Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor Interview

Article Index

Eschalon: Book II

Publisher:Ubisoft
Developer:Stormfront Studios
Release Date:2001-09-27
Genre:
  • Action,Role-Playing
Platforms: Theme: Perspective:
  • Third-Person
Buy this Game: Amazon ebay
GB: What steps, if any, have been taken to enhance the re-playability of the game? Are the drops for magical items and artifacts static or are some randomly allocated?

Garrett: In the single player game, the map and encounters are static. We've put in a lot of quests, however and expect that most players will play through a second time with a different party to do all the things they missed the first time around. Most of the re-playability comes from Multi-Play, which has random dungeons, random encounters and a few powerful magic items, which aren't in the single player game. Any player can play the Multi-Play game by themselves, if they want to.


GB: How is the interaction between the player party and possible characters that the party meets? Is there a party leader? Will the reaction of NPC's depend upon the race and class of the different party members and / or the possible party leader?

Garrett: The party speaks as one voice. The NPC's react only to how you choose to respond. As you take actions in the game that affect that NPC, they take note of it and offer you different dialogue choices.


GB: Can we expect to see any class and / or race specific magic items in the game? (Such as a Holy Avenger)

Garrett: Each class will have roughly one class specific magic item.


GB: Assuming that you have play-tested the game, what is your favorite character and why?

Garrett: My Barbarian, Kaiya, has 22 Str. and a +2 spear that does double damage. I love the sight of my enemies' limp body slumping to the floor after she hits it for 30+ damage. Same thing for my ½ Orc Cleric, Uttoxxitter. They both hate enemy spell casters and their Entangle and Hold Person spells.


GB: Will players that are familiar with Myth Drannor, either through the Myth Drannor module for the P&P 2nd Edition game or through other older games such as Eye of the Beholder part III, recognize any of the places that they will come across in Myth Drannor?

Garrett: The map was designed by an Architect, from floor plans supplied by TSR.


GB: Can we expect to run into any familiar people in Myth Drannor such as the fabled knights of Myth Drannor?

Garrett: The story line revolves around a group of bad guys who have driven out most of Myth Drannor's regular denizens.


GB: To conclude, can you explain why fans should get excited about Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor?

Garrett: Well Myth Drannor in and of itself is a great place for an adventure to be set in. With ruined temples, lost wizard guilds, miles upon miles of catacombs and dungeons, and a three leveled castle to explore, your adventurers will have tons of things to keep them busy while they are attempting to destroy the plans of the Cult of the Dragon. Aside from this backdrop, the game will feature a host of NPCS with their own agendas, the machinations of the Cult, and the ultimate quest of retrieving the Gauntlets of Moander, which can destroy the pool of radiance. Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor will present you with 3D rendered models, the first look at the 3rd Edition, and an adventure that will harken back to the good old days of the original in feel and scope.


In conclusion, I'd like to issue a sincere thank you to Garrett Graham, SSI, Stormfront Studios, and the people at Mattel Interactive for making this interview possible. We hope all of you enjoy reading about Pool of Radiance as much as we do =).