andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Aug 1, 2021 0:05:15 GMT
I think the chance to explore that part of the world swung it more for me, despite the disparate and almost aimless wanderings of the protagonists.
I agree that Tildan was a rather blank state, and I suspect that the adventure would have melded better together had he both had more personality and provided more insistence on where we were heading and why.
I wonder if perhaps the author was given the requirement to introduce the new villains but not kill them off entirety in one BA. That way it starts the next storyline for post Light of the Kai while also fusing it with the climatic events building up to that last main book.
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Post by Black Cat on Aug 2, 2021 2:49:24 GMT
Years were given as e.g. PL 3401 instead of MS 3401 (“Pietra di Luna” in Italian instead of “Moonstone” in English). Probably more like "Pierre de Lune", as the author is French. It seems that it only affects section 25, as the years are correctly given in other places (like in sections 41 and 107). |
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Post by palarran on Aug 13, 2021 16:05:06 GMT
Years were given as e.g. PL 3401 instead of MS 3401 (“Pietra di Luna” in Italian instead of “Moonstone” in English). Probably more like "Pierre de Lune", as the author is French. It seems that it only affects section 25, as the years are correctly given in other places (like in sections 41 and 107). Oops! You're right of course, it even mentions "Translated from French by". Maybe I shouldn't go on ranting about "sloppy work" myself...  |
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on May 9, 2022 21:09:00 GMT
BA20 The Purifiers of Kazan-Oud (German paperback release translated badly by Google Translate
I am clearly too impatient to wait for the bonus adventures compendium releases (which I will of course still buy), and struggled through this one with butchered translation....but oh it was worth the pain! One of the best adventures which combines a murder mystery investigation, interesting characters and fantastic lore & revelations. That last point is a given since Vincent himself was one of the writers, but it is always enjoyable to see the dots line up in the build up to the End Game.
Difficulty wise it was bang on, enough to make me fail once but no bullshit deaths once I had worked out a better plan. So this one gets a 5/5 and counts as an essential part of the canon.
Was tempted to buy Swedish Lone Wolf book 8 as that has another very fun sounding Vincent (& Co.) BA, especially as August Hahn mentioned the Swedish BAs won't be likely included in the initial set of BA compendiums due to licensing issues. I'll hold my horses for now, as I am still yet to receive my set of 4 Freeway Warrior HBs from Askfageln and I don't think I could stomach any more Google Translate shenanigans for a while!
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Post by Black Cat on May 10, 2022 2:50:15 GMT
Was tempted to buy Swedish Lone Wolf book 8 as that has another very fun sounding Vincent (& Co.) BA, especially as August Hahn mentioned the Swedish BAs won't be likely included in the initial set of BA compendiums due to licensing issues. When did he said that? Because it's kind of strange to have licensing issues when none of these adventures are available in English from Askfageln and that they don't seem to have the intention to publish them in English anyways... Plus, Askfageln and Holmgard Press have a good relationship, so I doubt the Swedes would refuse the publication of these adventures in English by Holmgard, who gave them the authorization to publish the books in Swedish... |
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on May 10, 2022 12:26:21 GMT
Was tempted to buy Swedish Lone Wolf book 8 as that has another very fun sounding Vincent (& Co.) BA, especially as August Hahn mentioned the Swedish BAs won't be likely included in the initial set of BA compendiums due to licensing issues. When did he said that? Because it's kind of strange to have licensing issues when none of these adventures are available in English from Askfageln and that they don't seem to have the intention to publish them in English anyways... Plus, Askfageln and Holmgard Press have a good relationship, so I doubt the Swedes would refuse the publication of these adventures in English by Holmgard, who gave them the authorization to publish the books in Swedish... Odd, I can't find the quote now (it was on the Lone Wolf Gamebooks Facebook page). Either I am going mad (a distinct possibility) or it has been taken down. As you say, it seems slightly surprising and I hope it is not true. Those Swedish BAs do look very interesting and it would be a great shame not to have them included. |
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Jul 19, 2022 22:39:21 GMT
GS1 BA: The Quest for the Druse Tree
(German kindle edition translation to English)
I really enjoyed this decent sized adventure. You are Master Rendalim (of the famous Elixir) in a quest for the sap of the Druse Tree in the very south-east of Magnamund (essentially where most of Grey Star is set). You are accompanied by a group of Knights as you delve into creepy forests before an increasingly desperate escape from the police-state-like Shadakine Empire. There were some good twists and turns and also enough variation in pathways to keep it from feeling too linear. Also, the author managed to give more personalisation to the characters than the more somewhat blank slates in his other work Shadow Stalkers.
Perhaps my only criticism is that it just sorted of ended when I thought I had just started the climax. Never mind, the journey was certainly good enough, so I rate it 4/5.
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Sept 10, 2022 17:55:01 GMT
Looking at how my ratings compare I have adjusted Shadow Stalkers and Quest for the Druse Tree to 4/5 each since they are very good but not quite up to the brilliance of the likes of BA21, BA22 and BA29 which I did rate 4.5/5.
