tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post4426208501290814299..comments2024-03-29T10:21:29.354-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Pool of Radiance: Holy and UnholyCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68065477469856677792023-12-10T15:33:34.494-05:002023-12-10T15:33:34.494-05:00“Always terrifying. It'll be even worse when y...“Always terrifying. It'll be even worse when you reach Ravenloft in a couple years of blog posts.” <br /><br />Reading this 12 years later is quite amusing… Vincenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-8736020214814976742016-09-18T18:40:54.306-04:002016-09-18T18:40:54.306-04:00It greatly depends on your playstyle and what you ...It greatly depends on your playstyle and what you enjoy. You try and match your players to your playstyle. Some DMs, like Gary Gygax, considered that sort of thing to be the very heart of the game, while most modern DM's focus on the story. I'm somewhere in the middle. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64648162945742058502016-09-01T02:56:04.763-04:002016-09-01T02:56:04.763-04:00I can see where that would be fun, but I think tha...I can see where that would be fun, but I think that somewhere else on my blog, someone commented how frustrating it was from a DM perspective when characters spent 45 minutes exhaustively peeking around corridors, spiking doors, marking walls, searching for every kind of trap, etc., instead of just exploring the damned dungeon.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-46975394182330911062016-08-04T12:23:16.060-04:002016-08-04T12:23:16.060-04:00Others have responded to your question about the 1...Others have responded to your question about the 10' pole, but I thought I could expand a bit. First off, I recall one DM indicating the pole was collapsible in half or quarters (nevermind the inherent problem of the technology existing, maybe it was just hinged or something)... But honestly there were all kinds of items that you could have and use in encounters that made for way more fun than solving everything with combat. I haven't played P&P in over 20 years so memory is a bit fuzzy, but I remember a buddy of mine spitting on a bar of soap and throwing it at a fleeing bad guy, rolling a 20 (critical success!) and causing the baddy to slip slide in to a wall, allowing for his capture. Just one example of an oddball inventory item that had a use... There were also polished steel squares that could be used as portable mirrors to peak around corners, chalk for marking dungeon walls and all kinds of other adventuring gear, some more obviously useful than others... It was just always really neat to me when I or someone else found an RP way to use some mundane item to impact the story/solve a problem. :)CT62https://www.blogger.com/profile/09367626671107670398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-33125024485939278162016-06-10T16:22:07.437-04:002016-06-10T16:22:07.437-04:00Our liking of this game or that can be funny in th...Our liking of this game or that can be funny in that way. I think I will always be fond of Secret of the Silver blades, simply because it was the first crpg that I finished. I felt good about that. JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-53250695716857272492016-06-10T15:39:11.916-04:002016-06-10T15:39:11.916-04:00That's a really good point, and I agree. The G...That's a really good point, and I agree. The Graveyard comes closer to any other part of the game to recreating that tactical tension.<br /><br />I played POR with a strongly self-enforced rule to only allow one save per map. I wonder if that isn't partly responsible for my mentally ranking the game higher than its sequels.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-51328205321684219702016-06-10T09:17:03.840-04:002016-06-10T09:17:03.840-04:00The Valhigen Graveyard - some thoughts
The first ...The Valhigen Graveyard - some thoughts<br /><br />The first blog entry I read was Chet's thoughts on Wizardry and it's permanent death. This lead to a whole narrative about how dungeons are constructed and how issues of saving the game can alter the challenge in significant ways. Pool of Radiance does not have permanent death and the save function is liberal. You can save virtually anywhere. I, nevertheless, found the graveyard to be an exception in that you cannot rest anywhere in that dungeon. Each expedition by my party lasted only as long as spells and hit points would allow. Thus, clearing this beast required me to camp nearby in the wilderness, subject to attack by wandering monsters, and to make essentially raids into the graveyard. Four raids so far and I am not finished. Unlike other areas, the Kobold caves for example, I do not fear total party kill in this area, but disease and level drain can destroy individual members easily. I have had say, a fighter, level drained. The cleric restores him, but for some reason he underperforms from then on. I can find no reason for this, but that the level drain had some other effect. It does not always happen this way, but it has made Wights, Vampires and Spectres a hated enemy. I'd rather face a room of Juju Zombies, even though the one I fought was unaffected by Magic Missile. That was surprising. So in the end I have to say that the graveyard most approximates the feel of Wizardry's dungeon, only with a better combat system. This game is fun. JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-52910398518327995002016-04-08T21:42:15.767-04:002016-04-08T21:42:15.767-04:00The single most disappointing point. Second is has...The single most disappointing point. Second is haste not properly doubling attacks per round.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-80146502986225696232016-04-08T13:21:10.551-04:002016-04-08T13:21:10.551-04:00No backstabbing might be a dealbreaker for me.No backstabbing might be a dealbreaker for me.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-47793434061492758332016-04-07T20:54:30.653-04:002016-04-07T20:54:30.653-04:00More differences and musings from the NES port:
