Rules Handbook: Preface

Preface

In writing the Lone Wolf series, Joe Dever created a system of rules that is both simple and satisfying in its completeness. The rules seek to find a balance between being simple enough to learn in one sitting and being able to deal with situations encountered by the player in a reasonable, realistic and predictable way.

However, the rules for the Lone Wolf books are not perfect, nor are they perfectly understandable to the first time reader. Many new readers are intimidated by the rules' level of complexity, skip over them and try to forget they ever existed. Although the Lone Wolf books can be enjoyed without following the rules, the reader will find greater enjoyment if the rules are understood and applied. For readers who understand the basic rules, there are inconsistencies and situations not covered by the rules. These inconsistencies and omissions can be frustrating for the conscientious.

This Rule Handbook is intended to help both groups: new readers encountering the rules for the first time, and experienced readers encountering confusion about how to apply the rules in a particular situation. It is organized with the intention of helping you find the information you need when you need it.

This booklet is divided up into sections based on the different series of gamebooks written and edited by Joe Dever: the Lone Wolf Kai series (books 1-5), the Lone Wolf Magnakai series (books 6-12), the Lone Wolf Grand Master series (books 13-20), the Lone Wolf New Order series (books 21-28), the World of Lone Wolf series and the Freeway Warrior series. Each section goes through the rules sequentially as presented in the books.

A composite version of the rules for each series is written from beginning to end in its section. This composite appears without indentation. Where comment is necessary, it is inserted in indented text and italic typeface. For example:

You keep a record of your adventure on the Action Chart.

The Action Chart is a set of tables which contain all information about your character such as items carried, skills possessed, etc. The Action Chart can take many forms. You may use a specialized program like StatsKeeper to help you keep track of character statistics. You may use a spreadsheet document. You may print out the Action Chart that appears in the Internet Editions of the books and fill in the blanks. As you become familiar with the rules, you may want to create your own by hand on paper. The method you choose doesn't matter as long as you're comfortable with it.

Links are also provided to helpful information in the Topical Guide. For the first time reader, as you read through the rules, you can refer to this booklet to find explanations of the things you read in the order which you read them.

In areas where there is more than one reasonable way to interpret rules, we will present justifications for the most reasonable interpretations and let you decide for yourself. The Rules Handbook is not here to dictate the One True Way. Find what you are comfortable with and follow it.

The Topical Guide which follows the several rules composites is an alphabetical listing of topics in need of clarification.

We hope that you find this booklet helpful in better understanding the rules and finding greater enjoyment in Joe Dever's gamebooks. If this booklet doesn't answer all your questions, please contact us at staff@projectaon.org with your question.

The Project Aon Team