Review - Advanced Fighting Fantasy

Review of the Advanced Fighting Fantasy role-playing game (and the Fighting Fantasy series in general), from its original solo game book release "The Warlock of Firetop Mountain" in 1982 to the current Arion Games edition of the RPG and Scholastic Books editions of the solo game book series.
Arion Games Website: arion-games.com/
Fighting Fantasy website: www.fightingfa...
Scholastic Fighting Fantasy (UK): shop.scholasti...
DriveThruRPG links:
Advanced Fighting Fantasy Deluxe: preview.drivet...
AFF Core Rulebook: preview.drivet...
Out of the Pit: preview.drivet...
Beyond the Pit: preview.drivet...
Return to the Pit: preview.drivet...
Rough Guide to the Pit: preview.drivet...
Creatures of Mishna: preview.drivet...
AFF Quickstart: preview.drivet...
Titan: preview.drivet...
Heroes Companion: preview.drivet...
Combat Companion: preview.drivet...
Sorcery Spellbook: preview.drivet...
Heroes of Titan: preview.drivet...
Encyclopedia Arcana Vol. 1: preview.drivet...
Titan Herbal: preview.drivet...
Blacksand: preview.drivet...
Warlock of Firetop Mountain: preview.drivet...
Citadel of Chaos: preview.drivet...
Crown of Kings, the Sorcery Campaign: preview.drivet...
Demons of Doom: preview.drivet...
Travels in Arion: preview.drivet...
The Atlantis Campaign: preview.drivet...
Stellar Adventures: preview.drivet...
Stellar Adventures Starship Catalogue: preview.drivet...

[@barnyfraggles]

Those books were magical when I was a kid. Completely blew my mind for such a simple concept.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Definitely. The real innovation I think FF brought to the table was a set of simpler rules than most - 2-3 pages and done. This edged them out over the more complex ones (like T&T), and the ones that had no rules at all (like Endless Quest).

[@lenborges1]

I'm an enthusiast of this franchise and I was impressed with your collection. Here in Brazil we didn't have all of them published, which is a shame.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

It is indeed. I sympathise. It's an unfortunate facet of publishing that not everything reaches everyone 😢

[@johnherkert9895]

Creating a character sheet specific to the core Fighting Fantasy game book. Crunchy goodness.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

All RPGs need a good char sheet!

[@jackprutsman821]

Speaking of game designers named Steve Jackson, GURPS also has several solo adventures. A couple of excellent Conan romps and something more open-ended based on the Horseclans book series. It's something more games should embrace, it's a great way to learn the rules.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Interesting - I never knew GURPS had any. Chaosium has built a habit now of including solo "teaching scenarios" in its games, so they agree - as do I - that it's a fantastic way to learn.

[@jackprutsman821]

I've got all the solo adventures for Call of Cthulhu, they're great. They really emphasize the importance of research skills and a diverse party. On my first run through Alone Against The Fire I blew a 4km crater in New England and launched my soul into the stars. So, you know, nothing of value lost.

[@dane3038]

They also have one called "for love of money not" set in the Humanix world.

[@jackprutsman821]

For the Love of Mother, and there's also a site that specializes in GURPS one-shots that has a few solo adventures. OneShotAdventures

[@WillyMuffinUK]

@@jackprutsman821 The trick is, ensuring you got a good price for your soul before anything happens to cause you to lose it 😉 Congrats on the crater, though! One way to leave your mark on the world!

[@nicklarocco4178]

I honestly think AFF has a pretty perfect amount of crunch. The game plays quickly once you learn it, but there are enough options to keep it interesting for a very long time, especially if you pick up some of the supplementary books.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Personally, I like it being crunch-less. Especially when compared to D&D, RuneQuest, Rolemaster... It's a refreshing change of pace. It's lack of rules crunch doesn't get in the way of a decent amount of character development options, which is also a. nice thing. Anyway - depends where your own crunchometer sits :)

[@machfront]

I’m a Yank and only discovered (loving old-school games over here) FF over the past decade (and am so jealous!). As cool as the modern AFF is, being a super rules-lite gamer….finding the very recent rpg named Spellzard! (Being a FF intro rpg clone) is so fun and super cool! I’d bet money you and others would dig it. I highly recommend it! I know I sound like a commercial! Spellzard! really is FF and super cool and fun and does remain true to the original attitude and flavor….oh…sorry… flavour. Hahaha! Cheers, everyone!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

I have to say I find the word "Spellzard" hilarious!

[@machfront]

@@WillyMuffinUKHaha! Fair enough! But, it’s still a solid lil system based on a solid lil system neither of which get the real love that they ought! Cheers, again! 🙂

[@thepardoner2059]

No matter what other TTRPG systems I play and enjoy, I keep returning to AFF. It's my Goldilocks system.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Because it's full of porridge? Kidding! It's a heck of a lot of fun 🙂

[@horacioaugustofilho6487]

You didn't mention it, but I believe TROIKA! is a modern take on the FF system. Regardless, that was a cool review. I do like the simplicity of FF, and I use a modified version in my RPG solo games.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

I've not checked out Troika - maybe I will now. Anyway, that would explain why I don't mention it.

[@horacioaugustofilho6487]

@@WillyMuffinUK I'm not too familiar with it myself - I've only recently heard about it.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

@@horacioaugustofilho6487 It's one of those that thrust its way into my Facebook ads for a while - so I'm aware of its existence, but little more.

[@nicklarocco4178]

@@WillyMuffinUK I've played Troika! It's very inspired by AFF, but has some key differences. It tends to be a little more dangerous as weapons deal roughly twice as much damage, on average, as they do in AFF. The only spell system that exists in it is that each spell is its own special skill. Character creation is based on 36 (d66) backgrounds of varying silliness. I know Daniel Sell, the creator, doesn't like it to be referred to as Gonzo, but it does come off very much that way. It's a fun game, but I think AFF is better for long term play.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

@@nicklarocco4178 Thanks for that summary 🙂

[@patrickthoma5320]

I'm loving all these reviews!!! Thank you!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you for watching them!

[@MemphiStig]

I've only recently heard of these, and I didn't know both Steve Jacksons worked on them. They should have done at least one together. This looks really good. I'll check out the quick start for sure.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

By Steve Jackson and Steve Jackson?? Totally a missed opportunity! 🤣

[@101Mant]

When I started getting into rpgs everyone in mybfreibd group knew the fighting fantasy books and basic system. They even had some in the local library. Combined with being a simple system it was way easier to get poeple playing than with D&D.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

They were ubiquitous at one point. Ah, good days.

[@davidbrennan660]

I remember thise covers and books.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Me too 🤣 I was genuinely worried my old copy of Warlock would finally disintegrate when making this video.

[@antondovydaitis2261]

Thank you very much. Seems like a nice simple system.

[@WillyMuffinUK]

It very much is. It doesn't give you much nuance, but enough to get people kicking in doors, slaughtering goblins, and nicking the gold.

[@osborne9255]

Nice review!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you!

[@eXdXgXe4life]

Great video!

[@WillyMuffinUK]

Thank-you!