Post by champskees on Nov 18, 2013 6:06:05 GMT
Another Livingstone adventure. Return to Firetop Mountain has a few nostalgic moments; the first junction at the beginning of the mountain, the magical healing bench, and of course Yaztromo. Unfortunately, it also has all the other hallmarks of a Livingstone title: super strong enemies, limited chances to restore stamina, Santa’s list of items to collect, lots of auto deaths and a linear path to victory. The most annoying thing about this book is probably the amount of errors, notably the Fire Elemental Tooth not having a number inscribed on it (though I guess you can assume it’s the one with the circle of fire).
Once you are in the mountain proper, the gamebook design essentially becomes a chore where you need to work out which door to open via trial and error. Once you are in the mountain, the book reads like this for about 90% of the journey:
- Will you open the door, or walk on?
- Will you wear/take this item?
- Do you have this specific item?
Because the optimal route is so narrow, this solution is pretty much the only way forward. I recommend 11+ Skill, 18+ Stamina and 9+ Luck.
Start with:
- Sword.
- Lantern.
Path to Firetop Mountain
- Follow Moose.
- Stop briefly to find out what it is.
- Take Shield.
- Charge into the bushes towards the noise.
- Fight Sk 7 St 6 Tracker.
- Take 3 ‘Z’ Gold Pieces.
- Take 2 Steel Daggers.
- Leave the paper on the ground.
- Ignore him & keep on walking.
- Turn south towards Darkwood Forest & Yaztromo’s Tower.
- Investigate.
- Take Ring of Invisibility.
- Find somewhere to sleep while it’s still light.
- Examine the clay pots.
- Take Iron Key ‘142’.
- Examine the wooden box.
- Take Wooden Ball & Wooden Brick.
- Find somewhere else to sleep (+2 Stamina).
- Test Luck.
o If fail:
o Fight Sk 6 St 7 Hobgoblin.
o Take 3 Glass Marbles.
- Return on the path & continue south.
- Sail on.
- Roll 2D6.
o 2-9 = Lose 1 Crew Member.
o 10+ = No effect.
- Test Luck.
o If successful:
o Add note: Yaztromo has blue eyes.
- There are more than five crew members on board.
- You prefer not to shake his hand.
- Fight Sk 9 St 0 Doppelganger.
o If you hit enemy, Roll 2D6. Double = Enemy defeated.
o If enemy hits you, Roll 2D6. Double = Death.
- Talk to the boy.
- You have a wooden brick & are willing to give it to the boy.
- Take Rope.
- Take Mirror.
- Take Magnifying Glass.
- Take Leather Gloves.
- Take another item.
- Take 5 Gold Pieces.
- Add note: Zoot Zimmer lives at 36.
- You would like some tea to drink (+2 Stamina).
- Instruct him to land.
Firetop Mountain
- Turn left.
- Turn left here.
- Open the door.
- Pull on the chain.
- Put your arm into the compartment.
- You are wearing leather gloves (+1 Luck).
- Continue unscrewing the top (+1 Luck).
- Take Gold Dragons Tooth (Heart with Flaming Circle).
- Go out of this room & walk on to the second door.
- Walk on to the third door.
- Open the door.
- You wish to take the ring.
- Test Skill. Fail = Death.
- Take the skeleton’s gold ring.
- Take Gold Ring.
o Add note: ‘30’ Seeing Is Believing’.
- Place the ring on your finger.
- Climb up the rope to pursue the goblin.
- You wish to take the sword.
- Take Darkblade’s Sword.
- Attempt to climb down the shaft.
- You are carrying some rope.
- You are carrying a lantern.
- Walk straight along the tunnel.
- Try to leap over the skulls.
- Test Skill. Fail = D6 Damage.
- Open the door opposite.
- Get ready to fight.
- Fight with your eyes closed.
- Search your backpack for an item to use against her.
- Use a mirror.
- Test Luck.
o If success:
o Open the door in the far wall.
o If fail:
o D6 Damage. If Damage is 4+ = Death.
o Fight Sk 10 St 8 Gorgon.
