|
Post by lordomnibok on Jun 28, 2017 12:21:32 GMT
I agree with your reviews Hynreck, but my goodness, the number of potential insta-deaths in The Temple of Flame is mind boggling. The difficulty level in Crypt was beautiful for my taste, but I'm on my sixteenth attempt at Flame and I still haven't made it past the lake. I've avoided cheating so far, but I do hope the next book is more forgiving. (As you said, it is beautifully written & with an exceptional array of different paths for such a slim book, so I will try to persevere without rule bending... but maybe not for much longer)
|
|
|
Post by a moderator on Jun 28, 2017 18:30:14 GMT
The Temple of Flame is the most difficult book in the series. The later ones all have their own challenges, but they're nowhere near as harsh. Have you found the conch shell trumpet yet? If not, how many dice are you using for the PSI rolls against the Smoke Wraiths? Dave Morris has apologised for that bit, and said it should be 2 dice rather than 3 in the comments here.
|
|
|
Post by lordomnibok on Jun 28, 2017 23:10:53 GMT
The Temple of Flame is the most difficult book in the series. The later ones all have their own challenges, but they're nowhere near as harsh. Have you found the conch shell trumpet yet? If not, how many dice are you using for the PSI rolls against the Smoke Wraiths? Dave Morris has apologised for that bit, and said it should be 2 dice rather than 3 in the comments here. Thanks for the response. I purchased the 2013 reprint, which has two dice rolls against the smoke wraiths. They still killed me twice though. I found the trumpet on my last attempt but I didn't have the items to cross the lake. I'm not sure if I'm being daft, unlucky, or if I've just missed some shadowy nook somewhere. It's a brutal book when sticking to the rules but I'm glad to hear the others are not as punishing. I'll give it another shot.
|
|
|
Post by a moderator on Jun 29, 2017 1:52:39 GMT
So long as it's not something that's been changed for the reissue, the following hint might point you in the right direction: Damontir may be mad, but he's not stupid.
|
|
|
Post by hynreck on Jun 29, 2017 12:32:37 GMT
Chin up lordomnibok, I know it's not much consolation, but you have more patience than me. I usually start "adjusting" the rules after my second fail attempt. Sixteen times without cheating? You could have ask me to picture infinity, for all I know.
|
|
|
Post by lordomnibok on Jun 29, 2017 22:32:10 GMT
Thanks Hynrek and Greenspine for the encouragement. I enjoy writing gamebooks myself so I know how much effort goes into creating these things, that's why I usually try to play them as the author intended. I was determined to see if this book could be beaten without cheating. I now know that it can. I actually completed it fairly comfortably once I had figured out how to do it, but it took nineteen attempts compared to Crypt of the Vampire which took me a reasonable six. TOF is well written, has great atmosphere, is adult and wonderfully creative at times, but is unashamedly brutal. I think it might be hard for an author to appreciate how difficult their work is because they already know the optimal route, and it makes me wonder how many legitimate attempts it should take for a reader to complete a gamebook before it can be deemed "too hard"... I guess that's a personal preference? Anyway, I did get a buzz when I finally beat it and I'll be getting the next one, but I might wait for Hynrek's review first. Here's my painful death toll if you are interested to see how badly I did, haha. Attempt 1: Killed near the start by the sentry (absurdly bad luck on the dice!) Attempt 2: Quicksand! Attempt 3: Impaled in the jungle trap Attempt 4: Death by searing energy beam Attempt 5: Death by energy beam (again) Attempt 6: Boiled alive Attempt 7: Crushed by rolling stone Attempt 8: Slain by Smoke Wraiths Attempt 9: Slain by Smoke Wraiths (again) Attempt 10: Could not cross the lake Attempt 11: Squashed by dais Attempt 12: Squashed by dais (again) Attempt 13: Could not cross lake Attempt 14: Suffocated Attempt 15: Could not cross lake Attempt 16: Could not cross lake Attempt 17: Death by quicksand Attempt 18: Detonated & ripped apart Attempt 19: Success (I now need a holiday.)
|
|
|
Post by hynreck on Jun 30, 2017 12:19:15 GMT
Shaken not stirred? Oh wait, I mean very much dead but not stirred.
Well I might have to push myself on writting that review, I started (barely) but work caught up and I'm at rush peak at the moment (work is where I write my reviews, don't tell them).
