Bard 'Courage' question

[Phazeal]

Hey fellas

I can't find anywhere in my book about the Inspire Courage ability for multiple bards.

Would the +1 (at 1st level) stack if two bards were to sing?

Intuitively my answer is yes. But can't find a ruling.

Any aid appreciated.

P

 

[humble minion]

I'd rule 'no'. Each 1st-level bard gives his allies a +1 morale bonus to hit/damage/etc. Bonuses of the same type don't stack, except for dodge bonuses. So - no. Pretty clear-cut, I think.

 

[shilsen]

The answer's quite clear - no. As humble minion said, they are bonuses of the same type, so they don't stack. If two (or more) bards are inspiring courage, use the highest of the bonuses.

 

[Phazeal]

bards

bugga

many thanks though. It was worth a try

P

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

And to think, I thought this thread would be about a bard's version of 'liquid courage.'

 

[Phazeal]

Liquid courage

KoS

No . Just wondering in case this other guy that often takes bards in our campaings takes one. Wanted to know if we could sing a harmony or something for +2

My guy will probably want to be drunk all the time anyway.

P

 

[Silmarillius]

Well, it could be debated, I mean it doesn't say in the PhP that the effects cannot stack. My DM ruled that the effects could be stacked when a new but brief player joined our group playing an elvish bard, but she happened to have a piccilo if I can recall, while my bard had a lute. Now, different types of musical instruments have different types of sounds, playing together producing harmony, and thus producing a stacked benefit. So in short, it's up to the DM's ruling, but the whole stacked benefit of multiple bards seems feasible.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Although they definitely don't stack in the rules, I would allow it in my games. After all, lots of people backing you up with music should be better than just one person backing you up with music- and what fight scene in a movie doesn't have a 30-piece orchestra playing in the background?

It could, of course, lead to BBEGs being extremely cheesed-out (the BBEG Fighter has his 30-piece orchestra entourage, altogether granting him a +180 to attack and +120 to damage, a +60 on Fortitude Saves, +60d10 hit points plus his consitution modifier times 60, and a +120 bonus on all saves and +120 dodge bonus to AC) but you get the idea.

 

[Philip]

Well, they don't stack according to the rules, but you could do some creative exponential stacking.

2 bards for +1 = +2
4 bards for +1 = +3
8 bards for +1 = +4
16 bards....
or something to that effect.

That way you can still have your orchestra, without it becoming overpowered.

 

[Stormrunner]

Or extrapolate from the Aid Another rules. If Bard 2 expends a use of bardic music and makes a DC 10 Perform check, he can add +2 to Bard 1's effective bard level for bardic music effects, potentially increasing Bard 1's bonus by +1.