• -2 to your attack strength due to blind fighting.
• If enemy hits you, take additional D6 Damage.
• Open the new door.
- Open the door & attack the Orc.
- Fight Sk 6 St 5 Orc.
- Take Sword.
- Fight Sk 6 St 4 Dwarf.
- You are not suffering from Zagor’s Curse of the Demon’s Breath.
- Open the wooden crate.
- Take Silver Bell.
- Leave the room & turn right into the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- It is Zoot Zimmer.
- Zoot Zimmer lives at 36. Turn to Para 36.
- Take Gold Dragons Tooth ‘186’ (+1 Luck).
- Go to the right.
- Sit down on the bench (+2 Stamina, +1 Skill).
- You do not need a sword.
- Leave the room through the door in the far wall.
- Fight Sk 9 St 9 Cave Troll.
- Take 3 Copper Pieces.
- Take Garlic.
- Take Piece of Paper with ‘Leg’ written on it.
- Walk up to the door ahead.
- Sneak up to the Troglodyte & take its dagger & pouch.
- Test Luck. Fail = Fight Sk 5 St 4 Troglodyte.
- Take Slate with ‘arrow’ written on it.
- Take Throwing Dagger.
- You have the coins but do not wish to pay.
- Fight Sk 8 St 5 Wererat.
- Take ‘Z’ Gold Piece.
- Enter the right hand tunnel.
- You want to obey the Inquisitor.
- Puzzle:
o Let sword be x, dagger be y.
o x + y = 300.
o x = 200 + y.
o 200 + 2y = 300.
o 2y = 100.
o y = 50.
- Answer is 50 Copper Pieces. Turn to Para 50.
- Puzzle:
o x/6 + x/5 + x/4 + x/3 + 4.5 = x.
o Lowest common denominator is 60.
o 10x + 12x +15x + 20x + 270 = 60x.
o 270 = 3x.
o 90 = x.
- Answer is 90 Years Old. Turn to Para 90.
- Peruse some of his books.
- You have a magnifying glass & wish to read the book.
- Add note: Air Elemental of Light ‘186’ destroys a Water Elemental of Chaos.
- Add note: Earth Elemental of Light is...
- Put the breastplate on.
- Take Breastplate (+1 Luck, +1 Skill).
- Knock on the door.
- Answer ‘Arrow’.
- Follow the Troglodyte in silence.
- Have a bet with the Barbarian on the outcome of the competition.
- You have something of gold you are willing to bet with (Gold Piece or Gold Tooth with Heart encircled with flame).
- Roll D6 five times for each contestant:
o If you win (25% chance):
o Take Bronze Bust of Zagor.
o Take Large Gold Tooth ‘27’ (+1 Luck, +1 Stamina).
o If you don’t win but beat the barbarian (25% chance):
o Challenge the Barbarian to a fight.
o Fight Sk 10 St 10 Barbarian.
o Take Large Gold Tooth ‘27’ (+1 Luck, +1 Stamina).
o If you lose to the Barbarian (50% chance):
o You need to start over – you have missed an essential quest item.
- Go right.
- Open the door.
- Fight Sk 10 St 10 Chaos Warrior (one of my favourite illustrations here).
- Take a look at the box.
- Take Rat’s Skull.
- Take 3 Gold Pieces.
- Take 2 Silver Pieces.
- Take Calling Horn.
- Read the page from the book.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: ... is ‘94’ & destroys an Air Elemental of Chaos.
- Put the copper bracelet on your wrist (+4 Stamina).
- Take a look at the weapons.
- Take Leather Whip.
- Leave the room & walk on up the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- Attack the creature.
- Fight Sk 6 St 4 Plague Bearer.
o Hit by enemy = Death.
- Take Gold Dragon Tooth.
- Lift the top of the skull.
- Read the page.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: Fire Elemental of Light ‘315’ destroys an Earth Elemental of Chaos.
- If Luck is 9+:
o Take the Dragon’s Head.
o You Luck score is 9 or above.
o Restore Stamina to its Initial Level.
- If Luck is less than 9:
o Leave the room as it is & turn left into the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- Jump down into the pit to retrieve the box.
