Bard's Tale I Overview/Walkthrough

Part 1

THE BARD'S TALE is a multi-character role-playing game in the tradition of the WIZARDRY series. It was written by Michael Cranford of Interplay Productions and distributed by Electronic Arts.

The game begins in the town of Skara Brae, where the evil wizard Mangar the Dark has isolated the town from all help by casting a spell of eternal winter on the surrounding countryside. Mangar has defeated all the good wizards and warriors of note in the town and has infested the town with his evil minions. The task now before you as junior magic casters and warriors is to defeat Mangar and restore Skara Brae to its rightful inhabitants. Oh yes, you should bring a bard along to record your deeds. He will sing your praises if you succeed, or croon a dirge at your funerals.

The magic system used in the game is rich in diversity. A magic user must start out as either a magician, specializing in casting magical effects on non-magical objects, or a conjurer, who deals with the instantaneous creation of objects and effects through magic. After learning at least 3 spell levels in a magic art, a magic user can change from one class to another. But do not be too hasty: after leaving one class you can never go back to it.

Once a magic user becomes proficient in at least one art, he can then become a sorcerer. Sorcery deals with the magic of illusion and magical perception. If a magic user becomes proficient in at least two of the arts, he can then become a wizard. Wizardry deals with the summoning and control of supernatural creatures. The experience points required to advance a level as a wizard are much higher than the other magic classes. It is best to let your magic user advance all the way to level 7 in whichever art he is in before changing classes. But be sure to change class after he has attained level 7 of the art. In the dungeons there are many traps for the unwary; you never know who will be killed and what spells are required to save your party from extinction.

There are several different fighter classes available in the game: monks, paladins, hunters, warriors and rogues. All have different strengths and weaknesses. During combat only the first three members of your party can physically fight or be attacked; the last three can cast spells. It pays early in the game to have three fighters of some type to protect your magic users from physical combat and free them to concentrate on a magical attack.

The bard is a unique individual who can fight, albeit poorly, and cast six magical spells by playing an instrument. You must have one along, as this is the Bard's Tale...

You can read the rest of the parts here: gamewalkz.blogspot.com/2008/08/bards-tale-i.html