Bard Casting Spells without Knowing He Can [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard Casting Spells without Knowing He Can [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RPGDudeNYC
03-01-04, 04:03 PM I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm having a hard time figuring out the right search criteria to find the appropriate threads. So...I'm giving up and starting a new thread.

I am about to play a Bard in a side campaign our DM is running. I'd like him to be unaware of the fact that he's actually using magic when he casts it. He will believe he's sending subliminal messages to creatures through his singing, when in reality he's casting spells. My only problem is when a spell requires a material component. First, he won't have a spell component pouch because he doesn't know he can cast spells. Secondly, he won't have any reason to be holding the appropriate component when casting the spell.

I'm curious how others have dealt with this issue. And, how long were you able to keep the caster unaware that he was actually casting spells?

If someone knows of a thread where this was discussed before please refer me to it.

Thanks!
Kobold Paladin
03-01-04, 07:38 PM Eschew Materials
shift244
03-01-04, 07:49 PM Originally posted by Kobold Paladin
Eschew Materials there's one way out. the bard COULD've have picked up the ability without knowing couldn't he?

or he could've only cast spells that requires no material components, or with more common components.. they could just "happen to there" kinda thing??
RPGDudeNYC
03-02-04, 11:32 AM Thanks for both suggestions.

I was hoping to avoid choosing only spells without material components, but if I end up choosing that route it will be fun to try to make it without some of my favorite bard spells. :)

I'll look into Eschew Materials. Definitely sounds like an option.

Thanks again!
Ranthanas
03-02-04, 06:54 PM Remember that the bard can grab foci as a nervous reaction (I had one char with a fleece lined cloak for Silent Image).
Lord Gwydion
03-02-04, 07:30 PM Personally, when I DM, if a player has an interesting character concept like that that bends the rules, I go ahead and let them bend the rules.

If your DM is stricter than I am, get the Eschew Materials feat. It lets you ignore any cheap material components. So if a spell needs a crystal worth 50 gp, you still need the crystal, but if all you need is some bat guano, you can cast without the ball of poop. Your bard would still be somewhat limited in what spells he could learn, but not as badly as if you had to ignore all spells with material components.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RPGDudeNYC 03-01-04, 04:03 PM	I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm having a hard time figuring out the right search criteria to find the appropriate threads. So...I'm giving up and starting a new thread. I am about to play a Bard in a side campaign our DM is running. I'd like him to be unaware of the fact that he's actually using magic when he casts it. He will believe he's sending subliminal messages to creatures through his singing, when in reality he's casting spells. My only problem is when a spell requires a material component. First, he won't have a spell component pouch because he doesn't know he can cast spells. Secondly, he won't have any reason to be holding the appropriate component when casting the spell. I'm curious how others have dealt with this issue. And, how long were you able to keep the caster unaware that he was actually casting spells? If someone knows of a thread where this was discussed before please refer me to it. Thanks!
Kobold Paladin 03-01-04, 07:38 PM	Eschew Materials
shift244 03-01-04, 07:49 PM	Originally posted by Kobold Paladin Eschew Materials there's one way out. the bard COULD've have picked up the ability without knowing couldn't he? or he could've only cast spells that requires no material components, or with more common components.. they could just "happen to there" kinda thing??
RPGDudeNYC 03-02-04, 11:32 AM	Thanks for both suggestions. I was hoping to avoid choosing only spells without material components, but if I end up choosing that route it will be fun to try to make it without some of my favorite bard spells. :) I'll look into Eschew Materials. Definitely sounds like an option. Thanks again!
Ranthanas 03-02-04, 06:54 PM	Remember that the bard can grab foci as a nervous reaction (I had one char with a fleece lined cloak for Silent Image).
Lord Gwydion 03-02-04, 07:30 PM	Personally, when I DM, if a player has an interesting character concept like that that bends the rules, I go ahead and let them bend the rules. If your DM is stricter than I am, get the Eschew Materials feat. It lets you ignore any cheap material components. So if a spell needs a crystal worth 50 gp, you still need the crystal, but if all you need is some bat guano, you can cast without the ball of poop. Your bard would still be somewhat limited in what spells he could learn, but not as badly as if you had to ignore all spells with material components.