Anyway, next is:
BA GS2 The Treasure of Madness
You play the role of the thief Hugi,starting immediately at the point he gets separated from Grey Star at the end of GS2. The whole adventure takes place in the city of Gyanima and your quest is to get out without losing your mind (and grab as much swag as you can in the process). It fits very well with the main book, though perhaps doesn't add a tremendous amount to the world as a whole. On your travels through the palace then city streets you come across a wide range of absolute nutcases. Many situations can add to your Madness stat which cleverly is a double-edged sword: any fight allows you to add your Madness score to your CS, but go too deep down the rabbit hole of craziness and there will be no escape! I managed to beat the adventure first time however and enjoyed it throughout, even if it didn't quite reach the highs of some of the best. Final score 3.5/5. I look forward to reading more BAs from this author especially if his future adventures have a slight wider canvas compared to this one, having being trapped in a single city here; (I was reminded of Hahn's first BA Echoes of Lost Light in this regard).
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Post by Black Cat on Sept 10, 2022 19:36:38 GMT
I look forward to reading more BAs from this author especially if his future adventures have a slight wider canvas compared to this one, having being trapped in a single city here He co-wrote the BA of book 22 with Vincent Lazzari, one of your favorites, so yeah, this guy is talented.  |
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Post by Ofecks on Sept 11, 2022 14:50:07 GMT
BA GS2 The Treasure of Madness You play the role of the thief Hugi,starting immediately at the point he gets separated from Grey Star at the end of GS2. This BA sounds cool, but isn't it non-canonical? I mean, the GS adventure doesn't end well if you leave without Hugi. Or do you mean, what he does after GS enters the shadow gate? |
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Sept 11, 2022 15:50:09 GMT
BA GS2 The Treasure of Madness You play the role of the thief Hugi,starting immediately at the point he gets separated from Grey Star at the end of GS2. This BA sounds cool, but isn't it non-canonical? I mean, the GS adventure doesn't end well if you leave without Hugi. Or do you mean, what he does after GS enters the shadow gate? The latter, so it came across pretty canon-safe to me. |
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Oct 2, 2022 19:12:25 GMT
The Chains of Ghol-Tabras (GS3 BA)
Here you play as Captain Havaroez in his mission to stop Shasarak's fleet of ships transport an army down to crush the resistance in Karnali before Grey Star returns. Things go tits up for the unfortunate Captain pretty much from the get-go but you fortunately meet two rather helpful characters, one whom may well play a very key part in Light of the Kai (I suspect). Anyway, like all bonus adventures which Vincent is involved in, this provides more great world building as well as a cracking, lengthy adventure. The long and varied final sea battle is as good as it gets in Lone Wolf and I couldn't put it down despite having to deal with Kindle's annoying translate function as usual. Two minor criticisms would be that I suspect a second read playthrough would be very similar to the first, and secondarily some of your ship mates are not particularly memorable, simply coming across as names the crop up periodically. Despite those two points it would be a crying shame if this (and the other three Grey Star bonus adventures) don't get included in the upcoming compendiums. Make it happen Vincent and Ben, they are too good to miss! 4.5/5
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Oct 22, 2022 21:07:37 GMT
Grey Star 4 BA: Battle of the Wytches
Alexander Kühnert has you playing Tanith in your mission to rid yourself of the malign power that Mother Magri still has over you while Grey Star leads the fight against Shasarak. I had always wanted to know what happened to Mother Magri since she had such a presence in the Port of Suhn in the first Grey Star book, and here we find out. As you progress, the power your nemesis has over you gradually increases and you become more and more likely to succumb to Magri's power.
Any negatives? Almost none; although the arrival of an unexpected ally at the very end was a bit out of blue and perhaps could have been foreshadowed a bit more. The rest was great however, especially how much your actions matter throughout. Oof, I better stop as I have already said too much.
A 4.5/5 easily(and looking at my 4.5/5s and 5/5s they are all pretty interchangeable and hence all utterly essential parts of the whole picture tbh.)
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andyc
Kai Lord
Posts: 209
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Post by andyc on Oct 30, 2022 16:37:02 GMT
The Disciples of Darkness
This is a standalone BA written in German by Alexander Kühnert for Mantikore (Die Junger Der Finsternis). You play as a trainee herbalist of Bautar, accompanying a cheeky son of a senior herbalist to the region of the Darklands the Herbalists are trying to rejuvenate following the defeat of the Dark Lords. At 120 sections this is a little on the slight side and although it was well written and enjoyable, I would have preferred a longer adventure. A mystery of the protagonist's past is left unresolved so perhaps a follow up is planned? On the plus side, there appears to be a few different routes to take, so it is worthy of a replay. This one gets a 3.5/5 from me and it is nice and cheap to buy too.
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Post by Lucy Van Pelt on Nov 19, 2022 16:39:27 GMT
Where can i get to read those Bonus Adventures 13 to 22?
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