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Post by a moderator on Sept 30, 2013 16:25:35 GMT
Is there any interest in maintaining the tradition from no longer extant forums. Four books (usually linked by some tenuous theme) to be played over the course of a calendar month, points awarded based on various factors, highest scorer (other than whoever set the challenge) sets the next challenge.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,453
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 2, 2013 21:45:36 GMT
I'm up for it. Shall we continue the last challenge into this month?
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Post by a moderator on Oct 3, 2013 3:11:28 GMT
It's as good a way as any to get started. On the off-chance that anyone here isn't familiar with the rules, here are the basics: You get points for your attributes - the weaker your character, the higher you score. Take the average of all the dice you roll to generate your character (plus the crew if you're playing Seas of Blood, or the car if it's Freeway Fighter) and score as follows: | Average | Points | | 1 | 7 | | 2 | 5 | | 3 | 4 | | 4 | 2 | | 5 | 1 | | 6 | 0 |
A bonus challenge is usually set for each book. Completing that is worth 5 points (unless the bonus specifies otherwise). Winning a book is worth 10 points. That covers the essentials. If anyone can remember anything significant I've missed, feel free to post a reminder. ETA: On the old forum, each challenge had a separate thread. We might as well stick with that approach, unless there are any good reasons for not doing so. Each challenge should involve 3-5 books, but 4 is the norm. Puffin books 1-59, Steve Jackson's Sorcery! and the six new titles published by Wizard are all eligible. Clash of the Princes, The Adventures of Goldhawk, mini-adventures from Warlock magazine and unofficial adventures written by fans are not permissible. Though I'd be open to including the minis from Fighting Fantazine if other participants agree. No book should feature in two consecutive challenges. |
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Post by schlendrian on Oct 3, 2013 6:22:24 GMT
Here I am. I like the idea of including the Fantazine minis. Is symm already a member? |
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Post by The Editor (Alex B) on Oct 3, 2013 8:37:17 GMT
Here I am. I like the idea of including the Fantazine minis. Is symm already a member? Doesn't look like it, unless they're here under another name. |
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Post by schlendrian on Oct 30, 2013 21:28:35 GMT
Armies of Death
Sk 10 St 20 L 10 = 2 points
Mission: Killed by Silver Trident in the night
Bonus: Didn't get that far
Kills: 0
Points:2
Quick'n'dirty
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Post by a moderator on Nov 1, 2013 0:03:36 GMT
Fangs of Fury
Dice: 7 19 8 = 4
Kills: 4
Bonus: Corporal Punishment has left the building.
Outcome: Killed by Fire Demon
Total: 13
Black Vein Prophecy
Dice: 7 22 11 = 1
Kills: 1
Bonus: Ran out of Luck too soon.
Outcome: Throat slit by Tamroth
Total: 2
Armies of Death
Dice: 7 19 7 = 5
Kills: 3
Bonus: Tried but failed.
Outcome: Killed by Calacorm
Total: 8
Legend of the Shadow Warriors
Dice: 12 20 10 = 1
Kills: 6
Bonus: Died too soon.
Outcome: The Mahogandon got lucky
Total: 7
Overall total: 30
And my attempt at Armies enabled me to avoid several errors when playing it for my blog.
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Post by a moderator on Nov 1, 2013 13:13:31 GMT
Looks like Schlendrian gets to set the November challenge. As far as I'm aware, whatever flaw made it necessary for me to start every Challenge thread on MC's forum (or people to start them in the wrong place and me move them) doesn't apply here.
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Post by The Editor (Alex B) on Nov 1, 2013 21:29:59 GMT
As far as I'm aware, whatever flaw made it necessary for me to start every Challenge thread on MC's forum (or people to start them in the wrong place and me move them) doesn't apply here. Yes, you should find this place a bit more flexible with regard to posting, plus various plug-ins can be added to give extra functionality (like the "spoiler" tags I added earlier in the week!). |
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Post by schlendrian on Nov 5, 2013 21:08:50 GMT
A new Beginning
All books in this challenge begin with a serious alteration to your previous lifestyle
Night of the Necromancer
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 450
Bonus: Aquire a soul stone
Creature of Havoc
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 460
Bonus: Enter the village of Dree
Talisman of Death
Dice:4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Defeat a Vivisect
Blood of the Zombies
Dice:2 (Stamina: 2d6+20)
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Defeat Zombie - Kong
Kills: 1 point for every group of enemies you defeat
Apologies if the number of dice in Blood or the end paragraph in Creatures is wrong, I don't have access to my books right now.
