| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 09 Dec 2010 : 19:21:35
So what would be the best order in which to immerse myself in these products.
The Pool of Radiance computer game, the novel, and the module which is tied in to the computer game (actually running the module also i guess)? Anyone know which order is best to read/play these? Thanks! |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 13 Dec 2010 : 18:00:00
quote:
Originally posted by Halidan
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Pool(s) of Darkness and Pool(s) Twilight? I found them to be very good follow ups.
The problem is that both Pools of Darkness and Pools of Twilight are follow-ups to the original Pools of Radiance novel, set in Phlan and the op has already indicated that he's interested in the Pools of Radiance:Ruins of Myth Drannor series, which has no follow-up novels.
Yes I would say that this thread has strayed in the directions of both the original Pools of Radiance and the Ruins of Myth Drannor discussions respectively.  |
| Halidan |
Posted - 13 Dec 2010 : 17:45:12
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Pool(s) of Darkness and Pool(s) Twilight? I found them to be very good follow ups.
The problem is that both Pools of Darkness and Pools of Twilight are follow-ups to the original Pools of Radiance novel, set in Phlan and the op has already indicated that he's interested in the Pools of Radiance:Ruins of Myth Drannor series, which has no follow-up novels. |
| Bakra |
Posted - 13 Dec 2010 : 13:48:50
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by Bakra
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Yes I forgot to mention, it's Ruins of Myth Drannor, the newer one. No way will I play that old DOS game - gives me a headache lol.
Read the book first, play the module, then boot up Windows XP and run the computer game. For me, the book got me into the mood to play the module and computer game. If you are running the game for players then by all means play the pc game first and take notes. Read the novel and take even more notes....find the bonus web content released for the module...THEN mix it all together for hopefully a good time.
Got a link for said web content? 
Ahh my memory stinks this is not really a bonus content but here is the link:
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=fr/fx20010627c
|
| Diffan |
Posted - 13 Dec 2010 : 13:41:18
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
How are the subsequent novels? I haven't read them yet.
Pool(s) of Darkness and Pool(s) Twilight? I found them to be very good follow ups.
Definitly agree though I'm more of a fan of Pool of Twilight. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 13 Dec 2010 : 12:22:39
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
How are the subsequent novels? I haven't read them yet.
Pool(s) of Darkness and Pool(s) Twilight? I found them to be very good follow ups. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 22:21:34
How are the subsequent novels? I haven't read them yet. |
| Tamsar |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 22:10:37
quote:
Originally posted by ArikThe PoR book is, ah, "loosely based" on the other two; it's again much the same story but you won't find a lot of people who liked it.
I've always had a soft spot for the novel, as it was one of the early FR novels. Found it to be an enjoyable read, and I recently re-read again for the umpteenth time. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 14:04:18
quote:
Originally posted by Bakra
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Yes I forgot to mention, it's Ruins of Myth Drannor, the newer one. No way will I play that old DOS game - gives me a headache lol.
Read the book first, play the module, then boot up Windows XP and run the computer game. For me, the book got me into the mood to play the module and computer game. If you are running the game for players then by all means play the pc game first and take notes. Read the novel and take even more notes....find the bonus web content released for the module...THEN mix it all together for hopefully a good time.
Got a link for said web content? |
| Bakra |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 12:59:29
quote:
Originally posted by Alisttair
Yes I forgot to mention, it's Ruins of Myth Drannor, the newer one. No way will I play that old DOS game - gives me a headache lol.
Read the book first, play the module, then boot up Windows XP and run the computer game. For me, the book got me into the mood to play the module and computer game. If you are running the game for players then by all means play the pc game first and take notes. Read the novel and take even more notes....find the bonus web content released for the module...THEN mix it all together for hopefully a good time. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 12:58:26
quote:
Originally posted by Arik
The Ruins of Adventure module is fantastic. But poorly written and organized ... it's a bit difficult to make much sense out of it unless you've already played the Pool of Radiance computer version. It's also arranged in the same "progressive square map area" layout, a very arbitrary artifact from DOS-era gaming. The PoR book is, ah, "loosely based" on the other two; it's again much the same story but you won't find a lot of people who liked it.
There's plenty of "walkthrough" spoiler/hint/cheat guides which can give you a good overview of the PoR game, no real need to play it.
I'm actually running Ruins of Adventure for my brother, adapted to 4E (yes he is playing 4 characters by himself lol). It's pretty simple to run the way everything is laid out. I find it funny how the "quests" aren't written in order (some of the first ones written states that they aren't available until most of the ruins are clear, etc...), but knowing this and having an action plan written out on the side, it's simple and easy enough to run and very fun (so far, we are a little over halfway through). |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 12:13:32
The Ruins of Adventure module is fantastic. But poorly written and organized ... it's a bit difficult to make much sense out of it unless you've already played the Pool of Radiance computer version. It's also arranged in the same "progressive square map area" layout, a very arbitrary artifact from DOS-era gaming. The PoR book is, ah, "loosely based" on the other two; it's again much the same story but you won't find a lot of people who liked it.
There's plenty of "walkthrough" spoiler/hint/cheat guides which can give you a good overview of the PoR game, no real need to play it. |
| Alisttair |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 11:18:08
Yes I forgot to mention, it's Ruins of Myth Drannor, the newer one. No way will I play that old DOS game - gives me a headache lol. |
| idilippy |
Posted - 10 Dec 2010 : 02:37:21
Ah, I was mistaken, I thought you were talking about the old Pool of Radiance DOS game. I've never played Ruins of Myth Drannor but I did read the book and agree with Diffan that it is entertaining. It's nothing exceptional but I had such low expectations going into the book that I was pleasantly surprised. |
| Diffan |
Posted - 09 Dec 2010 : 19:50:49
Do you mean the Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor game? If so, I'd read the book first. I actually enjoyed it, though it's rather simplistic in it's character development. The arguing between the goody-goody paladin and the main character (a loner female Rogue) was pretty funny at times and the internal conflict of the group keeps things interesting.
As for the game, meh I've honestly played better RPGs. It's very turn-based, going so far as to have a time limit on what a specific character can do in a round (this ability can be shut off). Theres also an Auto-Run function which I highly recommend you keep on at all times. The Dungeons are pretty expansive and it can get frustrating going back and forth really slowly.
Oh, and the game is pretty hard, often fighting creatures 2 to 3 levels (CR wise) than you can handle. |
| idilippy |
Posted - 09 Dec 2010 : 19:37:37
The game was released first, so if you wanted to experience them in chronological order I would say the game, then the module, then the novel. On the other hand, according to one of the old Dragon magazines(159 according to wikipedia) the computer game is actually based off of the module, even though it came out a month earlier. Still, reading and or running the module will spoil some encounters in the computer game, so if you want to play the game with no preconceived ideas about what happens I'd play the computer game before looking at the module. |
