Rainbow Despair FAQ ver 1.0
Last Updated - 1/13/00
written by Robert Boyd
rwb36@email.byu.edu

This FAQ and Rainbow Despair are copyrighted by Robert Boyd.
All other products are copyrights of their respective companies.
This FAQ can not be reprinted on any public medium (web site, magazine,
etc.) without the express written permission of its owner. 

The official Rainbow Despair website has the latest version of the game
as well as information, screenshots and this FAQ.  Check it out at 
http://www.angelfire.com/games/rboyd

General Tips:

Potions and heal magic can heal characters with 0 HP; no special life
spell is necessary.

Characters with 0 HP can use spells outside of battle.

The defend command halves all damage received by the character who uses
it for that turn; it's often quite useful (Larry in particular should use
it often).

The chat command dialogue changes frequently so check it often (mostly for
laughs).  Also, most townsfolk say at least 2 different things, plus
their dialogue often changes based on how far you are in the story
or who is in the party.

The general RPG rules apply.  If the enemies are too tough, gain XP,
buy or find new equipment, or try using different characters (not
possible in Chapter 1).


Equations (random factor left out):

Character Physical Attack Damage = Player Attack - Enemy Defense

Spell Damages = Depends on the Player's Magic value (although some spells
  use Spirit), the spell, and whether or not the enemy is weak against
  that type of magic (double damage if they're weak).

Enemy Spell Damage = Spell Power divided by Player's Spirit

Enemy Attack Damage = Enemy Attack divided by Player's Defense

Run % = Based on the speed of the enemies, players, and the # of enemies
  and allies.  Therefore killing fast enemies is a good way to improve
  your escape chances.


Walkthrough:

Chapter 1 - Yeah!  Whack, Smash, Pow!  Molly's Sure Win Path to Victory!

The Forest:

Blob
HP  13
Atk 24
Def  1
Spe  9
XP   1
Gold 1

Flower
HP  22
Atk 60
Def  3
Spe  5
XP   3 
Gold 3

      After the introductory story, follow the path north.  Soon you'll
get attacked; you can't run away from this battle, but it's really
easy.  After the battle, random encounters will start, so be careful.
Head west off the path to find a potion.  Then go back and follow the
path; it'll take you to the other treasure (50 Gold) and it's the
quickest route to the exit.  The flower patch is a good place to gain
EXP and gold - the flowers are slow and easily defeated with Molly's
Flower Power spell.  Get Molly and Larry up to at least LV2 (but you might
as well get them to LV3 now), and then go fight the boss.

Boss - The Blob King, Flower, Blob

Blob King
HP   70
Atk 177
Def   6
Spe  13
XP   30 
Gold 50

      Kill the flower and regular blob, before attacking the Blob King.
The Blob King's attack is very powerful, but he only attacks every
other turn.  Have Molly attack each turn and have Larry defend when
the Blob King attacks, and heal or attack as necessary while it's
charging.

The town of Gilspawn:

      You can head to Ronia (the northern town) if you want, but there's
nothing there but a couple of conversations so head to Gilspawn.  Here,
you can rest and save at the inn, buy some new equipment, and talk to
the townsfolk.  Buy a metal broom and robe at the equipment store and an
attack ring if you can afford it and then head to the bar to trigger a
story scene.  Now you can go to the southern ruins.

The Southern Ruins:

Wild Dog
HP   27
Atk 110
Def   6
Spe  15
XP    4
Gold  3

Eyeball
HP   15
MP    8
Atk  30
Def   1
Spe  20
XP    4
Gold  3
Eye Beam Magic - 195

Fangy
HP   23
Atk 140
Def   5
Spe  12
XP    3
Gold  5
Anger Technique - Attack Power Doubles

      The southern ruins are harder than the forest so you'll probably
have to make two trips.  If you think of the ruins as a circle, the
correct path is to go counterclockwise.  There are three treasure
chests, all on the east side of the dungeon.  Also make sure to look
at the solitary flower to get the Magic Flower accessory for Molly.
      When you get to the ruin with the 4 swords on it, check the
door for a hint, and then press the buttons to move the swords.  There
are a number of different combinations to solve the puzzle, but this
is probably the quickest - press the red, yellow, and purple buttons
each three times and the blue button twice.  Inside the ruins, you'll
find the treasure you're looking for and then you'll get attacked
(make sure you're at LV5 or higher).

Mini Boss - Ghost
HP   30
MP   25
Atk 200
Def  10
Spe  35
XP    7
Gold  5
Freeze Spell - 300 and interrupts character's move

      The ghost's freeze spell is powerful and annoying, but you can
keep it from using it by using Larry's Bad Luck technique.  Attack
with Molly and the ghost will be defeated quickly.  After the battle,
your HP will be restored and then you'll fight the real boss of the
ruins.

