I just got a used copy of "the ultimate rpg archives" by gamesas. I really just got it to play "the bard's tale II and III". Unfortunately, the manual that came with the games make reference to command summary cards that were included with the original releases but they were not included in the re-release...what a shame. Now, there is no documentation as to what keystrokes do what.

Do the "command summary cards" mentioned in the game manuals come with this collection?

I vaguely remember that there were ref cards in the Ultimate RPG Archive, but it's been too long since I've opened that box. I might still have a copy at home (if I can find it). I'll look.

You might try:
http://www.replacementdocs.com/

I did a quick look there and didn't find ref card for the URPGA, but there might be individual docs for the games you are looking for.

yes, please look and let me know if I am missing some crucial peice to documentation. The vendor I bought the games from told me that all documentation is included. This can't be true as the manuals DO mention that I need to reference the command cards and they are nowhere to be found. I need to know If I need to file a claim with Amazon. I cant imagine that the manual would make reference to a piece of information that doesnt exist.

The "command summary cards" content is usually printed at the end of the individual manuals. The one for Dragon Wars e.g. follows straight after the section with the story paragrafs, I read that part just yesterday.

this is true for most of the games in the pack except for the Bard's Tale Series, which are the ones i'm concerned about.

Did it possibly just install them as extra files in the games folder? Dragon Wars e.g. got two files there, one containing the magic spells and the other containing the paragraphs.

I'll have a look in my package tonight, but I don't think they were much extras besides the BT3 code wheel.

nope, not installed as extra files. Dragon wars does have 2 files and even has a command summary at the end of the manual. The Bard's Tale series has no such information. All the games have all the documentation in electronic format on the CD which makes me believe its just not included in the release. I really dont understand how omitting something as important as a "command summary card" which explains ALL the keystrokes in the game could be acceptable though, since this information is not available in the manual.

You got a code wheel?? I didnt. Is this in conjunction with the included "cracked" Bard's Tale 3 executible which bypasses the copy protection?

I just checked, the command summary is really missing in the package. I guess I never noticed, since I never tried any of the BTs. I already played them on the C64 (still have the originals sitting in the shelf behind me! )

The BT3 code wheel is in the CD carrier. There's 5 game CDs and the wheel is in the slot where a sixth CD would go.

There's also a cheap photocopied paper in my package with the wilderness maps for BT2/3, but the BT1 town map for Skara Brae that's in the C64 package is missing in the URPGA package as well.

I think they revised the URPGA contents. I have the same cheap photocopied paper but with the maps from all the bards tale games including the original BT1 map of Skara Brae and pictutres from the different "worlds" in BT3 (that were on the inside flaps of the original packaging). The same paper also says that the game has been sold with a cracked executible which will bypass the BT3 copy protection. I think that the wheel was omitted from the factory because they included a cracked .exe file.

Makes sense, I don't see a crack file on my disc.

i j k m should perform your movement commands.

probably c)haracter p)arty or v)iew - then character# -- to view character details.

that's what I remember offhand from my Apple 2 version of BT 1, 2 & 3. I have my original command cards and stuff in storage somewhere so it might be a while before I confirm.

you might be able to download a cracked version of the package, from say, an apple 2 emulation site (be sure to scan for viruses!) which might have an instruction sheet.

I also have the hint books for both BT 2 (maybe) and BT3 (definitely)