'Fortress of Death' is Reinventing How We Play RPGs 34 Years Later
'Fortress of Death' is Reinventing How We Play RPGs 34 Years Later
Fortress of Death combines choose-your-own-adventure with podcasts into a true solo RPG. And this time, no having to call anyone on the phone.
Back in 1989, a game maker and author named Joe Dever had a wild idea. He had already set up a whole fantasy series set in the world of Magnamund from his Lone Wolf gamebook series. Ever the innovator, Dever concocted the idea of PhoneQuest. In PhoneQuest, people could dial a number on their phone and listen to, essentially, an interactive audio drama set in the Lone Wolf setting.
I have loved the Lone Wolf series since I was naught but a wee lad, so imagine my excitement upon discovering the idea is making a triumphant return to Kickstarter under the Sound Realms platform.
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The game itself plays out something like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book. The narrator describes what’s going on as any good Dungeon Master would, until you reach a point where you need to make a decision. But what sets the Lone Wolf series above the rest is the depth of the RPG elements found within. In the Lone Wolf series, it’s not just choosing your own adventure path. There is character stats, equipment, items, quests, skill checks, and of course, combat!