Everyone had been called into the emergency meeting. HR were busy explaining to Philippa why she could not break the writers legs to stop them escaping again. Apparently they had these things called workers rights which were all the rage.
Eventually she relents and sits back down on the high wingback chair, arms gripping the sides. A closer inspection would show her nails digging into the leather.
Before things got any worse Ian took the lead.
Ian "So, back to the main problem at hand. How do we keep the series fresh and how to we sell more books? What genre could we exploit to get the kids hooked?"
A few murmurs and head scratching followed.
Random grunt "How about football?"
A few people nodded in agreement.
Ian "What like how to be a hooligan? Those people are savage! Nope!"
Random grunt 2 "Return to Firetop Moutain?"
Ian "What?! NO!? I just wrote a sequel, besides its someone else's turn. What do kids like to do these days? You! What did you buy your kid last time you went to the shops?"
Random grunt 1 "What me? Erm a toy Dinosaur."
Ian "Hmm dinosaurs, kind of did that in Island of the Lizard King but if its popular maybe. What about you?"
Random grunt 2 "Me? Erm I got my boy Optimus Prime?"
Ian "What the hell is an Optimus Prime?"
Random grunt 2 "Its a transformer, its a giant robot that changes into a truck."
Ian "What!? A truck, why?"
Random grunt 2 stammering "I have no idea sir, but my kid and his pals love them."
Ian exasperated "Fine, ok then. Will we do a book about dinosaurs or a book about giant robots? Lets see a show of hands."
But before anyone can so much as raise a digit a weak voice pipes up in the distance.
Steve (2) "How about both?"
Ian "Who said that? Oh imposter Steve Jackson. You have intrigued me, I would like to know more."
Ian looks at Philippa who roles her eyes before nodding to a guard. The guard immediately produces a key and releases the chains attached to Steve, leaving the other authors still attached to the bench they had been shackled to at the back of the room.
Steve (2) "I can write a book about someone that can pilot giant robots and they can use them to fight dinosaurs."
Ian "That sounds incredible, ok lets see you do it."
Steve (2) "On one condition."
Ian "I don't think you are any position to make demands but go on."
Steve (2) "I want to be released upon completion, and no more trackers, and passage back home to the US."
Ian looks at Philippa.
Philippa "Over my dead bo..."
HR Rep "Actually that's all very fare, after all he does not have a contract at Puffin. We would just need you to sign an NDA and never talk about anything that's happened."
Steve (2) "As long as I get to go home its a deal."
Philippa storms out of the room. Ian looks distressed before half running out after her.
I actually do not have much in actual fact about Robot Commando other than it is by Steve Jackson the second, the US games designer. I have really enjoyed his first two efforts of Scorpion Swamp and Demons of the Deep so interested to see what he takes to a Sci-Fi setting. It was released in September 1986 so they are still churning out these books at a crazy rate.
Covers -
Come on people, I mean come on what can I say!? Its a giant mecha robot like something out of Pacific Rim fighting a T-Rex! I mean is this not the greatest thing ever? Imagine being a kid and seeing this? Scratch that, imagine being a now 42 year old 80s kid and seeing this?! Even the lettering of the title is awesome.
There are no other covers as its never been re-released as part of Wizard or Scholastic. But even if it was how could you possible improve on Transformers meets Jurassic Park?
In case its not obvious I like this cover.
Premise -
Well where I am from, Commando means not wearing any underware. I do not know why in this adventure are robot has decided to go out without any under garments.
Luckily it turns out to be the other type of Commando.
I am a rancher in the land of Thalos. My people have built huge robots to help mine ore, erect buildings, move cargo etc. It does say that they are capable of doing the jobs of a hundred men so I can only question the mass levels of unemployment in Thalos.
In the past rampaging dinosaurs were a bit of a problem so the people of Thalos turned to giant robots to solve that issue as well. Now I am one of those people who make their living as a dinosaur rancher! We use the Mark 5A utility robots known as Cowboys. But the dinosaurs are still dangerous so the robots still have guns.
Early one morning before I start my shift one of my work colleagues comes in and declares how sleepy he is and promptly falls asleep on the table. Apparently my character is alarmed by this but I have seen it many times in real life.
When I can not wake him up I go for help but everyone else is also falling asleep. Desperate I turn on the radio (a logical choice in this situation...) and hear "Everybody asleep...Karossean Attack...can't stay awake..." Then even the radio goes silent.
I then start pouring cold water over my friends which to be honest would have been my first choice. But to no avail as they stay asleep.
A loud thunder noise can then be heard outside so I go for a peek. And lo and behold a Karossean Robojet streaks overhead! My character then in this space of time figures out that the Karosseans have somehow made everyone fall asleep but for some reason I am immune. That may be correct but that is some leap in logic from my guy.
I initially read the invaders names as Calrissian.
Lando has sold us out to the empire again.
Anyway I then spend the next few hours listing in to their communications. Wait what? How? Through the radio? The Karosseans are so cocky they are all using an open channel that even a backwater hick of a dinosaur rancher can pick up?
Apparently through this means I learn that in the past they have been to scared to attack due to all our brave warriors and many robots. But their leader, Minos, has had his spies distribute capsules of a virulent sleeping sickness.
Soon Minos himself is on the radio. An elite force of a thousand warriors with hundreds of robots have invaded. He is going to strip us of our riches and robots and sell the population as slaves.
With a sigh I walk back in the house and strap on my fathers sword and pick up some medi kits. Its all going to be down to me to save everyone. I head to the robot parking lot!
Playthrough -
Ok for my guy its the normal Skill, Stamina and Luck. The adventure sheet has put sword down for me along with 5 medipacks. Each one restores 1 stamina. Yep 1. What kind of a world is this? I am used to a cheese and onion sandwich giving me back 4 stamina!
But here is why we are all here, Robots!
You are limited to one robot at a time which makes sense. Each robot has an armour score which is just basically robot stamina.
The robots also have a speed setting. Slow, Medium, Fast and Very Fast. If your robot is faster you get a +1 bonus to your skill in the battle. Is this more than initial skill? Does not say but I am taking it as a yes.
Robots can sometimes have a Combat Bonus. When piloting a robot you use your own skill score but some give you a bonus, and some give you a penalty when in combat.
Finally they can also have a special ability. Looking forward to seeing what kinds we get.
Ah going onto the Robot Combat section you do indeed get plus 1 on your roll if your robot is faster. Apart from that its just like fighting hand to hand. But in an interesting twist if your robot is destroyed it says it might not be game over and its possible to continue on with another robot!
We also get a handy hints on play section where I learn there are three different ways to defeat the invaders. One obvious and two less so. I imagine this is like Scorpion Swamp having the three different quests then.
Take notes, make a map, yeah pretty standard that.
Not everywhere will be helpful, yep seen enough Fighting Fantasy to know that's true.
But it specifically says any player no matter how weak the initial roles are they can make it through each of the three paths when they know the true path.
Skill - 9
Stamina - 20
Luck - 8
Well not the best starting rolls so we can test that theory. Right lets go.
Wait, no not ready. We need some epic music. 1986 was also the release of the greatest film of all time, Transformers (not the tragic ones we get these days) and it has the best soundtrack ever. Autobots Roll Out!
Its mandatory that everyone watches that before continuing.
Yep everyone has fallen asleep. I decide to leave them in hilarious positions for when they wake up.
In the parking lot we do not have to wait long to get first big decision, do I go to the standard slow but sturdy cowboy robot that I use for all my dino wrangling. Or do I go to the speedy and light flyer? Wait I can get a flying robot straight off the bat? Yes please.
