• Import: GSF, CAB, POD
• Export: POD

GSF/CAB Notes

• GSF/CAB characters in POD's SAVE folder will not be recognized.
• The Treasures of the Savage Frontier folder should have a subfolder called GATEWAY.
  • Copy files for individuals or A-J saves from GSF and/or CAB into the GATEWAY\SAVE folder.
    • Characters from either game will be recognized as (G)ateway, and can be imported individually or as a whole party from an A-J save.
• Several items may be removed upon import.
  • This includes all stat-altering equipment except CAB's Girdle of Giant Strength.
    • The altered stats from having them equipped will remain even with the items gone.

POD Notes

• POD characters in TSF's SAVE folder will be recognized as (T)reasures characters.
  • They will keep their levels up to 40, far above the TSF caps.
    • All spells, up to 9th level, still work.