Exploration in The Bard's Tale 4 Game The Bard's Tale 4 Guide and Walkthrough
Last update: 16 October 2018
Although Bard's Tale IV has a linear scenario, the maps themselves contain many hidden locations, the exploration of which can provide many benefits. Below you will find a description of all the important aspects to which you must pay attention while exploring.
Doors, grates and other obstacles
You will come across numerous different types of doors and grates on your journeys. Overcoming these obstacles will require meeting certain conditions. In the case of doors, a key is usually required. You can most often find it lying somewhere in the vicinity. It may also be in the possession of various types of opponents, requiring you to defeat them in order to progress further. Some of the doors can also be opened with a lockpick, however, you do need to have a Rogue in your party.
In the case of grates, however, there are usually three types of locks. The first of these is the Gear puzzle. To complete the puzzle you have to put all of the gold gears in motion. The sprockets of a different colour must remain motionless. Magic is also another possible lock. Some of the bars are sealed in place by all kinds of spells. Only after you remove them will you rid yourself of the obstacles they protected. Usually, these spells have the form of a puzzle, the solution of which will cause their deactivation. The last objects that allow you to open grates are levers. Usually, they are located on one side of the grating only. Each of the listed opening mechanisms is one-sided. This means that you can only remove a given grate while being on the correct side of it.
Apart from that, you will also come across other obstacles, such as vines or walls. You will be able to overcome them with the help of the right songs or equipment. You will be informed about what is necessary to get through a certain obstacle as soon as you approach it.
Songs
Songs are a very important element of the game that facilitates exploration. You will unlock them in successive stages of the story. Each song has specific functions. You will get to know each of them at the moment when your team learns them.
Of course, songs do not work everywhere. You can only activate them in certain places. These locations are appropriately marked with the symbols of the specific songs that you can use there. Songs can also be used for interacting with NPCs. Characters may require a specific song to be played so that you can talk to them.
Shrines
In each of the locations you visit you will find at least one Shrine. Those are powerful stone constructions that can be activated using the Wildland Whistle song. From the moment of activation it will serve the purpose of a fast-travel waypoint. Once you play the song again at an active stone, a map will open, allowing you to move between other active stones.