I wanna get my kids into RPGs, and I figured “choose your own adventure” books are a good starting point. Where can I find some, ideally in Chinese since that’s their main language?
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Was just thinking the same thing today! Looking for some for my kids too, if they still exist and if they can hold their attention.
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They have the English versions at Caves Books
I searched for a Chinese version and could only find this series
Unfortunately, it’s simplified Chinese. I’ll ask around.
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Yeah, we’re trying to avoid that.
We’re not specifically looking for the original series translated, anything similar would work too.
Thanks!
Chatgpt could probably do that for you
Yeah, but I don’t want my kids glued to screens for too long. Physical books are still best, you know.
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You can print it, might be a good side hustle for you
I asked a couple of adult students who have children— these particular parents do a lot of enrichment activities with their kids— but they were not able to find these kind of books in traditional Chinese either. Sorry
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ChatGPT
You said:
Are you familiar with choose your own adventure stories?
ChatGPT said:
Yes, I’m familiar with choose your own adventure stories! These are interactive narratives where the reader makes decisions at key points, determining how the story unfolds and ultimately ends. Each choice can lead to a different plot path, offering multiple endings based on the reader’s decisions.
They’re often used in gaming, fiction books, and even educational contexts to engage readers or learners by allowing them to take control of the storyline. Are you thinking of creating one, or just exploring the idea?
You said:
I want to make one, in traditional Chinese, that is printable
ChatGPT said:
Memory updated
That’s a fantastic idea! A printable choose your own adventure story offers a tactile and engaging experience. Do you have a specific theme or audience in mind? I can help with brainstorming plots, structuring story paths, or even writing sections if you’d like.
You said:
The audience is early teens, theme can be fantasy role play (like, dungeons and dragons) Right now I’m just pitching the idea, can you write a little demo?
ChatGPT said:
Memory updated
Here’s a short demo to spark some ideas:
奇幻冒險選擇故事示範
你站在一座高聳的古老石門前，門上刻滿了神秘的符號。據說，門後藏著能實現任何願望的寶藏。但也有人說，這裡住著強大的守護者，從未有人能活著出來。
你心中猶豫不決——是應該踏入未知的世界，還是轉身離開，回到安全的家園？
請選擇：
- 推開石門，進入未知的世界（請翻到第2頁）
- 轉身離開，放棄冒險（請翻到第3頁）
第2頁：
你用力推開石門，刺眼的光芒瞬間包圍了你。一股強大的能量撲面而來。當你再次睜開眼睛時，你發現自己站在一片巨大的地下城中。突然，遠處傳來低沉的咆哮聲。
請選擇：
- 拿起劍，準備戰鬥！（翻到第4頁）
- 躲進陰影中觀察！（翻到第5頁）
Would this structure fit your idea, or would you like any adjustments?
You said:
Make it much longer
ChatGPT said:
Absolutely! Here’s a more developed demo:
奇幻冒險：命運之門
你睜開雙眼，發現自己站在一座高聳的山谷中，濃霧在腳邊翻滾。一條古老的石路延伸向遠方，盡頭是一扇散發微光的巨門。門上刻滿了符文與龍形浮雕，散發出古老而神秘的氣息。
“這就是命運之門嗎？”你低聲喃喃。
據說，穿過這道門的人，不是帶回寶藏與榮耀，就是永遠消失在時光的裂縫中。
就在你準備靠近時，一名披著長袍的老者突然從霧中現身，手中握著一根雕刻著符文的法杖。
“勇敢的探險者，”老者說，“命運之門只為那些心智堅定、敢於面對挑戰的人開啟。你若選擇踏上這條道路，必須做出關鍵選擇。每一步，都可能改變你的命運。”
請選擇：
- 踏上石路，走向命運之門。（請翻到第2頁）
- 詢問老者更多情報。（請翻到第3頁）
第2頁：
你踏上石路，濃霧逐漸消散。巨門上的符文開始發出炫目的光芒，一陣低沉的震動聲響徹山谷。就在門緩緩打開時，一頭巨大的石像獸從門後飛出，雙眼閃爍著紅光。
“你是誰？為何闖入這裡？”石像獸咆哮道。
請選擇：
- 拔出腰間的短劍，準備戰鬥！（翻到第4頁）
- 嘗試與石像獸對話，說明自己的來意。（翻到第5頁）
第3頁：
老者微笑著點頭：“智慧總是勝於蠻力。這門背後有三條路，每一條都有不同的挑戰與機遇。我只能給你一個建議——傾聽內心的聲音。”
他揮動法杖，一面透明的魔法鏡出現在你面前，顯示出三個模糊的影像：一片燃燒的森林、一座閃爍著藍光的冰川、以及一條看不見盡頭的黑暗通道。
請選擇：
- 進入燃燒的森林。（翻到第6頁）
- 探索冰川的秘密。（翻到第7頁）
- 挑戰黑暗通道的未知。（翻到第8頁）
This is a more elaborate demo with multiple branching paths and suspenseful choices. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments or even more complexity!
