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Post by stevendoig on May 10, 2018 20:58:38 GMT
Decided to start a Fighting Fantasy marathon (again!) Many years ago,I tried a 'Complete each book in order without cheating' marathon ,but it got so tiresome I gave up.
This time, I will limit myself to Six tries per book. The only 'cheat' I will allow myself is giving myself maximum stats should I require a sixth try on any books! A few early books should be quite straightforward as I've played them so many times over the years
Like this one.... |
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Post by stevendoig on May 10, 2018 21:03:33 GMT
Warlock Of Firetop Mountain 1st shot - Skill 9, Stamina 18,Luck 11 I memorised the correct route (as far as the maze anyway) years ago. Skill 9 is a bit low but having the two strength potions and the ability to use them ANYTIME meant I eventually defeated the Cyclops. I needed the other potion while fighting the Minotaur as well. I got a bit lost (as always ) in the maze Of Zagor, so I did some detailed mapping and got through to the end. Wins 1/1 Next up - Citadel Of Chaos ( I don't think I can remember the correct route so I reckon I'll take more than one try here - find out in the next couple of days!!) PS - feel free to join in!  |
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Post by daredevil123 on May 10, 2018 21:21:42 GMT
Wonder if this might be a good place to resurrect the challenges threads? The ones where you score points based on how low your stats are and whether you complete a bonus mission?
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on May 10, 2018 21:28:29 GMT
I own 1-15 of the original books. I can see you will need a high skill for Deathtrap Dungeon and Island of the Lizard King probably 11 in both cases. Cavern of the Snow Witch really needs 12 skill to give you a reasonable chance. House Of Hell is a case of knowing the correct devious route and whether you interpret the end in the way Champskees does with the attack strength bonus giving a mediocre avatar a reasonable chance.
If you are going to post every book I suppose you will need 200 attempts to achieve Crypt. Merry Christmas.
Spellbreaker will require something like 200 attempts as well even with the 'corrected not' edition.
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Post by a moderator on May 11, 2018 10:07:18 GMT
Wonder if this might be a good place to resurrect the challenges threads? The ones where you score points based on how low your stats are and whether you complete a bonus mission? We can try, but it didn't work very well the last time we resurrected the challenges. |
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Post by stevendoig on May 11, 2018 20:21:17 GMT
Citadel Of Chaos
I have a vague idea of the correct items etc required but not the correct route
1st shot - Fine, I got the ointment, but I missed the hairbrush and got killed by the lassie in her bedchamber trying to use a shield spell to dodge her.
2nd shot - Ointment, hairbrush, fleece. Good . Then to Balthus. We threw a few spells back and forth but I had no mirror to stop the gorgon from killing me.
More shotties tomorrow!
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Post by stevendoig on May 12, 2018 19:11:16 GMT
Citadel Of Chaos
3rd Shot - Stats 10/17/11. Collected the same items as last time. Tried different options during my encounter with Balthus Dire - and won!!
Its amazing how Steve Jackson cracked it with his first solo book! Its possibly the most balanced in terms of gameplay and someof the encounters are tremendous (although a lot of them are missed if you know thecorrect route!)
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Post by a moderator on May 12, 2018 22:18:07 GMT
What are your favourite non-mandatory encounters in the book?
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Post by philsadler on May 13, 2018 5:48:55 GMT
The title of this thread makes it seem like you are taking 6 shotguns with you.
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Post by stevendoig on May 13, 2018 18:47:46 GMT
What are your favourite non-mandatory encounters in the book? I like the visit from the calacorm
The Dark Elf in the wine cellar
And I am fascinated by the disconcerting encounter with the wee group of orc? babies. (And the terrible thing you can do to them..)
Luckily my favourite encounter is on the main path -The Ganjees!! I would love to see this scene filmed/animated. I am however perplexed by their excitement over an 'Ointment Of Healing' I would also love to know the backstory between the Ganjees and 'Racknee' (who has returned!
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Post by stevendoig on May 13, 2018 20:20:11 GMT
Forest Of Doom
1st shot - stats 8/18/9
Could I remember the correct route?
....
Turns out I could, perfectly! - That really is quite sad.
However, I am impressed that I struggled through with the above meagre stats. I made the mistake of losing my provisions while crossing the river. I then got a hammering from the Werewolf and only passed the luck test because I had used a the potion of fortune earlier. A couple of other hits and iwas down to 3 stamina for a while.
