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Difference between revisions of "Pools of Darkness"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(basic details)
 
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|cover        = Pools of Darkness cover.jpg
 
|cover        = Pools of Darkness cover.jpg
 
|developers  =  
 
|developers  =  
−
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Strategic Simulations, Inc.}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/developer|Strategic Simulations Inc.}}
 
|publishers  =  
 
|publishers  =  
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|Strategic Simulations Inc.|Retail}}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|GOG.com|Digital, former }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/publisher|SNEG|Digital, current}}
 
|engines      =  
 
|engines      =  
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Gold Box}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/engine|Gold Box}}
 
|release dates=  
 
|release dates=  
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|1991}}
 
{{Infobox game/row/date|DOS|1991}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|August 20, 2015|ref=<ref name="release date">[https://www.gog.com/news/release_forgotten_realms_the_archives Release: Forgotten Realms: The Archives - GOG.com]</ref>}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Mac OS|1992}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|August 20, 2015|ref=<ref name="release date"/>}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Windows|August 20, 2015|wrapper=DOSBox|ref=<ref name="release date">[https://www.gog.com/news/release_forgotten_realms_the_archives Release: Forgotten Realms: The Archives - GOG.com]</ref>}}
−
{{Infobox game/row/date|Linux|August 20, 2015|ref=<ref name="release date"/>}}
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|OS X|August 20, 2015|wrapper=DOSBox|ref=<ref name="release date"/>}}
−
|steam appid  =  
+
{{Infobox game/row/date|Linux|August 20, 2015|wrapper=DOSBox|ref=<ref name="release date"/>}}
−
|gogcom page  = forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_two
+
|taxonomy    =
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization      | One-time game purchase }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes            | Singleplayer }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing            | Turn-based }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives      | First-person }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres            | RPG }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports            | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles          | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles        | }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes            | Fantasy }}
 +
{{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series            | Gold Box }}
 +
|steam appid  = 1904522
 +
|gogcom id    = 1432643408
 +
|gogcom id side = 1436871302
 +
|hltb        = 19614
 
|strategywiki =  
 
|strategywiki =  
 +
|mobygames    = 505
 
|wikipedia    = Pools of Darkness
 
|wikipedia    = Pools of Darkness
 
|winehq      =  
 
|winehq      =  
 +
|license      = commercial
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Series|Gold Box}}
 
  
−
'''Key points'''
+
{{Introduction
−
{{++}} Characters can be imported from [[Secret of the Silver Blades]].
+
|introduction      =
 +
 
 +
|release history  =
 +
 
 +
|current state    =
 +
}}
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
−
{{GOG.com links|forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_two|forgotten_realms_collection|for game series}}
+
{{++}} Saves and characters can be imported from [[Secret of the Silver Blades]].
 +
{{GOG.com links|1432643408|forgotten_realms_collection|for game series}}
 +
{{mm}} [https://steamcommunity.com/app/1882280/discussions/ Steam Community Discussions] for game series
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
 
