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Hellfire
Outsider!
Lair Of The Troglodytes
Rebels Of The Dark Chasms
House Of Horror
Hunger Of The Wolf
Wrong Way Go Back
The Diamond Key
Soul Tracker
In The Footsteps Of A Hero
Waiting For The Light
Tomb Of The Ancients
Sharkbait's Revenge
A Strange Week For King Melchion The Despicable
The Word Fell Silent
The Curse Of Drumer
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Robert Douglas
Thu Jan 19 01:10:48 2012
I've finished a mini-gamebook (90 entries) for the next Windhammer Competition. That won't be for some time, however.

Regards as to new gamebooks...looking forward to Ian Livingstone's next adventure!

It's a shame Steve Jackson is no longer active in FF circles. I'm glad he's doing well (lecturing on games design at a university in London) but it would be fantastic if he reprised his old writing pen for another epic adventure.

adam
Thu Jan 19 05:52:46 2012
Hey everyone, just checked in after a few months and saw a few more books have been added. Cant wait to check them out, thanks again for all the work putting them on the site.

adam
Thu Jan 19 07:29:20 2012
Just played sharkbait, loved the Deadliest warrior and Family Guy references!!!! Oggityboogityboo!!!

adam
Thu Jan 19 08:46:06 2012
Just played a strange week for Melchion, what a great story, fun and a touching ending

Robert Douglas
Fri Jan 20 16:08:18 2012
I envy hermits. At least, the people who are able to become hermits. In today's society it's easier said than done. The only way it can be achieved is through a vast amount of wealth and the sanctuary of a private residence - even then, I fear currency will no longer hold any meaning within ten years time. Best to have a vegetable patch and orchard, just in case!

But what has triggered this need for solitude? Perhaps the current social and economic climate has affected my judgement of people. Or that the seeds were sown during my youth. I disliked school. Intensely. Never fitted in, and was never given the chance. The only good thing about it were those lunchtime discos in the assembly hall. Mind you, these were only held every Friday. School trips were enjoyable (visiting Ironbridge museum or a pantomime) but, few and far between, stuck with the same, tiresome people.... I rest my case.

Society sickens me. One of my pet hates is Big Brother - not the one from George Orwell's '1984', but an entity even worse that blights our television screens. When viewers delight in the misery of others, I have to ask: WHY? What's with all this wasted energy? In a sense, I can understand the reason for those volunteering - the excitement and lust for fame - but derision of the public exacts too heavy a price in return. I suppose we can gain valuable information from observing social interaction and personality clashes...but at the expense of people's sanity? REAL people. What really disturbs me is the audience's attitude. How they rub their hands with glee, anticipating the horrors to come, slavering at the maw.

Thus, I shun society's values and enshroud myself in reading and writing, watching documentaries, quiz shows, people who can impress us with knowledge and talents, comedians with the ability to make us laugh...

It's very sad we're living in a world where many enjoy the suffering of poor, wretched souls who have suffered enough.

asgardian
Sun Jan 22 05:36:12 2012
Robert, very true. Just don't lose hope - there are also good people in the world and I believe things ultimately balance out. The very fact that you are saying these things gives me hope :)

duffmeister
Sun Jan 22 16:43:47 2012
Very well said Robert. I often feel concerned about the delight so many people in our society take in the suffering of others. There seems to be a fashioble trend for saying words to the effect of 'Human nature is essentailly sadistic', a claim that is not only depressing and a lazy excuse for inactivity when facing problems, but also a displayal of complete ignorance of evolutionary biology. No 'inherently sadistic' species could ever survive, let alone flourish, because within a handful of generations they would bring about their own destruction. While humanity is hardly an ancient species, the fact that it has persisted for hundreds of millennia (Exactly how many depends on what you specifically define as 'human') proves that it is not as inherently self destructive or sadistic as proponents of an increasingly fashionable cynical attitude insist without any actual evidence to back up their claims. There have been many cultures at different periods which have been selfless and charitable to the point of self neglect. Even in todays world there are numerous cultures far more compassionate and charitable and far less selfish and sadistic than our own. The issue is not one of human nature, but of society, and I like to gain some solace in the fleeting nature of societies and cultures, in which a culture if it lasts a millenium, and even then is likely to have changed so much as to become completely unrecogniseable in the process. So whilst I often feel very concerneed by the selfishness, cynicism and sadism popular in our culture and society I think that it is a tragic but brief period in human history. And I think people like yoursleves are probably essential in bringing us out of it :)

Stuart Lloyd
Mon Jan 23 19:04:32 2012
Hi all! I review Resurrection of the Dead (the first Fighting Fantazine adventure) on the Lone Tiger blog -

http://lonetigerreviews.blogspot.com/2012/01/resurrection-of-dead-by-alexander.html

Robert Douglas
Wed Jan 25 01:24:39 2012
@ asgardian
@ duffmeister

Thanks for the kind words. Your comments are very interesting - especially how it's society that affects human nature as opposed to human nature itself being the culprit. However, I've often wondered whether we're prone to animal instincts, i.e: tribal wars fought over territory, or jealous because somebody has their eyes on a potential partner, and so on.

