''Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone'' (''F.I.S.T.'') were a series of single-player telephone-based
roleplaying games
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal ac ...
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
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...
version of Jackson's popular ''
Fighting Fantasy
''Fighting Fantasy'' is a series of single-player role-playing gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone. The first volume in the series was published in paperback by Puffin in 1982.
The series distinguished itself by mixing Choos ...
'' 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.
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 crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...
s, 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. There was also 'The Black Claw Tavern', a group discussion line which connected with other adventurers calling at the same time.
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In popular culture
The sketch comedy ''Limmy's Show!
''Limmy's Show!'' is a Scottish surreal comedy sketch show broadcast on BBC Two Scotland, written, directed and based on the 2006 podcast Limmy's World of Glasgow by Limmy, Brian "Limmy" Limond, who stars as himself and a variety of characters ...
'' 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
Brian Limond (born 20 October 1974), known as Limmy, is a Scottish comedian, author, and Twitch streamer.
While working as a website designer and Flash developer, Limmy began releasing comedy on his website and blog, Limmy.com, which conta ...
).
References
Gamebooks
{{Game-book-stub