Great and terrible flesh-eating beasts have always shared the landscape with humans... (Quammen, 2003)
Well, it took a bit over two years to get done, but Beyond the Pit is finally finished. When I originally agreed to write it for Graham Bottley's Arion Games and their second edition of Advanced Fighting Fantasy I knew it would be a big undertaking, but I probably underestimated just how big it would be! I should have considered the fact that if Marc Gascoigne never wrote a follow up to his own Out of the Pit then there must have been a good reason.
And there was. Basically, the simple fact is that trying to compile a bestiary of at least 250 monsters drawn from random paragraphs scattered throughout well over 60 gamebook canonical sources, while trying to keep each creature entry informative and interesting, is a big task! Not to mention all of the extras: treasure tables, encounter charts, Advanced Fighting Fantasy rules, and Fighting Fantasy canon consistency. Still, it's done, and I thought I'd share a few snippets about the product and the process.
- The original brief was to use 250 creatures that already had prior artwork published in Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, to avoid commissioning new art and limiting the Kickstarter target to cover the licensing fees for the old artwork.
- This did allow me some creativity in using different artwork for creatures that originally had none (e.g. see the entries for the Carnivorous Plant, the Killer Bee, and the Man-Octopus).
- I started at the very first book (The Warlock of Firetop Mountain) and basically tried to cram in many old favorites that didn't make the original Out of the Pit. (e.g. the Iron Cyclops, the Night Horror, the Sand Snapper, and, of course, the She-Satyr).
- Where possible I tried to clump creatures as opposed to split them (e.g. see the Death-Knight, the Kraken, and the Serpent).
- Half way through writing, Stephen Hand requested via Steve Jackson that his monsters not be used, so out went any creatures from Dead of Night, Legend of Shadow Warriors and Moonrunner. This was disappointing...
- Marc Gascoigne was too busy to write a brief foreword. More disappointment...
- Ian Miller and Dave Carson had issues with their artwork being used, so Graham commissioned the talented Jason Lenox to provide illustrations for these creatures, and, especially given the short time frame, I think Jason's pictures are excellent!
The monster, of course, is a product of and a regular inhabitant of the imagination, but the imagination is a driving force behind our entire perception of the world. If we find monsters in our world, it is sometimes because they are really there and sometimes because we have brought them with us... (Asma, 2009)
References
Asma, S. T. (2009). On monsters. New York: Oxford University Press.
Quammen, D. (2003). Monster of God. New York: Norton.
Thanks for the 'behind the scenes' article on Beyond the Pit. It was very informative!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I suspect you can't really discuss it, but I'd be interested to know Stephen Hand's reasons. (Also Ian Miller's and Dave Carson's 'issues'!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for post
ReplyDeleteDoes the fact that Stephen Hand refused permission for his monsters to be used in Beyond the Pit mean that my dream of an 'Old World Gazetteer' is a complete non-starter, given how much of the (very exciting) canon information on the Old World is in Dead of Night, Legend of Shadow Warriors and Moonrunner?
ReplyDeleteI'm also wondering why Stephen Hand wouldn't grant permission. Even Jamie and I didn't refuse to allow our monsters to be used (though we retained copyright in Keep of the Lich Lord and will shortly be evicting it from its bedroom again to go out into the world in the clothing of a Fabled Lands book). Anyway, well done on a Trojan effort. Now we know what you've been up to these past two years :-)
ReplyDeleteI notice that Stephen Hand's books are 'redacted' on the official FF website. Seems strange.
Deletehttp://www.fightingfantasy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1786&Itemid=9
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust read this amazing new YA fiction on Ganesha - Part 1 of the Temple Wars series - I think everyone should check it out! Temple Wars
ReplyDeleteThis is very informative post, good work, i like this content and wish to read more from you. thanks for such a informative post. i also like to share some useful links.
ReplyDeleteMcAfee.com/activate,
www.mcafee.com/activate
Its really amazing post thanks for sharing with us i also have something for you knowledgeable related post. I am Sharing this link.
