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Post by deadshadowrunner on Aug 18, 2016 7:12:59 GMT
A rather simple puzzle. Each letter is represented by a hyphen. The letters at the end of a word or name are the same as the letters at start of the next. The brackets tell you which. May your puzzle skill never fail! I shall send you on the first (step) of your journey. Step--- (-(---) : An FF author or illustrator (----) -- ---(--) : A nickname for an FF villain (--)-(--) : A barbarian (--)-----(--) : Leader of a group of huntresses (--)--(-) : Warlock who steals a powerful object (-)--(---) : A type of longsword (---)-(---) : Kingdom in the Old World (---)--- ------- : An FF author or illustrator Bonus puzzle: Which of these books does the puzzle above reference? Masks of Mayhem Midnight Rogue Master of Chaos Moonrunner Magehunter answers in CAPS: stephen HAND HAND of deaTH THrOM OMorphiNA NAzeK KatANA ANAlAND ANDrew chapman no idea what the Bonus puzzle is about. Your solutions are all correct. I guess the puzzle setting baton shall be passed to you now. As for the bonus puzzle, I'll just leave a hint for now: An apparent mistake in my original puzzle may not be what it seems. Meanwhile, go ahead and set your puzzle first sylas. I'm looking forward to it
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 18, 2016 18:53:06 GMT
Just made this up since I didn't have a puzzle made so it'll likely be a piece of cake.
The Elven art of dream-control is harder to master than first thought, at least for your amateur mind. You are walking on a beach when a shadow comes over and you instinctively change the scenario. When your vision clears, you are unsure of whether you are in the dream world or reality. Whichever it is, your new surroundings have become horrifying. All around you, the walls are soft and fleshy, pulsating and lined with veins. From the contours and the hole ahead, it doesn’t take long for you to realise you are inside a creature’s stomach. You panic. It will only be a matter of time before you are digested.
But then you spot the remains of three creatures nearby: a short humanoid body whose head and feet have been bitten clean off; the next is large and serpentine but it too has its heads missing; lastly is a bony spider-like thing but less than half of it is left. The more you ponder, the more you reckon that these are clues created by your mind – you are still dreaming. Identifying each one will help you recognise what beast you have appeared in. If you can work that out, your mind will have control again for you to flip reality back into the real world and escape before your mind is lost in this nightmare of your own creation.
But what exactly are they? What creature have you been swallowed by?
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 22, 2016 23:39:34 GMT
oh no, is this too hard again? discussion will eventually lead to the answer but too silent.
Hint: What needs to be done is first try to identify each creature. Clues are in the words describing them. Write them down then work out which letters are not needed. What remains is the solution.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Aug 23, 2016 1:06:00 GMT
I was just considering this when you posted (but not getting far). At that point I was thinking that a snake with multiple heads must be a hydra, but maybe if the 'heads' are symbolic that doesn't hold...? I was also wondering whether the boney spider thing might be the skull beast from KotLL. So do I understand that the creature you're inside might be starting 'war' or 'nom' (for a dwarf or gnome with 'missing head and feet')? Is any of this on the right track? I'm liking it anyway – it's reminded me of scenes from the ITV children's TV classic Knightmare:
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 23, 2016 17:33:37 GMT
I was just considering this when you posted (but not getting far). At that point I was thinking that a snake with multiple heads must be a hydra, but maybe if the 'heads' are symbolic that doesn't hold...? I was also wondering whether the boney spider thing might be the skull beast from KotLL. So do I understand that the creature you're inside might be starting 'war' or 'nom' (for a dwarf or gnome with 'missing head and feet')? A lot of this is correct. Not a Skullbeast though and no symbolism.
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Aug 24, 2016 4:11:49 GMT
I'm thinking that the serpentine thing is a hydra but without its heads it becomes a "dra" and for the spiderlike thing it is a gonchong but less than half of it remains so it becomes just a "gon" so it is a "dragon" when you combine it. If so then just the first part remains.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 24, 2016 15:50:11 GMT
War Dragon is the correct answer.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 26, 2016 15:05:40 GMT
Your turn deadshadowrunner
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Aug 27, 2016 14:28:35 GMT
I'm out of inspiration, as well as time, lately. Anyone else want to take up the mantle?
