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Post by lordomnibok on Jun 4, 2019 20:36:38 GMT
Extremely eager and ready to start. |
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 5, 2019 16:23:03 GMT
wee ROGUE MAGE diversion
I don't have any issues of Warlock so this will be the only mini adventure i'll attempt (though I reckon i'll do the fantazine ones when i'm finished with the books
1st try - 10/21/9
Nice and easy to map. Obviously its short so i reached the big baddie soon enough. He did give my stamina a good hammering, but I had two potions of fortune at the start plus two more I found, so I ended up with a luck of 13 before starting the battle. The bugger ran away and I had to fight some tiresome slime. I found my enemy, he had a potion of stamina (which helped loads!) I fought another skill 10 monster, had a map and left
Piece of cake!!
SUCCESS
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 5, 2019 21:09:14 GMT
ISLAND OF THE UNDEAD This was the last FF book I bought in the 20th century, didn't like it, haven't played it much since 1st try - 12/18/11 presence 7 Good stats. I quite enjoyed my overland journey around the island. However, I found very little to help me, and missed a large part as I was pushed in to going to the tower. Don't like the tower, it is VERY dull. Anyway, I played on, and on and on and was eventually killed by the Master of Waters because I didn't have a magic sword. That took an AGE and was very tiresome. I cant see me wanting to have more than one shot every couple of days or I may very well go mad. (I have the feeling theres going to be a few other books like that coming up)  |
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Jun 6, 2019 8:31:12 GMT
ISLAND OF THE UNDEAD This was the last FF book I bought in the 20th century, didn't like it, haven't played it much since 1st try - 12/18/11 presence 7 Good stats. I quite enjoyed my overland journey around the island. However, I found very little to help me, and missed a large part as I was pushed in to going to the tower. Don't like the tower, it is VERY dull. Anyway, I played on, and on and on and was eventually killed by the Master of Waters because I didn't have a magic sword. That took an AGE and was very tiresome. I cant see me wanting to have more than one shot every couple of days or I may very well go mad. (I have the feeling theres going to be a few other books like that coming up) I like the air of mystery to Island of the Undead but it does outstay its welcome. Maybe Russ Nicholson's best work however. And yes the 50s are full of looooooooooong books: Island, Night Dragon, Legend of Zagor, Knights of Doom and Revenge of the Vampire are definitely not 30 minute jobbies. Deathmoor and Magehunter are the only shortish ones. |
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 6, 2019 17:04:52 GMT
Yep, this part of my marathon i've been dreading - the only good thing is that I havent played most of them more than twice so they'll all be quite fresh at least.  |
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 8, 2019 18:30:10 GMT
JINGS! - That was a slog and a half!
ISLAND OF THE UNDEAD
2nd try - 9/19/8/5 - I found a ship this time and got killed early by climbing some rigging in a storm!!
3rdtry - 10/19/9 - That ship I mentioned seemed pretty cool, so, after reaching a door with a magic code on it - which I could not crack (again ,I am thick),I met a charming pirate greater ghoul. It was a close thing but he hit me too many times so I died.
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 8, 2019 18:37:06 GMT
4th try - 11/24/10/5 - These stats were pretty good , and I lasted for a while. Beat the ghoul and got a magic sword. Found the monastery and got lots of good stuff. Spoke to the hermit and lots of other things. However, it was still obvious that I hadn't found the 'right' order of visiting stuff which always made the playthrough seem a bit futile. Doubly so coz i still couldn't crack the magic code. Anyway, I made it to the boring tower again and got killed by a skill 14 elemental.
5th try - 8/20/8/6 - That was rubbish! Ghouled again!
6th try - MAX - OK, varied my trip around the island a wee bit , but not enough as always became obvious. Had a good trip in the tower and eventually found the Master of Fires quarters. However, without a diamond , I was doomed (so I was doomed)
FAIL!!!!
(My 4th and 6th tries took FOREVER - really got sick of the book by the end...
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Jun 8, 2019 19:07:38 GMT
That ship I mentioned seemed pretty cool, so, after reaching a door with a magic code on it - which I could not crack (again ,I am thick) I think it has a typo and even allowing for that it is pretty open to interpretation what you're meant to do so I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. |
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 10, 2019 17:53:02 GMT
Tried Night Dragon yesterday, but I think I'm suffering from a spot of Gamebook fatigue - that was a solid run of 21 books there! - Time for some time off again!!
