Bard Games was formed in 1982 by Steven Cordovano, Vernie Taylor and Stephan Michael Sechi, who each put up $600.
[1]: 172 Their intention was to market generic fantasy role-playing supplements that could be adapted for any game system.
Due to personal and financial disagreements that arose in the wake of the trilogy, Sechi sold his shares in Bard Games to Cordovano and left.
[1]: 173 When a buyer from Waldenbooks placed a huge order on Atlantis: The Lost World, Sechi was reluctant to fill it but eventually did; about a year later many of the books were returned, forcing Bard Games to refund about $20,000.
[1]: 173 After Sechi repaid the company's debts to the book trade, he paid off his partner, and then shut Bard Games down.