Last year the Warlock in all his mighty wisdom created a “How Fighting Fantasy Are You” checklist on the official website. I ranked rather high at 57 but knew I could do better. I can now proudly announce I stand at 64, having forked out a small fortune, taken a couple of liberties and painfully mutilated my body in order to achieve this goal.
Best of it all is I can possibly get to 66 . But at least now I can rest assured this is one quest I’ve succeeded in. Thanks to everyone who helped.
Who remembers all those great classic TV programs of the 80s? The Box Of Delights? The Chronicles Of Narnia? Knightmare? The Adventure Game? These were shows that boosted the imaginations of an entire generation, and inspired many. One of those inspired was Mr Oliver McNeil, who has managed to carve himself a career out of said inspirations, creating games, and interactive theatrical performances. Now YOU can join in as he takes the show live online.
Oliver’s latest venture was a hybrid RPG boardgame named The Storymaster’s Tales – Weirding Woods and it’s already became something of a cult hit in the gaming community, with a second game Dracodeep Dungeon currently funding on Kickstarter. However, combining the elements of theatre, game, visual FX and internet you are all able to watch and take part in a LIVE interactive version on his Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/339654010167488/?ref=share
Hosted by Oliver himself alongside other actors and clever puppetry, he brings the Grimm Brothers-esque setting of Weirding Woods to life and you get to explore and take part in subplots as you strive to fulfill your primary mission be it slaying Evil Sorcerer’s or saving the world from a plague of living dead. With an ever expanding land, equipment, foes and treasure, this is a great way to spend time and liven up the pandemic lockdown. If you’d like to take part in one of the upcoming shows, click here and join the group for performance times https://www.facebook.com/groups/339654010167488/?ref=share
Regular visitors to my site especially gaming fans will have already seen my write up on The Storymaster’s Tales – Weirding Woods. A hybrid gamebook and tabletop RPG that has achieved wonderful success creates by my good friend Oliver McNeil. Well today it went triple hybrid, with the very first audio streaming experience over several live video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Hangouts.
With my trusty sidekick Colin Deady, aka Wizard Frin, my Pirate character Captain Jam tackled the as yet unreleased Dracodeep Dungeon, the follow up to the Weirding Woods game. Our quest was to slay an evil Vampire Lord that has woken beneath a not desecrated church above the Dungeon. But it wasn’t just about Colin and I communicating, others could also view our progress and call out tips to Ollys wizard presenter. It was a fantastic and modern experience, and the dungeon sported many new locations, items and characters to mingle with making a lovely alternative to the woodland romp. Somehow Colin managed to get a haircut and I purchased a goat that bit me on the arse. Dracodeep Dungeon will be a huge must for those that have played Weirding Woods, and a great standalone if you wish to give the world of RPG a try in a lighter way than D&D. I can only award it 10/10 for all the right reasons.
If you fancy giving this gaming great a go, please visit http://www.storymasterstales.com and for a mere £2.50 you can purchase audio files of the incidental music. This will enter you (but not guarantee you) in a pool for a place for the next game. It also helps if you like The Storymaster’s Tales Facebook page.
Check out Colin and mines progress as we spend two hours in a subterranean deathtrap. 😉 https://youtu.be/Yv-mH-Zzr90
I’ve done a little bit of proof reading and play testing for Mark Lain in the past, including the mini’s in Destiny’s Role book 0. Book 1 on the other hand is an absolute epic by comparison. Here we have a single adventure a whopping 500 references long with three artists on board, Alan Langford for the gorgeous cover, the ineffable Malcolm Barter on cartography and Mike Tenebrae for the internal illustrations. Having backed this on Kickstarter my likeness has been included in a very prestigious place in the book. Must admit, Mike did exceptionally well as I’m not easy to photograph let alone draw.
Anyway back to the story. The premise is to hunt down and destroy the Redcap and her witchly associates before her power becomes far too strong she can take over the land. And boy is it a tough ride. You need to make sure you get as many objects and provisions as possible as you will be in so many situations where these will be useful, not to mention the combats in Mistress Of Sorrows come thick and fast. You’re surely guaranteed not to complete it first time. I stopped counting at my twelfth death, most of them in fights.
Mark has clearly researched a lot on the subject matter, and evidence of this is none so obvious if you manage to get to Covan. This particular part of the book is my favourite area and the descriptive of events therein has writing in a style suitable enough for a film screenplay. This surpasses the authorship of other gamebook writers that have been in the game for years, just like Victoria Hancox did with Nightshift.
Whilst I managed to complete the quest and slay the Bigbad, she took me with her and I succumbed to her final hex. (So didn’t manage to meet myself lol) I hear a third book is in the works as well, so soon after Mistress Of Sorrows and I’m deliberately holding back credit so I can be part of that Kickstarter also when it comes about. If you don’t own Destiny’s Role books, it’s high time you did as you’re missing out on the cream of modern gamebooks crop. 10/10
Play my new mini amateur Fighting Fantasy game Cellbreaker http://www.thedemonicthree.com/cellbreaker.htm
The power of 44 strikes again.
I’m proud to announce my good friend and author Mark Lain has launched a follow up to his Destiny’s Role gamebook on Kickstarter. With a colour cover art by the legendary Alan Langford and interior art by modern illustrator Mike Tenebrae, you can help fund this amazing interactive project by CLICKING HERE.
Check out the great rewards on this chart.