Also, if memory serves right, after Temple of Flame, the most difficult one should be Eye of the Dragon. It was for me, anyway. Great illustrations, though, if you are into Russ Nicholson!
|
|
|
Post by dragonwarrior8 on Dec 29, 2019 21:26:55 GMT
Only 19 attempts LordOmnibok? I dont think I had even found the conch shell trumpet yet by my 19th attempt. lol. The Temple of Flame is an absolutely beautifully written book. Unfortunately a couple of design decisions detract from it somewhat. As Greenspine pointed out, the means to access the trumpet area is really stupid. Why would you flee from Doom if he is never in danger of beating you? You are supposed to be the greatest warrior in the world are you not?
I also need to ask, is there a way around the Nightmare Guard on the balcony overlooking the room with the screens? This guy gave me no end of grief. He has a 1 in 6 chance of one-hit killing you each time he tags you. On average he would hit me twice every time I met him, therefore one-third of my attempts (more actually, 37%) ended right here. Even FLEEing is instant death! This was incredibly frustrating. I would have thought if there was a way around him I would have found it but maybe not if anyone knows one.
|
|
|
Post by lordomnibok on Dec 31, 2019 19:49:31 GMT
Only 19 attempts LordOmnibok? I dont think I had even found the conch shell trumpet yet by my 19th attempt. lol. The Temple of Flame is an absolutely beautifully written book. Unfortunately a couple of design decisions detract from it somewhat. As Greenspine pointed out, the means to access the trumpet area is really stupid. Why would you flee from Doom if he is never in danger of beating you? You are supposed to be the greatest warrior in the world are you not? I also need to ask, is there a way around the Nightmare Guard on the balcony overlooking the room with the screens? This guy gave me no end of grief. He has a 1 in 6 chance of one-hit killing you each time he tags you. On average he would hit me twice every time I met him, therefore one-third of my attempts (more actually, 37%) ended right here. Even FLEEing is instant death! This was incredibly frustrating. I would have thought if there was a way around him I would have found it but maybe not if anyone knows one. I got to know this book inside out but my memory is now a little patchy and I'm unsure if you actually have to fight the Nightmare Guard. I completed it fairly easily though, once I had pinned down the best route. I agree, beautifully written but extremely tough. I'll keep my walkthroughs for the next books in the series, incase anybody on here has more questions like that.
|
|
vagsancho
Knight
Posts: 809
Favourite Gamebook Series: CRYPT OF THE SORCERER
|
Post by vagsancho on Aug 26, 2020 11:12:44 GMT
Anybody have the solutions to crypt of the vampire?
|
|
|
Post by a moderator on Aug 26, 2020 14:25:15 GMT
While it's not a champskees/johnbrawn1972-style walkthrough, my blog post on the book describes a successful attempt, so it would at least provide guidelines. Then again, Crypt is one of the easier books in the series, so why not try beating it without help?
|
|
|
Post by lordomnibok on Aug 26, 2020 21:20:41 GMT
While it's not a champskees/johnbrawn1972-style walkthrough, my blog post on the book describes a successful attempt, so it would at least provide guidelines. Then again, Crypt is one of the easier books in the series, so why not try beating it without help? I would second what Greenspine said. Great book with a moderate difficulty, so best played without a walkthrough. That said, I always find it enjoyable to check out other people’s attempts after I’ve completed a book, so I’ll check your attempt, Greenspine.
|
|
|
Post by Charles X. on Jul 16, 2021 19:13:55 GMT
My favourite gamebook series. Imo this competitor to Fighting Fantasy often surpasses the original. The writing is pretty atmospheric, the difficulty level is hard but not impossible (take note, Ian Livingstone and Joe Dever!), the system is interesting and works. I think the biggest flaw is they 'quit while they were ahead' with so few books in the series.
|
|
|
Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jul 17, 2021 8:16:20 GMT
My favourite gamebook series. Imo this competitor to Fighting Fantasy often surpasses the original. The writing is pretty atmospheric, the difficulty level is hard but not impossible (take note, Ian Livingstone and Joe Dever!), the system is interesting and works. I think the biggest flaw is they 'quit while they were ahead' with so few books in the series. I liked The Eye of the Dragon best for overall atmosphere, writing, plot and illustrations. The system narrows down the variables (especially for combat) which is a good thing enabling the writers to 'balance' the books. I too would have liked to have seen more books. If they had done more it would have been nice to see them create and flesh out a setting, a world. Because to me the books all feel like one-offs. With FF and Ian Livingstone, you knew fairly early on that there was a setting for the books called Allansia, same with Bloodsword and Lone Wolf.
