Let's Talk About Pool of Radiance 

The old SSI D&D games will always have a special place in my heart. The entire Krynn series, Azure bonds, even the weird Buck Rogers games. I loved them all, even as janky as they were. At the time they were just amazing. I think Pools was possibly one of the first CRPGS I was completely obsessed with. When my fighter learned to sweep... Damn! Not to mention dropping a fireball on a bunch of kobolds. So satisfying.

Those old AD&D rules.

"Speak my name 'OHLO'" - Another great blast from the past! Gotta come back for the trolls, though. Revolutionary representation of D&D for its time, and a great precedent for games to come.

Watching this got me thinking about the dragon lance series, so I started playing ‘champions of krynn’ on my new theC64. I love it! There are many similarities to this forgotten realms series, but some differences. It’s not as difficult, and you don’t have to pay to level up.

Pool of Radiance is one of the first games I played on C64 back in the day. It is my go to game, It is the game that forced me to learn english reading the journal entries word for word with a crappy english dictionary. I still remember the first time I figured out how the code wheel worked (just plain luck that the same combo that was in the manual came up in game) and how many times I had to fight the main battle in Sokal keep before I finally managed to survive. I can still feel the smell of the room I sat in playing it. This game is THE game from my childhood... which just happens to be the game my brother bought and HATED. There are a number of exploits in the game, some of them are easier to figure out than others. A crappy one I saw was to create a bunch of temp characters that you then funnel the money to one guy... Considering how little you get while creating the characters this is a horribly bad idea. The better way is to use the casino. There is a bug there that allows you to come back as the winner overall, whithout having to save and load the game all the time. This works with the DOS version and most likely in the amiga and C64 versions as well. Unlimited cash 1. Go to bar to gamble 2. Listen to the dribble 3. Pay X Platinum If Green - Stop playing If Blue - Keep on playing If Red - Keep on playing offer 0 Platinum, get rejected and suddenly the money you just lost is back in your inventory 4.Repeat Unlimited XP 1. Hire a mercenary from the training hall 2. Remove the mercenary armor 3. Give all the money to the mercenary 4. Go pick a fight 5. Kill the mercenary at the end of the fight 6. Get lots and lots of XP 7.Repeat

