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Post by Zipp on May 10, 2005 1:55:09 GMT
Hey everyone. I'm well on my way to starting a new gamebook series. The Silencer Series, while I do hope to go back and revise and finish it someday, became more of an excercise, giving me ideas and letting me see how things turned out from my original notes.
This next series focuses on non-complexity. The combat system is designed so you basically:
Choose a weapon when you enter combat. This then sends you to a new page with a description of your combat plus how much damage you take and how many bullets (if any) are spent.
That's it. It's called Surrealistic, and places you in the middle of a zombie/monster infested city with one goal: escape. It is not plot oriented (though playing all the books will reveal a greater plot), and so the paths you end up taking and the people you meet will vary drastically depending on your choices. Later books will introduce relationship points (which change how characters interact with you) and possibly non-linear gameplay (involving maps which you choose your location off of).
I'll post the rules when I've got them worked out.
Anyways, on to the question. For my combat, I'm considering using a second "book" which contains all the combinations and outcomes. I've heard that the Sorcery! series uses a second book as well, and was curious as to how it works (I've never played that series). If anyone could clue me in, that would be great.
Zipp
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Post by Doomy on May 10, 2005 7:49:32 GMT
The "second book" in the Sorcery! series is the Sorcery! Spell Book - an appendix containing all the spell names and descriptions. The player is supposed to memorise as much of this as possible, paying particular attention to the three-letter codes which identify the spells. Upon beginning the game the player is not allowed to look at this book again during that attempt at completing the series. The codes are things like ZAP, WAL, or HOT and the player casts spells by choosing these options in the text. There are various fake codes presented alongside the real ones and the player is penalised for choosing these. Furthermore, all of the most efficient spells, ie the ones which allow progress at minimal cost, require items which the player must find during their travels. So not only must you memorise as many codes as possible but identify which items will allow you to cast more spells (and which ones). The SSB was once published standalone but is an appendix in more recent editions of the books including the Wizard Books reissue.
PS: Those example spell codes represent a lightning bolt, force field and fireball respectively. They are three of the six "basic" spells which require no components but cost a lot more STAMINA than those which do.
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Post by North Star on May 11, 2005 10:24:13 GMT
Well I thought it was just the earliest editions. I've had mine for 10 years or so and the spellbook came with the back of Book 1 NS.
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Post by Relenoir on May 11, 2005 11:15:39 GMT
I remember playing them many years ago when I borrowed the first 3 from my cousin. When I saw the final one at the bookstore, which hadn't been out yet when I'd read the others, I bought it immediately but was disappointed that I didn't have the spell book anymore because I'd given them back. I was very happy when I realized that the spell book was built into the back of the book!
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Post by Doomy on May 11, 2005 20:10:52 GMT
Well I thought it was just the earliest editions. I've had mine for 10 years or so and the spellbook came with the back of Book 1 By "more recent" editions I basically meant "non-first." I think the standalone Sorcery! Spell Book only appeared for a single printing of the series. By the way, can anyone confirm which imprint appears on the original editions? I'm convinced the Sorcery! books were aimed at an adult audience* which presumably would make them Penguin books rather than Puffins like their FF brethren. I only have access to my Wizard versions at the moment so can't check for myself. * Possibly the sort of people who now buy 'disguised' Harry Potter books to find out what all the fuss is about.
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Post by North Star on May 11, 2005 22:34:16 GMT
Just checked my "Spellbook-included" quartet (the ones with the orange spines). They were first published as an effective quintet by Penguin in 1983 and then as a quartet by Puffin in 1984.
NS.
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