...More differences and musings from the NES port:<br /><br /> 1) NO BACKSTABBING<br /> 2) Healing at a temple is ideal as cure light wounds is only 100 gold. Other services are reduced as well.<br /> 3) No mention of the random wizard that assists the party, but turns out to be a pawn of the vampire? Maybe that's new.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-79736494657327785722015-09-18T14:34:13.053-04:002015-09-18T14:34:13.053-04:00It's funny you mention that intro to the grave...It's funny you mention that intro to the graveyard Paul.<br /><br />I had almost forgotten, but the first time I saw that it was raining REALLY hard outside of my home. One of those days where you cannot see more than 20-30 feet due to fog, and it's cold, and damp.<br /><br />Needless to say the impact of that simple animation was greatly accented by the weather and conditions outside. Very chilling lol.old wow bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13219195579845781590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-23533313404962045752015-05-07T00:42:52.445-04:002015-05-07T00:42:52.445-04:00Yeah, PoR and the Geneforge series are near the to...Yeah, PoR and the Geneforge series are near the top of the RPG pile. <br /><br />Geneforge is my favourite RPG setting. Non-traditional fantasy that avoids the 'good vs evil' and 'hero saves the world' cliches.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-31551578796781651602015-05-06T11:29:09.790-04:002015-05-06T11:29:09.790-04:00I loved the intro to the graveyard. That one scree...I loved the intro to the graveyard. That one screenshot you took, then the text changes to something like, "Then a flash of lightning reveals the nightmarish scene of a graveyard turned upside down!", and an animation of lightning lights up the sky. I haven't played this game in over 25 years, but I remember that well.<br /><br />It's great when a dungeon has an intro like that. Arena had some beautiful images and texts for its main dungeons too.<br /><br />The literally don't make games like this anymore. I'm playing Geneforge 3 right now, and IMO Geneforge is as close as it gets in recent times to the original Gold Box style combat.<br /><br />This is my favorite review so far - I enjoyed the game and it's clear you're enjoying it as you write. I don't think any legitimate RPG'er dislikes PoR.<br /><br />Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-47934097145450402014-11-21T19:32:12.558-05:002014-11-21T19:32:12.558-05:00Thanks for the bit of history. I've always won...Thanks for the bit of history. I've always wondered about that term. I confess that I always imagine the adventurers munching powdered iron shavings or something, so I'm glad the term refers to something a little more appetizing.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-37071442326806312472014-11-16T23:15:57.155-05:002014-11-16T23:15:57.155-05:00Congrats!
Also, better jerky than lembas.Congrats!<br /><br />Also, better jerky than lembas.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24297157887818597112014-11-16T12:05:30.701-05:002014-11-16T12:05:30.701-05:00Iron Rations! As a dedicated amateur gaming histo...Iron Rations! As a dedicated amateur gaming historian, I can clear up the mystery behind iron rations vis-à-vis Jon Peterson's "Playing at the World," a 700+-page scholarly tome on the origins of wargaming and Dungeons & Dragons. Gary Gygax's interest in military history resulted in him placing an anachronistic World War I standard military ration into basic Dungeons & Dragons lore, for reasons likely now forever unknown (though surely in some part because he thought it was amusing to picture a knight eating jerky and hardtack).<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_ration#.22Iron_Ration.22_.281907.E2.80.931922.29<br /><br />Also I am excited that it finally dawned on me that I could read CRPGAddict on breaks at work, and so now I might actually finally make it past 2011.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-60025444861649405732013-12-24T14:43:54.682-05:002013-12-24T14:43:54.682-05:00Not to necro but I think I know why Petrus remembe...Not to necro but I think I know why Petrus remembers that.<br /><br />In the AD&D module this was based on, there was a defined mechanic for the number of undead at the Graveyard. Most of the fixed encounters there, both in the module and video game, involve undead creating more undead.<br /><br />In the OG module, the number of undead weaker undead, of each type, Zombie, Ghoul and Skeleton, doubled every week of game time that passed. Can't remember if the initial trigger was the start of the module, or if it was when the council gave the PC's the quest.<br /><br />Regardless, I know that when I've played through PoR, and have tackled the graveyard early, the number of undead in the fixed encounters has been small. If I tackle it late, the fixed encounters with Skeletons, Zombies and Ghouls include a large number of enemies.