Davis Summerlin's Blog
October 22, 2024
Exploring the Fabled Lands
The Warrior
The boat rocks beneath my feet. I keep my eyes on The Spider, the constellation that points north. I look to the fresh water in my pail, or rather... the lack thereof. I won't make it another day on the sea. Keeping one eye on the stars, I glance at the map my grandfather had left me when he died. This map was is my chance at a new life. A chance for riches, power, and most of all...adventure.
A blob of white stinking goop splatters against my precious heirloom. I look up. I spot the source of the goop. A white seagull caws overhead. It's laughing. I feel the creases of my brow deepen. My hands tighten into a ball. I open my mouth to shout at the bird. No sound leaves my lips. I look at the horizon in every direction, realization taking hold of my brain. A seagull...there must be land nearby.
Finally, I see it. Sure enough, the distinct outline of cliffs comes into view. I take a hard turn positioning the bow towards the approaching land mass. My heart quickens. A smile creeps across my mouth. I fold the map with a silent prayer to my grandfather.
I made it.
The thought was short-lived. Soon the water around me began to shake the boat. Clawlike waves try to rip my boat apart piece by piece. I tighten my grip on the stern. My eyes widen as it gets harder and harder to maintain my grip. A line of jagged, razor-sharp rocks surround the island. My boat is being dragged right for them.
I take a deep breath. I keep my eyes on the rocks. I start counting down in my head, trying to time the exact moment of impact. That moment came. I leap into the icy water. The fanglike rocks sink into the boat, tearing it to pieces. My already cold skin seems to freeze over in the icy waters.
I struggle to find the surface. The waters seemed to fight over me, pulling me this way and that. I feel a flame within my chest. The fire gets hotter and hotter rising up my throat and threatening to force my mouth open to either escape or be quenched by the water. It's too much. I open my mouth to breathe just as I'm tossed face-first upon a sandy beach. I lay on the beach gasping for air. I listen to the waves crash nearby and wonder if I actually made it out alive. I wonder until I hear the sound of someone approaching. I stumble to my feet and see:
My head cocks to the side. I look the man up and down and wonder. I open my mouth to speak. The old man beats me to it.
"'Well, well, well, what have we here friends?' asks the old man. He seems to be talking to someone next to him...'Looks like a washed-up adventurer to me,' he says in answer to his own question. 'All wet and out of luck!'" -Fabled Lands: The War-Torn Kingdom
I listen. The man debates with himself. When the debate begins to heat up, I decide to interrupt. I asked the man to confirm where we were. The man confirms we are on the Isle of the Druids, then beckons me to follow him and begins to walk away.
I look back at the pieces of my boat. They slosh back and forth upon the sand. I look to the sky, covering my eyes with my palm. The Sun's rays wrap around my water-logged clothes. The light drinks away the icy moisture. It feels...nice. I march away from the beach, moving further into the island following the old man. The Sun won't feel nice for long.
I continue up the hill catching up to the old man. We walk up the hill together. He looks at me as he talks, never taking his eyes off me. Somehow he never trips or stumbles. He takes twists and turns up the hill all while never taking his eyes off mine.
Suddenly we make it to the top of the hill. Three massive obsidian archways adorn the crest of the hill.
"Here are the gates of the world"-Fabled Lands: The War-Torn Kingdom
The old man walks back down the way we came. I look from archway to archway. Each is carved with mystic runes. I haven't the slightest idea of what they mean. Yet amongst the runes are characters I do recognize. The are written clear as day, without any sign of maring or weathering from the elements. They read:
Yellowport, Marlock City, Wishport.
I choose at random and decide to look at the inside of the arch labeled Yellowport. The runes light up and pulse with vibrant magical energy. A flash and crack of thunder and lightning sear the sky just overhead. Everything goes black.
My vision returns. The putrid smell of rotten eggs wafts through my nostrils. I fight the urge to throw up. It's clearly coming from an almost yellow river to my right. My gaze follows the stinking river up to see a large city. "Welcome to Yellowport"- Fabled Lands: The War-Torn Kingdom
A passing merchant startles me with his greeting. I wait a few moments to gather my thoughts, then head in the same direction as the merchant...into town.
I'm struck by the number of people rustling about, in some places shoulder to shoulder. I'm able to make out several street signs. I scan the signs until I find an inn and head in that direction. I find the place.
I walk into the inn. For the amount of people outside I expected a bigger crowd. It's not empty, but it's not bustling. I see several what I assume to be regulars at the bar with a handful of other parties scattered about the establishment. They sat on rickety stools at lopsided tables. I walk to the bartender, feeling my shard pouch out of habit. Its low. Curious about the happenings around this new town I consider buying a round of drinks for the regular patrons, but think better of and instead secure a room for the night. I take a shard out of my purse and hand it to the innkeeper.
I make my way to my room and wait for night to fall. As darkness settles on the city I decide to take a look at the darker side of the city...literally.
I walk down from my room back into the tavern. Most of the patrons had left, though a few of the regulars from earlier were still at the bar. I walk out into the street. I'm hit with the stink immediately. The inn had given a slight but welcome respite from the stink of the city. I snort and begin walking. Lanterns flicker with freshly lit flames. The streets are close to empty.
I walk through the dark streets nodding to the occasional passerby. Most keep their eyes on their feet. I find myself unintentionally falling into step with someone in front of me. They look back and meet my eyes. I start to nod when they bolt into an alleyway to the left. Curious, I follow, looking around in circles to see if anyone else is near. I'm alone.
As I turn into the alleyway the person who met my gaze is gone. Confused I venture further in. Not more than 30 steps in I face a wall. I'd hit a dead end. Before I can look to where the runner may have gone I feel something heavy strike my skull. My vision goes black.
I awake in dimly lit chamber. The air is moist and smells like old logs that have been out in a heavy rain. My head hurts, but my vision gradually adjusts to the dimly lit space. I'm not alone. Shadows move along the walls and whispers grow to full fledged conversation. The shadows belong to several dozen men standing a few paces away. They wear in very little clothing. The clothing they do wear seems to be made of furs and feathers, but each wears various talismans made of what looks like...bones.
