How do YOU remember bardic music? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do YOU remember bardic music? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Jester
03-09-07, 06:27 PM It started small. My bard only had one use of music each day and fights were short, so I only had to prod a couple times. I'd pick the wrong fight and or inspire competence and then it would be moot.

Now I'm level seven and have a half-dozen of the blighters, plus Inspirational Boost. +2 attack and damage (and saves versus fear, yeah that comes up alot) and long fights means I spend half the time asking people "did you add bardic music?" when they miss or roll damage. It doesn't sound like much but it makes such a difference.

I've written it on the battle mat. I've written it insultingly on the battle mat ("+2 atk and dmg *****es!") and now I'm hauling about l'il cardboard stands with reminders written on them.

How do you or other bards at your table keep the bonus fresh in people's minds?
Puggle Halfwine
03-09-07, 06:39 PM Encourage your fellow PCs to use a mini whiteboard or a piece of paper and a pen. Write down their to-hit and damage bonuses with ALL bonuses calculated in advance, so that when it comes around to their turn they can just use those values. If you're really serious about it, you can buy them for about $1 AUD each (70c US) including a suitable pen, so just get six of them and hand them out at the beginning of the mod. Since I started playing a two-weapon fighting rogue, I've got one and it's been very useful.
Japangirl
03-09-07, 07:29 PM I remember my various buffs (GMW, Haste, Prayer, Bardsong, etc) by writing everything in pencil on the top of my character sheet. Then when the bonus goes away, I can erase it. I do the same for things like Imbue with Spell-like Ability and temporary hitpoints from a Heroes Feast. It makes the tops of my character sheets all messy, but as long as I can read it everything is good.
Cardinal Teplin
03-09-07, 07:34 PM Players around my way carry cards, about 5 inches square, with the name of the effect at the top, and then the bonus written in very large writing. They leave on the battle mat during the fight to remind people that it's active.

It makes buff spells more fun, too.

H
jhorred
03-09-07, 07:46 PM I used to use 3x5 cards folded in half, but they arent' durable at all.

I pestered the guys at http://www.dragonfiresigns.com/ and they made some wooden versions like their table tents for me.

I saw these guys at Gencon and Lucas was helpful in getting these made for me.
Eric Anondson
03-10-07, 12:43 AM I have a horizontal list for my character's damage and bonuses, it goes in this order generally.

Base dice + sneak dice + magic enchantment dice (like holy) + magic enhancement bonus + Base Str + Rage + Righteous Fury Str bonus + Smite + Righteous Wrath + Favored Enemy + Prayer + Bardsong + Power Attack table

On the line below that I calculate the damage for 2-handed wield (generally changes Str values and Power Attacks.

On the line below that I calculate the damage for confirmed criticals 1-hand and then 2-handed the line below that.

Elsewhere on the paper I have a vertical list of attack bonuses and their type, something like this:

BAB
Base Str
Weapon magic enhancement
--------------------
G. M. Weapon (enhancement) +?
Prayer (luck) +1
Recitation (luck) +2/3
Hero's Feast (morale) +1
Bless (morale) +1
Heroism (morale) +2
Righteous wrath (morale) +3
Bardsong (morale) +?
Rage (Str) +2
Righteous Fury (Str) +2
Haste (haste) +1
Smite evil (smite) +Cha modifier

One needs to keep track of the type of attack modifiers more closely for attacks than you do for damage, I find, because, of course, certain modifiers do not stack and others will stack! Listing them vertically I have found is easier to keep track of the modifiers so as to make sure I only grab the right ones.

So when someone tells me there is a bardsong on the field, I simply put a mark next to my list so that I know I should add it.
gomeztoo
03-10-07, 08:48 AM As a bard, I remind players to us ethe bonus. And yes, half of teht ime that is required.
As a player, at least when playing a melee combat type, I write down attack and damage bonuses in a separate notebook, and adjust when needed.
So when it's my turn, I have it calculated already.
Nothing slows down play like someone who has to look up everything during his or her turn.
Except people who like to shake their dice for about five minutes before they roll.
Bold
03-10-07, 09:46 AM I remember my various buffs (GMW, Haste, Prayer, Bardsong, etc) by writing everything in pencil on the top of my character sheet. Then when the bonus goes away, I can erase it.

Same, although I use a separate piece of scratch paper so that my character sheet doesn't get messed up.

