3.5 bard

[FireLance]

Andy Collins has said (without specifics) that bardic music will be based on some other mechanic than perform checks -- to prevent a Bard 1/ XXX X from getting the full benefits of bardic music simply by continuing to put ranks in Perform. I've no clue what the new mechanism will be, though.

The simplest mechanic would be to base it on bard level and Perform ranks. In other words, you have to be a level X bard with Y ranks in Perform before you can use bardic music ability z.

The other possibility is to create a bardic music feat chain and give a bard these bonus feats for free when he gains the relevant levels.

 

[tarchon]

I liked the Perform mechanism. Giving the "jack of all trades" convenient multiclassing makes a certain amount of sense.

 

[Apok]

EDIT:
Hmmm... I bet that instead of giving bards a "cast in light armor" ability, they'll just add a bunch of bard spells that don't have any somatic components.

Woah, if that were the case, then Bards could cast their spells in Heavy Armor with no penalty. Something tells me that's not how it's going to be, but like Destil said; it only applies to spells on the Bard list.

 

[Apok]

[B...unless you like the idea of DC 20-40 saves at 10th level and DC 35-60 saves at 20th level.

[/B]

Yeah, that sounds about right.

Seriously, a Bards Performance skill should be taken into account somehow, for two reasons.

1) It just makes sense that the power of a Bard's music is based off of his skill in using it.

2) Normally calculated DC's (10 + Modifier + Spell Level) are damn difficult to raise unless you happen to be a Wizard taking the Archmage and Red Wizard PrC's. So, just using this formula would make any sort of Musical effect pointless past a certain level if it has to affect an enemy of some kind. Saving throws increase dramatically as one gets into the higher CR ranges, not to mention magical buffs and items.

Actually, a neat idea would have the music ability save DC's work somthing like this; DC 10 + Cha mod + Effect Level, then make a Perform check and depending on the result the Bard can increase his DC by a certain number. Maybe something like this;

20 = +1
25 = +2
30 = +3
35 = +4
40 = +5
45 = +6

I just whipped this up in about 10 seconds, but you get the basic idea.