One of them steps forward and stands before me. At this point I test my arms and legs. I realize they are both bound. I'm pretty sure I can break the bindings. I could probably beat a few of these men in hand to hand combat if it came to it, but not all of them. I began thinking of an alternative escape plan. Nothing came to mind.
The one that stands before me turns to face me then back to face the crowd. He's wearing what looks to be a human skull on his head, and a necklace made of human teeth.
"Behold our sacrifice," the man says gesturing to me behind him. I realize he's referring to me. I look around the space once more. I see a monsterous statue of some fat human animal hybrid with sharp fangs. In front of the statue is a placque with a name. I begin to read the plaque outloud when the one that had stepposd forward cuts me off, saying I'll be cursed if I continue. I pause, catching glimpses of other cultists putting spices in what looks to be a giant cooking pot. The speaker licks his lips, revealing inhuman looking fangs.
I decide to take my chances. I flex my muscles and snap my bindings. The speaker's eyes widen and begins to shout but he's cut off from my forceful uppercut breaking his jaw. He goes down, but more are coming...a lot more. I slowly wade through he cultists, shoving, biting and striking in all manner of ways. I flail about more like a kracken than a man trying desparely to make my escape. It's not enough. There's too many. Adrenaline takes me to the brink, but as much like a kraken I may appear...I'm still a man. I'm struck hard by a blow I didn't see. My momentum stalls. Three more blows fall upon my head, back and stomach. I fall to the floor. Then all at once it seems a dozen fanged mouths bare their ghastly smiles, and a storm of feet and fists fall down upon me. My vision goes black...I don't wake up this time.
***
This was a synopsis of a recent play through I had in book Fabled Lands: The War Torn Kingdom.
This one was probably the shortest and most unlucky of the characters I've played yet. I rolled terribly everytime and even when things should have fallen in my favor due to my starting stats...they didn't.
I plan on making another one of these with (hopefully) a more successful character.
October 4, 2024
Grow Your Adventure, Introducing The Groundskeeper: A landscaping RPG
Grow Your Adventure! Launching Spring of 2025 The Groundskeepers: A Landscaping RPG
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Imagine a world where your green thumb could level up your character! Looking for a way to combine your love of tabletop role-playing games with your passion for gardening? Or have you immersed yourself in one hobby but been hesitant to pick up the other?
Well, The Groundskeepers: A Landscaping RPG is for you! This groundbreaking new TTRPG merges these two titans of hobbies into one unforgettable game.What is The Groundskeepers?
The Groundskeepers is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) where players earn in-game currency by completing real-life yard work tasks. Players will then use the currency they earned in real life to purchase in-game equipment.
What does this look like? What are the mechanics?
To start currencies are broken up into 3 categories based on the types of landscaping, gardening, and yardwork tasks you’re doing. Think: lawn care, Planting flowers/fruit/vegetables, and working on woody plants like trees and bushes. Depending on the task determines how much and what kind of currency players get, which then corresponds to a specific in-game store that accepts that type of currency.
For example, let's say I mow the lawn. Mowing the lawn would earn me 5 Herba coins. When gameplay starts, I can take those coins and spend them in the Herba Shop, letting me pick from various weapons or armor. Each piece comes with modifiers for players' combat stats and magical abilities to aid in exploration or even additional combat options.
Who is this for?
So, this game is for anyone who loves TTRPG’s but also enjoys gardening, being outside, or just looking for an additional connection-fostering activity you can share with family or friends.
I had the idea for this product during the pandemic. Gardening became a big thing at our house. My wife and I would plant the occasional flower here or there before that, but the pandemic prompted us to level up our gardening game. We went from planting maybe five or six flowers at a time, to a few dozen. Next, we created our planters out of cedar and tried our hands at some fruit bushes. When that didn’t go well we started learning about companion plants. We tried again with various things like basil, thyme, and mint. Some of that worked a little too well.
Sometime after our fruit bush failure, we tried again with various foods: Tomatoes, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, lemons, etc. I’ll tell you we’ve had rotten luck with anything that ends in the word “berry.”But we got tomatoes…a lot of tomatoes. And we got lemons…a lot of lemons.
Harvesting your produce and realizing it tastes just as good if not better than what you buy at a grocery store is appealing. But for me, something needed to be improved. I enjoyed being with my family. I enjoyed being outside and experiencing the fruits of our labor (literally). But afterward, I’d end the day or afternoon tired, and pleased but feeling like I had an itch that wasn’t being scratched. I found that something to be a combination of mental stimulation and a continuation of the connection we were fostering as a family.
Where the RPG element was born.
So, I’ve been playing Magic the Gathering for roughly 25 years. Before the pandemic, my brother and I would go to a local game shop every Friday night where they would host what some of you may know as “Friday Night Magic” (fitting title).
Magic The Gathering is a fantasy trading card game where you assemble a deck and through a combination of monsters and spells attempt to beat another player's deck. It's fun. It's different every time you play, and it gives you a sense of mental exercise as every turn is a competition to outplay your opponent. It is similar to the feeling you get when playing chess except that the abilities of the pieces are constantly updated and changed.
Well, instead of being able to go play that card game on a somewhat regular basis, I found myself randomly thinking of ways to “gamify” what we were doing in the garden. The games that are most appealing to me are RPGs. My mind started tackling the idea.
So here we are almost five years later, give or take three to four versions of the game, and finally “The Groundskeepers’: A Landscaping RPG”, is set to release early Spring of 2025!
Where can I get a copy?
The paper copy of the game will be available on Amazon upon release. Other retailers like Drivethrurpg and the DM’s Guild may be added as distribution partners. The PDFs of the game will be available directly through our website when available, as well as the latter two partners if we choose to go with them.
Grab some Free Battlemaps for your Groundskeepers adventures (as well as any other games you play)! Click here and be first to get updates on the game and ongoing free content.
August 7, 2023
Review of The Elder Empire Series
Click Here to Read!
common threat, a group of immortal beings known as the Elders.
Now to be honest I've only read half of the series, the half that follows Calder. That being said I'm very interested in how the Character of Calder is portrayed in the other half of the series.