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on Aug 27, 2016 22:49:48 GMT
Can we have something like what keys do you need to win TWOFM rather than disprove Einstein's general theory of relativity?
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 27, 2016 23:35:01 GMT
Can we have something like what keys do you need to win TWOFM rather than disprove Einstein's general theory of relativity? i'm afraid that would be a Question and a Spoiler not a Puzzle.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Aug 28, 2016 1:18:36 GMT
In the interests of keeping things moving, here's a re-post from memory of the first puzzle I posted over on TUFFF:
In one of the FF books a natural phenomenon is bound up with two enemies that are impossible to beat through normal combat. It is the cause of one becoming invincible and the way the other is defeated.
Explain all.
...and John the natural phenomenon is not gravitational waves, I promise.
(When I first posted it, during a bout of insomnia, I thought it was mildly tricky, but Falling Mast had solved it perfectly by the time I got up for breakfast less than 3 hours later.)
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on Aug 28, 2016 20:46:15 GMT
Is it something to do with the Galehorn blowing the Earth Serpent off the ground in the Seven Serpents?
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Aug 29, 2016 11:16:25 GMT
No, afraid not. It's not in Sorcery.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 29, 2016 15:04:47 GMT
is it something to do with Air and Earth Elementals?
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Aug 29, 2016 18:08:32 GMT
No.
A clue: They have masks in common. One of them wears a mask; the other you encounter when looking for a mask.
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Aug 30, 2016 14:11:20 GMT
It's been a while since I read the book, but I'm pretty sure you are talking about Conrad being invincible thanks to lightning while the Obsidian Creature is killed by lightning. Although I'm not entirely sure if it is the Obsidian Creature or not...
I sure hope I'm wrong though! Not sure if I can come up with another puzzle but I'll try.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Aug 30, 2016 14:35:25 GMT
It's been a while since I read the book, but I'm pretty sure you are talking about Conrad being invincible thanks to lightning while the Obsidian Creature is killed by lightning. Although I'm not entirely sure if it is the Obsidian Creature or not... I sure hope I'm wrong though! Not sure if I can come up with another puzzle but I'll try. Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you're absolutely right. Conrad Zaar gets struck by lightning after you defeat him the first time and becomes the maniac guard. People think the face mask is a tribute to Hallowe'en I believe. The Obisian Predator with its impenetrable metal skin is guarding the Mask of Belthegor. Both are in Moonrunner. It strikes me that 'jump around avoiding your opponent and hope they get struck by lightning' must be one of the most desperate strategies in all of FF.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Sept 2, 2016 13:29:03 GMT
As DSR doesn't have any enthusiasm for setting a puzzle atm, I'll throw an easy one into the mix to keep things moving (assuming no objections, especially from DSR...?).
Name two weapons with celestial bodies in their names. (I have two in mind, but anything that clearly matches those criteria will count.)
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on Sept 2, 2016 20:30:59 GMT
The sun jewel thingy from Sorcery which is acquired from the Mantis Man and is highly useful at the start of The Seven Serpents.
The star disc from Caverns Of The Snow Witch.
I realise these answers are a bit of a reach.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Sept 3, 2016 0:02:51 GMT
The sun jewel thingy from Sorcery which is acquired from the Mantis Man and is highly useful at the start of The Seven Serpents. The star disc from Caverns Of The Snow Witch. I realise these answers are a bit of a reach.They're good enough for me. Neither were the ones I was thinking of, which were both swords: Nightstar in VotV and less obviously the Moon Sword in MoC. Your turn, John. Something from a book or books with numbered paragraphs, not including Wittgenstein's Tractatus. (This is probably an obvious question, but as I've never actually owned Caverns: What exactly is a star-shaped disc? Shouldn't it be disc-shaped to be a disc?)
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on Sept 3, 2016 13:11:05 GMT
It might be a day or two before I have a puzzle because I must clear some space on my Humax box to tape Avengers Assemble in HD while tomorrow it is off to the parents for tea. I have annual leave this week so I will think of something. Most probably it will be something on the easy side because I only own about 25% of the books.
Maybe I should ask something simple like explain why the theory of types is the best worst solution to the problems raised by Principia Mathematica.
