Attached Link: Old thread - Soft shadow no go

I have had this problem too and I remember reading there is a fix for it as a known Bryce bug.  I've not tried using soft shadows again since reading this thread but still bear it in mind for if I try again.  I'm afraid my system is just not powerful enough to cope with the soft shadows.  The simplest of renders end up taking days and days let alone the kind of complexity I usually go for :S