Don't know the number this challenge would have.
Edit: it's very helpful to be able to alter posts now after 20 min have elapsed, and thanks, greenspine, for pointing out the issues with Blood.
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Post by a moderator on Nov 6, 2013 11:46:14 GMT
Just for the record, the 'win' section in Creature is 460.
I have a couple of questions about Blood.
Should Stamina be 2d6+12 as in the book, or 2d6+20 in accordance with Ian Livingstone's revision of the rules/
How are you handling points-for-combat? The book doesn't have fights under the normal FF system. Back when I featured Blood in a challenge, I made it a point for every group of Zombies killed. You don't have to go with the same rule (though you're free to do so if you want to), but it would be helpful to have some guidelines on scoring for enemies defeated.
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Post by a moderator on Nov 30, 2013 0:05:35 GMT
Talisman of Death
Stats: Sk 10 St 17 L 7 = 4 points
Kills: 5
Bonus: Yes
Outcome: Killed by Hawkana
Total: 14
Creature of Havoc
Stats: Sk 8 St 22 L 7 = 4 points
Kills: 2
Bonus: Wouldn't have gone for it if I could.
Outcome: Succumbed to a Control Creature spell.
Total: 6
Night of the Necromancer
Stats: Sk 9 St 21 L 10 = 2 points
Fights won: 15
Bonus: No.
Outcome: Killed one time too many by Dread Knights
Total: 17
I'll see if I can fit BotZ in tomorrow.
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Post by schlendrian on Nov 30, 2013 22:36:30 GMT
Night of the Necromancer
Sk 11 St 15 L7 = 5 points
Fights won: 25
Bonus: no
Outcome: Defeated by Frost King
Total: 30
Blood of the Zombies
St 30 = 1 point
Fights won: 3
Bonus: no
Outcome: The mutant rats again
Total: 4
Talisman of Death
Sk 9 St 16 L 9 = 5 points
Fights won: 4
Bonus: yes
Outcome: Killed by Hawkana
Total: 14
Creature of Havoc
Sk 11 St 21 L 8 = 2 points
Fights won: 7
Bonus: no
Outcome: took wrong turning right in the beginnig and was therefore without amulet. Rocks killed me
Total: 9
Overall Total:57 points
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Post by a moderator on Dec 7, 2013 23:54:28 GMT
Winter Wonderlands
At least part of each of the books for this month's challenge is set in a snowy region.
Caverns of the Snow Witch
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Kill a Mammoth.
Masks of Mayhem
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Kill an Ice Dragon.
Daggers of Darkness
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Kill a Snow Leech.
Tower of Destruction
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Reach the Tower in less than 5 days.
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Post by schlendrian on Dec 31, 2013 12:49:41 GMT
CotSW
Sk 9 St 16 L 9 = 4 points
Mission: no
Bonus: found the Mammoth, didn't survive it
Total: 4
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Post by a moderator on Dec 31, 2013 19:41:23 GMT
Caverns Sk 12 St 21 L 8 = 2 points Kills: 14 Bonus: Yes Outcome: Died of head trauma. Total: 21
Masks Sk 7 St 16 L 9 = 5 points Kills: 4 Bonus: Hardly Outcome: The Kraken's last tentacle got me. Total: 9
Daggers Sk 12 St 19 L 9 = 2 points Kills: 6 Bonus: Yes Outcome: Ran out of Stamina in the Korkut maze. Total: 13
Tower Sk 12 St 24 L 11 = 0 points Kills: 17 Bonus: Yes Outcome: Ran out of options in the Ice Palace. Total: 22
Grand total: 65 |
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Post by schlendrian on Jan 7, 2014 19:58:22 GMT
At the moment it seems to be a personal duel between you and me, greenspine.
Sorcery!
This challenge consists off all four Sorcery! Books, though as per the rules they are to be played separately with a new character in every one. Choice of profession is up the the contestant and needn't be the same for all books.
The Shamutanti Hills
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 456
Bonus: Meet some Elvins
Khare: Cityport of Traps
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 511
Bonus: Defeat either Anvar, the barbarian (isn't that one also in LoZ?) or Cagou of Daddu-Ley
The Seven Serpents
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 498
Bonus: Defeat all the serpents
The Crown of Kings
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 800
Bonus: Successfully cast the Zed spell |
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Klea
Wanderer
Writing Lyssia Ulmer's marriage for Camp NaNoWriMo (based on King's Heir: Rise to the Throne)
Posts: 57 
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy (Sorcery!)
