The Riddling Reaver

Fighting Fantasy: Role-Playing Game

by Paul Mason, Steve Williams

Four Fighting Fantasy episodes to be played as separate adventures or as stages in an epic adventure! The Riddling Reaver is an opponent worthy of the most daring adventurers. His mind is inscrutable -- but there is no doubt about the chaos he plans to unleash on the world. He must be stopped, despite the hazards of the task! This book is a follow-up to Fighting the Introductory Role-Playing Game. It contains instructions and scenarios so that you, as GamesMaster, can conjure up adventures for your friends, and send them on their most dangerous and puzzling mission yet -- to confront the Riddling Reaver.

Genres: Gamebooks, Role Playing Games, Fantasy, Choose Your Own Adventure, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Nicolai Grunnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to see the average low rating of this gem, but I suppose it all depends on where you're coming from with your review.

For me, the riddling reaver was the first chance of introducing my friends to the universe that I had come to love so much, through the fantastic Fighting Fantasy universe. As fans of the series will know, nearly all adventures in the world of Titan were very solitary and lonely, and sadly way too few books were released that gave you the chance to game with friends.
In my case, RR was the first prewritten adventure I had the chance to GM and I had a wonderful time with my friends, who like me enjoyed a crazy story of fantasy that didn't take itself all too seriously. It goes without saying that the main antagonist in this case is an embodiment of chaos and thus reflects on the story. The heroes start out by witnessing the reaver's newest plan set in motion and pretty much tracks him through the world, Carmen Sandiego-style, but putting together clues he leaves for them.

There is very little sense in the plot and it features a multitude of those whacky situations that leave much to improvisation, especially if you start playing around with the spells. Yet, I've often used this book, many years later, as an introductionary adventure to new players. There are several fantastic locations, strange encounters, and especially as you get to explore the reaver's ship and house things start going truly crazy. If you're looking to train your skills of improvisation, as said, this could be your book, as there are several hooks and ideas around, but very little detail about how to execute it. Use it at your own leisure.

If nothing else, as a GM you might find some inspiration from this book. If nothing else it's imaginative and may give you something to go on.

[Kelvin Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is lacking in player agency, rather underdeveloped, and the Reaver comes across as more villainous than a servant of Neutrality probably should be, but these are understandable for what is basically Baby's First Role-Playing Campaign. Quite a bit of work is needed to make this playable for a more experienced group of players.

That said! Despite the book's flaws, there is enough in the way of evocative images and interesting ideas that it lingers in the mind of the Game Master searching for adventure, and there's a tantalising possibility that putting in that work may well be worth it.