tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post4222898253518526977..comments2024-03-28T12:11:15.628-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: The Foundations of Phlan: Revisiting Pool of Radiance (1988), Part 1CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-40454337722635866722023-08-08T17:12:21.824-04:002023-08-08T17:12:21.824-04:00Cool video, but it seems to be one of the billions...Cool video, but it seems to be one of the billions of sources claiming that Pool of Radiance was based on the Ruins of Adventure module...hmmScarrabnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-63942548985888561172022-08-01T00:42:40.486-04:002022-08-01T00:42:40.486-04:00I don't know if you've seen the YouTube ch...I don't know if you've seen the YouTube channel, DM It All, but they do excellent videos on D&D history. In yesterday's video, they go into detail into Ruins of Adventure. I thought you'd enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kql2DtXPvlwronaldsfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15221297712822999741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-69416083164988461042021-10-29T12:18:05.374-04:002021-10-29T12:18:05.374-04:00Regarding the module extrapolating more on specifi...Regarding the module extrapolating more on specific things, like the Dragon ruling from the castle, I would bet that it's because when you played the game, it was as a player (the D&D term); but when reading the module, it's as the dungeon master. You wouldn't necessarily give that info to the players.jebmakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465842548268743147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-3296869880702275012021-10-06T09:21:32.589-04:002021-10-06T09:21:32.589-04:00“Pool of Radiance” by itself might not be the best...“Pool of Radiance” by itself might not be the best, but when one sees the “AD&D” on the box, then name becomes much more intriguing.cavalier973https://www.blogger.com/profile/16018249706585207161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89082175876166496222021-09-01T21:39:49.730-04:002021-09-01T21:39:49.730-04:00Alas, since my mages were all multi-classed, no on...Alas, since my mages were all multi-classed, no one had second-level spells at the time I reached the trolls.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-20652369173935796952021-08-28T19:42:44.743-04:002021-08-28T19:42:44.743-04:00*points upstream at the review*
What if the purpo...*points upstream at the review*<br /><br />What if the purpose of a command in the computer game, is to allow the players to do something based on the module which did not exist when the computer game was released?<br /><br />Space is warped and time is bendable.Kishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11456086726407491007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84796842511705320302021-08-26T22:00:58.249-04:002021-08-26T22:00:58.249-04:00You weren't the only one--they turned the Mino...You weren't the only one--they turned the Minor Courtiers into the Seven Lost Gods. They also wound up in the list of Elder Evils in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, though by that point the writers were probably inspired by the video game.<br /><br />https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Seven_Lost_GodsNull Nullnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74501807688962546122021-08-26T21:23:46.187-04:002021-08-26T21:23:46.187-04:00The NES version is the only version I've playe...The NES version is the only version I've played through to the end. I've actually played it three times and really enjoy it. Its slow, but I like the pixel art and music, and the battles in the NES version are a lot smaller. I also like relaxing with a console game instead of sitting at a computer, which always feels like work to me.<br /><br />There are so many differences that it might as well be a different game. I don't think it deserves all the hate it gets.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08117105886460788732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82026038343114907832021-08-24T01:44:42.512-04:002021-08-24T01:44:42.512-04:00Elwrong (I can't take credit, it's from pe...Elwrong (I can't take credit, it's from perhaps the greatest ever d&d forum session reports The Fellowship of the Bling https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/b-x-misadventures-in-randomly-generated-dungeons.676099/ )joehbrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837988222714030857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-44851337344102727512021-08-24T01:39:24.831-04:002021-08-24T01:39:24.831-04:00If I had to guess, adoption of some rules from 2nd...If I had to guess, adoption of some rules from 2nd Edition AD&D would be the primary reason. It came out in 1989. joehbrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837988222714030857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-27744406908932160292021-08-23T20:00:19.197-04:002021-08-23T20:00:19.197-04:00Stinking cloud wrecks that troll fight :DStinking cloud wrecks that troll fight :DBradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204901637975146609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86162277344333558662021-08-23T17:29:26.146-04:002021-08-23T17:29:26.146-04:00"This, I believe, is why subsequent editions ..."This, I believe, is why subsequent editions removed the requirements for training, shifting the conceptual framework of leveling up to 'this is merely a recognition of the experience you have already gained from fighting/adventuring.'"<br /><br />That makes more sense, really. Logically, training would be a SUBSTITUTE for experience, not something that you had to do to make use of your experience.