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Heroes of Urowen: Gamebook
* Bestseller in Spain * Second edition (November 2018) This edition edited by Michael Reilly.
Fast-paced and addictive, ‘Heroes of Urowen’ mixes the best of fantasy novels, videogames and role-playing games into an interactive tale of adventure. Travel to a land full of magic and powerful enemies, where every choice you make may help to improve your chance of success.
Fight to the death, upgrade your armor, gain powerful weapons, learn spells, discover treasures, gamble, get drunk in a tavern or enjoy other adult pleasures – all this and much more can be experienced in the mythical Lands of Urowen, where the road to becoming a hero will be full of many surprises.
Create your character, choose your race and profession, and live the adventure in a world full of dangers, where every action and every important decision will mark your future.
‘Heroes of Urowen’ is written in the style of classic gamebooks from the 80s, but incorporates a new and very exciting game system, totally upgraded and directed to an adult audience. Featuring elaborate rules that allow you to enjoy dynamic battles, use magical and special items, and play at five different difficulty levels, this is a gamebook where you truly live the adventure, becoming a hero of Urowen!
Opinions published on Amazon.es:
* Very addictive.
* The best gamebook I’ve read in my life.
* Pure role.
* A 10 for the writer.
* Excellent.
* A great gamebook. I hope the author continues to write them.
* If you like gamebooks, you have to have it.
* I encourage the author to write more gamebooks like this one.
Did you know that ‘Heroes of Urowen’ was the number one for sales in role-playing games at the popular Gigamesh Bookstore (Spain), and that David Velasco was featured in the TOP 20 of Gigamesh’s bestselling books of 2012?
Also, he was the only Spanish writer in that ranking, alongside authors such as George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett and Brandon Sanderson. This all happened during 2012 and was thanks to ‘Heroes of Urowen’ – now available in English.
Website and social networks: www.david-velasco.net/english
Fast-paced and addictive, ‘Heroes of Urowen’ mixes the best of fantasy novels, videogames and role-playing games into an interactive tale of adventure. Travel to a land full of magic and powerful enemies, where every choice you make may help to improve your chance of success.
Fight to the death, upgrade your armor, gain powerful weapons, learn spells, discover treasures, gamble, get drunk in a tavern or enjoy other adult pleasures – all this and much more can be experienced in the mythical Lands of Urowen, where the road to becoming a hero will be full of many surprises.
Create your character, choose your race and profession, and live the adventure in a world full of dangers, where every action and every important decision will mark your future.
‘Heroes of Urowen’ is written in the style of classic gamebooks from the 80s, but incorporates a new and very exciting game system, totally upgraded and directed to an adult audience. Featuring elaborate rules that allow you to enjoy dynamic battles, use magical and special items, and play at five different difficulty levels, this is a gamebook where you truly live the adventure, becoming a hero of Urowen!
Opinions published on Amazon.es:
* Very addictive.
* The best gamebook I’ve read in my life.
* Pure role.
* A 10 for the writer.
* Excellent.
* A great gamebook. I hope the author continues to write them.
* If you like gamebooks, you have to have it.
* I encourage the author to write more gamebooks like this one.
Did you know that ‘Heroes of Urowen’ was the number one for sales in role-playing games at the popular Gigamesh Bookstore (Spain), and that David Velasco was featured in the TOP 20 of Gigamesh’s bestselling books of 2012?
Also, he was the only Spanish writer in that ranking, alongside authors such as George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett and Brandon Sanderson. This all happened during 2012 and was thanks to ‘Heroes of Urowen’ – now available in English.
Website and social networks: www.david-velasco.net/english
352 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2018
3 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
David Velasco
68 books23 followers(Malaga, Spain) After graduating in Journalism at his hometown’s university, David Velasco worked in prominent media and television roles, in management and writing positions, without ever losing his vocation as a writer. Between 2008 and 2014 he served as an editor, which allowed him to understand the world of books. He is the author of ‘The Neithel’s Manuscripts saga’, which boasts three books that have achieved huge success in his native country: ‘Sabine Vashanka, the Sorceress’ (vol. I), ‘The Kingdom of a Hundred Moons’ (vol. II) and ‘The Revenge of the King without a Throne’ (vol. III).
David Velasco also published an interactive gamebook in 2012, titled ‘Heroes of Urowen’ (a bestseller in Spain), with which he took a new direction in his literary career. The author used a great deal of experience to create this work, applying more than fifteen years as a tireless Dungeon Master, and a habitual consumer of console and computer games, to create this fantasy adventure. The last project that surprised readers was ‘Krynea, the Ninth Rune’, a spectacular novel based on the video game Krynea, which has further consolidated his reputation as a skilled storyteller of great imagination.
Now David Velasco returns with ‘Anunnaki Files’, much more than a novel or a gamebook.
