A downloadable game for Windows

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To play on Windows:

  • download BARBARDOM 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024 (Windows) archive;
  • unzip Barbardom-dosbox folder ("64" - 64-bit, "32" - 32-bit)
  • launch Barbardom.bat from the folder to play the game

To play on DOS or another OS:

  • download BARBARDOM 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024 (DOS floppy) image
  • mount it in the DOS emulator / Virtual Machine for your OS
  • follow the instructions from readme.txt on the floppy disk

You can read the full installation notes below on that page or in readme.txt of the game.

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BARBARDOM is a grand strategy in micro setting, based on the old mechanics of 15-puzzle. You build, trade, and fight, aligning the tile pieces.  It's made for DOS in ASCII style, and Windows-ready version is below. Try it out!

To do list:

-    the sound currently is not supported - will be added in the future version. (sound added in ver. 1.0)

Selling points:

-    Barbardom's brief strategy sessions can be addictive;

-    it's free.

The latest version is BARBARDOM 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024. The update archive contains a full copy of the game.

The 1.4 UPD. 13.01.2024 changes:

  • the strategies guide for Barbardom is added.

The 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024 changes:

  • memory management optimizations;
  • additional balance adjustments;
  • bug fixes.

The 1.4 UPD. 30.12.2023 changes:

  • graphics update;
  • important balance adjustments;
  • text tutorial edits;
  • some gui improvements (indication);
  • "next" function was reworked.

The 1.3 UPD. 01.12.2023 changes:

  • the game manual is bundled with 1.3!
  • rebalancing masters, score values, etc.;
  • lots of bug fixes;
  • some visual changes for better usability.

The 1.2 UPD. 20.11.2023 changes:

  • performance improved;
  • minor tweaks of the introduction;
  • the sacrifice mechanics now works as intended;
  • big balance changes ("great flood" and "doomsday" are more strict now).

The 1.1 UPD. 11.10.2023 changes (with a late 05.11.2023 fix):

  • "too many chips used" error was fixed;
  • average negative score was fixed 05.11.2023.

The 1.0 UPD. 10.10.2023 changes:

  • 1.0 release version is out!
  • game breaking glitch is fixed; 
  • rebalancing: bridges, trade and terrain swap were reworked; 
  • text tutorial was updated;
  • sounds and music were added (via PC speaker).

The UPD. 06.10.2023 changes:

  • several bugs are fixed;
  • tradeposts are not created near red warriors;
  • the "respawn after sacrifice" problem is solved.
More information

Download

Download
BARBARDOM 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024 (Windows) 22 MB
Download
BARBARDOM 1.4 UPD. 04.01.2024 (DOS floppy) 2.8 MB
Download
Barbardom 0.9 (Windows) 20 MB
Download
Barbardom 0.9 (DOS floppy) 2.8 MB
Download
The basic strategies guide for Barbardom 192 kB
Download
The complete manual for Barbardom 194 kB

Install instructions

INSTALLATION NOTES below (also you can check the "readme.txt" file)

Option 1 (recommended). Download the game archive for Windows. Extract the "barbardom-dosbox" folder ("64" - for Windows 64-bit, "32" - for Windows 32-bit) to a prefered location. Launch "bard.bat" inside the folder to play the game, if you are a Windows user. For other OS, copy the folder "bard" from the "barbardom-dosbox" folder (or from the "BARBARDOM *****.IMA" floppy image) and mount it as a disk C in Dosbox-X or Dosbox Staging for your system. Launch the "nml.exe" file in Dosbox to play the game. Barbardom requires 32 MB of RAM for DOS (write it in your Dosbox config on the other OS).

Links to the compatible Dosbox:

Option 2. Download the Virtual Machine for your OS. I can recommend VMware Workstation Player 15 (it's free) for Windows (and for MacOS - VMware Fusion should work). VirtualBox (for MacOS, Windows, Linux) is OK and gives a great performance too.

Create a virtual HDD in VM, write 32 MB of RAM in the config. Install MS-DOS 6.22 or FreeDOS 1.3 on the drive. Download the "BARBARDOM *****.IMA" file from above, create a virtual floppy drive in your VM and connect the "BARBARDOM *****.IMA" floppy image to your system.

Copy the "bard" folder (with all its folders and contents) from the floppy (disk A) to a prefered location on the disk C of your DOS system.

Find the "config.sys" file on the disk C (the specific paths and names may vary).

For MS-DOS - edit C:\CONFIG.SYS text file adding the line "DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS", for FreeDOS - edit C:\FDCONFIG.SYS text file adding the line "DEVICE=C:\FREEDOS\BIN\NANSI.SYS"                                                                                         (you need it for the game to render ASCII-graphics properly);

RESTART your system; launch "nml.exe" from the game folder to play the game.

NOTE: VMware Workstation Player 15 on Windows doesn't have a scaler, therefore I recommend to reduce the Windows desktop resolution to 1280x720 for a comfort play.

Links to the VMs:

You'll need MS-DOS 6.22 installation files  or FreeDOS 1.3 from https://www.freedos.org/

Development log

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