ReplyDeletemcafee.com/activate |
www.mcafee.com/activate
This features luxury companions providing escort services. Vienna escorts works in elite escort agencies, as independent escorts, or in local strip clubs, dancing clubs, brothels, lap-dance bars, and cabarets. Most of the high-class ladies do travel worldwide. You may also want to use a call girl.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information Please follow my Site link Slotxo. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these, I have new and perfect site best service in Singapore. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information Please follow my Site link Motorola smartphones.
ReplyDeleteNice article !!! thanks for sharing it. BR Softech is a top fantasy sports app development company india.
ReplyDeletechuyen phat nhanh DHL thanks for sharing it
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these, I have new and perfect site antalya sohbet. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteI am continually amazed by the amount of information available on this subject.What you presented was well researched and well worded in order to get your stand on this across to all your readers buy psychedelics online.
ReplyDeleteThanks for share very interesting and understandable content for all game lovers.
ReplyDeletei write post on blog related to warframe gauss build.
Wow amazing and understandable article related to games.
ReplyDeleteI write post on blog related to Find the invisible cow. You can add this post link on any of your blog post.
What a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these, I have new and perfect site straipsniu rasymas. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such great information. Hope we will get regular updates from your side.
ReplyDeleteprivate blockchain
hyperledger development
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information Please follow my Site link puerto cancun.
ReplyDeleteNice Article, Thank you for sharing a wonderful blog post
ReplyDeletehttps://theviraltweets.com/
Thanks for sharing this article, If you are looking top Fantasy Sports App Development company, then you should visit- Top 10 Fantasy Sports App Development Companies in 2021.
ReplyDeleteWe are very satisfied with Shiftbase because all of our employees can easily see their schedule in the mobile app and they can specify their availability! Also, the customer service is very helpful and responds quickly to all our questions. 👌👌 schedule maker
ReplyDelete👌👌 You can quickly and easily make a schedule for your team in the main menu of the Shiftbase under ‘Schedule’. On the left side, you will see the names of the employees and at the top, you will see the dates.
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information Please follow my Site link lithium ion forklift battery charger.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantabulous post this has been. Never seen this kind of useful post. I am grateful to you and expect more number of posts like these, I have new and perfect site Boutiques Near Me. Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteWatch New Movies, New Movies, Hit Movies HD 2021 👉👉ดูหนังออนไลน์
ReplyDeleteWebsites to watch new movies. Watch movies on your mobile phone, see through Smart TV with 1080p clarity, enlarge the picture to fill the full screen. With a godsend movie player Both new and old movies, Thai movies, Western movies, Chinese movies, Korean movies, or Netflix movies, we have them all. You can choose to watch for free 24 hours.
Thanks for shaing this worth reading article.
ReplyDeleteIf you are searching for the best fantasy cricket app, then visit Royal11.
Royal 11 offers multiple fantasy sports on a single platform.
Visit our Fantasy League to download the app and enjoy multiple fantasy sports with Fantasy Cricket sports.
Mobile app development company in Mumbai
ReplyDeleteReally useful article, very good post, i like this blog thanks to the author
ReplyDeletebồn tắm, phòng tắm
thiết bị phòng tắm
top gạch
phòng tắm
Gạch viglacera
Thiết bị vệ sinh caesar
Thiết bị vệ sinh inax
Thiết bị vệ sinh TOTO chính hãng
Youtube Bùi Minh
máy lạnh tủ đứng
ReplyDeletemay lanh tu dung pana
máy lạnh tủ đứng LG
may lanh tu dung Funiki
may lanh tu dung reetech
may lanh tu dung sumikura
may lanh tu dung Gree
may lanh tu dung nagakawa
Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information Please follow my Site link SMM Panel.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specifically the last part I care for such info much. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good luck. SMM Panel.
ReplyDeleteYou can’t step out and do the things that you were doing a few years back. Due to this,
ReplyDeleteeveryone needs something to be entertained and enjoy.
cricket online games
play cricket online