tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post7784676699437389908..comments2024-03-28T21:13:53.845+00:00Comments on Fabled Lands: A blind date with destiny - and it looks like she's ordering the lobsterDave Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-80724376848718151322011-01-31T23:12:36.230+00:002011-01-31T23:12:36.230+00:00Quite impressive indeed, with all of the character...Quite impressive indeed, with all of the character classes, skill trees, equipment and such. There is a skill glossary on the downloads page for our perusal as well. I wonder if the rest of the series will link to the first book. From what I can tell, the author has 4 books planned, but the first one will be released tomorrow. I truly love this gamebook renaissance, cheers!<br /><br />I've noticed that the Amazon sales ranks were around 47k for The War-Torn Kingdom, but 109-116,000 for the other 3.Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-55174929020186550462011-01-31T22:45:47.244+00:002011-01-31T22:45:47.244+00:00Destiny Quest looks very impressive. And the autho...Destiny Quest looks very impressive. And the author has clearly put a huge amount of care, thought and hard work into it. The UK edition seems like quite a bargain too, given the page length of the book. (Not so much the US edition, which is listed at $15.51 on Amazon.) I'll mention it to the other FL guys.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-55675753414279625472011-01-31T21:44:15.395+00:002011-01-31T21:44:15.395+00:00Hey Dave, I found this in the current issue of the...Hey Dave, I found this in the current issue of the UK magazine Gamesmaster: http://www.destiny-quest.com/<br /><br />It seems interesting, although they make it seem like it has not been done before :) Fabled Lands was probably one of the author's influences, due to its seemingly open-ended nature. I'm reading through the website as I type this and it's on sale at: <br /><br />http://www.amazon.co.uk/DestinyQuest-Legion-Michael-J-Ward/dp/1848765428/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284989647&sr=1-1<br /><br />I would rather save up and purchase more Fabled Lands copies, though.Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-66468699876917817362011-01-31T17:36:34.755+00:002011-01-31T17:36:34.755+00:00Hi Mike - well, I'm not sure our investors wou...Hi Mike - well, I'm not sure our investors would agree with wishful thinking as a business strategy, but we are hopeful! Sales will continue indefinitely because the books are set up as POD, meaning that it is no extra cost to Fabled Lands LLP to keep them in print. In the meantime, we have plenty of other projects in the pipeline for this year, including the long-awaited Dirk Lloyd launch. Did somebody mention television..? ;)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-13042635572766753532011-01-31T17:25:40.857+00:002011-01-31T17:25:40.857+00:00As for sales, is there a specific deadline that FL...As for sales, is there a specific deadline that FL LLC is veering towards in regards to quantities sold, or will sales go on and on until sales totals are met? I have no doubts that the series will be completed. If you keep thinking to yourself "The FL series WILL be completed, the FL series WILL be completed", with no negative thoughts whatsoever, it will most likely happen.Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-42484118144866439302011-01-31T16:58:09.153+00:002011-01-31T16:58:09.153+00:00B&N don't provide handy HTML paste-ins lik...B&N don't provide handy HTML paste-ins like Amazon, but here are those links:<br /><br />For Mirabilis<br />http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mirabilis/Dave-Morris/e/9780956677815/?itm=1&USRI=mirabilis+morris<br /><br />For FL<br />http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fabled-Lands-1/Dave-Morris/e/9780956737205/?itm=1&USRI=fabled+lands+morris<br /><br />We don't have a single review on B&N, while we have quite a few on Amazon, so I'm assuming most of our sales are through the latter.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-82319451353433290852011-01-31T15:59:23.745+00:002011-01-31T15:59:23.745+00:00Could you post the Barnes and Noble order links as...Could you post the Barnes and Noble order links as well? I believe they add to the sales figures as that is where I ordered my copies.Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-33572870954673297132011-01-31T13:49:42.936+00:002011-01-31T13:49:42.936+00:00I believe that's where the link now points.I believe that's where the link now points.