I was thinking the same, I'm really stretching the brain trying to remember just a handful of events that occurred in the books I played. However WOFTM is burnt onto my memory, but that is because I drew the map and tried to make a Hobbit style adventure based on it. I had some of the creatures wandering around, things inside other objects. Stuff like that.
I collected the first 40 or so, but I think Creature of Havoc (no. 24) was probably the last really good one. CoH was really inventive, ambitious and really, really difficult. I'd like to have another go now I think and see how I got on. I seem to remember it's bugged in some way too.
It felt like CoH was the pinnacle, more like an interactive novel than a gamebook. I'm not sure it was actually even meant to be played, more like read with a couple of fingers remembering where you just came from. It was always upsetting when the paragraph 400 read 'Your quest is complete. You are the hero'. I seem to remember the paragraph 400 for CoH went over several pages.
I'm also struggling to remember any gamebook that came after, except for Slaves Of The Abyss. That was class, and also the only FF book that acknowledged The Riddling Reaver.
I wanted that book when I was younger, never did get it though, I like how it not only had a champion of Good but pitted Balthus Dire, and Zharradan Marr against each other.
2 of the most ruthless (and possibly coolest) mages in all of the series of fantasy based books (Plus a war between the 2 wizards from Citadel of Chaos and Creature of Havoc has the potential to be epic).
Let's hope if they ever did make that open world FF game I've been fantasizing about since I was a teenager they'd touch upon this subject, that'd be mental :D
I'm sure there was one paragraph that only lead to instant death, and if you read the coded language it sent you to another instant death.
I seem to recall that CoH (and possibly some of the other later ones) had some "anti cheat" paragraphs in them. So you'd get something like "If you have the Magic Ring, turn to page 234" at points where you couldn't possibly have the Magic Ring. Following those would initially seem favourable, but ultimately all lead to unavoidable death loops.
Pretty much the most iconic enemies on that cover, but I think I'd have put Zharradan Marr in Razaak's place, and for some reason Zanbar Bone reminds me of Kenneth Williams in that picture? :))
It's excellent. It has a small synopsis of every book, original sketches of some of the illustrations, fag-packet notes on ideas for some of the books, up to date info on some of the Console/PC conversions and just about everything any FF fan could possibly wish for.
I've just looked on Amazon and the paperback is £19.99!!!!! and the hardback is £40 here!!!!
Going back to the Speccy version, I absolutely loved this game too. Well, more of a love hate relationship because you needed about 4 hands to play it properly and it was incredibly fast and frustrating when you ran in to the bad guys.
I loved the way it seemed smarter than other Speccy games of the time. The way the enemy guys/blobs would follow your trail if you ran away and then sometimes start guarding a door you were hidden behind. Probably incredibly simple, but at the time it seemed great compared to monsters that just moved in patterns. Okay, the graphics are rubbish and there's no real sound to speak of, but I enjoyed it. No tips to offer and I never finished it, but I did find the Warlock once I think and he obliterated me instantly. At the time, I'd never seen or heard of Hall Of The Things so I didn't feel too ripped off (bit disappointed it didn't have anything to do with the book though).
I loved the books too, especially the amazing illustrations. Still pick one up whenever I see them lurking in charity shops. WOFM and Fighting Fantasy was probably responsible for sending me into D&D and all that, which I didn't break out of until I discovered girls!
Comments
Jus' sayin' is all :)
I was thinking the same, I'm really stretching the brain trying to remember just a handful of events that occurred in the books I played. However WOFTM is burnt onto my memory, but that is because I drew the map and tried to make a Hobbit style adventure based on it. I had some of the creatures wandering around, things inside other objects. Stuff like that.
@luny@mstdn.games
https://www.luny.co.uk
"Ishtra bursts into your field of vision with the sound of a thunderclap".
"Horfak looks into the Portal, My face what have you done to me?".
"Khuddam Barshak's sword drips venom from it's rip hooks".
"Farrigo Di Maggio!".
