In the 2014 book "Designer & Dragons: The '80s", game historian Shannon Appelcline wrote that "Because of the success of their "Compleat" books, Bard Games decided to combine the best information from those supplements within a game system and a setting. The result — which would become known as "The Atlantis Trilogy" — would really put Bard on the map. Stephan Michael Sechi oversaw this new and daunting project — which took three years to complete. Eventually he produced three books: "The Arcanum" (1984), "The Lexicon" (1985), and "The Bestiary" (1986). The system was clearly derivative of "D&D", but it also introduced character skills and point-based character creation. The setting was a bit more unique, as it portrayed an antediluvian world of myth (though it also contained some off-key elements including typical fantasy races of "D&D" and even druids). Some players embraced the new game as a more complex "D&D" with a uniquely textured setting."