by Katiyana

Created on: May 15, 2008   Last Updated: August 08, 2011

Remember the computer game "Pool of Radiance"? It was my introduction to Role Playing games.

It was the first of the Gold Box series. The classic game began with you creating a party of 6 characters. For each character you would "roll" their base statistics in Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma, and pick their class & race. Classes are sort of like their jobs - and would determine what abilities they had, what weapons and armor they could wear, and what their role in the party would be. Race would provide additional abilities or penalties, depending on what you chose. Elves, for example, were immune to sleep spells. My standard party generally included two fighters, 2 clerics, 1 magic-user, and 1 thief. The fighters would be the up front monster killing machines. The clerics would be back-ups to the fighters, and provide the healing spells the party needed. The magic user was generally the weakest physically, but could launch powerful magic from behind the front line of the fighters and the clerics. The thief not only helped in picking locks and disabling traps, but would usually be my main archer, shooting arrows from behind the front line as well.

Each area of the map was a 16 x 16 grid that you would map on a piece of graph paper while you explored each section. The point of view during wandering mode would be from the point of view of the party, looking forward. When entering combat, the view would shift to an overhead view, showing your party as individual characters, and the monsters as opposing characters. Combat was handled like a game of chess, where you could move and direct the action of each member of your party, while the computer's AI system controlled the monsters. After each battle, if you were victorious, the surviving members of your party would be given experience points, and you'd be able to loot the fallen monsters of their weapons, armor, and treasure.

As characters earn more and more experience points, they can advance in level with extra training, granting them extra hit points and abilities which vary based on their class.

The premise of this game started your party in the Civilized area remaining of a once great city, and you are a party of adventurers seeking your fortune. There is a Town Council offering commissions (which are specific quests or jobs they need accomplished). If you complete the task and return to them, you receive an experience point bonus in addition to some extra treasure.

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