BARD: Does Inspire Courage Require Concentration?

[Aluvial]

I am confused about the Bardic Music ability. Which of the music abilities require concentration?

Is this concentration a standard action or a move action?

If it is a move action, can the bard cast a spell while singing?

Can they attack?

Aluvial

 

[Hypersmurf]

I am confused about the Bardic Music ability. Which of the music abilities require concentration?

Is this concentration a standard action or a move action?

If it is a move action, can the bard cast a spell while singing?

Can they attack?

The best reference to answer these questions is, oddly, the text of the Bardic Music ability:
Starting a bardic music effect is a standard action. Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even while using bardic music that doesn’t require concentration, a bard cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands).

So - is the concentration a standard action or a move action? ... the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability.

Can the bard cast a spell while singing? Even while using bardic music that doesn’t require concentration, a bard cannot cast spells...

Can he attack? If it's an ability that requires concentration, he uses a standard action, so he generally won't be able to... though nothing about the ability states that you no longer threaten, so he could in theory still take AoOs if they are provoked. If the ability doesn't require concentration, he can attack just fine (though probably not in the first round, given the standard action to initiate).

As to which require concentration, again, read the abilities:
Fascinate: for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level).

Inspire Competence: The effect lasts as long as the bard concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes.

Song of Freedom: Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted concentration and music, and it functions on a single target within 30 feet.

The other abilities don't mention concentration - Countersong, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Inspire Heroics - so these just require a standard action at the start, and then dont-get-knocked-unconscious (or paralyzed, or Silenced, or something else that will prevent people hearing you sing).

Suggestion and Mass Suggestion don't require concentration, but they require you to have already used Fascinate, which does require concentration.

-Hyp.

 

[Aluvial]

Thanks for clearing it up. I thought that was correct, but I just wasn't sure.

Aluvial

 

[Maleketh]

If you have the Spell Compendium, you might be interested in the spell lingering chorus, which can be cast while performing - it automatically maintains the performance for you, freeing you up for spellcasting or even further bardic music.

 

[2g]

Does this mean that the bard could continue performing Inspire Courage as long as he wants to (letting aside any magical support)? So a singing bard can continue Inspire Courage until he shuts up or uses his voice another way and may it be for the hole day?

 

[Zurai]

If you have the Spell Compendium, you might be interested in the spell lingering chorus, which can be cast while performing - it automatically maintains the performance for you, freeing you up for spellcasting or even further bardic music.

Better is a feat from Complete Mage called Melodic Casting - requires 4 in Perform and Spellcraft and lets you cast any spell while using bardic music.

 

[Nifft]

Does this mean that the bard could continue performing Inspire Courage as long as he wants to (letting aside any magical support)? So a singing bard can continue Inspire Courage until he shuts up or uses his voice another way and may it be for the hole day?

Yes.

Only a problem if you don't sleep (e.g. a Warforged Bard), and if you also have Melodic Casting and/or Subsonics. Otherwise, you're just begging to be ambushed every single encounter.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Zurai]

Does this mean that the bard could continue performing Inspire Courage as long as he wants to (letting aside any magical support)? So a singing bard can continue Inspire Courage until he shuts up or uses his voice another way and may it be for the hole day?

Yes, as long as he doesn't cast a spell and isn't somehow prevented from continuing the performance (sleep, unconscious, paralyzed, nauseated, stunned, dazed, etc).

 

[2g]

Thank you! I see its wise to Inspire cautiously to avoid being stopped to Inspire unwillingly. Additionally it might be useful to comunicate with one's fellows every now and then.

 

[Elethiomel]

Additionally it might be useful to comunicate with one's fellows every now and then.

Learn a sign language. Or have someone cast Telepathic Bond on you.