WHY do you love Lone Wolf?

[simkn]

Tough question this time... WHY do you love the Lone Wolf series?

What is it about the series that you enjoy so much, and that sets it apart from other books and gamebooks?

And on a related note, what did you NOT like about the Lone Wolf series?

You can read my thoughts on all this here: www.4thwallgames.net/news/the-lone-wolf-series/

Please share your own thoughts as well!

[Oiseau]

A combination of factors, at least for me.

Like : The internally-consistent and well-developed world ; the character progression from book to book, including new equipment and disciplines but also Lone Wolf's heroic reputation ; the fun and simple combat rules, a far cry from the tedious "Roll 2 dice, lose 2 Endurance" mechanism of Fighting Fantasy ; and finally, the replayability — books are not one-true-path and don't force you to do the exact same thing every time if you want to win.

Don't like : The awful game balance problems, starting with Healing and the Sommerswerd ; the increasing linearity of the books ; the regular "falling masts" you cannot avoid through any combination of strategy and foresight ; the eventual decision by Joe Dever to screw fair play to the winds and force players to have maximum stats and all bonus equipment just to have a small chance of winning ; and the fundamental mistake of wiping out the Darklords at the end of Book 12, leaving nothing but monster-of-the-day enemies for the rest of the series.

On that last note, I really hope Book 32 doesn't end with the ultimate defeat of Naar and all evil upon Magnamund. In my eyes, that would render all future adventures moot, null and void, including prequel-type adventures. It doesn't help that I hate prequels to begin with, because their storylines have a foregone ending and cannot deviate from established canon.

[John Bryntze]

Good thread, and difficult to say.
Without Gary Chalks illustrations I would not have been so interested to start reading Lone Wolf, like the reprint, the illustrations makes me wonder how anyone "new" to LW would get attached to it.
So the stimulus came from the great art work, then the great world captured me (and now I don't need the illustrations to love Lone Wolf anymore).
What I like most about the world is that ALL (except Dwarfs) are JD own creations... if he had added one Elf he would had been under JJR Tolkien etc... I also like it is not a Barbarian muscle all super hero's, it is a special to have an extra skill and rare.
Agree 100% with Oiseau that it was a huge mistake to kill off all Darklords in Book 12, in Sweden it was the last book so for me the saga was over, I discovered book 13 in an import bookshop in Sweden 5 years later I ended book 12... it might have been one of my best day in my life to discover that there were more books (this was Before Internet was a big thing and you could search that info easily).

The best is the world Magnamund, the interesting story (specially book 1-12 (minus book 7 and 11 that didn't add anything to the main story in my eyes), you just want to know all about it.
Now after posting this... I will read your thoughts simkn

[simkn]

May 18, 2017 17:33:39 GMT Oiseau said:

A combination of factors, at least for me.

Like : The internally-consistent and well-developed world ; the character progression from book to book, including new equipment and disciplines but also Lone Wolf's heroic reputation ; the fun and simple combat rules, a far cry from the tedious "Roll 2 dice, lose 2 Endurance" mechanism of Fighting Fantasy ; and finally, the replayability — books are not one-true-path and don't force you to do the exact same thing every time if you want to win.

Don't like : The awful game balance problems, starting with Healing and the Sommerswerd ; the increasing linearity of the books ; the regular "falling masts" you cannot avoid through any combination of strategy and foresight ; the eventual decision by Joe Dever to screw fair play to the winds and force players to have maximum stats and all bonus equipment just to have a small chance of winning ; and the fundamental mistake of wiping out the Darklords at the end of Book 12, leaving nothing but monster-of-the-day enemies for the rest of the series.

Wow, I agree with pretty much all of those points! I mentioned several of them in the blog article I posted above. And I'm going to talk more about the consequences of killing the Darklords in my next blog post.

On that last note, I really hope Book 32 doesn't end with the ultimate defeat of Naar and all evil upon Magnamund. In my eyes, that would render all future adventures moot, null and void, including prequel-type adventures. It doesn't help that I hate prequels to begin with, because their storylines have a foregone ending and cannot deviate from established canon.

That's a really good point! I haven't thought ahead to the end of book 32 yet, but I agree with you... hopefully it doesn't end with "all evil is vanquished."