{{Availability|
 
{{Availability|
−
{{Availability/row| Retail | | physical | Run in [[DOSBox]]. | | DOS }}
+
{{Availability/row| Retail | | physical | | | DOS, Mac OS }}
−
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_two | DRM-free | Bundled with [[Pool of Radiance]], [[Hillsfar]], [[Curse of the Azure Bonds]], [[Secret of the Silver Blades]], [[Gateway to the Savage Frontier]], [[Treasures of the Savage Frontier]], and [[Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures]]. | | Windows, OS X, Linux }}
+
{{Availability/row| GOG.com | forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_two | DRM-free | Bundled with [[Pool of Radiance]], [[Hillsfar]], [[Curse of the Azure Bonds]], [[Secret of the Silver Blades]], [[Gateway to the Savage Frontier]], [[Treasures of the Savage Frontier]], and [[Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures]]. | | Windows, OS X, Linux }}
 +
{{Availability/row| Steam | 1882280 | DRM-free | Bundled with [[Pool of Radiance]], [[Hillsfar]], [[Curse of the Azure Bonds]], [[Secret of the Silver Blades]], [[Gateway to the Savage Frontier]], [[Treasures of the Savage Frontier]], and [[Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures]]. | | Windows, OS X, Linux }}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{ii}} The retail version requires the manual to answer copy protection questions. The GOG.com version has the copy protection cracked (anything will be accepted).<ref>[https://www.gog.com/forum/forgotten_realms_collection/note_copy_protection_in_these_games NOTE: Copy protection in these games, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com]</ref>
+
{{ii}} The retail version requires the manual to answer copy protection questions. The GOG.com version will accept any answer.<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://www.gog.com/forum/forgotten_realms_collection/note_copy_protection_in_these_games|title=NOTE: Copy protection in these games, page 1 - Forum - GOG.com|date=May 2023}}</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Essential improvements==
 +
===Gold Box Companion===
 +
{{ii}} [http://gbc.zorbus.net Gold Box Companion] is a program for Windows that adds various optional features when playing the DOS version in DOSBox (automap, party HUD, raising level restrictions, character editing, etc.)
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
===Configuration file(s) location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/row|DOS|{{p|game}}\POOL4.CFG}}
+
{{Game data/config|DOS|{{p|game}}\POOL4.CFG}}
−
{{Game data/row|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Windows|}}
−
{{Game data/row|Mac OS|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Mac OS|}}
−
{{Game data/row|OS X|}}
+
{{Game data/config|OS X|}}
−
{{Game data/row|Linux|}}
+
{{Game data/config|Linux|}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{XDG|unknown}}
 
{{XDG|unknown}}
Line 46: Line 78:
 
===Save game data location===
 
===Save game data location===
 
{{Game data|
 
{{Game data|
−
{{Game data/row|DOS|{{p|game}}\SAVE\}}
+
{{Game data/saves|DOS|{{p|game}}\SAVE\}}
−
{{Game data/row|Windows|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Windows|}}
−
{{Game data/row|Mac OS|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Mac OS|}}
−
{{Game data/row|OS X|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|OS X|}}
−
{{Game data/row|Linux|}}
+
{{Game data/saves|Linux|}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{ii}} The default save folder can be changed by editing {{file|POOL4.CFG}}.
 
{{ii}} The default save folder can be changed by editing {{file|POOL4.CFG}}.
Line 56: Line 88:
 
{{ii}} Character files are {{file|*.PC}}. Character files are only present when that character is not part of a party in a save file.
 
{{ii}} Character files are {{file|*.PC}}. Character files are only present when that character is not part of a party in a save file.
  
−
==Video settings==
+
===[[Glossary:Save game cloud syncing|Save game cloud syncing]]===
−
{{Video settings
+
{{Save game cloud syncing
 +
|discord                  =
 +
|discord notes            =
 +
|epic games launcher      =
 +
|epic games launcher notes =
 +
|gog galaxy                = true
 +
|gog galaxy notes          =
 +
|origin                    =
 +
|origin notes              =
 +
|steam cloud              = true
 +
|steam cloud notes        =
 +
|ubisoft connect          =
 +
|ubisoft connect notes    =
 +
|xbox cloud                =
 +
|xbox cloud notes          =
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Video==
 +
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|wsgf link                  =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
 
|widescreen wsgf award      =  
Line 64: Line 114:
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    =  
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
 
|widescreen resolution      = false
−
|widescreen resolution notes= Upscaled 320x200 only.
+
|widescreen resolution notes= 320x200 only.
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor              = false
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
Line 73: Line 123:
 
|fov                        = n/a
 
|fov                        = n/a
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
−
|windowed                  = true
+
|windowed                  = false
−
|windowed notes            = Toggle with {{key|Alt|Enter}} (when using [[DOSBox]]).
+
|windowed notes            =  
 