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6920295145315165152021-08-23T17:26:30.905-04:002021-08-23T17:26:30.905-04:00I had no idea that Elrond was half-elf. I just tri...I had no idea that Elrond was half-elf. I just tried to think of good portmanteaus, and nothing occurred to me with "Elrond."CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73050199317703971852021-08-23T17:25:26.416-04:002021-08-23T17:25:26.416-04:00Well, a lot of people have pointed to textual sour...Well, a lot of people have pointed to textual sources for what I consider some of the odder restrictions. I guess the question then becomes why did SSI drop or modify most of them in subsequent games?CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-939735367526980332021-08-23T16:27:39.607-04:002021-08-23T16:27:39.607-04:00It’s fairly widely know in tabletop circles that d...It’s fairly widely know in tabletop circles that despite having his name on the spine, and despite having the sole writer credit on all of the original 1E hardcovers, Gary 100% did not write the entirety of the DMG. He never copped to this during his time at TSR. Back then he actively worked to mislead people into believing he was, in forums like his Dragon Magazine columns. <br /><br />There were apparently a large number of contributors that went uncredited. Other TSR employees, and people are Judges Guild (a major third party publisher of early D&D materials) are all acknowledged now as having provided large swaths of the material used in the 1E DMG. <br /><br />There have been threads that explore this in a few online forums like Enworld and Dragonsfoot. As well as discussion about the way Gary actually ran d&d, in order to try to narrow down what rules “matter” in 1E.<br /><br />I’ve never seen mention of Gary actually using those training rules at his table. As mentioned in my guest article here ~5 years ago, they literally don’t work out math wise, as Clerics and Thieves would never have enough gold to train their first few levels. Even with optimal play. As the training costs surpass the xp required to level, and 1E grants 1 xp per gp found. <br /><br />They really reek of something contributed by a person other than Gary, due to those reasons. old wow bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13219195579845781590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48349116044984166402021-08-23T13:51:17.168-04:002021-08-23T13:51:17.168-04:00It's not hard to read, Carl. Please stop.It's not hard to read, Carl. Please stop.Haircutehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04839718824612383985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-36695538187605288132021-08-23T12:44:32.087-04:002021-08-23T12:44:32.087-04:00Yay! More pool of radiance! You're the best, c...Yay! More pool of radiance! You're the best, chet.Haircutehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04839718824612383985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12772805122696283602021-08-23T06:21:19.052-04:002021-08-23T06:21:19.052-04:00If I'm thieving I dont want to add any weight ...If I'm thieving I dont want to add any weight to my arms.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76609469954549929682021-08-23T05:43:11.455-04:002021-08-23T05:43:11.455-04:00The tapestry of Bayeux may have inspired someone t...The tapestry of Bayeux may have inspired someone to create the "priests don't use sword" rule, but it was certainly not a common rule in medieval Europe. Bishops and other high clergymen often were the youngest sons of local nobility, and as such trained to use sword and other weapons. Sometimes bishops combined religious and worldly leadership, and such men could be depicted holding both religious symbols and a sword as symbol of their power.<br /><br />In the song of Roland, Archbishop Turpin wielded the sword "Almace". I think the song is too obscure to be a true reference, but perhaps something of that name stuck, and helped in creating the idea that priests use "a mace". Entirely speculative of course, that last part...Didiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-38925186029247295212021-08-22T20:36:57.205-04:002021-08-22T20:36:57.205-04:00I remember looking up the "clerics can't ...I remember looking up the "clerics can't spill blood" thing a while back, and apparently it comes from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting Bishop Odo fighting with a rod. Evidently he took an extremely literal interpretation of "he who lives by the sword". <br /><br />The difference between leather and "studded leather" is a gameplay distinction. The "studs" in real life leather breastplates are just rivets holding the whole thing together. Presumably a young Gary Gygax saw a picture of riveted leather armour in a book and misinterpreted. Or maybe he just thought there needed to be an intermediate weight class, who knows. I think maybe the kind of leather thieves wear is supposed to be soft and unboiled, like a set of motorcycle leathers. That would be awfully creaky though. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80090262067750708092021-08-22T19:08:43.755-04:002021-08-22T19:08:43.755-04:00I don't get what the problem is. The entire po...I don't get what the problem is. The entire point of this *bonus* post is to compare two things. It's hard to compare two things without often mentioning one of them. Bruce Brenneisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11322005049442981571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29298015825013519432021-08-22T17:03:11.134-04:002021-08-22T17:03:11.134-04:00Exactly, this wasn't what we paid for...oh wai...Exactly, this wasn't what we paid for...oh waitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-62026391734280915372021-08-22T16:20:36.202-04:002021-08-22T16:20:36.202-04:00Players having a "stable" of characters ...Players having a "stable" of characters they could swap in and out of play was apparently a staple of early d&d. Having characters "off screen" doing other things was normal. There's another long section of the 1E DMG that talks about managing this too. joehbrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837988222714030857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89108665721777714562021-08-22T16:15:46.010-04:002021-08-22T16:15:46.010-04:00Same goes for chemical weapons IRL. Colonel Kurtz ...Same goes for chemical weapons IRL. Colonel Kurtz was right. Pilots are allowed to drop napalm on children but it's obscene to write f*@k on those very same bombs.Mr. Pavonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286558267156792637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22602891362487766832021-08-22T16:13:02.417-04:002021-08-22T16:13:02.417-04:00Just a wild guess here but what if the purpose of ...Just a wild guess here but what if the purpose of the MODIFY option is to allow players to create NPCs from "Ruins of Adventure"?Mr. Pavonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286558267156792637noreply@blogger.com