Prey of the Hunter (Issue 3 adventure)

[The Editor (Alex B)]

Discuss Kieran Coghlan's sci-fi adventure here.

[champskees]

Prey of the Hunter Solution

Interesting layout. Liked the concept of the adventure and the mechanics were interesting. The introduction of the different species at the beginning didn’t make much sense to me – none of that information helps in the adventure at all, in contrast to Star Strider. I’ve also never understood how a one-eyed gunslinger can shoot so accurately without any depth perception...

This solution is designed for a minimum stats character.

- This idea appeals to you.
- Try and find a black market.
- Add 1 Trail (1).
- Test Luck.
- If fail:
        o Fight Sk 8 St 6 Aquanarian.
        o Fight Sk 7 St 7 Aquanarian.
        o Take 27 Credits (27).
        o Continue asking around for a place to sell your jacket.
- Take 100 Credits (100/127).
- Add 1 Trail (2).
- Add 1 Villainy (1).
- Head down to the spaceport to see how much transportation will cost.
- Slip him 10 Credits to keep him quiet.
- Lose 10 Credits (90/117).
- Run away.
- Try and get a job at the mines.
- Take 45 Credits (135/162).
- Add codeword: Grind.
- Rent a cheap apartment.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- Lose 10 Credits (125/152).
- Residence is Cheap Apartment.
- Test Trail (2). Auto pass.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have the codeword grind.
- Walk.
- You do not have the codeword nemesis.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1-2: Turn a deaf ear to her pleas.
        o If 3-4: Shake him off and continue toward the mines.
        o If 5-6: Push past the crowd and continue onto the mines.
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (140/167).
- Take 45 Credits (170-212).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (160-202).
- Test Trail (2). Auto pass.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have the codeword grind.
- Walk.
- You do not have the codeword nemesis.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1-2: Turn a deaf ear to her pleas.
        o If 3-4: Shake him off and continue toward the mines.
        o If 5-6: Push past the crowd and continue onto the mines.
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (175/202).
- Take 45 Credits (205-247).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (195-237).
- Test Trail (2). Auto pass.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have the codeword grind.
- Walk.
- You do not have the codeword nemesis.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1-2: Turn a deaf ear to her pleas.
        o If 3-4: Shake him off and continue toward the mines.
        o If 5-6: Push past the crowd and continue onto the mines.
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (210/237).
- Take 45 Credits (230-282).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (220-272).
- Test Trail (2). Auto pass.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have the codeword grind.
- Walk.
- All three boxes have already been ticked. Roll D6.
- If 1-2:
        o Fight Sk 6 St 7 Aquanarian & Sk 7 St 5 Aquanarian together.
        o Take 12 Credits (232-284).
        o Add 1 Trail (3).
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (235/284).
- Take 45 Credits (265-329).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (255-319).
- Test Trail (2-3). Fail = Death.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have the codeword grind.
- If you did not fight anyone whilst walking to work:
        o Walk.
        o All three boxes have already been ticked. Roll D6.
        o If 1-2:
             - Fight Sk 6 St 7 Aquanarian & Sk 7 St 5 Aquanarian together.
             - Take 12 Credits (267-319).
             - Add 1 Trail (3).
- Otherwise:
        o Take the monorail.
        o Test Trail (3). Fail = Death.
        o Add 1 Trail (4).
        o You do not have the codeword loner.
        o You do not have the codeword bamboozle.
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (270/319).
- Take 45 Credits (300-364).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (290-354).
- Test Trail (2-4). Fail = Death.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- If you have raised 350 credits: Go to endgame.

- If you have not raised 350 credits:
- If you did not fight anyone whilst walking to work:
        o Walk.
        o All three boxes have already been ticked. Roll D6.
        o If 1-2:
             - Fight Sk 6 St 7 Aquanarian & Sk 7 St 5 Aquanarian together.
             - Take 12 Credits (302+).
             - Add 1 Trail (3).
- Otherwise:
        o Take the monorail.
        o Test Trail (3-4). Fail = Death.
        o Add 1 Trail (4-5).
        o You do not have the codeword loner.
        o You do not have the codeword bamboozle.
- You do not have the codeword paragon.
- Roll D6. Tick box once you have read a section.
        o If 1: Run on after Finnegan.
        o If 2: Forget about it and continue working. Add 1 Villainy (2).
        o If 3: Try to calm the situation down.
        o If 4: Continue reading.
        o If 5: Do not buy it.
        o If 6: Take 15 Credits (305+).
- Take 45 Credits (350+).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (340+).
- Test Trail (2-5). Fail = Death.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- If you have raised 350 credits: Go to endgame.

