The Bard's Tale Trilogy: Difference between revisions

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Had rescued Skara Brae.|'''Introductory song'''}}
Had rescued Skara Brae.|'''Introductory song'''}}


''The Bard's Tale Trilogy'' is a series of games developed by [[Interplay]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]]. It was a first-person game in the style of the [[Wizardry (Video Game)|Wizardry]] series, but with more impressive sounds and graphics, especially the Apple IIGS and Commodore Amiga versions. As the title of this page suggests, there were three games in the series:
''The Bard's Tale Trilogy'' is a series of games developed by [[Interplay]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]]. It was a first-person game in the style of the [[Wizardry]] series, but with more impressive sounds and graphics, especially the Apple IIGS and Commodore Amiga versions. As the title of this page suggests, there were three games in the series:
* ''The Bard's Tale: Tales of the Unknown'' (1985)-- The mad wizard Mangar has cast a spell of eternal winter over the city of Skara Brae. The heroes, who just happen to be stuck in the city, must stop him.
* ''The Bard's Tale: Tales of the Unknown'' (1985)-- The mad wizard Mangar has cast a spell of eternal winter over the city of Skara Brae. The heroes, who just happen to be stuck in the city, must stop him.
* ''The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight'' (1986) -- The evil wizard Lagoth Zanta has shattered the Destiny Wand into seven pieces and scattered them across seven cities. The heroes must reforge the Destiny Wand, and one amongst them must become the Destiny Knight.
* ''The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight'' (1986) -- The evil wizard Lagoth Zanta has shattered the Destiny Wand into seven pieces and scattered them across seven cities. The heroes must reforge the Destiny Wand, and one amongst them must become the Destiny Knight.
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* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: The Sewers of Skara Brae in ''Tales of the Unknown'' are a three-level labyrinth accessed via the wine cellar of the tavern on Rakhir Street. Given the altar you find down there, the local spider cult may be to blame. {{spoiler|Until you get the Master Key, they're also the only way to get to Mangar's Tower--directly on the opposite side of town.}}
* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: The Sewers of Skara Brae in ''Tales of the Unknown'' are a three-level labyrinth accessed via the wine cellar of the tavern on Rakhir Street. Given the altar you find down there, the local spider cult may be to blame. {{spoiler|Until you get the Master Key, they're also the only way to get to Mangar's Tower--directly on the opposite side of town.}}
* [[Achilles Heel]]: The crystal sword for the crystal golem in ''Tales of the Unknown''; the Nightspear for Tslotha Garnath in ''Thief of Fate''.
* [[Achilles Heel]]: The crystal sword for the crystal golem in ''Tales of the Unknown''; the Nightspear for Tslotha Garnath in ''Thief of Fate''.
* [[After the End]]: The main world of ''Thief of Fate'' is in this condition. Gelidia is no better off, and the Wasteland zone of Tarmitia is a nod to [[Wasteland (Video Game)|another]] Interplay game.
* [[After the End]]: The main world of ''Thief of Fate'' is in this condition. Gelidia is no better off, and the Wasteland zone of Tarmitia is a nod to [[Wasteland (video game)|another]] Interplay game.
* [[Anti-Magic]]: Anti-magic zones don't just prevent you from casting spells (except the most basic of light spells), they also ''turn off'' all persistent spells except light spells. In ''The Destiny Knight'', the '''entire Grey Crypt''' is a single massive anti-magic zone. Better bring a source of light that doesn't rely on spellcasting.
* [[Anti-Magic]]: Anti-magic zones don't just prevent you from casting spells (except the most basic of light spells), they also ''turn off'' all persistent spells except light spells. In ''The Destiny Knight'', the '''entire Grey Crypt''' is a single massive anti-magic zone. Better bring a source of light that doesn't rely on spellcasting.
* [[Apocalyptic Log]]: In ''Thief of Fate'' the diaries of dead people, as well as old poems, can be found.
* [[Apocalyptic Log]]: In ''Thief of Fate'' the diaries of dead people, as well as old poems, can be found.
* [[Barbarian Hero]]: The portraits for some characters in some versions of the game are this.
* [[Barbarian Hero]]: The portraits for some characters in some versions of the game are this.
* [[The Bard]]: [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Unsurprisingly]], it has a few with the [[Magic Music]] power.
* [[The Bard]]: [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Unsurprisingly]], it has a few with the [[Magic Music]] power.
* [[Beef Gate]]: The gray dragon statue outside Harkyn's Castle in ''Tales of the Unknown'' can inflict a one-turn [[Total Party Kill]] on a tenth-level party with its breath weapon. Said party would ''probably'' be able to handle the [[Random Encounters]] inside, at least on the first level.
* [[Beef Gate]]: The gray dragon statue outside Harkyn's Castle in ''Tales of the Unknown'' can inflict a one-turn [[Total Party Kill]] on a tenth-level party with its breath weapon. Said party would ''probably'' be able to handle the [[Random Encounters]] inside, at least on the first level.
* [[Bigger Bad]]: ''Thief of Fate'' reveals that Mangar ([[Big Bad]] of ''Tales of the Unknown'') was actually a high-ranking lieutenant of Tarjan's.
* [[Bigger Bad]]: ''Thief of Fate'' reveals that Mangar ([[Big Bad]] of ''Tales of the Unknown'') was actually a high-ranking lieutenant of Tarjan's.
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* [[Copy Protection]]: ''Tales of the Unknown'' and ''The Destiny Knight'' required the player to look up four-letter codes in the manual in order to cast spells, at least on the originally supported platforms. Additionally, ''The Destiny Knight'' required hints in the manual to win the game, and ''Thief of Fate'' had a code wheel for travelling between the dimensions.
