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Post by tyrion on Jun 17, 2020 11:12:49 GMT
I think as we get on to later books some of these might not be as widely known. Bear in mind that you might not have finished a book, because it might be dull or too hard, and that could still qualify as being a least favourite.
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 17, 2020 11:20:29 GMT
Hmm, this could be a harder one to guess....
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Post by Law on Jun 17, 2020 12:21:00 GMT
Hmm, this could be a harder one to guess.... I don't think there's a single book more despised in the whole range than CoM!
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jun 17, 2020 13:32:05 GMT
Hmm, this could be a harder one to guess.... I don't think there's a single book more despised in the whole range than CoM! Have you not read FF33 Sky Lord? That one would be my contender for the absolute bottom of the barrel. Maybe at the end of this first round of worst ones, there could be a vote to see which is the least liked of all: So far it's looking like Starship Traveller and either Freeway Fighter or Space Assassin ... and CoM.
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sylas
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Post by sylas on Jun 17, 2020 13:57:11 GMT
Chasms of Malice is often random and pretty much unplayable, but I do enjoy the lore behind some of the subterranean encounters. Star Strider I've read at least three times but I remember next to nothing about it.
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kieran
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Post by kieran on Jun 17, 2020 14:09:36 GMT
Another vote for Chasms. It feels like half the sections are instant deaths.
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Post by Law on Jun 17, 2020 14:31:55 GMT
I don't think there's a single book more despised in the whole range than CoM! Have you not read FF33 Sky Lord? That one would be my contender for the absolute bottom of the barrel. Maybe at the end of this first round of worst ones, there could be a vote to see which is the least liked of all: So far it's looking like Starship Traveller and either Freeway Fighter or Space Assassin ... and CoM. Sky Lord is actually one of my only greenspine originals! And since I only played it and the rather staid couple in Space Assassin / Starship Traveller out of the small sci-fi side range...
No, I actually unironically quite like it! Is it made on acid? Sure, but it is zany and memorable with instant deaths that are quite hilarious, it has vehicle fights, unique CQC fights like with the Blob Monster and Fog Farkin.
Ultimately I consider it an exemplar of crazy awesome and so-bad-it's-good camp.
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jun 17, 2020 14:46:28 GMT
Chasms of Malice is often random and pretty much unplayable, but I do enjoy the lore behind some of the subterranean encounters. Star Strider I've read at least three times but I remember next to nothing about it. Agreed, i was hovering between SS and CoM. I went for CoM in the end because it feels random, full of instant deaths, and not playtested. For me, that outweighed the eerie atmosphere and lore you mentioned above.
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Post by philsadler on Jun 17, 2020 17:59:10 GMT
I went for CoM in the end because it feels random, full of instant deaths, and not playtested. For me, that outweighed the eerie atmosphere and lore you mentioned above.
Isn't that a bit like almost every Livingstone adventure?
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Post by stevendoig on Jun 17, 2020 18:13:38 GMT
I was being serious! I thought there may have been equal hate for Crypt actually.
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Post by kieran on Jun 17, 2020 19:02:22 GMT
I went for CoM in the end because it feels random, full of instant deaths, and not playtested. For me, that outweighed the eerie atmosphere and lore you mentioned above.
Isn't that a bit like almost every Livingstone adventure?
I think Per Jorner's review of Chasm of Malice sums up the difference: "This must surely be one of the most bloodthirsty FFs. Whereas some books like FF26 casually tried to kill you off every once in a while, and then, if you happened to get to the end, killed you, this one very solemnly goes about trying to kill you at all times."
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Post by The Count on Jun 17, 2020 20:00:49 GMT
I went for CoM in the end because it feels random, full of instant deaths, and not playtested. For me, that outweighed the eerie atmosphere and lore you mentioned above.
Isn't that a bit like almost every Livingstone adventure?
I much prefer Chasms of Malice to most Livingstone books - as difficult as it is, at least it has a couple of paths through it.
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Post by daredevil123 on Jun 17, 2020 20:29:31 GMT
I nearly voted for Crypt but the memory of my Skill 12 characters getting eviscerated in One-Strike Combat meant I had to go for Chasms. I had more fun dying in Crypt at any rate.
