Bard song question...

[Blue Sky]

Does it take a standard action each round to perform Inspire Courage? Ignoring the 5 rounds it continues afterwards, can you sing in one round, and continue singing and attack in round two?

 

[Sound of Azure]

Nope. Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Competence, and Song of Freedom require ongoing concentration, but the others do not (or do not break the concentration of Fascinate). You still can't do things requiring your voice, of vocal aspects (such as using command word items, witty bardic banter with the enemy, or casting spells with a verbal component), as detailed in the Bardic music description.

They sound a bit ambiguous, but only the abilities specifically stating they need concentration require further standard actions to continue. This would stand for other classes with effects like bardic music, like the Virtuoso, the Ollam, the War chanter, or the Seeker of the Song.

 

[Artoomis]

Nope. Countersong, Fascinate, Inspire Competence, and Song of Freedom require ongoing concentration, but the others do not (or do not break the concentration of Fascinate). You still can't do things requiring your voice, of vocal aspects (such as using command word items, witty bardic banter with the enemy, or casting spells with a verbal component), as detailed in the Bardic music description.

They sound a bit ambiguous, but only the abilities specifically stating they need concentration require further standard actions to continue. This would stand for other classes with effects like bardic music, like the Virtuoso, the Ollam, the War chanter, or the Seeker of the Song.

Actually, only Fascinate, Inspire Competance and Song of Freedom require concentration, I think.

Countersong seems like it should, but it does not as near as I can tell.

 

[brendan candries]

Wouldn't you be able to switch between say song and harp during your inspire courage, to say a few words to the group, switch back to singing to wield a weapon considering you have the perform skills in song and harp needed for the bardic music?

 

[Audhild&Krin]

Countersong requires a Performance check each round.

Fascinate requires concentration to a max. of 1 round/bard level.

Inspire Courage ends 5 rounds after you stop singing (or whatever) but requires nothing to continue.

Inspire Competence requires concentration.

Suggestion does not break the concentration on Fascinate for one target creature. All others are free from the effects.

Inspire Greatness ends 5 rounds after you stop singing (or whatever) but requires nothing to continue.

Song of Freedom requires uninterrupted concentration and music for 1 minute.

Inspire Heroics ends 5 rounds after you stop singing (or whatever) but requires nothing to continue.

Mass Suggestion does not break the concentration on Fascinate for target creatures. All others are free from the effects.

All require a standard action to initiate and while concentrating you may do nothing that requires your voice.

To switch modes of song (singing to harp) requires a new use of bardic song and another standard action (to the best of my knowledge).

 

[Artoomis]

Wouldn't you be able to switch between say song and harp during your inspire courage, to say a few words to the group, switch back to singing to wield a weapon considering you have the perform skills in song and harp needed for the bardic music?

The trick is having a free hand. If you arrange your performance to have a free hand (no instrument is actually required), then so long as ongoing concentration is not required, you can continue to "sing" and take other actions as well.

 

[Artoomis]

...All require a standard action to initiate and while concentrating you may do nothing that requires your voice.

To switch modes of song (singing to harp) requires a new use of bardic song and another standard action (to the best of my knowledge).

A couple of correctons:

1. Concentration means "You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include manifesting a power, concentrating on an active power, directing a power, or using a psi-like ability."

2. Perhaps more importantly, "Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability."

3. Of course, you might not be using your voice at all.

4. Switching "modes" of providing Bardic Music is not covered in the rules. It is unlclear, at at best, if you can freely switch between drum, horn, flute, harp and voice, for example. I tend to think you can, so long as you have the action available to pull out the other instrument you intend to use. A normal performance can certainly involve mutiple instruments.

 

[Audhild&Krin]

A couple of correctons:

1. Concentration means "You must make a Concentration check whenever you might potentially be distracted (by taking damage, by harsh weather, and so on) while engaged in some action that requires your full attention. Such actions include manifesting a power, concentrating on an active power, directing a power, or using a psi-like ability."

2. Perhaps more importantly, "Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability."

3. Of course, you might not be using your voice at all.

4. Switching "modes" of providing Bardic Music is not covered in the rules. It is unlclear, at at best, if you can freely switch between drum, horn, flute, harp and voice, for example. I tend to think you can, so long as you have the action available to pull out the other instrument you intend to use. A normal performance can certainly involve mutiple instruments.

1-3. You are correct. That is what I get for trying to do anything before the caffine hit my system.

4. The reason I believe switching modes would require a new Bardic Music attempt is because the magic is in the music (or whatever) and by switching modes you are changing the harmonics (nature, feel, pulse, not sure what the right word would be) of the music.

 

[Artoomis]

1-3. You are correct. That is what I get for trying to do anything before the caffine hit my system.

4. The reason I believe switching modes would require a new Bardic Music attempt is because the magic is in the music (or whatever) and by switching modes you are changing the harmonics (nature, feel, pulse, not sure what the right word would be) of the music.

(shrug) Either way. There certainly is no rule on it.

 

[Sound of Azure]

Actually, only Fascinate, Inspire Competance and Song of Freedom require concentration, I think.

Countersong seems like it should, but it does not as near as I can tell.

Agreed on Counterspell. It is rather ambiguous, but seems sensible to me to require concentration to actively counter an effect over time (up to the 10 rounds permitted).