After 25 years of procrastination my next book, The Druids Of Pneuma, has been completed and will be sent for print real soon. I’ve many people to thank for their help and have pages set aside to do so. A limited special edition copy will be printed first for those whom have taken the opportunity to reserve them, before it is submitted to Amazon in the usual manner.
I’ve been participating in The Storymaster’s Tales Online LARP since it’s maiden adventure late last year. Last night I was honoured as a moderator in The Storymaster’s Tales Interactive Theatre Facebook group. Thank you. As a celebration, I have now added a page to my blog devoted to it, and highlighting what they do and what we as the players get up to. If you are into interactive adventure , rpg , larp , or even a fan of the old television classic Knightmare then check out my page http://www.jamsplace.co/walraven
Excellent news. Mike Tenebrae has finished his prelims for the internal illustrations of The Druids Of Pneuma, and they’re fabulous even now! A big thank you to everyone who booked a special set. I shall let you know when payment is due. I know on here I have said April release but it’s all down to Mike now, and the publication process itself. You never know! It may be a ride so smooth we will visit the beaches of Tayin as soon as March.
Either way, we have much to look forward to, and it’s all going very well. Watch this space!
Hey hey! Today I endeavour to finish off the second rewrite of The Druids Of Pneuma. What a nightmare last hundred refs it has been. With plot holes and cross links galore having to have been ironed out, it isn’t any wonder Puffin rebuked 19 year old gamebook writers. Anyway, I think I have come up with a lovely story, or peril and woe, action and adventure, monsters and magic.
Upon completion it shall be shown to three trustees for preliminary perusal, and the wonderful Mike Tenebrae will be briefed on internal illustrations. I have come up with a plan for limited Kickstarter rewards, which people will be able to get a special edition hardback or paperback as well as other goodies. Whether or not that funds, the book will be available on Amazon shortly after the Kickstarter ends. I’m guessing it’ll be a couple of pounds more than the first two Literally Immersive Gamebooks as its over twice as long at 410 references.
Of all the book projects I am ever likely to do, this is probably the most personal to me, and a product of my 19 year old self and 44 year old self combined. There’s that number again! It will also contain a couple of Easter eggs here and there. A 25 year old work is about to come alive. And with a cover by Malcolm Barter, binding me to the Fighting Fantasy series I love and grew up with. This is a dream come true. I’ll be at the Fighting Fantasy Beero tonight, if you cannot make it I wish you all a merry Yuletide break and happy New Year.
Larping has recieved a significant smash in the chops due to lockdpwn rules. Personally, the closest I ever got to Larping was cops and robbers, or am-dram productions with a youth club I attended as a boy. So is there a way to get round this? Yes! Oliver McNeil, creator of the incredibly popular Storymaster’s Tales boardgames Weirding Woods and Dracodeep Dungeon, has created an interactive webcam based format, where Larpers can create there own character and explore the multitude of locations in his ever expanding Grimm-esque universe. With encounters of wizards, witches, monsters and magic, this thoroughly absorbing static larp experience draws you straight into a cooperative adventure with dozens of other characters.
The production levels of this visual interactive phenomenon are high, and many people have compared the experience to the old Knightmare TV series from the 80s. My own character, Half-head Harry, is a Thief who is usually handy to have onside when sneaky skullduggery is relied upong to progress the story. Being new to Larping, I can say its easy to get into, and more experienced Larpers are always happy to help you out if you stifle.
While the world of outdoor social RPG is at the mercy of covid 19, I strongly recommend to anybody who like LARP, RPG, D&D and all other immersive live action co op games to check it out. Search for Storymaster’s Tales Online LARP group on Facebook today and have a chat with some of the members about joining in this incredible gaming delight. Ages 14+
This will be the cover art of Literally Immersive Gamebooks 3, The Druids Of Pneuma. Illustrated by the legendary Malcolm Barter, whom is noted in the gamebook world for his work on the Fighting Fantasy book, Forest Of Doom, and Scriptarium.
I first met Malcolm at the first Fighting Fantasy Fest in 2014 and we immediately clicked. This art, the Bella Mort, was inked especially for the event, but coincidentally resembles a key character in Druids, the first draft of which was written some 20 years previous. It was as if it was meant to be. Thanks to Malcolm once again. Also on board for internal art are Mike Tenebrae for the internals, and new kid on the block, Pat ONeill for fillers.
Halfway through writing the third Literally Immersive Gamebook. This is quite a milestone, and although I’m only doing around ten references a day, I look forward to finishing this quarter century old, 410 section quest. Reason being, after it’s made it out there I have decided to write at least two fantasy novels based in the world LIG3 is set in, the second being a novelised version of LIG3. A third novel may also be in the running, but I have saved the idea to this point as it’s an awesome story to pitch if the Fighting Fantasy crew ever get short of a plot. What a dream that would be, but how unlikely… soooo…
When lockdown began, I set out to release my first gamebook. I turned to a 25 year old blueprint I penned when I was 19. It’s hideously juvenile but I thought, “With a tweak here and there, this could be revamped.” In the end it was placed on the back burner, while I found footing with two smaller adventures, First Year At High School and Paranormal Hero.
These are now available on Amazon. My next book was set to be a sort of secret agent themed adventure, but with what little time I have due to parenting, I do not feel I have the time nor state of mind to plot it. That said, I still have my quarter-century old blueprint and shall proceed to work on that. LIG3 will be The Druids Of Pneuma. Bigger and better than the first two adventures. Afterwards, I shall focus on a couple of novels.
Oliver McNeil, creator of The Storymaster’s Tales, invited myself and other gaming fan Helen Donovan, to take part in a live cam session of his latest game named Hotel Lovecraft. Thankfully my inferior internet allowed me to stay the duration, and what an incredible time we had.
The game differs tremendously from previous successes, Weirding Woods and Dracodeep Dungeon. While it is still card/book/dice based, the setup differs in that you are not building a map like in the aforementioned, but playing 6 levels (floors) of a creepy hotel based heavily with a feel of the titular name’s works. The chilling atmosphere when you explore each room is started with an accompanying soundscape and narration at the start of each scenario as usual. This works to great effect, creating a real sense of intensity and dread like in such games as the Room app series. The intensity grows tenfold as you get nearer the end of the game, say, the final two floors, where the end is in sight but you are scrambling round trying to complete your objective or avoid falling foul of any terrors out to suck you stat points away.
Even though Helen and I were the only two players, the six levels of five rooms kept the game going for two hours in total. She got away. I died in the last location. Because of her as it ultimately turned out, yet we’d been working together perfectly well until the final location. Women! 😄
Even though this game differs to Oliver’s others, it isn’t a far flung effort being traditionally easy to pick up and more importantly, great great fun. This will be the third ten on ten Oliver McNeil game when I score it on BGG. Thanks for all the fun, laughs, and games you bring to the world Mr McNeil. Originally crowdfunded on Kickstarter, you can order a late backer copy if you CLICK HERE.
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