One of the coolest things about this series is that both trilogies take place at the same time but from two different characters' points of view. The first three books follow Calder, a ship captain that is not only able to control the very ship he captains through a mystical bond but also controls an underwater leviathan, who is bonded to him Calder due to an arrangement with a Cthullu-like entity.
Not to mention he's a self-proclaimed master swordsman, and eventually nearly becomes a god himself in his effort to achieve his ambitions. When seen from the outside he sounds like an almost mythical figure, in line with Greek demigods in terms of accomplishments and trials. However, as the book is written primarily from his point of view all his human flaws are on display.
Calder is arrogant, self-absorbed, and stubborn to a fault. The series and Wright himself do a great job, of concealing which faction in the overarching conflict is actually right. It's easy to see Calder as the overly ambitious second coming of an immortal dictator when seen from the outside. Even from his own perspective, I dislike his lack of loyalty to his wife, who through dozens of flashbacks has been shown to have Calder's back for almost his entire life.
Calder's actions toward her rubbed me the wrong way, even more so when I watch their relationship blossom through the flashbacks.
The other half of the series follows Shera, the assassin. Shera is a badass. I haven't read the books written from her perspective yet but in the initial three books, she defeats Calder in combat in almost all of their confrontations. In one confrontation she all but kills Calder, the only reason he survives is due to a magical hail marry deployed by Calder's crew.
Shera is shown to be able to fight toe to toe with nearly every powerful character in the series. While she doesn't embody power or strength like some other notable characters, she is the manifestation of death.
I'm excited to understand her as a character when reading the next three books. Is she as flawed as Calder? She comes across as cold and focused in the first three books. She can be hurt and beaten, as even Calder is able to land decisive blows on her from time to time. However, if those blows affect her mental state its very hard to tell.
Here are some of the things that I liked about the series:
The world-building is fantastic. There is a mysterious darkness that pervades throughout the book. While there are primarily two factions that are at odds with each other throughout the book, those factions are made up of numerous groups, each somewhat of a cult in and of themselvesInteresting characters. Every character is given a chance to shine. They all play a key role in the story and while you may forget about some of them from time to time, the author reminds you of not only their existence but their value and reason for existence in a big way.Expectations were subverted. I can honestly say I wasn't able to predict much in this book. There are plenty of moments when you ask yourself: "How is he gonna get out of this?" or "What was the point of that?" There were definitely moments where I had to reread a line or two to make sure I interpreted it correctly, and that what I read actually happened in the story.Here are some cons:
The end felt rushed. Throughout the series, the Elders are presented to be unstoppable gods or monsters. There is a constant debate on whether or not they are benevolent or evil. In the end, they take that question away completely. They reveal the elders as what they are. Not only that but there seems to be a dramatic downgrade in their power level and what they are capable of.
I would have liked for either the protagonist's power to have risen to a degree in which they could stand toe to toe with the Elders or that they might have beaten them through trickery or some form of out-sitting them. While there was definitely an increase in power from characters like Calder and Shera, the introduction of a random godlike character at the end felt like somewhat of a copout.
So far I give this series a 5 out 5!
Order to read the series:
Sea trilogy:Of Sea and ShadowOf Dawn and DarknessOf Kings and KillersShadow trilogy:Of Shadow and SeaOf Blades and WhispersOf Killers and KingsI hope this helps!
The Elder Empire Pirates of the Caribbean meets Call of C...
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Call of Cthulhu
Click Here to Read!
common threat, a group of immortal beings known as the Elders.
Now to be honest I've only read half of the series, the half that follows Calder. That being said I'm very interested in how the Character of Calder is portrayed in the other half of the series.
One of the coolest things about this series is that both trilogies take place at the same time but from two different characters' points of view. The first three books follow Calder, a ship captain that is not only able to control the very ship he captains through a mystical bond but also controls an underwater leviathan, who is bonded to him Calder due to an arrangement with a Cthullu-like entity.
Not to mention he's a self-proclaimed master swordsman, and eventually nearly becomes a god himself in his effort to achieve his ambitions. When seen from the outside he sounds like an almost mythical figure, in line with Greek demigods in terms of accomplishments and trials. However, as the book is written primarily from his point of view all his human flaws are on display.
Calder is arrogant, self-absorbed, and stubborn to a fault. The series and Wright himself do a great job, of concealing which faction in the overarching conflict is actually right. It's easy to see Calder as the overly ambitious second coming of an immortal dictator when seen from the outside. Even from his own perspective, I dislike his lack of loyalty to his wife, who through dozens of flashbacks has been shown to have Calder's back for almost his entire life.
Calder's actions toward her rubbed me the wrong way, even more so when I watch their relationship blossom through the flashbacks.
The other half of the series follows Shera, the assassin. Shera is a badass. I haven't read the books written from her perspective yet but in the initial three books, she defeats Calder in combat in almost all of their confrontations. In one confrontation she all but kills Calder, the only reason he survives is due to a magical hail marry deployed by Calder's crew.
Shera is shown to be able to fight toe to toe with nearly every powerful character in the series. While she doesn't embody power or strength like some other notable characters, she is the manifestation of death.
I'm excited to understand her as a character when reading the next three books. Is she as flawed as Calder? She comes across as cold and focused in the first three books. She can be hurt and beaten, as even Calder is able to land decisive blows on her from time to time. However, if those blows affect her mental state its very hard to tell.
Here are some of the things that I liked about the series:
The world-building is fantastic. There is a mysterious darkness that pervades throughout the book. While there are primarily two factions that are at odds with each other throughout the book, those factions are made up of numerous groups, each somewhat of a cult in and of themselvesInteresting characters. Every character is given a chance to shine. They all play a key role in the story and while you may forget about some of them from time to time, the author reminds you of not only their existence but their value and reason for existence in a big way.Expectations were subverted. I can honestly say I wasn't able to predict much in this book. There are plenty of moments when you ask yourself: "How is he gonna get out of this?" or "What was the point of that?" There were definitely moments where I had to reread a line or two to make sure I interpreted it correctly, and that what I read actually happened in the story.Here are some cons:
The end felt rushed. Throughout the series, the Elders are presented to be unstoppable gods or monsters. There is a constant debate on whether or not they are benevolent or evil. In the end, they take that question away completely. They reveal the elders as what they are. Not only that but there seems to be a dramatic downgrade in their power level and what they are capable of.