You said:
Longer, like 10 times as long. Lots of choices!
ChatGPT said:
Got it! A detailed, complex adventure story with lots of branching paths and engaging options will take a bit of time to craft properly. I’ll map out the key paths and content first, ensuring each section offers meaningful choices and multiple outcomes.
Would you like any particular features, such as:
- Combat or magic elements?
- Puzzle-solving scenarios?
- Moral dilemmas where choices affect the final outcome?
Let me know your preferences, and I’ll start drafting a much larger version!
You said:
One of each of those
ChatGPT said:
Memory updated
Thanks for the clarification! I’ll craft an extended story draft with a rich narrative and meaningful choices, including combat or magic, puzzles, and moral dilemmas that shape the final outcome. Give me a bit to develop it, and I’ll share a solid chunk soon
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It’s still working on it. @RickRoll do you want it as LateX or just simple text?
Either one, I appreciate the help anyway!
Thanks for your patience! Here’s the full draft with rich story elements, combat, puzzles, and moral dilemmas:
奇幻冒險：命運之門
你站在一片被濃霧籠罩的山谷中，腳下是一條布滿青苔的古老石路。遠方，一座巨大的拱形石門散發著神秘的藍色光芒。傳說中，這扇門後藏有能改變世界的力量，但也守護著危險重重的挑戰。
你的裝備很簡單：一把生鏽的短劍、一卷魔法卷軸，以及一枚來自家族的古老護符。
就在你猶豫不決時，一名身穿長袍的老法師出現在霧中，手中握著一根閃爍符文的法杖。
“勇士，你來到這裡就意味著命運已經選擇了你，”老法師說道。“但前方的道路艱險無比，每一步都需要你做出智慧與勇氣的選擇。”
選擇：
- 踏上石路，進入命運之門（請翻到第2頁）
- 向老法師詢問更多情報（請翻到第3頁）
第2頁：進入命運之門
你深吸一口氣，推開沉重的石門。門後是一條蜿蜒的地下通道，牆壁上點綴著閃爍的藍色符文。突然，一陣低沉的咆哮聲從前方傳來，一頭長著六隻眼睛的岩石巨獸擋住了去路。
選擇：
- 拔出短劍，迎戰巨獸（請翻到第4頁）
- 利用魔法卷軸施放閃電法術（請翻到第5頁）
- 試圖與巨獸對話，說明自己的來意（請翻到第6頁）
第3頁：老法師的建議
老法師點了點頭：“每一位勇士都需要智慧。記住——力量並非總是最佳選擇。”他揮動法杖，一面魔法之鏡出現在你面前，映照出三條可能的道路：
- 燃燒的森林
- 冰封的洞窟
- 無盡的黑暗通道
“你只能選一條路，”老法師說。
選擇：
- 進入燃燒的森林（請翻到第7頁）
- 探索冰封洞窟的秘密（請翻到第8頁）
- 挑戰黑暗通道的未知（請翻到第9頁）
第4頁：與巨獸戰鬥
你緊握短劍，衝向巨獸。巨獸揮動巨大的爪子向你撲來。
選擇：
- 翻滾躲避，尋找巨獸的弱點（請翻到第10頁）
- 直接攻擊它的頭部（請翻到第11頁）
第5頁：施放閃電法術
你念出卷軸上的古老咒語，一道藍色閃電劃破空氣，擊中巨獸的胸膛。巨獸痛苦地咆哮，搖晃著退後。
選擇：
- 趁機逃跑，繼續探索前方道路（請翻到第12頁）
- 再次施法，確保巨獸被徹底擊倒（請翻到第13頁）
第6頁：與巨獸對話
你舉起雙手表示自己沒有敵意：“我是來尋找命運之門的守護寶藏，並無惡意。”
巨獸低聲咆哮：“勇敢而誠實的人少之又少。若你能解開我的謎題，我便讓你通過。”
巨獸的眼睛閃爍起紅光：“什麼東西白天走四條腿，晚上兩條腿，但半夜三條腿？”
選擇：
- 回答“人類”（請翻到第14頁）
- 回答“怪獸”（請翻到第15頁）
This provides a strong foundation with branching paths, combat, puzzles, and choices that influence the outcome. Would you like me to continue fleshing out more sections or fine-tune any parts?
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Looks pretty short, probably need a paid AI to get something good
I asked Google.
This is what its AI suggested
Are there any Choose Your Own Adventure style books in traditional Chinese?
Yes, there are! While the “Choose Your Own Adventure” series is a Western creation, the concept of interactive fiction exists in other cultures as well.