I climb into the Dragonfly Model D.
Armour - 5
Speed - Very Fast
Combat Bonus - 0
Special - I can escape from any combat including against other very fast robots.
I am then told the Karosseans base is at the capital city but I am nowhere near ready for that. So I can go to the City of Knowledge or the City of Industry. Very imaginative these Thalos people with their naming schemes. Maybe used up all the best names on the robots. Ok I am thinking industry would be better robots but I think Knowledge is where to go and find out how to wake everyone up or get some intel on the enemy.
As I am flying over though I am attacked by my first dinosaur, a Pteranodon! He is also Skill 9 but only fast compared to my very fast so I get plus 1. Its only armour 3 though which is just as well. I take it down without being hit but only because I had the speed bonus!
I pass a small village and get the option to look around. Not sure what a small village will have but lets have a look.
Another Robot! To be honest I thought I had to fight him for a second.
The Digger Robot is a massive armour 16 but its slow. It does have a special where you can use the shovel to cause 6 points of damage but the attack is -2 skill. If I was high skill I might be tempted but with single digits I need that skill bonus with the speed. Nothing else here so we continue on to the city.
Arriving in the city I get four options on where to visit. The College of Medicine, The Thalian Museum, The Dinosaur Preserve and the War College. They all sound fun but I think I will head to the College of Medicine first to see if I can wake people up.
I cautiously park up the robot and head in. I am asked if I have been here before which sounds like Scorpion Swamp which would be great. I can look for a cure or look to tend my wounds. Well I am very healthy and I need to find the cure.
I find a book that details the cure and go to find a lab.
Found a lab.
I follow the instructions and make a compound of the cure. Not bad for a dino rancher. Anyway game over mission solved. Oh wait, there is not and I only have a blue potion that is 1 litre. And it evaporates when its opened. So not enough for the entire population so the mission continues. I keep hearing a mysterious squeaking noise and there is a disturbing lack of sleeping staff members so its time to head out I think.
But on my way out I find a room full of wired cages, empty cages, and I am promptly attacked by three giant lizards. One of them gets a bite in but I dispatch them easily enough.
Now next I think the war college would be worth a visit. Its hopefully got some ideas on how to combat these guys. Unfortunately there is a Karossean robot outside. I decide to just rush straight at it. This takes the pilot by surprise and I get to roll 2d6 and take that damage off its armour. I roll a very average 7.
An open handed slap!
Alas I am fighting a Myrmidon which is standard military robot for the Karosseans. Its a flyer like me but its stuck on robot mode for this fight. Its skill 10 but my speed advantage means its a straight shoot out. Its got armour 12 but my roll of 7 took it down to 5 so we have same armour as well. 8 v 3, 7 v 6 and 8 v 6 means I take it down without getting hit. I was quite nervous there but the dice were kind.
The college is full of sleeping generals but I head to the library to see what I can learn. Bad news though, I hear a noise from outside.
Oh bloody hell its the Decepticon Thrust!
Apparently there is three of them so I only have time to read one of the books that were in the process of being checked out. City of Guardians, Emergency Procedures or Karossean military robots. Ah yes I came here to find out about the enemy so lets read about their robots.
Its basically an instruction manual on how to use them, my character laughs at the thought of the surprise I will give them!
Luckily for me the Karosseans have left their robots parked outside to come in to look for me. So I think lets have a go in one of their robots instead.
Its another Myrmidon
Human Form -
Armour - 12
Speed - Medium
Combat Bonus - +1
Plane Form -
Armour - 10
Speed - Very Fast
Combat Bonus +1
Special rule is it can transform, if I transform in combat its a normal combat round but if I win I do no damage. I can change outwith combat for free but if I am in Human form with armour 2 or less and I transform it all falls apart! Well I am going to be in plane mode exclusively.
Oh wait I am being asked if I read the manual. Yep just now in the library conveniently enough!
I decide to blow up their robots to avoid pursuit. Alas the last one fights back on auto pilot and my mecha takes 3 points of damage. I fly away with the pilots shouting angrily from the window. They can not follow but I am told I have lost the element of surprise as the Karosseans now know someone is still awake.
Where to go next. Well I can not see the museum yielding much information other than something niche maybe. And as cool as the dinosaur preserve would be good to go to I cant see how that helps me find a cure or help defeat the Karosseans. So time for another city.
A lot more on offer this time including the City of Industry again. But now we get the City of Jungle, the City of Storms or the City of Worship. Ok a City of Jungle? How does that work? Storms sounds like a terrible place to live and Worship does not sound appealing either so lets go to Industry.
I just get told I am in the City of Industry, kind of like on an old spectrum text adventure. But I am asked where will I go in my quest for useful artifacts. Hmm must be at least one then. Options are the fuel refining plant, Robot experimentation centre, the tunnels underneath the city or just explore. Very interesting, aimless wandering around feels a recipe for disaster. The tunnels might be some kind of resistance movement maybe? Not sure I need fuel, its not been mentioned so far so I decide to go for the Robot experimentation centre.
Again its just you are in the lobby. Another four options. Interface Mechanisms, Weapons Development, Amplifier Project or Detronics. I head straight for Weapons Development.
I do not get very far.
I try to reason with it hoping these robots are more advanced than the ones in Space Assassin. They are not and it picks me up and throws me back into the lift and I lose 1 stamina point.
Ill have a look at interface mechanisms then and see how that goes. There I find an interface transponder helmet. This little beauty increases my skill score in robot combat up to a maximum of 11. Well my skill is 9 but for robot combat its now 10. Coupled with my very fast and combat bonus my robot skill is now 12. I need to stay in the robot as much as possible!
I doubt there is going to be anything better than that in here so I decide to head elsewhere. I feel the tunnels under the city is an oddly specific choice so lets try that.
This was dumb, I just said I needed to stay in the robot and of course it cant go in there. And I am doubly punished by a non descript T-Junction. After last time outs disaster going left I am going against my rule of always left and head right.
I come to a vault and its full of old rusted robots. However there is a big cargo elevator so I poke around. Which button do you press, green, red or blue? This is terrifying.
I press green for go and the lift shudders, then drops a bit before stopping again. Do you want to press another button or leave the lift? Leave the lift, Leave the lift!
I continue on and there is another human sized lift. Oh well lets try this one, its human sized so must be safer. Well it goes up very fast and almost knocks me out. But I am ok and step out....back into the Robot Experimental Centre.
I immediately get back into my robot and opt to try out another city. The choices are either back to Knowledge or Jungle, Pleasure or Guardians. But I cant go to Guardians as the page ref is 1xx and I need to know the correct digits to go there which I don't have. Hmm lets try Jungle then.
Am I on foot or flying, in flying mode still. Roll a dice. Erm ok. I am intercepted by a Wasp Fighter. Oh dear, its skill 11 and very fast so I do not get my speed bonus so also currently skill 11. Also if it beats my attack by four or more it automatically wins the next combat round as it flies rings around me. Its armour 6 and I am currently on 7 so its a straight shoot out again!
7 v 9, not a good start. 10 v 10, 5 v 7, 5 v 7. I am reduced to 1 and I have not touched the Wasp yet. I get the option to eject so I take it.
I am now the proud owner of an escape robot. Lets check its stats -
Escape Robot
Armour - 1
Speed - Very Fast
Specials - none
Great so I lose my +1 combat bonus as well and I am in one hit wonder.
So I arrive in the City of the Jungle. Its a place of plant and dinosaur lovers. I elect to go to the city first rather than the Jungle. Do I want to go North or South? Not much information to go on, its not quite a non descript T-junction but its not far off.
