Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone

Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone (F.I.S.T.) were a series of single-player telephone-based roleplaying games launched by UK games designer Steve Jackson in 1988 through the company Computerdial, who until then had used their service to provide astrology services. The product was a radio drama version of Jackson's popular Fighting Fantasy novels, and the outcome of the story could be affected by choices the user made, using a touch-tone telephone. A free starter pack could be ordered by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the game creators.

Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone
The F.I.S.T. logo as it appeared in print ads
Designer(s)Steve Jackson
Publisher(s)Computerdial
Publication date1988
Genre(s)Fantasy
System(s)Play by Telephone

Two scenarios were produced for the F.I.S.T. game. The first of these was released under the title F.I.S.T. 1 – Castle Mammon: Lair of the Demon Prince in September 1988, and the second was a direct sequel titled F.I.S.T. 2 – The Rings of Allion in March 1989.

Players could register over the phone and create a character, which would be saved and restored the next time the player called. Both games were dungeon crawls, depicting the player's unnamed character progressing through the titular Castle Mammon in an attempt to slay the Demon Prince Kaddis Ra. The games featured sound effects and voice-overs illustrating the adventures of the character. Combat consisted of the player being read a description of what their opponent was doing, and pushing a key combination to take action or cast a spell in response. The game could be saved and quit at any time by pushing 9, and the last message could be repeated by pushing 0. Although a solo-game, players could hear the high scores of other players, and physical gold coins were awarded monthly to the highest scoring players.[1][2]

The sketch comedy Limmy's Show! features a F.I.S.T.-esque parody called "Adventure Call", using the same formula with fantasy scenarios hosted by a costumed narrator, "Falconhoof" (played by Brian Limond).

References
  1. "Fighting Fantasy Material: FIST". Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. Wizard Books. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  2. Scan of an ad for the game


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