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Post by Klea on Jan 7, 2014 21:23:02 GMT
How does this challenge work?
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Post by schlendrian on Jan 7, 2014 21:49:32 GMT
Quoting greenspine:
"You get points for your attributes - the weaker your character, the higher you score. Take the average of all the dice you roll to generate your character (plus the crew if you're playing Seas of Blood, or the car if it's Freeway Fighter) and score as follows:
Average Points
1 7
2 5
3 4
4 2
5 1
6 0
You get an additional point for every enemy you kill or overcome in combat (though there are edge cases that get argued about). Endlessly respawning opponents as in a couple of parts of Creature of Havoc only count once.
A bonus challenge is usually set for each book. Completing that is worth 5 points (unless the bonus specifies otherwise).
Winning a book is worth 10 points.
That covers the essentials. If anyone can remember anything significant I've missed, feel free to post a reminder.
ETA: On the old forum, each challenge had a separate thread. We might as well stick with that approach, unless there are any good reasons for not doing so.
Each challenge should involve 3-5 books, but 4 is the norm. Puffin books 1-59, Steve Jackson's Sorcery! and the six new titles published by Wizard are all eligible. Clash of the Princes, The Adventures of Goldhawk, mini-adventures from Warlock magazine and unofficial adventures written by fans are not permissible. Though I'd be open to including the minis from Fighting Fantazine if other participants agree.
No book should feature in two consecutive challenges."
So, basically you play the books listed and collect points for it. Results can be posted until last day of the month, midnight, GMT. Winner gets to set the next challenge, unless it's the challenge setter himself.
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Klea
Wanderer
Writing Lyssia Ulmer's marriage for Camp NaNoWriMo (based on King's Heir: Rise to the Throne)
Posts: 57
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy (Sorcery!)
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Post by Klea on Jan 8, 2014 20:08:39 GMT
I don't understand what you mean by the number of dice. Does this mean the initial stats are not rolled as usual? I'll try a future challenge. I've set myself the challenge of adapting the Sorcery! books into novel form, and for that I need to use the same character throughout. I took a few creative liberties with the story, using information from some of the reference books and the d20 module to create a more coherent, dramatic story. Would you believe that it's possible to get over 21,000 words and still not be any further along than just leaving Kristatanti?  |
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Post by a moderator on Jan 9, 2014 18:40:18 GMT
Stats are rolled as usual. For Sorcery! that's 4 dice - 1 for Skill, 2 for Stamina and 1 for Luck. I'll generate my character for The Shamutanti Hills here as an example. I roll 6 for Skill, 3 & 2 for Stamina and 2 for Luck. If I choose to be a Wizard, that's 10 Skill, 17 Stamina and 8 Luck. My average roll is (6+3+2+2)/4, i.e. 13/4, which comes to 3¼, which rounds down to 3, so I get 4 points for having a slightly below-average character. Clear? I've set myself the challenge of adapting the Sorcery! books into novel form, and for that I need to use the same character throughout. I took a few creative liberties with the story, using information from some of the reference books and the d20 module to create a more coherent, dramatic story. Would you believe that it's possible to get over 21,000 words and still not be any further along than just leaving Kristatanti? I don't doubt it. When writing the Legends of Lone Wolf novels, Joe Dever and John Grant wrote a whole book before even getting to section 1 of the first Lone Wolf gamebook. |
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Klea
Wanderer
Writing Lyssia Ulmer's marriage for Camp NaNoWriMo (based on King's Heir: Rise to the Throne)
Posts: 57
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy (Sorcery!)
