Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor
Encyclopedia
Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor is a Forgotten Realms
Dungeons and Dragons role-playing video game
released in 2001 by Ubisoft
.
Ruins of Myth Drannor is based on the AD&D module of the same name, but with rules updated for the third edition of D&D.
series. Unlike Baldur's Gate and other Infinity Engine
games, Ruins of Myth Drannor features turn-based combat rather than real-time combat. The game uses three-dimensional characters over pre-rendered two-dimensional backgrounds.
The game is a dungeon crawl
, with focus on hack and slash
combat and exploration of large dungeons with many bare, similar-looking rooms. Story progression and interaction with other characters is a minimum part of the game, although there is some interaction with NPCs and other in-game characters.
and his sorcerous queen have seized control of the Mythal
, the ancient magic that once protected the long abandoned elven city of Myth Drannor
. Once the elven ruin is completely in their thrall, the cult intends to expand its domination one city—and one soul—at a time.
Four heroes are sent to Myth Drannor by Elminster to stop the dracolich and the sorcerer
queen from using the power of the Mythal to conquer Faerûn
. They must travel to all areas of Myth Drannor, from the dungeons below the city, to the city itself, the catacombs beneath the city, et al., in an attempt to stop the evil from taking over the region.
's Neverwinter Nights
had been released, and Pool of Radiance sank into obscurity.
and also included with the collector's edition of the game, except in Europe. Despite the many criticisms of the game itself, opinions on the novel have generally been positive. The Collector's Edition version of the game contained a copy of the book, as well as other items valuable to collectors.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
Dungeons and Dragons role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
released in 2001 by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
.
Ruins of Myth Drannor is based on the AD&D module of the same name, but with rules updated for the third edition of D&D.
Gameplay
Ruins of Myth Drannor takes place from a top-down third-person perspective, similar to the Baldur's GateBaldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using modified Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules...
series. Unlike Baldur's Gate and other Infinity Engine
Infinity Engine
Infinity Engine is a game engine which allows the creation of isometric computer role-playing games. It was originally developed by BioWare for a prototype RTS game codenamed Battleground Infinity, which was ultimately re-engineered to become the first installment of the Baldur's Gate series...
games, Ruins of Myth Drannor features turn-based combat rather than real-time combat. The game uses three-dimensional characters over pre-rendered two-dimensional backgrounds.
The game is a dungeon crawl
Dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinthine environment, battling various monsters, and looting any treasure they may find...
, with focus on hack and slash
Hack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
combat and exploration of large dungeons with many bare, similar-looking rooms. Story progression and interaction with other characters is a minimum part of the game, although there is some interaction with NPCs and other in-game characters.
Story
A dracolichDracolich
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, a dracolich is an undead dragon that possesses certain abilities of a lich.-Publication history:The dracolich was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
and his sorcerous queen have seized control of the Mythal
Mythal
In the Forgotten Realms setting in the continent of Faerûn, a mythal is a powerful epic level magical effect.-Description:A mythal is created by a circle of elven High Mages to protect and ward a large area with numerous powerful enchantments...
, the ancient magic that once protected the long abandoned elven city of Myth Drannor
Myth Drannor
Myth Drannor, formerly known as Cormanthor, the City of Song, is a fictional elven city in the Forgotten Realms world. It is located in the area called Cormanthyr.-Fictional history:...
. Once the elven ruin is completely in their thrall, the cult intends to expand its domination one city—and one soul—at a time.
Four heroes are sent to Myth Drannor by Elminster to stop the dracolich and the sorcerer
Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
queen from using the power of the Mythal to conquer Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. They must travel to all areas of Myth Drannor, from the dungeons below the city, to the city itself, the catacombs beneath the city, et al., in an attempt to stop the evil from taking over the region.
Critical reception
Sales for the game were initially low as it received lackluster reviews and was plagued with bugs, especially in the multiplayer aspects. One major bug would cause the player's system files to uninstall when the game itself was removed. The majority of complaints about the game focused on the lack of activity: as the AD&D module it was based on is intended for a large player group, the module was somewhat 'boring' for single players. This misstep, in combination with the initial lack of multiplayer support, were primarily responsible for the game's lack of popularity. In addition, complex and confusing dungeons, and a single mode of play—hack'n slash—further contribute to the game's decline. Later patches fixed some of the stability issues, but by this time stronger competition such as BiowareBioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
's Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights , produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames , is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules. It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial...
had been released, and Pool of Radiance sank into obscurity.
Novelization
A novel based on the game, written by Carrie Bebris, was published by Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
and also included with the collector's edition of the game, except in Europe. Despite the many criticisms of the game itself, opinions on the novel have generally been positive. The Collector's Edition version of the game contained a copy of the book, as well as other items valuable to collectors.
External links
- Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- PoR2 Review @ Ars Technica