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JLP Pinball Cards

Tales of the Arabian Nights

Williams 1996 DMD ver:1.4 (October 16th, 1996)
Strategy updated: July 12, 2026

Scoring Exploit: There is a known scoring exploit on the default ROM called the Harem-Genie Stack where the Harem MB frenzy or the 3X Lightning Lamp can be brought into the 2nd phase of Rescue the Princess wizard mode. Because of this TOTAN is best left out of competitive tournament play unless a custom ROM has been installed to address this.

Strategy

Pinball Primer Strategy: Start Lightning Lamp 7 times to boost the spin value. Use Make a wish to select 3X Lightning Lamp, which boosts the Lamp spin value to 600K/spin. Spam the lamp on repeat.

Skill Shot

Skill: Plunge to the hole that corresponds to the basket with the snake in it, shown on the display

Super Skill: After skill shot, one-time the ramp for the Super Skill shot

Key Rules

Genie Tales

  • Hit the Genie in single ball play to start a Tale.

  • Collect the reward Jewel after completing a tale at the ramp, a new tale cannot be started until this is collected.

  • Golden Symbols are at: lower left standup targets, both orbits, the ramp, and the targets behind the lamp

  • Sinbad and the Rocs: shoot the left orbit to hit a bumper

  • Ali Baba: Spell SESAME by collecting letters at the lower left standup targets or the targets behind the lamp

  • Flying Horse: Shoot the Golden Symbol that is hiding the prize to complete

  • Scheherazade: Shoot any Golden Symbol to complete

  • Great Camel Race: Hit any Golden Symbol shot 5 times to complete

  • Forty Thieves: Shoot the ramp to complete, like the other Tales, shoot again to collect the Jewel

  • Cyclops: Shoot either captive ball to complete

Magic Lamp

  • Each spin of the lamp contributes to the lamp counter, except when in Lightning Lamp hurry-up or Genie MB

  • At end of ball, the Lamp Bonus is 10K times the spin counter (max counter is 119)

  • Any spin made while a Genie Tale is running increase the Jewel reward by 10K

  • Every 15 spins a Wish is granted and Lightning Lamps begins

    • During Lightning Lamps, spin the lamp as many times as possible. Each spin resets the 8-second timer. Spin will not be added to the counter when this feature is active

    • To Make a Wish shoot the Bazaar scoop on the right. You are given a choice, left flipper collects a ⭐️jewel, the right flipper is a random award that favors the current situation. Pick the Jewel almost all the time

Genie Multiball (3-ball MB)

  • Hit the Genie 5 times (spelling GENIE) to light the lock at either orbit

  • Lock 2 balls and then shoot the Genie to start MB

  • 1 ball is kicked out from the Bazaar scoop, the other 2 from the lane near the Lamp

  • Shoot the lit Genie to score a Jackpot, to light the Genie shoot the orbit with the flashing lock arrow

  • Shoot the Lamp to increase JP value (spins are not added to the spin counter during MB)

  • MB restart if down to 1 ball and no JP collected is at the Bazaar scoop (20 second timer)

Harem Multiball (3-ball frenzy)

  • Shoot the left orbit to spot HAREM letters when nothing else is lit there, collecting all will start MB

  • Getting a ball in the Harem Sneak-In 3 times will start MB, happens randomly from the pop bumpers

  • During MB, every switch is 10K + 1,000 * number of pop bumpers hits for the game

Fireball

  • Shoot the left saucer (twice initially) to qualify the Fireball Hurry-up.

  • Begin the hurry-up on the ramp, then shoot the Genie to collect

Tiger Loop Combos

  • The inlanes or an unlit orbit will cause an orbit to be lit purple. Loop the orbit for combos

Rescue the Princess (wizard mode)

  • Qualified by completing all 7 Genie Tales, started from Make A Wish selection or shooting the Genie

  • Phase 1: Shoot the Golden Symbol shots (8-10 needed), last shot needs to be an orbit to lock the ball

  • Phase 2: The Princess is pulled between you and the Genie, bring her closer by making Golden Symbol shots. Drained ball will be sent back to the shooter lane. The mode ends when either you (20M) or the Genie capture the Princess.

  • At the end of the wizard mode, win or lose, you go back to single ball play and the game starts over

img_0369.jpeg playfield
Backglass image by Trino7