Post/Author/DateTime	Post
I'm not a fanatic 01-16-07, 06:35 PM	I always see "lute" in a Bard's starting package all the time... And unless I'm missing something... A bard can just take Perform and sing as to get his bardic music ability. . . To change that, I'd like to rule that, as a full-round action, a bard can double his "inspire courage" bonus. This might sound a little unbalanced at high levels, but I figure that at that point, if the bard wants to spend a whole round helping his party members do things, then it should be a pretty big boost. Also, one of my fellow players brought up the possible "flaw" of being able to take a bard or two with you to give you combat bonuses. I feel that this would be balanced by A. Needing the LEADERSHIP feat, and B. They can only use their bardic music once per level. *breaths* Is it balanced?
andinel 01-16-07, 07:32 PM	Bards already get some bonus for using instruments. First, a voice can't be enchanted, so you have to get an instrument as a magic item. Second, masterwork instruments give a +2 bonus on related perform checks.
I'm not a fanatic 01-16-07, 07:48 PM	Valid point... But a bard does not need an instrument to use any abilities during combat. This is good, but I think that if the bard decides to break out his instrument, he should get a bonus to using his abilities, even if it is an ordinary lute.
Krusk 01-17-07, 12:28 AM	Bards do need instruments. Who wants to listen to that guy sing when you can listen to him shred on a guitar? or pound away on drums? Those can be improvised and are never repeated. Whereas if he sang it would be the same couple of songs over and over. I'd ditch that guy who sings the same song all day long all the time. Thats annoying. Sure I guess he could take sing if he didn't want to be cool. But anyone playing a bard for anything but their first time knows they will not be nearly as minmaxed as the rest of the party. Unless they put a ton of effort into it.
Findail 01-17-07, 09:11 AM	Complete Adventurer has a section on masterwork Bardic instruments. Each type gives a specific bonus (like +1 on Inspire Courage, +1 on effective Bard level, and so on). So there is, now, a reason to learn an instrument (or several). But, yes, singing is still good: because all of the instruments listed keep your hands occupied. Singing lets you fight (or whatever).
Johnny_Angel 01-17-07, 09:24 AM	Bards do need instruments. Who wants to listen to that guy sing when you can listen to him shred on a guitar? or pound away on drums? Those can be improvised and are never repeated. Whereas if he sang it would be the same couple of songs over and over. I'd ditch that guy who sings the same song all day long all the time. Thats annoying. Sure I guess he could take sing if he didn't want to be cool. But anyone playing a bard for anything but their first time knows they will not be nearly as minmaxed as the rest of the party. Unless they put a ton of effort into it. My current PC is a bard who has ranks in "Perform: Air Guitar." lol, my argument was that if someone could sing, why couldn't I play air guitar and have my char make the noises Edit: Also, you'd be surprised with how useful a bard can actually be. Some of the Bard's abilities aren't subject to spell resistance because they are supernatual abilities; as such, there actually have been a few times when I was able to harm the BBEG and the party Wizard wasn't.
Krusk 01-17-07, 04:03 PM	Oh believe me, i know how useful a bard is. Bard is one of my favorite classes. Air guitar for the win. Is it masterwork by anychance?
DreadArchon 01-18-07, 01:32 PM	You could take Perform: Kazoo and just hold it in your mouth while you fight. You could probably keep your hands free with Perform: Tap-Dancing, too. And if you really want to get on the DM's bad side, put all your ranks into Perform: Belching or Perform: Flatulence.
Johnny_Angel 01-18-07, 01:48 PM	Oh believe me, i know how useful a bard is. Bard is one of my favorite classes. Air guitar for the win. Is it masterwork by anychance? lol, unfortunately no.... On a side note: Before settling on "Air Guitar," I had considered "Perform: Verbal Insults." Seriously though, Bards are very useful. Aside from their bardic music, they also get a boat load of skill points. One of the things I like most about playing a bard is that I almost always have something to do regardless of what situation the party is in. There are hardly ever any encounters in which I don't contribute to the party in some way.
Krusk 01-18-07, 09:56 PM	I definatly played a bard variant i found that focused on imposing penalties on the enemy. It was awesome, he did have perform demoralizing lecture. he stood around battle and told people how much they sucked and should just surrender.
David 01-19-07, 10:30 AM	Perform (poetry). You could write an edda between sessions and recite a stanza or 2 with bardic music.
Ogreman 01-21-07, 01:00 PM	"Bluff, Bluff, Bluff, Bluff the stupid ogre..." Yay for Inspire Competence!