[simkn]

May 20, 2017 12:01:36 GMT John Bryntze said:

Good thread, and difficult to say.
Without Gary Chalks illustrations I would not have been so interested to start reading Lone Wolf, like the reprint, the illustrations makes me wonder how anyone "new" to LW would get attached to it.
So the stimulus came from the great art work, then the great world captured me (and now I don't need the illustrations to love Lone Wolf anymore).

That's a really great point, John. The artwork really drew me in as well. I really loved the cover and interior illustrations, and as a young kid I think those illustrations contributed as much if not more to my imagining of Magnamund as the actual story did (as I got older I started to appreciate other elements of the storytelling as well). Thanks for mentioning that.

What I like most about the world is that ALL (except Dwarfs) are JD own creations... if he had added one Elf he would had been under JJR Tolkien etc... I also like it is not a Barbarian muscle all super hero's, it is a special to have an extra skill and rare.

That's also a great point. Many of it is Tolkien inspired (Giaks are clearly Goblins/Orcs, Doomwolves are Wargs, Kraan/Zlanbeast are Fellbeasts, and the Darklords are kind of like the Nazgul) but it does have a different take on the fantasy setting. No elves, for one thing. I liked the various denizens of the Darklord army, like Vordaks, Helghast, Gourgaz, Nadziranim, etc. And the various nations and cultures the he created for the world of Magnamund were all very nicely realized.

Agree 100% with Oiseau that it was a huge mistake to kill off all Darklords in Book 12, in Sweden it was the last book so for me the saga was over, I discovered book 13 in an import bookshop in Sweden 5 years later I ended book 12... it might have been one of my best day in my life to discover that there were more books (this was Before Internet was a big thing and you could search that info easily).

I had a very similar pre-internet experience with the books. In fact I wrote a post all about just that: Personal Memories of the Lone Wolf Series. I think you and I had very similar experiences!!

Now after posting this... I will read your thoughts simkn

Thanks, and please let me know what you think!

[asapiens]

I read the "American" branded ones in the 1980's as a child. For years I thought these were the original since there was no internet and no way for me to see that there were "original" ones an ocean away. But, I enjoyed the stories and the ideas of good vs. evil.

They did have a pro-Nordic feel to it, but I didn't mind since in the 80's most heroes looked in that manner which was the societal standard. I show these books to younger people and they seems to be uncomfortable with this, but it's what I grew up on, so it's normal for me. I guess it's like growing up in the 50's where cowboys killing Indians was looked upon as heroic bring justice to the old west. (A different time)

I don't know, I will always love reading these as they still give me a sense of nostalgia.

[GhostofLandar]

what are young people uncomfortable with about Lone Wolf? Is it now negative to be blonde and blue eyed? They more comfortable with Harry Potter?

[ragingcelt]

I "grew" up with Lone Wolf. I stumbled across Fire on the Water when I was a kid and fell head long into Shadows on the Sand. What do I like about LW? Wow, what is there not to like? The game mechanics are simple and compact. Very portable. The writing is simple but engaging. And the story line is everything it should be. Sole survivor of a religious warrior order? Very Star Wars (another tremendous influence). Being warmly accepted because of your association (within the game)? I'll take that even if it is fictitious. Thing is, and I don't think I am a minority here, a lot of us dealt with real societal turds when we were growing up. Whether it was because of low economic conditions, basic awkward childhood, or any number of reasons, LW afforded an escape from the mundane chest thumping and the less than fashionable clothing. I suppose, in it's way, LW was empowering at a time when kids did not have any power or control over their life. A three dollar book (in the States) and a pencil and sheet of paper and suddenly the world hung on your heroics. That's not so bad. Now, as an adult, I find myself sifting through the stories and enjoying the memories. And now I share them with my kids (hopefully under better circumstances than my own). As a conclusion I think LW came at just the right time and filled a sorely open void with something of substance and worth. Yeah. I think that's it. LW is worthy filler!

[WaitingOnPassword]

My sentiments echo those already stated. Major positives for me include the artwork, the general quality of the writing, and the depth of Magnamund, all three of which combined to make the Lone Wolf books feel alive. The major drawback for me is the same one a lot of people have, which is the unbalanced nature of the books near the end. Once you get to The Legacy of Vashna, the books become virtually impossible to win, with Dawn of the Dragons being the lone exception. It’s a real shame, because it blights an otherwise excellent series, but it’s impossible to deny the existence of the few major negatives of the Lone Wolf series.