I never thought about the auto map that way, that's a good point... I used to play the Diablo games by pressing TAB and just following the auto map until I had to kill something so at times I do think the auto map can delude the games they are in. Chris's keyboard looks like an old type writer and I only really know about them because my mother used to own one of the old ones, won it and a lot of bikes and a saddle, I think, from an auction. But, yeah the ink ribbons had been impossible to find for us... Due to the age of the beast, though I'm sure now that the internet is a big thing ("Now" lol) you can find them as someone who is really into old typewriters has for sure made a small business out of selling ink ribbons for antique typewriters. When I first got the game way back in the day (The C64 one, the Nintendo one came when I was a teenager, and my Rubbermaid full of Gold-Box games does not count because those were not for playing but for selling, and yes that kind of hurts to think about) Back on point! When I first started playing it I always thought that resting in a dungeon was like cheating... And I liked it! I liked how Pool of radiance starts you out with nodda and nothing but a little bit of gold. I mean you guys are adventures who showed up to... Let's face it, make money so you had to have come into it pretty broke and maybe even a little desperate. Honestly though, if you come into the game all decked out than you are not in a position of needing to "Adventure" for your gold, right? And if you had come into it as a fully trained, or even semi trained killer and not just a fighter who has learned to use a sword or knock a bow or even cast a little magic you would not be there struggling to not die and hopefully get at least a little gold. You did come to clear out part of Phlan so it sure seems like you guys are there for the money. That's way cool by the way! A haggard band of adventures showing up dressed in scant armor and all the gold they could save up to buy a few weapons to use after catching a boat. Would have gotten supplies to bring with them on the ship but they did not like the idea of putting their only gear into a chest that could easily be pilfered, and besides Phlan is a city over run with monsters so of course they have more than a few places to buy gear at and they can use their dwindling pile of coins to arm themselves and hope for the best. See? That's kind of like RP, right? So, you guys did not make it to the harbor? That one is a fun part of the game, I loved the skeletons! Not counting Dragons and the little blue slimes from my favorite Japanese console game, Skeletons are the coolest. Mindless thralls all with a singular goal, and that goal is to kill you all... And also other people, not just you, you're not special to skeletons! (Skeleton logic!) I also think I killed the trolls with a couple of sleep spells or no! I think it was paralyze or whatever it is the priest casts to subdue monsters. Important to know that Skeletons don't sleep. (Skeleton logic!) I'm just really happy to see this game being played, it's all happy memories because even when the game pissed me off, I still loved the game and that love made all the cheap party wipes done by skeletons and all the things that fought you at the first few levels. I love Snickers but hate sheet cake so as tickled as I am at the idea, I think I'm going to have to pass on the party... Make the party for 363. Ha! You guys are going to be playing Diablo because it's 20 years old now. I think I have it still, I have an old Beta of Diablo that I got trashing a house out years ago. This was one of the times I wish I had gotten there first because the other guys on the crew did not know video games so I swear they threw the boxes away. I had a copy of Dagger fall, still have the copy and judging by the collection the guy who owned it for sure had the boxes. Off note, the guy used to work at Kalypso but also tested games, that's why I have a beta of Diablo. Those are more games I had to sell off, mainly in a box pile, or all the games in a box because none of them had their boxes... I even had an Ever quest disk with a 989 studios logo on it, and that's crazy when you think about it! Neat! I made this too long too as I always do! The video was good, and it brought me back to an early time to see this played again... Thanks! (Guys your views love this channel, if you wanted to open a Patreon account I would not be against it.) ((But also, I have no idea what makes my beta of Diablo different but I think this beta was more about stability because I think anything else would have been an Alpha and I sure don't own one of them.))

One of the greatest bugs in the game IS that troll battle; I had a halfling fighter/thief who was knocked down by the trolls, and after winning that battle (barely) he was infected by the trolls, and would regenerate in battles. It was amazing cos he was pretty spongy. Had that regen ability for the rest of the game. Saved me a few times.

One of the most unique RPG's I played is Ravenloft Stone Prophet, the game doesn't force you to level up at all, there's no grinding, you only engage in combat if you want or really need the Exp points. I usually prefer games where enemies, levels and items have some kind of randomization about them, but this game really nailed it in terms of predetermined design. Melee is scuffed though, bugged code :(

I still love this game. As for the Troll fight, I remember being so happy when I was finally down to one troll. I won. I finally won. Then there were two. Then three. Then I was reloading. I haven't replayed it since a year or so after the first Baldur's Gate released. I had to use some MOSLO program to slow my P3 down 900% and it was still to fast to read the text in battle. Didn't matter, I still had a blast, and it was *_easier_* than I recalled it being? Probably because I was aware of the illusory door in the second to last combat area which I wasn't when I first played through it in 7th grade, going back to town thinking I would get a grand reward. Not getting one, going back, having to re-clear the castle, bumping into every wall in every room in the entirety of the last two areas because I had no clue what room I had fought the person claiming to be Tyranthraxus. What a nightmare for a little kid. Oh, when I finally did kill the Trolls I had to have been level 3 because I was able to use Acid Arrow which is a level 2 spell. It was the only way I could stop them from regenerating and getting back up before the combat was finished. 4 Trolls and two Ogres in a level 1-2 area is just plain evil, but I suppose they didn't want people clearing the Slums completely too early then having a free run back from Kudos Well. I believe I was 3 areas deep before I finished all the hand placed encounters in the Slums. I still remember finding that +1 short bow under some creaky floor boards in an old stable too. This game had me so exhausted, so many days in school. I'd play from 7p to 9p almost every night until my mother made me go to bed, then I'd listen to a baseball game on a little radio pretending to be asleep, and as soon as I hear her door shut for the night I was off my top bunk, in front of my desk turning the power/volume knob on my little 11" color TV then flicking the floppy drive and C64 power switch, just to play until 3 or 4am, when my eyes were burning and I kept having to shake my head to stay awake. Yikes I loved that game. So many fantastic memories from an age that we almost all of us had such a great time, but in one of life's crazy jokes had us too young to realize it, never mind really appreciate it. Ahh well, that's what rose colored glasses are for. And of course videos of middle-aged dudes playing 35-year-old games for other middle-aged dudes to watch and recall that nostalgia of youth. Good fun!