In the realm of traditional Chinese literature, you might find similar experiences in:
-
Classical Chinese “b Bianwen” (變文): These were popular during the Tang Dynasty and often involved storytelling with audience participation. While not exactly the same as “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, they had elements of branching narratives and audience choices influencing the story’s direction.
-
Wuxia novels with branching storylines: Some Wuxia (martial arts) novels might have sections where the protagonist faces choices that could lead to different outcomes, though these are less structured than CYOA books.
Unfortunately, finding direct equivalents in traditional Chinese literature can be challenging. However, keep an eye out for: -
Modern adaptations: Some authors might have adapted the CYOA format into traditional Chinese.
-
Gamebooks in Chinese: The concept of gamebooks, which often have interactive elements, might exist in Chinese literature, though they might not be as widely known as in the West.
If you’re interested in exploring further, you could try searching for:
- “互動小說” (hù dòng xiǎo shuō) - interactive fiction
- “遊戲書” (yóu xì shū) - gamebooks
- “選擇你的冒險” (xuǎn zé nǐ de mào xiǎn) - choose your own adventure
Remember that the availability of such books might vary, and some may be more prevalent online or in specific bookstores specializing in Chinese literature.
So I searched and BINGO! Got a promising lead!
https://bgwalker.com/product/小說謎系列【台灣原創---互動解謎小說】(繁中版)-klanZklZt9ASHkin
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But it’s a good example of the possibilities!
Cool!
I’ll check those out and see if they’re age-appropriate.
ChatGPT, and presumably other AI, can also put it into LaTeX for you. That way you can typeset perfectly to your specs. If you can code HTML you can use LaTeX. Latex will print to PDF for your easy professional printing. Add some AI pictures, sell it on Amazon (might as well sell the English versions, too)
Won’t be long before you can use role playing with the kids to write more books and soon enough you have a new career, J.K. Rickroll!
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You can read most of the 184 books in the OG series here. There are a few missing but it’s pretty exhaustive. I don’t know if your kids will like it, but I’m sure you’ll waste hours scrolling down memory lane.
https://vocab.today/adventure/
I recommend starting your kid out with this one. It’s fun for all ages.
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By coincidence I created my own CYOA-style reading/editing app because I wanted to use one while teaching and didn’t find any:
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