Starting up the Game[edit]
After turning on the game, the first thing to do is to choose a slot to save your adventure in. You are given three save slots. Choosing an adventure log that already has saved data in it will allow you to start from where you previously saved, or delete the adventure log. If there is no saved data, you will have to begin a new quest. Select an adventure log, name your character, and choose his or her gender. Your gender will only affect the types of equipment you can use, so don't worry so much about it. After selecting a gender, select a message speed you'd like. The fastest setting, 1, is recommended.
Saving the Game[edit]
To save the game, visit a House of Healing and speak with the man inside. Houses of Healing are designated by a pentagram symbol inside buildings. Select "Save" when you speak with the man to save the game. As everyone knows, saving the game is important because saving will prevent you from losing your progress when you turn off the power. The game will prompt you at certain points to save the game, but this happens only on a few occasions. Save whenever it's possible!
The Chapter System[edit]
Dragon Warrior IV is split into five distinct chapters, with the first four featuring new characters, locations, and stories. Eventually, these stories intertwine into the fifth chapter, where you control the Hero as he or she gathers these characters to save the world. Because these characters meet up again in the end, certain things carry over from the first four chapters to the fifth chapter. Here is what carries over between the two:
| What? | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Character statistics, including his or her level and abilities | X | |
| Ordinary items | X | |
| Equipment | X | |
| Certain rare items | X | |
| Casino tokens | X | |
| Gold on hand | X | |
| Small medals | X |
It is important to note that gold is not just lost when transferring to Chapter 5, but it's also lost when transferring from one chapter to the other. Because you will lose all your gold when starting a new chapter, you should spend your gold on the best weapons and armor money can buy at the end of each chapter. If you're a casino junkie, you should also consider investing gold into casino tokens. Casino tokens become expensive in Chapter 5, so spending money at the casino in Chapters 2 and 3 are also good ideas.