The Bard's Tale IV

[JoelF847]

The Bard's Tale is getting a proper sequel. InXile is on a roll getting my money.

[Fergie]

Funny timing - I just download the original 1986 Bards Tale and have been playing the hell out of it on a DOS emulator.

Despite some constantly-getting-killed problems at 1-2 level, and a TPK or two (F-You Catacombs level 2!) I have found the game addictive and enjoyable.

Also fired up Ultima V but I need to sort through some serious manuals and record keeping to play that game. Glad I kept that cloth map from back in the day!

[JoelF847]

Also, if you back today (until 6/3 at 6am, PST) you get a free copy of inXile’s Wasteland 2, or CD Projekt Red's The Witcher, or The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

There's still almost 4500 early bird backer rewards left for $20 for the game.

[Distant Scholar]

I dunno; I remember playing Bard's Tale III, having a full inventory when beating an area boss, not getting the doo-dad needed to get to the next area, and the boss stayed dead, so I was stuck.

I don't want to go through that again.

[JoelF847]

While some of the same key players are involved with InXile as were with Interplay, they're a) self-publishing (hence the Kickstarter), and therefore not beholden to a publisher trying to make a date. They'll release the game when it's ready, not rushed out before then, and b) they've done a great job with their first Kickstarted game, Wasteland 2, and provided not only ongoing updates and supports that have fixed minor bugs, but are providing an significant upgrade to the game in the Game of the Year edition, free to all purchasers.

I wouldn't be worried about game breaking bugs that aren't quickly fixed.

[Fergie]

I think I played the first wasteland when it came out. I recall fighting wererabbits at some farm, and always having the wrong type of ammo for my guns. Also a weird river of blood and some religious shrines to the makers of the atomic bomb...

I might have to check out wasteland 2...

[Pan]

Early Bard!!!

[JoelF847]

FYI - they've extended the free game giveaway to anyone who pledges $20 or more in the first 48 hours (until 6/4 at 6am, PST). you get a free copy of inXile’s Wasteland 2, or CD Projekt Red's The Witcher, or The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

Only 500 Early Bard level pledges left for $20, after they're gone, the pledge level to get the game is $27.

[Shar Tahl]

Distant Scholar wrote:

I dunno; I remember playing Bard's Tale III, having a full inventory when beating an area boss, not getting the doo-dad needed to get to the next area, and the boss stayed dead, so I was stuck.

I don't want to go through that again.

I sure the game will be excellent, going by the this company's other games. You can't compare bugs that happened in 1988 to something today. I personally loved this series of games. I still remember my dad getting me my copy of Bard's Tale : Tales of the Unknown at Egghead Software back when it came out. The update with the Unreal Engine demo looks nice.

[Fergie]

The legions of Baron Harkyn stand before you, recognizing you as intruders, "Death to them!" they scream.

Before you, you see 99 Berserkers, 99 Berserkers, 99 Berserkers, and 99 Berserkers.

Will your stalwart band choose to Fight or Run?
FIGHT!

Wind Red Dragon
Defend
Defend
Defend
Fire Horn on group b
MIBL Mangar's Mind Blade
MIBL Mangar's Mind Blade

Dragon claws instead of breathing. Damn.

Fire horn kicked ass!

Dragon barely alive.

First Mind Blade not doing too well.

Second Mind Blade is cleaning house!

[Fergie]

I still face 37, 28, 11, and 36 berserkers

FIGHT

Use Pure Blade to heal party
Attack
Defend
fire horn group b
REST Party heal
MIBL

The dragon clawed again.

Fully healed!

[Fergie]

19, 16, 7, 4 Berserkers

Attack
Attack
Attack
Fire Horn on group b
Defend
MIBL

Dragon claws again! Ugh.

6,4,2 Berserks

3,2,1

1,1

[Fergie]

And as the Dragon finally burns the last remaining Berserker with his breath weapon, the six heros climb onto the heaping pile of corpses.

"Where is your Baron Now?" the bards shouts, an hour and a half after the combat began.

[Grotnar]

Just a reminder, this kickstarter is in it's final 3 days. The next stretch goal may be of some interest to table top gamers. They will have Wolfgang Bauer, Sean K. Reynolds, and Bruce Cordell each design a dungeon. If you're interested in an old school dungeon crawler, give it a look. Also. company has a track record, they have already released Wasteland 2, and are working on a sequel to Planescape:torment. Anyway, give it a look, the $25 tier seems like a pretty good deal.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/the-bards-tale-iv/description

[feytharn]

Damd you, Grotnar, for now I am short of 25$ - and I can only hope to remember I pledged when the preorde is available ;-)

[Fergie]

Even though I actually plunked down the $12.99 (or whatever a top shelf game cost in 1986) ($13 is like $89 in 2015 dollars), I really love the concept of the forgiveness for piracy letter.

I don't think I love it enough to spend $5 for an email however.

[LazarX]

Fergie wrote:

Funny timing - I just download the original 1986 Bards Tale and have been playing the hell out of it on a DOS emulator.

I'm running the Bards Tale on my IPhone. Loved the video "outtakes".

[spectrevk]

I'd love to see them meet all of their goals, but I don't think it's likely here. Not enough attention, or not enough people who remember the old games (I certainly don't, but I enjoy the type of RPG they're describing, and I loved Wasteland 2)