Pool of Radiance - Gold Box Companion

I think the design goals for POR are quite a bit different than most modern games. SSI was trying to deliver a automated DM with as full a rule set as possible even at the expense of micromanagement (rest+healing+learning for example). I’m sure some of it was because of technical limitations but it’s pretty unapologetically a module simulation of PnP. Modern games with some exceptions (maybe Kingmaker) have other overriding priorities including graphics, cinematic story telling, multiplayer and experience streamlining. That doesn’t make them worse but they can’t be good at everything. Sometimes I prefer simplistic graphics so I can fill in the look with imagination vs. what the game designer chose for the esthetic anyway (Aka Original Sin). I think the closest modern game to Gold Box is probably ToEE which is criticized for being largely a combat simulation. I’d call it a true old school PnP simulation because when I played DND as a kid it was 99.99% dungeon crawl just like ToEE.

Originally Posted by ToddMcF2002
I think the design goals for POR are quite a bit different than most modern games. SSI was trying to deliver a automated DM with as full a rule set as possible even at the expense of micromanagement (rest+healing+learning for example). I’m sure some of it was because of technical limitations but it’s pretty unapologetically a module simulation of PnP. Modern games with some exceptions (maybe Kingmaker) have other overriding priorities including graphics, cinematic story telling, multiplayer and experience streamlining. That doesn’t make them worse but they can’t be good at everything. Sometimes I prefer simplistic graphics so I can fill in the look with imagination vs. what the game designer chose for the esthetic anyway (Aka Original Sin). I think the closest modern game to Gold Box is probably ToEE which is criticized for being largely a combat simulation. I’d call it a true old school PnP simulation because when I played DND as a kid it was 99.99% dungeon crawl just like ToEE.

Well, I can't argue with PoR needing more of an imagination

It all comes down to personal preferences. As I said, I love PoR to death - but it doesn't come close to being near the vicinity of something like PoE2 or Kingmaker in terms of the things I enjoy - including character complexity, story, presentation, immersion, progression, loot design, combat mechanics, length, character interaction, customization, UI, visuals, sound, dialogue, power arsenal, and many other things.

Still, to each his own and all that.

The original intent of the thread was to help with the experience for anyone wanting to revisit Gold Box not debate it’s merit vs games 30 years later. Of course I contributed to that. Oops. Back to POR…

Originally Posted by ToddMcF2002
The original intent of the thread was to help with the experience for anyone wanting to revisit Gold Box not debate it’s merit vs games 30 years later. Of course I contributed to that. Oops. Back to POR…

I'm pretty sure a couple of people were involved

It's hardly the end of the world.

Anyway, back to topic then!