The Warlock Returns

28/12/2025

Adventure Jam!

If you have read the last two Warlock Returns Issues then you should already know about this, but it is time to open it up to the wider community!

White Hare Games, in cooperation with Arion Games, is running an Adventure Jam for AFF2e.

The download PDF version:https://whiteharegames.co.uk/Misc/Adventure-Jam-Details.pdf

In Brief

* Submission deadline: Issue #16, approx end 2026;
* 3 Categories (enter one, two, or all three) : Solo adventure; Novice Starter Adventure; Veteran Adventure/Campaign;
* Use the ACS (Adventure Creation System) to help provide any of these: inspiration/tables/framework/domains/NPCs;
* Each category will produce one winner. One overall winner from these will also be picked.

Email your submission to: [email protected] using the title "Jam!"

11/12/2025

Grab the PDFs of The Warlock Returns Issues #01 to #10 in their original state, and with a hefty discount, before they get updated to reflect going unofficial! If you have bought any in the past the package price will reflect this.

The Warlock Returns Issues #01-10 [BUNDLE] - This special bundle contains the following titles: The Warlock Returns Issue price: {display_price(4.99)

27/11/2025

Buy now for a wee yuletide reading plesure experience!
https://cutt.ly/TheWarlockReturns-Issue14

27/11/2025

https://cutt.ly/TheWarlockReturns-Issue14

Issue #14 of The Warlock Returns is now available in Standard and Premium physical copies! (all other issues are currently in the Black Friday sale, so grab a bargain!)

If you already purchased the PDF please check your email for a discount code (and if you've turned off the ability to receive emails from my DTRPG account email/message me with your order number and I will give you the discount link)

Attached is an image showing the difference in standard vs premium.

12/11/2025

New Fighting Fantasy Brand Manager, Marc Gascoigne, has been been interviewed about his involvement with FF and Games Workshop, plus what his aims are to help the brand stay strong in the coming years (and other questions!). Read the interview in The Warlock Returns Issue #14, available at: https://cutt.ly/TheWarlockReturns-Issue14

The Warlock Returns Issue #14 - The Warlock Returns, Issue #14 (Q3-4 2025) A fanzine for lovers of Fighting Fantasy, Advanced Fighting Fantasy, and Stellar Adventures This issue brings you new material for fans of:Fighting Fantasy solo gamebooks andAdvanced Fighting Fantasy + Stellar Adventures rol...

11/11/2025

In Issue #14 of The Warlock Returns I review a new gamebook, Legion of the Necromancer, by Hammerforge Chronicles. It is well worth backing - their crowdfunding has passed its goal with 17 days to go. Link below, but first some snippets of my review:

"James (Isaacs) cites Russ Nicholson [WoFM, CoC and many more] and Bob Harvey [ToD, OotP, Titan, Way of the Tiger] as inspirations for his work, and this really shows through in the gorgeous full­ page illustrations and even in the filler art. There isn't a bad piece in the whole book... The undead skeleton for section 79 is my personal favourite, which well and truly harkens back to Russ' Ghoul image from WoFM."

"Overall the writing is solid, working well for the subject matter and complementing the art nicely."

"Fights are ever so polite, with your enemies lining up to attack you one at a time rather than all piling on at once... some fights are exceedingly easy, when they could have been a challenge... Despite these issues I thoroughly enjoyed a play­ through of LotN and I believe it is a very solid first gamebook. "

A classic Fighting Fantasy-style gamebook that immerses the player in a world of monsters, code and difficult choices. Join the quest!

10/11/2025

The Warlock Returns, Issue #14, is now live!
A fanzine for lovers of Fighting Fantasy, Advanced Fighting Fantasy, and Stellar Adventures
https://cutt.ly/TheWarlockReturns-Issue14

14/10/2025

Hey all! It's time to go public with an announcement!

The Warlock Returns has become officially unofficial in the Fighting Fantasy world! Yeah, okay, don't look at me all confused like that.....let me explain!

After discussions with Marc Gascoigne (Steve and Ian's new Brand Manager) I had the choice to become either "official" in the eyes of Steve & Ian, getting to keep the FF and AFF logos, but changing a lot of things that makes the magazine what it is (no community art being a big one!), or going "unofficial" with their full blessing and approval to keep doing what I am doing, but lose the logos.

I chose the latter option.

One upshot of this choice is that the sale of The Warlock Returns has now migrated from Arion Games' DTRPG store to my own stores (yes, I can sell them anywhere I like now). I will need to work through all of the issues, updating the covers to remove the FF/AFF logos, but I've been given a grace period in which to do this. I will start with the PDF files and move onto the POD ones later. If you already bought the magazine expect emails to inform you of the updates as and when this happens. Arion Games still fully supports us, as do the FF owners - nothing will change except the removal of the logos, and where you buy the magazine.

All new issues ( #14+), including the compilation issue (Vol. #01), which are being worked on now, will be released at White Hare Games' DTRPG store. I'd appreciate if you could "follow" me on there!

Please visit https://cutt.ly/TheWarlockReturns-DTRPG-WHG to purchase the magazine. (It might show up blank for a while; if so click the "Back to all categories" link to see everything!)

Thank you for your time reading this. I hope it comes as good news to you!
Best regards, Sam.

09/09/2025

What is coming in The Warlock Returns Issue #14? Some of the items are:

* A Bingara full-page graphic novel strip;
* Interview with new FF Brand Manager, Marc Gascoigne;
* Full information on the AFF Adventure Jam!;
* An example scenario/solo-game using the ACS book;
* More Wizardry Spell Cards;
* Another solo play FF-style game.

[FF=Fighting Fantasy; AFF=Advanced Fighting Fantasy; ACS=Adventure Creation System]