Boss - Lisa
HP   67
MP   24
Atk 190
Def  18
Spe  35
XP   35
Group Attack Technique
Weak against Cat Fight

      Use Bad Luck to keep her from using Group Attack and then have
Larry use Cat Fight while Molly attacks.  If you defeat her quickly,
you won't even need to heal.

Gilspawn & Ronia:

      Head back to the Gilspawn bar.  You won't get any gold, but you will
get to keep the Magic Ring (give it to Larry for now) and Molly will learn
her first technique.  Head to the village of Ronia and along the way, you'll run into Tyrin who will join your party.  Be sure to get new equipment for Tyrin; his starting equipment is very weak.  Talk to all the
villagers, save in the inn, and then enter the sewer grating.

The Ronia Sewers:

Rat
HP   22
Atk 100
Def   6
Spe  13
XP    4
Gold  4
Attacks inflict poison

Goo
HP   55
Atk 100
Def   8
Spe   5
XP    5
Gold  5

Spider
HP   13
Atk 280
Def   2
Spe  19
XP    5
Gold  4

      You have a new character so you might want to do some leveling up
before you seriously attempt to complete the sewers.  Like the ruins, both
of the two treasures chest are in the eastern section of the dungeon.
Both hold a nice amount of gold so be sure to get them.  When you're ready
to face the mutant alligator, you can get to it by going in a
southwesterly direction until you reach the southernmost end of the
dungeon and then by heading east.  There's a crystal right before the boss
that will restore your HP and MP as well as save your game.

Boss - Mutigator
HP   950
Atk  400
Def   12
Spe   15
XP   100
Gold  30
Spawning Technique - Creates 1 Goo

      The Mutigator is very tough so you might need to gain some XP or
improve your equipment to defeat (though with characters at LV6-7 and a
Long Sword for Tyrin, it's almost even easy).  In addition to the
Mutigator itself, you have to worry about radiation (each turn, your
character's get 1HP more poisoned - up to 5HP damage a turn) and the Goos
that the Mutigator creates.  Basically, the key to winning the battle is
to keep from being overwhelmed - use Larry's Good Luck to keep the poison
from getting too powerful and try to keep the number of Goos down.  
Start by having Larry use Bad Luck to poison the Mutigator.  Molly
should use Flower Power until she runs out of MP and then attack (she can
also use Lunar Launch to get rid of goos).  Tyrin should start out by
using his two techniques to raise his attack and defense and then he
should just attack.  With good characters, a good strategy, and a little
luck, victory will be yours.

Ronia:

      When you defeat the mutigator, you'll get an accessory for Larry.
Show the townspeople the dead mutigator to get a key to the graveyard
crypt and then go to a store and sell the alligator for a nice amount of
gold.  Heal, buy any equipment you need, save, and then head to the
graveyard.

Graveyard:

Zombie
HP   50
Atk 300
Def  30
Spe  10
XP    8
Gold  6
Attacks inflict poison

Skull
HP   60
Atk 250
Def  12
Spe  20
XP    8
Gold  5
Fire Magic - 420
Weak against Air

Ghost
HP   30
MP   25
Atk 200
Def  10
Spe  35
XP    7
Gold  5
Freeze Spell - 300 and interrupts character's move
Weak against Air

      When you first enter the graveyard, there are no random encounters.
Head north to the crypt, enter it, and open the three treasure chests for
a new weapon for Molly, a cauldron for making potions, and a book of
spells.  Getting the book of spells triggers a story scene that results
in a fake battle (automatically over after one turn), a new spell for
Molly, and a new character for your party, Lisa.  When you leave the
crypt, you'll notice there's a few changes and you'll run into enemies.
This dungeon isn't very complicated - there aren't any other treasures to
find so just head south towards the exit.  Near the exit, you'll run into
the final boss of Chapter 1.

Boss - Witch with 4 Ghosts

Witch
HP  900
MP  250
Atk 200
Def  20
Spe  45
XP  150
Gold 50
Poison All Spell - 120
Ice All Spell - 400
Fireblast Spell - 850
Weak against Cat Attack & Wind

      The witch has some powerful spells, but all 4 of your characters
can do good damage to her so she tends to die quickly.  Have Lisa use
Group Attack to defeat the ghosts and then if she has MP, she should
use her Wind magic.  If you have potions, you might want to have Lisa
cast Swift as well, since that will let her act before the enemy.  Molly
should keep using Zap! on the witch.  Tyrin should use his technique to
boost his Attack power (don't bother with Defense since the enemies use
magic attacks) and then just attack.  All of Larry's techniques and spells
are useful in this battle except for Bad Luck (by the time the witch's
MP=0, she'll probably already be dead) so use them as appropriate.  If
Lisa or Molly run out of MP have them attack.  If your characters haven't
been worn down too much by the random encounters beforehand, this battle
shouldn't be much trouble at all.
      Once the witch is defeated, head to the exit.  Lisa leaves your
party, you're given the chance to save, and Chapter 1 is over.

Chapter 2 (coming in the next version!)