Fighting Fantasy game books

[burns flipper]

My first FF was Deathtrap Dungeon, hadn't seen anything like it before and my village library stocked loads. I took House of Hell on holiday when I was little - it rained for the entire week so I stayed in and read it and never managed to complete it. You had to get the Kriss knife to kill the bad guy, I knew it was under some stairs but was never given the option to turn around and look when I'd descended. Infuriating!

I also did some of the novel/advanced ones, the series of 4 - they were quite good I think. I remember getting to the very end and not having all of the crowns (you had to collect 9 or something).

Fabled Lands sounds interesting but I only discovered these very recently.

[Harrison]

They are not boring, if it weren't for them you wouldn't have your precious FF and Lone Wolf.

I think D&D is more the main direct inspiration for the FF books. And they did create an adventure book called The Magic Quest, before beginning the FF series.

Also the fact that Steve Jackson and Ian Livingston are the co-founders of the great Games Workshop is a big thing to most from the UK.

It is always personal preference but I just didn't like the Choose your own adventure books. The lack of dice rolling or real RPG elements was a big part of that. However I also found that because many of them were set in realistic American settings, or written from an American point of view, that they were just boring.

In contrast the rich fantasy universes of the Fighting Fantasy books was very intriguing and the RPG system worked well, while remaining simple enough not to get too complicated for most to enjoy.

One series I never manged to finish was Steve Jackson's Sorcery! I initially bought the first two books and because I purchased the original versions of them I had to also buy the separate spell book. Later releases included it within the main books. I'm sure I finished the first one but not the second. I really must dig those out some time.

[v85rawdeal]

A quick review of the first 18 books (the ones that I played).

Warlock of Firetop Mountain - I enjoyed this book, especially the labyrinth. Such a great way to start a series of enjoyable books. - 6 out of 10

Citadel of Chaos (or as I pronounced it - Char-ooze) - I wasn't a huge fan if this book, I felt that it lacked something the first one had although the magic system did somewhat make up for it. - 5 out of 10

Forest of Doom - Oh I so enjoyed this one. I can't put my finger on it but it was just so good. Certainly helped to shape my D&D career. - 7 out of 10

Starship Trooper - I am not certain about this one, it wasn't quite as big as the others but it was well-done. I actually feel they could have done a series similar to Sorcery based on all the ideas they incorporated into this one book. Clever, yes, but I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the others. - 6 out of 10

City of Thieves - Like Forest of Doom, this is another of the books that I loved. Again, no one element can be picked out as to what it was that I enjoyed the most, but the atmosphere of the city was almost tangible. - 8 out of 10

Deathtrap Dungeon - Stunningly good book. With an almost MMORPG feel, with the meeting of other participants. Would love to see an online version of this with regular tournaments held weekly!!! - 8 out of 10

Island of the Lizard King - I found this one to be a bit mediocre. It didn't enthrall me, nor did it bore me like Citadel of Chaos did. In all, a fairly average book. - 4 out of 10

Scorpion Swamp - This looked like it was the GRAND departure from the norm that I had looked for. The first book by the American Mr Jackson, it offered three quests, and a highly non-linear path. Not quite the pot of gold I had hoped for but still an enjoyable book with true replay value. 7 out of 10

Caverns of the Snow Witch - The prequel to Forest of Doom, and originally just a short adventure in Warlock magazine. To be honest, not one I can remember too much about. I guess it fits into a similar rating as Island of the Scorpion King. 5 out of 10

House of Hell - One of the only books I have not completed (out of the books I have played). A great story, a real dread atmosphere and the interior artwork helped to cement its position as probably my favourite book. Must get it again and complete it!!! - 9 out of 10

Talisman of Doom - Written by the guys behind the Way of the Tiger gamebooks, it is the second gamebook that uses a human from Earth, but this time you are on another world. Not a bad story, with some of the characters also appearing in the Way of the Tiger series. - 6 out of 10

