Bard song endurance limit?

[CCamfield]

Is there any limit on how long a bard can continue to perform bardic music? For instance, the effect of bardic music is "as long as the bard sings and for 5 rounds after the bard stops singing". But there isn't anything I can see in the writeup of the bard (or the main FAQ) to indicate exactly how long a bard can sing the same damn song. Ten minutes? An hour? All day?

Thx in advance...

 

[Corwyn]

Taking in account that the bard class is not very well equipped for combat I wouldn't try to confine the few useful abilities they have.

But for a bit of realism take a modern day concert, those guys go on for somewhere between 1 and 3 hours. anything beyond that would become maybe require a con check.

 

[Darklone]

Why do you want to know THIS ?

 

[CCamfield]

Why do you want to know THIS ?

Well, I ran my first session of D&D last night and it came up in the context of the bard starting to sing close to the end of one fight. Could the bard keep singing all the way till the next? (The players are dealing with a vermin infestation on board a supply ship, and the only place left to check is the hold.)

I suppose if the bard wants to continue the song, he can't very well talk to anybody at the same time.

 

[Darklone]

Well for greater distractions... Hmm no he does not need concentration checks. For this case, I would allow him to keep singing. In other cases, no sane bard would try

 

[smetzger]

There is no rule restricting the amount of time a performance can last before fatigue sets in.

Also, remember that Bards can sing and fight at the same time.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Also note that the bard may very well be playing a musical instrument. He'd have no problems chatting in that case.

My view is that it doesn't really stretch credibility (how long does an opera last?) and it also doesn't significantly increase the power of a bard (compare with casters who extend the longer-lasting buff spells).

 

[Tonguez]

I suppose if the bard wants to continue the song, he can't very well talk to anybody at the same time.

Thats what induendo is for - it allows the bard to sing the message into the song

Also their are legends in my culture of chants that went on for hours and even sometimes DAYS! (easier of course when you have more than 1 bard working in unison)

and I have also had to endure one session in which a prayer-chant liturgy thing (dunno wasn't my religion I was just their with friends) took about 2 hours before it was completed (not sure exactly since I fell asleep but when I woke they were still at it)