I would have liked for either the protagonist's power to have risen to a degree in which they could stand toe to toe with the Elders or that they might have beaten them through trickery or some form of out-sitting them. While there was definitely an increase in power from characters like Calder and Shera, the introduction of a random godlike character at the end felt like somewhat of a copout.
So far I give this series a 5 out 5!
Order to read the series:
Sea trilogy:Of Sea and ShadowOf Dawn and DarknessOf Kings and KillersShadow trilogy:Of Shadow and SeaOf Blades and WhispersOf Killers and KingsI hope this helps!
August 4, 2023
Bingeable book series: The Dark Thorn Academy series.
I'm certain most of you have never heard of this series. I came across it as a part of a promotion. Truthfully, it sat in the library unread for who knows how many months before I decided to try it. This book fits nicely in the LitRpg genre but isn't necessarily defined by those tropes. In fact the further into the series you go the less it seems to feel like a LitRpg novel and more like a blend of fantasy and sci-fi.
There are 7 books in the series. I'm currently on book six. However, I read about 2 of these books a week until the sixth. The only reason for the slowdown is life got in the way for a bit. While these books are by no means Tomes, they aren't small. Each one ranges between 420 to 500 pages.
Now here's why you should read them.
Plot/WorldBuilding: Starts out (5 out of 5 stars)...Ends (3 out of 5)The story primarily follows Jack Vance, a half-dwarf/half-human protagonist that lets his temper and pride get the better of him. We begin the see the classic mentor-and-mentee relationship develop between Jack's grandfather and him when it is abruptly cut short by his grandfather's murder. Jack's options are to rot in jail or go to school to learn magic.
The series starts to pick up when Jack chooses the only real choice from those two options. This is also where elements of the LitRpg genre begin to come alive. Jack learns the basics of magic and makes friends along the way. Magic is powered by mana and Jack even learns a spell that projects Health and Mana bars above the heads of his comrades for him to monitor.
The author actually does a very good job at this stage. He sets the groundwork for future conflicts and antagonists, martial and political rivalries, and even manages to add dragons to the mix.
I'd say this remains a strength of the author's until about book 4. At that point the main characters have all but become gods, or at least demi-gods when compared to the rest of the world. Conflicts are almost comically short, with rivalries built up from the beginning of the series seemly ending in seconds. It's like spending thousands to see the world heavyweight title fight only to see it end in a first-round K.O. Nice display of power by the winner, but a letdown to the audience that expected a brawl.
This difference in power doesn't necessarily take away from the enjoyability of the series, but it does shift where that enjoyability comes from. Which ironically goes back to world-building
Link to The Darkthorn Academy Series
Link to the Series!
So while I consider the first 4 books in the series to be 5 out of 5 stars, I consider the 5th and 6th books to equal about 3/5 stars. I haven't read the 7th and last book of the series. It's possible this last book will increase or decrease my opinion of the series overall.
Ranking the entire series up to this point, I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
If you's like to see some of my other reviews check then out below!
Goodreads Reviews by Davis!
May 26, 2022
Binge-able Book Series: Wheel Of Time Part One
Wheel Of Time: Part One
Book One: Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
This is the first in a series of posts where I share some of my favorite past and present book series. I'll judge the series/books similar to my past reviews, substituting "Gameplay" for "Characters" as these will won't be gamebooks (mostly).
Starting us off is an old series but new to me. Wheel of Time, Eye Of The World.
Plot/World Building: (5 out of 5 stars)Mr. Jordan's world-building skills are top-notch. Right up there with Tolkien and Rowling. He does a fantastic job of showing the world through the characters' eyes, while also dropping little easter eggs of information throughout the story. One example is the favorite book of one of the characters. Its mentioned very early on. The reader is meant to think it's a popular book or children's story, while later on it is confirmed to be real.
Jordan also creates a world that is alive. It lives and breathes regardless of what the main characters are going through. In so many books the protagonists are the ones driving the events of the world forward. This fine, in fact, its expected. However, Jordan manages to create overarching conflicts and events simultaneously with the story itself. This makes the impression that the world is alive as the protagonists themselves did nothing to directly impact these overriding events.
Writing Style/Voice: (4 out of 5)Jordan is a strong writer. This is a difficult category to get a perfect score on unless the voice itself adds to the overall effect of the story itself. Jordan is a good writer, and thus his writing doesn't take away from the story but it doesn't create a boon to the story in and of itself.
Characters: (5 out of 5)Jordan's characters are wonderfully developed as far as the main characters are concerned. Jordan gives you the opportunity to see things from multiple characters' points of view. Using the tactic of switching from one character's perspective to another is a risk. It can give you a solid understanding of the characters and how they think, but it can also bore the reader if the characters aren't worth exploring, or if the reader doesn't care about that particular story arc. Thankfully Jordan seems to have mastered this skill. While he mainly focuses on the perspective of Rand Al'Thor, his dives into other characters not only grant deeper insight but also add elements of lore to the world that might otherwise have been missed.
By revealing the mysteries of the world to the characters bit by bit, we as the readers become engaged to the point that it's almost as if we're a part of the story along with the main characters, learning with them at each stage of their journey. Jordan masterfully fleshes out who the characters are at their core and who they were at the beginning. Yet he creates a mystery in each of their futures. By the end of the book, we know the characters are important to Jordan's world, but like the characters, we have no idea what their overall impact might be, other than that it will be...significant.
Final Thoughts: (5 out of 5)
This is definitely one of the best starts to a series that I've read. I'm equal parts excited to delve further into the lore of the world as well as find out where these protagonists end up. This series is currently on Amazon Prime. I actually started the show before buying the book but decided to stop and read the book before finishing.
I will say I enjoyed the show. But as is often the case it falls short of the book. If Jordan were a weak writer that struggled to show instead of telling, I might continue to watch the show in order to enhance my understanding and visualization, but that is not the case. Jordan's descriptions engage all the senses and allow the imagination to make what it will. So until I'm completely done with the series, books are my choice of medium for now when it comes to consuming this series.
