tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post8469247988146059726..comments2024-03-29T02:34:55.592-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Bard's Tale II: Not Feelin' ItCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19605148391902181562024-01-25T01:16:07.622-05:002024-01-25T01:16:07.622-05:00I recently finished BT2 myself for the second time...I recently finished BT2 myself for the second time. I found the the best way to enjoy the game is to play it for the mapping challenges, and just run away from most random encounters. So treat it more like a puzzle game than a tactical or conventional CRPG.<br /> I used the AppleII GS version, so no auto-map. But no bugs either, and good audio-visuals (I don't care for the remade character and monster graphics).POnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-26003499136924539752024-01-24T19:19:48.006-05:002024-01-24T19:19:48.006-05:00Probably a wise choice. I just started the second ...Probably a wise choice. I just started the second game recently via the remastered version, and I gave up out of boredom after getting two staff pieces. The lack of meaningful character development and variety in strategy just made the whole thing feel like a chore. The starter dungeon was okay-ish with a fresh party, but things fell off pretty quickly after that. I'd honestly rather play the original Might and Magic again.Elkovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07300584537977591552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-34838393667420682252023-10-27T17:56:18.223-04:002023-10-27T17:56:18.223-04:00This is one of the first CRPG games I played and o...This is one of the first CRPG games I played and one I actually finished. Though I do think I bought the hint book as some of the puzzles confused me as a simple teenager back in the 80's. I have it on a pedestal for that reason. Maybe I will go back and play this again on the revamped version that was put out a few years ago. <br />Love your site and love the memories it's bringing back!KraziJoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17375071512764513221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-40927662696258128152023-07-15T12:44:35.218-04:002023-07-15T12:44:35.218-04:00Crpg addict is the crpg avatar in the multiverse!Crpg addict is the crpg avatar in the multiverse!Lord Sothnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1155769212488183562017-03-17T02:35:55.440-04:002017-03-17T02:35:55.440-04:00I decided not to return to it.I decided not to return to it.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65778022123191696292017-03-16T10:29:47.414-04:002017-03-16T10:29:47.414-04:00The end of 1986 is in sight and this isn't on ...The end of 1986 is in sight and this isn't on the schedule (though I think I saw it briefly a while back). What did you end up deciding?<br /><br />This isn't a request or anything -- just curious.asimpkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-81126276008530037312016-09-07T18:00:38.125-04:002016-09-07T18:00:38.125-04:00Those errors were definitely important enough to f...Those errors were definitely important enough to fix. I think when I first started coding the master list, I used finished/unfinished to designate whether I was permanently done with the game, not whether I'd actually won.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30698176076469776222016-09-07T09:50:49.320-04:002016-09-07T09:50:49.320-04:00I'm not sure how meticulous you want to be abo...I'm not sure how meticulous you want to be about this, but I was looking at the spreadsheet and Bard's Tale II was marked as Finished instead of Unfinished.<br /><br />This led me to check the next game in the series and 1988's Thief of Fate is labeled as Bard's Tale II and not III.asimpkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49958098018653343722016-06-07T10:33:14.637-04:002016-06-07T10:33:14.637-04:00"No, I quit BT3 prematurely, too.
