Instrument of the Bards

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

CahPahkah

Jul 21, 2015 13:25:12

So, the magic item category 'Instrument of the Bards' has a sweet property:

 

When you use the instrument to cast a spell that causes targets to become charmed on a failed save, the targets have disadvantage on the saving throw. This effect applies whether you are using the instrument as the source of the spell or as a spellcasting focus.

 

Sounds great, right?

 

So I went looking for applicable spells, and here's the list:

 

  • Animal Friendship
  • Hypnotic Pattern

...that's it.

 

(Charm Person, Crown of Madness, Dominate Beast, Dominate Monster, Dominate Person, Geas, and Modify Memory all lack material components, and so the Instrument doesn't apply.)

 

It definitely feels like an instance where the intended functionality of the item doesn't align with the game mechanics; I'd likely houserule it to allow it to be applied to any of the above spells that lack material components, and probably some others that don't technically cause targets to get the 'charmed' condition, like Otto's Irresistible Dance or Suggestion (where being immune to 'charm' makes you immune to the spell, but the spell doesn't actually charm you...).

 

Thoughts?

#2

jaelis

Jul 21, 2015 13:52:15

Don't the instruments themselves let you cast some charm spells? It doesn't matter for them if they have a material component or not.

#3

Yunru

Jul 21, 2015 13:58:48 		Instruments is another case of the vocal/material/gesture system being stupid. The majority of vocal spells you could argue that the instrument could replace the vocal component.
#4

Tempest_Stormwind

Jul 21, 2015 14:02:21

jaelis wrote:
#5

CahPahkah

Jul 21, 2015 14:26:47

The only charm spell that any of the instruments allow you to cast is Animal Friendship.

 

I like the idea of using the instruments for Vocal components...seems cleaner than maintaining a list.

#6

Greenstone.Walker

Jul 21, 2015 16:19:57

Yunru wrote:
#7

mrpopstar

Jul 21, 2015 16:46:33

Yeah, as it stands, a bard who plays the flute, horn, pan flute or shawm when using a musical instrument as their spellcasting focus has to do an odd bit of juggling in order to cast spells with both verbal and material components.

#8

lawrencehoy

Jul 21, 2015 22:15:16

I never had a problem with allowing the use of the instrument to fulfill the material and somatic component requirements; I suppose the music could fulfill the verbal component requirements as well.