Gold Box SSI's Gold Box Series Thread

[ProphetSword]

Also, when it comes to playing elves in the Krynn games, I'll steal the words of PetrusOctavianus (who I think frequents the Codex) in a post he wrote about them:

"...the Krynn games are much more hard core than the FR games. In the Krynn games Elves can't be Resurrected! And Disintegrated characters are GONE and can't be resurrected either. So if you play the Krynn games more or less Iron Man, you'll have to think long and hard about including elves. I included elves in my party and found that my playing style was affected by it, and I always tried to keep them away from things that could insta kill them, like Beholder rays and Dragon breath."

 

[smaug]

I don’t know if I’ll play Ironman my first time through. Maybe when I replay these games in the future, I’ll ptobably do one.

I will try and limit my saving though.

 

[Punch]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

 

[Strange Fellow]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

If you can handle the troo old-school, Pool of Radiance. If you want the convenience features of the fully developed Gold Box engine from the get-go, Champions of Krynn.

 

[smaug]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

If you can handle the troo old-school, Pool of Radiance. If you want the convenience features of the fully developed Gold Box engine from the get-go, Champions of Krynn.

He can start with Pool of Radiance, because of GBC.

 

[Strange Fellow]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

If you can handle the troo old-school, Pool of Radiance. If you want the convenience features of the fully developed Gold Box engine from the get-go, Champions of Krynn.

He can start with Pool of Radiance, because of GBC.

But GBC cheats by not simulating resting.

 

[smaug]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

If you can handle the troo old-school, Pool of Radiance. If you want the convenience features of the fully developed Gold Box engine from the get-go, Champions of Krynn.

He can start with Pool of Radiance, because of GBC.

But GBC's Fix command cheats.

Sacrifices must be made.

 

[Punch]

Pool of Radiance it is, then.

ps: I wasn't aware that there was an NES version but I'm skipping that for now, is it decent compared to the PC one?

 

[octavius]

In the Gold Box games, I thought the tactical use of bows, the ability to interrupt enemy spell casters from a distance, made them invaluable. Not so much about raw damage output.

You are better off just dropping a magic missile on them. Instant cast and autohit. You only have to damage them that round in order to disrupt them for the entire round, not have to wait for them to start casting.

Sure, if you're rest spamming.

 

[Cael]

There's no one right way to play any of these games (no matter what Cael will try to tell you). Build the party you want to build and don't worry about level limitations. Unlike later versions of the game (except maybe 5th Edition), AD&D was a bit more forgiving when it came to level differences as the number spread doesn't usually go high enough to worry about it. Plenty of people sitting at actual tabletops played with those same restrictions and did fine.

I can also tell you I've done several runs through the game series (Pool of Radiance - Pools of Darkness, for example) and I never had any issues with my characters even when they were limited in some levels. The key is to sometimes pair them off with a class they aren't limited in (for example, I tend to play a half-elf Fighter/Thief in my party configuration...I never give a single thought to whatever level they stop being a fighter and they can take Thief all the way to 40).

Having a Kender in the Krynn games can be extremely helpful. Their "Taunt" ability is not to be underestimated. Forcing the enemy to act like idiots while they rush toward your Kender and let their guard down or having enemy spellcasters try to target only the Kender with a Fireball while he's standing in the middle of a bunch of other enemies can be pretty rewarding. You can turn the tide of some battles just by using taunt and setting your characters up so that enemies have to run through them to get to the Kender, giving your party a lot of free attacks. They're also immune to fear, which makes them essential in fights against dragons. They're the only race that can use the Hoopak (a combination melee and ranged weapon), and considering you find magical ones in the game it's best to have someone to give them to. They can also backstab with Hoopaks if they take the Thief class.

Do what is fun.

A fighter 5/cleric 12 in a game where the level limit is 40 is BAD whichever race you took. Stop being a butthurt idiot on the whole Taunt thing. No Taunt works as well compared to a Fireball (or five) to the face.

 

[Cael]

In the Gold Box games, I thought the tactical use of bows, the ability to interrupt enemy spell casters from a distance, made them invaluable. Not so much about raw damage output.

You are better off just dropping a magic missile on them. Instant cast and autohit. You only have to damage them that round in order to disrupt them for the entire round, not have to wait for them to start casting.

Sure, if you're rest spamming.

If you don't use the Fix command after every fight (unless it is one of the rare time limited areas), you are playing GB games wrong :D

 

[Incendax]

If I want to get into gold box games, where should I start?

Pool of Radiance > Gateway to the Savage Frontier > Curse of the Azure Bonds > Treasures of the Savage Frontier > Secret of the Silver Blades > Pool of Darkness.
OR
Champions of Krynn > Death Knights of Krynn > Dark Queen of Krynn.

There’s also some cool Buck Rodgers shit if you like science fiction.

 

[Punch]

There’s also some cool Buck Rodgers shit if you like science fiction.

Will definitely look into it after playing Pool of Radiance, thanks!

 

[Comte]

Whats a good party build for Buck Rogers classes and races?

 

[Elwro]

I just wanted to thank Joonas ! This is such a wonderufl project!

 

[octavius]

Whats a good party build for Buck Rogers classes and races?

I remember not being satisfied with my first party (IIRC having only one Medic was too frustrating), but I completed the first game with the following party:
Terran Rocket Jockey
Desert Runner Warrior
Tinker Medic
Martian Medic
Venusian Rogue
Venusian Engineer

 

[Arrowgrab]

Whats a good party build for Buck Rogers classes and races?