Across the top I have my attack bonus and then the damage. Under this I add any long-duration buffs (bless, prayer, heroes feast), and then a subtotal. Below this I add any modifiers which change often (power attack, flank, charge), which gives me the total at the bottom. I update the lower section during other players' turns, so that during my turn I can simply move my fig and roll the dice. No long delays where I stammer and squint, trying to remember the bonuses and add them up. No continued corrections after a miss where I try to remember additional modifiers I might've forgotten.

The one tricky thing about writing all this out in advance is that I occasionally forget to say what I'm doing on my turn. I've written down that I'm raging and power attacking for 2, but it's easy to forget that as other people act. Lately I've been doing a version of the "string on your finger" gimmick to remind myself of something: while I'm waiting, I hold up a finger or two (well, not "up") so I don't forget to announce my actions.

+15 / +10 2d6 +9 AC22
bless +1
rage +2 +3 -2
--------------------------------------------
+18 / +13 2d6 +12 AC20

charge +2 -2
PA -1 +2
--------------------------------------------
+19 / - 2d6 +14 AC18
The_Jester
03-10-07, 10:58 AM Plastic sheets and wet-erase pens are common here for tracking buffs, hps and the like. Some don't use 'em. It's them that I gots the problem with.

I have folded-over card that's about 2'x7' (4-7 unfolded) and has a picture of my character Order of the Stick style and speech bubble announcing the bonus.
I'll see if that works...
timerino
03-12-07, 04:12 PM I know of a player in the Pale who has a mini-stereo which plays music appropriate to his mini! It's a hoot!

My 'bard' is a female mindebender ... she just telepathically broadcasts (perform oratory: I know an instrument is 'required') "hot elf babes did dragonslayers!" or ... "hot elf bage dig undead slayers" ... "a special reward to the first who slays that ugly wizard in the back" ... I think that works as well as any musical performance :)

Most people use 'cards' now. It's even more important for Marshalls and their auras!

tim
DM_Yukon
03-12-07, 04:33 PM Depending on what my Bard specialized in (i.e. instrument, song, or dance), I would stand up when it wasn't my turn and do whatever it is physically until they said,"OH MY GOD WILL YOU STOP THAT?? WE GOT IT"

In the course of playing Dungeons & Dragons for 20 years, I have learned how to play Pan's pipes, the harmonica, and the mandolin just from doing that all the time. I haven't learned how to dance or sing though.

And despite all that, sometimes the butts STILL forget my bonus buff.

haha

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Jester 03-09-07, 06:27 PM	It started small. My bard only had one use of music each day and fights were short, so I only had to prod a couple times. I'd pick the wrong fight and or inspire competence and then it would be moot. Now I'm level seven and have a half-dozen of the blighters, plus Inspirational Boost. +2 attack and damage (and saves versus fear, yeah that comes up alot) and long fights means I spend half the time asking people "did you add bardic music?" when they miss or roll damage. It doesn't sound like much but it makes such a difference. I've written it on the battle mat. I've written it insultingly on the battle mat ("+2 atk and dmg *****es!") and now I'm hauling about l'il cardboard stands with reminders written on them. How do you or other bards at your table keep the bonus fresh in people's minds?
Puggle Halfwine 03-09-07, 06:39 PM	Encourage your fellow PCs to use a mini whiteboard or a piece of paper and a pen. Write down their to-hit and damage bonuses with ALL bonuses calculated in advance, so that when it comes around to their turn they can just use those values. If you're really serious about it, you can buy them for about $1 AUD each (70c US) including a suitable pen, so just get six of them and hand them out at the beginning of the mod. Since I started playing a two-weapon fighting rogue, I've got one and it's been very useful.
Japangirl 03-09-07, 07:29 PM	I remember my various buffs (GMW, Haste, Prayer, Bardsong, etc) by writing everything in pencil on the top of my character sheet. Then when the bonus goes away, I can erase it. I do the same for things like Imbue with Spell-like Ability and temporary hitpoints from a Heroes Feast. It makes the tops of my character sheets all messy, but as long as I can read it everything is good.
Cardinal Teplin 03-09-07, 07:34 PM	Players around my way carry cards, about 5 inches square, with the name of the effect at the top, and then the bonus written in very large writing. They leave on the battle mat during the fight to remind people that it's active. It makes buff spells more fun, too. H
jhorred 03-09-07, 07:46 PM	I used to use 3x5 cards folded in half, but they arent' durable at all. I pestered the guys at http://www.dragonfiresigns.com/ and they made some wooden versions like their table tents for me. I saw these guys at Gencon and Lucas was helpful in getting these made for me.
Eric Anondson 03-10-07, 12:43 AM	I have a horizontal list for my character's damage and bonuses, it goes in this order generally. Base dice + sneak dice + magic enchantment dice (like holy) + magic enhancement bonus + Base Str + Rage + Righteous Fury Str bonus + Smite + Righteous Wrath + Favored Enemy + Prayer + Bardsong + Power Attack table On the line below that I calculate the damage for 2-handed wield (generally changes Str values and Power Attacks. On the line below that I calculate the damage for confirmed criticals 1-hand and then 2-handed the line below that. Elsewhere on the paper I have a vertical list of attack bonuses and their type, something like this: BAB Base Str Weapon magic enhancement -------------------- G. M. Weapon (enhancement) +? Prayer (luck) +1 Recitation (luck) +2/3 Hero's Feast (morale) +1 Bless (morale) +1 Heroism (morale) +2 Righteous wrath (morale) +3 Bardsong (morale) +? Rage (Str) +2 Righteous Fury (Str) +2 Haste (haste) +1 Smite evil (smite) +Cha modifier One needs to keep track of the type of attack modifiers more closely for attacks than you do for damage, I find, because, of course, certain modifiers do not stack and others will stack! Listing them vertically I have found is easier to keep track of the modifiers so as to make sure I only grab the right ones. So when someone tells me there is a bardsong on the field, I simply put a mark next to my list so that I know I should add it.
gomeztoo 03-10-07, 08:48 AM	As a bard, I remind players to us ethe bonus. And yes, half of teht ime that is required. As a player, at least when playing a melee combat type, I write down attack and damage bonuses in a separate notebook, and adjust when needed. So when it's my turn, I have it calculated already. Nothing slows down play like someone who has to look up everything during his or her turn. Except people who like to shake their dice for about five minutes before they roll.
Bold 03-10-07, 09:46 AM	I remember my various buffs (GMW, Haste, Prayer, Bardsong, etc) by writing everything in pencil on the top of my character sheet. Then when the bonus goes away, I can erase it. Same, although I use a separate piece of scratch paper so that my character sheet doesn't get messed up. Across the top I have my attack bonus and then the damage. Under this I add any long-duration buffs (bless, prayer, heroes feast), and then a subtotal. Below this I add any modifiers which change often (power attack, flank, charge), which gives me the total at the bottom. I update the lower section during other players' turns, so that during my turn I can simply move my fig and roll the dice. No long delays where I stammer and squint, trying to remember the bonuses and add them up. No continued corrections after a miss where I try to remember additional modifiers I might've forgotten. The one tricky thing about writing all this out in advance is that I occasionally forget to say what I'm doing on my turn. I've written down that I'm raging and power attacking for 2, but it's easy to forget that as other people act. Lately I've been doing a version of the "string on your finger" gimmick to remind myself of something: while I'm waiting, I hold up a finger or two (well, not "up") so I don't forget to announce my actions. +15 / +10 2d6 +9 AC22 bless +1 rage +2 +3 -2 -------------------------------------------- +18 / +13 2d6 +12 AC20 charge +2 -2 PA -1 +2 -------------------------------------------- +19 / - 2d6 +14 AC18
The_Jester 03-10-07, 10:58 AM	Plastic sheets and wet-erase pens are common here for tracking buffs, hps and the like. Some don't use 'em. It's them that I gots the problem with. I have folded-over card that's about 2'x7' (4-7 unfolded) and has a picture of my character Order of the Stick style and speech bubble announcing the bonus. I'll see if that works...
timerino 03-12-07, 04:12 PM	I know of a player in the Pale who has a mini-stereo which plays music appropriate to his mini! It's a hoot! My 'bard' is a female mindebender ... she just telepathically broadcasts (perform oratory: I know an instrument is 'required') "hot elf babes did dragonslayers!" or ... "hot elf bage dig undead slayers" ... "a special reward to the first who slays that ugly wizard in the back" ... I think that works as well as any musical performance :) Most people use 'cards' now. It's even more important for Marshalls and their auras! tim
DM_Yukon 03-12-07, 04:33 PM	Depending on what my Bard specialized in (i.e. instrument, song, or dance), I would stand up when it wasn't my turn and do whatever it is physically until they said,"OH MY GOD WILL YOU STOP THAT?? WE GOT IT" In the course of playing Dungeons & Dragons for 20 years, I have learned how to play Pan's pipes, the harmonica, and the mandolin just from doing that all the time. I haven't learned how to dance or sing though. And despite all that, sometimes the butts STILL forget my bonus buff. haha