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Fighting Fantasy #16
Seas of Blood
The city of Tak is the greatest den of thieves, pirates and cut-throats that the civilized world has ever seen!
In this city of scum, there are two pirates infamous for their ruthless greed, their daring raids and their countless skirmishes with death. One of these villains is Abdul the Butcher. The other is YOU. Only one of you can be King of the Pirates. A wager is laid, a race is on. But which of you will win?
Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need for this rip-roaring adventure. YOU decide which course to sail, which dangers to risk and which monsters to fight.
In this city of scum, there are two pirates infamous for their ruthless greed, their daring raids and their countless skirmishes with death. One of these villains is Abdul the Butcher. The other is YOU. Only one of you can be King of the Pirates. A wager is laid, a race is on. But which of you will win?
Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need for this rip-roaring adventure. YOU decide which course to sail, which dangers to risk and which monsters to fight.
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 3, 2015
A Competition Between Pirates
9 July 2012
This gamebook was actually very surprising, and also very ambitious. What surprised me even more is that the author this particular book was also the author of what I considered to be pretty much the worst of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks that I had read to date. I would not necessarily call this one the best though since many of the earlier ones, while basic in many ways, bring back a lot of childhood memories. However Seas of Blood seems to take the gamebooks in a new direction, being more than simply making choices and fighting enemies.
Seas of Blood brings in a new concept that, if played properly, makes the book much more difficult. There is still one direct route, and you need to find this route to be able to complete the book, but the way to successfully complete the book is quite different. The two new elements added is a scoring system (namely booty) and a timing system (namely the log). The whole idea is to complete the book within the time limit of 50 days and have a wealth in excess of 800 gold. If that sounds difficult that is because it is, and there are a number of entries in which you have to add days to your log book. However, it is not necessarily a book where you need to collect specific items.
The further difference is that you are the captain of a pirate ship who has entered a competition with another pirate to see who is the best on the seas of blood. You have fifty days to get from your starting point to the end point with as much gold as possible, and in many cases your nemesis always seems to be one step ahead of you (he always arrives at the island before you). Also, the book has created a means of mass combat in that you have a crew who will fight on your behalf. However, unlike stamina, restoring your crew is a lot more difficult (and a lot more expensive). Also, part of the booty you collect are slaves, but at the end of the adventure the slaves are pretty much worthless: you need to sell them somewhere before you reach your final destination. Oh, and there is a map at the beginning of the story which gives you an idea of the routes that you can take to reach your goal, so you can pretty much pre-plan your route (especially if you are familiar with the story). In fact I am tempted to actually re-read this book using the appropriate dice system (as I am also tempted to do with Appointment with F.E.A.R.).
I will finish off with something about this book that suddenly struck me as I was reading it: Champman borrowed a lot from the Odyssey. Simply by doing that increased my appreciation of the book to no end. When I originally read it I didn't pick up the references up (probably because I had never read the Odyssey at the time) but now, being as familiar with the story that I am, it is very clear. In a way I am not surprised that he borrowed from the Odyssey because, come on, Odysseus pretty much behaved like a pirate, at least in the first part of his journey before his crew were all killed off with the encounter with Scylla and Charybdis (and you can see the reference to Scylla, as well as a very Greek looking Trireme, on the cover).
I first picked up the references when we arrived at an island inhabited by a young lady and she offered me some soup. I was a bit suspicious, so I turned it down, and sure enough my entire crew turned into animals. CIRCE! I screamed, and while you do fight her, fortunately (particularly since this is a book aimed at teenagers) you do not rape her as Odysseus did. You also encounter an island in which there is unattended cattle, and people familiar with the Odyssey will know to leave the cattle alone. Oh, and on this same island you meet up with some soldiers who, if you tell them of your story, give you a bag containing wind, and sure enough the crew become jealous and want to look inside (maybe that I why that scene in the Odyssey was so familiar, Homer stole it off of Seas of Blood). Finally, I should also mention that you fight a cyclops at the end.
9 July 2012
This gamebook was actually very surprising, and also very ambitious. What surprised me even more is that the author this particular book was also the author of what I considered to be pretty much the worst of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks that I had read to date. I would not necessarily call this one the best though since many of the earlier ones, while basic in many ways, bring back a lot of childhood memories. However Seas of Blood seems to take the gamebooks in a new direction, being more than simply making choices and fighting enemies.
Seas of Blood brings in a new concept that, if played properly, makes the book much more difficult. There is still one direct route, and you need to find this route to be able to complete the book, but the way to successfully complete the book is quite different. The two new elements added is a scoring system (namely booty) and a timing system (namely the log). The whole idea is to complete the book within the time limit of 50 days and have a wealth in excess of 800 gold. If that sounds difficult that is because it is, and there are a number of entries in which you have to add days to your log book. However, it is not necessarily a book where you need to collect specific items.
