The Bards Tale

[Sigarr]

Anyone here played this latest version? What is your Impession? I was never too hot on the Bards Tales but I played them for some unknown reason anyway. And, I am a bit desperate for something to play now-heh! TIA

[Runeblade]

I played the demo and I thought it was kinda meh.

[txa1265]

I played the demo and I thought it was kinda meh.

I feel pretty much the same. I have been keeping an eye out for reviews and availability in-store, but haven't seen anything yet. What I've heard isn't all that promising.

Mike

[phalzyr]

I too thought the demo was kinda blah, but it accomplished its task and showed me the general gameplay and humor style. I bought the game and love it... If you find the part with dead viking in demo funny you'll love the game... It has a pretty good storyline IMO much better than DL... The gameplay is just like demo so if you don't like the combat you won't like game. That viking bit wasn't very funny compared to rest of game, I was laughing quite a bit playing the game (first time in a long time). Why they picked mainly a combat area for demo rather than more stroy/humorish part of game I don't know... *ponders*

Bottom Line - I enjoyed it a lot more than DL but then that isn't really saying much...Hmmmm OK I'll put it this way it has been a long time since I enjoyed a game so much.

[LordFess]

I played the demo and was not impressed,but as I said in an earlier post I almost did not buy the game because of all the problems with demo and retail release of DL. But,on a whim I took a gamble and went out and purchased the game anyway for $29.95 at Gamestop and to say the least I was very very pleasantly suprised that the game looked and played so well on my system.I have not come across any bugs as of yet.You will do yourself a big favor if you buy the game as it is the most entertaining game I have played in a long time! It will make you laugh and laugh and laugh if you have the most miniscule sence of humor.
I also enjoy the combat although it's quite easy once you get into it. If you enjoy cutsceens with tons of humor ...GET THE GAME....LoL!!! :D :D

[txa1265]

While I was out buying Coded Arms for the PSP, I noticed that Best Buy had this for $29.99 ... I almost bought it, but held off (ok, my wallet was in the car, and I only had enough cash for one game).

I noticed on the cover that it said 'includes all three classic Bard's Tale games' ... is this an exclusive or general feature? How do they work?

Mike

[Sigarr]

Hmm, I am a bit confused. Looking at some of the major retailers one lists the Publisher as SIERRA,another a Publisher inXile and Best Buy lists publisher as Vivendi Universal. heh-a bit weird!
But none of them mention anything about this Release containing the 3 Earlier Versions.

[Dhruin]

Not sure what you mean by "exclusive or general feature"...all three original BT titles are bundled. I haven't heard if they have been modified to work more readily with XP but otherwise they are the original DOS titles.

[txa1265]

Not sure what you mean by "exclusive or general feature".
Exclusive - such as EBGames having an 'exclusive' multiplayer map for Pariah you could unlock. Sometimes a T-Shirt or map or whatever.

General Feature - comes with every box.

Mike

[LordFess]

Exclusive - such as EBGames having an 'exclusive' multiplayer map for Pariah you could unlock. Sometimes a T-Shirt or map or whatever.

General Feature - comes with every box.

Mike
It general Mike ...every game comes bundled with the 1st 3 games of The Bard's Tale series.

[phalzyr]

Hmm, I am a bit confused. Looking at some of the major retailers one lists the Publisher as SIERRA,another a Publisher inXile and Best Buy lists publisher as Vivendi Universal. heh-a bit weird!
But none of them mention anything about this Release containing the 3 Earlier Versions.

To clear it up a bit inxile is the developer, and both sierra and vivendi are publishers (i assume each to their own areas/outlets)

[Vorgon]

I played the XBox version, it's ok. I enjoyed it for awhile, but the main characters attitude started to get on my nerves. I enjoyed the original Bards Tales better...

[txa1265]

I played the XBox version, it's ok. I enjoyed it for awhile, but the main characters attitude started to get on my nerves. I enjoyed the original Bards Tales better...
It's funny - I was just reading the GameSpot review for the PC version and they were saying much the same thing.

