Joe Dever's Lone Wolf is one of the best Adventure Gamebook series. It inspired me to write my own Castles of Imagination (linked so that choices in book 1 matters later in the series). Five of six books are currently available. 3d6 and an imagination are needed to play.
RUclips blocks links until I approve them, but if you post the link to your books I'll definitely approve the link. Although Lone Wolf was definitely my favourite, a bunch of friends also adored the Way of the Tiger series of books, which seem like they had a similar progression with the character through them, although obviously a completely different tone.
Lone Wolf is the best game book series EVER! It is one long story and with it ending with Book 32 (coming soon), I will miss it greatly. The story for each book, artwork and the style of Choose Your Own Adventure with Dungeons and Dragons elements, I was hooked from the get so (I started reading it when I was 11 in 1987).
Absolutely loved the series. I think I fell away from it around the mid 20's (25 or 26, I've got a vague feeling it was around when you started playing as a new character (although I may be mistaken, it's been a while)). I just adored the character of Lone Wolf, and really felt like I'd roleplayed him. Such good books.
I loved the map especially in the first two books, as it's burnt across the bottom, and the book mentions you retrieving a burnt map from the ruins of the monastery. As to new books being published, I take it they're being written by someone else after the sad passing of Joe Dever.
Another thing about Sorcery! that was really distinctive was the "spell memorisation" aspect. Once you start, you're not allowed to look at the spellbook section, so you're instructed to read it and try to remember as much as possible. Those three-letter codes are the start of each spell are the trigger for casting it. At each opportunity to cast a spell in the book, the text offers multiple three-letter-code options; some are always red herrings that don't stand for any spell, others might be spells that are useless in the curremt situation. Complicating things is the fact that some of the spells have a required component that you have to find in your travels, which is another thing to try to remember. I had it all memorised in my youth and still remember some of them to this day - GOB summons a goblin (with a goblin's tooth component), YOB is similar but for an ogre, HOT is a fireball, ZAP is a lightning bolt, etc. The Sorcery! series is also noteworthy for being illustrated by John Blanche (famous for his work in early Warhammer, including the first edition Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) which helps give the series loads of atmosphere. Between the art and the magic and carrying the same character between books 1-4, Sorcery! was by far my favourite of the Fighting Fantasy line.
Another thing I just remembered about spell memorisation was that it was written into the story - the magic of the hero's homeland was a national secret, so the hero couldn't carry the spellbook with them in case it fell into enemy hands. There was an opportunity at one point in the series to acquire a contraband spellbook that turned out to be a stolen one from the hero's homeland, which allowed you another look at the spell section before the hero destroys the book to preserve the secret. There was a spin-off book sold at the same time, the "Sorcery! Spellbook", that was just the spell section at one per page, with an illustration reprinted from the gamebooks on the opposite page to each one showing that spell being used. A friend of mine had it. It was just a cash-in that didn't have any real use except to showcase the art.
It was good that the book gave you the choice. I think wizards had a point or two lower Skill than warriors, so with the spells all costing Stamina to cast, wizards and warriors were probably quite balanced.
There were the Freeway Warrior series from Joe Dever as well, but Freeway Fighter was just so good and different to the usual fantasy fare from the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.
Have you uploaded it anywhere, I'd love to have a look, although I don't speak Italian, I'd love to have a peek and see what you've done since I adore Flight from the Dark so much.
@@RPGGamer I thank you for your interest. On my channel I made a video where I show a preview of how I developed this game. Just in these days I was converting all the texts into English based on the editions released on the projectaon website. In this way I can publish them on the net without incurring copyright problems even if many things on their site are not clear. I apologize for my English, but right now I'm using Google translator. The game in English will still take some time. The moment it is available I will definitely put a video preview on my channel ;)
I know I'm wayyy late lol but new subscriber here and was curious, is the Lone Wolf games use dice then? I'm interested in starting a series that involves chucking dice and has leveling up. Thanks!!!
The original gamebooks used a random number table in the back cover, so you'd just slide your finger onto the page, and open the book up to see which random number you'd selected. But was totally useable with dice as well. The books had a type of levelling up, as with each book you completed you'd keep your equipment, and be able to select new Kai Powers. It's a very rudimentary version of what you're looking for, but I can't complain as I've loved those books for almost 40 years.
I grew up playing these types of book games on long car rides and in my spare time in the 80's and 90's. I recently re purchased my Combat Heroes collection and found a few CYOA books in the random thrift store now and then. Anyone know if there's an actual genre or way to search for these types of books more easily online? I would like to see a more comprehensive list to see if I remember any more of the ones I used to own.
If you really want a comprehensive list, gamebooks.org/ , but it's so comprehensive that you'll be lucky if you've even heard of 10% of it, I know I haven't.
Very true, but the question this has made me ponder is, which Steve Jackson is the more famous? The one with a game company in his name, or the one that founded Games Workshop and began the Warhammer franchise?
Joe Dever's Lone Wolf is one of the best Adventure Gamebook series. It inspired me to write my own Castles of Imagination (linked so that choices in book 1 matters later in the series). Five of six books are currently available. 3d6 and an imagination are needed to play.
RUclips blocks links until I approve them, but if you post the link to your books I'll definitely approve the link.
Although Lone Wolf was definitely my favourite, a bunch of friends also adored the Way of the Tiger series of books, which seem like they had a similar progression with the character through them, although obviously a completely different tone.
Really interested in your books.. please post the link..
