Greywood Publishing have just released the first of twelve supplements for the Fabled Lands role-playing game and, if this one is anything to go by, the series is set to be one of the greatest RPG experiences ever. The book focuses on Sokara, with city maps, new rules, monsters, characters, items and scenarios. Amazing cartography by the legendary Gillian Pearce, drool-worthy art by a host of luminaries, editing by Andrew Wright and gorgeous layouts by author, typographer, graphic designer, publisher and full-on Renaissance Man, Jamie Wallis.
Naturally I'm going to say I like it, but take a look at the reviews this series is garnering. If you want a quick, comprehensive RPG system that lets the adventure come first, Fabled Lands is the one to pick. And P W Gresty, no stranger to these parts, has serendipitously just posted a Fabled Lands scenario, "Many Happy Returns", on his blog, giving new characters a great jumping-off point for their quests.
Golnir next. And wait till you see the beautiful cover artwork for that by a certain (and even more legendary) Mr Gary Chalk!
I've purchased the pdf but haven't yet printed and read it (it's been a busy week). A qucik glance through left me eager to read it and I look forward to future volumes. Nice affordable price too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention, Dave. I'll try to put some more Fabled Lands-related stuff on the blog over the coming weeks. And I'll make sure to go pester the Fabled Lands Facebook group about any new content, so that people know it's there.
ReplyDeleteWill these be sold on amazon as well? I have a voucher....
ReplyDeleteWanderer, I'm pretty sure the regional sourcebooks will be on Amazon as the core rulebook is.
ReplyDeleteI wish they were not only available from marketplace sellers on Amazon, they have a habit of charging more and also having high postage.
ReplyDeleteCubicle 7 is always cheaper direct, but I don't have a voucher for them. There is a danger I might have to spend actual money. Horrifying.
Jay Wallis at Greywood did ask me recently about Lightning Source, which is the print-on-demand company that Fabled Lands LLP uses for its own books.
ReplyDeleteUntil recently, Lightning Source books have been listed on Amazon, but I've been seeing on the forums that people are saying Amazon listings of LS books are slower to go up and frequently get tagged with 1-3 month delivery times. That's what we've found with our Binscombe Tales books on Amazon UK, even though the Book Depository is able to deliver them (http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Binscombe-Tales-John-Whitbourn/9780956737267) as is Amazon US.
Amazon of course has its own POD company (CreateSpace) which is a rival to Lightning Source - but as to whether that has anything to do with it, I can't say.
Grognardia reviews the original Fabled Lands here:
ReplyDeletehttp://grognardia.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-fabled-lands.html
Thanks. Although 6 out of 10 for utility? Must try harder!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteSome weeks ago I knew about this excellent serie. I found the java game and now I want to buy the printed books. Could you explain the difference between Fabled Lands books, Sokara Core book and Fabled Land Core Rule Book? Thanks
The six Fabled Lands books (http://fabledlands.blogspot.co.uk/p/fabled-lands-gamebooks.html ) are solo gamebooks, whereas the Sokara core book and the FL Rules were a role-playing game for multiple players that Greywood Publishing began but later abandoned.
DeleteHello david,
DeleteSorry for that project but the most important thing is that the authors and the fans remain active and enthusiastic.
I wanted to dare to make some comments. I consider you a few authors and artists and so it is difficult to suggest things. But also of his interest in the opinions of readers. So are these two points.
My son has just 8 years and still do not read the books but I've already talked to them. I would love him to live the excitement of such adventures but not excited me so much that after are so immersed in the game to forget the real world. And I've thought of something. All this time I've been playing with book one, you feel immersed in history. So the rest of the day not only think you're going to do but I imagine at that time. And then I thought something, I will do some of the typical tasks of cleaning the house and I'll give some shards for it. So if I had to take out the trash or suck him into imagining as if working in a tavern. After I learn me also I say points blocks of 10 verbs in another language. And also an increased ability to learn to use a slingshot.
Such is the need to earn money or skills for your character that really does not cost that much work perform. And you're interacting with the real world and learn useful things. There is a comment from a reader Amazon illustrating how you can isolate when you're really into the story, and then to regret (http://www.amazon.com/The-War-Torn-Kingdom-Fabled-Lands/ dp / 095673720X)
In short, I can propose my son some of these activities but would be even more exciting than the rules were part of the same game. And though the books are printed and perhaps there may be an expansion pack or something like that that
The other point is a recommendation of an online course of economy. One aspect that excited me more Fabled Lands is to incorporate a bank options, sale or purchase of goods. And then I get excited thinking how amazing it would be a book if expanded this subject in one of the adventures.
So I send a page of an online course at the University of Stanford, who besides being free is very pleasant. I'm sure the stories can be enriched still more if some of these issues (which is worth commenting are aspects with which we encounter every day, are not exclusively sofisicticados or financial issues) are incorporated.
This is the link hopefully serves: http://economicsone.com/2014/06/18/stanfords-economics-1-now-coming-online/
. And these are the loose videos on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=economis+1+-+Lecture
Thank you very much for all your books and congratulations for being the creator of one of the best (or the best) book series.
Cheers
Carlos Uribe
Hi Carlos - that's an interesting idea, as I wanted to write an RPG or FL-type gamebook that would drop a reader into a historical setting such as Ancient Rome. You'd be presented with authentic life choices based on your social class, wealth, nationality, etc, and so you'd learn about the reality of Roman times "from the inside".
DeleteThe ideal person to tackle economic questions in gamebook form would actually be my friend Tim Harford. Before he wrote The Undercover Economist, Tim actually wrote 100 paragraphs of FL book 5, The Court of Hidden Faces, when Jamie found a deadline screeching towards him with sirens blaring.
Ok Dave, thanks. So, I´ll buy the original edition.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for these amazing books.