Love and Fishing
Two of the most fascinating elements of Peter Molyneux's groundbreaking roleplaying game (RPG), Fable®, are romance and fishing. Though the two aren't technically related, you'll need patience, preparation, and skill to make both love and the line work for you, but there are plenty of rewards awaiting the skillful Casanova and the talented fisherman.
A face anyone could love. Uh, right?
Set the Hook
We've all had our little flings with Bastila Shan, but fishing? Yep, whether you're looking for a quick, health-restoring meal or a hidden silver key, the fishing pole is a necessity for the well-equipped hero.
Get a fishing pole: Either buy one (they're not that expensive) or get a free one from the fisherman by saving him from wasps.
Find some water: You can fish in surprisingly shallow water, if you just want to stock up your food stores. If you're looking for anything from keys to a suit of armor to a wedding ring (and more), look for the tell-tale ripple in the water that marks a pond containing more than fish.
Reel it in: The ingenious fishing system uses the vibro-shock of the Xbox® controller and your own sense of timing. As soon as you get a bite, start repeatedly tapping the A button—fast. When the controller shakes, that signals that whatever you've hooked is pulling back, so stop tapping and watch the fishing meter in the upper right to see how close the line is to snapping. You'll snap the line in no time if you're reeling in while the catch is pulling away. Instead, wait for the shaking to stop, then tap furiously again. You'll gradually drag a fish over to your hook to make the catch.
Fable, exciting and new.
How Marriage Is Like Fishing
Finding true love (or even just a placeholder spouse) is a lot like fishing. You've got to find the right fish, or in this case, a man or woman who is intrigued by you. (Yes, you heard me right. In a move sure to send certain folks into a bit of a tizzy, you play a male hero by default and you can romance and marry a dude. Now, that's an RPG that lets you make your own choices!) Then, you've got to reel him or her in with the right mix of flirting (a social command on the D-pad), attention, and most importantly: gifts.
This Nymph does not think you’re dreamy.
Stocking the Pond
Before you can win the person of your dreams, you need to find the right pond—or in this case, a place for the two of you to live. Marital homes are for sale in most towns, and it's important to know that no one will marry you if you don't have a marital home. You can even buy more than one and rent it out to some other poor suckers—er, some other married folks. You can increase the rent you earn and the eventual potential satisfaction of your mate by upgrading the house with nicer furnishings, too.
You can't get a spouse without a house.
Twoo Wuv
Now you need to find someone to woo and win. If you've already started getting a reputation, you'll likely notice that some non-player characters (NPCs) will have little or large hearts over their heads when you're near. To make a heart bigger, give the target of your affections gifts like gems and perfume, throwing in timely flirting and the occasional heroic laugh. When you think you've got them really into you, it's time to pop the question with a special gift: the wedding ring. This item is available in fine stores from Bowerstone to Oakvale.
"I demand a divorce!"
The Affair of the Necklace
If you're patient (and do well in certain other quests), you'll get the opportunity to vie for the hand of a very special, mysterious, and powerful woman, who may be more than she seems. She sends you on a series of progressively trickier missions to prove your love, and the trickiest by far is locating a stolen piece of jewelry.
Without spoiling anything more than I already have, here's a tip to prevent serious frustration on this "necklace mission." The thieves that you think have it do have it, but they're not going to talk about it when they can see you. Get your Guile skill up and sneak around behind them to hear where the item is and where you can dig to find it. After that, you'll face another exquisitely designed choice between good and evil.
But, I've already said too much. The wife is watching. So, I believe we were discussing fishing … ?
Article by Danny Chihdo
