Line #38 VideoGame/TheBardsTaleIV


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/logo7.png]]
2	''The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep'' is the fourth installment of the [[TrilogyCreep until-recently-accurately-named]] "''[[VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy Bard's Tale]]'' trilogy", developed by Creator/InXileEntertainment -- a studio comprised of many of the same people who worked on the original trilogy at Creator/InterplayEntertainment back in TheEighties.
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4	[[TimeSkip 150 years]] have passed since the defeat of Tarjan, and many things have changed in Skara Brae. Over a century ago, the town fell into ruin and was eventually rebuilt under the new direction of the [[TheChurch Church of the Sword Father]]. This new, pious Skara Brae has [[BanOnMagic outlawed magic]] and [[FantasticRacism banished non-human residents]], while the heroes of old have become half-forgotten heathen legends. But when the ancient monsters begin returning and citizens of Skara Brae start disappearing, only one group can stand in their way -- the [[WeirdTradeUnion Adventurer's Guild]], outlawed and driven underground (literally) by the Fatherites, but still fighting for the salvation of the land.
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6	The game [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/the-bards-tale-iv went to]] Website/{{Kickstarter}} on June 2, 2015, and exceeded its funding goals. It is not to be confused with ''VideoGame/TheBardsTale'', a 2004 SpinOff also created by inXile. A trailer with in-engine footage was released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVB6dSckvJI June 4th, 2015]]. In a trailer released on July 12, 2018, they revealed the release date: September 18, 2018.
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9	!!Tropes to be found in the game:
10	* AchievementSystem: There are dozens of achievements. getting them all will take playing (or at least starting) the game several times.
11	* AscendedMeme: The "Red Boots" DLC (available to anyone who backed the game) is a ShoutOut to a fake DLC that was supposedly released for ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland 2}}'' (as a mockery of DLC practices by publishers). It has become an actual item that can be obtained and worn in-game.
12	* BanOnMagic: The Fatherites have outlawed the practice of magic in Skara Brae and the surrounding Caith region.
13	* TheBard: The Bard class buffs their allies by playing specific music pieces for various effects.
14	* BareFistedMonk: The Monk class grows in immediate power, the longer you go without rest.
15	* BilingualBonus: Those haunting vocals in the background of the trailer? They're the poem the magic mouth recites translated into Scottish Gaelic.
16	* CallBack: The magic mouth in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVB6dSckvJI first trailer]] is reciting the introductory rhyme from [[VideoGame/TheBardsTaleTrilogy the first game]].
17	* CityOfAdventure: Skara Brae returns as your main adventuring hub from the previous games, albeit as a new city, rebuilt from scratch long after the old Skara Brae was destroyed. The old Skara Brae, however, is still present, but right under the new City and almost fully explorable.
18	* CharacterClassSystem: The eight base classes from the original games, Warrior, Paladin, Rogue, Bard, Hunter, Monk, Conjurer and Magician, return and are joined by the Cleric. However, only four classes (Bard, Rogue, Practioner, Fighter) are selectable right from the start, for the others you need to finish a sidequest and these other classes are basically extensions of the base classes (adding a branch in their skill tree).
19	* TheChurch: The Church of the Sword Father is an oppressive, anti-magic, anti-non-human religion that has taken control of Skara Brae during the TimeSkip.
20	* ClassAndLevelSystem: Each player character has a class and gains new and evolving abilities as they progress in level.
21	* CombatMedic: The Cleric class specializes in healing, but can also be quite effective at fighting undead and dark magic.
22	* DungeonCrawling: Dungeons are the main focus of the game.
23	* FantasticRacism: The Fatherites have banished elves, dwarves, and trow from Skara Brae and destroyed all portals to their realms.
24	* InkSuitActor:
25	** High-level pledge backers on Kickstarter will have their faces digitized and placed into the game as tavern patrons.
26	** Brian Fargo (the founder of [=InXile=]) also lent his likeness to the game as a DLC skin, "Bardic Brian", for anyone who supported the campaign.
27	* ItemCrafting: A crafting system was one of the stretch goals that were achieved.
28	* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: According to a [[DefectorFromDecadence former Fatherite priest]], while the majority of the Swordfather faith always did preach intolerance towards non-humans and magic, it was mostly limited to harmless preaching and rabble-rousing. It wasn't until [[DiscOneFinalBoss Heren]] came to power and began radicalizing and empowering the Fatherites that they started to become able to act out their delusional beliefs.
29	* KnightInSourArmor: The Adventurer's Guild has been outlawed and driven underground (literally) by the Fatherites, who control the minds of the general populace, but still continues to fight for the latter against the encroaching evil.
30	* MultiPlatform: The game is available on Windows, Linux, and OS X.
31	* ThePaladin: The Paladin class is a defender who serves as the StoneWall while simultaneously buffing the party or debuffing enemies.
32	* PlayerParty: Not right from the start, but as soon as you get your 6th party member, the player can create a new six-person party right from scratch. It will cost you some Mercenary Tokens, which are very limited.
33	* PrestigeClass: Like in the original, Conjurers and Magicians can eventually upgrade to the Archmage class, although this system also will be expanded considerably.
34	* PublicDomainSoundtrack: [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]]. The soundtrack, with at least some songs in Gaelic, has quite a good amount of songs based on tradionals, but a lot of songs are original compositions.
35	* PungeonMaster: Wringneck[[note]]the trow rogue in your party[[/note]] is very fond of making puns, much to Dalgliesh's[[note]]The default dwarf fighter you pick up[[/note]] annoyance.
36	* TheSiege: The castle of the High Jarl of the Einarr is under siege by the selkies when you first reach it.
37	* ShoutOut:
38	** The Achievement for keeping Melody as your starter character instead of creating your own is called ''Unchained Melody'', a popular song that was covered hundreds of times.
39	** There's an old farmer who despises adventurers. [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender He sells nothing but cabbages.]]
40	* SummonMagic: Summons are available both to the player and to the enemies, with potential to drastically turn the tide of battle.
41	* TimeSkip: The fourth game in the series takes place 150 years after the third.
42	* TrilogyCreep: The original trilogy [[SequelGap remained thus for over a quarter century]] but now that seems to be over.
43	* TurnBasedCombat: One where the positioning of the characters is vital, as heroes on the left side cannot attack enemies on the right, or sometimes even in the middle, without moving (which uses an action point). It has an uncommon variation where you use Action Points, but they're shared between the entire ''party'' instead of an individual.
44	* WeirdTradeUnion: The Adventurer's Guild.
45	* WesternRPG: And a successor to one of the genre's GoldenAge highlights, to boot!

Context VideoGame / TheBardsTaleIV