Mike

[Vorgon]

Also, I ended up using the god mode cheat just to finish the game...

[Sigarr]

Heh-well, guess I will save myself some money. Since I wasn't too hot for the original Bards Tale I most likely will not like this last one. Thanks for saving me some Moola!

[LordFess]

Heh-well, guess I will save myself some money. Since I wasn't too hot for the original Bards Tale I most likely will not like this last one. Thanks for saving me some Moola!
Wow!!!This is strange I guess what I said in my post did not convince you that the game is a super fun game and as I said I think it was well worth the 29.95 I paid to buy it.Some folks just don't like to laugh I guess. People need
IMHO need to lighten up in the gaming world and have a some laughs...just seems people get too serious minded when it come to "PLAYING" computer games."Sorry just my thoughts.

[phalzyr]

:) just what I was thinking lordfess. The rudness of the bard was a taken from the start and part of the games appeal, so it never got annoying to me because that is how it was suppossed to be...

It really doesn't have much replay value though since it is mostly about the humor and once you heard the joke...But I'll still say it has a tighter and better storline than a lot of RPGs I have played. It didn't sacrifice that.

If you are unsure just wait for it to be lower priced but I think it was well worth my money and then some. but that is just my opinnion, and it not being the average clone RPG that matters more than usual in a game so it'll be more up to what type of humor you find funny and such.

Like I said try the demo, it'll give you an idea of the humor/wit/rudeness of the main guy when you get to the viking and the gest of the combat style. If you like both the get game if not...

[txa1265]

I just saw it on GoGamer's latest '48 hour madness' at $19.90, which - including 1.99 'dirt cheap shipping' for a total <$22 - is a pretty hard price to ignore ... I have a day or so to decide ... Certainly better than $30.

Mike

[LordFess]

I just saw it on GoGamer's latest '48 hour madness' at $19.90, which - including 1.99 'dirt cheap shipping' for a total <$22 - is a pretty hard price to ignore ... I have a day or so to decide ... Certainly better than $30.

Mike
Go for it Mike thats an awesome deal for the game...you will love it cuz it is so darn funny..

[LordFess]

:) just what I was thinking lordfess. The rudness of the bard was a taken from the start and part of the games appeal, so it never got annoying to me because that is how it was suppossed to be...

It really doesn't have much replay value though since it is mostly about the humor and once you heard the joke...But I'll still say it has a tighter and better storline than a lot of RPGs I have played. It didn't sacrifice that.

If you are unsure just wait for it to be lower priced but I think it was well worth my money and then some. but that is just my opinnion, and it not being the average clone RPG that matters more than usual in a game so it'll be more up to what type of humor you find funny and such.

Like I said try the demo, it'll give you an idea of the humor/wit/rudeness of the main guy when you get to the viking and the gest of the combat style. If you like both the get game if not... Whew what a relief...lol.. I was beginning to think I was the only one playing this game and lovin it to the max...I am glad you are or have enjoyed it too!!
Oh btw since you have played the game, I was wondering if you would indulge me with some spoiler information? I am stuck... :confused: I need to open a door but can't find the stone I need to open it. I am in the underground frozen temple where you meet the npc behind the ice and am trying to set him free.I have helped the sketetal beserker to get to Valhala and got the stone from him (I think). I have found 2 doors and at one it just says it is locked...the other says I need the stone to enter ....Can you help me out here cuz this is drivin me nuts ... Man I wish there was a walk through for this game. :cool: :cool:

[Saabie]

Now that you have the raven key from the berserker, talk to the guy trapped behind the ice again. It will free him and he will give you the other key which you need to open the doors.

[LordFess]

Now that you have the raven key from the berserker, talk to the guy trapped behind the ice again. It will free him and he will give you the other key which you need to open the doors.
Well heck he will not speak to me at all now...what am I doing wrong?

