Believe it or not, one of the ways to at least have a chance of revovering data is to put the HD in the freezer for a while (double-bag scealed, to avoid moisture). Sounds crazy but a lot of people have said that it will make it work for a little while.

CrypticWizard
Tue Sep 22 20:00:16 2009
General Chat

I don't intend to sell it...in fact I only wanted to have it playable from this site. So I guess there is no problem with the copyrights on Forest of Doom, then?

And as far as the hard drive goes, I tried using it with my new PC buy it doesn't even recognize the secondary drive. I think the hard drive is fried and unrecoverable. Most of my stuff was backed-up and got restored, but some of documents--including my gamebook--were lost. I'm not terribly upset about that, since I was not even 1/4 of the way finished with it.

In the meantime, can someone help me out with Bad Moon Rising? I'll tel you where I need help as soon I can figure out how the "spoiler" thing works.

Any help would be appreciated.

Phil Sadler Sat Sep 19 07:52:56 2009 General Chat	Can't you just install the old hard drive as a slave on your new PC and get the data that way? Or do you mean it was the drive itself that failed?
	It is sometimes possible to recover data even from a failed drive, there is plenty of free software about that will attempt this.

CrypticWizard
Fri Sep 18 23:29:26 2009
General Chat

Hi, haven't been here in a while--problem is, my computer more or less died on me, and eventually I gave up the ghost and got a new one. Unfortunately, all my work on my FF-style gamebook was on the old computer so it all got wiped. Starting over from the beginning is daunting and I haven't actually done it yet. I might start a new project instead, without the added difficulty of the spells. I was thinking of maybe doing a paralell to Forest Of Doom. I just hope there won't be any copyright problems if I do.

I daresay there might be copyright problems if you tried to sell it, but there are plenty of gamebooks out there (including on this site) that reference existing works, and they don't seem to have drawn any legal action, so you would probably be OK.

Ulysses
Wed Sep 16 00:02:14 2009
The Hypertrout

Aiken:

When I wrote about the orcs in tDK, I thought at the time that it was a interesting idea that deserved more attention. So subsequently I started to write another adventure about the orcs in that developing kingdom, and their quest to release the dragon trapped within the mountain. It delves deeply into orcish culture, and although a serious work (as in more like tDK than the WWGB series) it will definitely show a side of orcs that people never thought existed, as well as all the things people do know to be true.
This is one reason I want to finish the WWGB Series, so I can go back to working on that one. It will be another 1000 reference adventure, of which I have already written at least half, but it is very complex with multiple paths, secret areas and loops where you (as an orc) either grow stronger, or get weaker and perish.
I also need to make sure it doesn't become boring, which will be quite a challenge. When I read Outsider! I enjoyed it at first, but then just wanted it to end...but it kept going... My orc adventure will be even worse because of the looping. Hopefully the plot will be interesting enough to maintain a high care-factor.

Re: Honeymoon on Titan, I have decided I will write it, because I have thought of a delicious plot twist that I can't leave alone. Thanks for all your suggestion, everyone. I will try to work in what I can, but can't promise anything.

Aiken
Tue Sep 15 13:17:01 2009
The Hypertrout

Re: "Honeymoon on Titan", I love Diffmeister's idea. Funnily enought, Ulysses already did something similar (but still quite different) in the Diamond Key:

SPOILER

END SPOILER

Also, perhaps the kleptomaniac tendencies of the adventurer's of Titan could be spoofed- they collect anything and everything that comes their way, often killing fairly innocent or at least not actively hostile shopkeepers to get it. They need help!

Kee
Tue Sep 15 07:29:38 2009
Garden Of Bones

Kudos to Alec Worley for writing Garden of Bones, it's a short and entertaining adventures with a few interesting ideas thrown within,

SPOILER

END SPOILER

duffmeister
Mon Sep 14 17:05:20 2009
The Hypertrout

RE 'Honeymoon on titan':

I have personally always felt orcs had a slightly harsh time in the ff series, often being viewed as evil and even unthinkingly killed simply because they're orcs and of course orcs=evil. Naturally, in the ff series they are merely filling the 'evil henchmen' gap, but i'd love to see the orcs on titan set up an 'Anti-orcophobia' group, or something similar, trying to remove orcs bad reputation (Possibly only to spoil it by being unable to resist temptation and killing any non-orc seeking to join). Perhaps they are trying to take non-traditional orcish jobs to combat prejudice, with orcish seamstresses, violinists and lawyers now appearing.

Ulysses
Mon Sep 14 02:00:24 2009
Gamebooks

Hello all.

I received today the first 4 volumes in the latest re-release of the FF series. It is interesting to note that Stormslayer is much thicker than the other three, coming in at 326 pages per 400 references, which Deathtrap Dungeon comes in at 210 pages per 400 refs.