I'm currently reading book two, and while it's not a comedy series, I will say I've laughed out loud a number of times reading the actions and conversations of the characters. That is some great character development if I feel like I can see what is happening and know the characters well enough to audibly react to their actions. So perhaps a bit of foreshadowing on my next review, but so far the second book has not disappointed.
April 1, 2022
Review of Dario Nardi's: Echoes in The Stream of Time
Dice Book Publishing Reviews:
Echoes in the Stream of Time: A Gothic Adventure Gamebook
By Dario Nardi
Plot/World Building (5 out of 5 Stars)This is something Nardi nails. In fact, the very nature of a gamebook lends itself beautifully to crafting an evergrowing plot in which each scene is significant. Nardi has utilized the genre to its fullest. He writes each scene to not only reveal the story piece by piece but in doing so enhances the immersion aspect that is so critical within the gamebook genre.
The way Nardi has crafted his book doesn’t lend itself to the style of Literal World Building that some other gamebooks do, but from a traditional world building sense he does a great job of layering the overarching history of the world throughout the adventure.
One thing I look for when I assess an author’s writing style is whether or not I feel like I’m hearing the author. Now, not every writer writes the same way that they talk, and in fact, most will alter their style to align with the genre. Again this is something Nardi does phenomenally. The subtitle suggests that is a Gothic Adventure. This set my expectations to include thoughts and feelings relative to something Dark, Spooky, and Mysterious. As far as my expectations are concerned, Nardi delivered wonderfully.
The book is written in second person. This may be odd to those of you not familiar with gamebooks or the Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) genre. He gives the reader more personality than most, as the reader is stepping into the shoes of an actual character (the protagonist) as opposed to deciding who they are and how they fit in the overarching story.
Gameplay (2 out of 5 Stars)This is where Nardi fails. The mechanics, as they are presented and I believe how they were intended to be implemented are simple. This is a good thing. A solo rpg shouldn’t be overly complicated as it detracts from the story. This system looks simple and though its not my favorite it should work. However it doesn’t.
The rules are unclear as to which section you’re supposed to read when you either fail or succeed. I initially interpreted the rules to mean, that if you succeed in a challenge roll, then you move onto the section that reads: “When you succeed.” Yet after doing that a few times you realize there’s a lot of context missing from the story.
It turns out in order for the story to make sense you are better off reading every section as if you failed whatever challenge roll you were presented. If you do this the story is much more interesting, you learn much more about the world as well as the character you’re playing as.
This is a flaw either in the writing of the rules (i could just be misunderstanding how to play) or in how the story is written in which unlucky players are actually rewarded with good story telling and lucky players are punished by not having a clue as to what is going on.
From a traditional dark fantasy experience Nardi does a fantastic job. He is a strong writer. From a game design standpoint, his system itself seems to be sound. It would work fine to great if executed properly. However, because the mechanics of the game either aren’t clear or the story isnt laid out properly for them to work, the overall experience suffers.
Treating this story like a CYOA book as opposed to a gamebook may have been the better way to go in this case. However, it wouldn’t take much to get this book back on track from as a gamebook. A few simple edits or additions to the rules could easily increase my overall star rating of the book if Nardi ever chooses to do so.
March 24, 2022
Top 5 Reasons Why Being A Writer is The Best Job Ever
Top Five Reasons Being a Writer is The Best
Have you ever wondered if being a writer was worth the effort? Can you make any real money? Is it an oversaturated field? Is reading a dying form of entertainment?
Being a writer is extremely worthwhile. Writers/Authors make anywhere from 0.00 to 1.3 Billion dollars, (see Elizabeth Badinter).
So can you make over a billion dollars just from writing a few books? Absolutely! There are a whole two people who have done it! Will you? No...No you will not. If you do, well then feel free to tell me: "I told you so!"
after which I will either ask you to do a guest post on this blog teaching the rest of us how to do it, or publicly take credit for lighting the fire under you to make your first billion by writing books.
So while earning a billion dollars as a byproduct of our writing efforts is a goal...for some of us...I mean I guess none of us would say no to it, a much more realistic and achievable goal is being a full-time writer.
Can I write for a living...full time?
Again, Absolutely! Will you? It's up to you!
If you have an adequate understanding of whatever language you're looking to write in, then you can definitely make enough money as a writer to pay the bills.
IF you have a greater than an adequate understanding of the language, you might even be able to be comfortable.
Why Being a Writer is The Best Job EverReason #5: Little to No Barrier to EntrySome professions require a sizeable investment just to get started. That investment could be in literal financial capital, equipment, etc. But when it comes to earning income as a writer, you can technically begin earning money with no investment whatsoever.
How?
For a zero-dollar solution, you can leverage the free computers at your local library, free use of Google Docs and other free tools offered by Google, and start earning income through Books, Blogging (affiliate income/adds), Freelancing, etc.
But if you do have some financial assets you're willing to throw into the endeavor then you can absolutely give you're burgeoning career a jumpstart.
Reason #4: It's StackableWhat do I mean?
With the exception of ghostwriting, every time you write/publish something that content is now an asset that you can leverage for the rest of your life. Every blog post, every book, every short story...everything.
Now, obviously, some things will have more monetary value than others, but if you're writing great content then you're still generating value for someone. This is called Content Marketing.
By providing value for others you are more likely to grow your platform/audience which can then be leveraged and translated into actual money via book sales, or various contracts.
The biggest thing to remember here is, that every piece of valuable content you make can create income and opportunities far beyond the date you created it.
Reason #3: It's Scaleable
This is related to #4, but on another level. If writing full-time is your goal, then it would behoove you to treat writing like a business.
In the beginning of your writing business, it may be important to you to save on costs. You might teach yourself how to do every little thing in the business.
You don't just write. You write, edit, market, design, format, etc. You learn how to do everything. The key phrase here is "learn how," but not necessarily "do."
Everyone's writing business starts with one person...themselves. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that either. Some writers will do every bit of the job from start to finish themselves their entire writing career. Most...expand.
Like other small businesses have employees, it's sometimes needed or wise to bring in outside help. This is an expense, after all, you can't expect someone to work for free (at least not when they're offering you a valuable service).