<br /><br />There's a similar scaling mechanic in place in the slums, based on level. All encounters there are sized based on average party level. This isn't problematic if you clear them first, but funny things happen when you wander in there with an average party level of 4+.....fights with 30+ orcs for exaple.old wow bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13219195579845781590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-33612447297466950642012-03-13T20:10:48.289-04:002012-03-13T20:10:48.289-04:00The latter would have been welcome. I enjoyed the ...The latter would have been welcome. I enjoyed the puzzle at the end of MMII. I felt that MMI ended a bit abruptly, and without much of a challenge.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67066404132909919342012-03-13T18:15:25.115-04:002012-03-13T18:15:25.115-04:00I read a document explaining the differences betwe...I read a document explaining the differences between the A2 and the NES Might and Magic I's and also watched RPGenie's youtube collection on it (if you folks know that). The differences are small in number, but substantial, apparently - changes in spell points for starting characters (in their favour), additional puzzle in the Inner Sanctum, etc.logiciananimalhttp://www.philosopher-animal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-5043070178474255752012-01-15T01:10:55.266-05:002012-01-15T01:10:55.266-05:00I will be doing this in the future, once I get my ...I will be doing this in the future, once I get my hands on the game, along with Bard's Tale and Might & Magic. Good times to ensue.Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-87099963850357015002011-09-12T06:01:55.513-04:002011-09-12T06:01:55.513-04:00>>It does raise an interesting point: I wond...>>It does raise an interesting point: I wonder if SSI asked permission to use the artwork, or if TSR offered it, or if someone just got the great idea to scan them in and use them? <br /><br />I remember reading somewhere that the scenarios to some of the Gold Box games were actually produced in-house at TSR, and playtested as normal adventures. I don't remember if the Forgotten Realms Gold Box games had pen-and-paper counterparts, but I think the Krynn side of things had to have had them. I remember that the manuals for the Gold Box games had some nice extras in the back that could only have come from a close working relationship with TSR, such as experience charts and spell progressions. And the art on the cover of the Gold Box games I believe all comes from prior products.<br /><br />10 Foot Poles were something that diminished in importance as finding traps solidified as more of a thief-specific thing.Rodneyliveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476187929555342435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74199507284515841042011-09-04T11:39:23.943-04:002011-09-04T11:39:23.943-04:00There has been much discussion on 10' poles in...There has been much discussion on 10' poles in the RPG blogosphere. Early editions of D&D didn't describe items at all- It was assumed that if you wanted to know what a glaive was, you went to the library and looked it up. <br />This has left much ambiguity on 10' poles, since there cost is often higher then that of a ladder, so it is usually assumed that they do collapse into segments of some kind. Fafard and the Grey Mouser used a similar device when mountain climbing once, and we know that the works of Fritz Liber are one of the sources of inspiration for D&D.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-33887435708468934632011-09-03T04:35:21.739-04:002011-09-03T04:35:21.739-04:00Yeah, it does seem too long. Seems like it would ...Yeah, it does seem too long. Seems like it would be smarter to put a little screw and socket setup on two five foot poles, and have two characters each use one as a staff. If you actually needed the full ten feet, you'd attach them, poke whatever needed poking, and then detach them again if you still had a pole. <br /><br />Iron rations were preserved, as opposed to standard rations, which would only last a few days. You'd try to only eat your iron rations when you were far from other food sources. <br /><br />Heh, in retrospect, our pen and paper characters must have looked like walking item shops. And in games like Fallout 3, with unlimited ammo-carrying capacity, it's often even worse. In my last playthrough, I would often have several each of pistols, assault rifles, and hunting rifles, and by endgame, I had enough ammunition to successfully prosecute a war. <br /><br />Most of the multiplayer RPGs aren't too bad in this regard, but the single player Bethesda offerings get pretty ludicrous.Malornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-46953159866043347722011-09-02T19:53:40.244-04:002011-09-02T19:53:40.244-04:00It just seems like an awfully long pole. You'd...It just seems like an awfully long pole. You'd think they'd get wedged in all kinds of places, or you'd always be hitting your fellow party members. Heck, I can't walk through the house with a mop and not knock over a lamp or two.<br /><br />Weren't "iron rations" also part of the standard adventuring gear? Was there a DM so anal that he tracked the nutritional content of his players' food and gave them anemia if they didn't eat enough iron?CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-51803964371461997162011-09-02T16:14:02.244-04:002011-09-02T16:14:02.244-04:0010 foot poles are for dealing with traps: You poke...10 foot poles are for dealing with traps: You poke ahead of you as you walk down a hallway with it and find pit traps. You flip a strange lever with it and if it is electrified or a dart shoots out you are 10' back. <br />I have heard of DMs responding by moving the traps back 10' however, so the first trap goes off at the lever, then a second goes off 10' back.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.com