[phalzyr]

Just south of the dead viking is another area with a chest and table did you look at the table it has the raven stone on it(deserted camp), I can't recall what the viking is holding is for(You have to talk sharky to him to get it i think)...

You get a song(fire elemental?) to undo all iced passageways from another part I think past the raven doorway...

BTW I have conquered it so ask away, though maybe start new thread... so not too many spoilers are on this one ;)

I'm going through once again on new machine....much smoother now :D

[LordFess]

Just south of the dead viking is another area with a chest and table did you look at the table it has the raven stone on it(deserted camp), I can't recall what the viking is holding is for(You have to talk sharky to him to get it i think)...

You get a song(fire elemental?) to undo all iced passageways from another part I think past the raven doorway...

BTW I have conquered it so ask away, though maybe start new thread... so not too many spoilers are on this one ;)

I'm going through once again on new machine....much smoother now :D
Ok I will go check it out! Thanks very much! If I need something else I will start a new thread...this forum is a life saver! :D :D

[sonofnone]

Anyone here played this latest version? What is your Impession? I was never too hot on the Bards Tales but I played them for some unknown reason anyway. And, I am a bit desperate for something to play now-heh! TIA I started it and it plays well but there's to many key combos. Still checking out the first town. They should have put it on dvd and not 6 disks.

[Cheezy]

I can't find any forums for this game. Anybody have a link to the forums?

[LordFess]

I can't find any forums for this game. Anybody have a link to the forums?
There are none that I know of yet Cheezy except the one on Gamefaqs.com., and it's not much of one IHMO.I am starting another thread for spoiler questions and answers about The Bard's Tale for those who need help with the game. :D :D

[phalzyr]

Lordfess: Um that teach me to read you post in a hurry, I had to someone called me the moment I started... I was thinking you were at a different part hehe....anyway my answer still should of answered your question though... to free the guy behind the icy pillar just summon the fire elemental and get close enough. With him you can also enter the door in west wing that was locked. but he gives you the key for tree door. I am making a walkthrough this weekend already got up to where you first leave houton.

[LordFess]

Lordfess: Um that teach me to read you post in a hurry, I had to someone called me the moment I started... I was thinking you were at a different part hehe....anyway my answer still should of answered your question though... to free the guy behind the icy pillar just summon the fire elemental and get close enough. With him you can also enter the door in west wing that was locked. but he gives you the key for tree door. I am making a walkthrough this weekend already got up to where you first leave houton.

Hey phalzer it's no problem...he he..if I had read yer post more closely also, I could have figured it out.Thanks for yer help my friend! I look forward to discussing the game with you in my spoiler thread.Have a great day!

[Sigarr]

Heh-well,I went ahead and bought the Game. I must say it is a Bit Strange in a lot of ways. Saving the Game for one. And where in heck does it save the Games to? I have searched and cannot find a Saved Game Folder for this Game--thats STRANGE!

[Sigarr]

Took me awhile to find where the saved game files are stored--MY DOCUMENTS! How very strange that is--kinda in Keeping the theme of this game-STRANGE! One othe thing I have discovered--you cannot hex Edit a saved game--if you change the Money say from 47 to 265 (FF) when You load that Saved Game it tells you "Saved Game File is Damaged-you must now Delete it"---Woohoo!

[phalzyr]

Money is very easy to make in game why would you want to do this? Also charisma makes things cost a lot less if you pump it up. BTW if you want to just get artmoney or such it is very easy to mem edit.

Saved games - I noticed this trend in a few recent games and also am not fond of either (save points or putting them under "documents and settings" folder) To be honest though only being able save once in awhile isn't that bad in this game unless you play on hard(old school) which has fewer save points ;). It makes dying mean something and the area aren't that diffcult to get through alive except for a few main battles (you can ususally save right before unless on hard) Since you shouldn't need to get at save games under normal cercumstances this new trend hasn't bothered me much but I hope it goes away.

