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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BVB" data-source="post: 1024774" data-attributes="member: 12155">This really boils down to a matter of where a game mechanic comes into conflict with the overlay of roleplaying flavor. The mechanic in this case would be the "bardic music" effects. The stylistic overlay would be the manner of performance being used to trigger those effects. Really, the particular "perform" skill choice shouldn't make a whit of difference to the  "bardic music" effect -- as long as you flip the switch to make the power work, it doesn't matter what tune you're humming when you do it.  And as a GM, I'd allow just such an application; if the player has maximum skill ranks in *any* performance style, I'd let him use his bardic music regardless and we could all just assume it's part of the magic of being a bard. Consider other pseudo-magical effects from other classes: A paladin doesn't have to roll a particular skill to call his horsey. A mage doesn't have to roll a particular skill to get his familiar to do certain tasks. A barbarian doesn't have to roll a particular skill to trigger his rage effects. ... So why should a bard have to roll a skill to utilize his bardic music abilities?The only time I think peformance skill styles would legitimately come into play would be when a musical instrument turns up in a treasure trove. And then it should be treated in the same manner as a fighter with a weapon of choice, the weapon he prefers to practice with. You find a Mandolin of Tree Talking? Too bad you don't have at least five ranks in stringed instruments to get the full benefits from it.</blockquote>

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