[juanconmiedo]

What makes the LW series great:
 
a) the fact of being precisely that: a series with a continuity...
(and this is what FF books lack instead and what makes Sorcery! terrific in the other hand)

b) ...developed in the most amazing fantastic world...
(yep, Titan is good but you don't have the feeling of travel around it or get involved in it with the different FF or Sorcery! books... no need to mention D&D or RQ or whatever)

c) ...designed/illustrated with such passion by Joe Dever and...
(no doubt about it, Magnamund has the depth and hardwork behind that turn other gamebooks into pulp novels)

d) ... Gary Chalk, whose superb drawings make your imagination fly.
(the key to get hooked by the story... I love them, truly, l-o-v-e them)

What I don't like:

a) The unbalanced encounters: defeating a legion of evil foes thanks to the sommerswed but facing death for sure against rivals more powerful than naar himself.

b) The feeling of being almost a Marvel/DC superhero from book 13 onwards with futile/useless/reiterative disciplines.

c) The fact that in Spain we could only read from book 1 to 11!!! Do you know how it hurts??? More than a decade without the original series finale!!! Thanks Project Aon (or Amazon marketplace) for letting us put an end to this trauma

[kai]

About 2 years ago, I never even heard of lone wolf. I was just surfing the internet when I found project aon. What I like:
1: The storyline, characters, and the world itself is just totally awesome.
2: The combat system.
3: The way Lone Wolf seems to grow and change. In the beginning of Flight from the Dark, he's just this shocked guy who finds himself the last of the Kai order. By the end of lw20, he changed, grew stronger, and was able to terrify Naar himself.

What I don't like:
1: A lot of the puzzles are visual. For a guy who is visually impaired, this can be very annoying. I ended up downloading the HTM versions of the books with no images because that was the only way I could play the books completely because most visual things were described.
2: The whole Prisoners of Time thing. Seriously, even if you manage to kill the Chaos-Master with the ironheart broadsword, you have to kill 5 villains of sommerlund plus vonotar, who all have a cs of 30 or more. Plus, there's all the other fights in the middle with no instant-heal! The Death Lord of Ixia is even worse, with having to fight about 6 mandatory fights. The whole Tagazin/Lavas encounter could have been different if the stats were lowered or if the fights could be avoided. The power-Spike is basically useless. It gives no bonuses against the deathlord's freaking 60 cs! That's even worse than The Prisoners of time because with the best stats, you have a good chance of winning. Even with the best stats in The Death Lord of Ixia, you'd still have a -13 combat ratio.
3: The whole healing thing. I think healing should be changed, so it will only heal physical wounds, while curing can also cure psychic wounds. Neither can heal wounds that involve starvation. Health loss by starvation can only be regained when the book states that you ate a lot of food. Potions can only heal physical wounds.
4: The ending of The Hunger of Sejanoz is so . . . blunt. It's like the book is telling you, "Great job. You won." Game over." Aren't there supposed to be 32 books? If so, where's the last 4.

I'm really glad I discovered these books.

[kurz81]

Feb 18, 2019 13:26:45 GMT kai said:

About 2 years ago, I never even heard of lone wolf. I was just surfing the internet when I found project aon. What I like:
1: The storyline, characters, and the world itself is just totally awesome.
2: The combat system.
3: The way Lone Wolf seems to grow and change. In the beginning of Flight from the Dark, he's just this shocked guy who finds himself the last of the Kai order. By the end of lw20, he changed, grew stronger, and was able to terrify Naar himself.

What I don't like:
1: A lot of the puzzles are visual. For a guy who is visually impaired, this can be very annoying. I ended up downloading the HTM versions of the books with no images because that was the only way I could play the books completely because most visual things were described.
2: The whole Prisoners of Time thing. Seriously, even if you manage to kill the Chaos-Master with the ironheart broadsword, you have to kill 5 villains of sommerlund plus vonotar, who all have a cs of 30 or more. Plus, there's all the other fights in the middle with no instant-heal! The Death Lord of Ixia is even worse, with having to fight about 6 mandatory fights. The whole Tagazin/Lavas encounter could have been different if the stats were lowered or if the fights could be avoided. The power-Spike is basically useless. It gives no bonuses against the deathlord's freaking 60 cs! That's even worse than The Prisoners of time because with the best stats, you have a good chance of winning. Even with the best stats in The Death Lord of Ixia, you'd still have a -13 combat ratio.
3: The whole healing thing. I think healing should be changed, so it will only heal physical wounds, while curing can also cure psychic wounds. Neither can heal wounds that involve starvation. Health loss by starvation can only be regained when the book states that you ate a lot of food. Potions can only heal physical wounds.
4: The ending of The Hunger of Sejanoz is so . . . blunt. It's like the book is telling you, "Great job. You won." Game over." Aren't there supposed to be 32 books? If so, where's the last 4.

