Thaumistry: In Charm's WayThaumistry: In Charm's Way

Game Details:  Fantasy, 2017

Links:  Moby Games, Steam, Adventure Gamers

Walkthrough Updated:  10/5/2018

Suggested Listening:  Wild Hearts Meet (Ash 25)

Thaumistry: In Charm's Way is a modern text adventure by Bob Bates, legendary text adventure creator from Infocom and Legend Entertainment. You play as Eric McKnight, a genius inventor as a teenager, but now not as successful as you once were. You now have a short deadline during which you must finish your latest invention, but your scientific mind is confronted by the existence of magic. There are 18 Steam Achievements, all documented in the walkthrough below; these are all gained by casting different spells, not necessarily in the correct situations.

Laboratory

Open the hall door to meet Jack, then talk to him. Ask Jack about himself, then tell him about the magazine. Talk to Jack again, and answer "Yes" to his question. Read the spellbook to see that there is space for 4 letters to appear. Open the fridge and you will get the first letter. Turn on the TV to get the second letter. Open the microwave and look at the block inside to get the third letter. Read the notice to get the final letter. Read the spellbook again, then cast ALTA Rise to New Heights.

Stand on the futon and cast ALTA, but you are still not higher enough. Climb down, then stand on the stool and cast ALTA - you will get the key from the ceiling. Unlock the closet and go east.

Tech Museum

Basement

Examine the exhibit case. Go west and examine the penny, then ask Jack about it. Continue west and you will receive a new spell. Ask Jack about AIRFULLA. Go south and examine the bible. Continue south, then open your spellbook to see you have another new spell. Now head east, then ask Jack about the model. Continue east into the observation room.

Read the card and open your spellbook, then cast AMANA on the can. Now read the next card, open your spellbook and cast AMNESIA on Jack. Read the third card and open your spellbook. Finally, cast ANTARCTICA. You will automatically head north through the door after it opens. Talk to Jack, then go east. Go east after Jack leaves, then press 1.

Level 1

When you arrive, you will automatically learn a new spell, so open your spellbook to have a look. Head north twice, where Jack will meet up with you again. Continue north into Glick Hall. Ask the docent about the Thaumeter and the AquaMotor, then examine the models. Ask about the ceremony, then leave to the south.

Continue south and east twice into an anteroom outside the Investor Lounge. Ask for a schedule, then read it. Return west twice and north twice, then give the schedule to the docent. She will reveal her true identity, and ask you to retrieve a report from inside the Investor Lounge.

Go south twice, east and south into the Mirror Image Booth - Jodi and Jean won't demonstrate their technology until they get another lab coat. Return to the elevator by going north, west, south and east. Press B to return to the basement.

Basement

Go north into the pod. Examine the dial, then set the dial to Zoo. Pull the lever.

The Zoo

Go north to reach the zoo entrance. Read the signpost, then go east to the Reptile House. Look through the window to learn a new spell. Go north into the snake pit. Try to take the lab coat, but the cobra is too fast. Cast ADAGIA on the cobra Slow Dancing, then take the lab coat. From here, go south and west to return to the zoo entrance.

Continue west, but you cannot go any further until power is restored to the Mammal House. Go east and south. Set the dial to Museum, then pull the lever.

Tech Museum

Basement

Go south and east, then up.

Level 1

Head north twice, east and south, and give the lab coat to Jodi. Read the blurb here, then go north, west, south and west into a massage nook. If someone is already getting a massage, wait until they leave. As soon as someone else comes in, take the badge from their coat. Go east, north, east and south. Copy the badge, then return north, west, south and west. Return the investor badge, and wear the duplicate badge.

Now that you have a badge, go north and east twice. Now that you have a badge, Pamela says you can go through, so try to continue east. Now just wait 2 turns, then go east. Take a brochure, then talk t the young investor. Head west 3 times and north, then give the brochure to Mrs Glick.

Next go south and west into an unmarked booth. Read the sticker, then open your spellbook. Talk to the man, then try to sign the NDA, followed by the trade secrets contract. Return east go north to see that Mrs Glick is surrounded by investors and needs some new yarn. Go south twice, east and north into the MediLift Booth. Talk to Malcolm. Now head south and east twice. Tell the young investor about Malcolm, and he will give you a business card. Look at the computer screen, then press any key. Look at your spellbook. Go back to the west twice and north. Give the card to Malcolm. Examine the west wall. Now return to the basement by going south, west, south, east and down.

Basement

Go north, set the dial to Zoo, and pull the lever.

The Zoo

Go north and west, then cast ALVA on the box Power to the People. Go west into the Mammal House. There is a sign behind the brown camelid, but you cannot read it completely. Continue west. Take the blowpipe and a pellet from the bowl, then load the blowpipe. Go south, but it is dark in the closet, so return north and east. Shoot the blowpipe at the brown animal, then read the sign to learn a new spell. Cast ALPACA Nose of the Camel - you will end up with a ball of yarn. Return east twice. Drop the blowpipe, then go south. Set the dial to Museum, then pull the lever.

Tech Museum

Basement

Go south and east, then up.

Level 1

Head north 3 times, then give the yarn to Mrs Glick. Go south and Jack will tell you that you can travel more places in the pod now. Continue south, then go west. Head north to the Shapeshifter Booth and read the blurb, then talk to Bruce, who will give you a five dollar bill and ask you to buy a pizza. Go south and west into the Quantum Leaps Booth, then read the whiteboard and the blurb. Talk to Skeez. Head east and then south into the Tanglewords Booth. Return north and look at the coconuts, then try to take a coconut.