As Phil mentioned, the instructions, etc are at the back; which seems to be an effort to hook new readers in with the story and the ability to make choices rather than confronting/confusing them with rules.
The cover designs which people have probably seen elsewhere feature a standard 'frame' with a small inset picture. Personally, I don't like this style of cover, preferring the whole-cover picture such as featured in the first re-release. However, the most striking thing is that the books look very new and modern on the outside, but inside, the re-released titles are exactly the same; and I mean exactly the same. Comparing the new version with an old green-spine, the references all start, end, and cross over pages at exactly the same point, with the same pictures and 'filler illustrations'.
None of this is a complaint, just an observation about the re-rerelease. There is a difference, after all, between revitalising something as opposed to squeezing a few more drops out of it. That said, it seems that these first 3 volumes may be intended just as the intoduction to a new series comprising new stories, which is something I think we all want to see.
I would have preferred them to just start anew without digging up the old titles at all. Having access to the old stories without having to search through second-hand bookshops or bid on ebay is appreciated, but this access is incomplete given that the first rerelease excluded some titles (it is understood that Wizard was never going to re-release a title that sold poorly back in the 80s). It would have been good if all of the old stories could have been made available somehow, perhaps in one single, giant tome that I for one would definately buy, and then let them rest and focus on a new series of slightly more mature stories.
Anyway, excuse me...going to read Stormslayer...

Andrew Wright
Sat Sep 12 00:02:37 2009
The Hypertrout

I'm also working on a short 50 ref Titan spoof for Wayne's Windhammer gamebook competiton, though it's a bit different to the great ideas floating around here!

Gaetano
Fri Sep 11 19:48:07 2009
The Hypertrout

I'd throw in an amusement park ride. "Warlock of Firetop Mountain" roller coaster (could be similar to "Splash Mountain" or "Thunder Mountain" at Disneyland); to find your way off the ride you've got to find the right keys. Perhaps the ride malfunctions and all the animatronic orcs start killing people.

Aiken
Fri Sep 11 16:39:25 2009
The Hypertrout

Ulysses

Hmmm... OK this is a little left-field, but here's my copper peice...

Maybe it doesn't matter which one they choose.

This is because Titan's economy is clearly based on a adventuro-necromantic complex which creates demand for items (from rope and provisions to amulets and swords). Without necromancers, everything will grind to a halt, since the inhabitants have no need to eat unless injured. With the death of the last undead sorceror Titan has been plunged into an economic depression threatening its very existence and attractiveness to tourists.

Realising this, our heroic protagonist must struggle to prevent adventurers destorying the Forsaken Darktomb of Nightblack Unbirth, the only means to restore the necromancers, and perhaps, the only chance left for Titan, and, more importantly, it's gift shops...

Ulysses
Fri Sep 11 00:44:16 2009
The Hypertrout

I suppose I will think more about Honeymoon on Titan.
I am not hugely familiar with all of the FF books, having read only about 20.
In terms of parodying some of the FF books, I had imagined that at the beginning when you and Pomplompotom arrive at the Titan Tourist Board office (in a space station in orbit above the unsuspecting world) there would be some parody associated with the tours on offer. However, the happy couple will choose just one tour. While references to other adventures can and would be included, just one main quest would be undertaken. Whether this should be something unique, a parody of an existing FF story, or a combination of two or more FF stories is up for debate.
Perhaps people can make suggestions...?

Andrew Wright
Wed Sep 9 23:52:57 2009
The Hypertrout

Hi Ulysses:

email Alex the editor at the email address given above for any other details on contributions.

200 refs is a definite requirement, along with using the FF rules, I guess, but Alex knows better than I. It's a fan magazine and we need contributions!

cheers

Andy

Ulysses
Wed Sep 9 21:59:24 2009
The Hypertrout

Andrew:

Regarding submissions for Fighting Fantazine, you seem to imply that 200 references is a requirement. Is that so, and what other requirements should potential contributors be aware of?

duffmeister
Wed Sep 9 17:07:51 2009
The Hypertrout

Sounds great, Ulysses. One thing that 'Honeymoon on Titan' may need is a link to the rest of the series, since the entire series is dedicated to finding a girlfriend, and 'Honeymoon on Titan will feature one already present. One idea I'd love to see which would link it more with the series would be if some of the role playing games were based on the protagonist's own adventures. I can imagine that they'd end up rather misenterpreted by the galaxy in general, given the nature of the series, so the terribly flawed reimagining of the events as the people of the galaxy see them would make for a fantastic part of the adventure!

Andrew Wright
Wed Sep 9 12:30:48 2009
The Hypertrout

I agree with Aiken, Ulysses!

In fact, why not make it 200 refs long, and submit it to the Fighting Fantazine magazine! I think we're covered for the next 2 issues, so it would be issue 4 at the latest, barring any unfortunate events.

However, given your excellent writing style, and the comedic potential, it could be a winner!

email for Fighting Fantazine contributions is:

fightingfantazine@gmail.com

cheers

Andy

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