Also note that save games that protect editing often have the gold and such values in their twice and if they get tricky even code the value based off another value stored somewhere in the file. money is probably the most often inforced value for cheat prevention.

The combat movement/animation, save points, narrators voice, and some other stuff reminds me a lot of a game called silver.

[Sigarr]

Ahahahaaaa--I just discovered why I was having such a difficult time.For whatever dumb reason,I chose "Olde School". No wonder I have such low Stats and why there are so darn Few Save Points. I started a New Game and Chose "Easy" Heh,I have more starting Stats on Easy than I had after Lev 5 on Olde School. Think I just may stick with Easy and start from scratch. Live and learn!

BTW--I just received a Reply from Vivendi to an email I sent over a Week ago-- Not Much in their reply except "Some late minute changes were made (after the manual was printed) to make the Game More "Interesting".
Well,that didn't tell me much but that was IT!

[LordFess]

Ahahahaaaa--I just discovered why I was having such a difficult time.For whatever dumb reason,I chose "Olde School". No wonder I have such low Stats and why there are so darn Few Save Points. I started a New Game and Chose "Easy" Heh,I have more starting Stats on Easy than I had after Lev 5 on Olde School. Think I just may stick with Easy and start from scratch. Live and learn!

BTW--I just received a Reply from Vivendi to an email I sent over a Week ago-- Not Much in their reply except "Some late minute changes were made (after the manual was printed) to make the Game More "Interesting".
Well,that didn't tell me much but that was IT!

Well now there you go Sigarr maybe you will find TBT not to be "crappy" after all. :D :D I sure hope so, cuz you seemed to be in real agony there fer awhile....I hate to see another gamer suffer so. :D :D

[Sigarr]

Yep-now that I put it on "Easy" Mode I have already reached Lev5,ready to head to Kirkwall, in about 20% of the Time it took on Olde School Mode. And accumulated 2136 Silver in the Process so I was able to buy the stuff I needed and still have Silver 1368 left over--Heh!
BTW,HOW do you teach the Dog to Fight? I cannot find anyway to do it though it says I can.

[LordFess]

Yep-now that I put it on "Easy" Mode I have already reached Lev5,ready to head to Kirkwall, in about 20% of the Time it took on Olde School Mode. And accumulated 2136 Silver in the Process so I was able to buy the stuff I needed and still have Silver 1368 left over--Heh!
BTW,HOW do you teach the Dog to Fight? I cannot find anyway to do it though it says I can.
Sorry I can't remember atm.I am at work right now. I will try to let you know later tonight when I get home. One thing I recommend though is that you play in normal mode if you want a little bit of challenge..I am playing in nomal mode and the game is mostly very easy where I have been so far except in a few areas.

[Sigarr]

Well, I have run into a Problem. I am going up the Steppes to reach Fnarf adter he ran away. I need to use the Great Bow here but nothing I do will Equip that Bow. No matter how many times I click on the Great Bow to Equip I still use the Sword and Dirk. I don't Get it!

[Sigarr]

OK,solved the Bow Problem.
I wanna tell yas,even on Easy setting the final battle with Farnf was long, vicious and took many tries before I found the right combo of Summoned creatures and got the Fire Bow working--Sheesh!!

[phalzyr]

When you gain a level (every other level) you are offered to take an ability like critical hit etc. One of those is called Dog training. After picking that the dog will fight.

[Sigarr]

When you gain a level (every other level) you are offered to take an ability like critical hit etc. One of those is called Dog training. After picking that the dog will fight.

I took that ability long ago-- On second thought,maybe the lil critter does try to fight since in combat I invariably see him sprawled on the ground with stars rolling around him and a bit later I see him running around again. He must be a real Wuss in Combat since I always see Him on he Ground with the Stars circling around Him. Think I would have been better off choosing Critical Strike or something else more Useful. Oh,well,I like having the little Tyke around so I guess I am stuck with Him.;)

[Sigarr]

Anyway to find out the Stats of Summoned Chars? I sure would like to know.

