Gateway to the Savage Frontier drags me screaming out of the Pool of Radiance series at its brutal shit hardness and eases me in to something a little more consumable. I enjoyed my foray into the Pool of Radiance games, but I have to say I’m glad to be experiencing something that starts off at low level and also has an open world. Pool of Radiance keeps you in Phlan in the early stages and punishes you with relentless goblin and kobold attacks. While I got attacked several times in this session, it was easier to maintain I felt. Of course, I’m probably cursing my next playthrough, but whatever. Explosions continue!