Fighting Fantasy Classics - "Bloodbones" Walkthru & Achievements Guide

A walkthru of Tin Man Games "FF Classics" game "Bloodbones".

Intro.

Ahoy there!
The Analand Sorceress is taking a break from her heroics in the land of Kakhabad, to carry out a mission in Ruddlestone on the northern coast of the Old World for a change. The visible constellations are slightly different here, so there will be very little magic this time, mostly good old-fashioned swordplay.
The quest is to find and defeat the scurvy seadog Cinnabar, who killed your family and is now trying to use the powers of voodoo and black magic to become immortal.

Stats.

Even in Adventurer mode this game is tough on the stats.

In Hardcore Hero mode don't even bother trying unless you have maximum skill and very high luck & stamina. Also, you start with less gold (13 g.p.) so you can buy fewer helpful items at the market, making your purchase of items more important.

Furthermore, you don't receive the customary potion-of-your-choice at the start of the quest, in any game mode.

The actual path to victory remains the same. This route is extremely narrow, far more than any other FF mission i have undertaken. Almost every choice is critical. Fail to do something and you cannot succeed.

Steam Achievements.

There are seven Steam achievements for this title.
Three are self-explanatory: Free-read win, Adventurer win & Hardcore Hero win. Simply follow this guide to complete the quest in each mode.
The remaining four achievements can also be unlocked during a single winning quest. They are indicated in the walkthru where they occur.

In Port.

So you have rolled your stats, read the intro and arrived at port. No gentle starters here, it's straight into action!

Don't waste time, charge the thugs without warning. SK6 ST5 & SK6 ST4
Attack the half-ogre. SK8 ST5
+Bottle of rum. (Don't drink this unless you really have to! It will be useful to give to someone later.)

Go to the gambling pits.
Go to the arrow of fortune. (Don't play, it's highly unlikely you will win.)
Move away.
Luck test. Pass: + info, Fail: miss out
Play Calabrius' Calculator challenge.
Answer = 121 +10 g.p. & +1 luck.
Leave gambling dens.

Ignore letter. (It's a trap!)

Go to markets.
Go to exotic wares.
Buy sharks tooth bracelet. (This item is essential. Without it you cannot succeed.)
Buy ivory lion charm. (Not essential, buy still very helpful later on.)
Do NOT buy the darkwood armband. If you do, you will be unable to to do something essential later on.
Also:
Hardcore Hero: Buy potion of giant strength.
Adventure: Buy lock of elvin hair. (and potion of giant strength if you can afford both)

Go to practical equipment.
Hardcore: use last 1 g.p. to buy 1 provision. (You can pick up plenty more food later anyway.)
Adventurer: Buy throwing knife: 2 g.p., poison antidote: 4 g.p., then as many provisions as poss.

Leave markets.
Follow man.
Then decide to turn back. (If you don't, you die!)
Defeat both devotees. SK6 ST6 & SK7 ST6
Skill test. Pass: dodge knife. Fail: -2 sta.
Defeat Crivens. SK8 ST7
+6 g.p., +throwing knife, +fake doubloon.

Go into Mundi Pelago's shop.
Offer gold: -2 g.p. Map reference. (370 east)

Start looking for the pirate's secret base.
Visit Madame Galbo.
Buy help: -4 g.p.
Choose 2 x zombie repellents.

Start searching for base.
Visit lighthouse.
Investigate light.
Defeat three wreckers. SK7 ST5 & SK6 ST7 & SK8 ST7
+5 g.p., +skeleton key.
Return to lighthouse.
Find password: CROSSBONES. +1 luck.
Leave Mallan's Point.

To cemetery.
Under no/minimal suspicion.
Have doubloon.
Luck test. Pass: ok, Fail: defeat two smugglers SK 8 ST 7 & SK 7 ST 8, then 2nd Luck test: Pass: ok, Fail: Instadeath!
Give password: crossbones
Go left.
Search. +10 g.p., +5 provisions, +sword.
Luck test.
Pass: + 8-sided blue gem. Fail: bitten by spider. -3 sta

Attack nine tails immediately!
Skill test. Pass: ok, Fail: -4 sta.
Defeat nine tails. SK10 ST10
Achievement: Dead Cats Tell No Tails

Open door. (Ignore the cave.)
Taken 8 hours or less.
Use shark tooth bracelet. +1 luck.

Out On The High Seas.

Go downstairs.
Skill test. Pass: ok, Fail: lose 1d6 +1 sta.
Defeat Bladderwrack. SK8 ST10
+4 sta and +4 provisions.

Now try the door marked "Captain".
Open globe. +24 g.p., +diamond necklace.
Open chest. +bottle of rum.
Look at ship in bottle.
Smash glass. Map Reference (460 south)
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: heard and captured! Go to ** below.

Go thru far door.
Fight one attack round against each of 3 opponents. SK6 & SK5 & SK7
If you win all 3, you break free! Go to ***below.
If you draw of lose any round you are captured. Go to ** below.