Perhaps the one thing that sets us apart from the animal kingdom is our ability to imagine: allowing us to ask questions, search for the right answers, manipulating science and the elements to our advantage. At times, such a precious thing can be abused by those with evil intent (spreading lies and discord).

Very few - like ourselves - also use it to create fantastic stories. Entertaining...and hopefully inspiring others to excel.

That's why I believe FF gamebooks, alongside other great works such as Dickens, Shakespeare, and countless authors throughout the ages contribute to our lust for adventure and exploration. That moment of FF discovery in 1987 no doubt changed my life; I wouldn't be writing this or any gamebooks if it wasn't for Steve and Ian inspiring me. I'm not normally one for heaping an avalanche of praise, but credit where it's due...

asgardian
Thu Jan 26 13:01:48 2012
Yes, this has always been true of man. When we perform an act of kindness, or create something such as art, film or literature, we transcend the mortal clay and exist in our noblest, purest form.

Haoie
Thu Jan 26 19:50:35 2012
Has anyone been on the Choice of Games website? I just discovered it lately and it's got some really interesting CYOD style adventures. http://www.choiceofgames.com/category/user-made-games/

adam
Fri Jan 27 07:57:20 2012
Hey Haoie, thanks for sharing the link, lots of interesting choose your own path adventures

Robert Douglas
Fri Feb 3 02:34:31 2012
A particular point has been raised concerning the player's attribute scores. Much as we all love Fighting Fantasy, to be honest there's always been a downside to the rules. Rolling a 1 leaves you with Skill of 7, or rolling 2 totals a mere 14 for Stamina. The player would never really get very far on such diabolical stats!

In light of this, I'm very keen on pre-generated characters; veteran soldiers, assassins, etc would perhaps start with a 9 or even 10 for Skill. This gives the player more of a chance.

Ian Livingstone introduced this concept in 'Legend of Zagor' - but some of the Wizard Books publications have also implemented a pre-generated character section. In this way, at least the player isn't tempted to cheat (thus feeling guilty) when choosing an 'approved' set of stats. Also, it's great to have some kind of personal background to your character!

Also, while wizards are comparatively poor fighters, they should start with a dozen select spells to help raise Stamina and aid in combat, ie: 'Fireball', 'Summon Creature', or 'Illusion' - but a 'Spell-casting Ability' element to the rules determines success or strength of a spell. Opportunities to purchase/obtain/earn more spells are provided along the way.

SCC
Fri Feb 3 09:34:57 2012
Robert, funny you should mention that. Am currently working on a story that is a direct sequel to a famous FF story with an unsatisfying ending. The hero is a veteran of many adventures and as such has all attributes maxed out. That said, it is still easy to challenge such a character if handled well.

Robert Douglas
Fri Feb 3 14:17:35 2012
@ SCC,

Interesting...and somewhat mysterious! Will you be posting it on this site once it's finished? Wonder if it's to do with Chadda Darkmane...?

NEWS
Sat Feb 4 07:56:16 2012
The Curse Of Drumer

Robert Douglas' sequel to House Of Hell can now be played online.

"The-the Earl of Drumer's place," he gasps, "You're having a joke with all of us," he laughs nervously, "go on, own up to it!" Your face remains puzzled, no hint of a mischievous grin emerges. Terry's face falls. "Look, look," his hand grips your shoulder, almost crushing it, "you don't know me, I don't know you, but listen, listen," he grits his teeth to emphasise the point: "Don't go there! That place is cursed, I tell you, cursed".

Ibrahim
Sat Feb 4 13:01:11 2012
Hi Everyone. Try as I might, I cant get passed the grandfather clock puzzle in the house of droomer's celler. Could someone give me a hand with this one? I should mention I've never played house of hell before so if knowledge is required from that gamebook I apollogise.

Robert Douglas
Sat Feb 4 14:19:25 2012
@ Ibrahim,

SPOILER
This puzzle is based upon the player's knowledge of the dread number '666'. The short hand is to be placed on a particular number while the button is pressed, then placed and pressed twice more to give a three digit number: '666'. Simply select '6' each time the text prompts you for a number. 'House of Hell' has no bearing on this puzzle whatsoever.


It was probably unfair of me to assume fans would be familiar with the bible or 'The Omen' films. However, Andy sent me an interesting link concerning an old parchment which mentions the number is actually '616'.

Ah, well...

Ibrahim
Sat Feb 4 15:02:01 2012
Hi Robert, thanks much, I'll get on with the game and let you know my impressions when I'm done. I hope it's long, there's been a decided lack of outsider length games on here recently which is a shame.

Robert Douglas
Sat Feb 4 17:04:55 2012
Okay, Ibrahim. But even on high scores 'The Curse of Drumer' is quite a challenge. I hope you get on with it okay :). I have to say I've been killed several times by my own gamebook...whether ill fortune, combat, etc. However, I'd managed (just about!) to complete it - that penultimate battle reduced my Stamina to 1, phew! - so I quickly wolfed down FIVE meals before facing the last opponent.

Please let me know if it was long enough for you; I wanted to put a fair bit of dialogue into it, make it more realistic with banter, suggestions, arguments etc amongst the characters. Bit worried it was too long, though. I learned my lesson from 'Prison of Pestilence' and 'Snakeland Scorpion' as regards an exhausting Background.



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