Curse of the Azure Bonds
Curse of the Azure Bond is a computer role-playing game of the U.S. game developer Strategic Simulations, Inc. ( SSI) in 1989 and the sequel to Pool of Radiance. Like its predecessor, it is based on the role-playing rules Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ( AD & D) and used the Gold Box engine, however, expanded the scope of the game compared to its predecessor. Curse of the Azure Bond appeared for the platforms Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, Mac OS and PC -98.
Action
The game shifts the action to the Southern situated by Phlan Dalelands (English: Dalelands ), the starting point is the settlement Tilverton. The party awakes there a magic sleep and notes that they lack any memory, and all their belongings were stolen. Instead, all the characters wear five blue, tattoo -like body markings, called Azure Bonds. They are an expression of a curse that weighs on the characters and it is repealed.
The group traveled in the course of the game the entire surrounding area, including the elven forest, the Zhentilfeste, the Temple of Yulash and the citadel Hap. The game ends with the final confrontation in Myth Drannor, where it finally lifted final with victory over the final boss of the curse.
Gameplay
Curse of the Azure Bonds takes the gameplay of its predecessor unchanged. It combines a turn-based game world exploration from the first-person tactical, also turn-based battles from a cavalier perspective. It is based on the role-playing rules Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, which was implemented close to the original from the game. Player of the predecessor Pool of Radiance or developed in parallel as a commissioned work by Westwood Associates offshoot Hillsfar can import at the beginning of their heroes troop. Alternatively, a new, as before six-member group of heroes to be created. Compared to its predecessor, the class selection has been further enhanced to fighter, magic - user, cleric and thief to the Paladin and the Ranger. In addition, there are six player races to choose (human, half-elf, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome ) for which - with the exception of people - including class combinations are possible. New characters get at the beginning 25,000 experience points, allowing them to begin approximately at character level 5.
Unlike its predecessor, the band of heroes traveled the region with the help of an overland travel map can be picked out on the appropriate destinations. During the trip it can cause random encounters like raids.
Development
Besides the two additional character classes, the selection of spells by 30 was extended. The graphic was also, with the exception of the Amiga version, slightly improved. The upper limit for experience points was increased, the revised operation and introduced side quests. The cover design was created as its predecessor from the U.S. Illustrator Clyde Caldwell, who was also responsible for the design of other D & D products.
Reception
Curse of the Azure Bonds was "Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1989 Best " award as the predecessor Pool of Radiance with the Origins Award for the. Allen Rausch from the U.S. online gaming magazine GameSpy called Curse of the Azure Bonds in his retrospective of 2004 as a " more than worthy continuation of the series".
In Curse of the Azure Bonds followed at annual intervals two more thematic successor, Secret of the Silver Blades, and Pools of Darkness.
Novel
- Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb: Azure Bond. TSR, 1988, ISBN 0-88038-612-6.
The novel formed a prequel to the game and is the first of a trilogy of novels titled Finders Stone Trilogy, with the books The Wyvern 's track ( ISBN 0-88038-902-8 ) and Song of the Saurials (ISBN 1-56076-060 - 5) the same authors continued.