pool pool role playing video game developed published inc adaptation fantasy role playing game home computers episode series computer adventure games games gold box series game engine pioneered pool later titles nights online game pool takes place fantasy setting action centered port city traditional games player starts building party characters deciding race sex class ability scores player party enlisted help settled city clearing inhabitants taken surroundings characters area battling bands enemies ultimately confronting powerful leader evil forces play player characters gain experience points allow increase capabilities game primarily uses person perspective screen divided sections display information combat sequences display switches video game view generally received gaming press pool won origins award reviewers criticized game similarities contemporary games places praised game graphics role playing adventure combat aspects regarded ability export player characters pool subsequent games series gameplay pool based game mechanics rule set role playing games player character pool character race character class determined beginning game races offered including classes fighter wizard thief non human characters option multi classed means gain capabilities class advance levels slowly character creation computer randomly generates statistics character player alter attributes player chooses character alignment moral philosophy player controls character actions alignment affect view actions player appearance colors character combat icon alternatively player load pre generated party introductory play characters combined party slots open players create save game files assuring character continuation regardless events game dos computer game copied hard disk drive computer systems commodore require separate save game disk game exploration mode uses dimensional person perspective left screen displaying party current view rest screen displays text information party area gameplay player allow characters use objects trade items characters enemies buy sell pool characters money cast spells learn new magic skills players view characters movement different angles including aerial view game uses different versions indicate differences long range encounters combat mode screen changes mode projection player decides actions characters round actions taken immediately commands issued standard player let computer choose character moves round characters monsters extra attack retreating enemy moves character hit points fall zero character character die game contains random encounters game reviewers dragon magazine observed random encounters follow standard patterns encounter tables pen paper game observed depictions monsters confronting party looked jumped pages different combat options available characters based class example fighters melee ranged weapons magic users cast spells thieves option stab opponent strategically positioning fighters progress level attack round fighters gain ability sweep enemies effectively attacking nearby low level creature turn magic users allowed cast set number spells day cast spell reuse process requires hours inactivity characters rest camp lost hit points damaged characters spells night significantly added game management required player characters defeat enemies gain experience points gaining characters train level powerful training purchased special areas city walls addition training learn new spells found unsettled areas defeated enemies areas contain items weapons armor characters sell city stores plot setting pool takes place forgotten realms fantasy world city located northern shore party begins section new governed council portion city hosts businesses including sell holy items temple jewelry shop retailers provide arms armor party contract clerk city council commissions halls offer bits information aid party coded clues journal included game temples dedicated different gods temple heal wounded poisoned afflicted fully restore deceased comrades high price party visit hiring hall hire experienced accompany party encounters shops offer valuable information listening gossip helpful characters tavern tales false lead characters great danger plot summary ancient trade city fallen impoverished ruin small portion city remains inhabited humans surrounded evil creatures rebuild city clean city council decided recruit drive monsters neighboring ruins publications spread tales waiting recovered draws player party shores ship start game ship lands receive brief tour area learn city plagued history invasions wars overtaken huge band creatures characters hear rumors single controlling element charge forces characters begin block block quest rid ruins monsters evil spirits ruins old party enters area quests immediately available new parties quest requires clearing block allows new party quickly gain experience second quest clear located fortified area inhabited defeated silver weapons magic characters adventure later expanded encompass outlying areas region eventually player learns evil spirit named possessed ancient dragon root problems characters fight climactic final battle history development pool official game based rules scenario created designers coded programmers inc special projects team section forgotten realms world pool takes place intended developed game created commodore computers taking year team thirty people game use game engine later games known gold box series team developing game led stated main challenge development interpreting rules exact format developers worked balance graphics gameplay provide faithful feel given restrictions home computer addition core books development images monsters adapted directly book game originally programmed developed game graphic arts pool released june initially available commodore compatible computers version announced version released version featured slightly different interface intended work black white like mac plus mac classic screen separate windows including game screen text console compass graphics display