Friday 28 December 2018

Coming in 2019...

2018 is almost done, so what are you looking forward to most to come from the Fighting Fantasy stable in 2019?

Perhaps you're looking forward to the release of more of the Scholastic editions of the gamebooks, and possibly a new title to boot.

Perhaps you're keen to pick up and listen to the Fighting Fantasy Audio Dramas 4 Story Boxset, featuring The Forest of Doom: Lost in Darkwood, The Citadel of Chaos: Terror of the Ganjees, Deathtrap Dungeon: The Last Champion, and Creature of Havoc: The Monster of Dree.


Perhaps you're hoping for more releases for Tin Man Games' Fighting Fantasy Classics range.


Or could it be you're looking forward to Fighting Fantasy Fest 3, taking place on Saturday 31st August 2019, in West London?


Tell us what you're looking forward to most, or what else you would like to see come out under the Fighting Fantasy label in 2019, in the comments below, or on the Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks Facebook page.

Friday 21 December 2018

Tin Man Games' Fighting Fantasy Classics Holiday Sale

If you're still wondering what to get the Fighting Fantasy fan in your life, or you're looking to treat yourself to an early Christmas present, then why not check out Tin Man Games' Holiday Sale?


You could pick up some classic gamebooks to play during the holiday period, with all Fighting Fantasy Classics titles on sale!

For Android apps, click here. For iOS apps, click here. And for Steam downloads, click here.


Tuesday 18 December 2018

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Arion Games' Christmas Sale

What do you give the Fighting Fantasy fan in your life, while they are waiting for new books to be announced by Scholastic? Why, the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPG, of course! And there really couldn't be a better time to get into it, or to add to your existing collection of sourcebooks and gaming material, since Arion Games have launched their Christmas Sale on DriveThru RPG, with 40% off most items and some free gifts too!




Friday 7 December 2018

Scorpion Swamp artist Duncan Smith to attend Fighting Fantasy Fest 3

What do the Fighting Fantasy gamebook Scorpion Swamp (written by the US Steve Jackson) and Fighting Fantasy - The Introductory Role-playing Game (written by the UK Steve Jackson) have in common? Well, apart from sharing their 35th anniversary in 2019, they were also both illustrated by artist Duncan Smith.


What some Fighting Fantasy fans may not realise is that Duncan also provided the pictures for the first iteration of Ian Livingstone's legendary Caverns of the Snow Witch that appeared in Warlock Magazine.

Mammoth and Snow Witch, by Duncan Smith (c) 1984 and 2018.

Duncan is now based in London, having moved there after graduating from the Glasgow School Of Art.

Duncan Smith: Luckily I had some good friends who'd moved down the year before, Iain McCaig and Joe Graham. (You've probably heard of Iain, does a bit of drawing for films, writes, directs, film maker and educator, all round renaissance man! Joe Graham is a designer, writer, singer and used to make a great man-mountain pizza!) Anyway, after dragging my portfolio around all the Publishers I started to get lots of work. Iain was working on the FF books and they were looking for new artists and I ended up doing a whole bunch of fantasy work for Puffin Books and White Dwarf. They were really enjoyable books to do, and Iain and I would have great fun, taking turns posing, for each others drawings for some of the more outlandish characters in our respective books, from Lizard men, centaurs, wizards and the occasional giant! The rest as they say, is history, as that was over thirty years ago.

The Warlock: So what have you been working on since illustrating Fighting Fantasy gamebooks?

DS: My work is quite varied now, I work for a variety of publishing houses producing illustrations and some concept work for film, I write and illustrate children's books and how to draw books. I'm also an avid photographer and educator.

TW: Many of your original FF illustrations are now for sale. What prompted you to give fans the opportunity to own a piece of classic '80s fantasy art?

DS: One of the reasons that I'm selling this artwork is a chat I had recently with my old friend Tim Olsen. (Tim stayed in the flat below us and was then the manager of Games Workshop. Tim is another multi-talented guy - writer, artist and humanitarian - and has the biggest heart!). When I mentioned I still had all the artwork for the books tucked away in my plan chest, he said that I should put them up for sale as there was a lot of interest from fans and collectors for FF art. So, Tim put out the word that I was selling some work and remarkably there was a lot of interest! So, here for the first time, all in one place, the artwork finally sees the light of day!

Pool Beast and Fenmarge Tavern, by Duncan Smith (c) 1984 and 2018.

Some of Duncan's original pieces for Scorpion Swamp and Fighting Fantasy - The Introductory Role-Playing Game are still available to buy, direct from the artist himself here.

The exciting news is that Duncan is going to be one of the guests attending Fighting Fantasy Fest 3, on Saturday 31st August 2019. To find out more about the event, click this link. Tickets go on sale in the New Year.