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<blockquote data-quote="two" data-source="post: 832691" data-attributes="member: 9002">You know, the countersong deal:&quot;Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard) who is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of his saving throw...&quot;Is this a free action, a la inspire courage (before the recent Errata)?&nbsp; How would it ever be of use if it were a standard action, as the new Errata comments on the Bard imply?Scenario 1:DM:&nbsp; You hear a terrible wailing, and 4 banshees swoop down on you...Bard:&nbsp; I countersong.DM:&nbsp; You do so on your initiative.&nbsp; Too bad it's 5 and they go on 6.Scenario 2:DM:&nbsp; You see a creepy crawly plug-ugly, and it attacks.Bard:&nbsp; I whack it with my sword.DM:&nbsp; Ok you hit.&nbsp; On the CCPU's turn, it casts suggestion on you.Bard:&nbsp; I countersong (vs language dependent magical attack).DM:&nbsp; You already attacked.Bard:&nbsp; But I didn't know a sonic attack was coming up, and thus didn't countersong before I had a reason to.DM:&nbsp; Sucks to be you, eh?So is countersong only useful if the player metagames, knows the monster in advance, knows there is a sonic attack coming, gets initiative, and then does it?Makes for a pretty lame ability, and its use in a successful way pretty lame gaming.How do people play this ability?&nbsp; Free action or standard action?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="two, post: 832691, member: 9002"] You know, the countersong deal: "Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard) who is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of his saving throw..." Is this a free action, a la inspire courage (before the recent Errata)? How would it ever be of use if it were a standard action, as the new Errata comments on the Bard imply? Scenario 1: DM: You hear a terrible wailing, and 4 banshees swoop down on you... Bard: I countersong. DM: You do so on your initiative. Too bad it's 5 and they go on 6. Scenario 2: DM: You see a creepy crawly plug-ugly, and it attacks. Bard: I whack it with my sword. DM: Ok you hit. On the CCPU's turn, it casts suggestion on you. Bard: I countersong (vs language dependent magical attack). DM: You already attacked. Bard: But I didn't know a sonic attack was coming up, and thus didn't countersong before I had a reason to. DM: Sucks to be you, eh? So is countersong only useful if the player metagames, knows the monster in advance, knows there is a sonic attack coming, gets initiative, and then does it? Makes for a pretty lame ability, and its use in a successful way pretty lame gaming. How do people play this ability? Free action or standard action? [/QUOTE]

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