In addition, he is a translator of English video games and apps, including ‘An Assassin in Orlandes’ and ‘The Forest of Doom’ for developer Tin Man Games.
Finally, as an editor, David Velasco has published the gamebook ‘The Legion Of Shadow’ (DestinyQuest) in Spain, and he has also published works for writers such as Kevin J. Anderson (Terra Incognita trilogy) and Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone (Fighting Fantasy gamebooks: ‘Blood of the Zombies’, ‘House Of Hell’ and ‘Howl of the Werewolf’).
David Velasco also published an interactive gamebook in 2012, titled ‘Heroes of Urowen’ (a bestseller in Spain), with which he took a new direction in his literary career. The author used a great deal of experience to create this work, applying more than fifteen years as a tireless Dungeon Master, and a habitual consumer of console and computer games, to create this fantasy adventure. The last project that surprised readers was ‘Krynea, the Ninth Rune’, a spectacular novel based on the video game Krynea, which has further consolidated his reputation as a skilled storyteller of great imagination.
Now David Velasco returns with ‘Anunnaki Files’, much more than a novel or a gamebook.
In addition, he is a translator of English video games and apps, including ‘An Assassin in Orlandes’ and ‘The Forest of Doom’ for developer Tin Man Games.
Finally, as an editor, David Velasco has published the gamebook ‘The Legion Of Shadow’ (DestinyQuest) in Spain, and he has also published works for writers such as Kevin J. Anderson (Terra Incognita trilogy) and Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone (Fighting Fantasy gamebooks: ‘Blood of the Zombies’, ‘House Of Hell’ and ‘Howl of the Werewolf’).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 24, 2021
Originally released in Spain as Héroes del Acero in 2012, David Velasco’s Heroes of Urowen broadens the scope of his fantasy series The Manuscripts of Neithel, set in the mythical Lands of Urowen – a continent full of magic, tough adversaries and dangerous creatures, where you will now face the beginnings of war.
Heroes of Urowen features unique character types that are based upon three player races and their nationalities, and seven career options. Your choices for these then affect starting attributes and directly influence the use of magic, your skills and your ability to wield weapons. Many of the adversaries encountered in Urowen are serious threats, often bringing their own Special abilities to the battle, providing them with highly damaging or elusive capabilities. This combat system is easy to understand and implement, and is a genuine strength of the book, delivering tense, extended battles that regularly entertain.
Heroes of Urowen focuses more on story than choice, constantly returning to the narrative so that you follow the required story threads through to their conclusions. Although there are player options to choose from along your route, they generally only deliver minor story alternatives, encounter variations, uncritical background information or item/bonus pick-ups. You’ll soon realise that you’re regularly redirected to the main plotline, with only the ending sequence offering a real choice that will then determine your final outcome. This linear structure lengthens the game, providing a considerable journey featuring many additional events and story twists.
I enjoyed my time adventuring in the Lands of Urowen and hope that David Velasco continues to write gamebooks set in this world. There’s plenty of engaging gameplay here, and the character/career choices provide the opportunity for further playthroughs under different conditions and circumstances. Also, the author has included five difficulty levels, and a bonus ‘hardcore’ mission for those who have successfully reached a suitable combat level. These features further extend the adventure and create extra value, giving players an opportunity to test themselves as they fully explore this fantasy world.
Heroes of Urowen features unique character types that are based upon three player races and their nationalities, and seven career options. Your choices for these then affect starting attributes and directly influence the use of magic, your skills and your ability to wield weapons. Many of the adversaries encountered in Urowen are serious threats, often bringing their own Special abilities to the battle, providing them with highly damaging or elusive capabilities. This combat system is easy to understand and implement, and is a genuine strength of the book, delivering tense, extended battles that regularly entertain.
Heroes of Urowen focuses more on story than choice, constantly returning to the narrative so that you follow the required story threads through to their conclusions. Although there are player options to choose from along your route, they generally only deliver minor story alternatives, encounter variations, uncritical background information or item/bonus pick-ups. You’ll soon realise that you’re regularly redirected to the main plotline, with only the ending sequence offering a real choice that will then determine your final outcome. This linear structure lengthens the game, providing a considerable journey featuring many additional events and story twists.
I enjoyed my time adventuring in the Lands of Urowen and hope that David Velasco continues to write gamebooks set in this world. There’s plenty of engaging gameplay here, and the character/career choices provide the opportunity for further playthroughs under different conditions and circumstances. Also, the author has included five difficulty levels, and a bonus ‘hardcore’ mission for those who have successfully reached a suitable combat level. These features further extend the adventure and create extra value, giving players an opportunity to test themselves as they fully explore this fantasy world.
February 11, 2024
It was ok. A bit too much like a computer game and not as many choices as I would have liked.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews