Let's Play Lone Wolf

[pi4t 6]

This is something I've seen on other forums, and thought it looked quite fun and I'd like to try it. You may have heard of adventure gamebooks, books which send the reader to different parts of them depending upon their choices and random dice rolls.

Example:

For instance, a passage might read

140: Having defeated the orc, will you continue into the treasure chamber (turn to 265) or retreat before the dragon awakes (turn to 61)?

Obviously, any true role-player would in this situation choose to enter the treasure chamber, and so you look through the book for section 265.

265: The dragon eats you. Roll a 6 or you get eaten and die. If you roll a 6, go to 120.

Obviously this is a pretty boring adventure. However, the series I want us to play through, called Lone Wolf, was written by a professional author. The author, Joe Dever, then made his work available for free when his books went out of print. (The books are available on Project Aon, though if you're going to join in on this thread I'd appreciate it if you didn't read ahead and get spoilers).

The idea is that I follow your choices. I read through the appropriate sections, and quote them here. When it comes to a choice, I'll stop, wait at least 24 hours to let everyone who wants to express their views on what we should go for, and then go by the majority vote. In the case of a tie I'll either let it go a bit longer, or roll a dice to decide.

I hope that some people on this forum will be interested in this. As a teaser, here's the 'story so far' of the first book:

The Story So Far … 

In the northern land of Sommerlund, it has been the custom for many centuries to send the children of the Warrior Lords to the monastery of Kai. There they are taught the skills and disciplines of their noble fathers.

The Kai monks are masters of their art, and the children in their charge love and respect them in spite of the hardships of their training. For one day when they have finally learnt the secret skills of the Kai, they will return to their homes equipped in mind and body to defend themselves against the constant threat of war from the Darklords of the west.

In olden times, during the Age of the Black Moon, the Darklords waged war on Sommerlund. The conflict was a long and bitter trial of strength that ended in victory for the Sommlending at the great battle of Maakengorge. King Ulnar and the allies of Durenor broke the Darklord armies at the pass of Moytura and forced them back into the bottomless abyss of Maakengorge. Vashna, mightiest of the Darklords, was slain upon the sword of King Ulnar, called ‘Sommerswerd’, the sword of the sun. Since that age, the Darklords have vowed vengeance upon Sommerlund and the House of Ulnar.

Now it is in the morning of the feast of Fehmarn, when all of the Kai Lords are present at the monastery for the celebrations. Suddenly a great black cloud comes from out of the western skies. So many are the numbers of the black-winged beasts that fill the sky, that the sun is completely hidden. The Darklords, ancient enemy of the Sommlending are attacking. War has begun.

On this fateful morning, you, Silent Wolf (the name given to you by the Kai) have been sent to collect firewood in the forest as a punishment for your inattention in class. As you are preparing to return, you see to your horror a vast cloud of black leathery creatures swoop down and engulf the monastery.

Dropping the wood, you race to the battle that has already begun. But in the unnatural dark, you stumble and strike your head on a low tree branch. As you lose consciousness, the last thing that you see in the poor light are the walls of the monastery crashing to the ground.

Many hours pass before you awake. With tears in your eyes you now survey the scene of destruction. Raising your face to the clear sky, you swear vengeance on the Darklords for the massacre of the Kai warriors, and with a sudden flash of realization you know what you must do. You must set off on a perilous journey to the capital city to warn the King of the terrible threat that now faces his people. For you are now the last of the Kai—you are now the Lone Wolf.

I will only start if at least three people say that they'll actually follow the topic and vote on what to do regularly. I don't want to be doing this on my own, after all!

[pi4t 6]

No one?

[Availer 681]

It looks really good. I wish I had the time to play with you it looks interesting.

[V0idsoldier 1139]

Count me in, this should be fun.

[pi4t 6]

2 more people needed, if you're sure you can't play, Availer? It wouldn't take much time, only one post to read plus one vote per day max! <_< If you did, you'd probably get me plenty more players! I think I'll add 'recommended by the Wandering Wizard' to my link in my signature.

[Hiebe 2493]

Ill play sounds exciting and I love these choices books !

[Auron 0]

Looks good ill play this, so when do we start?

[pi4t 6]

Auron's also going to be playing, which means we can get started!

The Game Rules

You keep a record of your adventure on the Action Chart.

