Rules for specific instruments? [forked from: Pathfinder Sneak Peeks]

[Aus_Snow]

Forked from: Pathfinder Sneak Peeks

Originally Posted by Atlatl Jones

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Perform (wind instruments) and Perform (stringed instruments) have virtually identical effects in play. A GM would have to try really really hard to make a meaningful in-game difference between those skills, and in the end it would probably feel like something that was created purely to justify taking those different skills, rather than something that was necessary for story reasons.

This reminded me of a PDF I came across some years back, for 3e, called (IIRC) 'Bardic Fortes: A Revisionist Take on the 3e Bard'. Or something very close to that.

Anyway, it had a bunch of sub-classes of Bard, each dependent on the use of a different instrument type, such as Woodwind, Brass, and so on; dance was an option too.

I was just wondering how common this has been, in D&D of any stripe, and in fact in any RPG at all, over the years. That is, for instrument type to matter for something other than pure flavour, and possibly some small variation on the roleplaying side of things from time to time.

Anything else out there, even if fan-made?

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Originally Posted by Aus_Snow

Forked from: Pathfinder Sneak Peeks

This reminded me of a PDF I came across some years back, for 3e, called (IIRC) 'Bardic Fortes: A Revisionist Take on the 3e Bard'. Or something very close to that.

Anyway, it had a bunch of sub-classes of Bard, each dependent on the use of a different instrument type, such as Woodwind, Brass, and so on; dance was an option too.

I was just wondering how common this has been, in D&D of any stripe, and in fact in any RPG at all, over the years. That is, for instrument type to matter for something other than pure flavour, and possibly some small variation on the roleplaying side of things from time to time.

Anything else out there, even if fan-made?

I like the general idea, but I haven't seen much.

One of the "problems" as it stands now is that some instruments are better suited for the dungon-crawling Bard then others. Singing is usually the best choice because you keep your hands free, drums would probably require both hands. Pianos are right out*.
So having instrument specific rules might actually allow you to "balance" the disadvantages of carrying around and using an instrument on the battlefield.


We once had a party with an Instant Fortress and a set of organs shrinked via Shrink Item to allow our Bard a dramatic appearance on the battlefield. Of course, that was one of the sillier, overpowered and very fun campaigns we had.

[Aus_Snow]

Originally Posted by Mustrum_Ridcully

Pianos are right out*.

Funnily enough, that PDF did have a keyboardist subclass. But I'm pretty sure there was the obligatory warning / advice along the lines of 'stay in ur base, or ur SOoL.'

We once had a party with an Instant Fortress and a set of organs shrinked via Shrink Item to allow our Bard a dramatic appearance on the battlefield. Of course, that was one of the sillier, overpowered and very fun campaigns we had.

Ha! That's awesome.

See? Bards can be fun!