Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Skyblade 12-11-03, 12:19 AM	With 3.5, perform is divided up - so we could have this bard with nothing but, say, Perform: Dance. Now, how could I justify such a bard using 'bard songs'?? If a bard can't sing worth a damn (but is a great dancer), could the bard still use 'bard song'? Instruments become irrelevant, because a dancer (or storyteller. Or pure singer. Or actor) doesn't use one. It kinda defeats the whole purpose of a bard not being able to cast spells / use bard songs while silenced. A bard relies on music. ...what music?
BlaineTog 12-11-03, 12:36 AM	Song/Music is an fuzzy subject. The PHB lets you do whatever style you want w/o penalty (within reason. A Painter bard might have a few problems). Mabye tap? Or it just looks so cool that everyone gets beefed up? I dunno (im brain fied).
mojo_202 12-11-03, 12:47 AM	I play a bard who has ranks in several perform sub-skills. I max out my ranks in one such skill and use it for all of my bardic music. I use perform (oratory) to inspire courage in my allies. Since bardic music is quasi-magical, you could perform in any manner you deemed appropriate. A bardic dancer could, with his stylin' moves, inspire great courage and magical power within himself and his allies. Whatever you chose, there are several broad categories of perform that hold a couple of lesser skills. My perform (oratory) is used to tell tales and epics, stories long and short.
Skyblade 12-11-03, 12:50 AM	I would think inspiration through dancing comes from looking at the performer's movements... not the 'taps' they make (well, unless it's tap dancing... but I somehow doubt it is common... lol). (Edit) Mojo, Well, I see if you are buying another "Perform" skill, it may work. Sacrifices a skill point - but at least it makes the performance sense. But it still doesn't explain how a pure dancer (maxing out ONLY Perform: Dance) get bardic music... Nor why do people need to hear you for it to work ;)
zudbash 12-11-03, 10:11 AM	Skyblade, I'm confused about what you are asking. According to the rules, you can't use bardic music with Perform: Dance. It needs to be an auditory performance.
Mr.Waesel 12-11-03, 10:19 AM	perform: painting is pretty funny: Fighter: We are under attack! Bard: Hold on, almost done Just a little blue here, and some red there... :D
Lael 12-11-03, 07:49 PM	To use bardic music, you would have to have at least perform in either singing or one of the musical ones. Otherwise it defets the purpose of being a bard if you only have perform ranks in something that isn't musical. I've maxed my character in perform singing and kept string up to use it for inspire courage if needed be.
deganawida 12-11-03, 08:21 PM	Originally posted by Mr.Waesel perform: painting is pretty funny: Fighter: We are under attack! Bard: Hold on, almost done Just a little blue here, and some red there... :D Don't forget the happy little trees! Eh, I'd allow it for dancing, but I'd change it so that you couldn't use Still Spell (rather than Silent Spell), and those whom you want to affect must see you within their field of vision for one round. Of course, it would still be a little silly. As far as oratory goes, that's more in the spirit of the original bard, and I'd allow it with no penalties.
Roxlimn 12-12-03, 02:58 AM	Painting isn't a Perform skill. It's a Craft skill.
Sir Ferdinand 12-12-03, 03:23 AM	In Bardic Music ability, it's clearly explained what is needed to activate a BM. Dancing isn't one of them, so a Bard with even 23 ranks in Perform Dance, can't use BM. But what exactly is your problem here? Perform isn't Bard exclusive skill, so it means that not all of those Perform sub-abilities are meant for Bards (BM). Just take another sub-ability in Perform and you're fine. Or just take two sub-abilities in Perform, other in Dance and other in singing. Problem solved.