During your training as a Kai Lord you have developed fighting prowess—COMBAT SKILL and physical stamina—ENDURANCE. Before you set off on your adventure you need to measure how effective your training has been. To do this take a pencil and, with your eyes closed, point with the blunt end of it onto the Random Number Table. If you pick 0 it counts as zero.

The first number that you pick from the Random Number Table in this way represents your COMBAT SKILL. Add 10 to the number you picked and write the total in the COMBAT SKILL section of your Action Chart (i.e. if your pencil fell on the number 4 in the Random Number Table you would write in a COMBAT SKILL of 14). When you fight, your COMBAT SKILL will be pitted against that of your enemy. A high score in this section is therefore very desirable.

The second number that you pick from the Random Number Table represents your powers of ENDURANCE. Add 20 to this number and write the total in the ENDURANCE section of your Action Chart (i.e. if your pencil fell on the number 6 on the Random Number Table you would have 26 ENDURANCE points).

If you are wounded in combat you will lose ENDURANCE points. If at any time your ENDURANCE points fall to zero or below, you are dead and the adventure is over. Lost ENDURANCE points can be regained during the course of the adventure, but your number of ENDURANCE points can never go above the number with which you start your adventure.

This seems like a good time to explain the random number generation and combat systems. If you already know this from somewhere (looking at you, Auron), you can skip this bit.

When playing the printed version, random numbers would be generated by stabbing your pencil on a grid of random numbers, printed near the back of the book. In this case, I'll do something similar, but as I don't want pencils damaging my screen, I'll put the cursor in the middle of the grid, move it a bit with my eyes closed, and see where it ends up. This is the random number table for this book:

Rules for Combat

There will be occasions on your adventure when you have to fight an enemy. The enemy's COMBAT SKILL and ENDURANCE points are given in the text. Lone Wolf's aim in the combat is to kill the enemy by reducing his ENDURANCE points to zero while losing as few ENDURANCE points as possible himself.

At the start of a combat, enter Lone Wolf's and the enemy's ENDURANCE points in the appropriate boxes on the Combat Record section of your Action Chart.

The sequence for combat is as follows.

Add any extra points gained through your Kai Disciplines to your current COMBAT SKILL total.

Subtract the COMBAT SKILL of your enemy from this total. The result is your Combat Ratio. Enter it on the Action Chart.

Example

Lone Wolf (COMBAT SKILL 15) is ambushed by a Winged Devil (COMBAT SKILL 20). He is not given the opportunity to evade combat, but must stand and fight as the creature swoops down on him. Lone Wolf has the Kai Discipline of Mindblast, so he adds 2 points to his COMBAT SKILL, giving a total COMBAT SKILL of 17.

He subtracts the Winged Devil's COMBAT SKILL from his own, giving a Combat Ratio of −3 (17 − 20 = −3). −3 is noted on the Action Chart as the Combat Ratio.

When you have your Combat Ratio, pick a number from the Random Number Table.

Turn to the Combat Results Table. Along the top of the chart are shown the Combat Ratio numbers. Find the number that is the same as your Combat Ratio and cross-reference it with the random number that you have picked (the random numbers appear on the side of the chart). You now have the number of ENDURANCE points lost by both Lone Wolf and his enemy in this round of combat. (E represents points lost by the enemy; LW represents points lost by Lone Wolf.)

Example

The Combat Ratio between Lone Wolf and Winged Devil has been established as -3. If the number taken from the Random Number Table is a 6, then the result of the first round of combat is:

Lone Wolf loses 3 ENDURANCE points

Winged Devil loses 6 ENDURANCE points

On the Action Chart, mark the changes in ENDURANCE points to the participants in the combat.

Unless otherwise instructed, or unless you have an option to evade, the next round of combat now starts.

Repeat the sequence from Stage 3.

This process of combat continues until the ENDURANCE points of either the enemy or Lone Wolf are reduced to zero or below, at which point that combatant is declared dead. If Lone Wolf is dead, the adventure is over. If the enemy is dead, Lone Wolf proceeds but with his ENDURANCE points possibly reduced.

A summary of Combat Rules appears in the back of this book.

Evasion of Combat

During your adventure you may be given the chance to evade combat. If you have already engaged in a round of combat and decide to evade, calculate the combat for that round in the usual manner. All points lost by the enemy as a result of that round are ignored, and you make your escape. Only Lone Wolf may lose ENDURANCE points during that round, but then that is the risk of running away! You may only evade if the text of the particular section allows you to do so.

And the combat results table looks like this:

With that out of the way, let's get on with the game.