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 27, 2019 20:03:26 GMT
OOOh Boy this (and the rest of the 50's I reckon) is going to take a long time...
NIGHT DRAGON
1st shot - 10/17/11- Actually it was a week or so I attempted this try - but I met the dragon conclave, then I ended up wandering around a village and I met a scary wizard who killed me.
2nd shot - 11/24/11 - One presumes these are adequate stats. I successfully gathered up the three artefacts , and it was such a dull slog getting them that the thought of doing so again fills me with despair. Anyway, after fighting loads of baddies who all seemed to have a specific rule just to annoy me, eat loads of food and manage my time track, and ending up losing two skill points, I faced off the Night Dragon with a skill of 15 and a very low stamina score and therefore I died.(This definitely seems to be the longest read yet, it felt like i'd turned to all 400 references...
Another try next week - I suppose!
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Jun 27, 2019 20:30:19 GMT
I faced off the Night Dragon with a skill of 15 and a very low stamina score and therefore I died Ouch, that's pretty gutting to get that far only to fail at the final hurdle. At least that means you should beat it on your next go provided you roll decent stats. Always found Night Dragon a bit of a bore though I do like the Dreamtime segment. |
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jun 27, 2019 20:34:23 GMT
Keep going Steven, am enjoying reading the playthroughs as well as your recollections of the books the first time around.
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Post by lordomnibok on Jun 28, 2019 0:24:51 GMT
I quite enjoyed ND, though I was lucky enough to scrape a narrow victory on my first attempt, I think... Anyway, I just wanted to support kieran and Bloodbeast's posts. Maybe that gamebook fatigue hasn't worn off quite yet Stevendoig but I'm confident you'll get a win out of this one. I'm still enjoying reading about your attempts |
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Post by stevendoig on Sept 24, 2019 19:16:59 GMT
OK, away on holiday for ten days from Sunday, and when I return I have promised my self to continue (and finish ) my marathon! |
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 9, 2019 19:45:19 GMT
NIGHT DRAGON
3rd Try - 12/23/12
Nice stats! Its actually going very well, but even after such a long break, it is such a dull slog!
I've just entered the dreamtime, having already got the sword and shield, so i'll play the rest tommorow
and i better win!!
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 10, 2019 6:14:06 GMT
jings! dreamtime was a tiresome place, i found a seedpod but then left as soon as i was able. i found the armour andwas ready to meet the dragon. i had full stats and a six point as bonus. he had only i extra stamina coz i rushed there as quick as poss. it was a close run thing but some good luck rolls meant i killed him with ONE stamina point remaining!
Success! - i need never play this one again!
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 10, 2019 6:16:01 GMT
spellbreaker next - oh.dear.
suggestions with the major flaw? ie shouldi cheat so i get arrested by the guards? - or is the whole experience a doomed one anyway?
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 10, 2019 6:50:36 GMT
I say cheat. Although even then your chances aren't great!
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Post by daredevil123 on Oct 10, 2019 18:10:52 GMT
I definitely think it would be permissible to cheat on your sixth attempt. Cheating on earlier attempts is little bit dubious but arguably justified.
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 10, 2019 19:22:14 GMT
1st shot - 7/20/8
What wonderful stats! Of course the first encounter is on paragraph 1 with a skill 8 demon. I was a wee bit concerned i was going to die right away,but i managed to beat it- phew! I also sorted oot a skill 7 Brigand. I passed the faith test (no cheating!) so i got the staff. I got the heal all as well as well as (if i mind right and i maybe don't) lots of useful herbs. I met the man from Aryll and then the skill 8 Piper.
Who killed me!!!
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 10, 2019 19:25:10 GMT
1st shot - 7/20/8 What wonderful stats! Of course the first encounter is on paragraph 1 with a skill 8 demon. I was a wee bit concerned i was going to die right away,but i managed to beat it- phew! I also sorted oot a skill 7 Brigand. I passed the faith test (no cheating!) so i got the staff. I got the heal all as well as well as (if i mind right and i maybe don't) lots of useful herbs. I met the man from Aryll and then the skill 8 Piper. Who killed me!!! Ah and you were doing so well too! |
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 11, 2019 20:09:51 GMT
I have been busy - I decided to always make the one cheat and surrender to the guards. 2nd try - 10/18/11 - Now, I failed to get the staff so i am doomed coz obviously i failed to get the heal all, which is a shame and very annoying because I died exactly where the heal all was required 3rd try - 7/15/9 - A very good effort and a new record i believe as i was killed by the Brimstone demon on my very first reference! 4th try - 11/21/11 - Its amazing how well i remember the general route of this book, I did really well and had what i reckon was all the right stuff, but i drowned during the good auld witchy test... 5th try 11/23/10 - another very, very flukey playthrough, this time i died because i didn't have 'raven' written down...( I guess i'm supposed to buy that eagle i continually turned down due to not having much money! 6th try - MAX STATS - max stats don't mean anything when you fail the faith test and dont get the staff. A basic repeat of my 2nd try FAIL What a shame - this really could have been a VERY good book! |
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 11, 2019 21:03:34 GMT
What a shame - this really could have been a VERY good book! Agreed, some great encounters and ideas. It's a pity the correct path is so narrow and the dice rolls needed are virtually impossible to make. Good luck on the next book :/ |
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 11, 2019 21:26:09 GMT
Ah , thanks!
The book i have been dreading most of all actually!
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 14, 2019 19:41:36 GMT
<SIGH>
LEGEND OF ZAGOR
I'm playing as Anvar coz he is big and strong but has really shite luck
1st try - 9/23/9
Because my luck was poor I didn't want to spend a luck point avoiding a battle at the beginning, so i was killed by a Wyvern
2nd try - 10/23/5 - I spent a precious luck point so avoided the Wyvern. I spent a long and very tedious time in the castle fighting stuff and finding one talisman. Then i got killed by a skeleton Warrior.
...............
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,563
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 14, 2019 21:53:34 GMT
<SIGH> LEGEND OF ZAGOR I'm playing as Anvar coz he is big and strong but has really shite luck All the Legend of Zagor characters have shite Luck, even the supposedly lucky Stubble has worse Luck than a normal FF adventurer. |
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 15, 2019 19:24:52 GMT
3rd try
Sticking with Anvar - 7/24/7
As well as getting half my gold pinched at the start i then failed a skill test trying to open the castle door. Four super scray skill 7 Great Orcs pooped out and they killed me.
4th try
Anvar again - 8/24/9
Tried to look in a few different places in Castle Dull. Jings!, i met Ian Livingstone! (Book highlight perhaps) anyway, I met Mungus for a second time and although his skill was only 7 his high stamina and 3 points damage meant that due to some nasty rolls he killed me!
I am finishing this book tommorow night- I really need it oot the road!
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kieran
Baron
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Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 16, 2019 9:10:37 GMT
Might be worth trying one of the other characters for your last two attempts - just to throw a bit of variety into things if nothing else! Though the only who plays very differently is Sallazar and he sucks.
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Post by stevendoig on Oct 17, 2019 18:13:00 GMT
I decided to stick with Anvar...
5th try - 7/19/10
What a great skill! - I got killed very early on by the Corpse Lizard
6th try - MAX stats
Well, obviously I did a WEE BIT better. There was an annoying point when I was directed to the wrong reference and ended up playing an earlier part of the book again until I realised - anyway, the dice were really against me, the book was quite forgiving with boosts to stamina but i forgot to eat my sandwiches before meeting a kill 12 Air elemental and he ended up killing me! ( He was my 21st fight that playthrough which was very dull.)
This book was SOOO dull. The castle seemed neverending but also completely lacking in atmosphere. I already felt like I'd turned to all possible references and i suspect i was probably no more than half way through the book - never mind - Deathmoor next - I know opinions are mixed but after playing through three annoying books, I'm looking forward to it!
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kieran
Baron
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Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Oct 17, 2019 22:28:18 GMT
The air elemental is probably the toughest fight in the book though there is a way round it. And yes there was still aaaaaaaaaages to go.
Probably all 6 of your attempts at Deathmoor put together will be shorter than that last LOZ attempt. Not a bad book IMO, never understood its poor reputation. Probably Waterfield's best designed book though Phantoms and Planet have more atmosphere and Masks a better plot.
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