So before making the decision to outsource, weigh the pros and cons of letting go of that hard-earned financial capital, and measure whether or not the expected return is worth the risk.
As an example, let's say you've written a book. Now it's time to give your book a cover. You've watched a few tutorials on youtube and know how to make an okay-looking cover on Canva, but you're considering hiring a freelancer for 100.00 to create a professional book cover.
This is where we need to assess the risk vs reward in this situation. While I agree the cover is incredibly important (I'd argue the most important part of the book), we still need to look at the situation.
Let's say you're book is The Art of Watching Paint Dry! I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that even if you hired the greatest cover designer on the planet, that book isn't going to sell much (if any) because there's no market.
However, if you wrote How to Paint Well, I'd imagine there's a much bigger market, and therefore greater likely hood that your hundred dollar expense is worth it.
If you're writing to market and being vigilant when it comes to risk versus reward when it comes to letting go of your cash. Then outsourcing certain tasks can not only relieve some of the stress of producing a book but can also pay for itself many times over!
Eventually, as you perfect this process, your writing business could almost run on autopilot, continuously creating reoccurring income sources.
Reason #2: You Can Do It AnywhereThis is the Perk, I remember highlighting in my daydreams of being an Author as a kid.
I imagined traveling all over the world, waking up early to watch the sunrise on some cold green countryside with my coffee and laptop, and beginning every day writing the next page of my next bestseller.
Now while I haven't actually done that myself, it's not because it isn't possible. Because of the internet, we truly can write from anywhere and be able to communicate to whomever we need to communicate with.
Reason #1: You Read For a LivingI know some of you are scratching your heads on this one, while others have just begun their slow clap.
...I'll explain to those not clapping
You can't be a good writer unless you read...a lot. And you can't make a living as a writer if you're not a good one.
Trust me, there are no flaws in my logic.
I've had my writing described to me as a mix of Mitch Albom and Ernest Hemmingway. As much as I'd like to say I was born channeling the voices of authors that recognize the incredible stories transpiring all around us each and every day or are literally one of the greatest American authors of all time...It's no accident I write the way I write in my books.
As I was writing my first book I challenged myself to read Hemmingway. I of course had heard the hype but had never been assigned to read him growing up. For pleasure, I read mainly science fiction and fantasy (I still do).
So I chose one of Ernest's books based on the year it was written and began reading. I was immediately inspired by his use of simple sentences.
I remember feeling the weight of each sentence, and hearing the words of a creative writing professor in college saying: "Give each word its due." He was talking about reading aloud at the time, but his words seemed to align with Hemmingway's intent as well.
As if he was saying: "Stop, let that sink in."
I was assigned to read Mitch Albom growing up, though I continued reading long after my studies had ended.
The "style" for lack of a better term revolved more to the formatting of his story. In several of Albom's works, he tells a story through the perspective of multiple characters.
As a reader, when reading stories like this I sometimes feel cheated if the author isn't necessarily skilled at this. I'll feel like I'm forced to reach from a character's eyes that I don't particularly care for in order to get through to the characters I'm more invested in.
Albom has never had this issue. I've been genuinely interested in every character, even if I don't necessarily "like" them. This seems small, but that little bit of balanced character development enables a near-seamless flow when shifting narratives that I definitely attempt to emulate in my own fiction.
So while yes, obviously writing will be your craft, I've found the best way to hone that craft is by studying the writing of those better than you.
And if you love to write, you love to read.
August 24, 2021
My Time in Urowen
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*This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to use said links, then at no cost to you I may earn a commission if you go forward with purchases*
The light danced and flitted against my eyelids breaking through the shutters of my window. I pulled myself up, letting my feet hang over my rented bed. I recalled words my father had left me with days before.
"Go, make your own way so that you're not chained to a piece of land for the rest of your life harvesting just enough to get you by. Go, find your fortune. Perhaps we'll meet again someday."
I intended to do just that, go back for him once I'd found the fortune he spoke of. I stood, allowing the full weight of my money pouch to bounce against my waist. I barely felt it. With nothing but a blunt knife and fifteen zaifas to my name, I had my work cut out for me.
I stretched my arms and legs before heading downstairs to see the innkeeper. It was time to begin my journey to Verinfes. It was as good a place as any I supposed.
When I reached the base of the stairs I spotted the innkeeper. He was a heavyset man. He wasn't particularly well dressed, though his clothes were better than most. He spoke to a man I'd not seen before. They spoke in hushed tones that sparked my interest. I decided to approach, hoping to sate my curiosity. The innkeeper decided against it.e
"Hello! Can I interest you in some breakfast or provisions if you're looking to set off today?" The innkeeper asked shifting his focus from the stranger. I pondered the selection he'd offered.
"How far is it to Verinfes?" I asked.
"The better part of a day if you stick to the path," the innkeeper said. He began to speak to the alternative but decided against it. I decided to purchase two days worth of provisions for 5 zaifas. I hoped the investment wouldn't bite me in the bum later. Parting with a third of my money before I even set out might not have been the brightest idea.
I looked to the stranger the innkeeper had been speaking to. He stood next to me, silently observing the transaction. I nodded to him. His face was stoic, unchanging. I decided it was time to make my departure.
I tightened the straps of my leather bag around my back, checked that my knife was within reach, and opened the door of the inn. The light struck me in the face once more. I squinted as my eyes adjusted. I found the well-trodden path to Verifines and set off.
After a few minutes, I found my rhythm. I managed to fall into a comfortable pace. My breath was steady. The heat had yet to take its toll. I felt confident I could maintain my pace for several hours. I didn't get the chance. The sound of rapid footsteps prompted me to turn around.
A familiar face stood a mere ten feet away.
"Give me your money pouch!" The stranger from the inn snarled at me. His hands were bare. His clothes were dirtier than I'd seen them in the inn. I cocked my head, scanning his body for a weapon of some sort. I saw none.
"I don't have anything to offer you," I said attempting to avoid violence if able.
"Liar," he spat. "I saw you at the inn, you're heavy with zaifas aren't you?!" The vagrant pointed to my lightened money pouch.
I brought my left hand forward. My palm pointed outward facing the stranger. I hoped the motion would calm him. With my right hand, I reached for my knife...just in case.