Also,When I got the upgrade for the Rat to Vorpal Rat,he was supposed to be quite vicious and do considerable damage. However,If He does damage its not discernible and the Rat still looks like the Original Rat and dies faster than the Dog.

Received another email from Vivendi Yesterday-they have no plans for an "Official" Fourum and their "Tech-Support" is limited to the Websites Automated "Technical Problems:Solutions to most frequent problems encountered". It would appear that Sales of The Bards Tale for the PC were just too Dismal for them to expend anymore Resources on the Game!

[Sigarr]

I have always been suspicious of the "Heroine" and Her Fighting. I had noticed previously that She just stood around a Lot. Now, on lev 1 of the Forest Tower I decided to really check her out. There were 6 Plants within our View and the Mercenary and Dog were fighting them but the **** Heroine was just standing there with her Xbow Lowered. I hit Attack Key and She Responds"Situation will be taken care of" upon which She raises her Xbow
( and I Assume She fired of a Volley of Arrows Like the manual says She Does-but they must be Invisible Arrows for I never see anything issuing forth: I can Plainly See mine when I use my Bow) and then she stops and lowers Her Xbow. I hit the Attack key again and She Does the Same thing!WTF? I had noticed this sort of Behavior previously as we were Going up the Steppes to reach Farnf. I just had to conclude that She was doing Damage although I never could See any results of it as it seemed that I had to kill every one of those Trow Myself. I sent Vivendi 2 emails on this-only response I got was to try their
Websites "Most frequent Problems Encountered" Section. Like I could get an answer to this from that!

One thing I saw on another Board-Unrelated to TBT-but some Guy was Posting an answer to question asked by another Poster relating to TBT,in which he said:
When you come up against large numbers of enemies its a good idea To use
HERNE's -Power Level 3 a couple of times to Thin their Ranks Down" I looked in the manual-NO HERNE listed as a Summoned Creature! I'm beginning to wonder if I missed a "Patch" for this Game. But a "search" doesn't turn one up so.... Oh well, I am making My way through the Game but its things Like this that "Bother" Me.

[Sigarr]

Well,finally found out who Herne is-Guardian of the Forest Tower-duh!
I heckuva fight as I thought I killed Him when he appeared to Disintegrate.Wrong. Afer 4 Deaths in here I somehow got the bright idea to run around Clockwise everytime Herne seemed to disintegrate-he teleports around to 4-5 Locations. After discovering this it did not take Long to defeat him. Calleigh appears and goes thru her Spiel and then I get Herne's Amulet and 15 adder stones. I cannot find where His Amulet is-it certainly did not add a "Tune" nor does it appear under " Equipment" so HOW is it used?

Now,on the way out of the Tower I run into Druids-Gads,these guys are way overpowered and have a Lot of Health because with with the Mecernary,apfraded Thunder Spider and Myself its taking 20-30Hits (total) to Kill ONE. And then you run into one that carries a luminous Rod and He can kill everyone in just a few Seconds. And they come in groups of 4-5 already.
After dying 10 times to this Group of 5, one of which has this luminous Rod, I just finally got disgusted and Quit --at least for tonight.

Kinda like Old Man Vintner who posed as the Bugbear--Vintner couldn't lift a 20 Lb Sack of Oats But he hit like a Giant Mule.To me that was really Ridiculous!

[Cheezy]

Are the original 3 games playable on current machines?

[Scarhunter]

the 3 games are an MS-Dos based game. so it may or may not work on all current computers, unless your op. sys. supports MS-Dos based games, I think winxp can support the MS-Dos, but it just needs to be configured, somehow, which i don't know how yet(still trying to figure it out)
but they were fun when I use to play them on the
Apple IIe about 15 - 18 years ago. so they are really old games, but classic RPGs for that time.
I hope this has been at all helpful.