So, if you look at the tables and test out a little, it'll become apparent that Combat Skill (CS) is much more important than Endurance (E). With that in mind, let's make probably the most important action in the entire game. And, surprise surprise, it comes down to a random number...

Ouch. 4. Well, it could be worse! That makes our CS 14. So what'll our E be?

3. Hmm. Well, never mind, _most of the fights are still survivable! Our E is 23

Let's move on.

Kai Disciplines

Over the centuries, the Kai monks have mastered the skills of the warrior. These skills are known as the Kai Disciplines, and they are taught to all Kai Lords. You have learnt only five of the skills listed below. The choice of which five skills these are, is for you to make. As all of the Disciplines may be of use to you at some point on your perilous quest, pick your five with care. The correct use of a Discipline at the right time can save your life.

When you have chosen your five Disciplines, enter them in the Kai Disciplines section of your Action Chart.

Camouflage

This Discipline enables a Kai Lord to blend in with his surroundings. In the countryside, he can hide undetected among trees and rocks and pass close to an enemy without being seen. In a town or city, it enables him to look and sound like a native of that area, and can help him to find shelter or a safe hiding place.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Camouflage’ on your Action Chart.

Hunting

This skill ensures that a Kai Lord will never starve in the wild. He will always be able to hunt for food for himself except in areas of wasteland and desert. The skill also enables a Kai Lord to be able to move stealthily when stalking his prey.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Hunting: no need for a Meal when instructed to eat’ on your Action Chart.

Sixth Sense

This skill may warn a Kai Lord of imminent danger. It may also reveal the true purpose of a stranger or strange object encountered in your adventure.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Sixth Sense’ on your Action Chart.

Tracking

This skill enables a Kai Lord to make the correct choice of a path in the wild, to discover the location of a person or object in a town or city and to read the secrets of footprints or tracks.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Tracking’ on your Action Chart.

Healing

This Discipline can be used to restore ENDURANCE points lost in combat. If you possess this skill you may restore 1 ENDURANCE point to your total for every numbered section of the book you pass through in which you are not involved in combat. (This is only to be used after your ENDURANCE has fallen below its original level.) Remember that your ENDURANCE cannot rise above its original level.

If you choose this skill write ‘Healing: +1 ENDURANCE point for each section without combat’ on your Action Chart.

Weaponskill

Upon entering the Kai Monastery, each initiate is taught to master one type of weapon. If Weaponskill is to be one of your Kai Disciplines, pick a number in the usual way from the Random Number Table, and then find the corresponding weapon from the list below. This is the weapon in which you have skill. When you enter combat carrying this weapon, you add 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL.

The fact that you are skilled with a weapon does not mean you set out on the adventure carrying that particular weapon. However, you will have opportunities to acquire weapons in the course of your adventures. If you pick the axe, you are lucky enough to be skilled in the one weapon Lone Wolf is carrying from the start of the adventure. (Explained fully in the Equipment section.)

You cannot carry more than 2 weapons. If you choose this skill, write ‘Weaponskill in _______ +2 COMBAT SKILL points if this weapon carried’ on your Action Chart.

Mindshield

The Darklords and many of the evil creatures in their command have the ability to attack you using their Mindforce. The Kai Discipline of Mindshield prevents you from losing any ENDURANCE points when subjected to this form of attack.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Mindshield: no points lost when attacked by Mindblast’ on your Action Chart.

Mindblast

This enables a Kai Lord to attack an enemy using the force of his mind. It can be used at the same time as normal combat weapons and adds two extra points to your COMBAT SKILL. Not all the creatures encountered on this adventure will be harmed by Mindblast. You will be told if a creature is immune.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Mindblast: +2 COMBAT SKILL points’ on your Action Chart.

Animal Kinship

This skill enables a Kai Lord to communicate with some animals and to be able to guess the intentions of others.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Animal Kinship’ on your Action Chart.

Mind Over Matter

Mastery of this Discipline enables a Kai Lord to move small objects with his powers of concentration.

If you choose this skill, write ‘Mind Over Matter’ on your Action Chart.

If you successfully complete the mission as set in Book 1 of Lone Wolf, you may add a further Kai Discipline of your choice to your Action Chart in Book 2. This additional skill, together with your five other skills and any Special Items that you have picked up in Book 1, may then be used in the next adventure of the Lone Wolf series which is called Fire on the Water.

Our first choice! And an important one, too. Our character isn't going to be storming through the series whatever, but nor is he going to die instantly. Your choices here are likely to save or lose Lone Wolf's life.

I think that rather than having one vote for which discipline we pick first, one for which we pick second, etc, we have one big vote. Everyone picks 5 disciplines they want, and I count up how many votes for each individual discipline we have. You can pick one of those five as your most important discipline, and I'll count it double when totalling the votes.

Normally, I'd stop here, but since this is character generation and so there won't be spoilers anyway, I'll carry on to the end of it.

Equipment

You are dressed in the green tunic and cloak of a Kai initiate. You have little with you to arm yourself for survival.

All you possess is an Axe (note under Weapons on your Action Chart) and a Backpack containing 1 Meal (note under Meals on your Action Chart). Hanging from your waist is a leather pouch containing Gold Crowns. To find out how many, pick a number from the Random Number Table. This number equals the number of Gold Crowns you possess at the start of the adventure. (Note the number in the Belt Pouch section of the Action Chart.)

You discover amongst the smoking ruins of the monastery, a Map of Sommerlund (note under Special Items on the Action Chart) showing the capital city of Holmgard and the land of Durenor, far to the east. You place the Map inside your tunic for safety.

You also find one of the following:

1 = Sword (Weapons)

2 = Helmet (Special Items). This adds 2 ENDURANCE points to your total.

3 = Two Meals (Meals)

4 = Chainmail Waistcoat (Special Items). This adds 4 ENDURANCE points to your total.

5 = Mace (Weapons)

Note: I ran out of images here, so have had to make the rest of the generation a new post.

[pi4t 6]

6 = Healing Potion (Backpack Item). This can restore 4 ENDURANCE points to your total, when swallowed after combat You only have enough for one dose.

7 = Quarterstaff (Weapons)

8 = Spear (Weapons)

9 = 12 Gold Crowns (Belt Pouch)

0 = Broadsword (Weapons)

To discover which of the above you find, you must pick a number from the Random Number Table and find the corresponding article on the list. Note this on your Action Chart, under the heading given in brackets, and make a note of any effect it may have on your ENDURANCE points.

How to Carry Equipment

Now that you have your equipment, the following list shows you how it is carried. You don't need to make notes but you can refer back to this list in the course of your adventure.

1 = Sword—carried in the hand.

2 = Helmet—worn on the head.

3 = Food—placed in the Backpack.

4 = Chainmail Waistcoat—worn on the body.

5 = Mace—carried in the hand.

6 = Healing Potion—carried in the Backpack.

7 = Quarterstaff—carried in the hand.

8 = Spear—carried in the hand.

9 = Gold Crowns—carried in the Belt Pouch.

0 = Broadsword—carried in the hand.

How Much Can You Carry?

Weapons

The maximum number of weapons that you may carry is two.

Backpack Items

These must be stored in your Backpack. Because space is limited, you may only keep a maximum of eight articles, including Meals, in your Backpack at any one time.

Special Items

Special Items are not carried in the Backpack. When you discover a Special Item, you will be told how to carry it. Later books introduced a limit of 12 Special Items at a time, we'll be playing by that limit.

Gold Crowns

These are always carried in the Belt Pouch. It will hold a maximum of fifty crowns.

Food

Food is carried in your Backpack. Each Meal counts as one item.

Any item that may be of use and can be picked up on your adventure and entered on your Action Chart is given capital letters in the text. Unless you are told it is a Special Item, carry it in your Backpack.

How to Use Your Equipment

Weapons

Weapons aid you in combat. If you have the Kai Discipline of Weaponskill and the correct weapon, it adds 2 points to your COMBAT SKILL. If you enter a combat with no weapons, deduct 4 points from your COMBAT SKILL and fight with your bare hands. If you find a weapon during the adventure, you may pick it up and use it. (Remember you can only carry two Weapons at once.)1

Backpack Items

During your travels you will discover various useful items which you may wish to keep. (Remember you can only carry eight items in your Backpack at once.) You may exchange or discard them at any point when you are not involved in combat.

Special Items

Each Special Item has a particular purpose or effect. You may be told this when the item is discovered, or it may be revealed to you as the adventure progresses.

Gold Crowns

The local currency is the Crown, which is a small gold coin. Gold Crowns can be used on your adventure to pay for transport, food, or even as a bribe! Many of the creatures that you will encounter possess Gold Crowns, or have them hidden in their lairs. Whenever you kill a creature, you may take any Gold Crowns that it has and put them in your Belt Pouch.

