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The Crimson Tide

From Titannica

Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks
Outline
Location: Isles of the Dawn, Titan
References: 400
Publication Details
Author(s): Paul Mason
Illustrator(s): Terry Oakes
Puffin
Cover illustrator: Alan Craddock
First published: January 30 1992
Number 47
ISBN: ISBN 0-14-034555-8
Previous Book: Tower of Destruction
Next Book: Moonrunner
Wizard (Series 1)
Cover illustrator: N/A
First published: N/A
Number N/A
ISBN: N/A
Previous Book: N/A
Next Book: N/A
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


The Crimson Tide is a single-player role-playing gamebook written by Paul Mason, illustrated by Terry Oakes and originally published in 1992 by Puffin Books. It was later republished by Wizard Books in 2004. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the 47th in the series in the original Puffin series (ISBN 0-14-031922-0). There are currently no announced plans to republish this book as part of the modern Wizard series.

Contents

[edit] Creation

[edit] Background

“ Vengeance - or death!

Civil war wracks the Isles of the Dawn. You are a young farmer, unaffected by the turmoil until chaos strikes. A roving band of mercenaries ransacks your village, killing your father and enslaving your mother. This injustice must be righted!

Arcane creatures, martial monks and battle-hardened warriors must all be overcome, as your quest for justice leads you from your quiet village to the very Court of the God-King!

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. Dare YOU take up the challenge?[1] 		”

The Crimson Tide is set in the Isles of the Dawn in the Southern hemisphere of Titan. The events of the book take place after those described in a previous book, Black Vein Prophecy. The player character begins as a young child whose father has been killed and whose mother has been kidnapped by mercenaries. The story follows the child's progression towards adulthood and revenge.

[edit] Introduction

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

[edit] Unique Rules

  • Because the player begins the book aged thirteen, their attribute scores may eventually exceed their "Initial" values which become fixed once they reach eighteen.
  • age is an attribute of the book due to the young age of the player at the outset and has an affect on the gameplay. Also, at each age increase the player is able to restore their "Temporary" stamina to the "Permanent" figure.
  • The Crimson Tide also introduces the attribute of ferocity which is determined by a 1d6 roll with the addition of half the player's stamina score (with halves rounded upwards). Should the player's ferocity score fall to 0 or less they are instructed to turn to (200). Also, for each age increase the player is to lower their ferocity score by 2 points.

[edit] Equipment List

The player begins the adventure with nothing more than a Wooden Sword, although they gain 2 Provisions in the opening paragraph.

[edit] Cover and Illustrations

Covers

The original cover of the book was designed and illustrated by Alan Craddock.

The Crimson Tide through the years
1992 1993
No. Spine Only No Bronze-Foil
£3.991 £3.992
  1. Price of 1st Impression
  2. Price of 2nd Impression

Illustrations

The interior illustrations were by Terry Oakes. There were 30 full page illustrations and 6 minor repeated illustrations scattered throughout the text. The paragraphs with a full page illustration were: 1, 19, 33, 46, 54, 64, 83, 97, 103, 111, 129, 137, 146, 158, 166, 176, 198, 225, 231, 241, 253, 272, 290, 306, 322, 344, 356, 373, 381 and 388.

[edit] Intertextual References

The book contains a reference to the earlier Fighting Fantasy book Sword of the Samurai in that the player can encounter a character from Hachiman, the region in which the earlier book is set.

[edit] Prequel

The Crimson Tide ties-in with Paul Mason's previous Fighting Fantasy book, Black Vein Prophecy. The player character meets several characters from Black Vein Prophecy, including the player character from the successful ending to the earlier book, who is now a king.

[edit] Other Media

[edit] Main Characters

YOU: Hero of The Crimson Tide

[edit] Locations

[edit] Encounters

[edit] Further Notes

  • Unlike other Fighting Fantasy books is the fact that many of the premature endings to the book do not involve the death or failure of the player character. These endings include the player character living the rest of his life as a monk, a sailor or a basket weaver, without finding his mother or obtaining his revenge.
  • The copyright page of the first edition lists a map by Leo Hartas which is not present in the book.
  • (400) is not the successful conclusion to the adventure.

[edit] Errors

  • The first enemy encountered on the critical path to the standard solution of the book is a Giant Mudworm, with a skill score of 12 (at this point the highest possible skill which the player character could have is 6), rendering the book virtually impossible to complete without having the player cheat at this point. This was an editing mistake by Marc Gascoigne (whom Mason later referred to as a "dingbat" and "a total idiot") who forgot that the player began the book as a child and altered the skill score of the Mudworm from 6 to 12.[2]
  • The Shark-creatures featured on the cover play no role in the story.

[edit] Dedication

Dedicated to Keiko, Ambassador of Ai

[edit] See Also

[edit] Reviews

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ The Crimson Tide - Back Cover ("Golden Dragon" Edition)
  2. ↑ Letter from Paul Mason at the Internet Archive record of the old Fightingfantasy.com
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