Anyway. I finished the book, its o k, but like the previous book, there are lots of fun and curious encounters you cant find on the true path - such as the shapechanger, fishman,and all the clone stuff under the ground...
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Post by stevendoig on May 13, 2018 20:25:17 GMT
I must add , having looked at Champskees solutions, that by 'correct route' I mean the right way to go to find both parts of the warhammer. I ended up fighting the ogre (because I never took the dexterity thingy), never had the belladonna, and never had the silver key. (otherwise, my stats would have been MORE than adequate!)
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on May 14, 2018 14:28:54 GMT
I must add , having looked at Champskees solutions, that by 'correct route' I mean the right way to go to find both parts of the warhammer. I ended up fighting the ogre (because I never took the dexterity thingy), never had the belladonna, and never had the silver key. (otherwise, my stats would have been MORE than adequate!) All my solutions are better! |
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Post by stevendoig on May 15, 2018 19:59:28 GMT
Sigh - I don't like
STARSHIP TRAVELLER
at all...
1st shot - tried making a crappy map. Got a sector for the black hole - wonderful! Then I travelled to a forest planet and got stomped on.
2nd shot - went all over the place. I have a vague recollection that I have to visit the plague planet to get to a scarce reference. I end upon a planet where I have to go right and left a lot, then I fall into limbo...
Two tries is plenty for one night!!
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Post by stevendoig on May 16, 2018 18:52:25 GMT
3rd shottie - Ok, did the same route as last time, then took the other direction in the maze, and got another sector for the black hole - I seem to mind this is the correct one!. I then investigated every planet I could (yawn) and eventually reached the planet with the stardate. I minus this from the other and win through.
Could have been a good book
But it wasn't.....
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Post by lordomnibok on May 17, 2018 7:26:00 GMT
Could have been a good book But it wasn't..... Turn that ship around, speed through another black hole, then crash land on Titan. Crew all dead? Turn them into provisions and grab a sword. COT and DD will be more fun. |
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Post by stevendoig on May 17, 2018 19:54:42 GMT
City Of Thieves
1st try - stats 12/21/8
I went west to start with, which seemed to be a bad move. Found Nicodemus easily enough and collected the Pearls and the silver arrow. However ,even though my luck was at maximum I failed the roll and I was killed by the Hag!...
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Post by johnbrawn1972 on May 18, 2018 12:54:31 GMT
I must admit Nathan convinced me about the best route and it is the intricacy and caring that is so lacking in the latest efforts which almost give it a poignancy.
I have always wondered what are the lowest attributes anyone has ever completed this book. I suppose I should look at the solution percentages.
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Post by stevendoig on May 19, 2018 20:07:56 GMT
city of thieves
2nd try - 12/23/12 lovely stats! however, although I know my way around blacksand very well, I never remember therest!
so, obviously I made the wrong choice when mixing the ingredients bah...
3rd try - 9/21/11 hmm, not so good... I wonder if that big jobby of a Moon Dog will cause me a lot of trouble?
Why, yes he did! (although it was a near thing!)
4th try - 11/20/11 - Pretty good, but good enough?
Yes it was - success!!
Next up Deathtrap Dungeon - I have never completed it, so I don't think i'm going to have much luck!
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Post by stevendoig on May 20, 2018 20:31:41 GMT
DEATHTRAP DUNGEON
1st shot - 8/21/10 - Stats are hopeless so I was killed by the Flying guardians.
2nd shot - 12/19/12 - Made it all the way to the gnome, but I had no sapphire....
3rd shot - 11/23/12 - Killed by a hobgoblin very early on after ringing a bell
4th shot - 9/19/12 - Found the sapphire! - Managed to struggle through all battles (helped by a good luck score which came in handy for battles) , but the Pit Fiend got me in the end
5th shot - 7/20/12 - Obviously hopeless, so the flying guardians got me again!
6th shot - MAX STATS - Made it all the way through to the end with ONE stamina point remaining !
Normally I would criticize a book for being so hard, but I suppose its part of the point in this case (IE no one else has ever got through the dungeon before, so why the hell should you!)
