You half-collapse against an elm tree. The arrow head is still lodged deep in your thigh, throbs like the devil. Gritting your teeth, you stagger onwards through the dusky gloom, panting with tremendous effort. You lean against the bough of a sturdy oak, as if hoping to absorb its strength. Finally, too exhausted to go on, you give in to thoughts of a peaceful eternal sleep, away from this cold, brutal, hopeless world of woes...

Robert Douglas' historical gamebook is ready to play.

Robert Douglas
Sun Dec 1 01:34:17 2019
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

Damn, despite my knowing the true path - killed by my own gamebook!

Thanks for posting 'A Saint Beckons' on the website :)

SPOILER

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A. E. Johnston
Sat Dec 7 18:43:44 2019

Exciting! I've always been a big fan of historical gamebooks, and Robert always does a terrific job, can't wait to try this for Christmas!

A.E.Johnston
Sun Dec 8 09:03:22 2019

Just gave it a first run whirl and I was very impressed Robert! I can give a more detailed review once I’ve played through it a bit more thoroughly, but so far so good!

Haha, no need to worry about dying in your own written game book, it happens to the best of us :-D

Tammy
Sun Dec 8 19:38:57 2019

Congratulations Robert!

I haven't played it yet, but I will soon. It's always nice to see new gamebooks pop up on the side bar especially when I hear it's historical. Quite excited for this one.

Robert Douglas
Mon Dec 9 01:08:50 2019

Thanks Tammy, hope you enjoy it :)

Jordan
Mon Dec 9 04:24:13 2019

Need a bit of help with the knight's tomb bit. I suck at puzzles haha.

Jordan
Mon Dec 9 04:52:12 2019
Star - optimum ending reached

Excellent job Robert, perhaps there's a sequel in store? Also, seems the game can be completed without the

SPOILER

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Robert Douglas
Mon Dec 9 19:01:50 2019

Hi Jordan, there well might be a sequel forthcoming - but not for a good while! As for

SPOILER

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archer
Wed Dec 11 06:41:26 2019

I always got killed after getting the sacred mace, and after I have 3
people joining my quest...
What will I do?

meschlum
Fri Dec 13 07:40:36 2019
Star - optimum ending reached

Working on figuring out the mechanics, and I suspect the numbers are... messy. Also, it seems some careers have a much easier time of it.

SPOILER

END SPOILER

Now to try other combinations!

I believe that ARMOUR accounts for this. I haven't made it particularly clear to be fair. Yes, some combinations are easier than others. I put some effort into trying to balance it out but it's certainly not perfect in this regard. My overriding intention was that for every combination your chances of success should be very high if you make the right choices, and I think that is the case.

rogel
Wed Jan 1 14:18:14 2020

I always killed after getting to know the brothers of the girl that I saved. there was no fight. I was just killed why is that?

Sean
Mon Feb 17 04:54:45 2020

Experienced the same as archer and rogel - got the divine mace, met the brothers, then it just takes you to an instadeath.

Robert Douglas
Mon Feb 17 11:28:01 2020

Hi Rogel and Sean,
Sorry you've had trouble completing 'A Saint Beckons', I'm not sure if the problem arises from a technical error (which does happen), or that you've missed key elements to ensure success in the adventure. Without more info it's difficult to say - use the 'spoiler' box to describe the path you took so that people can give hints and advice. As regards the divine Mace

SPOILER

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binki Sun Mar 22 08:51:06 2020	Hello, Robert You wrote a great story. I played a couple of times and find it amazing! Would you mind telling me how ARMOUR works?
	Each time you are wounded, two dice are rolled behind the scenes and if the total is equal to or lower than your ARMOUR score then the damage is halved.

binki
Sun Mar 22 14:01:45 2020

Thank you for your reply - but can you tell a bit more, just to satisfy my curiosity. How do you manage different weapons - for example halberd and arming sword. Besides description they look the same for me.

The difference between those two is mainly what kind of opponent they are useful against. With the arming sword, there is a 2 point Attack Strength penalty when facing a plate-armoured opponent; the halberd gives you a 2 point bonus against an opponent on horseback, but a 2 point penalty from the fourth attack round onwards regardless of the opponent.

All the weapons' effects are hinted at in their descriptions, and can be seen more explicitly during combat where the Attack Strength adjustments are displayed on a round-by-round basis.

Robert Douglas
Sun Mar 22 15:00:16 2020

Hi bikini,
Certain weapons have similar statistics. However, one difference is that the halberd has a longer reach compared to the arming sword, but as I recall is more difficult to wield in combat. Thanks for the kind words regarding ASB story, I enjoyed writing it :)

Andre Michael Pietroschek
Mon Apr 6 04:07:00 2020
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

What a retarded little infantry-man! He ran back to the Raven instead of staying true to the quest? Stupid fellow, deserved to be cut down!

Robert Douglas
Wed Apr 8 15:36:27 2020

Sorry you didn't succeed Andre. However, bear in mind that 'A Saint Beckons' is a murder mystery where the player has to rely upon key elements and a few essential items, so all paths resemble something of a spider's web. We've all been there: where a gamebook is frustratingly difficult, but I assure you it is possible to succeed in this adventure - two golden stars (two victors) since it was posted very late last year isn't bad going. On a positive note, take heart from what others have achieved and give it another try if you wish :) By the way,

SPOILER

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He certainly wasn't retarded - otherwise what would people think of James Bond, Jack Bauer, or Lucas North? Even the best agent/professional can make mistakes which actually creates some edge-of-the-seat twists and turns in a plot. The only difference is that writing a TV script has a few more plausible options than the limitations of writing a gamebook. It's kind of reassuring - and EVERY real-life spec ops soldier worth their salt will tell you - that nobody, including themselves, is infallible. Everybody takes wrong turns in life. But the good thing about playing a gamebook (or indeed reloading a video game save or checkpoint) is having that second....or hundredth chance to start again. A bit like army drill where you have to practise and practise until getting it right. In a similar way, over time people will get to know the layout and correct path of a gamebook. I must admit that gamebooks don't map very well (even with directions, there was never any distance measurements far as I can remember), especially if, for example, a Giant Hawk swoops down and carries you to Logaan knows where! But that's why making notes prove more important than map-making: aha! so this is there, that is there, death entry from making this choice (with no secret strategy to avoid it), and so on….

Andre Michael Pietroschek
Sun Apr 19 18:22:42 2020

Thanks, Robert! Remember I commented after playing that "infantry man". It is a fine story, and it sure teaches us a lesson on how much treachery and crime to expect "along the way". ;-)

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