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed        = false
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
 
|borderless windowed notes  =  
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|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing              = n/a
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 
|antialiasing notes        =  
 +
|upscaling                  = unknown
 +
|upscaling tech            =
 +
|upscaling notes            =
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync                      = false
 
|vsync notes                =  
 
|vsync notes                =  
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|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 +
|hdr                        = unknown
 +
|hdr notes                  =
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind                = unknown
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Input settings==
+
==Input==
−
{{Input settings
+
{{Input
 
|key remap                = unknown
 
|key remap                = unknown
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
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|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
 
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 +
|touchscreen              = unknown
 +
|touchscreen notes        =
 
|controller support        = unknown
 
|controller support        = unknown
 
|controller support notes  =  
 
|controller support notes  =  
Line 113: Line 170:
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis  = unknown
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
 
|invert controller y-axis notes=  
−
|touchscreen               = unknown
+
|xinput controllers        = unknown
−
|touchscreen notes        =  
+
|xinput controllers notes  =
−
|button prompts           = unknown
+
|xbox prompts              = unknown
−
|button prompts notes     =  
+
|xbox prompts notes        =
 +
|impulse triggers          = unknown
 +
|impulse triggers notes    =
 +
|dualshock 4               = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 notes        =
 +
|dualshock prompts        = unknown
 +
|dualshock prompts notes  =
 +
|light bar support        = unknown
 +
|light bar support notes  =
 +
|dualshock 4 modes        = unknown
 +
|dualshock 4 modes notes  =
 +
|tracked motion controllers= unknown
 +
|tracked motion controllers notes =
 +
|tracked motion prompts    = unknown
 +
|tracked motion prompts notes =
 +
|other controllers         = unknown
 +
|other controllers notes  =  
 +
|other button prompts     = unknown
 +
|other button prompts notes=  
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug        = unknown
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|controller hotplug notes  =  
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback          = unknown
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
 
|haptic feedback notes    =  
−
|light bar support        = unknown
+
|simultaneous input        = unknown
−
|light bar support notes   =  
+
|simultaneous input notes  =
 +
|steam input api          = unknown
 +
|steam input api notes    =
 +
|steam hook input          = unknown
 +
|steam hook input notes    =
 +
|steam input presets      = unknown
 +
|steam input presets notes =
 +
|steam controller prompts  = unknown
 +
|steam controller prompts notes =
 +
|steam cursor detection    = unknown
 +
|steam cursor detection notes =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Audio settings==
+
==Audio==
−
{{Audio settings
+
{{Audio
 
|separate volume          = unknown
 
|separate volume          = unknown
 
|separate volume notes    =  
 
|separate volume notes    =  
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|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              =  
 
|eax support              =  
−
|eax support notes        =  
+
|eax support notes         =
 +
|royalty free audio       = unknown
 +
|royalty free audio notes  =
 +
|red book cd audio        =
 +
|red book cd audio notes  =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
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{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
 
  |language  = English
 
  |language  = English
−
  |interface = yes
+
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = n/a
 
  |audio    = n/a
 
  |subtitles = n/a
 
  |subtitles = n/a
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |notes    =  
 
  |fan      =  
 
  |fan      =  
−
|fan notes =
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Other information==
 +
===API===
 +
{{API
 +
|direct3d versions      =
 +
|direct3d notes        =
 +
|directdraw versions    =
 +
|directdraw notes      =
 +
|opengl versions        =
 +
|opengl notes          =
 +
|glide versions        =
 +
|glide notes            =
 +
|software mode          =
 +
|software mode notes    =
 +
|mantle support        =
 +
|mantle support notes  =
 +
|metal support          =
 +
|metal support notes    =
 +
|vulkan versions        =
 +
|vulkan notes          =
 +
|dos modes              = unknown
 +
|dos modes notes        =
 +
|shader model versions  =
 +
|shader model notes    =
 +
|windows 32-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows 64-bit exe    = unknown
 +
|windows arm app        = unknown
 +
|windows exe notes      =
 +
|mac os x powerpc app  = unknown
 +
|macos intel 32-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos intel 64-bit app = unknown
 +
|macos arm app          = unknown
 +
|macos app notes        =
 +
|linux 32-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux 64-bit executable= unknown
 +
|linux arm app          = unknown
 +
|linux 68k app          = unknown
 +
|linux executable notes =
 +
|mac os powerpc app    = unknown
 +
|mac os 68k app        = true
 +
|mac os executable notes=
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 171: Line 301:
  