Space Assassin - Did not like this book, it seemed too much like a rehash of Warlock of Firetop Mountain just set in space. More filler than thriller. 3 out of 10

Freeway Fighter - The thing that attracted me mainly to this book was the original cover. I am glad to say that I wasn't disappointed. The book did exactly what it hinted at. an enjoyable book, with a few innovations to seperate it from the other books. But not great. 7 out of 10

Temple of Terror - I found this to be a rather ho-hum level of adventure, neither one thing or another. The setting though helped to save the book somewhat as it was somewhere new. 6 out of 10

Rings of Kether - Not a bad book, but another one introducing new rules and multiple combat systems. A passable story, but certainly nothing to endear me to the author, who also wrote Space Assassin. 5 out of 10

Seas of Blood - Pirates. Slavery. Cruelty. Certainly not normal 'hero' actions. quite a good book, making up for the author's previous books. 6 out of 10

Appointment with Fear - Whilst not the greatest book it was clearly a labour of love. Bigger than normal with a lot more humour placed in the story. 7 out of 10

Rebel Planet - An okay story, but not one to stick in the mind and make me want to play it again. 5 out of 10

After that, it got very hit and miss as to me reading the books. I think I got put off too much by the mediocre stories.

[khaxzan]

I liked Sky Lord and Starship TRaveller.

One series I never manged to finish was Steve Jackson's Sorcery! I initially bought the first two books and because I purchased the original versions of them I had to also buy the separate spell book. Later releases included it within the main books. I'm sure I finished the first one but not the second. I really must dig those out some time.

Then what you need is to take the Challenge of the Month over at my forum; there's an FF section there.

I tried to play these books but getting all the crowns is too hard. I tried as the magician.

After that, it got very hit and miss as to me reading the books. I think I got put off too much by the mediocre stories.

go to used books stores.

[Harrison]

Out of those first books from the FF series my favourite is still Citadel of Chaos. It was the first book in the series that I completed. Not sure why as I owned the first 7 books on release.

I then went on to read Firetop Mountain and with a friend we used both of our copies of the book to map the whole of the dungeon complex for Firetop mountain on a huge A1 sheet of paper with information and detailed notes. I might even still have that map somewhere.

The other favourite of mine from those were Deathtrap Dungeon, Starship Traveller, City of Thieves, Forest of Doom and Freeway Fighter.

Freeway Fighter was quite different to the other FF books before it, with the exception of maybe Starship Traveler. And being a big Mad Max and post apocalyptic fan I loved that book. Wished they had taken that much further. That drew me into playing the Battle Cars boardgame. Starship Traveler also interested me greatly as I had been playing Megatraveller.

I also later went on to play the full Fighting Fantasy RPG system and the books like city of thieves and Forest of Doom greatly influenced the games we made and played. I loved the Titan game world and the beastary created for it. Easy to get new players into a game than D&D was as the rules were so easy to pick up, so within minutes you could have new players enjoying an RPG with a group of experienced players.

[burns flipper]

Joe Dever (Lone Wolf author) did a 4-gamebook series called 'Freeway Warrior' you might lke.

[Harrison]

I do know of those Freeway Warrior books, but I've not seen or read any of them. Are they related to the Freeway Fighter game book? Or do they just share a similar title?

[khaxzan]

Citadel of Chaos is faily easy to succeed with. House of Hell is a different matter. Joe Dever isn't half as good as the FF books. Not as much thought and violence put into it. I like Freeway Fighter, but Beneath Nightmare Castle is my favourite above all.

[khaxzan]

Do you see now how QUICK things fall apart? No wonder D.Holt has problems with FF

[burns flipper]

I do know of those Freeway Warrior books, but I've not seen or read any of them. Are they related to the Freeway Fighter game book? Or do they just share a similar title?

Similar title. I have one (from a car boot sale) but have never played it. You should be able to pick them up cheap if you're interested, try ebay or abebooks.co.uk