Thursday 18 April 2013

My Own Personal Quest: The Unknown Tome

The year was 1995 (I think) and a trade in the playground led me to the first gamebook I would call my own.. But for the life of me I can't remember what it was called.

It's odd because I can remember so much about the time at hand, even details of the book in question, but for the life of me, I can't recall it's name. Which is a bit of a problem.. Because I want to find it once more.

Which is where I am hoping you guys can come in. Can you help me name that book?

The door on the cover looked something like this, but ajar, as I recall.
From what I remember, the year was 1995 (so I have a rough time-frame for
it's publication) and, the book itself was about A6 in size, quite thin (only about 30-40 small paragraphs with a smattering of pictures) and, paperback (center-stapled). I also remember that the chatter on the playground at the time was that it had come out of a lucky bag.

Inside the book, I remember one key entry where you find a wooden table with a scroll, a bag of coins and, a key (I believe), and the scroll warned you to take only either the key or the coins. If you took both I think you fell in a river or something in the next entry and it was game over. I also vaguely recall the cover reminding me of the entry to Shadowgate castle. Well, retrospectively, as I hadn't played Shadowgate at the time. It was also certainly more cartoony in its style than Shadowgate.

I also VERY vaguely recall this book being numbered 1, so there where potentially a few in the series.. Maybe. That's a sketchy recall at best though.

As you can imagine, I am quite nostalgic about this one, so if you know anything, ANYTHING, I would love to hear from you.

4 comments:

  1. Try: http://www.gamebooks.org/ or Stuart Lloyd's site: http://www.lloydofgamebooks.com/

    Both are in Trollhalla and on facethingee.

    (And yes, I know I'm stating the obvious. It's one of my few skills which hasn't deteriorated with age.)

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  2. Thanks for the quick reply. :0).

    Didn't have much look with http://www.gamebooks.org/ but, that's more to do with not really being too sure about the name of the book. I had a look through the titles for the time-frame I've narrowed it down to but, nothing rung a bell.

    I will certainly take a look at Stuart Lloyd's site though. Never know your luck!

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  3. I *think* I might have found the answer. Could it have been Mini Comic Adventure #1: The Dungeons of Doom (The Master's First Challenge)?

    Details are in my response to your thread on BGG: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/12157091#12157091

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  4. That's definitely it! Thank you so much. :0D.
    *happy dance*

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