The Vulcanverse is the setting of a series of solo role-playing gamebooks, a reimagining of classical mythology. Vulcanverse is a player-driven narrative where choices lead to different numbered sections, akin to a choose-your-own-adventure format. Players manage character attributes like Strength and Charm, track possessions and money, and acquire codewords and titles that influence future events. The sources reveal an open-world structure spanning various mythological realms, including the underworld (Hades) and the surface world (Arcadia, Notus, Boreas), where players undertake heroic labors, interact with gods and mythical creatures, and face consequences like wounds or even death, though there is the potential for resurrection within this fantastical setting.
Readers note that this is the first complete open-world solo roleplaying gamebook series. It is unique in having sandbox quests alongside a central story arc that the player explores across all five books. Readers have also remarked on the use of NPC companions, allowing dialogue that provides a more immersive experience than the older style of narrator-supplied exposition. The books draw on a wealth of inspirational sources including comic books, films, television shows and novels, deepening the sense of intertextuality with which the series is imbued. Aficionados of solo roleplaying also appreciate the Current Location feature, borrowed from object-oriented design, which permits quests to be picked up at variable locations throughout the Vulcanverse world.
Players embark on an unparalleled journey through the Vulcanverse, a groundbreaking series of open-world solo role-playing gamebooks that seamlessly integrates with a massively multiplayer online computer game and collectible digital card game available at vulcanverse.com…. Designed for players who crave unlimited adventures beyond a single storyline, the Vulcanverse allows you to see and interact with many of the places, creatures, and things found within its pages by playing online. The series comprises 6115 numbered sections (equivalent to more than a dozen old-style gamebooks) and the text is almost 750,000 words long.
Authored by Dave Morris and Jamie Thomson, the original creators of open-world gamebooks with their Fabled Lands series, the Vulcanverse gamebooks transport you to a virtual world created by the god Vulcan (or Hephaistos), meticulously crafted to keep the ancient myths alive. The world is often described as a simulation of ancient Greek society that Vulcan (Hephaistos) has modelled as a matrix to keep the myths alive. As a player, you begin as a novice, gradually gaining power, wealth, and experience while maintaining the same adventuring persona across the series…. All you need to play are two six-sided dice, an eraser, and a pencil…. Be warned, however: this immersive experience is not suitable for the nervous.
The core conflict of the Vulcanverse revolves around the sinister Queen Nyx, the personified Night, who, alongside her dread sons Death (Thanatos) and Sleep (Hypnos), seeks to conquer all five realms, sweeping away both gods and titans to become the unchallenged monarch of creation…. Your destiny is to become the Hero of the Age, the only mortal capable of opposing her insidious machinations.
Explore Diverse Realms within the Vulcanverse:
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Notus (The Hammer of the Sun)…: A vast, barren wilderness once plentiful and green, now scorched by a pitiless sun. Here you will encounter brooding sphinxes, skeletal Spartoi waging perpetual war against the living, and proud Amazons6. Delve into forgotten secrets guarded by seers and demigods. Discover the mighty city of Iskandria, risen again with the return of the Great River Potamegalos, and research exotic creatures like cockatrices and the reclusive Dactyls. The primordial sun titan, Hyperion, and his Eye, play a role in this region.
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Hades (The Houses of the Dead): The underworld realm where denizens are shades28. Navigate the river systems of Styx and Acheron. Explore the four quarters of its city: the Palace, Elysium, Asphodel Meadows, and the Mourning Fields. Beware the treacherous Slimeswamp, home to the children of Arachne and their horrifying mangrave trees. Uncover the Vault of Vulcan, contend with the invulnerable undead demon Wolfshadow…, and potentially ally with or confront figures like Daedalus and the chained Prometheus….
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Boreas (The Pillars of the Sky): Ascend to high peaks that stretch to the floor of heaven, battling howling winds and engulfing blizzards. Explore labyrinths of a lost civilization, the mountain stronghold of the bellicose Halizons, and mechanical marvels built to plumb the depths of the cosmos. The very lord of this land, Boreas, has been trapped by forces of darkness, and you may find yourself navigating treacherous glaciers or confronting mythical beasts like harpies, hippogriffs, and minotaurs in ancient mazes.
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Arcadia (The Wild Woods): A realm of glorious arboreal splendor, where it is said to be forever summer. Witness the restoration of the Alpheus River…, interact with the wise centaur Chiron, and brave the Deep Forest where the Great Green Ones (Heart of the Vine) reside. Encounter unique threats like the Midas basilisk which turns victims to gold, and formidable dragons like Kaustikia. Aid dryads like Sivi in restoring their honey farms.
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Vulcan City (Workshop of the Gods): The central hub of the Vulcanverse, a magnificent cityscape with cyclopean walls, grand public spaces like the Forum , and intellectual centers like the Academy of Philosophers . This is the crucible in which every element of this world is mixed and shaped…, the very workshop of the gods where new realities are born. Here, you will confront the full extent of Nyx’s control, as she has reprogrammed Vulcan’s creations like the Celedons into killer robots.
Dynamic Gameplay and Narrative Depth:
Your journey is influenced by your character’s four core attributes: STRENGTH, GRACE, CHARM, and INGENUITY…, which evolve as you play. Success in challenges often depends on dice rolls and the strategic use of blessings (allowing re-rolls)…. The narrative branches based on your choices, tracked through unique codewords and evolving titles. Managing wounds and scars adds a layer of realism and consequence to your actions…. You can also gather various possessions and currency (pyr) to aid your quests….
Key Allies, Adversaries, and Ancient Artifacts:
Beyond the gods, a rich cast of characters will influence your path:
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Allies: The inventor Daedalus (whose allegiance may shift based on the fate of his son Icarus’s soul)…, the Titan Prometheus (a potential ally against Nyx), the wise Psyche (crucial for reprogramming the Matrix), the street-smart Dunamis, the scholarly Kedalion , and the philosophical Myletes. Your interactions can lead to gaining valuable companions who offer unique aid.
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Antagonists: Beyond Nyx and her sons, you’ll face renegade centaurs like Nessus, cunning thieves like Autolycus, and various monstrous foes….
To triumph against Nyx, you must recover Vulcan’s diadem, his crown, which is essential for accessing and reprogramming the Matrix within his workshop. This “machinery of creation” allows you to reshape reality. Crucial clincher items in the final confrontation include the Eye of Hyperion (a powerful artifact of primordial light) and the Tapestry of Arachne (which can serve as a portal or a means of sacrifice)…. Beware the Kingslayer dagger, which may prove a red herring against Nyx…, and be mindful of the Sceptre of Agamemnon, which could be a disadvantage if not properly handled. Other useful items like the Scrimshaw hourglass and the Face of Wisdom will also play roles in your destiny….
The Vulcanverse offers a deeply interconnected and evolving narrative experience, allowing players to shape the very fabric of a mythological reality. Your choices determine not only your fate but the fate of gods, titans, and mankind itself, making every adventure a unique and personal odyssey through a world on the brink of profound transformation.