Fighting Fantasy reminices...

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**Flashman**

Just seen a reference to Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone in another thread.

It bought back happy memories of reading Fighting Fantasy books on Saturday afternoons. It's what dragged me into this crazy world of tiny soldiers and lots of dice.

Anybody remember specific titles? Warlock of Firetop Mountain is the obvious one, but think the first one I read was Deathtrap Dungeon, in which you had to negate a labyrinth of traps and monsters against several other competitors (including token fit elf bird) for a prize of what was probably a 1000 gold coins.

Also, did anybody genuinely roll for their Skill, Stamina and Luck or did you cheat and always begin with 12, 24 and 12?

**MeanGreenStompa**

I think of them all, my favourite was Beneath Nightmare Castle. The eldritch horror cross over was great. The cover art with the foxy lady in the armour with claws was very cool.

Citadel of Chaos was also much loved as was City of Thieves.

**Flashman**

Vaguely remember City of Thieves... is that the one set in Port Blacksand?

**MeanGreenStompa**

Yus, with that scary bone dude (name begain with a Z?) at the end.

I also remember really enjoying Creature of Havoc and one who's title evades me, with a lizardman riding a pteradon.

**Flashman**

Just looked it up on Amazon... Zanbar Bone

**Howard A Treesong**

I have about 20 at home. One of my favourites was "Citadel of Chaos", I didn't get on with "Warlock of Firetop Mountain". But GW did do a boardgame based on it. "Creature of Havoc" was good, you start as a monster and eventually turn into a human. There was another very good one set on an Island and you'd walk around exploring various parts, it offered a greater illusion of freedom than the corridor related stuff. Some were quite different in style, such as the Mad Max one, "Freeway Fighter" I think it was, where you had to protect your own health and the health of the car, or have fuel for it. Some have become highly collectable, a few in the higher numbers, #50 and above, are worth quite a few pounds.

Did anyone get the RPG based on the FF combat system? The main book was "Dungeoneer", but there was an expansion "Port Blacksand" and a couple of others, "Out of the Pit", a bestiary, and "Titan", a historical source book. It was really D&D light, good fun and easy to write adventures for.

Lastly, I have to ask if anyone had the FF 54mm figures from GW. They were very early in their range and made out of soft polythene. They came in small packets with a skull shaped blister. The figures all had holes in their hands in which various weapons or shields could be placed, some had seperate helmets to wear. I had various humans, some good, some obviously chaotic or evil wizards, a skeleton warrior, an orc or goblin and several giants, in different poses.

**Necroagogo**

Starship Traveller, whilst fun, didn't really sit well with the others.

The final fight in Citadel of Chaos I remember as being unreasonably hard.

Forest of Doom was quite atmospheric. City of thieves and Deathtrap Dungeon likewise.

Warlock itself was the daddy, though. Awesome. I honed my mapmaking skills on that one. Hated the damn maze section.

**MeanGreenStompa**

I did read Out of the Pit and Titan and they were both great books.

Battleblade warrior was the one with the lizardman cover I was trying to remember, sweet book.

**Albatross**

Wow - talk about a blast from the past! Used to play 'em in between marathon bouts of Advanced Heroquest...

**Elric of Grans**

I can barely remember them these days, but I remember being an avid reader/player of them back in the day. I think I played all of them; at least most. I recall there were a few I found disappointing, but I largely enjoyed the series. I read the AFF books, but never played them --- I did not know any other geeks until I was in my late 20s.

**Ketara**

I used to have a massive collection when I was about 12. Many hours of fun....

**Flashman**

Hmm... no one else has fessed up to cheating yet. Did everyone dice roll through their way through the books, or did you skip past the Skill 11 Stamina 18 ninja on the basis that you'd have to start reading all over again if you lost.

I certainly never did the last battle. If you defeat Zanbar Bone turn to page 237? I was straight there! Huzzah, I won!

I had the AFF books too (and Out of the Pit, never got bored of reading that) and played a few games including the Port Blacksand adventure where there were Fishmen hiding in the sewers.

**ArbitorIan**

Yeah I used to have loads - you could take them out from my local library. Best one?

The Riddling Reaver

I also had the RPG. Really nice little system and background books. Could never persuade anyone to play it, though...!

**MeanGreenStompa**

I never read Riddling Reaver, isn't it a 'different' book and not a 'proper' choose your own adventure book?

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Creature of Havoc sticks in my mind, as I think my copy had a misprint, which resulted in a never ending fight.

Dark Elf blows horn
Monster comes in
Chin Monster
Dark Elf blows horn
and so on.

**Ketara**

I never used to bother with the fighting bits, as it would delay the pleasure of reading. I just skipped straight through.

**reds8n**

What would you do if you were a rancher on a distant planet, using robots to herd vicious dinosaurs ? What would you do if your deadly enemies, the Karosseans, invaded ? What would you do ifyou knew that the protection of your homeland against the invaders and marauding dinosaurs was up to you alone ? Now is your chance to find out, for all this is exactly what happens in this thrilling futuristic adventure !

...I could never actually finish The Warlovk of Firetop Mountain. *rages*

cover tastic !

**Flashman**

"cover tastic!" was a great find reds8n

Astounded how many I remember reading. Could do with having a good flick through some of these for old times sake...

**reds8n**

..scary how long ago it was but how much you suddenly recall.....

..did anyone else write down the numbers/route they took ?

or the adventure that was in White Dwarf ?

Those old covers were much better than the ones today.

**The Strange Dude**

My mum bought me the first one warlock of firetop mountain when it first came out at a school bookclub when I was 9 or 10. 24 years later and I'm still a massive roleplayer and wh40k player I wonder whether she regrets setting me on this path.

**Mannahnin**

There was a thread on these not long ago, maybe in OT? A lot of covers posted and funny comments made.

I also recently picked up copy of the first Lone Wolf book by Joe Dever at a Salvation Army consignment store.

These are classics. I only played a few of them, but had a bunch of the D&D Endless Quest books (which were aimed at a younger crowd, and didn't need dice or pencil), and the more complex AD&D game books (which were more like Fighting Fantasy, though again usually not as bloody or scary). I also had a couple of Steve Jackson's Sourcery! books, which were like FF on steroids. Super hard and extra big.

Generally I did not cheat by upping my stats, thogh I'd re-roll if I had really terrible ones. My preferred cheat was to keep my finger at the previous junction page if I was at a real blind choice.

**Albatross**

I had 'Appointment With F.E.A.R.' and 'Scorpion Swamp'! Thanks for posting the link to the covers, guy.

**reds8n**

Mannahnin wrote:There was a thread on these not long ago, maybe in OT? A lot of covers posted and funny comments made.
.

That might have been me linking to these perhaps ?

**Necroagogo**

@reds8n: I laughed so hard I cried my own tears there. Thanks for the linkage.

**Howard A Treesong**

I can't find photos of the FF 54mm plastics anywhere. There's a list part way down the page here...

http://fightingfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Fighting_Fantasy_Collection#cite_note-NR-1

**Mannahnin**

Maaaybe. Those are awesome.