uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Feb 19, 2009 12:34:56 GMT -5
I picked this solo up 'way back a couple years when I first was into T&T and still haven't gotten around to playing it. I've heard it's really bad. Anyone have any feedback on it? Is there erratta for it anywhere that'd make it better, or are the problems deeper than that?
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unclecranky
5th Level Troll
(mutter...grumble)
Posts: 657
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Post by unclecranky on Feb 19, 2009 12:51:25 GMT -5
I don't know about this solo you've mentioned specifically, Uburoi, but I do have some experience with reviews and reviewers. In the tall corny state, we used to have a movie reviewer back when I was a kid who regularly dissed science fiction and horror every time it came along-she even gave the Star Trek, Star Wars, and Superman series bad reviews. The Shining suffered at her palsied hands. Long story short-play the solo out for yourself, and see how bad it is or isn't. Don't be afraid... Some of the best pulp would never pass Roger Ebert.
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
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Post by Hogscape on Sept 6, 2009 23:37:39 GMT -5
I just picked this up on eBay for $5.00. I wasn't expecting much from Judges Guild but the intro is excellent. It looks like there's a bit of party-management involved. It must've been written by one of those guys at the UN - "make sure you have a few extra slaves in your party, just incase you have to lose one..."
I was going to say I'd do a review as soon as I've had a play but I'm worried that Unky Crank might come lookin' for me...
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Post by Aramis of Erak on Sept 7, 2009 1:38:45 GMT -5
Judges Guild, as a rule, produced decent adventures, with really low (but also thus inexpensive) production/art/materials values, even considering the time was late 1970's and early 1980's.
I'm not familiar with that module, but I've used their traveller stuff, and it ranges from decent through VERY useful, and some of their hex-products; villages is pretty nice... 40+ villages.
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Post by mahrundl on Sept 7, 2009 15:30:50 GMT -5
Agreed, Aramis. Judges Guild had some very fine content wrapped up in those cheap-looking covers.
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 7, 2009 18:49:20 GMT -5
Someone made a post in the favorite solos thread about the Jungle being their favorite and why. I forgot who, I guess you can read every post in that topic and find it. Me=lazy.
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
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Post by Hogscape on Sept 7, 2009 20:47:30 GMT -5
Thanks JJB, I found it (thanks to Skulltosser):
Now although suffered much in production, Jungle of Lost Souls provided a good frame for an above-ground dungeon. It is very much the Jungles of Tarzan, Solomon's Lost Mines, Conan, and other pulp environs put together. I had to fix the magic matrix and locate many lost paragraphs, but the shear number of random options allow many hours of solo play without too much repeat. Plus unlike some of the earlier modules, Jungle of Lost Souls rarely out and out killed a character. Instead there was a slim chance to survive, but there was a slim chance. Much better than staying out of the room with the sign "Keep Out".
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 7, 2009 23:47:56 GMT -5
Aha, you looked after all. Yeah, that was the commentary. I remember him mentioning shear number of random options, because that reminded me of Sea of Mystery (I never played Jungle btw). I liked Sea of Mystery's design that put you into random pathways on most sections which increases replayability, too bad it was one of the shorter solos in # of paragraphs closer to Buffalo Castle in size...and I think it must not have been a well received format because the other FBI solos afterward don't really replicate that setup. I wonder if Jungle of Lost Souls does though?
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
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Post by Hogscape on Sept 8, 2009 9:08:54 GMT -5
I will let you know shortly JJB. I've asked Skulltosser if he still has his errata but it does look rather good. I remember Sea of Mystery fondly. I used to have almost all of the FBI solos but moved country and lost them in the mix...
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 8, 2009 9:38:32 GMT -5
If you have any luck, let me know. And a lot of people haven't played Sea of Mystery for some reason or another, so I'm glad you have and can give me a comparison  (and errata if you can get a hold of Skulltosser). That would strike my interest into putting it on my Want list if there's some similarities. I think I may have to play Sea of Mystery very soon...I still have fond memories of pirating the seas and then being recognized as a pirate, chased by guards, captured and judged by trial, and then sentenced to death by hanging. All in a day's work. Speaking of 'almost all of the FBI solos', and not to de-rail this thread, but what do you think about Caravan of Tiern. Have you played it? That is the only FBI solo I don't have, I think anyway. I was going to order it but its OOP on FBI's site. |
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Sept 8, 2009 10:09:14 GMT -5
jongjungbu,
Since you're in the market for a new copy of an FBI-printed 5th ed., you could possibly consider finding the so-called "Summer Special #1". Included in that package deal is Caravan to Tiern (though it's pretty easy to find on eBay or Amazon).
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 8, 2009 11:47:24 GMT -5
Machfront, thanks for the tip.
I didn't even notice the Summer Specials section on the FBI site. However, it says that they no longer have copies of Caravan of Tiern so instead they are including When The Cat's Away in the Summer Special #1. Aww. I don't really need a 2nd identical copy of When The Cat's Away heheh (maybe if it was a different cover for the collector in me).
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 8, 2009 13:51:04 GMT -5
Problem solved. I ordered a new 5.5 rulebook and Caravan of Tiern from paizo.com.  My total came to $26 USD for them. The question is, will I want to tarnish my 5.5 rulebook when my others are already so worn that who cares... Update: I just noticed, Jungle of Lost Souls is the same author as Sea of Mystery! Go figure, no wonder the one reminded me of the other. |
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 11, 2009 16:36:42 GMT -5
Problem solved. I ordered a new 5.5 rulebook and Caravan of Tiern from paizo.com. My total came to $26 USD for them. The question is, will I want to tarnish my 5.5 rulebook when my others are already so worn that who cares... Update: I just noticed, Jungle of Lost Souls is the same author as Sea of Mystery! Go figure, no wonder the one reminded me of the other. Paid for Priority Mail USPS (costs same as Ground UPS for Paizo.com), and they arrived today. Quick turn around. Now, I finally have Caravan of Tiern to play. Oh, and a brand-spankin-new print of 5.5 rulebook that I can treasure and not touch ever haha (with its poorly printed illustrations of Buffalo Castle attached at the end that I always say I'm glad I have an original printing). |
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Post by jongjungbu on Sept 24, 2009 19:36:13 GMT -5
BTW, I bought Jungle of Lost Souls. I don't have it yet, but I saw it pop up on E-bay and my first thought was that since it was the same author as Sea of Mystery (my favorite solo), I had to have it. Now, anyone find the errata? |
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(and errata if you can get a hold of Skulltosser). That would strike my interest into putting it on my Want list if there's some similarities. 
