How Long Can A Bard Sing For?

[Aluvial]

By the looks of the rules, there is no specification of how long a bard can sing to say, Inspire Courage.

Starting a bardic music effect is a standard action. Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even while using bardic music that doesn’t require concentration, a bard cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands). Just as for casting a spell with a verbal component, a deaf bard has a 20% chance to fail when attempting to use bardic music. If he fails, the attempt still counts against his daily limit.

Is there a limit to the amount of time a bard can sing, or can they do so indefinitely?

Right now, my bard is singing between encounters to maintain the effect... I ruled last time that his throat would eventually go dry, but how long is that, an hour, less?

Aluvial

 

[Slaved]

I believe that the Best Answer to this question comes in the form of a Well Known Tongue Twister!!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/rhymes/Woodchuck.shtml

 

[Mistwell]

Ad hoc I would apply the exhaustion rules eventually.

 

[blargney the second]

Possible house rule: a number of rounds equal to his ranks in a Perform skill.

 

[Nifft]

Is there a limit to the amount of time a bard can sing, or can they do so indefinitely?

Right now, my bard is singing between encounters to maintain the effect... I ruled last time that his throat would eventually go dry, but how long is that, an hour, less?

RAW: the rules do not say either way, so it's the GM's call.

IMHO: limiting Bardic Music to a "per encounter" duration makes sense.

"Realistically": look at how long musicians usually can go for without taking a break. A long "set" might be 30 minutes, and even then they're taking a few rounds to breathe between individual songs.

Cheers, -- N

 

[blargney the second]

And that's not even taking fighting while singing into account.

 

[Aluvial]

Arrgh, I need a good answer for this one.... For years, I've DM'd and never the bard.... I
think I may make him sing for the whole time he really wants to sing for.....

ha ha

Aluvial

 

[Mistwell]

I would adapt the forced march rules.

Probably something like:

"Extended Singing: Sing for 1 minute plus 1 minute per Con point. Thereafter for each minute of singing beyond that initial period of time, a Constitution check (DC 10, +2 per extra minute) is required. If the check fails, the character takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage. A character who takes any nonlethal damage from extended signing becomes fatigued. Eliminating the nonlethal damage also eliminates the fatigue. It’s possible for a character to sing into unconsciousness by pushing himself too hard."

 

[Nifft]

And that's not even taking fighting while singing into account.

Depends on the concert, now, doesn't it?

Cheers, -- N

 

[Aluvial]

Let's not forget the filibuster. Strom Thurmand of SC holds the record at 24 hours, 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957....

I don't want my bard doing that, but I would think that about an hour seems about right... still a VERY long time considering encounters in DnD.

Aluvial