Our third book for the 100 Endings Book Club is Scorpion Swamp by Steve Jackson (USA).
Scorpion Swamp
Scorpion Swamp by Steve Jackson (USA) is a Fighting Fantasy gamebook with 400 section. It's our November book for the 100 Endings Book Club. Join us on the 100 Endings & Rand Roll Discord if you've got any questions or want to join in.
Note that this is the Steve Jackson from the USA (founder of Steve Jackson Games, also author of Demons of the Deep and Robot Commando, creator of Munchkin card game), NOT Steve Jackson from the UK (author of Sorcery!, Citadel of Chaos, House of Hell & many other FF books, co-founder of Games Workshop and Fighting Fantasy)
Scorpion Swamp is the 8th book in the original run of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. It has you exploring a swamp using your magical ring. You have an option of 3 quests / patrons (Good / Neutral / Evil options), using spell gems to explore clearing by clearing with the option of returning to where you've explored.
When it first came out, Scorpion Swamp was quite a dividing book. It was the first Fighting Fantasy not written by either Sir Ian Livingstone or Steve Jackson (UK). It also had a different tone, different format (free to roam, 3 quests) and was considered quite easy. Yet there were many who also loved it as a contrast to the other FF books.
It can also be considered a gateway to open-world style gamebooks such as Fabled Lands or Legendary Kingdoms. It (and Robot Commando) let you wander freely, returning to where you've explored before, and possibly with new challenges awaiting.
Ways to Play Scorpion Swamp
The simple option is to play Scorpion Swamp as a physical book. It was widely printed (in the UK) when it first released in 1984 and is still available 2nd-hand in any places. There are a number of Fighting Fantasy variant rules you could use, compiled from asking online.
I haven't found a digital option yet for playing Scorpion Swamp.
For a different way of experiencing Scorpion Swamp, try playing it as an RPG using Advanced Fighting Fantasy, with one or more adventurers. There's a solo actual play using AFF 2nd edition on Rand Roll.
If you need some help, the Qatlas (interviewed recently) has a map guide of it.
Other Options
If you've played Scorpion Swamp lots before or can't get a copy, there's lots of other Fighting Fantasy books to choose instead. Demons of the Deep (underwater fantasy) and Robot Commando (mechs & dinosaurs) are also both by Steve Jackson (USA).
Otherwise consider one of the classics such as Deathtrap Dungeon, Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Citadel of Chaos or Sword of the Samurai.
For something a bit different and fantasy there's Creature of Havoc (play as a monster), Dead of Night (demon hunting), Seas of Blood (pirate crew), Night of the Necromancer (play as a ghost) or Crystal of Storms (magitech feel, still on Titan).
As well as physical books, several Fighting Fantasy books can be played digitally using Steam.
I played Scorpion Swamp to death when younger, so as well as a playthrough of that, I'll be trying Demons of the Deep too.
Finishing Up
Feel free to join us on the Rand Roll Discord or at the Gamebooks subreddit.
Vote for November in a week or two. With the theme being Fighting Fantasy (Fantasy).
