Crypt of the Sorcerer

From Titannica

Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
Outline
Location:	Allansia, Titan
References:	400
Publication Details
Author(s):	Ian Livingstone
Illustrator(s):	John Sibbick
Puffin

Cover illustrator:	Les Edwards
First published:	April 9 1987
Number	26
ISBN:	ISBN 0-14-032155-1
Previous Book:	Beneath Nightmare Castle
Next Book:	Star Strider
Wizard (Series 1)

Cover illustrator:	Les Edwards
First published:	October 7 2002
Number	6
ISBN:	ISBN 1-84046-396-1
Previous Book:	City of Thieves
Next Book:	House of Hell
Wizard (Series 2)

Cover illustrator:	N/A
First published:	N/A
Number	N/A
ISBN:	N/A
Previous Book:	N/A
Next Book:	N/A

Crypt of the Sorcerer is a single-player role-playing gamebook, written by Ian Livingstone, illustrated by John Sibbick and originally published in 1987 by Puffin Books. It was later republished by Wizard Books in 2002. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the 26th in the series in the original Puffin series (ISBN 0-14-032155-1) and 6th in the modern Wizard "Series 1" (ISBN 1-84046-396-1).

[edit] Creation

The book had two potential working titles, Crypt of the Necromancer and The Howling Tunnels.^[1]

[edit] Background

“ An ancient evil is stirring!

The long-dead sorcerer Razaak has been re-awoken and is poised to fulfil his promise of death and tyranny. The Forces of Chaos are at large across Allansia and it seems that they are all pitted against YOU! For it is up to you to battle against the odds - to find the only weapon to which Razaak is vulnerable, to arm yourself with protections against his awesome powers, and to face him in his lair, the Crypt of the Sorcerer!

Part story, part game, this is a book in which YOU become the hero! Two dice, a pencil and an eraser are all you need. YOU decide which routes to take, which dangers to risk and which foes to fight.^[2] ”

Razaak, an Evil Necromancer, has re-awoken after being entombed for a hundred years. He plans to send his army of undead to take over Allansia. The main objective for the reader is to find his sword, the only weapon which will harm him, and then to find and defeat him. Companions, a Hunter and a Dwarf, are found along the way to help with the adventure.

[edit] Introduction

The book in general follows the original rules set down in The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. (see Game System)

[edit] Unique Rules

The opening paragraph sees the player given a Healing Potion by Gereth Yaztromo which has five doses which restore four stamina points each dose.

[edit] Equipment List

No equipment list is given. It is assumed, since you start with no skill penalties, that you begin the adventure with the standard sword, leather armour, and backpack.

[edit] Cover and Illustrations

Covers

The original cover of the book was designed and illustrated by Les Edwards.

When the book was republished by Wizard the cover was re-worked Les Edwards.

**Crypt of the Sorceror** through the years
1987	1989	1990	1993	2002	2002

Dragon Format	Dragon No No.	No. Spine Only	No Bronze-Foil	Wizard "Special Limited Edition"	Wizard
£1.95¹	£?	£2.99²	£?	£4.99	£4.99

Price of 1st Impression
Price of 5th Impression

Illustrations

The interior illustrations were by John Sibbick. There were 32 full page illustrations and 5 minor repeated illustrations scattered throughout the text. The paragraphs with a full page illustration were: 7, 18, 33, 45, 56, 68, 79, 90, 103, 115, 127, 139, 152, 167, 178, 189, 202, 214, 226, 239, 249, 261, 276, 286, 299, 315, 326, 339, 353, 365, 377 and 391.

The colour map on the inside front cover was by Leo Hartas. It was not reproduced for the Wizard edition.

[edit] Intertextual References

[edit] Other Media

[edit] Main Characters

YOU: Hero of Crypt of the Sorcerer

[edit] Locations

[edit] Encounters

[edit] Further Notes

The central plot of Razaak the necromancer bears more than a passing similarity to the Conan story Black Colossus.
This is one of the hardest Fighting Fantasy books, since the victory path is very narrow, leaving very little room for error and therefore making gameplay extremely unforgiving. There are many certain artefacts and items that must be collected in order to be successful. For instance, part of the adventure involves fighting a rare creature known as the Gargantis to get its horn; the only way to defeat it is by gaining the power of chameleonite camouflage and a certain crystal as a protection. But in order to gain the crystal in the first place, the player must expose himself to a deadly menace at the start which can easily end the game very quickly, if the die roll to be made is unlucky enough. Not only that, there are other crucial dice rolls scattered throughout the book that have a significant chance of getting an instant death, which has nothing to do with the player's skill, stamina, or luck scores. Therefore even if the player has maximum scores, the chances of him/her surviving is still deemed to be small.

[edit] Errors

The equipment list is missing which may be an error.
Although you need the Crystal of Sanity to protect yourself from the Gargantis, no option is given to use it if you encounter Razaak's Hellcat pet, which also has a mental attack. It is possible the Crystal's powers are drained when you face the Gargantis.
Typo in (115): We are told that "Lava Demons metamorphose into Fire Imps" but in the very next sentence they are described as "Lava Imps".

[edit] Dedication

To Jack

[edit] See Also

[edit] Reviews

Crypt of the Sorcerer at FF Reviews Archive

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

↑ Warlock Issue 10 - p.4, "Livingstone on Trial"
↑ Crypt of the Sorcerer - Back Cover ("Golden Dragon" Edition)

[0] Warlock Issue 10 - p.4, "Livingstone on Trial"

[1] Crypt of the Sorcerer - Back Cover ("Golden Dragon" Edition)

[1]

[2]

Create a new article Upload a new image
Recent changes Help	Random page Special pages Recent changes Random page