There'..."No, I quit BT3 prematurely, too.<br /><br />There's no way I'm frigging around with that IIGS emulator. I'll probably go with the C64 version."<br /><br />The C64 version has a few bugs. I heartily recommend the DOS version using drifting's unoffical patch.<br />Also, don't fight every fight after the beginner dungeon, 'cause it makes the game too easy.PetrusOctavianusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-7650470710752621812016-06-07T09:50:44.275-04:002016-06-07T09:50:44.275-04:00Bard's Tale II is the most complete game of th...Bard's Tale II is the most complete game of the series I'd say, despite being my least favorite of the 3. It adds a lot of improvements to 1 but isn't as slow paced and crazy as 3 can get. It takes a better man than me to make it through the harder Destiny Snare puzzles without a hint book though! <br /><br />Btw, for anyone who has played the games, the hint books for 1 and 2 at least (I never owned the BT3 hint book) are totally worth a read through if you can find them. They add a lot to the lore of the universe and actually tell a story as opposed to being a straight up walkthrough. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602611446653342413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-72236175909422094582016-06-07T07:43:51.966-04:002016-06-07T07:43:51.966-04:00I could have sworn that it was 1990 last time I lo...I could have sworn that it was 1990 last time I looked it up. It's pretty obscure, so sources being a bit confused is far from surprising.<br /><br />Next time I get four or five hours all in one block to tinker I'll load it up and see if it still crashes. Gnomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920812227941556716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88965366367173912982016-06-06T19:54:17.446-04:002016-06-06T19:54:17.446-04:00Oh, yes I do--in 1987. Different sites seem confus...Oh, yes I do--in 1987. Different sites seem confused about the release year.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-32355582916334194102016-06-06T19:51:54.187-04:002016-06-06T19:51:54.187-04:00I didn't even have that one on my list. It mus...I didn't even have that one on my list. It must have been added after I went through 1990.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-61936671651482295992016-06-06T17:20:03.668-04:002016-06-06T17:20:03.668-04:00One thing worth mentioning - Centauri Alliance (19...One thing worth mentioning - Centauri Alliance (1990?) has the capability to import characters from the Bard's Tale series, and is supposed to have some interesting results if you do. You may want to look into what platform you'll be playing that on (last time I tried to play it, there was a crash in the C64 version, I don't know if that was an emulator glitch or a bad copy) to give you the option of transferring. Gnomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920812227941556716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-26825456702290292402016-06-06T16:39:47.881-04:002016-06-06T16:39:47.881-04:00No, I quit BT3 prematurely, too.
There's no w...No, I quit BT3 prematurely, too.<br /><br />There's no way I'm frigging around with that IIGS emulator. I'll probably go with the C64 version.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-59078593296166023652016-06-06T15:06:57.522-04:002016-06-06T15:06:57.522-04:00I've researched a bit. The Amiga version is ki...I've researched a bit. The Amiga version is kinda buggy, it seems.<br /><br />Did you finish Bard's Tale III? I don't remember.<br />Anyway, I recommend the Apple II GS game because it seems to also have the lowest bug rate.<br />If you have beaten BT3, then importing doesn't matter. If not, you could always hex edit your characters into the Amiga version :-)DANoWARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05702243464532327411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29555394256882721832016-06-06T11:38:37.731-04:002016-06-06T11:38:37.731-04:00I will consider both, but I didn't experience ...I will consider both, but I didn't experience the starter dungeon last time, so I might use this as an excuse to check it out.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30832083612661502472016-06-06T03:30:06.331-04:002016-06-06T03:30:06.331-04:00Oh, and if you'll be playing one of these vers...Oh, and if you'll be playing one of these versions, maybe you could ask people to provide you with some characters to import. I for one think the import feature is important for the flow of the game.DANoWARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05702243464532327411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-78068350622413871532016-06-06T03:28:16.406-04:002016-06-06T03:28:16.406-04:00When you replay it, it would maybe be wise to play...When you replay it, it would maybe be wise to play a version on another home computer.<br />I would either recommend Amiga, C64 or Apple II GS.<br />I think the Apple version is the one with the best graphics and "best" sound. "Best" because my nostalgia leads me to love the C64 tunes. :-)DANoWARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05702243464532327411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-2294185008664628022016-02-07T16:40:15.218-05:002016-02-07T16:40:15.218-05:00There wasn't much there, but I didn't give...There wasn't much there, but I didn't give the game enough of a chance. I'm going to look at it again when I hit this year on my replay list.