Rules v6

Welcome to the Bardic Tales User's Guide. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the work of many people over much time to create a system that comes as close to modeling reality as we can and still be playable.

This is a role-playing system. It is designed as an aide to a group of people telling a story together. It provides a systematic, designed framework of relationships and descriptions that the tale-spinners can weave their artistic efforts around. Always the story is first- these "rules" are designed to empower the game master and players and provide impetus and resolution to the actions and decisions made by the actors in the game.

Acknowledgements

Please let me know what you think. It has been 14 years and many people's ideas and work. I would like to thank (in no particular order): Mark Desmarais, Jim Mochel, Peter Hannaford, Geoff Hodge, Doug Huskins, Hauke Marshall, Jim Wilson, Dave Wall, Jack Garrity, Jim Smith, Briand Beaudin, Joe Lapolito, and Britt McKinley as co-game designers. I would also like to thank an amazing array of play testers: Kyle Hall, Lara Jackl, Petra Jackl, Pam Hopkins, Henry M., Lisa Hodge, Bob McInnes, Dave Parker, Lynne "Vito" Vessella, and Steve Smaeta. There are probably many more.

I would particularly like to thank Captain Research for introducing me to the idea of role-playing and starting me down the game design path, as well as being my constant partner in the BT/SH game design process! I would also like to thank Pam and my wife, Amy for having put up with my obsession all these years!

Enjoy!