Bard's Tale...

[Cedric]

I just had a weird thought while sitting here at work (between calls of course *whistles innocently*).

Has anyone ever thought of converting the songs from Bard's Tale II into D&D to make a very powerful, world specific Bard Class.

Basically a class of performer/adventurer's that would make any party stronger with their presence. My concern wouldn't be game balance...which I don't think really exists anyway. Was just a weird thought I had...you could also include the magic instruments found in that world. Cold Horn [50], etc.

Cedric

 

[The Sigil]

Yes.

In fact, I cited "a certain popular computer game [in the mid-80's] with the word 'bard' in its title" (as the OGL constrains me not to use others' IP) when writing my Enchiridion of Mystic Music (see RPGNow.com and look up S.T. Cooley Publishing).

It's toned down a bit, and I didn't include frost/flame/fire horns, but quite a few of the mystic music abilities in that bad boy were Bard's Tale-inspired.

--The Sigil

 

[Cedric]

That's awesome, thanks for the info Sigil. When I get a chance I'll check it out.

Cedric

 

[Airwolf]

I will add a little plug for the Enchiridion of Mystic Music, it is a really great resource for anyone who wants to play a bard or have one as a major NPC.

 

[The Sigil]

FWIW, I am in the process of doing the "final" revision to upgrade the EoMM... right now, it's sitting on 85 pages (not counting covers) and my intent is to bump it up to at least 96 pages and possibly 112 and MAYBE 128.

Additions:

1.) Lots more spells.

2.) More mystic music abilities; my goal is to go from 84 to 126 (making 6 for each number of ranks in Perform from 3 to 23)

3.) More prestige classes

4.) Rules for Bardic Orchestras and Chamber Groups

5.) Anything else that tickles my fancy. ;-) I will probably be adding a "hodge-podge" of equipment (magical and otherwise) et al designed for bards - but this will only be a few pages - I don't intend to do Song & Silence Redux.

Of course, the revision/upgrade is free to all who have already purchased the product.

--The Sigil

 

[Alejandro]

Ah, the fond memories! Sneak in a blurb about bards who drink wine, won't you?

*Puts down EoMM on his to-buy list*

 

[Mouseferatu]

Guys, I have for quite some time been seriously considering:

A) Approaching one of the companies with whom I work about the notion of doing a (relatively small) D20 setting/conversion based on Bard's Tale, and

B) Finding out where the license for the game itself now rests, and how hard it would be to get permission.

I've held off doing this because I didn't think there would be enough interest for it to sell. It's not exactly in the public consciousness anymore, the way Warcraft and Everquest are.

What do you all think? Would you, your friends, and fellow gamers buy such a product if it were available?

 

[The Sigil]

Guys, I have for quite some time been seriously considering:

A) Approaching one of the companies with whom I work about the notion of doing a (relatively small) D20 setting/conversion based on Bard's Tale, and

B) Finding out where the license for the game itself now rests, and how hard it would be to get permission.

I've held off doing this because I didn't think there would be enough interest for it to sell. It's not exactly in the public consciousness anymore, the way Warcraft and Everquest are.

What do you all think? Would you, your friends, and fellow gamers buy such a product if it were available?

Finding the rights is the easy part. The Bard's Tale was originally developed by Electronic Arts, then later sequels were developed by Interplay Productions, who, to the best of my knowledge, still holds the rights to the game (see http://cheek.org/bard/petit.htm for more details).

Their address (had from their website) is:

16815 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92606 USA

(This happens to be maybe a twenty-minute drive from my home )

Presumably, if they have sold the rights, they can direct you to the party to whom the rights were sold, but that is definitely the first place I'd look.

To be honest, my interest would hinge largely on how well-done the game was (surprise, surprise). I would in fact have more interest if a Bard's Tale IV computer game was put into the works.

--The Sigil

 

[Mouseferatu]

To be honest, my interest would hinge largely on how well-done the game was (surprise, surprise). I would in fact have more interest if a Bard's Tale IV computer game was put into the works.

I'd expect nothing less.

And yeah, I'd love to see a BTIV. Heck, I'd like to see BTIII made availalbe with the sort of graphics and sound that BTI and II had on the Apple II GS. I never played III, because after the graphics and sound of I and II, I couldn't go back to regular apple graphics and no sound.

(Yes, I was one of the six people in the world who owned a IIGS.)

And thanks for the help, in any event.