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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steverooo" data-source="post: 1024651" data-attributes="member: 9410">Part of the Problem: Corrections or Redefinitions!PART of the Bard's problems is that "Bardic Music" is a misnomer (or if it's not, then you can't perform "Bardic Music" via chanting, poetry, etc).  Thus, the term needs to be re-defined, and/or renamed...Also, as (someone) pointed out, above, you can only use "Bardic Music" when/if the folks you're using it on can HEAR you.  Thus, Dance & Mime (while they may be forms of Performance) can't be used for "Bardic Music", anyway.And Acting?  Re-read the 3e skill description for Bluff.  There was already a skill for Acting, before Perform.  Such things as Drama (Comedy, Tragedy), should go here.Juggling should also be removed from Perform.  It belongs under Sleight of Hand.Yes, these are all just My Opinions, but here's how I'd fix Bardic Music, Perform... (and a lot of other things)!First of all, "Bardic Music" would have to be done with MUSIC, where that gets re-defined as sound with rhythm.  As such, Acting, Dance, Mime, etc., get thrown out.  Your Performer can learn them, if they like, but they won't be using them to "cast Bardic Music."  They will be able to Chant, use Poetry, Sing, play an instrument and (although it irks me to stretch it so far) even use percussion...(Behind the Veil: Just like any other form of Spellcasting, the Bard faces Verbal, Somatic, and/or Material components.  They can cast Verbal-only spells (Poetry, Singing, Chanting), or non-verbal Somatic-and-Material (Play the Harp, flute, lute), but suffer the same Silence restrictions as other spellcasters, etc.)SUMMARY:1) Bardic Music can only be performed with a sonic delivery.  Non-sonic forms of Perform cannot be used to deliver Bardic Music.  Perform (Dance, Mime), etc., may still be taken, but not used for Bardic Music (just for earning coin).2) Acting is re-moved to Bluff.  Bards can still take Perform (Acting), but it cannot be used for Bardic Music, nor does it convey Bluff abilities.  (Take Bluff, instead!)3) Juggling is removed from Perform altogether, and placed into the DEX-based Sleight of Hand skill.  Bardic Music may never be done with Juggling!Okay, now to the Perform skill fix...  Slightly klunky, but with applications elsewhere, and (IMHO) it makes things better all around, and 3.5e characters less idiotic.1) Perform is now a "Cascade Skill".  This means that, each time a Rank of Perform is purchased, a number of Skill Points equal to the Ranks of Perform is added to the previous total...  (Huh?)It goes like this: A first-level Bard with the maximum four Skill Ranks in Perform has 10 Skill Points in Perform to spend (1+2+3+4=10).2) Each Perform Cascade Skill Point MUST BE SPENT ON A SPECIFIC SUBSKILL.  The first level Bard, for instance, could take Perform Sing (4), Harp (4), Flute (2).  At the next level, if they put one more Skill Point into Perform (keeping it maxed out), then they would have five Ranks of Perform, and gain an additional FIVE Cascade Skill Points.  They could then add one more (each) to Sing and Harp, and put the other three into Flute (thus having all three at their Max. Skill Rank of five), or all three into Poetry (having Sing (5), Harp (5), Flute (2), Poetry (3)).3) No Synergy Bonuses.  If you want to play an instrument, buy that instrument.  You'll have enough points!4) The more skilled you get, the easier it is to pick up another instrument, but the more you have, the less skilled you'll be with each.5) You can still "waste" a few Ranks on Dance, Mime, etc., if you wish.  You can't use them for Bardic Music, but so what?  You can now afford it.6) I leave the ajudication of Perform (Comedy, et al) to the GM...  It doesn't fit my definition of "Bardic Music", but then again, neither does Perform (Oratory) or Perform (Drums).  Handle it as you see fit.7) In all cases, Cascade Sub-skill Ranks are always limited by Max. Skill Ranks, like any other skill.==================Other Cascade Skills:I believe that all of the skills with sub-skills should be handled the same way (YMMV).  Namely, Craft, Knowledge, and Profession.I think it hurts the game very little to have characters being able to get jobs in various Professions, capable of fixing various things, and knowledgeable in many areas (particularly when MOST PCs are hampered by MOST Knowledge skills being Cross-Class for them).IMHO, PCs who adventure on the Astral Plane should be able to afford some Knowledge (Planes) when they get back.  Fighters should have Knowledge (History) to cover the ancient battles and tactics they're always talking about...With cascade skills, even if Knowledge or a Profession is Cross-Class, a PC can, in a few levels, max out Skill Ranks in ONE sub-skill, or quickly pick up a smattering in a few!Carft/Knowledge/Perform/ProfessionCascade Skill Ranks Skill Points 1 1 2 3 3 6 4 10 5 15 6 21 7 28 8 36 9 4510 55</blockquote>

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