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Myst V: End of Ages Hints
I've reached the arena, but what is there to do here?
1 of 24: There's only one area where you can interact with anything at first -- go up a set of stairs that lead down to water level, and walk up to a platform where you'll see a stone column and a bunch of buttons and rings.
2 of 24: To be exact, there are 4 similar control stations along the wall behind the column -- each has a single button you can press, with two red circles (possibly covered by lids) above the button. The only difference between the stations is that each button has a different number of circles on it. (The left-hand station is represented by 4 rings, the next one to the right by 3, etc.)
3 of 24: Pressing the button at any of those ringed-stations will change how many red circles will be shown -- it can be 0, 1, or 2. (Just keep pressing the button to cycle through the choices.) You'll also see one big button in the middle of the stations, whose purpose may or may not be obvious at first.
4 of 24: You may recognize those ring symbols from another age. While it's not strictly necessary that you've done so, this is one time where it's slightly easier for you to understand this puzzle and a lot easier for me to explain the concept if you've seen these kinds of series of rings before.
5 of 24: Specifically, you may have seen them on Noloben, where those rings were used in a numbering system. (Stop here if you want to go back to Noloben or solve it for the first time, or else read ahead if you just want this puzzle explained now.)
6 of 24: A symbol with a single ring represents the number 5. Two rings represents the number 10; three rings number 15; and as you can probably guess, four rings means 20. So the stations from left to right seem to be counting something in 20's, 15's, 10's, and 5's.
7 of 24: There's some kind of pressure plate in an alcove on the left side, and a display above the pressure plate -- with rows that seem to match the control stations to your right. That is, the top row counts in 20's, the next row in 15's, then 10's, and 5's.
8 of 24: For example, when you step on the plate while holding your slate, both of the red circles next to the 3-ring symbol appear, and there's 1 red circle next to the single circle. That means you and your slate must weigh 35 (15 * 2 + 5).
9 of 24: You could also drop your slate and weigh again to see that you alone way just 30 (15 * 2, with no red circle on the 5's row).
10 of 24: Maybe that's some kind of clue for this puzzle -- try setting the control panels to match. That is, keep pressing the buttons on each station until there are no 20's (no red circles showing on the left station), two 15's (2 circles on the second station), no 10's (no red circles showing on the third station), and one "5" (one red circle showing on the right-hand station).
11 of 24: Now press the button between the stations, and the stone column should lower, revealing another pedestal.
12 of 24: This would be a good time to put your slate on the pedestal if you haven't already done so. However, just putting your slate on the pedestal doesn't get you anywhere. You usually use pedestals to teleport somewhere out of reach -- but this pedestal is very well within reach.
13 of 24: Remember that the column was raised earlier, when the stations showed a different total. Try different amounts to see what effect each has on the column, and press the central button in the middle of the four stations. (You may notice here that there are different ways to make the same total -- 35 could be made with two 15's and one 5, or 1 20 and 1 15, etc.)
14 of 24: You'll notice that larger numbers raise the pedestal, and smaller numbers lower it. So there's probably some sort of counterweight system here.
15 of 24: Also try looking at the top of the pedestal to see if that's going to get you anywhere even when it is raised. With enough trial and error, you can find out exactly what the counterweights do, or you can just read ahead for the answer.
16 of 24: There's a platform just above where you're standing. Depending on how much weight you've put on the counterweights, the pedestal will be level with the platform or it may be above it.
17 of 24: To make the pedestal line up with the platform, you need to set the counterweights to 45 (or 50 if your slate is on the pedestal). Any lower setting than that, and the pedestal lowers back down to your level. Any higher, and it is raised above the platform. (As before, there are many ways to make 45 -- for example, two 20's and a 5; or two 15's, a 10, and a 5; etc. All that matters is that you find *some* combination that works.)
18 of 24: Also remember that you want to use the pedestal to help you get that upper platform.
19 of 24: So add your weight back in -- which was 35 with the slate or 30 without. (If you're not holding the slate, make sure it's on the pedestal here, and not somewhere else in this age.)
20 of 24: Either way, that gives you a total of 80 for the proper counterweight setting. Set the stations accordingly, and then press the button in between the stations to raise the pedestal.
21 of 24: Now, all that's left is teleporting yourself onto the pedestal on the column.
22 of 24: Go back to the gate area in the canal, and touch the symbol on the pedestal there to return to the start of the age. Then touch the symbol for this pedestal (a circle on a box).
23 of 24: When you do this correctly, as you teleport onto the column, you should start out too high, but your weight will make the pedestal sink just enough so that you're precisely aligned with the platform. You can then step off and explore the rest of the arena area.
24 of 24: If you didn't do this correctly, the column will either sink all the way to the bottom, or else you'll stay up in the air above the platform. Either way, you'll need to get back to the lower area of the arena (teleporting off and then back to the gate outside the arena if you're stuck in the air). Read or re-read the question "Can you just tell me how to set 80 on the panels?" to get the exact correct settings for the control panels and try again.