"Lies! The Envoy hisses".
"At least unlike you, I am wholesome to look upon".
"Thank you for wearing the Talisman of Ultimate Chaos".
"You killed the Earl of Drummond, but not the MASTER!"
"Kainstrin grabs at the tome Greedily, you can't help feeling like you did something terrible LOSE 2 LUCK POINTS".
...and so on :))
Ekil Erif
Ekam Erif
Erif Erif
Di Maggio
@luny@mstdn.games
https://www.luny.co.uk
You seem to stop at 50! :)
Nice collection..! Minus ten points for storing them upside down though.. :))
Is that the original Sorcery series? The one where the Shamuntanti Hills came in a pack with the separate spellbook (couldn't see it in the pic)?
I bid you portals open wide.
It felt like CoH was the pinnacle, more like an interactive novel than a gamebook. I'm not sure it was actually even meant to be played, more like read with a couple of fingers remembering where you just came from. It was always upsetting when the paragraph 400 read 'Your quest is complete. You are the hero'. I seem to remember the paragraph 400 for CoH went over several pages.
I'm also struggling to remember any gamebook that came after, except for Slaves Of The Abyss. That was class, and also the only FF book that acknowledged The Riddling Reaver.
There's 3 in there at 50+ but they are much harder to come by now and ebay takes all the fun out of collecting.
I did manage to find Blood of the Zombies (terrible book) and the Sorcery Spell Book on a different shelf (with the Lone Wolf books - the shame of it)
Yes, I failed a Skill check with that one didn't I?
Yes, although not from new I'm afraid, it was spell bookless when I got it, that has been remedied since...
I also have a copy of this....
Which is as mad as it is fantastic.
@luny@mstdn.games
https://www.luny.co.uk
2 of the most ruthless (and possibly coolest) mages in all of the series of fantasy based books (Plus a war between the 2 wizards from Citadel of Chaos and Creature of Havoc has the potential to be epic).
Let's hope if they ever did make that open world FF game I've been fantasizing about since I was a teenager they'd touch upon this subject, that'd be mental :D
@luny@mstdn.games
https://www.luny.co.uk
I seem to recall that CoH (and possibly some of the other later ones) had some "anti cheat" paragraphs in them. So you'd get something like "If you have the Magic Ring, turn to page 234" at points where you couldn't possibly have the Magic Ring. Following those would initially seem favourable, but ultimately all lead to unavoidable death loops.
FF JSW:
663.
Step through doorway, fall through gap in floor. Go to 172.
172.
You are falling. Go to 16.
16.
You fall into next room. Go to 72
72.
Hit the ground and die. Go to 432
432.
You are dead. Go to 56.
56. You are resurrected. Go to 172.
@luny@mstdn.games
https://www.luny.co.uk
JSW mods based on FF game books! (In all seriousness!)
=D>
Is it a decent read?
I've just looked on Amazon and the paperback is £19.99!!!!! and the hardback is £40 here!!!!
http://snowbooks.com/products/28570?variant=1278328705
Hmmmm checked creature of Havoc, I can get the newest version new for 74 cents, Or I can get the Puffin version new for $212....
Yowser! :O
I loved the way it seemed smarter than other Speccy games of the time. The way the enemy guys/blobs would follow your trail if you ran away and then sometimes start guarding a door you were hidden behind. Probably incredibly simple, but at the time it seemed great compared to monsters that just moved in patterns. Okay, the graphics are rubbish and there's no real sound to speak of, but I enjoyed it. No tips to offer and I never finished it, but I did find the Warlock once I think and he obliterated me instantly. At the time, I'd never seen or heard of Hall Of The Things so I didn't feel too ripped off (bit disappointed it didn't have anything to do with the book though).
I loved the books too, especially the amazing illustrations. Still pick one up whenever I see them lurking in charity shops. WOFM and Fighting Fantasy was probably responsible for sending me into D&D and all that, which I didn't break out of until I discovered girls!