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Myst V: End of Ages Hints
What are the numbers I see in the various ages?
1 of 14: There are actually several different numbering systems that you may see, some of them specific to particular puzzles. I'll cover those different kinds of numbers in the appropriate sections of the hints. However, there is one common numbering system used in several places, where each number is drawn in a sort of box. That's what I'm referring to in the hints you're reading now.
2 of 14: If you've played the other Myst games, you've probably run across this numbering system before. And even if you haven't, you don't actually *need* to know what these numbers mean in order to solve the game. It may make things a little easier on you remember numbers instead of the raw symbols, but you can get by without ever knowing which symbols correspond to which numbers.
3 of 14: The place where you're most likely to see the numbers "counted" out for you in order is in Todelmer (Age 2). If you're looking to figure out the numbers on your own, this age is probably the best place to do that.
4 of 14: In particular, look at the machines in the main control room (the one lit up in red) on the first island.
5 of 14: Either look at the "clock" on the far wall and watch the order in which the "hand" on the clock moves, or move the dials on any of the four control consoles and see the order of the numbers there. Count these in that order, starting with the empty box, which represents the number zero. (A box with a diagonal slash through it may appear on the consoles, but that's still your starting point.)
6 of 14: The number 1 is just a vertical line inside the box -- which, all together, looks like the Roman numeral III.
7 of 14: 2 is a half circle on the left side of the box.
8 of 14: 3 has a "greater than" symbol on the let of the box -- which sort of makes the whole thing look like the letters "KI" with bars on top and bottom.
9 of 14: 4 is a right angle, like an upside-down "L", in the lower-right corner.
10 of 14: Also notice that as you count higher, that the same sort of symbols seem to repeat themselves throughout the series of numbers.
11 of 14: For example, the number 2 has a half circle on the *left*. And the numbers 10 through 14 all have a half circle on the *bottom* of the box -- as if someone just rotated the number 2 by 90 degrees.
12 of 14: Or the number 8 looks as if someone drew the symbol for 5 (a horizontal line inside the box) on top of the number 3 (5+3 = 8).
13 of 14: That's exactly how the numbers work -- if you know the symbols for 1 through 4, you can count all the way to 24. Rotating the symbols for 1-4 multiply their values by 5, and drawing 2 symbols on top of each other adds their values.
14 of 14: If that doesn't make sense, take a look at this graphic. Again, you don't really need to *know* what numbers the specific symbols represent, but if you can figure out this system, it may make it slightly easier for you to follow a couple of the puzzles.