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73300214135892777382016-02-07T14:53:34.346-05:002016-02-07T14:53:34.346-05:00I put countless hours into beating this as a kid, ...I put countless hours into beating this as a kid, and it was among the first RPGs I played. It was on the Apple IIGS, and it was really beautiful (much better than these screenshots). I was mesmerized by the animated character and monster portraits, and even the sound and music was fantastic. And it had lots of intriguing classes and item names.<br /><br />But thinking back, I'm struck that I don't remember anything that happens in the game. I just remember how it looked and sounded. This is a big contrast to my detailed memories of NPCs, places, and events in the other RPGs I played during those same years.<br /><br />So I was hoping these blog postings would help me recall what I had forgotten, but I think the truth is just that there's not much there. The presentation was enough back then, but it was really just watching huge numbers teeter back and forth.asimpkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24806710051248207772015-07-21T11:31:37.382-04:002015-07-21T11:31:37.382-04:00I didn't delve deeply into this one. I didn...I didn't delve deeply into this one. I didn't give it enough of a chance. I probably need to take another look at it when I come through 1986 again.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-62292365422953371622015-07-21T00:11:01.767-04:002015-07-21T00:11:01.767-04:00I always thought BT II had the best reputation of ...I always thought BT II had the best reputation of the series. The first one is a bit limited, still establishing itself like the first season of TV show...the third is a mess, you can sense the development issues in every turn. But the second adds a bigger map, more towns, loot, dungeons with lore, etc.<br /><br />Admittedly, I never delved as deeply as you did, even when I was obsessed with this game on the C64. I liked to grind around and dip into the first few dungeon levels for loot & XP. Basically, I played like a bully, beating up on weaker monsters and roaming sorcerers. Levels of complete darkness & spinner traps were not my bag. My party was basically just another group of monsters, we didn't care about the main quest or saving anybody, we just went kicking down doors looking for easy fights. I would have robbed Garth's and killed the pub owner if I could have - who needs hints & rumors? We walked the streets of Tangramayne like the first scene in Reservoir Dogs. "Forget Fanskar's Fortress, let's go get some breakfast and slaughter some weak sorcerers."Old Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15164506748165591205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-68773866181095529032012-11-12T08:37:54.624-05:002012-11-12T08:37:54.624-05:00I've finished a number of CRPGs, and those wer...I've finished a number of CRPGs, and those were usually the ones that also had a good story in them.<br /><br />I think my all time favourites are probably NWN and Kotor, probably. I never finished BGII, I got stuck somewhere getting beaten no matter where I went or what I did and gave up pretty much. So too hard combat is a nono :p<br /><br />Too easy combat is a nono as well though. I'm looking at you, current day WoW. I rolled a new char there when the previous expansion came out and levelled all the way up, three deaths. 3. Two of which were caused by my internet crappin out... THAT is not cool either.<br /><br />Looking forward to seeing you reach games I actually remember playing... Some way to go though!<br />Baktruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16374352005154219569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76693418062193079682010-07-12T10:40:51.580-04:002010-07-12T10:40:51.580-04:00I almost never complete an RPG, and it's exact...I almost never complete an RPG, and it's exactly for that reason: round after round of combat gets old after awhile, no matter how much I enjoyed it at first.<br /><br />Of course, without that constant combat, the game would be MUCH shorter. I understand why game developers do this. Combat is cheap, while adding more locations and situations to the game is expensive. And players expect a long game so they get their money's worth.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the tactics of combat, as well as the strategy of creating a powerful party. But once you figure out the best way to fight, future battles tend to get boring. I like exploration and discovery best, anyway. So I put up with the constant battles for as long as I can, just so I can see what's around the next corner.<br /><br />It's a shame that so much of these games is completely wasted on me, since I never get to see the latter sections. Sure, I could turn the difficulty down (as you did here, effectively, by importing powerful characters), but then you get bored by the lack of challenge. I wish difficulty settings would include cutting out the sheer number of combat encounters (but then, that would make the game even harder, without the experience and loot from them).Bill Garthrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08552459555883204060noreply@blogger.com