|
|
|
Post by tyrion on Jul 17, 2021 8:49:53 GMT
I too would have liked to have seen more books. If they had done more it would have been nice to see them create and flesh out a setting, a world. Because to me the books all feel like one-offs. With FF and Ian Livingstone, you knew fairly early on that there was a setting for the books called Allansia, same with Bloodsword and Lone Wolf. Three of them (crypt of the vampire, temple of flame and eye of the dragon) are set in Legend, the same setting as Bloodsword. Curse of the pharaoh and Castle of lost souls could easily be in Legend as well. But they are all set in such different parts of legend that they don't feel connected
|
|
|
Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jul 17, 2021 8:54:54 GMT
I too would have liked to have seen more books. If they had done more it would have been nice to see them create and flesh out a setting, a world. Because to me the books all feel like one-offs. With FF and Ian Livingstone, you knew fairly early on that there was a setting for the books called Allansia, same with Bloodsword and Lone Wolf. Three of them (crypt of the vampire, temple of flame and eye of the dragon) are set in Legend, the same setting as Bloodsword. Curse of the pharaoh and Castle of lost souls could easily be in Legend as well. But they are all set in such different parts of legend that they don't feel connected Thanks for letting me know, tyrion. Maybe I would have got a better 'sense of place' in the books if there had been a map or it had been spelt out more clearly that this was all one world. Or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention!
|
|
|
Post by linflas on Jul 17, 2021 9:53:55 GMT
Dave Morris officially rejected that GD took place in Legend, but why not include them? Achtan is mentioned in 2 GD books and reused as Kurland's capital.
|
|
|
Post by tyrion on Jul 17, 2021 16:07:46 GMT
Dave Morris officially rejected that GD took place in Legend, but why not include them? Achtan is mentioned in 2 GD books and reused as Kurland's capital. He's not, really. At most he has said that they are not set in his version of Legend. Which is different from my version of Legend, which is different from Legend in the rulebook. The Legend of Blood sword gamebooks is even different to Blood sword 5e. That's the thing about Legend - you can do what you want with it. It's not like forgotten realms, where there is a definite timeline, and novels, and modules all built around that.
|
|
|
Post by firebead on Sept 16, 2021 10:25:39 GMT
Having read both the "normal" edition of Crypt of Vampire and the Megara Collector's Edition, I can say that the added sections are of different kinds. A few of them are added at the start, to provide more hints to some of the dangers; most of them are after the Barbarian/Cossack room, and provide a different path to the final part of the adventure. This end part has been substantially augmented, and you have new mandatory rooms to explore before the confrontation with the Count. The real problem is that the insertion of the new path has been badly done. In the original, the par. 202/237 sends to 186, while in the Megara edition it sends to 300. The problem is that many of the items find in this room were used in the original path; now, the original path and the new path are mutually exclusive, so every items found in this room can't be used on the original path. The book can still be completed, even using the old path, but it is now more difficult than ever. The solution to the bug is relatively simple: par. 202/237 must have two exits, one to 186 and one to 300, but this shows how a gamebook is a carefully constructed but very frail house of cards. Just a little change, and everything falls down.
|
|
|
Post by pip on Nov 14, 2022 19:22:51 GMT
I had written a solution for the second book (the original version), but then proboards bugged, I lost my message, and I just don't have it in me to type it all up again, at least not now.
Here are my comments about the second book anyway:
- It's fun. Lots of Indiana Jones references. - It's really hard if you play by the rules. Near the end, there's an encounter with your "Simulacrum" who is just as strong as you are, giving you a 50/50 chance to win from that fight alone, not to mention the other mandatory difficult dice rolls. - It is strange, but immediately fleeing from a certain fight is, by far, the best path.
|
|
|
Post by dragonwarrior8 on Nov 15, 2022 12:58:46 GMT
There is an interesting post from Dave Morris himself (linked above by Greenspine) where he points out how you can increase your odds against the Simulacrum. It took me forever to figure out the fleeing part though.
|
|
|
Post by pip on Nov 15, 2022 13:33:25 GMT
That is indeed clever But if it hadn't been suggested by Dave Morris himself, I'd have wondered if it could count as cheating. I'll have to check how it improves your odds. Edit: it does improve them, although only a little bit. I've revised my solution.
|
|