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Post by schlendrian on Jun 17, 2020 20:51:29 GMT
I think Per Jorner's review of Chasm of Malice sums up the difference: "This must surely be one of the most bloodthirsty FFs. Whereas some books like FF26 casually tried to kill you off every once in a while, and then, if you happened to get to the end, killed you, this one very solemnly goes about trying to kill you at all times." Off Topic, I know, but is there a difference in meaning between "to kill off" and simply "to kill"?
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Post by Law on Jun 17, 2020 20:56:39 GMT
You know a game-book is dire when modifying its unique rules is a prerequisite for winning! Fortunately, I didn't play Chasms for long since I simply couldn't get over the lazy premise. How by Throff is a kitchen scullion going to have any feasible skill at arms?! Mr Sharp could have at least made you a squire.
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Post by kieran on Jun 18, 2020 6:35:33 GMT
I think Per Jorner's review of Chasm of Malice sums up the difference: "This must surely be one of the most bloodthirsty FFs. Whereas some books like FF26 casually tried to kill you off every once in a while, and then, if you happened to get to the end, killed you, this one very solemnly goes about trying to kill you at all times." Off Topic, I know, but is there a difference in meaning between "to kill off" and simply "to kill"? Good question. My take is "kill off" is generally used in the sense of killing someone to get rid of them. For example, if an actor in a long running series is fired, then their character might be killed off to get rid of them.
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Post by kieran on Jun 18, 2020 6:36:38 GMT
You know a game-book is dire when modifying its unique rules is a prerequisite for winning! Fortunately, I didn't play Chasms for long since I simply couldn't get over the lazy premise. How by Throff is a kitchen scullion going to have any feasible skill at arms?! Mr Sharp could have at least made you a squire. Maybe he hits the castle gym every evening after work? Or maybe Goraki rabbits have very thick skins.
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Post by vastariner on Jun 18, 2020 8:17:29 GMT
Chasms of Malice would have been excellent if at least half of the instant deaths had been taken out - and the one-strike combat had been VERY simply changed to a one-strike attack strength battle.
Robot Commando was somewhat anaemic, given that your interactions were limited by the absence of everyone, and it was padded out with a simulation, but there was an excellent degree of freedom of movement.
Also Star Strider was a bit basic. Could have been a lot more done with that scenario. The writing felt dashed off.
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Post by Law on Jun 18, 2020 10:14:52 GMT
You know a game-book is dire when modifying its unique rules is a prerequisite for winning! Fortunately, I didn't play Chasms for long since I simply couldn't get over the lazy premise. How by Throff is a kitchen scullion going to have any feasible skill at arms?! Mr Sharp could have at least made you a squire. Maybe he hits the castle gym every evening after work? Or maybe Goraki rabbits have very thick skins. Perhaps. And perhaps his skinning duties also required being the beaters for or even hunting these wascally wabbits.
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Post by kieran on Jun 18, 2020 10:54:23 GMT
Robot Commando was somewhat anaemic Have to agree there. Usually my failures are due to me committing suicide by charging into the Karosseans after getting bored of wandering back and forth between empty cities.
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Post by tyrion on Jun 18, 2020 11:16:09 GMT
I hope vags doesn't see this, someone has voted for crypt😂
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Post by Peter on Jun 19, 2020 8:43:14 GMT
There are some great premises in these books. Most of them have serious flaws - weak plot, non-absorbing writing, or unplayable rules - but they all have their good points. If I were stuck on a desert island with only these ten books and I had to eat one of them to survive, I would actually have to think about which one I wouldn't miss in any way.
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Post by philsadler on Jun 19, 2020 9:21:29 GMT
I hope vags doesn't see this, someone has voted for crypt😂 I wonder who that was?
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Post by bloodbeasthandler on Jun 22, 2020 15:16:23 GMT
Off Topic, I know, but is there a difference in meaning between "to kill off" and simply "to kill"? Good question. My take is "kill off" is generally used in the sense of killing someone to get rid of them. For example, if an actor in a long running series is fired, then their character might be killed off to get rid of them. Those verbs followed by a preposition, eh? As you show, Kieran, in this instance it makes little real difference to the meaning, unlike a lot of the time where the meanings can change quite radically. "He felt quite put upon listening to all their put-downs but it was something he just had to put up with" etc
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