Don't Forget the Bard!

Click here to play the online game here on Newgrounds.

History:

• 11/20/16 - Don't Forget the Bard! won Daily 3rd Place.
• 11/21/16 - Don't Forget the Bard! was frontpaged on Newgrounds.
• 12/7/16 - Don't Forget the Bard! was #17 in Runner-up Games for Best of November 2016
• 2/26/17 - Don't Forget the Bard was modified and released in e-book form.

 

About:

Don't Forget the Bard! is a gamebook (interactive fiction) that was inspired by Edward from Final Fantasy 2. Edward appears in the game for a short time and is one of the most useless characters. He is weak, runs away, and can't even sing without his harp, but if you stick with him long enough, he eventually learns to turn the entire enemy party into a bunch of frogs. When his skills do work, they are helpful and unique, and his flaws actually make him a more interesting character. I thought about what a game would be like if he were the main character and that inspired me to write this gamebook.

 

Characters:

Altros: A giant octopus that terrorizes the open seas.

Big Anfroy: A legendary beast that lives in Dickenburg's moat.

Daryn: The king's guard.

Lord Archer: He is your father, but does not appear in the game.

Lord Dickenburg: The king dies before the game starts and this is the impetus for the adventure.

Lord Baston: A playboy that has shut himself in at The House of Ill Repute.

Lord Baston II: Lord Baston's son.

Lord Faust: Ruler of the northern kingdom.

Mary: A whore from The House of Ill Repute.

Mermaid: A mermaid lives in the sea and causes trouble for those who sail in and out of Dickenburg.

Reverse Mermaid: This mythical beast lives in Dickenburg's moat.

Witch: The witch lives close to the forest and tries to seduce the various passersby.

Woodcutter: An axeman that plagues the woods.

 

Inventory:

apple – restores 1 endurance point

bard's clothes (starting inventory)

beggar's clothes (starting inventory)

cheese - restores 2 endurance points

fishing pack – allows you to fish in the moat

mutton – restores 3 endurance points

ring – a mysterious artifact

sultanas – a gift for

bottle of water – restores all endurance points (not ordinary water)

key – unlocks the a metal collar

 

Skills:

Combat Powers (25 points max): Fighting, fencing, and other physical strength

Bard Powers (25 points max): Singing, intuition, and other mysterious powers

Charisma (10 points max): Make friends and influence others

Composure (10 points max): Control yourself under duress

Lore (10 points max): A little knowledge goes a long way in these lands

 

Endings:

These spoilers will be posted soon. There are about 15,000 words and dozens of endings in this game.

 

Medals:

These will be posted after beta testing finishes.

 

Strategy:

The most important skills are combat and bard powers. Lore is the least used skill. In order to complete all paths, a combination of different skills are needed.

 

FAQ:

Q: Where can you play this game?

A: Click here to play the online game here on Newgrounds.