"Give them to me!" The vagrant's hands turned to fists. He lunged, swinging hard at my head. My head snaps to the left. A rush of heat gathers just below my right eye. A deeper, primal heat gathers in my belly and rises to my chest. I unsheath my knife. The attacker's eyes meet my own. He stops mid-swing. He takes a step back. Whether it was a conscious decision I'm not sure.
I bring my left arm to my side, silently inviting him within my reach. He recognizes the taunt. His slightly wary expression contorts. The creases between his eyes deepen. His lips pull back revealing chipped fanglike teeth. He takes my bait.
A heavy right flys towards my nose. I wrap my fingers around his incoming wrist with my left hand and yank him forward. He stumbles toward me. I twirl the knife into a reverse grip and jab the blade into his exposed rib cage.
The attacker yelps. His right hand retracts with alarming strength, breaking free of my grip and shielding his now wounded side. He brings his left hand to his side and then holds his hand up to his face. His fingers are red with blood...though not as much as I would have expected.
With a proper knife that may have been a killing blow. As it was the knife's blunted edge seemed to barely break the skin. Bringing my left and right hands together in front of my face, I allow them to hover just below my line of sight.
My palm flexes and extends outward towards the assailant while my knife pulls back slightly. I feel my muscles coiling, building energy waiting to strike.
The man's eyes look from his bloodied fingers back to my narrowed eyes. His gaze freezes on mine, then dart to my knife. They widen for an instant. Before I can press my attack the man sprints into the brush to his left.
I adjust my stance for a moment.
Is he grabbing a stick? I wonder. But his dark head quickly disappears from view behind a pair of tall bushes. He's running?!
I consider leaving him be, but the sting of my own bruised face and the injustice of the meeting lights the fire in my belly once more. I begin my pursuit of the vagrant, pushing myself hard in an attempt to catch up.
Several minutes go by and soon I've lost what little trail my attacker had left behind. I'm no hunter after all. Yet just as I decide to give up I hear a snap in the distance. I can't tell where the noise originated. I decide to cloak myself beneath the branches of a large bush and wait.
Every second feels like an hour. For thirty seconds there is nothing but silence. On the thirty-first second the silence is broken.
"Who are you?" an old but strong voice sounds at my back. My feet push me from the ground of their own accord, eliciting an embarrassing yelp from my throat. An old woman stands a few yards away. Her back sticks up in a pronounced arch as she leans heavily on an old wooden staff.
"I was attacked on the road. My attacker fled into these woods but I've lost his trail," I explained truthfully. I turn slowly to face to woman. Her wary eyes brighten for a moment.
"You've seen him then, you've seen my son. I'm sorry he attacked you. He's not right in the head you see and has gotten into the bad habit of attempting to rob strangers as they travel the road.
That's a dangerous habit, I think. I remain quiet.
"I fear my son is hurt," the old woman continues. "I'm sorry he attacked you, but I have to ask you, will you help me find him?"
I look at the woman up and down and then at the surrounding forest. It's hard to guess her age. The heaviness with which she leaned upon her staff suggests ancient, yet her eyes are...sharp...piercing, and something else.
What harm could come of it? I thought.
"I'll help you," I heard myself say. The woman smiled. Her eyes addressed the knife at my side.
"Take this," she said. The hilt of a long sword suddenly faced me. My eyes widened. I hadn't seen her draw the sword, much less where she'd been hiding the weapon. I accepted the sword.
Without another word, the old woman moved past me. She pushed further into the forest stopping now and again to observe various twigs, branches, and leaves. At one point she pulled at the leaves of a small bush. Her pace quickened. I mirrored her movements, looking at the same leaves. Flecks of blood I hadn't seen were staining them.
The old woman's pace seemed to gradually quicken. While I could tell she was moving faster, she showed no sign of fatigue, whereas I began to sweat from my efforts to keep up. The forest itself seemed to part for the woman. It did me no such favors.
I found myself in an all-out sprint when suddenly the woman stopped. Her head turned just as a wolf's howl sounded to our right. A human cry followed from the same direction. The woman sprinted. I followed. I was quickly left behind.
Just when I thought the old woman had left me completely, I pushed a branch away with a quick swat of my sword and saw the lady standing motionless before me. I nearly plowed into her but I managed to stop just short.
We'd come to a ridge of sorts. Four figures stood before us. Taking the high ground was the old woman's son, the man who'd attacked me earlier. The other three figures were of the canine variety. The wolves were bigger than I would have expected. Two of the wolves appeared to stand above my waistline on all fours. The third was a mere head shorter than me when on all fours.
"Go!" The woman yelled as she rushed into the fray. One of the smaller wolves snapped at her as she ran to her son. The woman avoided the attack with an effortless sidestep.
She proceeded to toss the wolf out of her way with one hand as she made her way to her son. The son swung a large branch back and forth, managing to hold the largest wolf at bay...for the time being. The wolf the woman had casually discarded scrambled to its feet right in front of me.
It turned its head towards me. Its yellow eyes bore into mine. It bared its teeth. I took in the sight, comparing the wolf's fangs to the knife at my waist. I was infinitely grateful to be using a sword in this fight.
I placed both hands on my sword and brought the blade between me and the wolf. We began circling each other. I dared not break the stalemate first. I didn't have to. On the first full rotation of the wolf and my circling of one another, it leaped forward aiming its fangs at my neck.
I sidestepped, attempting to mirror the old woman. It worked. The wolf overextended. Seizing the opportunity I brought my sword down with all my might in a heavy overhead strike. The wolf fell silently to the ground. I'd managed to sever its head.
I didn't have long to revel in my victory. Upon his comrade's defeat, the largest of the wolves turned his attention from the son to me. Leaping down from the ridge, the largest of the wolves was quickly upon me.
I placed my sword between me and the wolf again, hoping my tactics would be of use again. I attempted to circle the wolf. The wolf came straight at me. It bared its teeth and leaped for my neck...or so I thought. I sidestepped only to realize too late it had been a feint.
