Pathfinder 1E Bardic performance in combat

[Uber Dungeon]

So I got a player who is using bardic music/Performance While he is in combat, he is using Perform Song.
I read through bardic performance and Music in 3.5 to find rules that specify using bardic music while attacking or being attacked (hit in combat)... Sadly I have found no rules that would suggest that It's not just a free action to maintain. weather you are being attacked or not.

So I was wondering if someone could tell me if there is rules for using bardic music in combat, such as concentration checks or preform song checks when attacking or being attacked?

 

[Paraxis]

No the bard is supposed to use those abilities while he is fighting and being hit, that is kind of the whole point.

 

[paradox42]

Indeed. In fact, to better illustrate the point that the designers specifically intended that Bardic Performance not be something requiring much (if any) concentration, just look at the many spells they've introduced which actually require the caster to be currently in the middle of a Performance in order to even cast them.

Here's one. There are others.

 

[MJS]

I think that a DM needs to wield an axe sometimes.

Screw the rules. If the Bard is performing a song, then, guess what - the character is singing a song, loudly, in combat. I would give them -1 to hit and AC, and have to make checks to keep it going when sustaining damage. Your dude is leaping around, singing at operatic volume levels, while swinging a longsword. That is awesome. It shouldn't come from nothing though. -1 is generous.

 

[billd91]

No, -1 is not generous unless you want to be less ungenerous in your unnecessary nerfing of the bard. Seriously, the bard fighting while performing is not unbalancing. Besides, singing while fighting isn't without its inspirations in literature and history.

 

[Empirate]

I think that a DM needs to wield an axe sometimes.

Screw the rules. If the Bard is performing a song, then, guess what - the character is singing a song, loudly, in combat. I would give them -1 to hit and AC, and have to make checks to keep it going when sustaining damage. Your dude is leaping around, singing at operatic volume levels, while swinging a longsword. That is awesome. It shouldn't come from nothing though. -1 is generous.

Horrible idea, OP, don't do this. "That is awesome" is the part you should concentrate on, skip the rest. "Screw the rules" is about as helpful as a fist to the face when somebody is asking a rules question...

 

[Tuft]

Performing during combat to give the party, including yourself, bonuses is just what the bard is *supposed to do* in Pathfinder.

Giving penalties for that is like, well, giving a fighter a penalty to hit because he is wearing armor...

 

[Uber Dungeon]

My game is a 3.5/pathfinder hybrid. So my bard is using Song of the heart, Inspiration boost, Harmony, words of creation and he just started using Dragon fire inspiration. So He's doing something like +8d6 fire damage for everyone's attacks. It's pretty much devastating the balance of the game.
At that point the wizard mine as well just walk up and slap the guy with his pansy 1d4+1 ... +8d6 slap.

But I guess that aside, It would probably suck to try nurf Bardic performance. I hate to make feats unavailable. Maybe I will consider imposing limitations on dragonfire inspiration.

 

[billd91]

My game is a 3.5/pathfinder hybrid. So my bard is using Song of the heart, Inspiration boost, Harmony, words of creation and he just started using Dragon fire inspiration. So He's doing something like +8d6 fire damage for everyone's attacks. It's pretty much devastating the balance of the game.
At that point the wizard mine as well just walk up and slap the guy with his pansy 1d4+1 ... +8d6 slap.

But I guess that aside, It would probably suck to try nurf Bardic performance. I hate to make feats unavailable. Maybe I will consider imposing limitations on dragonfire inspiration.

There's nothing about dragonfire inspiration that I would allow. Ever. It may seem relatively innocuous when you trade +1 to hit and damage for +1d6, but that's not where it stops. Any imbalance in that relationship gets multiplied by the number of dice. You might be able to argue that +8d6 damage isn't as good as +8 to hit in certain circumstances, and that may be true when facing a very tough AC. But it isn't under most circumstances. Either that feat has to go or you have to type the bonus the feats/spells give to the bard's inspiration morale bonus and not allow them to stack.

 

[Greenfield]

As a general response, I would love to refer you to that classic scene in Cyrano de Bergerac (I love the Jose Ferer version) when the hero composes and recites poetry, as part of a duel.

"...and as I end the refrain, thrust home!".

Perfect example of Bardic performance during combat.

Over all, though, consider how many of the Bardic Music selections are explicitly to be played in and aid combat.

Want a good "Inspire Courage" song? Try March of Bambreadth... http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/alexander_heather/march_of_cambreadth-lyrics-164776.html

Want another? Try "Scots Wha Hae" ... http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173069

Need some Inspire Heroics? Try Garth Brooks' "Ireland" ... http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Ireland-lyrics-Garth-Brooks/B2231B7F8A6AEFF6482568790010F89D
(It's a song about mercenary soldiers considered expendable, deciding to go out on their feet.)