The further difference is that you are the captain of a pirate ship who has entered a competition with another pirate to see who is the best on the seas of blood. You have fifty days to get from your starting point to the end point with as much gold as possible, and in many cases your nemesis always seems to be one step ahead of you (he always arrives at the island before you). Also, the book has created a means of mass combat in that you have a crew who will fight on your behalf. However, unlike stamina, restoring your crew is a lot more difficult (and a lot more expensive). Also, part of the booty you collect are slaves, but at the end of the adventure the slaves are pretty much worthless: you need to sell them somewhere before you reach your final destination. Oh, and there is a map at the beginning of the story which gives you an idea of the routes that you can take to reach your goal, so you can pretty much pre-plan your route (especially if you are familiar with the story). In fact I am tempted to actually re-read this book using the appropriate dice system (as I am also tempted to do with Appointment with F.E.A.R.).
I will finish off with something about this book that suddenly struck me as I was reading it: Champman borrowed a lot from the Odyssey. Simply by doing that increased my appreciation of the book to no end. When I originally read it I didn't pick up the references up (probably because I had never read the Odyssey at the time) but now, being as familiar with the story that I am, it is very clear. In a way I am not surprised that he borrowed from the Odyssey because, come on, Odysseus pretty much behaved like a pirate, at least in the first part of his journey before his crew were all killed off with the encounter with Scylla and Charybdis (and you can see the reference to Scylla, as well as a very Greek looking Trireme, on the cover).
I first picked up the references when we arrived at an island inhabited by a young lady and she offered me some soup. I was a bit suspicious, so I turned it down, and sure enough my entire crew turned into animals. CIRCE! I screamed, and while you do fight her, fortunately (particularly since this is a book aimed at teenagers) you do not rape her as Odysseus did. You also encounter an island in which there is unattended cattle, and people familiar with the Odyssey will know to leave the cattle alone. Oh, and on this same island you meet up with some soldiers who, if you tell them of your story, give you a bag containing wind, and sure enough the crew become jealous and want to look inside (maybe that I why that scene in the Odyssey was so familiar, Homer stole it off of Seas of Blood). Finally, I should also mention that you fight a cyclops at the end.
October 7, 2009
Unlike most gamebook stories that has you playing a hero (reluctant or otherwise) going after a villain, injustice, destiny, etc., this one casts you as a pirate and in a race to see who can plunder and pillage the most and fastest. I like the uniqueness of it.
June 8, 2018
I loved these books as a kid. Must go back and re-read them to make a proper review. But just look at that art work too... amazing!
July 5, 2015
Much better than Andrew Chapman's previous two contributions to the Fighting Fantasy. This piratical adventure, a contest between two pirates, is an interesting and unique premise. The ship's log system provides a deadline by which the finishing point in the race must be reached and a certain amount of treasure must be gathered in order to beat your rival (I confess that by the end I had only gathered half of what was needed).
Most of the encounters are interesting, some are very challenging. There are some very arbitrary events, however, which grate a bit.
Overall, the book was a fun diversion and not to be sniffed at. However, it is telling that having reached the end, I simply can't be arsed to play through it again to try to find enough treasure to win the contest. Having been through it once, a revisit simply doesn't appeal, not for quite some time at least.
Most of the encounters are interesting, some are very challenging. There are some very arbitrary events, however, which grate a bit.
Overall, the book was a fun diversion and not to be sniffed at. However, it is telling that having reached the end, I simply can't be arsed to play through it again to try to find enough treasure to win the contest. Having been through it once, a revisit simply doesn't appeal, not for quite some time at least.
January 23, 2022
Oof!
Usually I just read FF books through, following every path and not bothering with rolling dice. For a change, I decided to actually play this one.
I died very quickly.
And then made a few more attempts and died lots and lots.
The battles were hard if you didn’t have a skill of 12. I kept running out of luck. Towards the end, a lot of luck rolls result in insta-death if you’re unlucky. In one situation, the book commits the worst crime of old adventure games - where not picking up an item, or making a choice early on, means it’s impossible for you to win.
So then I looked up the author to see what other FF books he’d written. Ahhhhh, Andrew Chapman of Space Assassin fame. I gave 2 stars to that.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a bit harsh. There’s some innovation here - keeping a log of time is a good mechanic that influences your choices, both in figuring out whether to waste time visiting places and whether to use that time to heal up. One part near the end has you battling a beast by making choices to whether to kick, punch, etc - it has 30 circular sections. And the setting is pretty cool.
Abandoning the actual playing and reading it like I regularly do - ie exploring every path - it became much more enjoyable. It’s definitely a step up from Space Assassin. Having said that, section 400 is again very limp. There’s a picture and a couple of sentences and then just a whole lotta blank page. The words tired and lazy come to mind.
On the whole a bit disappointed because I was hoping for more of a piratey adventure and a book I could suggest to my kids. But there’s no way I’d suggest this as an entree to Fighting Fantasy.
Usually I just read FF books through, following every path and not bothering with rolling dice. For a change, I decided to actually play this one.