The wolf's fangs buried into my right leg. I yelped and jumped back, pulling my punctured leg along with me. Blood began to glide down my leg, though I counted myself lucky. Another glance at the wolf's jaws told me a split second later the wolf may have snapped right through the bone.
I placed my sword between my body and the wolf once more. This time I wouldn't fall for a feint. This time I was going on the attack. I kept my eyes locked with the wolf. When I saw its yellow eyes glance at my injured leg I pushed forward as hard as I could.
The wolf wasn't expecting it. It scrambled back, though not before receiving a heavy gash above its right shoulder. The wolf let out a mix between a yelp and a roar. As chilling as the sound was, I positioned myself for another strike. I couldn't allow the wolf to recover. This time I came low. As the wolf thrashed it's head back and forth in a display of rage and pain I swung. I swung my sword starting from my hips and pushed my follow through all the way up to my shoulders. My blade flashed in an arc followed by a spray of red as the chief wolf's head fell to the floor.
I took a deep breath and readied myself for my next opponent. Fortunately, I didn't have any. As I shifted my focus, a ball of flaming arcane energy erupted from the old lady's wooden staff and engulfed the remaining wolf.
It didn't make a sound. One moment I saw its shadow engulfed in flame, and the next it was gone. The woman stood turning towards her son. The man hopped down. The two turned to me. I looked at the woman and to her staff. The air around me became heavy, and I struggled against the urge to run.
"Thank you for your aid, alone those wolves might have been too much for me," the old woman said. I felt myself relax as she expressed her gratitude, though I doubted my presence had any bearing on the outcome of the fight.
"Here, as you're not a magic wielder there isn't much I can give you in way of payment, but I have no doubt this will help you on your journey," the woman handed me a crystal vial filled with a deep red liquid. "Drink this should you fear that your wounds will overtake you," the woman instructed. I nodded and placed the vial gently in my pack.
The woman's son looked from his mother to me. He nodded before offering a slight bow.
This is a very brief sneak peek into my first moments of playing the game Heroes of Urowen by David Velasco. This is paraphrased and reworded to fit the events as my imagination remembered it after reading. I have just recently reached the city of Verinfes and accepted one of the first quests available after purchasing some armor.
I've enjoyed the game thus far. I'll have a full review to follow after I get a considerable amount of playtime.
While this snippet only showcased my victories, I was actually really lucky with my roles. Not long after this, I suffered several failures back to back. Thankfully the penalties weren't too steep but it did add a nice sense of mortality to the game.
Click here for a link to the game if you don't want to wait for my full review before buying.
Also, if you've played this game before or after reading this, let me know in the comments what you thought.
Till next time! Thanks for reading!
August 2, 2021
The Game Book Genre...Where We Were and Where We're Going
The Game Book Genre...Where We Were And Where We're Going?
If you're a long-time fan of the gamebook genre, then you know there is a lot of material to sink your teeth into. So much so that it warrants the question, did the genre ever really fade? Is a "Reignition" actually necessary?
The Gamebook genre has been around for decades and was immensely popular in Europe. While some lucky Americans may have been able to experience the genre in its prime, the majority of US youths were exposed to the Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) genre.
Bringing The Genre To Light.
I grew up with CYOA books as I'm sure I mentioned somewhere in the past (here actually). In fact, I was so unaware of the Gamebook genre that I truly thought I had invented the idea. I remember ranting about it at work, at home, and even in my sleep. I'd created a CYOA book that used dice to determine the outcome of the story.
Then I found this:
*Note the following contains affiliate links. If you choose to use these links and make a purchase, then at no cost to you I may earn a small commission.*
This author, Dale, wrote a book called Slay the Blood Witches . I bought the book, in no small part due to this video.
He markets the book as a CYOA book, however, it's different from any CYOA book that I have read in the past. Having read more of the gamebook genre I realize this was more of a gamebook than it was a CYOA novel.
*It uses a similar system to Dave Morris's Heart of Ice book*
At that time I was excited to find someone else interested in writing what I was calling Solitaire Adventure Books at the time. Dale's book didn't use dice like the one I was planning on writing, but it was something different from the typical CYOA novel.
I enjoyed the book and still have it on the shelf in my office next to an ever-growing collection of gamebooks.
At the time I still felt like I had something original, something no one had ever thought of or done before. So imagine my surprise when I came across this a few weeks later.
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This book blew my mind and shattered my pride at the same time. Someone had beaten me to the punch of creating a CYOA book that used dice. Not only that, but they had done it better than what I had planned on doing...a lot better.
It wasn't long after I bought this book that I realized I was showing up to the party about 25 years late. But this is a proper gamebook. It's immersive, engaging, it has great artwork, and above all it's fun.
Now I've read a few gamebooks since then. After expanding my library, I'm able to see a few opportunities within this book, though those could be chalked up to preferences at this point.
For example, one of my personal preferences when playing an RPG, solitaire, or otherwise is that I prefer to play as myself (as close as possible) and imagine how I would react to the world. It's probably not an unfamiliar preference. I"m sure many readers/players do the same. But on the flip side, many readers play RPG's to experience something entirely different than themselves.
The Legion of Shadow in the Destiny Quest franchise does a pretty good job of fulfilling my own personal preferences, but the following books in the franchise veer off.
I've gone into this a bit here in my post The Gamebooks are coming! The Dice Books are coming!
What I'd like to do is create a series in which I take a second look at the books that not only defined my own books but in some cases the genre. Not all of these may be gamebooks as the world's gamebooks derive their inspiration from generally aren't.
I've found, (as I'm sure many of you have) that the more I read the better I write. On that note I'll also be looking at books I'm looking forward to reading, and why.
I plan to do traditional reviews, but also provide of my adventures through the book (in a gamebook's case).
One book/series that I've recently purchased is The Heroes of Urowen.
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So far I've only read through the mechanics and character-building sections (which is different than what I've seen thus far). But one thing that really stood out to me about this franchise or series of books is that the author David Velasco has written traditional novels set within the gamebook world.
Again, this is an idea I was intending on implementing within my own gamebooks, so it'll be interesting to see how Velasco incorporates his gameworld into his books.
Thanks for reading!
*My next post will be a snapshot of my adventures through this Heroes of Urowen gamebook with a review to follow.*
