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
A Saint Beckons

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
A Saint Beckons

Thanks Tammy, hope you enjoy it :)

Jordan
Mon Dec 9 04:24:13 2019
A Saint Beckons

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

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

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

SPOILER

END SPOILER

HAL
Mon Dec 9 15:23:31 2019
Deathtrap

I finished Deathtrap (using simply.fighting fantasy.net) more than a week ago, but it has taken me this long to compose my thoughts about it into these few words:

Firstly, thank you Phil. DD was my most favourite of all the official FF gamebooks, and while it has been around 30 years since I last played it, somehow it has stayed buried deep within me. So I was definitely excited to attempt this homage to the original, and I have to say that it did not disappoint.

I have to agree with Albertt above, the atmosphere created by the author was truly astounding throughout. There are sections that I felt so disgusted, fearful, revolted, saddened or one of so many other emotions just from journeying through them, that when re-attempting this adventure they became difficult to re-read. Phil has to be the most evocative of all authors on this fan site, and that is meant to be no small praise.

To successfully navigate Phil's fiendish dungeon, I mapped my progress through more than several attempts. The motifs on the arrows above most passages were an excellent concept, and helped with this greatly. However, this mapping revealed a couple of minor errors (where North should have been West for example) but I won't bore anyone with these details unless asked.

The absolute highlight for me was the protracted duel with

SPOILER

END SPOILER

. This probably has to be the most epic armed conflict I've ever faced in a gamebook, and most gratifying to finally overcome. Thanks again Phil.

If I had to be truly critical, I would say that I don't think that the inclusion of the randomized foes that you face (or even pit against one another) adds anything to the storyline. And I found it a little disappointing that, unlike the original Deathtrap Dungeon, this prequel could be finished without finding all 3 requisite gems. However, these are just minor personal quibbles I'm sure.

All told, I must rate Deathtrap as an epic of astoundingly entertaining literary skill; as a read it has to be a 10/10, and at least an 8.5/10 in gameplay. It is a truly worthy homage to the original, and all congratulations and tributes must be given to its author. Once again, thank you Phil.

Phil Sadler
Mon Dec 9 17:21:06 2019
Deathtrap

What a great review! It really makes me feel it was all worthwhile when I read constructive criticism like this. In fact, I thought the comments were so good that I put them on Facebook.

As for you disappointment at not needing all of the gems, well that was me trying to be 'fair' and leaving some leeway for how a reader wants to approach the book (which is still a very difficult challenge when played honestly). So I stand by that judgement because the adventure is so tough to begin with that I felt that some 'get out of jail free card' might stop some players from getting too frustrated.

Robert Douglas
Mon Dec 9 19:01:50 2019
A Saint Beckons

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

SPOILER

END SPOILER

archer
Wed Dec 11 06:41:26 2019
A Saint Beckons

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

Merrick
Fri Dec 13 06:17:13 2019
In The Footsteps Of A Hero
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

I died here ha ha. To whoever made this site, you did a terrific job! I had a great time.

meschlum
Fri Dec 13 07:40:36 2019
A Saint Beckons
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.

Robert Douglas
Sun Dec 15 20:37:22 2019
General Chat

Two men fighting over the last turkey in the shop....a shoving match in the local pub on Xmas Eve....some cars involved in a pile-up because the drivers were rushing to buy Xmas presents....a general election that has marred and dominated the seasonal spirit... These things I've heard of or witnessed over the years and recently I've been thinking: at this rate, we might as well spend Xmas in Port Blacksand - at least we know where we stand! As a young boy I enjoyed Xmas time (and not just because of the lovely presents, there was a magical feel to it all) but such talk of 'peace and goodwill' is farcical at best. It's a nice sentiment, but regrettably nowadays rarely practised.

bcyy
Mon Dec 16 06:51:57 2019
General Chat

@Robert
Well, it's true that some people seem to treat Xmas as a formality these days, and pretend to be happy instead of actually being so. I was horrified by a guy a few weeks ago, who claimed that he was dreading going home for Christmas, because he didn't know what presents he was going to buy. Wouldn't it be better if we had an opt-out mechanism for people who do not want this festival?

matt
Mon Dec 16 09:56:42 2019
House Of Horror
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

darn

Robert Douglas
Tue Dec 17 20:52:03 2019
General Chat

Hi bcyy,
You're right about the opt-out, especially when Xmas has just got too commercialised and traditions are imposed rather than entertained. I went round the supermarket today - yes, even in winter I still love going barefoot! - and nobody seemed happy nor receptive to conversation. There was one young lady who was singing along to one of the tannoy Xmas numbers (I forget now which one), this made me take notice and I gave a slight smile in acknowledgement to apparent her Xmas cheer - but she didn't seem at all bothered to chat! Inwardly, I just shrugged 'oh well' and thought it a great shame, like an opportunity lost, and moved on. I can relate to the scene below (hopefully with the webmeister's permission):
https://youtu.be/TIMmdsU9n5o

bcyy
Mon Dec 23 04:42:51 2019
General Chat

@Robert,

Forgive me for saying this, but have you ever considered going to another country? Your current one really doesn't seem to be working for you. It seems to me that your current surroundings demand a very strict dress code, which you're simply never going to follow, whereas not every country in the world is as snobbish as that.

You might have to give up going barefoot for a while (it is unwise to expose your feet to an environment you do not know well), but in all the other aspects, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Robert Douglas
Tue Dec 24 00:57:56 2019
General Chat

Hi bcyy,
Trust me, I'll never give up being a barefooter. I was just saying how even if I was being receptive, sometimes it's a shame it isn't well received. Many - but not all - UK people can be snobby about bare feet, but New Zealand (one of a few countries you'd pointed out) accept it as part of their culture. And while not 100% safe, it's much safer than UK pavements. One worrying thing is that Auckland is now being conservative towards the lifestyle.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Xmas, or a Celtic Solstice, or....a Titan winter festival!

bcyy
Thu Dec 26 11:18:33 2019
General Chat

@Robert

Speaking of the UK, I could be there some time in the next few months. If we pass a luck test, we might bump into each other...

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