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

END SPOILER

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….

Yaztromo
Thu Apr 9 10:10:23 2020
The Black Lobster
Star - optimum ending reached

This adventure is evergreen ;)

Ren Xuan
Thu Apr 9 10:35:49 2020
New Day Rising
Star - optimum ending reached

well this one is better than others!

Gavin
Fri Apr 10 20:34:24 2020
New Day Rising

I thank you for your kind words. The lock down and the fact that Serenity is on TV reminds me two of the characters are straight lifts from there. Guess which ones kids! Meanwhile, as for mission 3, I have written, a bit more.

Derek Metaltron
Sun Apr 12 10:45:30 2020
Gamebooks

Hey everyone, new person here, some great content on the site! I am just wondering what people's opinions are about doing fan made game books (either with FF mechanics or not and either open world or not) based on established settings, probably any of the following...

- Star Wars
- Doctor Who
- Marvel
- DC
- Fallout
- Skyrim
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Hitman

I want to say I have a lot of ideas and a lot of free time right now because of current situations and I really like the idea of dipping my toes into making a gamebook finally, but I don't know if some people dislike games that take content from established universes (outside Fighting Fantasy anyway) or not. But clearly I have my loves and it's nice when you have some lore or even RPG inspired material to work with!

Also I am wondering what size is best to start with! Long term I would love to make a 1000+ section epics that Fabled Lands would be proud of with plenty of adventures and quests and such but I know it's best to sharpen my skills on something more straightforward first! I have to say I liked Andrew Wright's idea of micro adventures with 25 sections or mini adventures with 50 sections, and the short games with 100 sections sound ideal too, so should I start there before tackling a 400-500er or a 1000er?

Thanks in advance!

Derek Metaltron
Sun Apr 12 10:52:19 2020
Isle Of The Cyclops

Great to see an adaption of Fabled Lands done so well! Exploring the isle is definitely fun with the various secrets. It's great to see these days that open world gamebooks appear to be making a comeback with Steam Highwayman and Legendary Kingdoms. I do have ideas for something similar with either Star Wars or Horizon: Zero Dawn...

Robert Douglas
Sun Apr 12 14:52:43 2020
Gamebooks

Hi Derek, welcome to the group! A good list of possible ideas for gamebooks set in those particular worlds/universes. Personally though, I would say that open-world video games such as Fallout and Skyrim already speak (perhaps more efficiently) for themselves within RPG circles. Much as we all love gamebooks on this site, and how entertaining they have been and still can be despite their somewhat archaic approach to gaming, each one of us are painfully aware the limitations regarding choices. Admittedly, open world video games have much more choice of direction, methods employed, beside the sight and sound lacking in gamebooks. One of my favourite games would be Deus Ex - and Ian Livingstone was actually the Eidos Chairman during release way back in 2000. Even so, its 'multi-path' approach was partially inspired by the gamebook mechanic: do I go in guns blazing, venture beneath by taking the sewers, or climb that ladder to the rooftop and go from there...?

However, the Marvel universe of superpowered heroes and villains is very popular - and one already emulated by Steve Jackson in the form of his fantastic 'Appointment With F.E.A.R'. Reading through it might give you inspiration, even what you might have done differently. And the good thing about this is you can execute such ideas and have it posted on this site. However, please bear in mind, while FF publications are open to fan-written prequels, sequels, or parallels to the plots, tread very carefully around copyright-protected worlds and universes. As you said yourself: 'based' upon - and it's far better to create your own world inspired by, but not directly taking from, established worlds/universes. Appointment with F.E.A.R achieved this without treading on the toes of actual Marvel superheroes/villains - yet they had similar ideas, powers, and character backstories. Steve Jackson made a tribute to his beloved Marvel comic hobby and all without incurring legal wrath. All published novels and gamebooks set within such franchises - Dr Who, Assassin's Creed, Star Wars, Robin Hood, to name but a few - were written by authors specially commissioned and bound under legal contract. Sorry if I sound a bit like a lawyer, but rules are there for a reason.

Whether the overall theme is horror, sci-fi, steampunk, post-apocalypse, comedy, including some or even all these genres, the best thing is to play to your strengths - or your loves as you mentioned above - as you already have the necessary inspiration necessary for enthusiasm. As to actual length, I would recommend a short adventure as an ideal starting point - something like 100 entries - just to get your teeth into, trying out ideas first, and that many entries gives you some room to play with during writing. However, one factor to also bear in mind is not to limit yourself; for example, you might have written about 120 or 130 by the time you've finished writing in all your ideas. 50, 100, 400....all are ideal round numbers. Don't be afraid, or limit yourself, to have 125 or 415. I'm currently writing Sean Calibre Book 2 and planned something like 450 entries - I suddenly realized there wouldn't be enough to cater for the scope of choices and expanded it to 600!

Whatever you decide, I hope the writing goes okay <:-)>

AW
Mon Apr 13 14:27:10 2020
Garden Of Bones
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

Miss these books

Andre Michael Pietroschek
Sun Apr 19 18:22:42 2020
A Saint Beckons

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". ;-)

Robert Douglas
Mon Apr 20 14:50:43 2020
A Saint Beckons

Thank Andre :)

Rob Mon Apr 20 16:22:15 2020 The Curse Of Drumer	Very well written and lengthy. Really enjoying it. Its would be great to find a way to identify longer novels in the home screen. This book feels like a real luxury amongst the shorter ones.
	The lengths of all the gamebooks are shown here.

Gavin
Tue Apr 21 11:29:56 2020
A Day In The Life
Star - optimum ending reached

Silvery wings again, though what would be really shiny and chrome is if Bloodstock actually went ahead this year. Metaldays was just cancelled, and San Miguel laughing spreads his wings.

Yaztromo
Tue Apr 28 04:36:56 2020
Midnight Deep
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

Very nice adventure, but eventually I died due to a single test of LUCK failed while I was entering the town of Tempest... :(

Gavin
Thu Apr 30 11:48:56 2020
A Day In The Life
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

Played this again just to see what kung fu styles the RADFEM used, I had only had one wing chun lesson when I wrote this.

bcyy
Tue May 5 05:59:25 2020
General Chat

Just finished 14 days of quarantine after I had to travel for an emergency. Glad to know that Robert is alive and well, and has posted in another topic.

BTW, I also had tons of canned beans in quarantine, although I was able to make pancakes from my strategic food reserves to supplement the beans. There were also a few days in which I was able to have cooked meals delivered to and left at my doorstep, which I then retrieved after a 30-minute wait. In short, life is still relatively good.

Is everyone else OK?

Gavin
Wed May 6 16:46:07 2020
General Chat

Bloodstock is definitely cancelled, even Satan is feeling the pinch

Condutas
Thu May 7 18:00:19 2020
The Trial Of Allibor's Tomb
Star - optimum ending reached

GG WP.

Condutas
Thu May 7 20:59:53 2020
The Trial Of Allibor's Tomb

Plenty of uses of the luck stat while barely anyway to get luck back.

Didnt like the "you start with a random item / gold" at the start of the adventure.

Besides those 2 negative points, I considered it a very solid book, with nice background and a good story + villain.

Nice work with that :)

god
Wed May 27 07:06:26 2020
A Knight's Trial
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

too hard

god
Wed May 27 07:11:32 2020
Any Port In A Storm
Skull - non-optimum ending reached

good

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