007: See how I messed up these title options (read below) OR Get to the bit where I actually try a new book (turn to 008)

Ok, so this post was supposed to be me leaving the City of Thieves behind and trying a new book. But I couldn't quite leave it. Two attempts and two failures (cheating aside) and I'm kind intrigued as to how I was meant to have completed the book. 30 years ago this would have meant hours of trial and error - I didn't have the patience then, nor do I now. Thankfully, in the modern age I can run off to Mr google to sort it all out for me. So, here is a quick update on how the player is meant to tackle the City of Thieves (so, obviously, spoilers ahoy).

Ok, so in my two attempts I basically went wrong straight away. Should have gone for the third option of conning my way into the city. This would have also seen me get the advice of getting a pass asap. Makes sense as later on in both my attempts lacking a merchant's pass proved irksome.

Not much to report from the early mooching about, although you do buy a ring of fire, which rings a bell as a bit Philskiar cheated at in his run through.

So you can get to the wizard bloke with no fights what so ever. Feels a bit like the wimp's route, but tallies with the claim of the books that it doesn't matter what your initial skills are. For now at least. Anyway, moving on, so just how were you supposed to collect that ridiculous shopping list from the wizard?

So the first fight is against some wild dogs with really weak stat. You could also have avoided it, but coupled with some flowers purchased earlier, the post fight situation yields some gold. This play through is earning quite a bit of gold, maybe for the purchase of all the tat?

Good to see that this play through avoids the pervert candle maker too - Philskiar's hunch was right

First item down is the arrow. Who'd have thought that you won't supposed to immediately attack the silversmith?!

Hag down. It would have been even easier if the player had a potion of mind control, although I have no idea where that came from. Presumably a different choice earlier on - maybe at the expense of the fire ring?

So the fire ring was just to defeat the mighty leaf beasts?! Was that it? Needing some way to cheat your way past those pathetic creatures feels a bit crap.

Anyway, that's the list complete (I forgot to right about the black pearl stuff on the pirate ship, but we did that in my last play through). You're then shepherded to the town guards, then outside the city in the back of the hay cart.

Zanbar punching time!

So you can bluff your way into the tower and have the option of going to bed (much like the Philskiar play through but without the wanton violence) which, having checked, involves insta-death if you go for it. Anyway, on and up the tower

So we have the second unavoidable fight (after the leaf beast), versus a skill 7 mummy so not impossible but also very easy with the ring of fire (like the leaf beast). This nets you the ring of the golden eye, a ring Zanbar is vulnerable to kept handily in the room opposite his own and gaurded by a shit mummy.

Unavoidable skeleton fight, with max skill 8 (there are 3 of them), so still not impossible with a low stat character.

Then you need to win a test of luck (doable but not easy with a low stat) then randomly choose the correct two ingredients to rub in Zanbar's stupid face (total luck of the draw with odds 66% against you, so a bit crappy really)

So that was actually really interesting. Not for anyone reading this claptrap, obviously, but for me in my attempt to write one of these sodding books.

Lessons learnt:

• You can get through the book with a low stat character.
• The bullshit test of random choice at the end really isn't needed and feels a bit cheap
• The early part (prior to visiting the wizard) doesn't actually matter that much, more a question of damage limitation
• I'm still left wanting to have another go - can I get a merchant's pass, and where is the mind control potion? Does the ring of invisibility actually do anything, or is it a red herring?