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When the single player game ends, your character's adventures don't have to.
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All right, tough guy, let's say you managed to discover the source behind the destructive Pool of Radiance and thus saved the world. You even made Elminster giggle with delight. Great job… but now what? Let me ask a question, have you ever heard of the Internet? Ok, stupid question. Since you probably aren't hearing this read over the radio, you must be viewing it on the Internet. And by now most gamers know you can use the Internet to hook up with like-minded players of the games you like from across the world.
Unfortunately, a lot of RPGs (specifically Baldur's Gate) that aren't designed from the ground up for multiplayer end up being very buggy. Stormfront has put thought into this and even hopes to make the multiplayer aspect of their game "be different in feel and content to the Single Player Game." If everything goes according to plan, you can bet the multiplayer component of PoR will let you waste not only your own time, but the time of many others simultaneously. Mayhap "waste" is a poor term to use, because if you're having fun and saving the world you must be doing something worthwhile… right?
As far as the other aspects of the multiplayer game go, Stormfront says that "In contrast to the quest-heavy single-player game, the Multiplayer game allows more of a quick and satisfying hack 'n slash for up to 6 players and with random dungeons and algorithmically difficult enemies to face." They also went on to say that if the random dungeon was full of tomes and "neatly stacked scrolls," you would likely find an evil sorcerer to do battle with. All of the enemies will fit with the dungeons generated, so don't expect to find big fluffy sheep in a church. Unless the priest was really lonely, and we can't say we'd blame him.
How likely is Pool of Radiance to be a successful and fun game? I'd say the chances are pretty high, as the team behind the game made successful AD&D RPGs set in Forgotten Realms before. Granted, the technology has changed quite a bit since then, but the game's engine shows they're capable of making an RPG that looks great. I also had the chance to chat with one of the developers a bit during E3, and while at first he seemed bored sitting on a stool in front of a monitor, once I approached him he clearly expressed care for PoR and was glad to take the time to talk to me. Or maybe I just snuck up on him and he would have called security if he had seen me coming, and thus only talked to me in hopes it'd make me go away faster.
Heck, I don't know, but if Stormfront cares about their game, I care about their game, and I have considerable more faith in them than the bored and sullen looking people who stood inside the Panty Raider booth. It's almost too bad that Baldur's Gate 2 and Pool of Radiance will be released so close together, and hence be in competition, because I really believe both games are going to have something to offer to gamers. I'm not going to say if one is more worthy of your time and money than another, but as far as PoR is concerned, I will say that I have high hopes for it, and I really believe it will be a game worth getting upon its release. I mean, who can go wrong with a game that lets you dress up dwarves and make them fight the undead?
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