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Post by Klea on Jan 9, 2014 19:02:38 GMT
Stats are rolled as usual. For Sorcery! that's 4 dice - 1 for Skill, 2 for Stamina and 1 for Luck. I'll generate my character for The Shamutanti Hills here as an example. I roll 6 for Skill, 3 & 2 for Stamina and 2 for Luck. If I choose to be a Wizard, that's 10 Skill, 17 Stamina and 8 Luck. My average roll is (6+3+2+2)/4, i.e. 13/4, which comes to 3¼, which rounds down to 3, so I get 4 points for having a slightly below-average character. Clear? I've set myself the challenge of adapting the Sorcery! books into novel form, and for that I need to use the same character throughout. I took a few creative liberties with the story, using information from some of the reference books and the d20 module to create a more coherent, dramatic story. Would you believe that it's possible to get over 21,000 words and still not be any further along than just leaving Kristatanti? I don't doubt it. When writing the Legends of Lone Wolf novels, Joe Dever and John Grant wrote a whole book before even getting to section 1 of the first Lone Wolf gamebook. Yes, that's clear now. Thanks. I'll try a future challenge.  |
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Post by schlendrian on Jan 31, 2014 8:10:20 GMT
Very poor choices killed me off quickly in all four books this time
The Shamutanti Hills
Sk 12 St 21 L 10 = 1 point
Mission: impaled
Bonus: yes
Kills: 0
Points: 6
Khare: Cityport of Traps
Sk 12 St 20 L 12 = 1 point
Mission: Died in Prison
Bonus: didn't find them
Kills: 1
Points: 2
The Seven Serpents
Sk 5 St 22 L 9 = 2 points
Mission: poisoned
Bonus: nope
Kills: 7
Points: 9
The Crown of Kings
Sk 6 St 19 L 9 = 4 points
Mission: The "Spiny Ones" killed me
Bonus: no
Kills: 3
Points: 7
Which makes for a total of 24 points
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Post by a moderator on Jan 31, 2014 20:56:49 GMT
The Shamutanti Hills
Sk 10 St 17 L 8 = 4 points
Kills: 4
Bonus: Yes
Mission: Success. Though the magically-created Goblin I set on the Manticore might view things differently.
Points: 23
Kharé - Cityport of Traps
Sk 12 St 19 L 10 = 2 points
Kills: 5
Bonus: Beat the Ogre
Mission: Didn't have money to bribe the North Gate guards.
Points: 12
The Seven Serpents
Sk 5 St 21 L 12 = 2 points
Kills: 3
Bonus: Yes
Mission: Obviously.
Points: 20
The Crown of Kings
Sk 10 St 23 L 8 = 1 point
Kills: 9
Bonus: Didn't get far enough
Mission: Killed by the Sleepless Ram.
Points: 10
Total: 65
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Post by a moderator on Feb 1, 2014 13:41:27 GMT
Amazing! Each of the books featured in this month's challenge features some kind of maze.
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Go through four separate secret doors in the Maze of Zagor. Secret doors that can be opened from both sides still only count as one door.
Note also that you can only claim opponent-killing points once for each type of wandering monster that can be encountered in the Maze.
Star Strider
Dice: 5
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Defeat the Horned Dog-Faced Guard.
Legend of the Shadow Warriors
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Kill the Nightmare Master.
Curse of the Mummy
Dice: 4
Mission: Reach paragraph 400
Bonus: Kill at least three Crocodiles in the flooded maze.
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Post by champskees on Feb 4, 2014 5:56:01 GMT
I think I am going to start having a go at these, one question though.
When you say dice=4, what do you mean? For example in Star Strider you roll for a fear score (which to me is 5 dice). Also does rolling for gold count? (pretty sure you roll for gold in shadow warriors, have to check that).
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Post by a moderator on Feb 4, 2014 13:27:06 GMT
Well spotted - Fear had slipped my memory. OP edited to reflect Strider's extra stat.
Rolling for gold didn't get included under the old ruleset, and it's never yet been a big enough deal for anyone to raise questions about. But there could be some books in which it does matter - Spellbreaker might be impossible to win if your starting gold is too low. Then again, Spellbreaker borders on impossible to win even with the best possible stats.
Still, any time starting gold has a random element and seriously affects playability, a compelling argument could be made for including gold dice in points calculations.
Hope to see you joining in with the challenges soon.
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Post by champskees on Feb 13, 2014 7:31:54 GMT
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Sk 10 St 19 L 11 = 2 points
Mission: Accomplished
Bonus: No
Kills: 13
Points: 25
Star Strider
Sk 9 St 17 L 10 F 9 = 4 points
Mission: Fell into a fiery furnace
Bonus: No
Kills: 2
Points: 6
Legend of the Shadow Warriors
Sk 9 St 15 L 9 = 4 points
Mission: Killed by one of the Shadow Warriors
Bonus: No
Kills: 2
Points: 6
Curse of the Mummy
Sk 8 St 18 L 8 = 4 points
Mission: Killed by a swarm of wasps
Bonus: No
Kills: 7
Points: 11
Which makes for a total of 48 points
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symm
Squire
Posts: 13 
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Post by symm on Feb 24, 2014 14:18:29 GMT
Here I am. I like the idea of including the Fantazine minis. Is symm already a member? Hello everybody, I finally made it back to the challenge! I'll make my first appearance as a contestant next month. Cheers, Symm |
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Post by a moderator on Feb 24, 2014 14:52:04 GMT
Welcome back.
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