**
Skill test.
Pass: fight Dr. Malefact SK7 ST6, Garboil SK6 ST8 & Strake SK7 ST7. (You must defeat them within 15 attack rounds to break free again. Go to *** below. Otherwise you are captured and killed.)
Fail skill test: you die!

***
If you have managed to break free, you climb the rigging, then jump overboard!

Defeat the shark. SK9 ST10 Your attack strength is reduced by 2 and you must defeat shark within 7 attack rounds or drown, so use any throwing knives you have at the start of battle to get started.
(Yes, i know you can't throw a knife hard enough underwater to hurt a large shark, but it's allowed in the rules, so wotever!)
Also, in Hardcore Hero mode use your potion of giant strength, otherwise the odds will be heavily against you.

Yes, you saved a ship from the rocks.
Tell Conyn the east & south distances. (370east; 460south)
Play safe, go round the reefs. +1skill, +6sta, +1luck.
Approach ghost ship.
Personally board Sea Maiden.
Stand your ground. +1luck.
Go downstairs.
Defeat Captain Velyarde. SK10 ST10
+1luck.
Achievement: Aye, Aye, Spectre

Ideally you want stamina of at least 18 and luck as high as poss at this next point.

3xd6 stamina test. Pass: survive. Fail: You die!

Luck test. Pass: survive. Fail: You die!

Bone Island.

Your stamina is reduced by half.
Search for food. +3 provisions.
Search wreckage. roll 1xd6: 1-3 bitten by eel, -2sta. 4-6 +bottle of rum.
Search for survivors.
Offer something.
Offer bottle of rum (or grog).
Go with him.

Examine potions.
Drink essence of expertise. (It's a potion of skill!)
Drink Infusion of fate. (It's a potion of fortune!)
Study Mythica.
Study Arcanum.
Learn Trueskill. This spell means you can choose to pass skill tests automatically, altho you lose 2 stamina on each occasion you cast it. I have still included where the skill tests occur, so you can choose whether or not to use the spell each time, but if your stamina is good, cast it, as the consequences for failing skill tests from here on are often fatal....

Skill test. Pass: fight Scarachna. Fail: You die!
Fight scarachna. SK11 ST12 & reduce it to 7 sta or less.
Achievement: Nope Nope Nope

Go south.
Ignore village.
Fight giant mosquito. SK7 ST6 In Hardcore Hero mode use a luck test to increase damage in battle so that you fight fewer attack rounds because if you lose any attack rounds, you catch a deadly malaria & die without the poison antidote!
This is one of the danger points of the game in Hardcore Hero mode because your skill is lower and you don't have the poison antidote from the market.
If you manage to win without losing any attack rounds you survive. +1 luck.

+2 stamina
Talk to man about island.
Ask him about treasure.
Give him diamond necklace.
Set off to find treasure.
Use lantern and enter.

Defeat 3 giant bats. SK5 ST4 & SK5 ST5 & SK5 ST4
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: take 1d6 + 2 damage to stamina
Go on in.
Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: -3 sta.
Continue deeper in.
Dive into water.
Take closer look at bone weapon. +1A.S.
Fight Treasure Golem. SK9 ST10
Leave straight away. (without the treasure)

Roll 1d6. 1-4: ok. 5-6: fight 3 zombie pirates, SK6 ST6 & SK5 ST7 & SK7 ST6.
Head north.
Enter the village.
You DON'T have a darkwood armband.
You haven't spoken to him.
2 x Skill test. (both with skill score temporarily reduced by 1)
Pass both: remain in village.
Fail either: -2 sta & have to leave village. You then cannot complete quest, so might as well stop here!
Take challenge of cat.
Wrestle jaguar. SK8 ST7 & reduce Jaguar to 2 sta, or win two successive attack rounds.
+4 sta, + 1 luck.
(Otherwise have to leave village and cannot complete quest, so might as well stop here!)
Use bone sword. (You learn the sword's command from Zyteea.)
Defeat Spirit Beast. SK10 ST12
+ bolarang

Head to mountains.
This means nothing to you.
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: fight Chameloenite. SK7 ST7.

Luck test.
Pass: ok. Fail: Take Skill test. Pass: -1 sta. Fail: Die!

Pass thru the right-hand archway.
Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: -(1d6 +2) sta.

Take new path.
Roll 1d6: Roll 2-6: survive. Roll 1: YOU DIE INSTANTLY! (This is the critical moment in the game. There appears to be no way to avoid this point. It doesn't matter what stats you have, or what items/knowledge you have gained. If you roll a one, you die. End-of. Bah!)

Go left.
Fight the guards.
Use your 1st zombie dust.
Help the prisoner. + clue & +1 luck

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: you die!

Go left.
Attempt to remove their masks.
Use your 2nd zombie dust.
Attempt the puzzle. 275
You solve the puzzle.
Try to destroy the crystal.
Achievement: Aaargh! My Shakra!

