Bardalocalypse! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bardalocalypse! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BrutishCelt
07-21-06, 02:03 AM You know, I recently got to thinking about the composition of the groups which I throw against my players. Usually, the groups are fairly balanced, or they lean heavily on one concept, such as rogues or fighters. That, of course, is probably because it's easier to run an encounter with fewer complicated class abilities involved. The concept that popped into my head was a bit modern, but considering the advent of magitech-concepts in Eberron, I don't think that I'm too far ahead of the times. Here goes:

What if the party ran afoul of a fantasy version of a rock band (a.k.a. bards) that's up to no good? Are there feats or rules out there for multiple bards working together to produce sock-rocking bardic music? If there are, then I must say that I've missed them, but I'd be willing to consider additional bards being able to do a variant of the "aid another" action when performing together, or maybe some variant on the cooperative magic that Red Wizards use.

What do you all think? Or am I just asking for one balor of a headache with such a concept?

[edited for spelling]
Mordayn
07-21-06, 02:39 AM I've actually been playing with the idea myself, but so far has yet to use it in a game.

As far as I know, Wotc has yet to release a book with info that lets a group of bard's cooperate in the manner you suggest, but there may be second hand companies out there with systems for such abilities, I don't know.
LordPendragon
07-21-06, 09:25 AM Here's what I'd implement...

If 2 or more Bards are all playing music, and intentionally playing in a harmonious fashion, then they may all apply the effects of a Bardic Music ability, but only the one with the highest Perform modifier needs to spend a music use. The one with the highest modifier is considered the lead - lead guitarist, lead singer, lead lutist, whatever. If 2 or more characters are tied for Perform modifier, then make opposed Perform checks to see who assumes the lead.

Extra HD from Inspire Greatness do not stack with eachother, but multiple fascinations can affect a single creature. Every Bard in a band is considered to be using a special Aid Another action on all the other band members.

For every Bard after the first who joins in the group, increase the range of music effects by 10ft. In the case of music abilities that have a limited number of targets, every aditional Bard increases the number of targets by 1. If the range of the music is magically amplified, then the extra 10ft are added before multiplying the range.

If 3 or more Bards are playing in tandem, then as long as no more than 1/3 of them fail their Concentration checks, the ones who failed can rejoin the song without spending an additional use. This only works if they rejoin immediately on their next turn, and if the group lead ever fails his Concentration, the rhythm is lost and the band must use another music use to start playing again.

So, using these rules, a group of 3 4th level Bards (with a Perform modifier of 14) can work together to fascinate a group of 12 (2 each, plus an additional 2 each from working together), even when the farthest target is 50ft away (30 initial, plus 20 from the 2 other band members). Also, if one of them gets hit by a cabbage and stops playing momentarily, he can jump back in at no cost.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BrutishCelt 07-21-06, 02:03 AM	You know, I recently got to thinking about the composition of the groups which I throw against my players. Usually, the groups are fairly balanced, or they lean heavily on one concept, such as rogues or fighters. That, of course, is probably because it's easier to run an encounter with fewer complicated class abilities involved. The concept that popped into my head was a bit modern, but considering the advent of magitech-concepts in Eberron, I don't think that I'm too far ahead of the times. Here goes: What if the party ran afoul of a fantasy version of a rock band (a.k.a. bards) that's up to no good? Are there feats or rules out there for multiple bards working together to produce sock-rocking bardic music? If there are, then I must say that I've missed them, but I'd be willing to consider additional bards being able to do a variant of the "aid another" action when performing together, or maybe some variant on the cooperative magic that Red Wizards use. What do you all think? Or am I just asking for one balor of a headache with such a concept? [edited for spelling]
Mordayn 07-21-06, 02:39 AM	I've actually been playing with the idea myself, but so far has yet to use it in a game. As far as I know, Wotc has yet to release a book with info that lets a group of bard's cooperate in the manner you suggest, but there may be second hand companies out there with systems for such abilities, I don't know.
LordPendragon 07-21-06, 09:25 AM	Here's what I'd implement... If 2 or more Bards are all playing music, and intentionally playing in a harmonious fashion, then they may all apply the effects of a Bardic Music ability, but only the one with the highest Perform modifier needs to spend a music use. The one with the highest modifier is considered the lead - lead guitarist, lead singer, lead lutist, whatever. If 2 or more characters are tied for Perform modifier, then make opposed Perform checks to see who assumes the lead. Extra HD from Inspire Greatness do not stack with eachother, but multiple fascinations can affect a single creature. Every Bard in a band is considered to be using a special Aid Another action on all the other band members. For every Bard after the first who joins in the group, increase the range of music effects by 10ft. In the case of music abilities that have a limited number of targets, every aditional Bard increases the number of targets by 1. If the range of the music is magically amplified, then the extra 10ft are added before multiplying the range. If 3 or more Bards are playing in tandem, then as long as no more than 1/3 of them fail their Concentration checks, the ones who failed can rejoin the song without spending an additional use. This only works if they rejoin immediately on their next turn, and if the group lead ever fails his Concentration, the rhythm is lost and the band must use another music use to start playing again. So, using these rules, a group of 3 4th level Bards (with a Perform modifier of 14) can work together to fascinate a group of 12 (2 each, plus an additional 2 each from working together), even when the farthest target is 50ft away (30 initial, plus 20 from the 2 other band members). Also, if one of them gets hit by a cabbage and stops playing momentarily, he can jump back in at no cost.