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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:46:58 GMT
From TUFFF... Another book I never got when I was young. No special reasons why, except probably that I had to make a choice, once more, because otherwise this book is right up my fantasy alley. The cover ain't bad looking, if a little too brownish/beige for my taste (on my tattered used-book cover the Golem is nearly hard to discern...) and inside illos are once more superb work from the talented Russ Nicholson. What's not to like? Well... First and foremost I did liked the book, indeed. I really did enjoy it. But it made me raise a few eyebrows on my face, about half a dozen, I believe, sometimes all at once. Some of the problems have already been pointed out by members of this board: like the unfair difficulty of the book, a somewhat recurring problem in the FF world. The main path is very narrow with many important items to pick up, and while the shopping list is not as severe as a Livingstone book, like say, Trial of Champions, the chances of missing some important items, like the Orb, or dying while trying to obtain one, like the one hidden in the mine, are way too high. There's no brain-twisting puzzle like in Rebel Planet, luckily, because with those odds the chances of success are already low as it is. And even though there's no Deus Ex Machina intervention like in RP, there are still moments that are absolutely implausible or cruel, like the aformentioned Orb. Really, a clue could have been nice, instead of relying on some unrelated action and a bit of luck.
I'm not sure if author Robin Waterfield was going for laziness or cruelty when he devised that part of the book. Story-wise, even though it makes sense plot-wise it's still absolutely baffling on how a King would just go on an adventure like that. No bodyguards, no guides, no special equipments (certainly no kingly equipments beside that all important hat), no god-damn gold pieces. Seriously? It's a big wtf right there if you ask me. But beside that, I did enjoy the story, the set-pieces and the more or less predictable plot-twist. I did thought that the end felt rushed and anti-climactic after all the dangerous trek through the wildlands beforehand. Morgana's lair is very small and the all so important Golems are not very present except for one quick scene that will either spell quick doom for you or an easy victory. With such a cover, I expected to meet quite a few in battle...
Plus, I understand the need for secrecy as to not spoil the ending and its mysterious guest, but it could have use a bit more development, frankly. I didn't thought an ending could be shorter than the one for Space Assassin, but this one is. After all the hard work, getting such an ending is a bit like getting a bunch of apples on Halloween, who wants that? I'd like to feel good, please! Speak in extremes, it will save you time.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:50:16 GMT
From TUFFF... First time I picked this up, I had to struggle just to get past the background section.
"The power of everything is bound in twelve sigils". Ok, everything in what sense? You're not gonna tell?
"Morgana has made masks of these sigils and fitted them onto undead golems in order to conquer the world (Of course!)". What? Undead golems? How can golems be undead? So are these sigils some special symbols, or are they specific objects? The only clue we get is a bard with one of the sigil branded onto his forehead. So how come we have never heard of this in any of the other books?
I was baffled by this as a tween, and i'm baffled by it at the age of 26.
I would eventually force myself to complete it, which I managed to, but I never really enjoyed it.
First time i got to the golems, i was hoping i would get to see what their powers where all about. Nope, i just got tenderised.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:51:33 GMT
From TUFFF... A Sigil is basically a symbol used for a magical purpose. Undead golems will probably be Flesh Golems. (Are these classable as undead?) I do like this book but it's unnecessarily difficult and like you say, missing a lot of important details that may have propelled this book higher up the ranks rather than lingering in the Average area. Two Words
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:52:27 GMT
From TUFFF... Another of the sigils is shown on your helmet, and a hard-to-spot third one appears above the door in the picture of the mad old woman outside the hut (can't be more specific right now, as I don't have the book to hand). And there's the one depicted on the cover.
The others can be deduced using the principles outlined in the conversation with Vashti, IIRC.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:53:16 GMT
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:55:06 GMT
From TUFFF... Actually, looking at the twelve sigils (I drew that picture in Word by the way!), it occurs to me that the mirror images of the two asymmetrical sigils (7 and 8; I like to think of them as the 'Sigils of Ultimate Chaos') can't be derived from them by rotating them (as the mirror images of all the other sigils can be), since they are asymmetrical. Does this mean that the mirror images of 7 and 8 count as different sigil possibilities - and meaning that there are in fact 14 possible combinations? [/a][/quote]
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:57:07 GMT
From TUFFF... I guess you will have to track down Robin Waterfield and make him talk Apart from that, i was rather wondering as to what these sigils control or represent.
We are given a few hints, such as one sigil belonging to the king, another belonging to bards, but this isn't really enough to satisfy me.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:58:16 GMT
From TUFFF... I guess you will have to track down Robin Waterfield and make him talk No doubt we'll try when the magazine gets around to interviewing him! (328) Despite your best efforts, you find yourself decaying in front of a computer screen. Your adventure ends here.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 22:59:40 GMT
From TUFFF... The outset of this adventure is disputable. The ruler of a small kingdom on a self-discovery trip...
...but nonetheless it features two cracking good episodes: The hazardous excursion into the old copper mine and the long journey through the Pikestaff Plain.
All the time I have great memories about an ore nugget that makes the farmer very happy and following an ant trail that leads to the biggest treasure I have ever seen. Halt, or I shall loose an arrow at you.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:01:20 GMT
From TUFFF... Undead golems will probably be Flesh Golems. (Are these classifiable as undead?) Hmm, dunno, but they are referred to specifically as "Creatures of stone" in the background.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:01:53 GMT
From TUFFF... A flesh golem would be either a zombie or mummy or whatever The more beautiful and pure FF is – the more satisfying it is to corrupt it.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:03:50 GMT
From TUFFF... One of the worst possible FF ever, it's so lame I don't even remember what the goddam plot is about, except for the name of the traitor Aka Ranth --> à quarante (turn to 40) lol.... sorry about the spoiler but it only works with the French version anyway.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:05:06 GMT
From TUFFF... One of the worst possible FF ever, it's so lame I don't even remember what the goddam plot is about, except for the name of the traitor Aka Ranth --> à quarante (turn to 40) lol.... sorry about the spoiler but it only works with the French version anyway. In Portuguese it's "Euquar Ental" (quarenta = 40). Bring Stephen Hand back to FF!