window relatively small compared versions version featured sound music game version released years later version japan fully translated like japanese version featured color graphics game ported nintendo_entertainment_system title released april original pool game shipped page introductory booklet describes secrets relating game concepts booklet guides players character creation process explaining create party game included page provides game background booklet features depictions maps information characters game package included translation wheel title screen copy protection screen displayed consisting pictures line player required use wheel line pictures enter word revealed wheel unsuccessful attempts game automatically shut sequels legacy pool series computer adventures set forgotten realms campaign setting released year apart curse secret silver blades game created sequel pool described instead reviewers dragon value added adventure like trip awaiting sequel player import characters pool characters reduced basic levels retain weapons magical items original characters exported pool exported curse bonds review curse computer gaming world noted transfer characters pool good idea game gamespot declared pool detailed art wide variety quests treasure tactical combat system despite availability character classes low character level cap ultimately succeeded goal bringing standardized form home computer laid foundation future gold box role playing games gamespy said pool gamers consider games great people today slow play gems march listed pool best electronic versions contributor felt pool series set stage major splash video game world role playing game module ruins adventure produced adventure scenario pool plot background setting characters computer game module contains useful clues successful completion computer missions ruins adventure contains linked form core pool according editors dragon magazine pool based ruins adventure vice versa novelization november novelization pool video game called written published novel set forgotten realms setting based fantasy role playing game dragon described novel plot companions find position defending soon ghost town rival possessing incredible power book trilogy followed release released gold box series games digitally august forgotten realms reception sold copies computers north_america times heroes lance licensed action game released year far successful game company history best selling rpg created bit computer platform hint book earlier game computer gaming world preview july writer noted sense described similarity game screen earlier computer example dimensional maze view upper left window similar magic released mid-1980s window listing characters featured use active character represent party reviewer noted design approach game play closer wizard crown games genre pool received positive reviews called game graphics good praised role playing combat aspects felt find pools essential purchase people solely computer games oriented buying loss commodore user giving score complaint slightly slow disk access reviewer impressed game features awarding commodore user superstar proclaiming best rpg grace computer issue british magazine rated game highly saying pools game role player people new role playing seriously consider buying introductory guide publication gave game rating reviewer noted person arcade style combat view great improvement traditionally incorporated simplistic graphics role playing games reviewer critical pool original presentation colors little concluded game classic recreated review positive giving game score reviewer felt game required emphasis puzzle solving game awarded puzzle factor reviewers conflicting reactions rpg approved game despite dislike system praising art mixture combat puzzles surprises concluded rival designer pool recommendation computer fantasy role playing gamer stated faithful use system left like disliked game puzzles lengthy combat sequences disliked fighting game described designed concluding patience possibly job required stated experienced role playing gamers won find new recommended love dungeons dragons drama march role computers column dragon magazine called gave pool page review reviewers praised offering truly follows game rules calling great fantasy role playing game falls buy category avid game players reviewers advised readers rush local dealer buy considered flagship product undoubtedly bring thousands computer enthusiasts adventure filled worlds dragon reviewers criticized slow technology system added version nearly software based utility strategic integrated game conversely reviewers felt dos version extremely fast slow game operation order read screen messages found dos version played twice speed version graphics mode reviewed version magazine giving overall rating mitchell preferred game champions released time version pool available felt pool compared champions playable limited actions players felt pool looked primitive polished compared champions felt pool standard champions said fine little game hand felt pool worth wait considering user friendly despite polished champions pool received gaming press won origins award best fantasy science fiction computer game second annual awards dragon readers voted pool popular fantasy role playing game year runner apple version popular format dos dos came close second commodore got fewest votes primary factor given votes game system game graphics easy use user interface activate commands pool selected sponsored game received fifth highest number votes survey readers time favorites writing gamespy retrospective history video games concluded game certainly flaws load times interface low level cap huge expansive adventure laid good foundation gold box game followed gave highly positive somewhat reserved review nes port pool scoring commented great game like nes wasn caliber time rpg adults rarely given nearly title aimed younger audiences cases programmers trying appeal older audience fan true rpg game thoroughly impressed absorbed
Pool of Radiance