I died very quickly.
And then made a few more attempts and died lots and lots.
The battles were hard if you didn’t have a skill of 12. I kept running out of luck. Towards the end, a lot of luck rolls result in insta-death if you’re unlucky. In one situation, the book commits the worst crime of old adventure games - where not picking up an item, or making a choice early on, means it’s impossible for you to win.
So then I looked up the author to see what other FF books he’d written. Ahhhhh, Andrew Chapman of Space Assassin fame. I gave 2 stars to that.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a bit harsh. There’s some innovation here - keeping a log of time is a good mechanic that influences your choices, both in figuring out whether to waste time visiting places and whether to use that time to heal up. One part near the end has you battling a beast by making choices to whether to kick, punch, etc - it has 30 circular sections. And the setting is pretty cool.
Abandoning the actual playing and reading it like I regularly do - ie exploring every path - it became much more enjoyable. It’s definitely a step up from Space Assassin. Having said that, section 400 is again very limp. There’s a picture and a couple of sentences and then just a whole lotta blank page. The words tired and lazy come to mind.
On the whole a bit disappointed because I was hoping for more of a piratey adventure and a book I could suggest to my kids. But there’s no way I’d suggest this as an entree to Fighting Fantasy.
January 6, 2019
Sail the Inland Sea, plundering as only YOU can to win a wager with your greatest rival. This is far from a hero’s quest, instead offering the opportunity to play as a criminal, plundering loot from any source likely to fill your coffer with gold. You’ll travel from point-to-point, eagerly exploring the lands surrounding the sea and facing many troublesome developments on and under the water. It’s a challenge, a race, and a test of fortune – a swashbuckling adventure where only one man can claim the ultimate prize!
Seas of Blood includes all the hallmarks – both good and bad – of the Fighting Fantasy series. Risk and reward can feel somewhat imbalanced, resulting in lost opportunities that consume valuable time with little return. A few too many choices offer no obvious logic, nor allow opportunities for assistance from knowledge gained previously – add these occasional issues to the regularly occurring instances of failure due to unfortunate dice rolls and the growing frustration can be profoundly irritating.
There are multiple routes to take, and various ways to approach many of the encounters, so you’ll uncover alternative strategies and outcomes on every playthrough, however, the adventure is only of modest length. Entertaining yet lacking any great depth.
Seas of Blood includes all the hallmarks – both good and bad – of the Fighting Fantasy series. Risk and reward can feel somewhat imbalanced, resulting in lost opportunities that consume valuable time with little return. A few too many choices offer no obvious logic, nor allow opportunities for assistance from knowledge gained previously – add these occasional issues to the regularly occurring instances of failure due to unfortunate dice rolls and the growing frustration can be profoundly irritating.
There are multiple routes to take, and various ways to approach many of the encounters, so you’ll uncover alternative strategies and outcomes on every playthrough, however, the adventure is only of modest length. Entertaining yet lacking any great depth.
May 14, 2024
Even though this was written by the same Andrew Chapman that wrote ‘The Rings of Kether’ I’m still glad to be back on Titan. Hopefully the reviews of his last gamebook are enough to keep him from ‘experimenting’ with a form and world that works!
PIRATE SHIP (Banshee)
CREW STRIKE 7, CREW STRENGTH 0
It’s increasingly frustrating that the CGB program does not account for all of these additional vehicles and rules of Fighting Fantasy. It’s almost tempting me to write my own…
SKILL 12, STAMINA 19, LUCK 10
Not bad at all. But since I’m one of the world’s greatest pirates, it should be!
At random I head to the close isle of Enraki. But of course the GBC app won’t allow you to roll three dice!
So, at first, the idea of shooting a flaming arrow over the temple walls to set the church on fire as a distraction while you quietly climb the walls and sneak in to steal the church’s treasure seems like a stroke of tactical genius.
But what actually happens is that the priests inside sound the alarm and then send massive amounts of really tough priests outside to find you and kill everyone to a man.
It was a pretty amazing battle considering how outnumbered we were. But we lost anyway.
June 24, 2023
This is one of the finest FF books, one that lets you chart your own a course to become king of the pirates. The writing is crisp and evocative, and the illustrations very good. The extra rules are simple and effective. The encounters are varied and satisfyingly strung together, with a good sense of time and progression. It's a difficult book, requiring high stats for you and your crew and lots of luck, but taking optimal courses makes it winnable along a few paths. An excellent book.
July 14, 2019
Really enjoyed this one as for once you are the VILLIAN of the piece,but the way the days of your log was decided was pointless!!
February 7, 2021
This tersely-written gamebook finds you sacking cities and trading in slaves, in an attempt to maximise your booty to win a wager against another pirate. A great one to do with the kids!
December 18, 2022
Nicely designed but with some frustrating elements. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordp...
October 11, 2007
I miss being a kid. I loved these kinds of books.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews