Things that should have to happen in the books

[kolinovic]

By the nature of gamebooks, and of getting to choose to go left rather than right or whatever, there are plenty of really interesting side events during the LW books which you either have to go out of your way to find, or which you miss out on because you went somewhere else.

However, there are a few events which I feel should have been unavoidable. For example, Banedon in FFTD - I think you actually need Sixth Sense to meet him. Given his central role in the series, this should be an event that has to happen in the book.

Similarly, Roark becomes a recurring baddie, and his antipathy towards Lone Wolf makes a lot more sense if you've killed his sister Arla, though you've to miss out on the Silver Bow of Duadon to do so.

Vonotar's labs in Ikaya are virtually unseeable in book 3, and actually it's a pity you don't have to meet him on the death hulks in book 2, though that book is railroaded enough and Kelman is an interesting enough alternative.

Roark and Tagazin could have been made unavoidable in book 10, though I tend to go out of my way to find them because that's such an interesting side story.

By that stage, I think JD had a better sense of what 'should' happen in a book, so there aren't as many of these kinds of moments from then on.

Thoughts? Any other big ones I've missed?

[Black Cat]

The most obvious one IMO: the Magic Spear in book 2. It should had been unavoidable (if you take right instead of left, you will miss it). However, I would keep the option of pulling the spear or not from the "man's" chest.

[kolinovic]

There is the fallback of having Animal Kinship, but I do agree that there's an unfairness about that whole section which makes it very difficult for a first-time reader to survive.

[lorddarkstorm]

Yeah, if a first timer did not choose animal kinship there's a more then 50% chance they'll die on the first playthrough. *Especially* if they picked camouflage, then I'd put it at a 90% chance of death.

I was surprised Joe didn't change that for the mongoose version.

[Black Cat]

Nov 24, 2021 20:30:48 GMT lorddarkstorm said:

Yeah, if a first timer did not choose animal kinship there's a more then 50% chance they'll die on the first playthrough. *Especially* if they picked camouflage, then I'd put it at a 90% chance of death.

I was surprised Joe didn't change that for the mongoose version.

Meh, they found a way to make it worst: they made it OBLIGATORY to find the Magic Spear to succeed, regardless if you have Animal Kinship or not.

In the original, on section 299, you have the choice to give or not the Magic Spear to Rhygar. If you give it to him, it leads to section 102 and you miss the Noodnic (and the escape route with Animal Kinship), so you'll die. If you don't have the Spear (or have it but don't want to give it to him), you go to section 118 and meet the Noodnic who will save your butt if you have Animal Kinship.

In the Mongoose version, the sections are inverted: you give the Magic Spear to Rhygar, you go to section 118 and meet the Noodnic and have a chance to live with Animal Kinship. You don't have the Spear, too bad, you go to section 102 with no Noodnic to save you. So basically, you need the Magic Spear to A): give it to Rhygar so you can meet the Noodnic or B): have a chance to beat the Helghast in the tunnel. No Magic Spear = RIP Lone Wolf with his Animal Kinship.

[lorddarkstorm]

I'd forgotten that lol (since I always make sure to get the spear now, I never get animal kinship).

Wonder what the definitive edition will do.

[anotherknight]

The first time I played Lone Wolf in my life I did choose Animal Kinship ... this capacity sounded to me like "love to nature"... and I was really lost in the wild nature... So I needed real communication.

[Ofecks]

Nov 24, 2021 23:19:27 GMT lorddarkstorm said:

I'd forgotten that lol (since I always make sure to get the spear now, I never get animal kinship).

Wonder what the definitive edition will do.

I would hope they use the exact wording of the PA edition.