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-19754348197880670752011-01-31T12:49:06.624+00:002011-01-31T12:49:06.624+00:00If it was going to be anywhere it would be book 12...If it was going to be anywhere it would be book 12, into the underworld wouldn't it?Jamie Thomsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-37054156904511533222011-01-28T10:01:42.554+00:002011-01-28T10:01:42.554+00:00Personally I prefer the idea that you're never...Personally I prefer the idea that you're never seen again. That's creepier. But we have to balance drama with gameplay, and death paragraphs are no fun for the player, so... you'll go somewhere. Only Jamie knows where!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-22351935202814940702011-01-28T08:35:38.288+00:002011-01-28T08:35:38.288+00:00Well, the other new thing I'm wanting to find ...Well, the other new thing I'm wanting to find out the answer to is what happens when you're dragged away by the Trau at Haggart's Corner in book 2. Before - you're never seen again. Now - Or are you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-71708008357819577762011-01-27T12:05:30.287+00:002011-01-27T12:05:30.287+00:00Sorry, James. I can see how that could be misinter...Sorry, James. I can see how that could be misinterpreted. It should have read, "hopefully you won't have to wait for 15 years this time." And that new codeword - oh yes, it could prove useful in several ways ;)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-33833372302794385292011-01-27T11:09:47.071+00:002011-01-27T11:09:47.071+00:00Your wording scared me a bit there Dave - at first...Your wording scared me a bit there Dave - at first it read like you were hoping we wouldn't find out for another 15 years!<br /><br />I was very happy to see that new codeword - not because the old man intrigued me (though I'd be pleased to hear more about just how "mad" he really is), but because it offers a concrete reason to start your adventures in book 1, rather than in the later books, which can make for something of an easy mode when travelling to Sokara.<br /><br />Anyone ignoring this new incentive may well regret it when they return to a successful character in a year or two, to find a section of story forever closed to them!James (Chalor)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-71962366449732706802011-01-27T00:55:12.869+00:002011-01-27T00:55:12.869+00:00Ah, but is the new codeword to do with the mad guy...Ah, but is the new codeword to do with the mad guy on the beach, Mike, or is it something else? I'm afraid everybody's going to have to wait and see. (Hopefully not for another 15 years...)<br /><br />The info@ email goes to Jamie - and quite right too, as he leaves me to do all the work on the blog. In fact, I'm going to ask for a pay rise. As soon as Fabled Lands LLP starts paying me anything, that is :)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-19403245435972709342011-01-27T00:04:39.097+00:002011-01-27T00:04:39.097+00:00Not the email address on the right, the other emai...Not the email address on the right, the other email (regarding the article). This is the error message I receive: <br /><br />mk-inboundfilter-1-a-1.b2b.uk.tiscali.com gave this error:<br />#5.1.0 Address rejected <br /><br />Perhaps it's some sort of firewall.<br /> <br />Does info@fabledlands.net go directly to you?<br /><br />Oh, and I have always thought that the madman/mystic deserved a codeword, congrats to whomever pointed that out. I have received the first four books back in December along with the Game Guru books, but haven't had any time to read them, due to final term studies. April 2011, here I come!Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-8710779781277957862011-01-26T23:48:12.136+00:002011-01-26T23:48:12.136+00:00Hi Mike, welcome back to the blog. I don't kno...Hi Mike, welcome back to the blog. I don't know why the email bounced but at least the comments seem to be working. (They don't always!)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-12111309601237941972011-01-26T16:13:39.701+00:002011-01-26T16:13:39.701+00:00Dave, it's Mike. I tried to send you an email ...Dave, it's Mike. I tried to send you an email but it comes back bounced. Any suggestions?Mike Mielkehttp://www.mikemielke.mpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-59844830968959331572011-01-26T00:39:30.558+00:002011-01-26T00:39:30.558+00:00The problem remains how to maintain the suspension...The problem remains how to maintain the suspension of disbelief when the protagonist is being described in 3rd person. "Cap'n Jack is swimming towards the Black Pearl. Do you think he should climb aboard at the stern (turn to 22) or the prow (turn to 36)?" But who am I in the narrative, that my decisions affect Jack Sparrow's actions? <br /><br />Obviously that's not a problem in 3rd person videogames, where you have a liminal identification with the main character. But in a book it puts you in the position of being the author - which is disengaging.