I'm really glad I discovered these books.

Hi mate,
I just wanted to reply to your points (2) and (4).

2) Prisoners of Time (LW11). Actually if you are an affectionate reader (having all Special Items from previous books) the gamebook is nicely tuned.
If you have 19CS starting base, you completed 3 lore circles for +5CS, Sommerswerd +8CS, Shield +2CS, Silver Helm +2CS, +4CS Weaponmastery, Psi-Surge +4CS, Concentrated Potion of Alether (+4CS), +2CS section bonus for having Lore Circle of the Spirit, you can reach 50CS vs the Chaos-Master. Villains and Vonotar will not be a problem if you accept to have legacy Healing (Kai Discipline).

For the Deathlord of Ixia, it is easy if you consider the following special items:
Sommerswerd +8CS, Silver Helm +2CS, Silver Bracers +2CS, Kagonite Chainmail +3CS.
Starting at base 34CS, +4CS from GM disciplines, +5CS Grand Weaponmastery, Kai-Surge +8CS, Potion of Alether +2CS = 68CS Vs the Deathlord.
You can go without legacy Curing (Magnakai Discipline) if you have Deliverance and bring with you 4-5 Potions of Laumpsur (+4END).
You can use the Power Spike in stead of the Sommerswerd and you will be at 60CS, fair fight if you have all the other special items.
Actually in the Lone Wolf Saga App, you can bring the Deathstaff and use it against the Deathlord! :-D

However I do agree that these 2 books are too difficult for new characters, but I prefer a challenge than a walk in the park...

4) There are at least 2 books for you after the Hunger of Sejanoz.
LW29 The Storms of Chai and LW30 Dead in the Deep.
Depending on your country, you can find them in online stores.
The last two books 31-32 should be completed in the next years (we hope and pray).

I hope this will help you.

Best regards from Italy,
Kurz

[Ofecks]

I got into them in '92. I was 12 at the time, so the target audience. During the previous year a close friend told me about the series but I wasn't really interested until I saw a classmate reading one the following year. I struck up a conversation using the books as a catalyst and he let me borrow the first two. I was hooked. They were an extension of the CYOA formula that I already liked and found easy to read (I've never been a fan of reading novels), simple gameplay mechanics, and written in a very immersive way (using tension and very descriptive). Plus they were fantasy themed which I was rather new to, but all about, in those years. I guess Chalk's artwork was a draw as well because it was so different from what I'd been exposed to up to that point, but I found out pretty quickly that there was at least one illustration in every book he did that was at best unnerving, at worst I-can't-even-look-at-to-this-day horrifying.

Anyway, my pre-teen and teen years (up until about 16 or so) were extremely difficult and the books were one of the methods I used to escape into a different place and cope with what I was going through.

[GhostofLandar]

May 18, 2017 17:33:39 GMT Oiseau said:

On that last note, I really hope Book 32 doesn't end with the ultimate defeat of Naar and all evil upon Magnamund. In my eyes, that would render all future adventures moot, null and void, including prequel-type adventures. It doesn't help that I hate prequels to begin with, because their storylines have a foregone ending and cannot deviate from established canon.

Disagree here.  With Star Wars, I think we see what can happen to a great universe and creation when people seek to mine it endlessly.  

The rules were laid out long ago.  Aon is the Great Balance, the Gods follow these strange rules as a proxy war among themselves.  I don't think "evil" on the human free will level should go away, but supernatural evil should begin dying once Naar's forces are vanquished on Magnamund.  At the least, it should be gone on Magnamund, but I wouldn't have a problem with a longer struggle taking place across Aon and the Planes of Existence.  But all the players have already established the nature of the war, Serocca made it clear that everyone---EVERYONE--- all beings everywhere depend on Lone Wolf, not only in his immediate mission but of resurrecting the Kai.

It's OK not to have future adventures, or to restrict them to the myriad ways in which sapient beings can be evil to each other.  For once, we should allow something to end.  There are no more adventures after the Last Battle in Narnia, and we don't have endless tales relating to the post-RotK Middle-earth.