Bardic Dance

[tmaaas]

My best friend's wife is about to join our group, and I'm developing a bard for her (I generally do this type of thing). She's a dance instructor by trade, so I developed a new feat for the bard to emphasize this aspect. I thought I'd post it here for feedback before running through our DM.

Bardic Dance [General]
Prerequisite: Ability to perform bardic music.
Benefit: The bard can use dance or bodily movement to produce magical effects similar to those produced by Bardic Music. Each use of bardic dance counts against the bard's daily use of bardic music, but all perform checks must be made against the Bard's Perform [Dance] skill. Additionally, the bard may use spells with verbal components listed as "V (brd only)" without the verbal component requirement (this affects only Hypnotic Pattern and Rainbow Pattern in the Core Rules).

Performing bardic dances follow the same rules as for bardic music, except as follows:

• The bard provokes AOOs from all threatening opponents.
• When maintaining a bardic dance which doesn't require concentration, the bard cannot cast spells or activate magic items by spell completion. The bard may activate magic items by magic word (such as wands).
• The bard suffers no penalty for being deaf, but must have full freedom of movement. Any condition which prevents freedom of movement also interferes with bardic dancing.

Bardic dance effects are the same as bardic music effects (except for Counterdance [Countersong]) Any references to hearing the bard are replaced with seeing the bard, any references to singing or performing are replaced with dancing, etc. Except for language dependent effects (Suggestion and Mass Suggestion), the target need not be able to hear the bard. The Counterdance applies to Illusion [Pattern] magical attacks instead of sonic or language-dependent magical attacks as per Countersong.

Special: a bardic dancer may not use Perform [Dance] to perform regular bardic music effects or to fulfill their prerequisites.


So . . . is it balanced? The largest 'pros' (in my opinion) are the abilities to perform bardic music effects in an area of silence and to use wands. The largest 'cons' are the AOOs and requirement for two maxed Perform skills, at least if the bard wants to effectively use both bardic dance (audio) or bardic music (visual) effects.

 

[reapersaurus]

take out the part about being able to use spells with no verbal component (most dance requires SOME sound to have a good effect), and just give it to her for free.

She might be interested in 'my' Fan Dancer prestige class - my wife was/is.

I have it as a core class also, if you're interested.

 

[tmaaas]

take out the part about being able to use spells with no verbal component (most dance requires SOME sound to have a good effect), and just give it to her for free.

She might be interested in 'my' Fan Dancer prestige class - my wife was/is.

I have it as a core class also, if you're interested.

Thanks for the Fan Dancer. I have it safely archived; if the player is interested in the concept, I may pull it out later and tweak it a little.

I clarified what I meant concerning spells with "verbal (bard only)" components. I meant it to only affect two spells in the core rules: Hypnotic Pattern and Rainbow Pattern. Both these spells have the component listed as "V (brd only)", meaning that the verbal component is only required if the caster is a bard. I lifted this requirement for the Bardic Dancer. All other spells with "V" verbal components still work as per the core rules.

 

[reapersaurus]

why should this microscopic and rare of "benefit" cost her a feat?

I really think you should just give this to her character as a freebie, flavor effect. It's not like she's going to be able, or willing, to abuse the small benefit.

 

[tmaaas]

why should this microscopic and rare of "benefit" cost her a feat?

I really think you should just give this to her character as a freebie, flavor effect. It's not like she's going to be able, or willing, to abuse the small benefit.

I think there are enough benefits to justify a feat:

• Able to use wand and bardic music at same time (small but potentially very useful, since you can't cast).
• Can use abilities when deafened or silenced.
• Can counteract Illusion [Pattern] spells.

It's really a question if it's worth the cost:

• Feat
• Draws AoO
• Based on Perform [Dance], which (flavor-wise) should not be used for regular bardic music abilities.

Hmmm . . . seems a little much there. I'd like to keep the Perform [Dance] restriction for flavor reasons, but drop one of the other two. Probably the AoO.

Ultimately, of course, this is the DM's decision. Not mine. But I'll pass your feedback on to him. Thanks much.

 

[reapersaurus]

umm.. those costs are WAY more than the benefits.

That wand-while-bardic-dancing is VERY subtle, and I'm not sure, but it could still be done other ways, I'm sure.... don't quote me on that, tho.
Plus, IMO the bard SHOULD be able to do other things while inspiring others, etc. I don't even see your pro as being a new benefit - it should have been there all along.

As far as Silence - I think it SHOULD stop the dance's power. Dance with no sound for a powerful effect doesn;t make sense to me. And deafening is only a 20% chance of failure, right? Not that overpowering at all (and it's pretty darn rare of occurance)

I don't get how the Illusion (Pattern) thing is a benefit - way too obscure.

So I don't see these as benefits of any consequence, much less overpowering benefits.
Why would you guys be sweating giving a new (female) player a couple small flavor benfits?
Costing a feat is HUGE. It's literally taking away one of her only player choices, if you're starting at 1st level.
Is your group THAT slave to the rules that you'll decrease the new player's fun, just to satisfy some abstract "balance" dogma?