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Sept 4, 2016 8:59:35 GMT
As DSR doesn't have any enthusiasm for setting a puzzle atm, I'll throw an easy one into the mix to keep things moving (assuming no objections, especially from DSR...?). Name two weapons with celestial bodies in their names. (I have two in mind, but anything that clearly matches those criteria will count.) Apologies, I've been short of time lately, but I finally came up with one. I'll file that away the next time I manage to solve a puzzle.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,677
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Sept 12, 2016 15:02:46 GMT
since no one's continued, i think it's safe to say that you can post your puzzle now DSR.
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Sept 14, 2016 11:10:44 GMT
Sure. So the story behind this was that I shamelessly stole TAM's puzzle made something you could call an "expansion pack" to TAM's original puzzle. Because, you know, I was out of ideas. Hope you don't mind, TAM. Anyway, without further ado, here it is. Opening your mailbox, a torrent of envelopes spill out onto the floor. You gather them all up, but after opening them, you realise all of them are exactly the same. All 44 of them. They are from your friend Sid, who tells you to "ignore all duplicate letters" and something about "under mat" and "apfis nev". But the main message from his letter is to invite you over to his house. Apparently he has something amazing to show you. Strangely, he signs off as "The Big Bad". Still, you have come to understand that strange is the norm with Sid who is utterly obssessed with Fighting Fantasy. Hence, you drive over to his house but accidentally key in the co-ordinates wrongly, causing some unexpected delays.
You visit your friend Sid who is utterly obsessed with Fighting Fantasy. Before you go round to his house he tells you that the key is 'under mat' but it's not – and he won't open the door until you yell 'apfis nev' through the letterbox. Oh entering the house you are startled twice. Firstly because a wall is sculpted in such a way that a skeleton appears to be emerging from it. Secondly because Sid's cat is clad in close-fitting mini jersey which makes it look like it is covered in many extra eyes. Poor kitty. Sid also insisted that you bring a can of Heinz baked beans, and refuses to let you into the kitchen until you tell him that the number on it is '57'. Once inside, you are relieved when he offers you tea (rather than, say, a gloopy red wine, or cheese with white wine) and that it seems to be ordinary tea with ordinary milk (albeit served in antique goblets). But then Sid goes over to a hole in the wall just above the unit top and taps on the wall. You hear a scuffling sound from within the wall cavity. What happens next? Warning: Part ahead contains spoilers to TAM's original puzzle. A mouse with sugar cubes attached to its tail comes running out.Sid plucks them off and drops them into your tea. "Go on! Drink it!" He exclaims enthusiastically. You eye it uncertainly, but go ahead and drink-- and promptly spit it out. There are rat hairs in it! "Sorry, must have overlooked that. Why don't you wash the cup while I clean up the mess?" You mutter angrily to yourself as you head towards the sink. What happens next?
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Sept 16, 2016 21:19:55 GMT
Sure. So the story behind this was that I shamelessly stole TAM's puzzle made something you could call an "expansion pack" to TAM's original puzzle. Because, you know, I was out of ideas. Hope you don't mind, TAM. Anyway, without further ado, here it is. Opening your mailbox, a torrent of envelopes spill out onto the floor. You gather them all up, but after opening them, you realise all of them are exactly the same. All 44 of them. They are from your friend Sid, who tells you to "ignore all duplicate letters" and something about "under mat" and "apfis nev". But the main message from his letter is to invite you over to his house. Apparently he has something amazing to show you. Strangely, he signs off as "The Big Bad". Still, you have come to understand that strange is the norm with Sid who is utterly obssessed with Fighting Fantasy. Hence, you drive over to his house but accidentally key in the co-ordinates wrongly, causing some unexpected delays.