Now go east and south twice. Talk to the young man, then try to talk to the dog. Bark, wag your tail, then play dead and the invisible dog will give you an invisible ball. Continue south and try to buy a pizza slice, but the vendor cannot open the tin of anchovies and therefore won't sell you a pizza slice. Cast ANACONDA on the can My Main Squeeze, then buy a pizza slice (you will also end up with a quarter in change).

Go north 3 times and west. Throw your ball at the target, but it doesn't have enough force. Examine the exhibits, then put your ball in the pitching gun. Shoot the ball at the target, and you will see a new spell. Head north and give the pizza to Bruce, who has now got his machine working again. Return to the basement by going south, east, south, east and down.

Basement

Go north and examine the dial to see that there are new destinations. Go to the station.

Pennsylvania Station

Look at the board to learn a new spell. Try to go north, but the Boxcar Bar and Grill isn't open. Cast ALCATRAZA on the Boxcar Bar and Grill Breaking Out and Breaking In, then go north. Examine the grill-top and then the tools, and you will learn another spell. Return south, then try to go west. Read the notice, then return east. Go to the financial district.

Financial District

Examine the cop's bullhorn to learn a new spell, then return south and go back to the museum.

Tech Museum

Basement

Go east, then up.

Level 1

Head north, east and north into the MediLift Booth. Cast AMPLIA on the west wall Can You Hear Me Now?. Read the blurb, then stand on the right platform and press the button. Now cast ACELA on the machine Go, Speed Racer. Stand on the right platform and press the button again to end up in the Waterstone Booth. Read the blurb, then pick up a rock. Try to leave by going west, but Ardai won't let you take a rock with you. Drop the rock and head west - as you leave, you will receive a wristband, and a message from Jack.

Walk south and west twice to the Quantum Leaps Booth. Pick up the envelope and open it, then read the writing. Put the envelope back on the seat, but you will lose the spell because the envelope was damaged on opening. Head east 3 times to the Hall of Transportation. Examine the blimp, car, chariot and steamboat. Talk to the tour guide. Cast AMPLIA on the tour guide, then talk to her to learn a new spell. Return west 3 times. Pick up the envelope, cast ADELA on the envelope Get Steamy, read the writing, close the envelope, and put it back on the seat - you will now keep the spell you read in the envelope.

Go east 5 times to return to the Investor Lounge. Examine the vending machine, then cast ACERTA on the vending machine Order Out of Chaos. Examine the dial, then set the dial to gum. Insert your quarter in the machine and you will get some gum (and the quarter again). Head west 4 times and north. Put the gum in the ship and you will get a mug. Now go south, east, north and east again. Put the mug under the spigot, then pick up a rock and put it in the machine - you will get a mug of water, and a request from Ardai to help him.

Go west, south and east 3 times. Sit at the table, but you won't be allowed. Examine the investors, then examine the pins. Ask the young investor about the pins, and you will receive a ticket. Next go west 3 times and north twice. Put your water into the AquaMotor, but it still won't work. Ask Sarah about the AquaMotor. Now head south 3 times, east and down.

Basement

Go north, then go to the convention center.

Convention Center

Head west to the lobby and show your ticket to the usher, then continue north. Cast ALOHA Surf's Up to light the coals. Now cast ASBESTA Can't Touch This and walk on the coals. Return south and east twice, then go to the museum.

Basement

Go east, then up.

Level 1

Head north, then east 3 times. Now sit at the table. Listen 5 times. Go west 3 times, north and east and talk to Ardai to receive a trinket. Head west and you will learn a new spell. Continue south twice, east and down.

Basement

Go north, then go to the zoo.

Zoo

Head west 3 times and south into the closet. Cast AURA This Little Light of Mine. Get the hood, then go north and east. Put the hood on the llama, then take the salt lick. Continue east twice and south, then go to the museum.

Museum

Basement

Go east, then up.

Level 1

Head north 3 times. Put the salt lick into the AquaMotor. Examine the blocker to learn a new spell. Go south twice, west and south to the Tanglewords Booth and cast ARETHA R.E.S.P.E.C.T.. Return north, east and north twice and show the card to Sarah. Ask Sarah for the photograph. Go south 3 times, east and down.

Basement

Go north, then go to the station.

Pennsylvania Station

Slide the photo under the door, then ask about Henry and about the photo (you will learn a new spell). Go east twice, then go to the financial district.

Financial District

Cast AMPHORA One Grecian Urn, then head north. Try to go west, then read the sign. Ask the guard to push the buzzer, but he ignores you. Cast ACELA on the line, then wait twice and the line will disappear. Now ask the guard to push the buzzer. Head west into the Stock Exchange Museum. Examine the bell, ticker and case. Try to take the certificate. Cast ADELA on the glue, then take the certificate. Go east and south twice, then go to the station.

Pennsylvania Station

Go west and give the certificate to Theo, then ask about the blocker. Go east twice, then go to the museum.

Museum

Basement

Go east, then up.

Level 1

Head north to the Rotunda. Cast AIRFULLA on the balloon Pump You Up. Now go south, east, up and north to the balcony, and jump on the moose. Get the key. Wait 3 times, then go north twice. Put the key in the keyhole, then take the battery. Cast ALCATRAZA on the cage. Examine the Thaumeter, then cast ANAMNESIA on Sarah Forget Me Not. Finally cast AYKROYDIA twice Crossing the Streams. Wait twice, then go south, east and down.

Basement

Go north, then go to the IncuLab.

Laboratory

Answer Jack's question with either Yes or No.