Pyramid Pick
Raining Hammers
Published by Knuckleduster Publications
Written by Forrest Harris
144 pages (8-1/2" x 11"), $17.95
Don't get shot.
That's the big lesson I've learned from Raining Hammers, the Interactive Western Adventure from Knuckleduster.
Raining Hammers is a western adventure set in the New Mexico of 1883. It tells the tale of Johnny MacDonald, a prospector who is framed for the murder of his two brothers. It is intended for one player, using keyed paragraphs, like the old Fighting Fantasy or Choose Your Own Adventure books:
193
The shadows deepened as Johnny reached the end of the hall, passing first a closed door, then two open rooms. The last door was closed as well, a shaft of daylight peeking out from under it, split by a shadow that danced to and fro in time to the unmistakable creak of a rocking chair.
To kick in the door to the last room, go to 32.
To knock on the door, go to 105.
To search front-to-back instead, go to 215.In all, the book has 400 numbered passages, which is more than enough to tell a good-sized story. A sample encounter is included on their website, for those looking for something a bit more interactive.
The game simulates traditional pen-and-paper RPGs with dice rolling (using six-sided dice), inventory, and other role-playing trappings. Raining Hammers's RPG elements can be enjoyed transparently, simply rolling the dice and doing what it tells you ("Roll 3 dice. If you roll 16 or more, go to 280. If you roll less than 16, go to 269."), . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: March 10, 2000
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