I head North and find lots of people sleeping close to the Jungle. A scavenging Nothosaurus is on the prowl. Its Armour 7, Skill 9 but at least its speed is slow. So I have the speed advantage and my helmet so advantage of 2 but it only needs to hit me once.
Of course it does, but I pass a luck test and I am able to flee as it chews on my robot. Great, I am now robotless and in a jungle teaming with dinosaurs. I decide to try south of the city.
You see a gleaming pipe, do you want to investigate it, yeah I better in hope that its a robot.
Oh you little beauty!
Its the Serpent VII -
Armour - 9
Speed - Fast in Jungle, Medium elsewhere
Combat Bonus +1
Special - If attack roll is 16+ it constricts the enemy and every combat round after takes 1 point of extra damage, even if you do not win the combat!
My word I thought my adventure was soon to be over but we are back in business. Lets head into the Jungle proper!
Crap another non descript left or right choice. Used to a bit better from Steve 2 to be honest. I go left and another left or right choice but at least this one is interesting. There is a sign saying danger man trap to the left. Ok seems obvious so lets avoid that and go right.
Its marshy but my super robot piloting skills save the day and I get through no problem.
The going is tough, and it costs me 2 armour points. I end up back at the city disappointingly but there are Karosseans everywhere. I keep having to stop my robot and hide to avoid them. My character decides its far too dangerous to stay here and heads to another city.
This time I head to the City of Pleasure as its only one I have not been to yet other than the Capital City which is now an option but I do not feel that I am anywhere near ready for that.
So I can visit the arcade or the airfield. Airfield sounds like a better chance of picking up an awesome flying robot so I slither over there.
Its here I find a WASP, the same type that downed me earlier!
Armour - 6
Speed - Very Fast
Combat Bonus - 2
Special - Win by 4 and automatically win the next round.
Yep I park up my Snake, give it a pat and hop into the Wasp!
I head over to the arcade and play a game of WASP Fighter, hoping it will help me familiarise myself with the controls and get a bonus.
I think this image is of the game. It says you shoot down other robots and does not mention dinosaurs. But it is a million miles away from the other references.
I do quite well and then get offered a go at the advanced level. Hmm sounds like a trap if I spend too much time playing games some Karosseans will show up.
I do not think I am going to learn anything by playing arcade games so I decide to leave. I get asked if I am in the Wasp fighter. Why yes I am. Do you know the model number, if so turn to that reference. Erm no it did not say when I picked it up. (Edit after I finished I figured out I did know it as it was on the arcade machine, doh!)
So as its an experimental model I do not get the +2 combat bonus until I have been through two combats with it. Sigh.
As I leave I can go to the City of Jungle or City of Industry from here. Well not much to do in Jungle so its back to Industry.
Only place I did not visit last time was the fuel refinery so lets have a look. Unfortunately the Karosseans have left a guard here. I can proceed normally, attack or try a ruse. A ruse sounds great but I need to get a couple of combats to get my combat bonus so I just go straight for an attack.
Tripods!
This reminds of a show I saw as kid, do not remember much about it other than it terrified me.
I mean it looks terrible now. Anyway I have to fight both at the same time and they are Skill 8 and Skill 10 and both fast. Ok I am very fast and have my helmet so effective Skill 11. Both armour 7. The dice are kinder this time and I take out the real threat of skill 10 without taking a hit from either of them. That allows me to take the other guy out in two turns using the Wasps special ability. Id like to think this counts as two combats but that would be cheating.
Reinforcements are coming so I can either look through the wreckage or go into the fuel plant. Well I came here to investigate the plant so we go in. And I promptly get some radiation poisoning and lose 1 stamina point and I am forced to leave the area and can never return.
I feel I have to get to the City of Guardians so not really sure how to get it. I need knowledge so I head back there. As I have been here before though its slightly different this time. A Karossean patrol is here and shouts 88 at me and I have no idea on the counter sign. So I end up in a fight with an Air Fighter.
The City of Knowledge is looking rather barren and deserty?
It does get a hit on me, reducing my armour to 4 but I take it down thanks to my superior speed and a special free attack. And that is two combats so I now get my +2 combat back.
Well I never went to the museum so lets try that. But as I approach I see smoke from out the front and lots of radio chatter from the bad guys. Hmm probably a lot of bad guys here so lets try somewhere a bit safer. The Dinosaur preserve sounds safe. Life finds a way and all that....
I arrive and exit the robot to poke around the admin building. If you are looking for something specific add 50 to its number. Nope. So I try searching thoroughly, and get zapped by an electric shock on a door to lose another stamina point. I decide to use a couple of medi packs.
Lets try the other building, it says Danger Keep Out but I am getting a tad desperate. I use my robot to open the door and find a Super Cowboy Robot. Its got a whopping armour of 14 which looks great compared to my 4. But its only medium speed and +1 combat so I feel I can not take the risk. Its special only works on dinosaurs as well.
I fly over the preserve and find nothing. The book even says it does not know what you expected to find here so my initial thoughts were right. I try to go over to the War College again to try and read the other books but its swarming in baddies and my character decides its too dangerous so leaves.
I get the option this time to go to the city of storms which I have not been before. Alas a storm hits and I have to roll a dice at random. Nothing seems to happen though and I land. I can go to the weather bureau or the coast. Not sure what either will offer so I head to the bureau first.
A nice walker robot, with terrible stats!
I go inside and lucky I seem to be a part time weather man as I can work out that a huge storm is about to roll in and cover all of Thalos. Do you have a flask of potion? Yes I do. Well this could be your lucky day. Get to the City of Worship where the storm will come ashore and release the potion into the heart of the storm and it will be distributed everywhere. Nice, but I though it evaporated? But you need a flyer to do this. That's fine as well, I have the Wasp!
I immediately head over and my character feels a bit overwhelmed as the gods must have all their focus on me since everyone is asleep! I get the option to fly over the city which I take.
The storm is coming in so I fly into it. I pass a skill test and only lose 1 stamina point. I am now instructed if I have a flask of liquid to count the letters in both parts of its name and multiply by 10. So Blue Potion would be 10, so 100 then?
I release the blue potion and smile, but when I land, everyone is still asleep, my potion was not potent enough....
Oh well since I am here I go and visit some temples. I try the temple of peace first. I get a chance to pray for something and since freedom is an option I go all braveheart and try that. I get my luck restored to its initial level. Not bad.
The rest of the temples (fear, nothingness and glory) sound ropey to me and I doubt any would have the coordinates for the City of Guardians so I decide to just head over to the Capital City.
It is a beautiful city of white marble but also the enemy base so I am told I may only visit each location once. The choices are the hospital, capitol building, national treasure house, enemy encampment or just explore.
The Capitol Building sounds like it would have the big bad. I head over in my robot but apparently I am too conspicuous and decide to leave it. Do I have a cloak of invisibility, nope. An enemy uniform, nope. Oh well you cant get there, get back in your robot and pick something else.
Hospital might help with the sleeping sickness but I think that horse has bolted. Treasure is clearly a trap for the greedy. Oh well lets go to the enemy encampment. I fly over in the Wasp and I am engaged by two flying Myrmidon's. Both very fast so no bonus there. Skill 11 and Skill 9 with both armour 8.
The Skill 11 is the threat, I can only afford to be hit once. I win the first combat by 3 so just miss out on the special. I use luck instead and reduce it to 4. Great roll next though as I beat it by miles and get my free attack to knock it out. The other fighter is dispatched easily.
More fighters are coming and I can retreat or press the attack. I am on a role so I decide to press on!
And I am promptly blasted out of the sky.... my adventure ends here.
Notable Encounters -
At a point you come across an experimental suit called the amplifier suit, it allows the person to have the strength of a robot. You punch through a table, throw around a hundred kilo filing cabinet before attempting to jump. At this stage it all goes wrong and you bounce off the walls and ceiling repeatedly before eventually coming to a halt. It just sounds like a great comedy scene out of a marvel movie.
The absurdity continues when exploring and a book falls on your head causing one stamina point loss. This is enough for you to go nope I am done in here and leave. So petulant but we have all been there.
Of course there is an ape in a scrapyard that can help repair robots.
Ah some peaceful longnecks.
Now will you peacefully move them out of the way, shout at them through your speakers or maybe shoot to scare them, I mean I am sure they won't stampede or anything!
The one that made me laugh the most though was in the capital city hospital where you bump into some Karossean doctors. You can then fake fainting so they take you to a medical robot who gives you all your stamina back!
Two of the possible endings take place in the capital encampment which a pretty well put together area. There are a lot of ways to get through but also a lot of ways to die. Its far more fleshed out and interesting than some of the preceding sections. It also allows a kind of heroic failure where you use a cloak of invisibility to get close to Minos and his generals and kill them all before the rest of the army can take you down.
But in a book featuring robots and dinosaurs, what would be even better?
A dinosaur robot!
Yep its MechaGodzilla! Now you would think this must be the epic climax to a great set piece? Nope only if you go back to the museum. The daft Karossean's activated him and he is on a rampage but you need to save your fellow sleeping countrymen. But the most criminal part is that instead of getting the illustration above at the start of the encounter, you only get it if you choose the escape option! That makes no sense! What a wasted opportunity.
Artwork -
Gary Mayes is back in action. We last saw him illustrating Rebel Planet. It was a mixed bag there with a lot of odd selections and some confusing ones. And it is a very similar story here. From what we have seen already I really like the opening scene, the plane robot, the tripods and of course the Mecha Godzilla. But the best is the Serpent Robot, I just love the look of it. Also some you will see later in the menagerie section.
Love the Monkeys Scrapyard.
Fancy a Super Tank? Yes Please!
He really gets the Mech Robots and for all the depicted ones he does a very good job.
But some things make me wonder why out of a book with some epic moments do these things get an illustration. I can understand the lab from my playthrough but not one I would have picked.
You get this if you leave a shop and hear machinery going back to what they do.
You stepped in the goo and sank.
Also from my playthrough the Wasp Fighter arcade game picture bears no resemblance to the description in the text. Also some good artwork is hidden behind poor game choices. Such as -
A cool underwater encounter but only if you decide to shoot at the Brontosaurs and they stampeded.
I am just going to leave this here. Nothing like being able to hide your giant robot from super giant robots. Its so absurd I think I love it.
The Big Bad -
The man behind all your woes is Minos, the leader of the invading Karosseans. I would love to tell you more about him but to be honest but we do not really get much about him which is disappointing. I say this a lot but would have been cool to find out snippets of information on him during the adventure.
When you do meet him though he is a bit of a coward. You can challenge him to ritual combat (hopefully if you have the Sword of State) but he is a bit reluctant. Which is no surprise as he has pretty much won at this stage. But his officers get a bit lippy so he feels he has to make the effort. If you do not have the sword he makes you fight a stooge first and one of his officers is so disgusted by him taking advantage he gives you a drink to help recharge. This is a great bit of insight that not all might be happy in the Karossean camp. I would have loved to have seen more of this.
Anyway no idea why he was reluctant as he is Skill 12 so will decimate all but the highest skill rolls.
Maybe try fighting him in your robot instead.
He rolls up in a Super Tank!
Also Skill 12 and a whopping 16 Armour. He also does 1 point of damage every round even when he loses. At least though by now you should have a fair amount of combat bonuses so its not as daunting as its also slow.
Or just release the right potion into a storm and avoid him completely!
Menagerie -
In a book featuring giant robots and dinosaurs, not much other encounters other than giant robots and dinosaurs. Quite right, that's what we came for after all! There is a fair amount of dinosaur encounters featuring both well known and some even I had never heard of species.
Of course there had to be a t-rex, pretty much at the start as well!
And this amazing fight between the super cowboy robot (Metroplex) and a pair of triceratops!
The Ankylosaurs is another Godzilla classic.
I had never heard of a Nothosaurus though, I had to look it up and still none the wiser. And of course had to fight a Pterodactyl while flying!
Considering you have to fight a lot of Karosseans you hardly actually see any. In fact I only found one illustration. They are never described so I wondered what they looked like. What do I look like come to think about it.
Ah, human then. That's a bit disappointing.
However this guy is not even real, but a test from the temple of glory.
Plenty of variety in the robots as well. Heavy brutes such as the crusher, or fast agile Wasps. My favorite are the Myrmidions though. Clearly Decepticon Seekers who I always loved.
Entertaining Deaths -
Searching the college of medicine and being trapped in a dead end by hungry mad lab animals. Even the book says a most embarrassing end for a hero.
Wandering around a hostile city without a robot. You get captured and sent to the slave pens.
Wandering around a dinosaur preserve without a robot. You get eaten.
Wandering around a jungle without a robot. (Basically do not go anywhere without a robot).
Pressing the red button on a lift.
Driving you robot into a marsh.
Politely stepping out of the way of an Iguanodon... straight into some sinking goo.
Praying for peace in the temple of peace. You get peace, by falling asleep like everyone else (this sounds great to me, if it really was happening to me I would be doing this).
Winner for this book though is going to the treasure house with a cargo crab robot and deciding to help yourself to some treasure. A platoon of tanks and Karosseans catch you and instead of being a prisoner of war you are treated as a common criminal and sentenced to a life of hard labour in the slave pits.
Pete's Corner -
Stay away from lifts.
Final Thoughts -
My overwhelming feeling at the end of this was a sense of disappointment. Do not misunderstand, this is a good fun book but I think my expectations were sky high. With all the Transformer and Godzilla nods this had so many of my favorite thing included. It gets off to a great start as well, the City of Knowledge and City of Industry are well fleshed out with a lot of different options. It feels massive. But the middle cities are paper thin and I just felt the book loses a lot of momentum there. It picks up again at the Capital City but by then its a bit too late.
What I really enjoyed though is the implementation of the robots. Different stats but also the special abilities keep them so varied and unique. The choice of sticking or twisting every time you found a new one was interesting (and the fact you could come back to them) plus the way you could mod them and also gain combat bonuses! Long time readers know I bemoan the inability to go above initial skill but the way the robots worked let you easily roll more than you start with. Introducing speed to the robots was also a good way to introduce variety. Go for fast and a skill bonus or take a slow one and sacrifice that bonus but probably get a lot more durability. Oh and fliers! I got sucked into that, not always the right choice but who wouldn't want that ability! Very fun, very well implemented.
Steve Jackson 2 loves an open world feel. I enjoyed in Scorpion Swamp where you could backtrack and it wouldn't be a reset of the same thing. Robot Commando is very open world, you can explore easily and once again there is mechanism to show you have been there before. But its not as extensive and normally its just along the lines of the place is crawling with enemies so you decide not to go. I have to applaud and praise the design of this book with how open it is. It is proper RPG (well as much as you can get into a book). But I do feel with the scale and size of it did take away from the story a bit. I will compare to say Metal Gear Solid for people who know. Those early games were linear but that allowed to tell a story and have some epic set pieces. Then Phantom Pain went open world and it was technically brilliant but the story suffered, it was too open. Scorpion Swamp was more condensed so it worked better there.
As I said it starts great but maybe too much space was spent here and it made the others feel light. There are also a couple of sections which just seem to loop round and around, like the tunnels under the City of Industry. They are just confusing and feel they have been included to give it a false perception of size. Also the writing is not as good as previous efforts from Steve Jackson 2. Not all the time but far too frequently I found the descriptions lacking when exploring. Also the intro is just bonkers and makes no sense in parts. How did my guy find out so much just by guessing and listening to the radio? Why did only I not fall asleep?
I feel something went wrong with the editing of this book. So can not be blamed on author or artist but far too many of the illustrations should have been at the start of the encounter and not after you had picked one of the options. The Mecha Godzilla being the worst example of this, no excuse for it to be like that!
That's enough negativity though. I like the three different paths to victory. Especially how different they are including a non combat final encounter. Coupled with the huge variety of robots it adds a ton of replayability to the book. I do miss 400 not being the finish though. Each path as well can be very different and each city needs to be explored. Its also fun and does not take itself too seriously in tone.
Difficulty is not crazy either. Enemies are not impossible but they are not simple either. Although a high skill roll might steamroller them easier than I did. There were still some enemies where it was close for me. But even then if the robot does go its not always game over. I like that a lot!
The art is better than Rebel Planet. Very happy with how the Robots are depicted. Its style seems to fit the book really well, just need a bit better selection of what to illustrate.
I am sad this is Steve Jackson 2s last effort in the Fighting Fantasy series as I have enjoyed all of them. I do feel though that this is perhaps the weakest of the three despite the sensational premise.
A bit of better editing though would have served it well but I suspect time pressures to get these books out would have been immense. Well worth a play though if you like a fun change and giant robots! It could not be more different to Trial of Champions!
Standing in the office on the top floor of Puffin Towers, Ian stared out of the full length window in utter bemusement. He turned slowly to face Philippa who was working at her huge mahogany desk.
Ian "So, how have they managed that?"
Philippa barley looked up from the manuscript she was reading. Just enough to see out of the window the cobbled together flying blimp the authors were currently escaping on.
Ian "I mean, where did they even get the materials. And why a blimp?"
Philippa "Its easier to fly over the perimeter defences."
Ian "Why do you even have that amount of helium here anyway?"
Philippa sighs and gives up on the manuscript "That's above your pay grade Ian. Besides they won't get far."
With that she presses a button on the desk.
Philippa "Launch the Puffin."
If the scene before Ian was not shocking before, the sight of a giant mechanized zeppelin painted like a giant Puffin really threw him. It was significantly larger than the cobbled together blimp.
Philippa "Never mind that Ian, come here. Look this will cause a delay so I am going to need you to write another book in the meantime."
Ian "Look, there is only so much variations on a theme I can come up with."
There was a silence for a bit before Philippa responded.
Philippa "What if we do not have to...."
She rifled around on the desk before finding what she was looking for.
Philippa "Look, Deathtrap Dungeon was our most successful book that we have had. How about Deathtrap Dungeon 2, a sequel."
Ian looked reflective "A sequel, I never thought of that, how would it work? Never mind I have some ideas. Ill get right on it."
Ian started scribbling excitedly on the paper in front of him, Deathtrap 2 more Deathtrapping. He was completely oblivious to the scene behind him of the giant Puffin Zeppelins beak opening and consuming the makeshift blimp like a scene from a James Bond movie.
Its June 1986 and Ian Livingston has returned to the scene of what I feel was his greatest success. So far all the Fighting Fantasy books have been single stand alone stories. Ian though has tied some of a story together with Forest of Doom and Temple of Terror but this is the first clear direct sequel. I loved Deathtrap Dungeon, I am not imagining Trial of Champions is on the same level but as long as its close we are in for a treat. But it could go the other way and be a big disappointment as expectations are high.
Covers -
I was not much of a fan of this cover back in the day. But older me likes it. The gladiatorial combat is not from the dungeon itself but the build up before you get there. Its very Spartacus with the gladiatorial combat in what appears to be a scorching hot arena. Interestingly everyone is wearing a gold mask.
Just to keep it fantasy though we have this dude with an amazing hat -
The Wizard cover however takes us back into the dungeon itself and features the Skeleton King crashing towards you. Its very claustrophobic with the the dark dungeon walls closing in at the side with no way to avoid the incoming charge. The Skeleton horse is really good. A very different take for a cover compared to the original.
Wizard released another version with a shield and squeezing the previous cover picture into it. Now if they had the Skeleton steed charging through the shield it would look cool but its legs are behind the shield instead of over the top of it. Never a fan of these ones though, far too restrictive.
Unusually there is no Scholastic cover even though I thought there might have been since its an Ian Livingston original.
Premise -
Normally we get an excellent detailed premise from Ian but only three pages for this one. I guess a lot of it assumes the player knows of Deathtrap Dungeon.
Anyway we start chained to a ships oar as my character remembers the unfortunate events of a week ago. Sailing from Port Blacksand (its always Blacksand!) on the way to Oyster Bay (I would like to think for Mungo's funeral) we come across another ship. It completely obliterates my boat and I am forced to accept a rope from it and climb on board.
It is there that we meet Captain Bartella, a tobacco chewing smelly man with broken teeth. He is delighted to have me on board as he was a slave down from accidently killing them by flogging. What a nice fellow.
Flash back to the present and we make landfall on a small island. It features a somber castle and a semi ruined amphitheater. A man wearing black chainmail gives the captain a pouch of cash and the slavers all bugger off.
We are told by this man that we are now the property of Lord Carnuss and it will be our honour to die in the arena of death here on Blood Island. What a lovely naming convention they have here. One of us though will survive and represent Lord Carnuss at this years Trial of Champions.
So it appears Baron Sukumvit is annoyed as a champion beat his Dungeon. Well it was not me, I am currently assistant to the last trial master. Hopefully I retained my employment in this new and improved dungeon. So he has rebuilt is and claimed it is more deadly than ever. As if it wasn't difficult enough last time. At least this time the reward is increased to 20,000 gold pieces!
Slight problem in the plan is that Lord Carnuss will be keeping the money and we are just to be rewarded with freedom. You see Lord Carnuss is the brother of Baron Sukumvit and he wants to embarrass his brother by having someone beat his new improved fancy dungeon first time of asking.
We are then put in a cell for the night. I share mine with a Man-Orc, a Dwarf, a sinewy Easterner and a muscle bound man! 42 people arrived as slaves, only one will even make it to the new dungeon.
Playthrough -
Wow, we are hit by the most basic adventure sheet sheet I have seen! Its just Skill, Stamina and Luck and then a section for notes and items! Not even a backpack or provisions! I guess I am starting as a slave so will have absolutely nothing to my name. I do miss the extra rules that we have seen in other books though.
Skill - 12
Stamina - 23
Luck - 7
Oh nice! A skill 12 for the first time in a long time. Delighted with that. And then rolled 11 for stamina. I was thinking this could be the best start ever but then I rolled a 1 for luck. Well my guy is pretty unlucky, he did get caught and enslaved and forced to enter a brutal fight to the death to then enter a dungeon of near certain death.
No starting image though to get us started which is odd! We start the next day and two guards with heavy chainmail unlock the door and enter with trays of food. We are told to eat as will need our strength as by the end of the day we might all be dead. I get offered some bread and soup and get the option to attack or eat.
So unarmed impoverished slave versus two heavily armored guards or have some food when I am probably starving. To be fair I would not put it past Ian to poison me either. But thinking like Lord Carnuss, surely he would want me at my best to beat his brothers dungeon.
Right enough is chicken and veg soup and tastes amazing. I finish it all off before being led to the Arena of Death.
We are marched out to the arena and its a blisteringly hot day as we are told even the sand beneath our bare feet is uncomfortably hot. Lord Carnuss great us with an inspiring speech. Some of us may die today, some tomorrow, until one is left to represent him. He salutes us. It all reminds me of something....
We are split into seven groups of six and my group contains an elf, two northmen, a dwarf and an ogre. The first challenge is two carry a bag of rocks over some hot coals. But we keep going until someone is lapped or collapses. Seems a bit tough on the dwarf. We set off and I get the option to set the pace or hang back.
Now I have just watched physical 100 on Netflix so sounds like I am taking part in a more lethal version of that!
Lord Carnuss has his own Netflix show to work out who to send to Fang.
My thinking is no need to set the pace. I just need to stay ahead of one person so I hang back. One of the Northmen makes a break for it. Eventually he starts catching the pack and its a skill test. Although you get asked to add 3 to the score if you got flogged by the guards. Looks like I was right to eat the meal. Well with Skill 12 I cant fail but the Dwarf can and he is caught and killed. We are led back to our cells to allow the next race to take place.
One of my cellmates does not return. The bald man, erm, I do not remember anyone being described as bald earlier. The next day they take people one by one. When it is my turn I get the choice of weapons, sword and shield or trident or net. Gladiators love a trident and net so I go for that just to be a bit different.
Finally we get an illustration as I am lead out to face the Bonecrusher!
He goes to the gym a lot but tends to skip leg day.
Apparently I chose well for a bonecrusher is near invincible against a bladed weapon and only way to defeat it is knock it over where apparently it turtles and cant get up. As I throw my net though its not a skill test unfortunately but a d6 roll. I roll a 2 and miss with my throw of the net and lose a luck point. Now it is a skill test but that's just to get the net back without getting hit. Back to rolling a dice and this time it is a 4 and I land the net of the bonecrusher. He gets stuck and I easily pull him over to win the battle.
We go back to the cell and this time its just the easterner left. I am told he looks like he would murder for 2 copper pieces. The guard then shouts out that each cell only has two people left. He only wants one to come out in the morning. Before I can even say anything the easterner is on the attack.
I don't even have 2 copper pieces to bribe him with.
He is Skill 10! Skill 10 for my first fight of the book! I feel this is going to be a typical Ian Livingston book of brutal high skill fights. Despite him trying to shiv me I beat him without taking a hit and slump down for the night.
The next day I discover there are only 12 of us left. We then get lined up against a pole with blades at head and ankle height and have to jump and duck over and over again.
Luckily I have been playing a lot of Fall Guys so should be fine.
In good news it is only a skill test so I easily survive. Still ten of us left and we immediately get on with the next trial. We are divided into two groups and we get to watch the first group. It is basically the front cover. You get a ball and chain strapped to one hand and a little shield in the other before being blindfolded (ah explains the masks) and then its a fight to the death until one survives. Once its over our group gets prepared. I can not hear any sounds and get the choice of left or right.
Long term readers should know by now if in doubt go left. I do and I hear someone going down. Now I can keep going left or swing my ball and chain. Always left. Hmm luck test. To no surprise my unlucky fellow fails and I end up falling over a body in the sand. So does another contestant who was going for me and we end up grappling. Normal fight and its Skill 9.
He goes down without hitting me and I jump to my feet, I cant hear anything and this time I go left naturally. I wonder around for a while before someone gets board and shouts out if any of us are left he is over here. Fair play, I wonder over and and get in another fight but its only skill 8 this time.
I make it through another day and I get a good night of food and my wounds are treated (even though I have none). Next day its a one on one fight with the other survivor, the Southerner.
Lord Carnuss really did not like his drink and is pouring it out into the arena.
Skill 10, Stamina 10. No way any low skilled character was making it through these trials. Finally someone gets a hit on me but I put him down easily enough.
When he dies he wishes me good luck in the dungeon which is very sporting of him. He also says if I get a chance alone with Lord Carnuss remember everyone that has been killed. Oh I will. Except I immediately forget this pledge and spend the next week as Lord Carnuss's honoured guest and indulging myself in every way possible. In game terms it means you get all your stamina back.
I am then chained again and we set sail for Fang. It takes ten days to arrive and I do not get any of the hospitality of Fang as tomorrow is April 30th which is the day of the walk. I love how they use the same calendar system as earth. All this other world building and fantasy but same date system.
Anyway there are only four other contenders this year. A Chaos Warrior, an Eastern Warlord, Elven Prince and a Dwarf Noble. Apparently the increase of prize has attracted a higher clientele. I draw my bamboo and get number two, going in after the Dwarf. Lord Carnuss gives me a fancy sword and a leather pouch. No backpack, provisions or armour. I am sorry Lord Carnuss are you wanting me to win this or not?
Its been a bit more of an ordeal rather than just turning up like last time but here we go, Deathtrap Dungeon attempt two!
The first door I come to has Keep Out written in dried blood and I hear sniffing sounds on the other side. Well last time we got a little gift from Sukumvit so maybe this is the same.
Nope!
The Hellhound has a special rule that after every attack round you have to roll a dice, on a 1 or 2 you are burnt and lose a stamina point. This does not happen to me but a poor roll means it does get one hit in. I have a rummage around and find a gold ring which I put in my pouch.
Oh joy, its a non descript T-junction. No mention of seeing which way the dwarf went. Left it is.
I find in the roof twenty spears facing down. No sign of a trip wire and a choice to go the other way. I decide to go forward. I was always going to have to face a deathtrap sooner than later. To my shock though its a fake, nothing happens and I even grab one of the spears to take with me!
I am clearly too cocky now though and immediately activate a hidden crossbow which buries a bolt into my thigh. It costs me two stamina points which is not bad considering in real life I would be screaming and would probably just give up. I find it odd that all this took place with random dice rolls, no tests on stamina or luck which I find strange, and a little unfair.
Anyway I bandage my leg up and head along and decide to try the next door I find. Its empty but for a plinth of exotic fruit. Well this is probably a mistake but with no provisions I decide to try it. Restore 2 stamina points! Not as good as my traditional provisions but ill take it!
Further up the tunnel I see a small humanoid which runs away when it spots me. I get no choice here as my character decides to run after him. I feel this is a mistake and I would not be doing this with a choice!
I lose sight of the creature so I open the next door I find.
Orcs having target practice.
What that? Test your luck? Great. After the inevitable failure I get a dagger in the arm for another 2 stamina point loss. I am already looking like a pin cushion. I easily dispatch both as they are skill 6. At least Baron Sukumvit knows the score and puts his worst monsters at the start and builds up. Unlike Carnuss and his high skill tests right at the start!
I pick up 2 daggers and have a dig through there possessions which are very specific and gross. In good news I find a breast plate and finally have some armour. In bad news (kind of) its plus 1 skill which is no use to me as I am at my initial skill. I feel this is unfair and resolve that if I do get a skill penalty the breastplate will negate it.
I once again catch a glimpse of the small humanoid and give chase but once again lose him near a door. Knowing I probably need to collect a ton of items to progress I decide to keep looking in doors.
If you are a leprechaun you can bloody well stay there.
Four black candles surround the case, obviously to keep him in there. He even looks evil in the picture. Nope sorry you remind me too much of the leprechaun so I am out of here.
I continue down the corridor and randomly see something shiny underneath some rubble. I have a look and its a magic sword!. Great what benefit does it give me? Well so far nothing.
The next door is blockaded by wooden boards. Hmm, ill have a look. Oh great a luck test. Unbelievably I roll a 3 despite having a luck score of 4 at this stage! Finally my dude catches a break.
You boys been here a while?
Turns out these are riddling skeletons! The one pointing says to me "Brothers and Sisters I have none, but that mans father is my fathers son." Love a riddle but I know this one. So that dudes father is his fathers son, well your fathers son is you so you must be his dad, making him your son. Clear? My reward for this, a small iron key.
I find another door but this room is empty. I just open the door and leave. But the text tells me I have no idea that it was a teleportation room and I am in a completely different area of the dungeon. If my character is not aware of that then why tell me!?
I follow this new (or as my character assumes same) corridor to a door at the end. I walk in and I am told I am surprised by what I find.
I am surprised!
He introduces himself as the trial master Noy. I am invited to attack him or follow his instructions. Well I have previous experience with trial masters so I elect to see what he wants to do first.
The first test is a tug of war against a caveman. It resolves like a combat but with no stamina loss. First to four wins well erm wins. He is only skill 7 so he is an easy victory and I pull him over and he disappears headfirst into a pit.
Next up Noy asks me a riddle. He points at wooden chest and says inside this chest is six more chests and each of those contain three small chests, how many chest are there. Well providing its not a trick question I count 25. Turn to that reference. Yep I am right.
The final challenge is a battle with staves with him. He is blind but assures me that will not be a problem. The fight will be with bamboo poles to simulate rather than hurt each other. A blow to the head or chest is an automatic win. I should be fine with skill 12. Oh wait.
Instead I get asked if I want to attack him first or wait to counter. Well I think the attack option is a ruse and he is waiting for me to make a move so I opt to counter. He comes at me and I cant tell if its a sideswipe or an overhead strike to the head and must pick a counter. If I was him head is too obvious so I block the strike to the body and luckily I am right.
I take the initiative and aim a blow at his neck but I have to roll a skill test for Noy! I like the idea of rolling for him but unfortunately I pass the test and he blocks my attack. I get to attack again and go for the body but that's the wrong choice and he blocks and I loose the initiative. Noy goes for an all out flying attack but I pass a skill test and catch him in the stomach and win the fight.
The trialmaster is defeated and just sends me on my way without so much as a word of encouragement. I head through the caveman's living area into another tunnel and soon arrive at a fountain with a fish. I get the option to drink from it but Skill is still max and stamina sitting at 19 so I so not think its worth it. Especially as the fruit turned out to be ok, I doubt this will be as well.
Calmly walking on I am rudely interrupted.
Its the King of all Skeletons! Quick someone tell Murray at turn to 400!
Unless you have a hammer all damage is only 1 stamina point. Hmmm who knew a hammer would be better than a magic sword! Anyway with my awesome skill score I knock him off his horse.
Another T-junction, not much choice so left again. But I arrive at a pit but alas I do not have the climbing rope I am asked for so I have to go right.
An iron grate is on the floor, nothing good will come from opening that I feel so I press on.
Oh come on another non descript T-Junction, at this point its just 50/50 guessing. I keep heading left and come across a great pit. Chances are I cant make the jump but I get the chance to anyway or head back. I decide to go right for a change.
This way leads to a brass bell in the corridor, and I get the option to ring it. Ah why not. Randomly a dove flies out and deposits another gold ring. I have two now so I imagine they are important.
Another T-Junction beckons, but this time it does have a bit of a description, some rubble to the left and a wooden door to the right. Lets have a look at the rubble, since its to the left!
I discover an iron door behind the rubble and spend twenty minutes clearing it. Going through I am in a derelict tunnel, there is no way through but there is some writing which I can't read. I go off to find a torch and upon my return it says set one 249. Hope that helps later on!
I hear screaming from the next door so like a true hero I burst in.
Ah of course an elf in the grip of a giant tongue!
I decide to help and attack the tongue and get covered in ichor but keep my feet with a skill test. Its the end of the elf though but he thanks me for trying. Before he dies he says the correct path is through the mouth, he thinks. I get some healing paste from him which take 6 stamina back so I am once again 100%. I also get some blue dye before, yep, I head into the mouth.
The tongue attacks again but its only skill 5, makes me wonder how the elf got this far. I start walking down the steps behind the tongue and can hear a girl singing. Its bound to be a siren.
I hate being right.
Good lord I hope its not a luck test. It clearly says she is going to kill me but I need to role a dice. I roll a 3 which apparently is just enough as I hold my ears and scream to avoid the song and run out the other side of the cave.
It a large staircase which I make my way up. There are three red painted steps, I get the option to jump over them. I think this would be very wise but as I do I am weighed down by my breastplate. But a skill test later I land safely on the far side.
The next tease is some clay urns that you get the option to peek in. I find a purple cloak which is fire resistant and gives me back a luck point. Do I want to look in more urns, nope what are the chances of two good things, ill be on our way.
Another door is next.
Oh this does not look good.
I get the option to steal the lamp. Sigh that's going to wake it up for sure but with full skill and stamina I think it is worth the risk. Yep sure enough the Idol jerks awake. Its skill 9 and only stamina 6 so that's fine but you need a magic sword to kill it. Ah well it just so happens!
The idol does hit me once but I take it down. I rub the lamp enthusiastically but no genie to grant wishes. Instead I find a golden ring rattling around inside.
Another T-Junction but good news, we get some information. To the left is a door, to the right is a light. I decide on the door, always left.
Yeah I am not buying that as real treasure for a second!
I decide I am not having any of this but alas my dude is not so sure and wanders up. Can I make a choice, nope. A test of some kind, nope. How about another random dice role? Nope. My character just walks up, touches the treasure, revealing a mind warp beast which has a great big green mouth which promptly bites me in half. I got killed for going left.
Notable Encounters -
A lot of the best encounters involve picking up one of the nine gold rings you need to be successful on the quest. The one with the Liche Queen is particular good where instead of a straight up fight with an undead horror you must wear a gauntlet of pain and tough it out.
The art is particularly creepy.
The amazingly named Billy Bob of the little people gets himself into a bit of a tangle (sorry) and needs rescued. He also rewards you with a gold ring and some great advice about not drinking from any fountains.
Oh Billy Bob, what a tangled web you weave (ok ill stop now).
You can also get one from an elephant statue where the description sounded pretty cool but would have liked an illustration of it.
There is also a good encounter where you are confronted by a Zombie Horde. You have zero chance of beating them in a fight so you have to run away and make a jump over a great big pit. There are a lot of pits in this dungeon.
Clearly just a misunderstood dance troop from Michael Jacksons Thriller.
The second trial master is also an interesting and tough encounter. You better have enough gold rings and do not lie about it or he will instant kill you. Better put them in his throne in the right order as well or you will be cocooned!
He is a wizard named Lexus, Baron Sukumvit could not afford the wizard Ferrari.
He was clearly not expecting anyone to make it this far so was whiling away the time doing a bit of homework.
Artwork -
Welcome Brian Williams to the Fighting Fantasy franchise and outside some work on the Riddling Reaver, it looks like this is his only outing.
Ok looking at what we have seen so far I think he is excellent at human characters. The Easterner and Southerner from the first part of the book look really good. Both trial masters I also like and the Liche Queen is especially excellent. The Skeleton King is ok, the undead horse is really good but the King himself is a bit underwhelming.
And to be fair managing to put an illustration against an elf being eaten by a giant tongue in a stone head was a great effort!
Ill talk about them a bit more in the Menagerie section but the Strider is probably my favorite, and the other contestants you battle are also well depicted. Oh and the brass statue!
Its not all hits though as I think as you see with the hell hound flames do not look great and we see that again later -
The flames just look a bit cartoony compared to the rest of the art.
But the worse piece for me is the crone -
Don't think your spoon is big enough there.
I mean it depicts the scene as described, I just find it jars as being very different to the rest of the art. Maybe it was the lack of border but it just looks strange on the page.
I would normally be moaning about some of the choices of illustrations as there a lot of pictures featuring just a room or an area. But as you are in a dungeon trying to kill you it makes sense to show these pictures so you can try and work it out if its going to kill you or not.
I mean what's going on here? I tell you what, an axe that an take 4 skill from you if you are unlucky!
But overall I really like the art from Mr Williams. Yes its not as dark and gritty as it probably should be in a dungeon and its of course not going to be as good as in Deathtrap but I feel it does a good job. I've certainly seen a lot worse put it that way.
The Big Bad -
In Deathtrap Dungeon there really was not a big bad and instead I looked at the deathtraps themselves. In Trial of Champions though there most certainly is, Lord Carnuss! I mean this guy is clearly a twisted rich boy. Who else would go on a spree of enslaving people and making them fight to the death! And that is just to send the winner to your brothers killer dungeon so he can try and get one up on him. I am now imagining my brother Pete would do that mind you if I ever opened my own deathtrap dungeon. He is most certainly the Carnuss to my Sukumvit!
Carnuss is very much at the forefront of your thoughts an motivations for the first part of the book but when you actually get into the dungeon you kind of forget about him as you just try and survive. Once out though he is back and tries to steal all your glory as he goes up to collect the prize pot. Sukumvit is having none of it though and on the spot mentions there is an extra prize this year where the victor gets any one wish granted.
Now I feel our character is a bit rash here as he wishes to duel Lord Carnuss. I mean could have picked anything! But it does give an exciting boss battle ending to the book. Carnuss is Skill 10 but if you made it through to this point you probably have skill 12 and should beat him relatively easily.
Menagerie -
This was always going to be a challenge in making it unique from Deathtrap. But to be fair the premise of a killer designed dungeon means you do not need to stick to a particular theme. I mean we do get a Giant Spider and some Orcs but it is packed with unique monsters such as a Tuskar and the Bone Crusher. Even the Liche Queen is a nice change.
The Coldclaw is described so well I am delighted it got an illustration. Pucker up!
The Strider is my favorite artwork in the book, its so creepy!
Xoroa are like ant centaurs and not something I have come across before.
The Bone Demon comes across great on the text but alas the illustration does not do it justice. He just looks really dizzy.
So Ian does a really good job of filling his new dungeon with a lot of unique and new creatures merged with some classics. What I do find though is that the other challengers are not as interesting as in Deathtrap. The Dwarf gets turned into a chest, the elf gets eaten by the tongue and you fight the other two.
Not enough Spikes
You don't technically have to fight him but he can take your money and bop you on the head for your troubles.
The Eastern Warlord has had a terrible time and has no items at all!
Entertaining Deaths -
Spraining your ankle in a race, except its a race to the death!
Getting your bones crushed by the Bone Crusher.
Lying down in the sand during the blindfold fighting, you get shot for being a coward.
Throwing dust on the floor and appearing in a room with a locked iron door and you don't have the key, you starve.
Opening a chest of a Dwarfs face and letting him escape. The chest turns into your face.
Getting hit by a skill 2 rat, but its got rabies so you die.
Eating a Hill Trolls food which has flesh grub eggs in it, you lose 1 stamina each time you turn the page and your character is despondent as they know they will die even if they escape the dungeon.
Taking a dead goblins box. Its a life stealing box.
My favorite though does not actually involve dying. But if you get a simple maths question wrong with the first trial master you need to take over the job of the tug of war caveman. I imagine you get to live in his apartment.
Pete's Corner -
Lord Carnuss is not such a bad guy....
Final Thoughts -
This will all depend on how you like your gamebooks. If you like multiple paths to victory and not requiring high stats and fancy rules you will detest this book. If you like difficulty to be a very, very narrow path of picking the right options and collecting all the right items then this is for you.
Rightly or wrongly this one will always be compared to Deathtrap Dungeon rather than other books in the series as it is a direct sequel. Deathtrap is my favorite book (so far) and it is a very tight linear path as well and I do not normally like that but the way it was presented in Deathtrap was very thematic. But there you needed three jewels and there were some fake ones in there. Here you need nine (yes 9!) gold rings, three vital clues and also some items such as red dust and an iron key. I am looking at my mapped out spreadsheet here looking at the path you have to take and once you are in the dungeon you have no wiggle room. It just seems a bit too much this time round, if you were playing legit this would take a mountain of goes to finish. But that might be exactly what Ian wanted you to do. But I can see people giving up on it before finishing it without cheating.
I did really like the change to the structure though with having the whole gladiatorial games first rather than just turning up in Fang again for the walk. This added a nice fresh twist, although you are not getting though this stage with single digit skill. In fact just as well I rolled a 6 for skill or this would have been a very fast walkthrough!
Obviously though the side effect on this is a lot of space is sacrificed that would have gone to the dungeon itself which makes that part feel considerably smaller. I also miss the interactions with the other trialists, like the footprints and the whole trial with Throm. Apart from the interaction with the elf you might as well be walking around yourself.
As much as I have enjoyed some of the new and unique rules in the other books I don't mind Ian stripping it all the way back to the standard rules and then some. Not even any provisions! It did keep things easy and simple which was a nice change of pace. But as long as its just the occasional book.
The writing is mixed for me, but only as I hold Ian to a high standard based on what's come before. I feel like the background was not his usual superb level but that might be because he is expecting people to already know the setup from the previous book. During the adventure there is a lot of really great descriptive paragraphs though but also a few too many bland T-junctions. Look it is not bad by any stretch of the imagination but I was just hoping for a little bit more.
The style of the dungeon does add a lot of tension though. Every choice and option you are presented with feels like a 50/50 of if it will kill you or help you. Knowing you have to keep searching forces you to justify daft decisions, common sense does not always help here.
What he does do well though is with the menagerie. I know people will be upset without returning classics such as the Bloodbeast, but I really did enjoy some of the new creatures he put in. Is it as good as Deathtrap, probably not but at least it was different!
Going back to comparisons, its not fair but the art will also be compared to Ian McCaigs, still the high point of the series for me. Brian Williams I think did a very good job and while not being spectacular or as detailed still did enough. Only thing for me is a lot of the time you do not feel you are in a dungeon. But he does humanoid characters very well, not a given in the Fighting Fantasy series!
I did like the addition of Lord Carnuss into the role and his feud with his brother. He is clearly very jealous if he is willing to sacrifice so many people just to stick it to Sukumvit! But he is just the sort of despicable bad guy that you can hate but you can imagine in his head he is doing nothing wrong and we are all beneath him.
This is not as good as Deathtrap Dungeon and the ramped up difficulty (and Deathtrap was not easy) is probably a bit too far. But its also fun to be back in my favorite setting. Its not a million miles away and without the comparisons against its illustrious forbearer probably would have felt like a better book. But it will be compared and it falls short of Deathtrap in every department. That does not make it bad, its just if you have a choice play Deathtrap.
Score - 7 out of 10.
On aside I came across this awesome review of the apparent "real" history of Fighting Fantasy on YouTube from Jordan Sorcery who I follow for his Warhammer and retro board games content. Its done in a choose your next move style with video instead. Really enjoyed it -
