While the previous game adaptation of The Shamutanti Hills , the first
quarter of Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! gamebook series, was a faithful
conversion, this new undertaking expands upon it in every way, with reams of
new text (some procedurally-written, to reflect combat and skill challenge
outcomes), alternate solutions and new situations.

The basic plot remains the same, the player making decisions on behalf of a
champion of the kingdom of Analand, sallying forth into uncivilized wilderness
on the first wing of an epic journey to retrieve the stolen Crown of Kings.

Tucking the gamebook die-rolling mechanics away in favor of more deterministic
outcomes, a new, strategic element has been introduced into combat,
challenging players to bid a proportion of their combat energy against a foe
in a given round, hopefully outbidding the opponent but by a narrow enough
margin as to leave further energy in reserve for future combat rounds.

The goddess Libra, called upon to intervene in the original gamebook series,
has here been replaced by a Spirit Guide who reflects, in a Black and White
fashion, the play style of a given player.

Sorcery!