4e PHB2 Errors? Or maybe just issues I have with it...

[Starfox]

WotC_GregB, you are saying we have to purchase a new book to use wands with the bard? Not charming.

Of course, page count is limited, and we did get other stuff instead in the PH2. And in many ways, it is better to have all the items in one book instead of spread over many books. Still... It seems stingy not to include the bard's expected implements in the book with the bard.

Of course, if there had been NO items in the PH2, it would have been a different thing. Having entirely separate item books would make us have to look in fewer places and give more structure.

 

[Starfox]

Magical instruments, being wondrous items, take no item slots. By this argument, it could be said that you can use a lute carried on your back as an implement, carrying a shield and a melee weapon in your hands.

While this might seem odd at first, it does solve the problem of bards needing four hands. And it echoes how holy symbols work.

 

[Nikosandros]

Gnome bards cannot.

Why not? Neither the short sword nor the scimitar are versatile. A gnome can wield either of them with just one hand.

 

[Tuft]

Magical instruments, being wondrous items, take no item slots. By this argument, it could be said that you can use a lute carried on your back as an implement, carrying a shield and a melee weapon in your hands.

While this might seem odd at first, it does solve the problem of bards needing four hands. And it echoes how holy symbols work.

So, you use it by not using it? How very Zen....

 

[Nymrohd]

Well artificers at least should gain a third hand. They had one in 3.5.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Wands for bards are in PHB 1...

 

[Larrin]

Magical instruments, being wondrous items, take no item slots. By this argument, it could be said that you can use a lute carried on your back as an implement, carrying a shield and a melee weapon in your hands.

While this might seem odd at first, it does solve the problem of bards needing four hands. And it echoes how holy symbols work.

PHB2 Page 209: USING A MAGICAL INSTRUMENT (paraphrasing kinda) doesn't take up a slot, however to use its properties and powers you must be playing it appropriately. (it mentions strumming a lute and blowing a horn)

so it does take hands, or else you can't use it as an implement (which is listed under properties). Unless you can strum the lute with your teeth...

Wands for bards are in PHB 1...

to eleaborate a little: PHB1 page 242 tells you explicitly how to make wands for ANY arcane power, the example wands in the PHB ALL follow these creation rules, there are no surprises. There is a chart for the level of wand, 1d6 per plus on critical, encounter arcane power as a daily with all associated key words. They didn't put bard wand powers in because the PHB1 covers how to make them (it might have been nice if they pointed this out in PHB2 though).

Masters wands are adventurer's vault fodder, but basic bard wands are fully in you hands.

 

[Nymrohd]

How do you guys feel about wands as implements for bards in general though? I cannot say I like the concept (or even get the concept beyond some form of wand=conductor's baton reference).

 

[WalterKovacs]

On bard's with wands ... they are (a) arcane and (b) versatile/multiclassers. So even without taking any multiclass feats they can use the powers in wizard/warlock wands. Also, technically speaking, there are rules for creating "normal" bard wands in the original PHB.

A wand can contain any encounter power of any class capable of using wands. There is a table of wand level compared to the level of the power. It was only in the Vault that they introduced wands that worked any differently.

As for instruments as implements, it says that to use a musical instruments properties (and powers), you must be holding/playing the instrument as appropriate to the item (strumming a lute, sounding a horn, etc). And, the property of the magical items is what makes them count and act as implements.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

How do you guys feel about wands as implements for bards in general though? I cannot say I like the concept (or even get the concept beyond some form of wand=conductor's baton reference).

I tend to play bards as scribes and storytellers, rather than musicians, so I'm glad to have the wand option. It can double as a dip pen.