Importing

Importing is a concept that marks the Quest for Glory series as unique among other game series. Once a Hero completes a game, the option is given to save that Hero for use in future games. The Hero will then be installed in the new game in much the same status as he left the previous game. Heroes can be imported from any past game in the series to any future games in the series. For example, a Hero can be imported from Quest for Glory 1 directly to Quest for Glory 5 without having to necessarily play the three games in between.

Heroes cannot be imported from future games to past games, nor can a Hero (apart from Quest for Glory 4) be imported to the same game that has just been completed. Likewise, a Hero cannot be imported into Quest for Glory 1, and although Quest for Glory 5 gives the option of saving the Hero, there is no practical use for this as of yet.

Technical

Imports are saved as SAV files. In the past, it was recommended to save them to a floppy disk so that they could be easily found by simple directory change. With the obsolescence of floppy drives in modern days, it is suggested to save them in the directory that includes the newer game's files. The game will go to this directory first.

In ScummVM, the SAV files can be stored in a a central dedicated location such as its "Save Path". Quest for Glory 5, which standalone engine is not supported by ScummVM, has a specific folder for storing imports.

Editor

Various fan editors were created to edit the import SAV files, although many of which were made for older systems and thus became obsolete with time.

Some older editors are archived in sierrahelp.com.

While all editors are computer (DOS or Windows) based files, which thus become quickly obsolete with time, the exception to the rule is the QFG1/2-only online editor Quest for Glory Character File Editor .

The newest, only modern and most complete known editor is QFGImporter which even published its open source code and in general can be downloaded at GitHub (note it also has an outdated version at its official homepage).

Importing into Quest for Glory II

As Quest for Glory 1 and Quest for Glory 2 operate under very similar engines, much makes the transition between the two games.

To import the Hero from Quest for Glory 1, select "Import a Hero" on the title screen. A directory window will appear to find the file. Once the file is found and if importing is successful, the Character Screen of the Hero will appear.

All statistics for the Hero will be exactly the same as they were upon finishing Quest for Glory I. While the Hero can change his name if desired, he will not have a Point Pool to apply. Press "Start Game" to begin.

The following stipulations to inventory and spells apply:

• Spells: If a Hero has Magic and is missing any of the following spells: Open, Calm, Fetch, Flame Dart, or Zap, he will be granted those spells at an entry skill level.
• Sword/Shield: If for any reason a Fighter character was imported without a Broadsword or Shield in his inventory, he will be given replacements.
• Daggers: The Hero will carry all the Daggers he had in Quest for Glory I. If a Magic User or Thief character is imported with no Daggers, he will be given one.
• Armor: The Hero will import Chainmail Armor if he purchased it in Quest for Glory I.
• Thief Tools: A Hero importing with a Lock Pick will keep it. If the Hero has Thief skills, he will be given a Thief's Tool Kit even if he does not already have it, and a Thieves' Guild License will be given anyway (replacing the Thief's Guild License if t here is one).
• Money: The Hero's Silver Coins will all be converted to Gold Coins, rounded down (ten silvers to the gold). 140 Gold Coins will be given to the Hero, which are the rewards the Hero receives at the end of the previous game (for Elsa von Spielburg, the Brigand Warlock, and the Brigand Leader).
• Survival: All Heroes, regardless of previous amounts owned, will begin the game with five Food Rations and one full Waterskin.
• Actions: According to some rumors, the import file contains information about whether the Hero defeated Baba Yaga in the end of the game, or avoided her. However this data is not used in the scenario or narration of later games.

Importing into Quest for Glory III

To import the Hero into Quest for Glory 3, select "Play Game" on the title screen, and then "Import Character". A directory window will appear to find the file. Once the file is found and if importing is successful, the Character Screen of the Hero will appear.

All statistics for the Hero will be exactly the same as they were upon finishing the previous game unless those statistics would be below the initial level for that class, in which case they will be increased to that level. The Hero can change his name and will have access to the Point Pool. Press "Start" to begin.

The following stipulations to inventory and spells apply:

• Spells: A Hero with Magic will be given all pertinent spells if he did not find them in the previous games.
• Daggers: All Daggers that the Hero owns will be converted into Throwing Daggers. A Magic User and a Thief will be given an extra Fine Dagger in addition to the others.
• Pills: The Hero will have all the pills he had upon finishing Quest for Glory 2, except for Vigor Pills, which do not exist in the game. If the Hero had zero of any of the three types of pills, he will be given one to start.
• Sapphire Pin: If the Hero received the Sapphire Pin during Quest for Glory 2, he will begin the game with it. This is the only way to carry the Pin in this game.

• Other: The Hero will have all the other starting items for his class.

Importing into Quest for Glory IV

Also see Reimporting character

To import the Hero into Quest for Glory 4, select "Import Character" on the title screen. A directory window will appear to find the file. Once the file is found and if importing is successful, the Character Screen of the Hero will appear.

All statistics for the Hero will be exactly the same as they were upon finishing the previous game (or current game - see Reimporting character) unless those statistics would be below the initial level for that class, in which case they will be increased to that level. The Hero can change his name and will have access to the Point Pool. Press "Start" to begin.

A Hero with Magic will be given all pertinent spells if he did not find them in the previous games.

No inventory makes the transition into Quest for Glory 4 for story purposes.

Importing into Quest for Glory V

To import the Hero into Quest for Glory 5, select "Play Game" on the title screen, then click "Import" on the Character Creation screen. The "Imports" folder in the game directory will appear and allow you to select any Hero file that was placed there.

Just like in the previous game, for story purposes no inventory makes the transition.

The Hero's statistics will have the following adjustments applied:

• Parry and Dodge will be condensed into Defense.
• All statistics will be rounded to the nearest ten.
• For every game "back" that the import file goes, 100 points will be added to the Hero's statistics. This means that importing from Quest for Glory 3 will add 100 points to every skill, and importing from Quest for Glory 1 will add 300 points to every skill.
• If, after those increases, the Hero's skills are still below entry level, they will be increased to entry level.

A Hero with Magic will be given all pertinent spells if he did not find them in the previous games.

A Paladin imported into the game will have the Fighter's starting inventory, only he will be given a Paladin Sword instead of a Sword, and a Magic Shield instead of a Shield.

A Thief imported into the game from Quest for Glory 2 or above will be given an Imitation Blackbird in addition to his starting inventory.

Class Change

Beginning in Quest for Glory 3, an imported Hero is given the option of changing his class shortly after the import file is found. If the Hero wishes, he may select a different class to play as; usually this would result to a Hybrid character.

Changing class in Quest for Glory 3 will give the Hero the starting inventory and spells (if applicable) of the new class. The Hero will maintain his original stats except that any required skills for the new class that he didn't have will be given 50 points. For example, a Magic User who changes to a Fighter will be given 50 points in Parry and Throwing, yet will still retain his skill in Magic.

The same happens in Quest for Glory 4 with the difference that the class-specific skills will be increased to entry level (typically 200).

Changing class in Quest for Glory 5 (can be done by clicking on the arrows next to the class name below the Hero) practically isn't working, as essentially the game "imports" him as a newly created character, with stats reset to the entry level; only the Hero's imported name is retained.

Trivia

• It is possible that using the Debug Modes to cheat in Quest for Glory 1-4 can result in files that will import strangely, or will not import at all.