Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Friar Tuck 07-29-03, 06:32 PM	I have never played a bard, and i wonder wath instrument i should take? Any proposals?
Fiantha 07-29-03, 06:52 PM	Unless you play by the optional rules in Song and Silence (a supplemental book you don't really need) it doesn't matter what instrument you choose. A lute is the classic bard instrument, but don't forget that you can fill up those perform ranks with things like acting, dance, poetry, storytelling, etc. My bard spends a fair bit of time actually with a sword in her hand, so I chose to sing without any instruments for my bardic music effects. That way there is no messing around with a lute. From a roleplaying perspective, my bard plays the harp, because she was raised in a cultured and wealthy environment, but she also plays the harmonica, a skill she learned in the seedy taverns and docks where she went slumming. Instrument choice would probably come down to practicality (you can't carry a huge pipe organ around), price, and your own personal preference. It's very hard to make a mistake in this area, so don't worry about it. --Fiantha
Friar Tuck 07-29-03, 07:01 PM	Can i see your background? You dont have to, if you dont want to
Agent Graves 07-29-03, 07:02 PM	piano acordian :P
Campeador 07-30-03, 07:49 AM	I usually had a lute, but my bard was known to do some poetry and singing as well. Nothing like a nicer battle-hymn I tell ya! :D:D
MrNiceGuy 07-30-03, 09:01 AM	Bag-pipes or Alp horn. Paul
Trydan 07-30-03, 01:32 PM	My bard (well, rogue/bard actually) specialises in naration, town-crying and story telling. There's a bit of background about him in the post Background for investigative reporter (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70343) (feel free to contribute to that post too!).
Agent Graves 07-30-03, 05:59 PM	I'm working on a concept of a half elf punk bard... he plays punk rock... and an axe: music with rocks in (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62196)
Fiantha 07-31-03, 08:44 PM	Originally posted by Friar Tuck Can i see your background? You dont have to, if you dont want to Well, I'm flattered. I can't tell you my whole background, partly because of space and partly because I think there are other members of my party who read this board and don't know everything about me. My character was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in a society run by merchants. She was the closest thing to nobility the island had, and was spoiled rotten. However, her father wanted her to run the family business when he retired. Spoiled princess that she was, she didn't want to actually do any work. She wanted to be a famous musician, and live a life of luxury. She spent many hours with her friends, the pickpockets, street musicians and sailors of her island's slums. They taught her how to fight, pick locks, and also a lot of songs her father would not have approved of. Eventually, her father died, and it was revealed that he was in debt up to his eyeballs. The debt collectors came after Fiantha, and she split. Cast away on a boat for the mainland and met up with some adventurers. Fiantha is a curious mix of civilisized nobility and rough and tumble street smarts. Her speech is littered with slang (thieve's cant she picked up from her friends). She is slowly becoming less and less of a spoiled princess, and more and more of a capable adventuress. She is still a clotheshorse and a spendthrift though. I guess that's all there is to say about her. Now I feel stupid for taking up your time with my character. Does anyone else have a favorite bard? --Fiantha
MrNiceGuy 08-01-03, 10:22 AM	Originally posted by Fiantha Does anyone else have a favorite bard? --Fiantha I'm playing a Bard rt now in a 3.0 game; my first in over 20 years of gaming. Background: Ilthen Vaan was born a poor peasant child. His parents were serfs on the estate of Lord _______/ Growing up, the hansome, quick-witted youth received much love from his parents, but also witnessed much hardship in their lives. This culminated when the evil Lord _________ had his father publicly whipped for killing a rabbit for food. Ilthen left home as soon as his father had recovered, vowing to return one day and cast down Lord _______, and whip him through the streets, as he had done to his father. Ilthen made his way quickly to the city of Waterdeep. He lived initially on the streets, but his wits and almost supernatural talent for musical instruments and performance allowed him to quickly better his situation. He was a veritible sponge for information, absorbing every bit of trivia, news, and lore he heard. A turning point came for Ilthen when he learned that a commoner had been accused of the attempted murder of a wealthy merchant.. Ilthen realized immediately that the commoner could not have done what he was accused of and, with the help of a friend he'd made in the city guard, proved it, and the commoner was freed. Up to this point, he'd viewed laws as merely tool of oppression. Used only to keep those in power where they were, nad the common folk down. His success here tho demonstrated to him that laws could also work for the betterment of men, and he does not flaunt them as readily as he did in the past. He continues to perform regularly, but he also investigates now - sometimes crimes, sometimes mysteries, sometimes just unusual events - still though, he holds to his vow, and when he is powerful enough, he will return to his village and defeat Lord _______. Whaddya think? Paul