You visit your friend Sid who is utterly obsessed with Fighting Fantasy. Before you go round to his house he tells you that the key is 'under mat' but it's not – and he won't open the door until you yell 'apfis nev' through the letterbox. Oh entering the house you are startled twice. Firstly because a wall is sculpted in such a way that a skeleton appears to be emerging from it. Secondly because Sid's cat is clad in close-fitting mini jersey which makes it look like it is covered in many extra eyes. Poor kitty. Sid also insisted that you bring a can of Heinz baked beans, and refuses to let you into the kitchen until you tell him that the number on it is '57'. Once inside, you are relieved when he offers you tea (rather than, say, a gloopy red wine, or cheese with white wine) and that it seems to be ordinary tea with ordinary milk (albeit served in antique goblets). But then Sid goes over to a hole in the wall just above the unit top and taps on the wall. You hear a scuffling sound from within the wall cavity. What happens next? Warning: Part ahead contains spoilers to TAM's original puzzle. A mouse with sugar cubes attached to its tail comes running out.Sid plucks them off and drops them into your tea. "Go on! Drink it!" He exclaims enthusiastically. You eye it uncertainly, but go ahead and drink-- and promptly spit it out. There are rat hairs in it! "Sorry, must have overlooked that. Why don't you wash the cup while I clean up the mess?" You mutter angrily to yourself as you head towards the sink. What happens next? I'm quite chuffed to see Sid returning in someone else's puzzle. Not much idea what the answer is though. I suppose it depends on whether the thing that happens is to do with the sink or the cleaning up. Would Sid have a special use for mouse hair? Or is there something to do with Sky Lord taps involved? (I don't own that book but something from someone's playthrough about deciding whether to look at the glass tap or the plastic one, (but then suddenly inexplicably losing interest in both and having to leave) sticks in the mind.)
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Sept 17, 2016 2:16:41 GMT
Neither Sky Lord nor mouse hair are featured in the answer. Mostly the clues are found in part one. Also, it's not so much about where the water comes from but where it goes when you on the tap.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Sept 19, 2016 14:20:13 GMT
I'm struggling a bit here. Probably there's a book involved that I'm not very familiar with. My first thought was that perhaps the sink had an alarming whirlpool in it, which might refer to a few different FF books (though none I can think of offhand). Then I wondered if there was something about the pipes - something like a particularly spectacular set of intricate coloured pipes. I think there's something like that in some book, but again I can't pin it down. Then I thought that perhaps the recalling of Portal mentions in the first bit was significant. Dismissing the idea that the sink could contain something resembling a portal, I wondered whether it was always full of water with just an overflow pipe high up the side, with something resembling gold nuggets submerged there. (Presumably not real gold - pebbles with water-resistant gold paint or something.) Are any of these ideas less wrong than the others? I'm quite pleased with the versatility of these Sid-style puzzles actually. There are so many ways to be stupid and wrong.
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Post by deadshadowrunner on Sept 20, 2016 10:06:36 GMT
I'm struggling a bit here. Probably there's a book involved that I'm not very familiar with. My first thought was that perhaps the sink had an alarming whirlpool in it, which might refer to a few different FF books (though none I can think of offhand). Then I wondered if there was something about the pipes - something like a particularly spectacular set of intricate coloured pipes. I think there's something like that in some book, but again I can't pin it down. Then I thought that perhaps the recalling of Portal mentions in the first bit was significant. Dismissing the idea that the sink could contain something resembling a portal, I wondered whether it was always full of water with just an overflow pipe high up the side, with something resembling gold nuggets submerged there. (Presumably not real gold - pebbles with water-resistant gold paint or something.) Are any of these ideas less wrong than the others? I'm quite pleased with the versatility of these Sid-style puzzles actually. There are so many ways to be stupid and wrong. I am quite certain that you know the book, or at least own it. The whirlpool part is somewhat correct, but it is not really a whirlpool, but something that is like a whirlpool. Nothing about pipes. Nothing about Portal either. Just wanted to create some continuity. I believe you may be overthinking things here. Tbh, this is quite a shallow puzzle. Just remember, every detail I right is important (except the Portal thing). Piece everything together and you will be on the right track. Even the second paragraph that seems meaningless can point you in the right direction.
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Post by a moderator on Sept 20, 2016 15:17:14 GMT
44 envelopes - a pointer to gamebook 44, Legend of the Shadow Warriors? That has some stuff about needing to find where the villain is, which might tie in with the wrong coordinates bit.
I've never made it to the endgame of LotSW, though, so even if I'm on the right track, I've gone as far as I can. Stupid Nightmare Master and his rotten dream maze of arbitrary Instant Deathiness...
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