Lone Wolf is the best game book series EVER! It is one long story and with it ending with Book 32 (coming soon), I will miss it greatly. The story for each book, artwork and the style of Choose Your Own Adventure with Dungeons and Dragons elements, I was hooked from the get so (I started reading it when I was 11 in 1987).
Absolutely loved the series. I think I fell away from it around the mid 20's (25 or 26, I've got a vague feeling it was around when you started playing as a new character (although I may be mistaken, it's been a while)). I just adored the character of Lone Wolf, and really felt like I'd roleplayed him. Such good books.
The map inside each LW books is the coolest!!
There are a total of 28 books in the Lw series. Recently, books 29 and 30 were published. Book 31 will be out in 2021 November
I loved the map especially in the first two books, as it's burnt across the bottom, and the book mentions you retrieving a burnt map from the ruins of the monastery.
As to new books being published, I take it they're being written by someone else after the sad passing of Joe Dever.
Another thing about Sorcery! that was really distinctive was the "spell memorisation" aspect. Once you start, you're not allowed to look at the spellbook section, so you're instructed to read it and try to remember as much as possible. Those three-letter codes are the start of each spell are the trigger for casting it. At each opportunity to cast a spell in the book, the text offers multiple three-letter-code options; some are always red herrings that don't stand for any spell, others might be spells that are useless in the curremt situation. Complicating things is the fact that some of the spells have a required component that you have to find in your travels, which is another thing to try to remember. I had it all memorised in my youth and still remember some of them to this day - GOB summons a goblin (with a goblin's tooth component), YOB is similar but for an ogre, HOT is a fireball, ZAP is a lightning bolt, etc.
The Sorcery! series is also noteworthy for being illustrated by John Blanche (famous for his work in early Warhammer, including the first edition Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) which helps give the series loads of atmosphere. Between the art and the magic and carrying the same character between books 1-4, Sorcery! was by far my favourite of the Fighting Fantasy line.
Another thing I just remembered about spell memorisation was that it was written into the story - the magic of the hero's homeland was a national secret, so the hero couldn't carry the spellbook with them in case it fell into enemy hands. There was an opportunity at one point in the series to acquire a contraband spellbook that turned out to be a stolen one from the hero's homeland, which allowed you another look at the spell section before the hero destroys the book to preserve the secret.
There was a spin-off book sold at the same time, the "Sorcery! Spellbook", that was just the spell section at one per page, with an illustration reprinted from the gamebooks on the opposite page to each one showing that spell being used. A friend of mine had it. It was just a cash-in that didn't have any real use except to showcase the art.
It is due to the spell book which i cant remember that forced me to choose Warrior
It was good that the book gave you the choice. I think wizards had a point or two lower Skill than warriors, so with the spells all costing Stamina to cast, wizards and warriors were probably quite balanced.
@@Dasharr do u play other series apart from Sorcery?
I was really into gamebooks back in the day. Lone Wolf and Way of the Tiger were my favourite series.
I loved freeway fighter, mad max totally.
There were the Freeway Warrior series from Joe Dever as well, but Freeway Fighter was just so good and different to the usual fantasy fare from the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.
👍👍 i converted to digital Flight from the Dark with RPG Maker MV in italian language, beautiful saga!
Have you uploaded it anywhere, I'd love to have a look, although I don't speak Italian, I'd love to have a peek and see what you've done since I adore Flight from the Dark so much.
@@RPGGamer I thank you for your interest. On my channel I made a video where I show a preview of how I developed this game. Just in these days I was converting all the texts into English based on the editions released on the projectaon website. In this way I can publish them on the net without incurring copyright problems even if many things on their site are not clear. I apologize for my English, but right now I'm using Google translator. The game in English will still take some time. The moment it is available I will definitely put a video preview on my channel ;)
Just started Fabled lands books.
Wasn't aware of them, looks interesting. Do you recommend?
Definitely. Check out a playthrough on RUclips. There is also a digital version also which looks good but I haven't played👍
@@RPGGamer try Vulcan Verse from same writers.
I know I'm wayyy late lol but new subscriber here and was curious, is the Lone Wolf games use dice then? I'm interested in starting a series that involves chucking dice and has leveling up. Thanks!!!
The original gamebooks used a random number table in the back cover, so you'd just slide your finger onto the page, and open the book up to see which random number you'd selected. But was totally useable with dice as well. The books had a type of levelling up, as with each book you completed you'd keep your equipment, and be able to select new Kai Powers.
It's a very rudimentary version of what you're looking for, but I can't complain as I've loved those books for almost 40 years.
I grew up playing these types of book games on long car rides and in my spare time in the 80's and 90's. I recently re purchased my Combat Heroes collection and found a few CYOA books in the random thrift store now and then. Anyone know if there's an actual genre or way to search for these types of books more easily online? I would like to see a more comprehensive list to see if I remember any more of the ones I used to own.
If you really want a comprehensive list, gamebooks.org/ , but it's so comprehensive that you'll be lucky if you've even heard of 10% of it, I know I haven't.
The Steve Jackson who wrote these books is not the US board game developer Steve Jackson. These are two different people.
Very true, but the question this has made me ponder is, which Steve Jackson is the more famous? The one with a game company in his name, or the one that founded Games Workshop and began the Warhammer franchise?
yup, if you didn't find the plastic tubing to syphon petrol you were a goner!!
Oh wow, I'd totally forgotten that, brings back so many memories :)
Big like for ya 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
@@RPGGamer you welcome 😉
>pronounces chasm as ch-asm
Oh dear
>corrects peoples pronunciation on the internet
Oh dear 😄