Curse of the Azure Bonds (game)

Curse of the Azure Bonds is the second title in the four-game Forgotten Realms series of computer role-playing games developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. It is the sequel to Pool of Radiance. The game was based on the novel Azure Bonds and the module Curse of the Azure Bonds. Characters from the novel appear in the game to aid the party.

Gameplay
A party of up to six player characters and two non-player characters is required to complete the various quests in the game. Player characters from Pool of Radiance can be transferred to Curse of the Azure Bonds, although players need not have played Pool of Radiance to play this game. Characters can likewise be transferred from Hillsfar, another contemporaneous AD&D-based game. The paladin and ranger are two new character classes available in this game.

A player can generate new characters, choosing from six races, nine alignments, two genders, and six basic character classes. Multi-class characters can be created for Half-elf, elf, dwarf, halfling, and gnome characters. New characters begin with 25,000 experience points, which starts single-class characters at level 5. Multi-classed characters have the total number of experience points divided equally amongst their classes, giving either 12,500 or 8,333 experience points, for two or three classes, respectively. This means multi-class characters generally start at level 4, although a triple-classed character would start as a level 3 magic-user. The player can modify any character's stats before the game begins.



Curse of the Azure Bonds follows along the same style as Pool of Radiance, with the main adventuring action using a first person perspective. The player uses the top left window to view the current location, with the status panel on the right and the commands along the bottom. Through these commands, the player can select a wide range of actions and tasks including spell-casting, swapping weapons, or resting and memorizing spells. The player creates an icon for each character, which can be customized to taste.

When combat occurs, the screen display changes: the right half of the screen becomes the status panel, and the left half shows an overhead view of the combat. Characters can use spells and ranged weapons by lining up targets.

Plot
Picking up where Pool of Radiance left off, the party has departed Phlan for Tilverton where they plan to search for the runaway princess of Cormyr. However, before they arrive, they are waylaid by brigands who render them unconscious. The party wakes up in a Tilverton inn, finding themselves healed, but with their equipment missing. Even more worrisome, each party member has five azure bonds imprinted on their forearm.

The party must uncover the meaning of their bonds and learn how to free themselves from their terrible curse. In doing so they will need to confront the evil powers behind the scheme, who call themselves the New Alliance.

Characters

 * Companions: Akbar Bel Akash • Alias • Dragonbait
 * Other: Azoun • Binky • Crimdrac • Dracandros • Dimswart • Filani • Gadriel • Giogioni Wyvernspur • Helmud • Leonardo • Naccacia • Tyranthraxus

Creatures

 * Anhkheg • Beholder • Black Dragon • Bugbear • Centaur • Crocodile • Displacer Beast • Dracolich • Drow • Efreeti • Ettin • Hippogriff • Giant Slug • Griffon • Lizardfolk • Manticore • Margoyle • Medusa • Minotaur • Mogion • Monkey • Ogre • Otyugh • Owlbear • Rakshasa • Salamander • Shambling Mound • Thri-Kreen • Troll • Vegepygmy • Worg • Wyvern

Locations

 * Settlements: Ashabenford • Dagger Falls • Essembra • Hap • Hillsfar • Phlan • Shadowdale • Teshwave • Tilverton • Voonlar • Yûlash • Zhentil Keep
 * Wilderness: Myth Drannor
 * Realms: Cormyr
 * Regions: Battledale • Dalelands • Daggerdale • Mistledale • Moonsea • Teshendale

Magic

 * Magic items: Cloak of Displacement • Dust of Dissappearance • Gauntlets of Dexterity • Ring of Invisibility • Ring of Protection • Ring of Wizardry • Wand of Magic Missiles
 * Spells: Bestow Curse • Bless • Blink • Burning Hands • Cause Blindness • Cause Disease • Cause Critical Wounds • Cause Light Wounds • Cause Serious Wounds • Charm Monster • Charm Person • Cloudkill • Cone of Cold • Confusion • Cure Blindness • Cure Disease • Cure Critical Wounds • Cure Light Wounds • Cure Serious Wounds • Curse • Detect Magic • Detect Invisibility • Dimension Door • Dispel Evil • Dispel Magic • Enlarge • Entangle • Faerie Fire • Fear • Feeblemind • Find Traps • Fireball • Fire Shield • Flame Strike • Friends • Fumble • Haste • Hold Monster • Hold Person • Ice Storm • Invisibility • Invisibility to Animals • Knock • Lightning Bolt • Magic Missile • Minor Globe of Invulnerability • Mirror Image • Neutralize Poison • Poison • Prayer • Protection from Evil • Protection from Good • Protection from Normal Missiles • Raise Dead • Ray of Enfeeblement • Read Magic • Remove Curse • Resist Cold • Resist Fire • Shield • Shocking Grasp • Silence • Slay Living • Sleep • Slow • Slow Poison • Snake Charm • Spiritual Hammer • Sticks to Snakes • Stinking Cloud • Strength

Organizations

 * Zhentarim

Religions

 * Moander

Miscellaneous

 * Items: Blue Ioun Stone • Deep Red Ioun Stone • Incandescent Blue Ioun Stone • Green Ioun Stone • Pink Ioun Stone • Scarlet Ioun Stone
 * Weapons & Armor: Battle Axe • Bo Stick • Bracer • Broad Sword • Crossbow • Dagger • Darts of Hornet's Nest • Flail • Girdle of the Dwarves • Girdle of Giant Strength • Gloves of Thievery • Javelins of Piercing • Long Bow • Mace • Padded Armor • Plate Mail • Quarrel • Quarterstaff • Staff Sling • Two-handed Sword