Thanks for this nostalgic trip to the past! The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was the first dungeon crawler board game I've played when I was 10 and I have very found memories! The book was also my first introduction to "chose your own adventure" books and still is the best to date. Thanks again!
Wow. This takes me back. Warlock was my second gamebook (Citadel of Chaos my first), and I stumbled over a used copy of Warlock the board game about 20 years ago. :)
Thanks for your series of reviews of early RPG games, many of which I own. I have the woftm book, signed by the authors. Bought two copies (one for me one for my brother in law), got both signed. I remember the authors advised that the game book isn't any easier if you buy two!!
Your historical board game classics are great and unique. This FF book brings memories. It was very difficult! The maze, the incomplete dwarves directions, finding the right keys etc.
Excellent review. We've playe the board game with a few home rules and it helps a bit. I do quie like the maze, it's an interesting catch up mechanic and adds interest to the last segment of the game. We play with these mods,1) when rolling your charcter roll two additional dice, these can be swapped with any two of your original rolls 2) All players have 6 movement, you only roll to see if you get a key challenge. 3) all hits do 3 damage not 2and theres one more relating to an overpowered item but I cant remember. Ultimately though I could not recomend it as a Dungeon Crawl. If you like retro board games get Hero Quest, if you want a super simple dungeon crawl, I'd go with Dungeon Saga and if you want probably he best dungeon crawl board game get Disscent. Warlock is for FF fans only.
Excellent review - completely agree with your points too :-) I recently managed to get myself a copy of this on eBAY and as a piece of boardgaming history it has a special place in my collection, but as a game that I will play regularly with my friends - nope, it's too slow and the mechanics are uninspiring. Like others that own the game, I've already started to think about how the game can be improved, such as personalising the character classes more by giving them unique abilities, changing the movement rules, and so on, but I just don't think there's enough replay value in the game to warrant spending too much time on this one. An interesting buy for those who grew up with Fighting Fantasy (like me) and one that brings back many great memories of reading these books, but one can't help but feel that this game could be made so much better. Having said that, if someone did decide to remake this with the knowledge of how boardgames have developed and evolved since the 80s then I would be intrigued enough to buy it for sure :-)
This is a brilliant review of the gamebook splitting it into the 3 sections and where those originate. The boardgame review is on point too, the combat rolling is a bit dull (mechanical) and the stats should be balanced for a better game, like a high roll for everyone to make an easy first game and lower stats to make later games harder! It's a bit sad that they created a book that introduced people to roleplay games so well only to sell-out and produce a boardgame themed on Warlock of Firetop Mountain rather than another good intro to D&D.
WOFM is actually my lest favourite of all the FF books. Simply due to it's random nature and that terrible maze in the middle section. Egh, hated that bit so much.
Roll and move just like playing Monopoly. Reminds me also of Talisman. Yes they are mediocre from the point of view of design. I still love them! I think the reason is related with theme. Thanks for the historical videos.
Thanks for this nostalgic trip to the past! The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was the first dungeon crawler board game I've played when I was 10 and I have very found memories! The book was also my first introduction to "chose your own adventure" books and still is the best to date. Thanks again!
Wow. This takes me back. Warlock was my second gamebook (Citadel of Chaos my first), and I stumbled over a used copy of Warlock the board game about 20 years ago. :)
Thanks for your series of reviews of early RPG games, many of which I own. I have the woftm book, signed by the authors. Bought two copies (one for me one for my brother in law), got both signed. I remember the authors advised that the game book isn't any easier if you buy two!!
Your historical board game classics are great and unique. This FF book brings memories. It was very difficult! The maze, the incomplete dwarves directions, finding the right keys etc.
Hey, thanks for the shout-out to T&T!
Thanks Marco. I will dust off My copy of the book. I got it signed back in 1982 when I was 14 at a Games workshop shop in Manchester UK
grew up reading this book on the bus to and from school. man it was hard, even with me skipping combat. oh and the cover image is bloody awsome
Excellent review. We've playe the board game with a few home rules and it helps a bit. I do quie like the maze, it's an interesting catch up mechanic and adds interest to the last segment of the game. We play with these mods,1) when rolling your charcter roll two additional dice, these can be swapped with any two of your original rolls
2) All players have 6 movement, you only roll to see if you get a key challenge.
3) all hits do 3 damage not 2and theres one more relating to an overpowered item but I cant remember. Ultimately though I could not recomend it as a Dungeon Crawl. If you like retro board games get Hero Quest, if you want a super simple dungeon crawl, I'd go with Dungeon Saga and if you want probably he best dungeon crawl board game get Disscent. Warlock is for FF fans only.
I have this game. It's a great game. Do you like and or did you ever play and or review Avalon Hill Magic Realm Game?
Excellent review - completely agree with your points too :-) I recently managed to get myself a copy of this on eBAY and as a piece of boardgaming history it has a special place in my collection, but as a game that I will play regularly with my friends - nope, it's too slow and the mechanics are uninspiring. Like others that own the game, I've already started to think about how the game can be improved, such as personalising the character classes more by giving them unique abilities, changing the movement rules, and so on, but I just don't think there's enough replay value in the game to warrant spending too much time on this one.
An interesting buy for those who grew up with Fighting Fantasy (like me) and one that brings back many great memories of reading these books, but one can't help but feel that this game could be made so much better. Having said that, if someone did decide to remake this with the knowledge of how boardgames have developed and evolved since the 80s then I would be intrigued enough to buy it for sure :-)
This is a brilliant review of the gamebook splitting it into the 3 sections and where those originate. The boardgame review is on point too, the combat rolling is a bit dull (mechanical) and the stats should be balanced for a better game, like a high roll for everyone to make an easy first game and lower stats to make later games harder!
It's a bit sad that they created a book that introduced people to roleplay games so well only to sell-out and produce a boardgame themed on Warlock of Firetop Mountain rather than another good intro to D&D.
WOFM is actually my lest favourite of all the FF books. Simply due to it's random nature and that terrible maze in the middle section. Egh, hated that bit so much.
Roll and move just like playing Monopoly. Reminds me also of Talisman. Yes they are mediocre from the point of view of design. I still love them! I think the reason is related with theme. Thanks for the historical videos.
Any plans making a review of the original Arkham Horror classic?
+ソルグル yes, as soon as I can find an affordable copy of the Chaosium version
+marcowargamer Would be great.
Can't wait!
Great idea!
+marcowargamer Wow, excellent news, looking forward to that.
More Fighting Fantasy reviews please :)
You sure know your game history.