More Gaming Thoughts

[duaiwe]

I've been thinking about bards. According to the "rules", it's impossible to do just about anything but attack while singing a bardic song.

How unbalanced would it be to just flat-out lift that restriction, allowing a bard to use bardic music while casting spells or using magic items? Or, perhaps make it just a concentration or perform check?

Comments

[phoenix_hawk]

As far as combat goes, I'd be comfortable with any situation where said bard 'recasts' the song once every several (5ish) rounds, and does other things in between. As a free action, I'm not sure. Perhaps it could be a move action equivalant?

[duaiwe]

Well, that's barely more different than normal, as the effects of the song last for 10 rounds after you stop performing. The big issue is that bards have limited uses per day, so if you have to "recast" the song 2ish times every combat, that's basically all your uses per day at lower levels.

[phoenix_hawk]

heh. I posted this far beyond me bedtime, and couldn't remember exact system mechanics. If that is the issue, then why not have 1 'use' of bardic song be good for the whole combat, even if it needs to be 'recast' once or twice?

[duaiwe]

Hmm.. that's a good idea, actually.

As long as the bard resumes the same song for at least one round before the effects fade, it "refreshes" the song, and doesn't count against the daily uses of bardic music.

That way bards can stop to cast a spell, or use a wand, or even just say "Help, a tarrasque is humping my leg!" without burning through uses of bardic music.

[hawklord2112]

needing a Perform-(whatever) roll at DC, oh, 15+level of spell being cast (similar to a mage casting on the defensive)

i'd also say that you couldnt also cast on the defensive whilst singing. and if your musical instrument of choice is anything but "singing" then you're looking at facing Arcane Spell Failure chances if your spell has Somatic components.

[karaksindru]

I don't see why a bard couldn't sing while fighting, or strum a lute while casting a spell with only verbal components.