Reading about Fighting Fantasy and learned that it too had a "Satanic Panic" associated with it. For some reason, I always equated the moral panics surrounding role-playing games primarily with America, so that was interesting to read. Also, I never got any cool powers after reading #DND books, so I must have chosen the wrong game...
I went hunting for the eight-page warning guide, but seemingly, nobody has posted it online. I bet it would be a hoot to read, so if anyone knows where I can obtain a copy, please let me know.
It had to happen. Desperate for more material, Puffin Books started accepting outside book submissions into the #FightingFantasy#gamebook line, and here is their first definite misstep. #SpaceAssassin used the very first book as a blueprint, not accounting for any developments since then. Worse, it is not even remotely a good imitation of the original. Don't worry, Andrew Chapman's books improved a lot later on.
I found the #FightingFantasy gamebook "Siege of Sardath" (authors: Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone) in a roadside little free library and it has some delicious #Oldhammer style illustrations by Pete Knifton.
My daughter and I gave #ScorpionSwamp a go. It is the first from the #FightingFantasy line not to be written by one of the founders. I appreciate the attempt to allow free movement. Also, three missions inside. We picked the "good wizard" mission, of course. Second attempt, we succeeded. That was... underwhelming. 30 minutes. Need to dig deeper.
Having just escaped from Deathtrap Dungeon, a well-deserved rest with our good friend Mungo seemed in order. Only that said Mungo immediately sends us on another seemingly hopeless adventure: defeating the Lizard King and freeing the enslaved humanoids from his grasp. At least he's coming along as well. Oops, maybe that wasn't the best of ideas…
When I was 12 or 13 I wandered into my local bookshop and saw an odd little book tucked away in the Sci Fi section. "Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain".
I bought it, took it home, and I don't think my family saw me for the next few days. With the aid of a pencil, notepaper and some dice you could have a differemt story every time. I was hooked.
As further books in the series came out over the next few years I bought and played them all. My original first edition Warlock paperback eventually literally disintegrated.
But it's been reissued. And now I have a copy.
Please excuse any failure to post over the next few days: I've just found some dice.
Dug out my gamebooks and dusted off the Fighting Fantasy ones. There should also be some FF magazines around, although they weren't boxed with the books, so it might be a bit before they emerge.
This picture left a strong impression on me as a child. It all seemed to be there. The impressive guard figure, looming above us due to the choice of perspective. And then, in the background, a sketchy, but alluring promise of what would await us if we managed to get past that guy. It all seemed perfect. But, of course, memories may be misleading. So let us enter the #CityOfThieves together.