[LordFess]

Are the original 3 games playable on current machines?
I have XP Pro on my system and had no problem getting them to fire up and play....I did not have do any kind of special configuration at all. My only problem is figuring out the interface and how to play the games over all.I wish they came with a manuel so I could understand the games a little better.
If I can get more info on the three games I might reinstall them on my system.

[Gorn]

There is a program that allows you to play the older MS-DOS games without the problem of memory or config... look for:

DOSBox0.63-win32-installer.exe

Works well.

Gorn

[LordFess]

There is a program that allows you to play the older MS-DOS games without the problem of memory or config... look for:

DOSBox0.63-win32-installer.exe

Works well.

Gorn
From my experience with installing the 3 original Bard's Tale games you should not need another installer (my exp. is with xp pro only).

[Saabie]

Herne's power is an artifact, they are accessable by pressing the "4" key.

[Sigarr]

Herne's power is an artifact, they are accessable by pressing the "4" key.
Yes,I knew that but He was not showing up. I reverted to a save just prior to entering Herne's chamber and Killed Him Again--this time He did appear in the List. This happened once before with another Summoned Char--some *Glitch* in the Game I suppose.
Anyway I never found Him to be all that effective. Now I just use a Caleigh 3 and one or or two of those get me through anything easily,including those Glowing Rod bearing Druids.

[Necilme]

I got a copy of the game off the internet and used a no cd crack to make it run. I can make the character and watch the intro video but when the video is over I get this message.

c:\Program Files\UBISOFT\inXile\The Bard's Tale\LEVELS\HO\BARIN.GOB
Error Reading File
To exit The Bard's Tale press the Enter/Return key.

How can I get the game to work??

[txa1265]

I got a copy of the game off the internet and used a no cd crack to make it run. I can make the character and watch the intro video but when the video is over I get this message.

c:\Program Files\UBISOFT\inXile\The Bard's Tale\LEVELS\HO\BARIN.GOB
Error Reading File
To exit The Bard's Tale press the Enter/Return key.

How can I get the game to work??
Other than buying it ... ? No clue. :roll:

[Necilme]

Other than buying it ... ? No clue. :roll:

Thanks anywayz. It was my brother that got the game for my mom. She tried to play it one night, not having previously played it and it said to insert cd. So I found a crack and that worked. I just don't know why we keep getting that error message. Oh well. Thanks though.

[Sigarr]

That no Cd Crack didn't work,Pal. You have to install the Game from Original Cd's. There is an encrypted Key Code on One of those Disks. Without that You Are S.O.L! Buy the **** Game! Quit PIRATING!

[KingArthur]

I downloaded the full game from the net and it worked fine it even came with a No CD Hack but it would crash every once in a while (only when I paid money for some thing, and then not every time after I started it back up I could but the same item again with no problem) but it gave me a good idea of what the game was actually like so I went and bought it (gotta support the devs) and I haven't had a problem yet :)

Edit: I almost forgot, I cant seem to find my save files they don't seem to be in my documents I looked in every file in there and I cant find em :(

[Sigarr]

I am having a very hard time in Stromness. I took the Butcher to the Store to the guy who asked for Him. Problem::Problem is the storekeeper dies not recognize the Butcher--"You did not bring the Butcher". after about 5 tries I didcovered the Butcher has has waked to the very rear end of the Shop and never moves. Another few times and get same results. Anyone that can help me on this I would really appreciate. TIA.

P.S. The "Spoiler" anyway near ready?

[phalzyr]

<edited do to....> I don't recall that quest offhand... Did you mean my walkthrough? I posted it some time ago... wierd does this forum only keeo last so many post or just delete for fun of it.... Other thread is dust so here is link to my walkthrough http://www.kasec.org/BardWalkthrough.html

Seems that isn't a side quest hmmm. I never had an issue myself with that. must be a bug. Does the guy get hurt by the undead on the way alot? Do you get their way before tha man?