- Wait for it to slide off the box.
- Take Fire Box (leave Calling Horn & Rat’s Skull behind).
- Read the page from the book.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: Water Elemental of Light ‘27’ destroys Fire Elemental of Chaos.
- Walk on.
- Go to the right.
- Open the door.
- You are wearing a gold ring with the words ‘Seeing Is Believing’. Turn to Para 30.
- You are carrying a Silver Bell.
- Fight Sk 8 St 8 Mutant Dog Beast.
- Search the chamber.
- You have 2 Silver Pieces to put in the slot.
- Take Gold Dragon Tooth ‘94’ (+1 Luck).
- You have an Iron Key. Turn to Para 142.
- You have a throwing dagger tucked down your boot.
- Test Skill. Fail = Death.
- Puzzle: Total amount of coins = 52. Turn to Para 52.
- Use a whip.
- Search the room.
- Take 52 Gold Coins.
- Add note: ‘Cachondo’.
- You have a Ring of Invisibility.
- Test Luck.
o If fail:
o You have a lantern.
o Fight 6-D6 Sk 9 St 12 Mummies (one at a time).
- Try to bluff your way past the guard.
- Offer it Darkblade Skullbiter’s Sword.
- You are carrying a Shield.
- Fight Sk 5 St 4 Goblin.
- Fight Sk 5 St 5 Goblin.
- Enter the side room from which the goblins entered.
- Look at the staff.
- Take Skull Staff.
- Pursue the Death Lords.
- Use a magic item to halt the earthquake.
- Tap the floor with a Skull Staff.
- Roll D6+2 (you are wearing a breastplate & carrying a shield). 4 or less = Death.
- You have golden dragon’s teeth.
- Shout ‘Cachondo!’
- Use Earth Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘94’. Turn to Para 94.
- Use Air Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘186’. Turn to Para 186.
- Use Fire Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth. Turn to Para 315.
- You have a throwing dagger.
- Use Water Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘27’. Turn to Para 27.
- Fight Sk 11 St 18 Zagor.
- You walk up the steps to Zagor’s throne, which is made of solid gold, set with hundreds of jewels. Your fortune is there for the taking. You fill your backpack with treasure and eventually find your way out of the mountain labyrinth.
Once you are in the mountain proper, the gamebook design essentially becomes a chore where you need to work out which door to open via trial and error. Once you are in the mountain, the book reads like this for about 90% of the journey:
- Will you open the door, or walk on?
- Will you wear/take this item?
- Do you have this specific item?
Because the optimal route is so narrow, this solution is pretty much the only way forward. I recommend 11+ Skill, 18+ Stamina and 9+ Luck.
Start with:
- Sword.
- Lantern.
Path to Firetop Mountain
- Follow Moose.
- Stop briefly to find out what it is.
- Take Shield.
- Charge into the bushes towards the noise.
- Fight Sk 7 St 6 Tracker.
- Take 3 ‘Z’ Gold Pieces.
- Take 2 Steel Daggers.
- Leave the paper on the ground.
- Ignore him & keep on walking.
- Turn south towards Darkwood Forest & Yaztromo’s Tower.
- Investigate.
- Take Ring of Invisibility.
- Find somewhere to sleep while it’s still light.
- Examine the clay pots.
- Take Iron Key ‘142’.
- Examine the wooden box.
- Take Wooden Ball & Wooden Brick.
- Find somewhere else to sleep (+2 Stamina).
- Test Luck.
o If fail:
o Fight Sk 6 St 7 Hobgoblin.
o Take 3 Glass Marbles.
- Return on the path & continue south.
- Sail on.
- Roll 2D6.
o 2-9 = Lose 1 Crew Member.
o 10+ = No effect.
- Test Luck.
o If successful:
o Add note: Yaztromo has blue eyes.
- There are more than five crew members on board.
- You prefer not to shake his hand.
- Fight Sk 9 St 0 Doppelganger.
o If you hit enemy, Roll 2D6. Double = Enemy defeated.
o If enemy hits you, Roll 2D6. Double = Death.