Food

You will need to eat regularly during your adventure. If you do not have any food when you are instructed to eat a Meal, you will lose 3 ENDURANCE points. If you have chosen the Kai Discipline of Hunting as one of your five skills, you will not need to tick off a Meal when instructed to eat.

Healing Potion

This can restore 4 ENDURANCE points to your total when swallowed after combat. There is only enough for one dose. If you discover any other potions during the adventure, you will be told then of their effect. All Healing Potions are Backpack Items.

We gain an axe, our backpack, 1 meal, our beltpouch, 8 Gold Crowns (GC), a map, and a mace. An 8 and a 5. Where were you at stat generation?

Next comes the rules for combat, which I've covered, followed by...

Levels of Kai Training

The following table is a guide to the ranks and titles that are bestowed upon Kai Lords at each stage of their training. As you successfully complete each adventure in the Lone Wolf series, you will gain an additional Kai Discipline and gradually progress towards mastery of the ten basic Kai Disciplines.

Novice

Intuite

Doan

Acolyte

Initiate—You begin the Lone Wolf adventures with this level of Kai training

Aspirant

Guardian

Warmarn or Journeyman

Savant

Master

Beyond the ten basic skills of the Kai Master await the secrets of the higher Kai Disciplines or ‘Magnakai’. By acquiring the wisdom of the Magnakai, a Kai Lord can progress towards the ultimate achievement and become a Kai Grand Master.

Kai Wisdom

Your mission will be one of great danger, for the Darklords and their servants are a cruel and fierce enemy who give and expect no mercy. Use the map to help you steer a correct course for the capital. Make notes as you progress through the story, for they will be of great help in future adventures.

Many things that you find will aid you during the adventure. Some Special Items will be of use in future Lone Wolf adventures and others may be red herrings of no real use at all, so be selective in what you decide to keep.

There are many routes to the King, but only one involves a minimum of danger. With a wise choice of Kai Disciplines and a great deal of courage, any player should be able to complete the mission, no matter how weak their initial COMBAT SKILL or ENDURANCE points score.

The honour and memory of the Kai Lords will go with you on your perilous journey.

Good luck!

Which reminds me, here's the map:

Well, that's the end of character generation. Tell me your discipline choices, and we can get started in 24 hours.

[Hiebe 2493]

1. Mindblast

2.Weapon Skill Axe

3.Hunting

4.Mind Shield

5.6th Sense

[pi4t 6]

We don't choose what weapon we're skilled in, it's decided by a random number. 'Upgraded' disciplines we get later on let us decide what we want to be skilled in, but for now, it's random. Still worth getting, though!

[Auron 0]

Mindblast

Camoflauge

Hunting

Mind Shield

6th Sense

[Hiebe 2493]

My bad BTW mind blast is my top so two votes for that

[pi4t 6]

That just leaves Angelos to go, and anyone else who turns up.

[pi4t 6]

So, these are the votes:

Camouflage: 1

Hunting: 2

Sixth Sense: 2

Tracking: 0

Healing: 0

Weaponskill: 1

Mindshield: 3

Mindblast: 3

Animal Kinship: 0

Mind Over Matter: 0

So, we're definitely getting Mindshield, Mindblast, Hunting and Sixth Sense. I'll get a random number to decide between Camouflage and Weaponskill. 0-4 Cam, 5-9 Wep.

*picks*

5. Weaponskill. In quarterstaff, as it happens. Great. Oh well, we'll live with it.

Now, let's get this adventure started!

1

You must make haste for you sense it is not safe to linger by the smoking remains of the ruined monastery. The black-winged beasts could return at any moment. You must set out for the Sommlending capital of Holmgard and tell the King the terrible news of the massacre: that the whole élite of Kai warriors, save yourself, have been slaughtered. Without the Kai Lords to lead her armies, Sommerlund will be at the mercy of their ancient enemy, the Darklords.

Fighting back tears, you bid farewell to your dead kinsmen. Silently, you promise that their deaths will be avenged. You turn away from the ruins and carefully descend the steep track.

At the foot of the hill, the path splits into two directions, both leading into a large wood.

If you wish to use your Kai Discipline of Sixth Sense, turn to 141.

If you wish to take the right path into the wood, turn to 85.

If you wish to follow the left track, turn to 275.

So, what'll it be? 24+ hours of voting, as before. Hopefully more people will join in this time. Feel free to answer, even if it's just the once, lurkers!