<br /><br />I'm not saying there aren't very good solutions to that problem, mind ;)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-78229408107794592282011-01-25T20:07:29.758+00:002011-01-25T20:07:29.758+00:00The idea of a 3rd person-gamebook isn't new: B...The idea of a 3rd person-gamebook isn't new: Brennan used it in Demonspawn, and it's one of the best gamebook saga ever conceived, as far as setting and narration are concerned, but unfortunately quite unplayable. I'd really like to see this narration system used again in a more sofisticated gamebook...kingfedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10194624628738400508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-49551031877216912562011-01-25T09:52:27.010+00:002011-01-25T09:52:27.010+00:00I saw a great UK television drama (almost an oxymo...I saw a great UK television drama (almost an oxymoron there) called Lost in Austen, and I wonder if that's related to the book you're talking about? I'll also check out Frotz - thanks, Ken.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-34315483477810615252011-01-25T09:28:33.893+00:002011-01-25T09:28:33.893+00:00In terms of interactive romance literature, a prom...In terms of interactive romance literature, a prominent (book) example is <i>Being Elizabeth Bennet</i> (US title: <i>Lost in Austen</i>). This is one way of handling the problem of a 'well depicted character,' since the player-reader here adopts the role of an already-established figure. <br /><br />Regarding interactive fiction (IF): You can in fact play IF on the iPad and iPhone, using the free Frotz app.Ken Finlaysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13201307125448408546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-89645879635456355302011-01-24T18:53:45.185+00:002011-01-24T18:53:45.185+00:00Thanks Jamie ! You're forgiven. Though I didn&...Thanks Jamie ! You're forgiven. Though I didn't play wargames, I was a fan of Napoleonic Wars too !<br />The "Real Life" gamebook which takes place during WWII was never published in France. On a French forum, some gamebook-fans ranted: "those French editors, they want to hide the fact that many French people collaborated with the Nazis !"<br />I replied that, on the contrary, this gamebook is very favorable to France since the character we play soon finds helpful Frenchmen. The problem is that this part of the action takes place in what wasn't actually France anymore !cafaristeirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915889856526586336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-10572091903300930762011-01-24T17:58:21.052+00:002011-01-24T17:58:21.052+00:00You're right, Napoleon did ban the Marseillais...You're right, Napoleon did ban the Marseillaise, my bad, I just got that one wrong, sorry!Jamie Thomsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-51107931141016055202011-01-24T17:20:49.532+00:002011-01-24T17:20:49.532+00:00Jamie will be mortified at getting a historical de...Jamie will be mortified at getting a historical detail wrong about Napoleon, Olivier. He used to own a huge army of miniatures of the period and played an ongoing wargame of Napoleon's campaigns.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-72511299039161736102011-01-24T16:06:30.227+00:002011-01-24T16:06:30.227+00:00Another flaw in the "Real life" gamebook...Another flaw in the "Real life" gamebooks were some historical errors. In the first lines of the one that takes place during the American Revolution, you can read that some of your relatives have settled... in California. In the one where you play a Spitfire pilot escaping from a camp in Germany, you can find a restaurant, in Germany, with a French flag ! Later, you have to cross Metz or Mulhouse that the author describes as French cities though they were, at that time, annexed by the Nazis (I know this, for my family living near Metz was expelled). <br />I could have a look at the first book of the "Falcon" series and read that, at the battle of Borodino in 1812, French troops are singing the Marseillaise, moreover in front of Napoleon himself. Sorry Jamie, but I don't think that soldiers would have sung a Republican hymn during Napoleon's reign !cafaristeirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915889856526586336noreply@blogger.com