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Post by philsadler on May 21, 2018 5:05:45 GMT
DEATHTRAP DUNGEON Normally I would criticize a book for being so hard, but I suppose its part of the point in this case
Or you could just say it was poorly designed.
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Post by stevendoig on May 23, 2018 19:25:13 GMT
Island Of The Lizard King
This was a favourite of mine when I was a wee boy, now I find it a serious pretty dull encounters with ridiculously strong opponents
1st shot - 8/16/12 - Useless stats. Nearly killed by the Giant crab, then slain by the headhunters
2nd shot - 10/18/19 - Better but I got wasted by the slime sucker.
3rd shot 11/21/12 - Pretty good - I struggled through to final victory with no provisions left and 6 stamina points
wins 7/7 so far (This tremendous total cant last!)
Onto Scorpion swamp - can I complete all three quests with my six goes?
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Post by lordomnibok on May 24, 2018 1:54:24 GMT
I reckon you'll do it in four. Bets on.
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Post by daredevil123 on May 24, 2018 14:19:46 GMT
I reckon you'll do it in four. Bets on. I'm guessing the Grimslade path will take two attempts. |
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Post by stevendoig on May 27, 2018 20:52:38 GMT
We shall see! Scorpion Swamp 1) stats 11/20/8 - Selator's quest first. Made it to Willowbend before finding the berry which shall come in handy later. Anyway, I got the berry eventually and returned safely!! 2) stats 7/19/10 - Poomchukers quest with pish stats.... I tried to find a way around the Sword Trees as I knew they would cause me grief, so after encountering a bear, then crab grass I got wasted by two Swamp Orcs! bah! 3) stats 10/19/11 - Poomchucker again - This time I struggled past the sword trees and went off the main path looking for other 'Masters' for the final quest.. then I made it to Willowbend and the dice were really against me but I got back to poomchucker with 2 stamina points to spare - success!! three shots left (including one with max stats) so hopefully i'll manage this! |
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Post by stevendoig on May 29, 2018 19:55:13 GMT
4th shottie - stats 7/20/9 - ah , oh dear. I got hurt badly fighting the Goblin statue then got into pointless fight with Grimslade - death !!
5th 11/14/11 - Previous goes showed me where to find the Masters, so I struggled through to the end with 2 stamina left!!
OK, so Caverns of the Snow Witch next. I remember JUST completing this one a few years ago with max stats, so unless I roll them, I reckon I'll need all 6 goes!!
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Post by lordomnibok on May 30, 2018 10:47:23 GMT
4th shottie - stats 7/20/9 - ah , oh dear. I got hurt badly fighting the Goblin statue then got into pointless fight with Grimslade - death !! 5th 11/14/11 - Previous goes showed me where to find the Masters, so I struggled through to the end with 2 stamina left!! OK, so Caverns of the Snow Witch next. I remember JUST completing this one a few years ago with max stats, so unless I roll them, I reckon I'll need all 6 goes!! I was convinced you'd do SS in four, with one death on the Grimslade quest. Your unfortunate stats on attempt 2 narrowly squished my prediction. Snow Witch is harder to predict but good luck. I like to see how other people get on playing fair, so I'm finding this interesting. |
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Post by stevendoig on May 30, 2018 21:21:20 GMT
caverns of the snow witch
1st try - 12/21/10 - not too bad!! I made it to the snow witch tunnels, but I can only think I took a wrong turn and ended up in a series of tunnels I don't ever recall being before (a room with a minstrel for one ) I ended up in a wee tunnel with a locked door and I had no key ! --- damn!!!
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 1, 2018 19:40:36 GMT
2ndshot - 8/23/12 - The Skill was hopeless, the dice were against me, so I was killed by the Yeti!
3rd shot - 7/19/12 - Surprisingly I made it past the Yeti with some good rolls and use of luck, and I managed to limp on until I was killed by the Crystal Warrior
4th shot - 12/20/12 - I was dubious that my stamina would hold out and also that I would overlook the dark Elf potion. Luckily I made it! I even had 9 stamina points left!
I didn't hate this book, but the second half is just a continual series of monster encounters designed to knacker yer stamina.
House Of Hell next - I've NEVER found the correct route through it, so I'm pretty sure this will be my first fail!
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,562
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Jun 1, 2018 19:53:16 GMT
Wow, didn't expect you'd beat Caverns so quickly. Well done.
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