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}
 +
{{GOG.com Enhancement Project}}

Latest revision as of 23:38, 3 January 2024

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.
Pools of Darkness
Pools of Darkness cover
Developers
Strategic Simulations Inc.
Publishers
Retail Strategic Simulations Inc.
Digital, former GOG.com
Digital, current SNEG
Engines
Gold Box
Release dates
DOS 1991
Mac OS (Classic) 1992
Windows (DOSBox) August 20, 2015[1]
macOS (OS X) (DOSBox) August 20, 2015[1]
Linux (DOSBox) August 20, 2015[1]
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Turn-based
Perspectives First-person
Genres RPG
Themes Fantasy
Series Gold Box
Icon overlay.png
Pools of Darkness on HowLongToBeat
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
Pools of Darkness on MobyGames
Pools of Darkness on Wikipedia
⤏ Go to series page
Subseries of Dungeons & Dragons
Pool of Radiance (series)
Curse of the Azure Bonds 1989
Secret of the Silver Blades 1990
Buck Rogers (series)
Champions of Krynn 1990
Neverwinter Nights 1991
Pools of Darkness 1991
Gateway to the Savage Frontier 1991
Death Knights of Krynn 1991
The Dark Queen of Krynn 1992
Treasures of the Savage Frontier 1992
Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace 1992
Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures 1993

Pools of Darkness is a singleplayer first-person RPG game in the Gold Box series.

General information

Saves and characters can be imported from Secret of the Silver Blades.
GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions for game series

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Prompts for answers from manual, code wheel, etc.
DOS
Mac OS
GOG.com
DRM-free
 Bundled with Pool of Radiance, Hillsfar, Curse of the Azure Bonds, Secret of the Silver Blades, Gateway to the Savage Frontier, Treasures of the Savage Frontier, and Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Steam
DRM-free after installation through Steam client (notes may include more details)
 Bundled with Pool of Radiance, Hillsfar, Curse of the Azure Bonds, Secret of the Silver Blades, Gateway to the Savage Frontier, Treasures of the Savage Frontier, and Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures.
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
The retail version requires the manual to answer copy protection questions. The GOG.com version will accept any answer.[2]

Essential improvements

Gold Box Companion

Gold Box Companion is a program for Windows that adds various optional features when playing the DOS version in DOSBox (automap, party HUD, raising level restrictions, character editing, etc.)

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\POOL4.CFG
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game data location

System Location
DOS <path-to-game>\SAVE\
Windows <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Mac OS (Classic)
macOS (OS X) <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
Linux <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 1]
The default save folder can be changed by editing POOL4.CFG.
Saves are SAVGAMA.PTY to SAVGAMJ.PTY.
Character files are *.PC. Character files are only present when that character is not part of a party in a save file.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud

Video

Graphics feature State Notes
Widescreen resolution
320x200 only.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
For DOSBox toggle with Alt+↵ Enter (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Vertical sync (Vsync)
For DOSBox use an unofficial build (see the glossary page for other workarounds).
60 FPS
120+ FPS

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Everything is text-based.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file.
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DOS video modes

System requirements

DOS
Minimum
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU)
System memory (RAM)
Hard disk drive (HDD)


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data. For the GOG.com release, file changes in DOSBox are redirected to <path-to-game>/cloud_saves/ even if GOG Galaxy is not used (this folder contains all redirected files, so some files in the cloud_saves folder might be temporary files or other files that do not contain saves or settings).

References