Fighting Fantasy the Wiard of Warlock Mountain Review
 Comprehend of the start edition | |
| Authors | Steve Jackson Ian Livingstone[ane] |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Russ Nicholson |
| Cover artist |
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| Series | Fighting Fantasy
|
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publication date |
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| Media blazon | Print (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-14-031538-1 (Puffin) ISBN 1-84046-387-two (Magician) |
| Followed by | The Citadel of Chaos |
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a single-player adventure gamebook written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and illustrated by Russ Nicholson. Originally published by Puffin Books in 1982, the title is the beginning gamebook in the Fighting Fantasy serial. It was later republished past Wizard Books in 2002, and Scholastic Books in 2017. As well every bit launching the Fighting Fantasy series, the gamebook inspired 2 straight sequels and 5 novels, and has been adjusted into a board game, an audio drama and a video game.
Publication history [edit]
In 1980, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone attended a Games 24-hour interval, and afterwards coming together with a Penguin editor decided to create a series of single-thespian gamebooks.[2] Their starting time submission, The Magic Quest, was a short take a chance intended to demonstrate the style of game. The Magic Quest was eventually accustomed by Penguin Books, although the authors devoted a further six months to expanding and improving upon the original concept.
The end result was The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and afterward several rewrites, the book was accepted and published in 1982 under Penguin's children's imprint, Puffin Books. The original cover of the volume was illustrated by Peter Andrew Jones, with the interior illustrations past Russ Nicholson. Jackson and Livingstone canonical all artwork.[iii]
The title, similar the game books that followed in the Fighting Fantasy series, distinguished itself by featuring a fantasy role-playing element, with the explanation on each comprehend reading "a Fighting Fantasy gamebook in which YOU become the hero!" Uncertain as to how popular such a new and untried concept might prove to be, Penguin ran a first printing of just 5,000 copies.[iv] These quickly sold out, leading Penguin to do additional print runs.[4] [5]
The success of the Fighting Fantasy serial (distribution in over 17 countries) immune for numerous reprints of the original title,[6] although the cover of subsequent versions changed due to deliberate redesign, press errors,[vii] and releases in different markets.[3] [8] [9] When the franchise was acquired by Wizard Books in 2002, the title (every bit with others in the serial) was the outset to exist reprinted, once again with a completely different embrace, the rationale being that the old cover did not accommodate the modern market place.[x]
In 2007 Wizard Books released a special 25th anniversary edition, which included supplementary material. The encompass for this edition had the original picture from the 1982 edition. In 2009 Wizard Books released another edition of the original book, with yet another new cover.
In 2017 Scholastic Books began publishing Fighting Fantasy books, and released a new edition of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain with new interior art as well as a new cover.
In 1984 the volume was reprinted in the showtime ii problems of Warlock magazine, with a different solution to the keys puzzle at the end and therefore a different route through the mountain.
Rules [edit]
warlock of firetop mount map
Plot [edit]
The Warlock of Firetop Mount is a fantasy scenario involving a dungeon quest to observe "an untold wealth of treasure".[one]
The histrion takes the role of an adventurer travelling to detect the treasure of a powerful Warlock, hidden deep within Firetop Mountain. People from a nearby village propose that the treasure is stored in a chest with two locks, and that the keys are guarded by diverse creatures within the dungeons. The player must then navigate the dungeons beneath Firetop Mountain, battle monsters and attempt to locate the keys.
Reception [edit]
Nicholas J R Dougan reviewed The Warlock of Firetop Mount for White Dwarf #36, giving information technology an overall rating of x out of 10, and stated that "The book would make an ideal present for anyone who has expressed an interest in role-playing games, or indeed any young blood brother (or sis!). I imagine that the minimum historic period would exist about 10, but I would recommend it to novice and veteran players alike for quite a few hours of entertainment."[11]
In the inaugural issue of The Games Machine, John Forest establish that random chance played too neat a office in the game, proverb, "At several points a unmarried wrong estimate or unlucky dice ringlet spells doom for your character, and success frequently comes in an equally arbitrary fashion. There is little feeling of thespian skill having whatsoever influence on the outcome."[12]
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was chosen for inclusion in Hobby Games: The 100 Best. Chris Pramas commented that the book "was a pioneering release that popularized the solo gamebook and successfully brought the roleplaying game feel to a wider audience. This volume alone sold over two million copies and it was only the beginning of the Fighting Fantasy series. The Warlock of Firetop Mount spawned 58 more Fighting Fantasy books in the original series, a back up mag, a lath game, an aggressive spinoff series, several figurer games, ii traditional roleplaying games, and a series of fantasy novels. Then at that place was the legion of imitators, another sure sign of success. Great for a slim paperback less than 200 pages long."[13]
In a retrospective review of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain in Black Gate, Matthew David Surridge said "Modern games are more forgiving than Warlock, I think. Still, all in all, I think the book format may be best: there's a certain effect the mix of image and text gives you that I tin can't imagine in other formats. All told, I'yard glad I picked the book upward once again. At that place'due south magic in Firetop Mountain notwithstanding."[14]
Other reviews [edit]
- White Dwarf #83
- Review past Julia Margaret Meyers (1984) in Fantasy Review, Baronial 1984
- Review by Jonathan Dark-green (2012) in SFX, September 2012
Sequels [edit]
The title was followed by two sequels, one written by Ian Livingstone. The start, Return to Firetop Mountain (the 50th title in the Fighting Fantasy series) was published in 1992 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise. The second sequel, Legend of Zagor (the 54th championship in the serial) was written by Carl Sargent although it was credited to Livingstone. It differed from traditional gameplay in that the player could choose i of four characters. Sargent also wrote The Zagor Chronicles which were also partly credited to Livingstone. It was a serial of four novels published from 1993 to 1994. The warlock Zagor also appeared in the first Fighting Fantasy novel, The Trolltooth Wars (1989), past Steve Jackson.