What I really wish is that someone would update the game and entire series to Pools of Darkness graphics and gameplay.

Loved these games. So close to baremetal pen and paper D&D.

Pool of Radiance was my "gateway drug" to D&D. My 13 year old brain was blown away on this game. So many hours sunk into this game and it's sequels.

Hey guys, I just watched your video here playing/discussing Pool of Radiance and enjoyed it quite a bit. This was a pivotal game for me when I was young. Although a lot of the Gold Box games are similar to one another, I would still like to see you do a discussion walk-though like this for a couple of the other games - maybe start with Gateway to the Savage Frontier since that was released a few years after this one. I don't remember if it had the upgraded SVGA graphics or not though. Anyway, please note that as my Game suggestion for a future show! Thanks!

You can grind a bit in the last castle for fire or hill giants

This came out when I was like 18, but I was flipping burgers and in school--so I couldn't afford a computer. I played Zelda and Mario instead. Looks like it would have been fun though.

17:48 - That's not true. The only game you can't import characters to on the Amiga is Hillsfar, and that's because it came out for the Amiga before Pool of Radiance or Curse of the Azure Bonds had. The only Gold Box games not released for the Amiga was the 2nd Buck Rogers game. You can export from Pool to curse to Blades to Pools of Darkness, absolutely, Krynn series and Savage Frontiers as well. You shouldn't use excuses like that (especially when you're not talking from experience) to dismiss a different version of a game you apparently enjoy. You might like DOS, I like DOS as well, but the Amiga versions are worth playing.

I’m just starting the episode and heard about the subreddit - cool! what is the address? I tried a google search but couldn’t find it.

If anyone is interested I've been working on a modern remake of the goldbox games called goldchest for modern hardware. 3d graphics etc...

I would totally buy a request! especially if it would help you with equipment upgrades

You can go all the way through in the Amiga and Mac as well.

This is a 5 out of 5 as far as pool-based videogames go

Hey guys, late comment I know but that's because I've been trying to play the game myself. ^_^ I played this on a C64 in high school, so the nostalgia is a lot of fun. My wife's reaction to me "having to do homework" like mapping was great. Like, she knew I was a nerd, but this is a whole new level sort of thing. :D I'm discovering a lot of mechanics I don't think I sussed out in my teens. Like for instance, obviously the arena dueling is intended to give you an option to gain that little bit of exp needed to reach the next level but I found it far too frustrating with "Rolf" being so exactly matched. A 50/50 chance of losing after having to endure minutes of whiffing was unsatisfying. SO, I've discovered how to "cheese" it. ;) If you enter the duel with your armor (or bracers/rings) unequipped, Rolf will not have armor at the start and won't equip armor during the battle. Which means YOU can equip your armor/bracers/rings and have quite an advantage. Obviously it's an oversight that you're able to equip armor during battle, but sometimes I feel like if it's possible, use it mirite? Another potential tip that I just noted for future testing today (so I might be way off here but I'ma share it anyway) is to have your highest Charisma character do all the gem/jewelry appraising. It could have just been a run of good RNG, but I got by-far the highest rolls when I accidentally had my 18 Cha "Cleric of Sune" appraise a few instead of my low-Cha Dwarf F/R. OH, and choose Dwarf for your rogue! As the game tries to stay true to 1st ed. AD&D, there are several "hidden" mechanics that aren't outlined in any of the included documentation (not even the hint book) but you can find in the tabletop Player's Handbook, like the fact Elves have a penalty to Open Locks, while Dwarves have a bonus - and what else do you use rogues for in this game aside from F/R Traps, which Dwarves also get a bonus to! My jury's still deliberating on the merits vs cons of multiclassing your rogue, but for now mine is taking advantage of the fighter's expanded weapon list in order to use a magical short bow from the slums, lol. Rogues *really* didn't have much of a ranged weapon selection in 1e. I'm going to try to document more tips, both cheese and legit, so I'll be back. I hope you plan to play the rest of the series, because I sure do!

