Post/Author/DateTime	Post
anonicon 02-21-08, 01:58 PM	We're going to be starting the "Red Hand of Doom" campaign at level 6 soon and I'm thinking of being a Bard. My question - is Fascinate (and by extension, Suggestion which first requires a successful Fascinate) useless during battle, e.g., the only time I can really use it is if I beat everyone on initiative? Thanks.
tyrecian 02-21-08, 02:13 PM	from the SRD: Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability. you had better hope that noone rolls initiative. Although it would be nice, it snot really designed to take people out of combat as much as roleplay it seems to me (I always like to think of it as a kind of mesmerize that could, say, keep back line archers from firing, but that just isnt the case)... Even if you beat everyone on initiative, you would have to use your partial action to fascinate, and then your beat initiative to suggest... then perhaps, but the DM prolly not gonna let that fly, since if you get a partial, then so does the party, and then they are prolly drawing weapons... which breaks the fascinate... :(
rimble 02-21-08, 02:18 PM	Yeah, I think it's pretty much to be used in a situation where your targets are expecting to hear music in the first place. Maybe while performing in a tavern you Fascinate everyone. Or maybe before you're executed your last request is to sing one final song...Fascinate and run! Or maybe if you insert yourself into your enemies, maybe disguise yourself as an Orc and sneak into their camp and start singing a Fascinating Orcish ballad. Or, I suppose, just sneaking into your enemy encampment while Invisible...what IS that haunting melody...? Fascinated! I dunno, I don't think I've ever seen it used, it's a tough one.
anonicon 02-21-08, 02:47 PM	OK, thanks. I thought so, but it's OK if it doesn't work in battle. I'll still use it for stealth and roleplaying. Chuck
mvincent 02-21-08, 04:19 PM	is Fascinate (and by extension, Suggestion which first requires a successful Fascinate) useless during battle, e.g., the only time I can really use it is if I beat everyone on initiative?Well, it could be used if your own entire party put away their weapons first (or never took them out in the first place). If your party is cooperative, you can get creative. Maybe there is a lull in the battle where one side is behind cover and the two sides are merely exchanging insults. Like in a musical, the banter could suddenly take a lyrical bent.
Wheldrake 02-21-08, 04:35 PM	Or if your entire party is monks & wizards, they might have no drawn weapons, ever! Seriously, there should be plenty of situations where you are facing hostile or potentially hostile forces, but are not actually charging into combat. If you are charging into combat, the best a bard can do is bolster his pals, or get in there & start swinging himself. Fascinate is for those times when combat isn't immediate - and a good roleplay opp. Cheers, --- Wheldrake