Bards Tale

The Bard’s Tale - the 1986 role-playing game for Commodore 64 from
Electronic Arts.

Lead a six-hero party through Skara Brae’s 3D streets and deadly
dungeons, grinding levels and solving door riddles to topple Mangar.

Core loop
- recruit, roll stats, and gear up at the Adventurer’s Guild
- map grid-based labyrinths and win turn-based encounters
- heal, identify, and level up until you can raid Mangar’s Tower

Systems and items
- classes - eight classes with mage promotions into sorcerer and wizard
- bard songs - party buffs and light that fade with steps, refreshed in taverns
- summons - conjurer adds a 7th-slot monster to soak hits
- spell points and healing - buy back SP, revive at temples, save at the guild
- character import - carry your party into Bard’s Tale II and III

Level design and feel
Step-by-step 3D city and 22x22 dungeon floors packed with spinners,
darkness, teleports, and anti-magic zones. Disk release shows animated
monster portraits; tape trims some effects and status displays.

Why it is notable
- first entry in the series, designed by Michael Cranford, ported by Interplay
- parties can be imported into the sequels, forming a full trilogy on C64

Tips
- always field a bard and a conjurer early for buffs and a frontline summon
- grind safely in the sewers near the guild before deeper dives
- keep paper maps; use songs and spells to counter darkness and traps

At a glance
Year - 1986
Developer - Interplay Productions
Design and programming - Michael Cranford - Rebecca Ann Heineman (C64)
Graphics - David Lowery
Music - Lawrence Holland - David Warhol
Publisher - Electronic Arts
Genre - Role-playing
Players - 1
Controls - Keyboard only