I remember not being satisfied with my first party (IIRC having only one Medic was too frustrating), but I completed the first game with the following party:
Terran Rocket Jockey
Desert Runner Warrior
Tinker Medic
Martian Medic
Venusian Rogue
Venusian Engineer

I'm not sure two Medics are strictly necessary (though they would certainly help in SOME parts of the game), and I don't really see why a Venusian would be a better Engineer than a Tinker. On the other hand, an extra fighter would always come in handy.

As for warrior(s), picking Needlers for their weapon specialisation seems a bit silly at first but could pay off in spades later. Needlers have short range and low damage, but they can fire a LOT of times per round, especially when your characters get to higher levels. That means that a +1 or more to damage is applied to a WHOLE LOT of attacks per round, and it can really add up. Also, IIRC no enemies are immune to needlers, which make them great at finishing off battle and combat bots (the big rocket- and plasma-launcher-wielding bastards). And if you plan on importing the party to the sequel, Matrix Cubed has a number of +X needlers for ridiculous damage output in the late game.

 

[ProphetSword]

A fighter 5/cleric 12 in a game where the level limit is 40 is BAD whichever race you took. Stop being a butthurt idiot on the whole Taunt thing. No Taunt works as well compared to a Fireball (or five) to the face.

The only butthurt idiot is you. You keep pushing a “one true way” mantra, telling people what they should and should not play and how they should play it. There are multiple ways to beat these games, a lot of which is more fun than spamming fireballs until things die.

I mean, if you need that many fireballs to steamroll over the fights, you must suck at tactics. But if that’s how you want to play, that’s your right. Just don’t expect the rest of us to think it’s a great way to have fun; because that would get boring awfully quick.

 

[Cael]

A fighter 5/cleric 12 in a game where the level limit is 40 is BAD whichever race you took. Stop being a butthurt idiot on the whole Taunt thing. No Taunt works as well compared to a Fireball (or five) to the face.

The only butthurt idiot is you. You keep pushing a “one true way” mantra, telling people what they should and should not play and how they should play it. There are multiple ways to beat these games, a lot of which is more fun than spamming fireballs until things die.

I mean, if you need that many fireballs to steamroll over the fights, you must suck at tactics. But if that’s how you want to play, that’s your right. Just don’t expect the rest of us to think it’s a great way to have fun; because that would get boring awfully quick.

Ah, the "I make up stuff and accuse you of it" method of debate. Lovely.

Listen, dramafag. I don't tell people what to do or make up derogatory names in order force people to do what I want them to do, unlike your kind. If someone is having problems, I give them suggestions that might get them out of that trouble. Usually, that means a more efficient and powerful party, which gets up your dramafag nose because a wizard with Int > 10 is verbooten in your books. Your problem is that you give a suggestion that no one gives a fuck about because it is useful only in the beginning of the game and falls off dramatically after the first game. And then you get assblasted because people don't listen to your dumb shit.

If you want a Kender because you are in love with Taunt, play it as a straight thief, not a fighter/cleric, you fucking retard. The Krynn series is easy enough that a party of single class characters with only 1 mage can easily complete it if you know what you are doing. You don't NEED to multiclass. But if people are having trouble and need a boost, then that is where it comes in.

 

[GarfunkeL]

only reason I asked about multi-class restricting is I read somewhere that later games such as Pools of Darkness and DQoK were not possible with level limitations

It is possible to finish both with almost any type of party if you can play well enough with items and spells. But there are optional fights / challenges that are far more difficult and require optimized min/maxing. So if you want to get through those and you're probably only playing the games once, it's best to min-max from the start.

 

[smaug]

only reason I asked about multi-class restricting is I read somewhere that later games such as Pools of Darkness and DQoK were not possible with level limitations

It is possible to finish both with almost any type of party if you can play well enough with items and spells. But there are optional fights / challenges that are far more difficult and require optimized min/maxing. So if you want to get through those and you're probably only playing the games once, it's best to min-max from the start.

I will most likely replay. I hear about these special “Dave” (I think or David) challenges which sound pretty cool. I think some guy on YouTube solo’d Pools of Darkness and the bonus challenges (didn’t watch the video for spoilers)

 

[Cael]

only reason I asked about multi-class restricting is I read somewhere that later games such as Pools of Darkness and DQoK were not possible with level limitations

It is possible to finish both with almost any type of party if you can play well enough with items and spells. But there are optional fights / challenges that are far more difficult and require optimized min/maxing. So if you want to get through those and you're probably only playing the games once, it's best to min-max from the start.

I will most likely replay. I hear about these special “Dave” (I think or David) challenges which sound pretty cool. I think some guy on YouTube solo’d Pools of Darkness and the bonus challenges (didn’t watch the video for spoilers)

Heads up, dude: DKK has a Dave's Challenge.

 

[Punch]

lol, first playthrough and I get wrecked by the training hall duels and end up wasting all of my gold, platinum, whatever into healing my characters. Didn't even leave the starting town!

Just my kind of game.

 

[smaug]

lol, first playthrough and I get wrecked by the training hall duels and end up wasting all of my gold, platinum, whatever into healing my characters. Didn't even leave the starting town!

Just my kind of game.

I would not go into taverns and duels at the beginning.

 

[ProphetSword]

lol, first playthrough and I get wrecked by the training hall duels and end up wasting all of my gold, platinum, whatever into healing my characters. Didn't even leave the starting town!

Just my kind of game.

If you’re talking Pool of Radiance, my first play through in 1988 got my party wiped out in a bar fight three minutes after I generated them. Learned a lesson there.