(Adventurer mode: Use poison antidote now if you still have it.)
Fight the snakes, SK8 ST11.
Luck test. Pass: -2 sta. Fail: -(1d6 +2)sta.
Leave.
Attempt to hold your breath.
Go on without hesitation.
Run for it!
Fight scarachna again: (it has recovered slightly) SK11 ST8 (You must win within 12 attack rounds or you die, so use the Bolarang to inflict 4 sta damage on it immediately.)

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: You die!

Roll 1d6. Less than or equal to your stamina: ok. Greater than your stamina: you die!

You have smashed a crystal.
Defeat Ramatu. SK10 ST9
Pick up the fetish.
Take the pearl. Restore skill & stamina. +2 luck.
Leave.
-1 sta
You have lifted a curse from ghost ship.

Back On The High Seas.

Luck test. Pass: ok. Fail: -5 sta.

Roll 1d6:
1/2: fight first mate, SK8 ST8; then if you win, fight Mirel the red.
3/4: fight chaos champion, SK9 ST7; then if you win, fight Mirel the red.
5/6: fight Mirel the red immediately.
(Mirel the red SK11 ST10)

Skill test. Pass: ok. Fail: -2 sta.
Fight Cinnabar SK11 ST16
Yes, you possess a quezkari fetish.
Use something against it.
Use a blue gem.
You have a bone sword.
You know how to release it's magic.
You have an ivory lion charm & a white feather wristband.
Defeat quezkari SK10 ST12

You have destroyed Cinnabar permanently and completed your quest. YAY!

[Ghostfriendly]

Weakening the voodoo high priest would probably be vital on hardcore mode, which I certainly found as difficult as you described. Reading the full guide afterwards you've found a more favourable route than I did, since I completely avoided Crivens, didn't get the potion of giant strength, and possibly erred in picking the insect repellent spell rather than the skill spell, although I would hardly have had stamina to spare. I did get the puzzle answer from your guide, and a clue that giving the ape-man rum was helpful. I would've thought getting an ape-man drunk would be more dangerous than otherwise, but counter-intuitive choices and double-bluffs are all part of the game.

[Analand Sorceress]

I believe that smashing the crystal weakens one of your opponents (possibly ramatu) making it a far easier battle.

[Ghostfriendly]

I'm terrible at recognising Caesar ciphers. Thanks very much. Is smashing the crystal essential to completing the quest?

[Analand Sorceress]

Nice one.

[Zenius]

Thanks! I found it. It appears if you don't smash the crystal before encountering him.

[Analand Sorceress]

Thank-you.
I have 30 colour illustrations, which seems to be the full set.
I reckon the one you are missing is ramatu, the voodoo priest, that you encounter on bone island. You may need to try variations of this encounter on free-read mode, as the artwork might only be triggered by certain choices during the encounter. (Sorry, i can't remember which.)
I believe that the six blank boxes at the end of the colour gallery are just a bug that hasn't been corrected.
Hope this helps.

[Zenius]

(Beware spoilers for other readers:)

Those I have are:
- The three pirates including the half-ogre
- The ninetail cat
- The ghost pirates
- The hangman pirate and samurai
- The lizard on top of a lizard
- The intelligent monkey (can't remember his name)
- The shark
- The masked zombies
- The helpful voodoo priestess
- The warrior village queen
- The pirate that throws a knife at you
(then there is one I'm missing)
- The behemoth fish
- The ghost ship
- The captain Bloodbones
- The giant mosquito
- The Jolly Roger coffin
- The anchor man
- The pirate ghost with lantern
- The crazy lost man marooned on the island
- The giant octopus
- The map of Bone Island
- The treasure gold golem
- The giant insect and native warrior
- The zombie Bloodbones with his god
- The arrow of providence
- The three zombie pirates in the swarm
- The crystal puzzle door
- The half spider half scorpion
- The death good
(Seems like there are six more only for the coloured version)

[Zenius]

Hie, thanks for the guide! I don't think I would have solved the door puzzle without it!

You seem to know the game/book very well, so I hoped you could help with something. I've just finished it on Android and replayed several parts to explore as much as possible. None the less, it seems I'm missing part of the collectible gallery. One picture is missing in classic black-white viewing and it seems that there are 6 more in colours. But I can't seem to find them anywhere. Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks

[Analand Sorceress]

Thank-you for the feedback.
It's greatly appreciated.

[Papi]

Great guide! Very clean and easy to follow, thank you!

On my hardcore run, I found the Luck spell to be more effective than the skill spell, since you can end combats quicker (which are the difficult parts of the hardcore run). Skill tests wont be much of an issue with 10 SK (which will be mandatory for a hardcore run anyway).

Also, I saved my bottle of giant strength for the fight against the captain (11 SK and -1 to your attack rolls) since it is one of the worst offenders along with the shark fight.