- Talk to the boy.
- You have a wooden brick & are willing to give it to the boy.
- Take Rope.
- Take Mirror.
- Take Magnifying Glass.
- Take Leather Gloves.
- Take another item.
- Take 5 Gold Pieces.
- Add note: Zoot Zimmer lives at 36.
- You would like some tea to drink (+2 Stamina).
- Instruct him to land.
Firetop Mountain
- Turn left.
- Turn left here.
- Open the door.
- Pull on the chain.
- Put your arm into the compartment.
- You are wearing leather gloves (+1 Luck).
- Continue unscrewing the top (+1 Luck).
- Take Gold Dragons Tooth (Heart with Flaming Circle).
- Go out of this room & walk on to the second door.
- Walk on to the third door.
- Open the door.
- You wish to take the ring.
- Test Skill. Fail = Death.
- Take the skeleton’s gold ring.
- Take Gold Ring.
o Add note: ‘30’ Seeing Is Believing’.
- Place the ring on your finger.
- Climb up the rope to pursue the goblin.
- You wish to take the sword.
- Take Darkblade’s Sword.
- Attempt to climb down the shaft.
- You are carrying some rope.
- You are carrying a lantern.
- Walk straight along the tunnel.
- Try to leap over the skulls.
- Test Skill. Fail = D6 Damage.
- Open the door opposite.
- Get ready to fight.
- Fight with your eyes closed.
- Search your backpack for an item to use against her.
- Use a mirror.
- Test Luck.
o If success:
o Open the door in the far wall.
o If fail:
o D6 Damage. If Damage is 4+ = Death.
o Fight Sk 10 St 8 Gorgon.
• -2 to your attack strength due to blind fighting.
• If enemy hits you, take additional D6 Damage.
• Open the new door.
- Open the door & attack the Orc.
- Fight Sk 6 St 5 Orc.
- Take Sword.
- Fight Sk 6 St 4 Dwarf.
- You are not suffering from Zagor’s Curse of the Demon’s Breath.
- Open the wooden crate.
- Take Silver Bell.
- Leave the room & turn right into the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- It is Zoot Zimmer.
- Zoot Zimmer lives at 36. Turn to Para 36.
- Take Gold Dragons Tooth ‘186’ (+1 Luck).
- Go to the right.
- Sit down on the bench (+2 Stamina, +1 Skill).
- You do not need a sword.
- Leave the room through the door in the far wall.
- Fight Sk 9 St 9 Cave Troll.
- Take 3 Copper Pieces.
- Take Garlic.
- Take Piece of Paper with ‘Leg’ written on it.
- Walk up to the door ahead.
- Sneak up to the Troglodyte & take its dagger & pouch.
- Test Luck. Fail = Fight Sk 5 St 4 Troglodyte.
- Take Slate with ‘arrow’ written on it.
- Take Throwing Dagger.
- You have the coins but do not wish to pay.
- Fight Sk 8 St 5 Wererat.
- Take ‘Z’ Gold Piece.
- Enter the right hand tunnel.
- You want to obey the Inquisitor.
- Puzzle:
o Let sword be x, dagger be y.
o x + y = 300.
o x = 200 + y.
o 200 + 2y = 300.
o 2y = 100.
o y = 50.
- Answer is 50 Copper Pieces. Turn to Para 50.
- Puzzle:
o x/6 + x/5 + x/4 + x/3 + 4.5 = x.
o Lowest common denominator is 60.
o 10x + 12x +15x + 20x + 270 = 60x.
o 270 = 3x.
o 90 = x.
- Answer is 90 Years Old. Turn to Para 90.
- Peruse some of his books.
- You have a magnifying glass & wish to read the book.
- Add note: Air Elemental of Light ‘186’ destroys a Water Elemental of Chaos.
- Add note: Earth Elemental of Light is...
- Put the breastplate on.
- Take Breastplate (+1 Luck, +1 Skill).
- Knock on the door.
- Answer ‘Arrow’.
- Follow the Troglodyte in silence.
- Have a bet with the Barbarian on the outcome of the competition.
- You have something of gold you are willing to bet with (Gold Piece or Gold Tooth with Heart encircled with flame).
- Roll D6 five times for each contestant:
o If you win (25% chance):
o Take Bronze Bust of Zagor.
o Take Large Gold Tooth ‘27’ (+1 Luck, +1 Stamina).
o If you don’t win but beat the barbarian (25% chance):
o Challenge the Barbarian to a fight.
o Fight Sk 10 St 10 Barbarian.
o Take Large Gold Tooth ‘27’ (+1 Luck, +1 Stamina).
o If you lose to the Barbarian (50% chance):
o You need to start over – you have missed an essential quest item.
- Go right.
- Open the door.
- Fight Sk 10 St 10 Chaos Warrior (one of my favourite illustrations here).
- Take a look at the box.
- Take Rat’s Skull.
- Take 3 Gold Pieces.
- Take 2 Silver Pieces.
- Take Calling Horn.
- Read the page from the book.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: ... is ‘94’ & destroys an Air Elemental of Chaos.
- Put the copper bracelet on your wrist (+4 Stamina).
- Take a look at the weapons.
- Take Leather Whip.
- Leave the room & walk on up the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- Attack the creature.
- Fight Sk 6 St 4 Plague Bearer.
o Hit by enemy = Death.
- Take Gold Dragon Tooth.
- Lift the top of the skull.
- Read the page.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: Fire Elemental of Light ‘315’ destroys an Earth Elemental of Chaos.
- If Luck is 9+:
o Take the Dragon’s Head.
o You Luck score is 9 or above.
o Restore Stamina to its Initial Level.
- If Luck is less than 9:
o Leave the room as it is & turn left into the tunnel.
- Open the door.
- Jump down into the pit to retrieve the box.
- Wait for it to slide off the box.
- Take Fire Box (leave Calling Horn & Rat’s Skull behind).
- Read the page from the book.
- You have a magnifying glass.
- Add note: Water Elemental of Light ‘27’ destroys Fire Elemental of Chaos.
- Walk on.
- Go to the right.
- Open the door.
- You are wearing a gold ring with the words ‘Seeing Is Believing’. Turn to Para 30.
- You are carrying a Silver Bell.
- Fight Sk 8 St 8 Mutant Dog Beast.
- Search the chamber.
- You have 2 Silver Pieces to put in the slot.
- Take Gold Dragon Tooth ‘94’ (+1 Luck).
- You have an Iron Key. Turn to Para 142.
- You have a throwing dagger tucked down your boot.
- Test Skill. Fail = Death.
- Puzzle: Total amount of coins = 52. Turn to Para 52.
- Use a whip.
- Search the room.
- Take 52 Gold Coins.
- Add note: ‘Cachondo’.
- You have a Ring of Invisibility.
- Test Luck.
o If fail:
o You have a lantern.
o Fight 6-D6 Sk 9 St 12 Mummies (one at a time).
- Try to bluff your way past the guard.
- Offer it Darkblade Skullbiter’s Sword.
- You are carrying a Shield.
- Fight Sk 5 St 4 Goblin.
- Fight Sk 5 St 5 Goblin.
- Enter the side room from which the goblins entered.
- Look at the staff.
- Take Skull Staff.
- Pursue the Death Lords.
- Use a magic item to halt the earthquake.
- Tap the floor with a Skull Staff.
- Roll D6+2 (you are wearing a breastplate & carrying a shield). 4 or less = Death.
- You have golden dragon’s teeth.
- Shout ‘Cachondo!’
- Use Earth Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘94’. Turn to Para 94.
- Use Air Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘186’. Turn to Para 186.
- Use Fire Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth. Turn to Para 315.
- You have a throwing dagger.
- Use Water Elemental. Use Gold Dragon Tooth ‘27’. Turn to Para 27.
- Fight Sk 11 St 18 Zagor.
- You walk up the steps to Zagor’s throne, which is made of solid gold, set with hundreds of jewels. Your fortune is there for the taking. You fill your backpack with treasure and eventually find your way out of the mountain labyrinth.