- If you have not raised 350 credits (note that this is highly unlikely):
- Walk.
- All three boxes have already been ticked. Roll D6.
- If 1-2:
        o Fight Sk 6 St 7 Aquanarian & Sk 7 St 5 Aquanarian together.
        o Take 12 Credits (352+).
        o Add 1 Trail (3).
- All boxes have already been ticked.
- Test Trail (3). Fail = Death.
- Take 45 Credits (385+).
- Add 1 Trail (4).
- Your current residence is a cheap apartment.
- Lose 10 Credits (375+).
- Test Trail (4). Fail = Death.
- Restore 4 Stamina.
- You have raised 350 credits: Go to endgame.

Endgame

- Restore 2 Stamina.
- Enter the corridor to investigate.
- Head down the corridor (5 Damage).
- Go to the docking bay.
- Look around for something to use against him.
- You have acquired 5 or less Villainy points.
- You have survived with your career & honour intact. Well done!

[kieran]

The introduction of the different species at the beginning didn’t make much sense to me – none of that information helps in the adventure at all, in contrast to Star Strider.

Well I had intended to write a whole lot of sci-fi gamebooks in that universe so the background was supposed to be a more general one. Never quite got round to it though!

This gamebook was a complete nightmare to get anywhere near playable with all the variables. Not sure I would go for such a design again, though I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out for the most part. I probably could have made the gangster route a bit more rewarding to make up for the added danger. Also the alternative way of killing Omoz requires such a narrow path I wonder if anyone's ever discovered it.

[The Editor (Alex B)]

A Hungarian translation was published in issue 4 of Kaland Játék Kockázat.

[champskees]

Jan 7, 2015 12:20:57 GMT kieran said:

The introduction of the different species at the beginning didn’t make much sense to me – none of that information helps in the adventure at all, in contrast to Star Strider.

Well I had intended to write a whole lot of sci-fi gamebooks in that universe so the background was supposed to be a more general one. Never quite got round to it though!

This gamebook was a complete nightmare to get anywhere near playable with all the variables. Not sure I would go for such a design again, though I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out for the most part. I probably could have made the gangster route a bit more rewarding to make up for the added danger. Also the alternative way of killing Omoz requires such a narrow path I wonder if anyone's ever discovered it.

SPOILER: Click to show

Throwing the grenade at him requires the gas mask, a successful test of skill (I think), and of course the grenade. And you have to have spent a LOT of days mining.

The alternative method is hard to achieve because by the time you have everything you need to trigger the encounter, it is very likely that you have the required credits for the safer ending.

[kieran]

Yep. The only way you can realistically do it is

SPOILER: Click to show

by forking out for the most expensive accomodation and even then getting both the grenade and gas mask isn't simple.

Still I decided to leave it that way as a kind of easter egg.

[The Editor (Alex B)]

A Russian translation has been published. Download the pdf here: quest-book.ru/forum/post/84823

[a moderator]

You might want to don your flame-resistant armour, Kieran, as I've reached Prey of the Hunter in my blog.

[kieran]

Jul 20, 2019 9:21:29 GMT a moderator said:

You might want to don your flame-resistant armour, Kieran, as I've reached Prey of the Hunter in my blog.

Well, it looks like I got off with some light scorching. Mad to think I wrote this thing about 10 years ago. And no, never did get round to reading The Most Dangerous Game!

[a moderator]

I try to be fair and reserve my snark for the things that deserve to be mocked, and as you didn't make any major blunders, it was never going to be that harsh. Still, given the presence of flame-resistant armour somewhere in the adventure, I couldn't resist the quip.

[Peter]

I'm back, continuing my amateur odyssey. This one has a very intriguing premise: "Try to get off this planet. Go." No idea what you'll find, where to go, or what options there are for achieving ex-Karthran status. And I really like the illustration for paragraph 1 - nice mix of foreground and background, well drawn.

In my first attempt I got shot to pieces by baddies. This was a very tough fight, so I'm guessing it is not on the right path. I will try to make better choices next time.

[Peter]

A great little adventure. I really liked the mechanic with a repeating loop that contained varied pathways - a great idea, enabling a longer adventure without being too repetitive. A good way to make the most of 200 sections.

Once I understood the structure I began to appreciate how difficult it must have been to put together without leaving broken threads and discontinuities. And all (I assume) without a play-testing team. Well done.

Thanks Kieran.

[kieran]

Mar 5, 2021 21:48:32 GMT Peter said:

Thanks Kieran.

Glad you liked it!

Once I understood the structure I began to appreciate how difficult it must have been to put together without leaving broken threads and discontinuities. And all (I assume) without a play-testing team. Well done.

The hardest bit was trying to balance the money, Villainy and Trail scores. Playtesting showed my initial design didn't really work since all you had to do to win was keep your head down and not take any risks. So I had to tweak things to make the mine slightly riskier and the gangster missions slightly more rewarding. It was a bit of a painstaking process of playtests and tweaks and I'm not convinced the final version was as good as it could have been with yet more tweaks. I've written much larger gamebooks but this was definitely the most difficult one I've worked on.