It’s true. Sadly. Even if this meme went international it wouldn’t compare to the efforts of our health workers. I’m sharing it with pride having worked in that sector myself among these truly amazing people.
Today my dear friend Oliver McNeil launches his new Kickstarter campaign for the sequel to his award winning ( 😉 ) tabletop RPG, The Storymaster’s Tales Weirding Woods. The new adventure sees you as a hero trying to gain glory from the perilous Dracodeep Dungeon. New magic, new monsters and new characters abound in this fantasy Grimm-esque world. Having play-testing it live recently, I can tell you that it has all the makings of another masterpiece like it’s predecessor and it is great to see The Storymaster’s Tales universe expanding with another game in the pipeline even now. If you haven’t gone so yet, check out Mr McNeil’s Kickstarter by clicking this link The StoryMaster’s Tales “Dracodeep Dungeon” Hybrid RPG, via @Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legendphotography/the-storymasters-tales-dracodeep-dungeon-hybrid-rpg?ref=android_project_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.
One of the weirdest experiences I have had in life is a set of shoes which was purchased for me by my sister when I was at High School. They was made of vinyl rather than leather and after a couple of weeks of wear two small splits appeared just either side of the lace area of the right shoe. I showed it to my sister and she said maybe the shop in town could do something to repair it.
The following weekend, I woke up and there was no sign of the splits anymore. This left my sister and me somewhat dumbfounded and honestly… can their even be a rational explanation?
So a couple of weeks ago I managed to get my hands on a copy of the tabletop game The Storymasters Tales – Weirding Woods and do a small review. Trying our best, Vic and I failed to complete our chosen quests on two occasions before giving a review. The past two nights however we have been fortunate to have our friends stay over. Where we failed, a young boy named Dakota not only managed to complete one game, but two in succession. Beast Slayer and Prophecy Of The Dragon. For a young boy who hasn’t had the best start in life this game not only entertained and excited him but winning filled him with a new found confidence and interest in other tabletop RPGs whereby he was largely only use to video games before.
Dakota winning his first adventure in Weirding Woods
Oliver McNeil who created the game has literally altered the life of a timid young boy , filling it with excitement and magical social interaction through this game. Incredibly weaved stories, subplots and interactivity ensures no two games are the same despite them maybe having similar occurences. Outcomes can differ through choice or roll of a 4 sided fate die.
Second win for Dakota…laying the Forest Dragon.
Do I still recommend this game? No doubt about it. I adored watching my Mrs get expelled from a library for farting, then poisoning a natural spring. The mechanics and ideas knit together so fluidly it makes you wonder how on Earth did Oliver think this up. Dakota’s mum said this must’ve been the working of a really intelligent man, and me having met him I assured her she was correct.
Vic, Armani and Dakota get whipped
Was it third time lucky for Dakota. Sadly not… ish. Vic was killed by a spider bite while trying a bit of grave robbing then the remaining two fell foul of a Fae Lord and attacked each other. Dakota won the fight but remained under the evil Lord’s control forever. It was like Anakin and Palpatine all over again. At least he lived on.
I can’t recommend this game enough and bequeath you the link once more.
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.
