OOhhh. One of the few FF books that I bought rather than borrowed. I read Deathtrap Dungeon so often that the pages fell apart so, sadly, I had to throw it away. Damn. Baron Sukumvit would not be pleased. Where to start? 1. Yes, its setting is oriental. Ian LIvingstone said he was inspired by a trip to Thailand. Think Thailand. River Kok think Bangkok. 2. At 5:23 in this video you show the illustration of a man tied to a door. Who does HE look like? He's an Easter Egg. Surely you can work out who! 3. I agree about the artwork. It is the best artwork of the whole FF series. It has a gothic or even surrealist horror vibe. I'm reminded of the Crowley Tarot Deck. 4. I didn't share your perspective on realism. In a fantasy world people could see inside with magic items like a crystal ball. No need for a stadium. I agree though on the monsters: they put up with a pretty bad existence. You would think that one of these terrifying denizens would say stfu and emerge from the dungeon to get revenge on everyone. After having its dinner of various pretty puny handlers. 5. To me this was the third best FF book. City of Thieves best, House of Hell second and then Deathtrap Dungeon third.
I LOVE the comparison to the Crowley Tarot deck. In fact, I'd really like to see an Ian McCaig-designed deck. I collect Tarot. The one using HR Giger designs is really beautiful.
Thank you for the review. What I remember the most about this book is teaming up with Throm, the barbarian, and then later having to kill him. I was VERY upset. I just wasn't fair having to kill him 🙁Recently I started playing Trial of Champions for the first time, almost 40 years after reading Deathtrap Dungeon 🙂 Keep up these reviews. They are great 😉
Great review. I agree with you 100% - it's a good FF book, but not the best. The art is once again fantastic. Incidentally I believe one of the pieces you showed is based on Livingstone himself (the guy chained up behind the door). I also believe Livingstone had just come back from a holiday in Thailand before he started writing this, hence the references to Chiang Mai and the River Kok (Fang+Kok = Bangkok?). Looking forward to the Lizard King review, which was the first FF book I got!
Duh! I never put two and two together with the Fang-Kok thing. And I also didn't know that was Ian behind the door! Losing FF fan points big time here. Thanks, William!
Good review and hot dmn you're right - about the salaries and audience and like what this makes no sense. I'm sure I played it back in the day, but can't specifically remember it. Apart from the artwork, I remember that. Keep 'em coming!
A great book, but I too found it too hard to complete (got right to the end but never escaped when I played it as a kid in the 80's). Probably my favourite artwork from these books, both gory, graphic and beautifully horror filled, something else they wouldn't do nowadays for books meant for youngsters. But what harm is there in it? After all, we all turned out perfectly normal... Anyway, must dash. It's a full moon tonight and I've got to sharpen up my sacrificial dagger and get some howling practice in!!!
One thing I wondered is how The Baron hollowed out a mountian for the dungeon did he do like the Nazis who tried using slaves to hollow out a mountian to turn it into an ME262 factory
Blimey, keep it light! Ha, ha! The more I think about it, the more I reckon Baron Sukumvit built Fang around this labyrinth he'd already found, and made out he'd built it for the contest. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!
OOhhh. One of the few FF books that I bought rather than borrowed. I read Deathtrap Dungeon so often that the pages fell apart so, sadly, I had to throw it away. Damn. Baron Sukumvit would not be pleased. Where to start?
1. Yes, its setting is oriental. Ian LIvingstone said he was inspired by a trip to Thailand. Think Thailand. River Kok think Bangkok.
2. At 5:23 in this video you show the illustration of a man tied to a door. Who does HE look like? He's an Easter Egg. Surely you can work out who!
3. I agree about the artwork. It is the best artwork of the whole FF series. It has a gothic or even surrealist horror vibe. I'm reminded of the Crowley Tarot Deck.
4. I didn't share your perspective on realism. In a fantasy world people could see inside with magic items like a crystal ball. No need for a stadium. I agree though on the monsters: they put up with a pretty bad existence. You would think that one of these terrifying denizens would say stfu and emerge from the dungeon to get revenge on everyone. After having its dinner of various pretty puny handlers.
5. To me this was the third best FF book. City of Thieves best, House of Hell second and then Deathtrap Dungeon third.
I LOVE the comparison to the Crowley Tarot deck. In fact, I'd really like to see an Ian McCaig-designed deck. I collect Tarot. The one using HR Giger designs is really beautiful.
Thank you for the review. What I remember the most about this book is teaming up with Throm, the barbarian, and then later having to kill him. I was VERY upset. I just wasn't fair having to kill him 🙁Recently I started playing Trial of Champions for the first time, almost 40 years after reading Deathtrap Dungeon 🙂 Keep up these reviews. They are great 😉
Ian Livingstone is always doing that! Teaming you up with people, then killing them off! Poor old Throm.
It is amazing to see those drawings again after 35+ years and instantly remember them. Thanks Mike.
They’re so weirdly beautiful and iconic.
Great review. I agree with you 100% - it's a good FF book, but not the best.
The art is once again fantastic. Incidentally I believe one of the pieces you showed is based on Livingstone himself (the guy chained up behind the door). I also believe Livingstone had just come back from a holiday in Thailand before he started writing this, hence the references to Chiang Mai and the River Kok (Fang+Kok = Bangkok?).
Looking forward to the Lizard King review, which was the first FF book I got!
Duh! I never put two and two together with the Fang-Kok thing. And I also didn't know that was Ian behind the door! Losing FF fan points big time here. Thanks, William!
It's the age old 'How does dungeons really work?' question we just don't ask...
Sorry, couldn't help myself!
I wondere how Baron Sukumvit managed to capture monsters like the Pit fiend to put in the dungeon
I know, right?!
Really enjoy these reviews!
Thank you!
Very enjoyable video. I love the artwork!
I think I agree with one of the other comments here - it's the best in the series!
Nostalgia overload! Subscribed.
Thanks! And a Bartlett too!
Good review and hot dmn you're right - about the salaries and audience and like what this makes no sense. I'm sure I played it back in the day, but can't specifically remember it. Apart from the artwork, I remember that. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks, Retro!
A great book, but I too found it too hard to complete (got right to the end but never escaped when I played it as a kid in the 80's). Probably my favourite artwork from these books, both gory, graphic and beautifully horror filled, something else they wouldn't do nowadays for books meant for youngsters. But what harm is there in it? After all, we all turned out perfectly normal... Anyway, must dash. It's a full moon tonight and I've got to sharpen up my sacrificial dagger and get some howling practice in!!!
If your dagger is the Kris Knife then you know what you must do...
You don't live in Randalls Round, by any chance...?
good review michael
Thanks, mate!
You made me laugh so hard... "does he pay them a salary?"... so true. But I do think you were overthinking it a bit :)... this is gamebook logic :)
I like having fun with the gamebook logic, though! Ha, ha!
One thing I wondered is how The Baron hollowed out a mountian for the dungeon did he do like the Nazis who tried using slaves to hollow out a mountian to turn it into an ME262 factory
Blimey, keep it light! Ha, ha! The more I think about it, the more I reckon Baron Sukumvit built Fang around this labyrinth he'd already found, and made out he'd built it for the contest. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!
Great review, loved this as a kid but like you tend to favor Jacksons work these days