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:06:22 GMT
From TUFFF... In German he changed his number: Isieb Zigor (Siebzig=70).
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:07:01 GMT
From TUFFF... Seems like the French have the hardest time with his name, since it's not even spelt the same way as the number! I actually like Masks' plot, though I wish Robin had written a little more drama to the confrontation with Morgana and the Traitor (not to mention the "all powerful golems" who are dealt with pretty easily). Could have made a fairly dull book that much better.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:08:39 GMT
From TUFFF... I actually like Masks' plot, though I wish Robin had written a little more drama to the confrontation with Morgana and the Traitor (not to mention the "all powerful golems" who are dealt with pretty easily). Could have made a fairly dull book that much better. Yes, I thought the journey was quite entertaining, but the ending is lacking. Shame. Speak in extremes, it will save you time.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:10:24 GMT
From TUFFF... Yes, I thought the journey was quite entertaining... I agree. Halt, or I shall loose an arrow at you.
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:10:52 GMT
From TUFFF... Hands up all those who, at the end of the British version, turned to paragraph 49...
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Oct 20, 2013 23:11:42 GMT
Hands up all those who, at the end of the British version, turned to paragraph 49... *Symm holds his hand up* Halt, or I shall loose an arrow at you.
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Post by a moderator on Nov 24, 2013 16:53:17 GMT
Salvaged from the 'Books in Order' thread:
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vagsancho
Knight
Posts: 809
Favourite Gamebook Series: CRYPT OF THE SORCERER
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Post by vagsancho on Jul 26, 2015 14:38:20 GMT
A very special book to me. One of the best in terms of Atmosphere. I so strongly feel it. From a long distance, the Waterfield's Masterpiece. Certainly in my top 10.
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vagsancho
Knight
Posts: 809
Favourite Gamebook Series: CRYPT OF THE SORCERER
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Post by vagsancho on Jul 26, 2015 17:24:35 GMT
From TUFFF... and inside illos are once more superb work from the talented Russ Nicholson. I am not a "fan" of Russ Nichosson. I never was. I like Iain McCaig.
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Post by hynreck on Jul 27, 2015 15:55:57 GMT
I bet you think the last paragraph is a masterpiece, unequaled in brievety, except perhaps by Space Assassin. Probably the very best in the universe and the nearest parallel dimension, or something. For not liking Russ Nicholson all I can say: it's a shame. But Iain McCaig is indeed excellent. No hyperbole needed.
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vagsancho
Knight
Posts: 809
Favourite Gamebook Series: CRYPT OF THE SORCERER
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Post by vagsancho on Jul 30, 2015 17:03:14 GMT
This book is tremendous to me. In terms of feeling it, it is only won by the supreme FF books. Undoubtedly a magical book to me. With a good paragraph 400 it would be even much more.
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Post by stevendoig on Aug 24, 2015 21:20:25 GMT
I'm feeling my copy of Masks Of Mayhem now. Like all my FF books it has that annoying crumpled bit on the cover due to flicking the pages and all that. Perhaps that is where the magic leaked out as my copy seems to be lacking in undoubted magic at the moment. My paragraph 400 is especially good though.
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nicodemus
Squire
Posts: 20
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy and Sorcery!
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Post by nicodemus on Aug 24, 2015 22:42:01 GMT
How can you not like Russ Nicholson vagsancho? He is one of the best in the FF world, if not the best. Along with Ian Miller, John Blanche and Alan Langford. These are the best illustrators in the FF series. Ian McCaig is good, but his art cannot surpass the unique style and detail of Russ Nicholson, he has defined and encapsulate the mysticism in the universe of FF. I remember being a kid and staring at his illustrations and feeling a bit scared and amazed at the same time.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,678
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 24, 2015 23:11:10 GMT
to be fair, when i first encountered the FF series i was also not a fan of RN's art. it just seemed too busy. i do really like and appreciate them more now. he's probably my second favourite FF artist. the first is obviously Iain McCaig, and third being Martin McKenna (mostly for his horror art though i'm not a fan of his scratchboard art). i'm one of the few who also likes Bob Harvey's artwork.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,457
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Aug 25, 2015 19:34:34 GMT
Is Bob Harvey generally disliked? I mean his art's ugly but good ugly. My top 3 illustrators would be: 1. Ian Miller 2. Russ Nicholson 3. Iain McCaig
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nicodemus
Squire
Posts: 20
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy and Sorcery!
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Post by nicodemus on Aug 26, 2015 1:06:06 GMT
Now that I think of it I guess I was a bit harsh towards Ian McCaig. He's very good indeed. And I forgot Martin McKenna and Tim Sell, also great illustrators.
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sylas
Baron
"Don't just adventure for treasure; treasure the adventure!"
Posts: 1,678
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy, Way of the Tiger
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Post by sylas on Aug 26, 2015 13:14:08 GMT
Mccaig and Harvey's art display some real dynamism which really brings the picture to life. Something which is often missing from Martin mckennas work though Martin's artwork which is more realistic displays better detail.
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