Reference absence of music, I always enjoy listening to the opening music for Pool of Radiance on the Amiga.

Can't wait to watch all of this as PoR is kind of my jam but I have to go AND 1998? Am I missing something, or did the game come out in 98? Almost sure it was supposed to be 88 but I love low hanging fruit and, well, that was low hanging fruit! All the same, I can't wait to get back and watch this episode but the store is calling and I need more peanut butter! (And other foods but c'mon PEANUT BUTTER!!!)

I have played and finished Pool of Radiance on Amiga. This was my first proper FRP and I remember I wasn't impressed by technical side of the game; the graphics were bellow average and there was a lot of loading from floppy disks. But the gameplay was gripping and the sense of fantasy adventure was great. I think these were characteristics of many SSI games from that era.

While I loved these games literally to death, huge manuals, lots of text to read, many places to explore and monsters to fight, there was only one thing i downright hated: MAPPING-MADNESS! For every step you take draw your square on the grid, mark the buildings, waste tons of graph-paper. It sucked out all the fun of actual playing to track where is what and where is the party right now? At least orientation was aided by compass direction and grid coordinates making it somewhat easy to see how large a map is going to be. While hating to map back in the day you could at least make money with it! Send the completed maps to game mags and receive money, games, or some other reward for all the hard work and time. This was an additional incentive to play the games, map everything out and write a detailed walkthrough in addition to that. 😸

Ad&d is such a good game a great upgrade ti the ikd d&d. The new d&d systen is just awful.

I think the most annoying thing is trying to get 1k gold to level up. The game doesnt automatically convert platinum when gold is needed. I also hate that currency counts to ur encumbrance. Sooooo annoying

For initial equipment, i think banded mail is OK, chain is acceptable. Plate is kind of better but pricey. I wouldn't pick ring mail. The other tips are: buy (cheap) bows even for your front liners for flexibility. Be sure to take sleep for your mages. A few flaming oils are a good choice. The weapon list is overwhelming. Mages get a bunch of darts. Clerics should get flails. Front liners probably want a shield and longsword. Some of the weapon damage tables changes for Large enemies (more than one square), but I view that as optimization once you've gotten started. I'm also of the view that in the AD&D rules it's worth abusing the stat bonuses. 18 wisdom clerics are just sooo much better than 15 wisdom clerics. 13+ dex for front liners feels necessary to me. When taking notes, why not just record the entry value, as well as the useful info? LIX - Stop kobolds from drinking all the lemonade. That's what I did, though, I did find I lacked the energy to summarize some journal entries. 54 - See book. (random phlan history) ---- For hired NPCs, they cause some money to sort of "not exist", but they also will never give back things that you give to them, including kobold short swords. They will sell them, but for money they keep. There's some weirdness about NPCs depending on save/load where you might get more or less control over them.

I enjoy the touch of a gentle woman

To clarify, this isn't like the play experience of old D&D. You're saying you get the same sense of feel from it, which I agree with, and also get that sense. But in old tabletop D&D you did not fight 30 kobolds over and over in 30+ minute encounters on grids. Combats weren't like this at all, and weren't long, and there was a lot more space for imagination. You're just imagining the experiences are more similar than they really are. In your game you had someone putting someone else in their backpack, making up your own fun. Here you're ensuring you've seen everything in 16x16 grid. But to the extent a book can be a like a movie, this is a pretty honest interpretation of D&D adventures for the computer experience. And that's more about the adventure design than the system. And it's great.