Steve Jackson's Sorcery!: Difference between revisions
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'''''Sorcery!''''' is a single-player four-part [[Gamebook#Adventure gamebooks|adventure gamebook]] series written by [[Steve Jackson (UK game designer)|Steve Jackson]] and illustrated by [[John Blanche]]. Originally published by [[Penguin Books]] from 1983 to 1985, the titles form part of the [[Fighting Fantasy]] series, despite not being part of the formal chronology. The series was republished by '''Wizard Books''' from 2002. |
'''''Sorcery!''''' is a single-player four-part [[Gamebook#Adventure gamebooks|adventure gamebook]] series written by [[Steve Jackson (UK game designer)|Steve Jackson]] and illustrated by [[John Blanche]]. Originally published by [[Penguin Books]] from 1983 to 1985, the titles form part of the [[Fighting Fantasy]] series, despite not being part of the formal chronology. The series was republished by '''Wizard Books''' from 2002 and will reappear in digital form in 2013. |
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==Publication history== |
==Publication history== |
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Revision as of 10:02, 9 April 2013
 The cover of The Shamutanti Hills, the first chapter in the Crown of Kings storyline (1983). Art by John Blanche. | |
| Writers | Steve Jackson |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Puffin, Wizard Books |
| Publication | 1983 |
| Genres | Fantasy |
| Systems | Gamebook |
Sorcery! is a single-player four-part adventure gamebook series written by Steve Jackson and illustrated by John Blanche. Originally published by Penguin Books from 1983 to 1985, the titles form part of the Fighting Fantasy series, despite not being part of the formal chronology. The series was republished by Wizard Books from 2002 and will reappear in digital form in 2013.
Publication history
The Sorcery! series was published from 1983 to 1985 as four individual titles, being The Shamutanti Hills; Khare: Cityport of Traps; The Seven Serpents and The Crown of Kings. Each title could be played as an individual adventure or as part of the overall story arc, which related an attempt by the player to traverse the wilds, negotiate a lethal city, cross a wasteland and overcome the Archmage's reptilian servants before finding and confronting the Archmage himself. The series was supported by the Sorcery! Spellbook, published in 1983 (eventually incorporated as an appendix into the four titles in later printings). Steve Jackson and John Blanche provided the writing and artwork on all titles. The series was republished by Wizard Books from 2002.
Cambridge-based Inkle Studios are preparing an interactive version of the books for release on the iOS platform.[1]
Rules
Sorcery! features several mechanics not present in previous Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, principally the ability to choose between playing as a warrior or a sorcerer. As a sorcerer, the player is weaker in combat, but has access to 48 spells, with each appearing as a three-letter word that has to be memorized by the player. When given the option to cast spells the player is presented with a small selection of these three-letter words to choose from; the player is encouraged to choose from these without consulting the spell listing at the back of the book. It is also possible to fail to cast at all, as author Jackson has placed false spell words alongside the possible correct choices. All spell choices, irrespective of the outcome, incur a Stamina penalty.
The series also featured strong continuity, as it is possible for a reader to carry over remaining equipment and skill levels from one title into the next. An additional story feature involves the player having the option of calling on their patron goddess (Libra) once each adventure, who will provide an automatic escape from a situation or provide minor aid such as curing a curse. Each title also featured dice images at the bottom of each page, making it possible for the player to randomly "flick" through the pages for the equivalent of a dice roll.
Plot
Your search for the legendary Crown of Kings takes you to the Shamutanti Hills. Alive with evil creatures, lawless wanderers and bloodthirsty monsters, the land is riddled with tricks and traps waiting for the unwary traveller. Will you be able to cross the hills safely and proceed to the second part of the adventure - or will you perish in the attempt?
The story is set on the fictional Fighting Fantasy world of Titan, on the continent known as The Old World. A powerful artifact known as the Crown of Kings, which bestows magical powers of leadership upon its owner, has been stolen from the land of Analand by the cruel Archmage of Mampang Fortress. With the Crown, the Archmage will be able to gain leadership of the lawless and brutal region of Kakhabad and begin an invasion of surrounding kingdoms. The player takes on the role of the lone hero, referred to only as the Analander who has been dispatched to retrieve the Crown, thereby averting the invasion and saving Analand from terrible disgrace.
See also
References
External links
- Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks - the official website
- Wizard Books Homepage - current publisher of the range