Sword of the Samurai (Fighting Fantasy)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks | |
|---|---|
The original cover of Sword of the Samurai illustrated by Peter Andrew Jones |
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 The Wizard cover of Sword of the Samurai illustrated by Mel Grant |
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| Outline | |
| Location: | Khul, Titan |
| References: | 400 |
| Publication details | |
| Author(s): | Mark Smith & Jamie Thomson |
| Illustrator: | Alan Langford |
| Puffin | |
| Cover illustrator: | Peter Andrew Jones |
| First published: | 1986 |
| Number | 20 |
| ISBN: | ISBN 0-14-032087-3 |
| Wizard | |
| Cover illustrator: | Mel Grant |
| First published: | 2006 |
| Number | 25 |
| ISBN: | ISBN 1-84046-732-0 |
| List of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks | |
Sword of the Samurai is a single-player roleplaying gamebook written by Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson, illustrated by Alan Langford and originally published in 1986 by Puffin Books. It was later republished by Wizard Books in 2006. It forms part of Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone's Fighting Fantasy series. It is the 20th in the series in the original Puffin series (ISBN 0-14-032087-3) and 25th in the modern Wizard series (ISBN 1-84046-732-0).
Contents |
[edit] Story
The land of Hachiman is in grave danger. The Shogun's control is slipping. Bandits roam the land freely and barbarian invaders have begun to raid across the borders. All this because the Dai-Katana, the great sword, Singing Death, has been stolen from the Shogun. YOU are the Shogun's champion, a young Samurai. Your mission is to recover this wondrous sword from Ikiru, the Master of Shadows, who holds it hidden deep in the Pit of Demons.
The reader of this book assumes the role of a young samurai, whose mission it is to recover a legendary Dai-Katana, the "Singing Death", for the Shogun. The sword must be wrested from the grasp of Ikiru, the Master of Shadows, who keeps it hidden within the Pit of Demons. While travelling to the mountains, where Ikiru's palace is located, the player has to deal with rogue retainers and various monsters, but also gather allies to help him gain entrance to the Pit of Demons.
[edit] Setting
The book is set in a southeast part of the continent of Khul. It is the second Fighting Fantasy book to be set in Khul, with Scorpion Swamp being the first. It features a land similar to medieval Japan, and the book features numerous monsters from Japanese folklore.
However, the book contains an error relating to this - the flying human heads are called Rokurokubi in the book, when they should actually be called Nukekubi. The name for the land of Hachiman is taken from the Shinto religion's god of war.
[edit] Rules
This book featured an "Honour" score that could have an effect on events in the book. It was also the first book to feature a list of special skills from which the player may choose and which affect game-play considerably. While it was preceded by Appointment with F.E.A.R. with the choice of particular talents, these are replications of "normal" skills, not super-powers.