* [[Copy Protection]]: ''Tales of the Unknown'' and ''The Destiny Knight'' required the player to look up four-letter codes in the manual in order to cast spells, at least on the originally supported platforms. Additionally, ''The Destiny Knight'' required hints in the manual to win the game, and ''Thief of Fate'' had a code wheel for travelling between the dimensions.
* [[Critical Hit]]: Of the [[One-Hit Kill]] variety. The Hunter does this with his normal attacks, the Rogue does this with sneak attacks, some monsters do it with their regular melee attack, and any player character wielding the Strifespear does it. {{spoiler|This is ''required'' to be done by the Rogue to kill Tarjan.}}
* [[Critical Hit]]: Of the [[One-Hit Kill]] variety. The Hunter does this with his normal attacks, the Rogue does this with sneak attacks, some monsters do it with their regular melee attack, and any player character wielding the Strifespear does it. {{spoiler|This is ''required'' to be done by the Rogue to kill Tarjan.}}
* [[Crossover]]: In the initial game, you could import characters from ''[[Wizardry (Video Game)|Wizardry]]'' or ''[[Ultima III]]''.
* [[Crossover]]: In the initial game, you could import characters from ''[[Wizardry]]'' or ''[[Ultima III]]''.
* [[Driven to Madness]]: Cyanis from ''Thief of Fate'' encountered some recent difficulties, to say the least.
* [[Driven to Madness]]: Cyanis from ''Thief of Fate'' encountered some recent difficulties, to say the least.
* [[Dropped a Bridge On Him]]: Between ''Destiny Knight'' and ''Thief of Fate'', almost all of the NPCs of Skara Brae were killed by Tarjan. Hawkslayer from ''Thief of Fate'' is utterly crushed and pulverized.
* [[Dropped a Bridge on Him]]: Between ''Destiny Knight'' and ''Thief of Fate'', almost all of the NPCs of Skara Brae were killed by Tarjan. Hawkslayer from ''Thief of Fate'' is utterly crushed and pulverized.
* [[Dungeon Bypass]]: In Tarmitia, you can bypass the dungeon circle and go straight to Werra's place if you already know the password.
* [[Dungeon Bypass]]: In Tarmitia, you can bypass the dungeon circle and go straight to Werra's place if you already know the password.
* [[Failure Is the Only Option]]: Cast Trap Zap all you like, you're NOT going to escape setting off those two tripwires in Oscon's Fortress that force you to rehearse [[Outrun the Fireball]] for a corridor.
* [[Failure Is the Only Option]]: Cast Trap Zap all you like, you're NOT going to escape setting off those two tripwires in Oscon's Fortress that force you to rehearse [[Outrun the Fireball]] for a corridor.
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* [[Throwing Your Sword Always Works]]: The Sword of Zar in ''The Destiny Knight'' can be thrown to a range of 80', and always returns after being thrown. Aram's Knife can go to 90', but can't do as much damage as a melee weapon (so you give it to the hunter because his [[One-Hit Kill]] ability makes melee weapon damage not matter much).
* [[Throwing Your Sword Always Works]]: The Sword of Zar in ''The Destiny Knight'' can be thrown to a range of 80', and always returns after being thrown. Aram's Knife can go to 90', but can't do as much damage as a melee weapon (so you give it to the hunter because his [[One-Hit Kill]] ability makes melee weapon damage not matter much).
* [[Time Travel]]: It is implied in ''Thief of Fate'' that each of the dimensions exists in a different time, thus Hawkslayer has a different age each time he is encountered.
* [[Time Travel]]: It is implied in ''Thief of Fate'' that each of the dimensions exists in a different time, thus Hawkslayer has a different age each time he is encountered.
* [[Town With a Dark Secret]]: The main (shown-in-game, at least) religion of Skara Brae, worship of Tarjan, turns out to be rather malicious. This is hinted at in ''Tales of the Unknown'' (unlike the other temples, they want nothing to do with you unless you know Tarjan's name) and comes to fruition in ''Thief of Fate''.
* [[Town with a Dark Secret]]: The main (shown-in-game, at least) religion of Skara Brae, worship of Tarjan, turns out to be rather malicious. This is hinted at in ''Tales of the Unknown'' (unlike the other temples, they want nothing to do with you unless you know Tarjan's name) and comes to fruition in ''Thief of Fate''.
* [[Treacherous Advisor]]: {{spoiler|Lagoth Zanta}}
* [[Treacherous Advisor]]: {{spoiler|Lagoth Zanta}}
* [[Unwinnable By Mistake]]: In ''Tales of the Unknown'', this can crop up in Kylearan's Tower. There's an unavoidable fight with the Crystal Golem, and you ''must'' have the Crystal Sword in your inventory, or else it will reassemble and start the fight anew. If for some reason you ''don't'' have the Sword (you didn't find it in Harkyn's Castle, or you decided to sell it), you'd likely just go back for it (items sold to Garth's don't disappear). Except... the entirety of the Tower is teleport-proof, and there's no path ''back'' to the stairs in the Golem's segment. At least when you get wiped out, you can just make a few new characters to drag your crew's corpses to the local temple.
* [[Unwinnable By Mistake]]: In ''Tales of the Unknown'', this can crop up in Kylearan's Tower. There's an unavoidable fight with the Crystal Golem, and you ''must'' have the Crystal Sword in your inventory, or else it will reassemble and start the fight anew. If for some reason you ''don't'' have the Sword (you didn't find it in Harkyn's Castle, or you decided to sell it), you'd likely just go back for it (items sold to Garth's don't disappear). Except... the entirety of the Tower is teleport-proof, and there's no path ''back'' to the stairs in the Golem's segment. At least when you get wiped out, you can just make a few new characters to drag your crew's corpses to the local temple.
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