In other media [edit]
A ZX Spectrum video game based on the book was released past Crystal Computing in 1984.[15]
The Warlock of Firetop Mountain boardgame, designed by Steve Jackson, was released in 1986 by Games Workshop. The game is based on the book, and players must navigate a maze and overcome monsters in a bid to be the first to open the Warlock's treasure chest.
The gamebook was likewise converted into a 40-page d20 System role-playing gamble past Jamie Wallis. Information technology was published by Myriador in 2003[16] [17] and reissued in pdf format by Greywood Publishing in 2008.[18]
In 2009, Big Blue Bubble released an action-RPG for the Nintendo DS titled Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and based on the original championship. In 2010, an electronic version of the title was released for the iPhone and iPad.[19] When Big Blue Bubble later lost the license, all its apps were withdrawn. This gamebook has later been released by Tin Homo Games.
On ten February 2011 an Amazon Kindle edition of the title was launched by UK programmer Worldweaver Ltd[20] and in September 2011 a PSP and PlayStation 3 version was announced by United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland developer Laughing Jackal.[21]
On 30 October 2015 the Australian game developers Can Man Games launched a Kickstarter project to develop a video game based on the book, which was released in 2016.[22] [23] [24]
The gamebook was adjusted into a part-playing gamble for the Advanced Fighting Fantasy system by Brett Schofield for Arion Games in 2016.[25]
In July 2017 the British sound visitor FoxYason Music Productions, known for their work with Big Finish Productions, announced that they had obtained the licence to make an original audio drama based on The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. Sub-titled 'The Hero'southward Quest' the drama is written past David Due north. Smith and directed by Richard Play a joke on and features many of the characters and locations from the original gamebook. The drama was released in September 2017 and features Toby Longworth as Zagor, Rachel Atkins as Vale Moonwing and Tim Treloar as Cassius Stormblade.[26]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. p. 365. ISBN0-87975-653-5.
- ^ Mark J. Popp (27 November 2005). "Fighting Fantasy FAQ". Archived from the original on 27 November 2005. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b Marking J. Popp (27 November 2005). "Fighting Fantasy FAQ". Archived from the original on 27 Nov 2005. Retrieved xxx May 2014.
- ^ a b "NG Alphas: Deathtrap Dungeon". Next Generation. No. 28. Imagine Media. April 1997. p. 94.
- ^ Capper, Andy; Rayner, Ben (i Dec 2009). "Steve Jackson & Ian Livingstone". vice.com. Vice Media Grouping. Retrieved iii February 2022.
- ^ Mark J. Popp (27 November 2005). "Fighting Fantasy FAQ". Archived from the original on 27 November 2005. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Fighting Fantasy FAQ on the Net Annal record of the old fightingfantasy.com site". Archived from the original on 27 Nov 2005.
- ^ "Fighting Fantasy FAQ on the Internet Archive record of the quondam fightingfantasy.com site". Archived from the original on 27 Nov 2005.
- ^ "One". Fightingfantasycollector.co.britain. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Interview with Simon Flynn on the official Fighting Fantasy website". Archived from the original on 22 March 2005.
- ^ Dougan, Nicholas J R (Dec 1982). "Open Box". White Dwarf. No. 36. Games Workshop. p. 26.
- ^ Woods, John (October 1987). "Going Solo". The Games Machine. No. 1. Newsfield. p. 41.
- ^ Pramas, Chris (2007). "The Warlock of Firetop Mount". In Lowder, James (ed.). Hobby Games: The 100 Best. Dark-green Ronin Publishing. pp. 362–364. ISBN978-ane-932442-96-0.
- ^ ""A Fighting Fantasy Gamebook in Which Y'all Are the Hero!": The Warlock of Firetop Mountain – Blackness Gate".
- ^ "Warlock of Firetop Mountain, The". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Review of The Warlock of Firetop Mount - RPGnet". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ "SFandFantasy.co.uk - The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. 2003". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ "Warlock of Firetop Mountain - RPG Geek". Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ "iTunes Shop". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Fighting Fantasy gamebooks at Worldweaver Ltd". worldweaver.com. Retrieved xi February 2011.
- ^ "Laughing Jackal denote Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain". laughingjackal.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ Valentin, Christian. "Kickstart this: Tin Human Games re-imagines its classic Warlock of Firetop Mountain gamebook equally a 3D RPG". Pocket Gamer . Retrieved iv November 2015.
- ^ Neumann, Dave. "Ain't no smoggy smoke on Firetop: Tin Man Games' new version of Warlock of Firetop Mountain is mind-bravado". Pocket Tactics . Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ Smith, Adam (ii November 2015). "Fancy Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock Of Firetop Mountain Revamp". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Warlock of Firetop Mountain (2016) - RPG Geek". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Fighting Fantasy Sound Dramas". world wide web.fightingfantasyaudiodramas.com . Retrieved 12 Feb 2021.
External links [edit]
- Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks – the book at the official website
- Scholastic Books - site of the new publisher
- Wizard Books – the previous publisher'southward site
- Fighting Fantasy Sound Dramas - website of the sound drama accommodation
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warlock_of_Firetop_Mountain
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