Saving Fang Problem (Spoiler):

[nialldubh]

I busy doing many things and thought to relax and enjoy a solo adventure:

So 'Saving Fang.'

Now a Spoiler Alert:

Do, not go any further, though I am sure folks doing quest will encounter this problem instantaneously after five minutes of play...

I started last night just setting characters (creating an Elf Rogue, copying Cherry stats, etc.), getting relaxed... Got to cave entrance, entered, Troll goes to otherside, we enter to get Fang quickly...

Cherry and Elf Rogue enter, things were going fine, enter cave fought three guards, found Morgul's Bedroom, then it went, how can I describe it..., it went in a different direction from what I would expect, I followed the numbers and before I knew it my character was a traitor (perhaps a prisoner) and a coward I guess?

Getting barrage and I must say, not to my amusement... 68 (saved Fang, fine) to 71... (abuse)...

I retraced steps and for some of paragraphs and they seemed to quite casually have the two of us together, then suddenly I on my own skulking?

Is it me or has other noticed this game broken?

[lurker37]

You stopped to have a drink in the bedroom, I assume?

[nialldubh]

Naw, thought it best to look for Fangs, so left room and followed Cherry?

[lurker37]

I think I've worked out the paragraph order you should have encountered: 68, 71, 71B, 97, 91, 100, (96 *), 92, 95 (end)

*You'd only got 96 if you failed a save, if you survive 96 you go on to 92

I didn't see any branches in the plot once you get to 68 unless you die.

If you found yourself alone and skulking, I fear you may have run afoul of my nemesis in solitaires which use simple numerals to identify paragraphs - going to the wrong paragraph.

Older solos label their paragraphs by page number an letter, so page 12 would have paragraphs 12A, 12 B, 12C, 12D etc. While simple numerals are vastly easier for the writer to format as they allow paragraphs to flow onto the next page, I find myself frequently flipping extra pages trying to find the paragraph I need, and somewhere in this I often get confused between paragraph number and the the other numbers I am seeing like page number. I often end up at the wrong paragraph as a result.

I recommend that you write down the number of every paragraph you visit, not only to retrace your steps to double-check that you went to the right paragraph, but also in case you encounter the dreaded "return to the paragraph that sent you here" (especially if you just had a multi-paragraph encounter).

Could you go back to 68 and check how things flow? It occurs to me that there might be another explanation: a typo in your copy.

[nialldubh]

Yes cheers Lurker for the help:

Yes, I actually do write numbers down.

Nope, well in my PDF, it just at states 68, go to 71 and that is it...

But, given it a few extra looks: 71 states in some way that my delver must have been a prisoner, perhaps ran from a fight and left Cherry to die or something, it badly done. The 71 is a connection from many different routes from the one I took:

I took 9B, 13, 15 (got torch), 11 (fight Ghouls, which we slaughter, I got three fours for STR and total STR 25 and a Rogue with TTYF, it easy), 18 (AP), 35 (Key), 33 (look at room, but do not go in, best idea was to save Fang), then 68 (thing still normal)....

Then the dreaded 71:

This is the killer, I Mister Relaxed, started getting confused with text..

It reads that my weapons are staked on top of others' weapon in armoury, Cherry's give me attitude and we had walked into dungeon like the A-Team, precise and with one 1 point of spite apiece. Near perfect and me relaxing with concept of finding Fang like in only 5 minutes of play. it took me an hour to create character and it near game finish time?

Other errors in text, mention of a swath of dead ghouls and zombies that we never had touched and getting pardon for a crime I not committed cause some resentment, I'll tell you for nothing!

The Skulking bit, is actually from 35 (as I did a bit of back tracking); take key from Ghouls and it is either go 27 or 33 to room (I choose room, but if had gone to 27, hate to say, I think it broken). 27 is as if I completely alone and Cherry just never was there!?...

Also, I found in back-tracking a paragraph 98 with have no route to it from any source, but back-tracked it from a 71 source (Search option is great).

Again, thanks for considering my problem Lurker. I starting to think 71 must have been Ken's go to, as he wrote Solo, but it lost structure as it bottle-necked from too many sources?

 At least Fang is safe, that is the old version of him. I used him in a dungeon before and his attributes were much better than the Solos:

My version of Fang: STR 26, CON 13, DEX 12, SPD 10, IQ 32, LK 20, WIS * CHR 12.             * 5E at time of use...

[nialldubh]

So, done a change for Saving Fang:

Those that get to No. 68, must instead of following number to 71, they should go to 112:


112

You search the near cavern and find another room not far away and pushes the door open. Inside it is a heap of weapons, mostly small weaponry, swords and daggers and clubs.

“Equip yourselves,” you tells the prisoners.

You do a quick search and find (go to 88, roll three times on first list. Take note of this number 112; so you can return here) in amongst the heap. Fang takes a spiked club and a light target shield. The other four prisoners take swords and daggers. Cherry finds a sabre that she fancies. As soon as everyone is equipped, Cherry leads you back into the caves. One of the prisoners takes a torch and stays near the front with Cherry. You are the best equipped and capable of them; less wounded, have been set as the rear guard.

A breath of cool air makes the torch flicker. Cherry has found an exit.

“This way,” she says as she gives you an approving nod.

The small group emerge into the cool desert air. It feels good to get out of the caverns. The sky to the east is paler and you realize that it is almost dawn.

“Are you ready to walk?” Cherry says. “It should take us about two hours to reach Khosht.” But just then a voice booms out. Go to 71B.