Bard's Fascinate - Ever used it?

[Schmoe]

One of the classic, defining abilities of a Bard is his ability to Fascinate non-hostile viewers with his music. However, it occurred to me that in 6+ years of D&D 3.x, I've never once seen a bard use the ability. And we always have a Bard in the party. So that got me wondering whether we were typical, or if others have had the same experience.

I'm interested in hearing stories of how you or another player has used Fascinate to good effect. I'd be even more interested if it didn't involve use of the Suggestion ability, and I'd be extremely amazed if a DM has used this against a party. Anyone care to share?

 

[Crothian]

My Bard used this all the time. The trick I found is to not assume every encounter is going to be hostile. By Bard would just go up and talk to people we needed to sneak by and the others diud the sneaking.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Heh, it has been used to divert attention away from something the rest of party is getting up to more than I care to think about.

The Auld Grump

 

[Fishbone]

High Charisma buff bards can benefit from Fascinate+Suggestion a lot.
A Mac-Fuimidh Cithern and is +2 to Fascinate/Suggestion, at higher levels some instruments grant +7. At 10th level 18+Charisma can be very, very hard for a lot of dum-dums to save against, if not impossible, while at high levels a DC 26+Charisma save can be very daunting for most all mind-having opponents, if not impossible.
I will cop to getting a lot more worth out of the Inspires, however.
Edit: I frequently take Song of the Heart when allowed. So Inspire Courage and Greatness are really nice to have around. Inspire Competance is worthless, though. I've never used it or seen anybody use it.
"Hmm, convince the Raging barbarian to drop his Greatsword as it could break and injure him at any moment, or give all my friends +5 to hit and damage, or hand out a ton of temporary HP and bonuses, or give the tumbling Rogue +3 on his check. I'm going to inspire some courage."

 

[Shadowdancer]

Inspire Competence is not useless. You just have to use it during optimal moments. During combat is not one of them. But when the rogue is trying to disarm a tough trap or pick a tough lock, and you know the bard's performing won't attract any attention, it can be very effective.

I'm always looking for opportunities to use my bard's Fascinate ability. I frequently use it, as others have said, to distract guards so other party members can sneak past.

 

[Pinotage]

Our bard just recently stepped up to a blue dragon (Huge size - not sure about the age category) and fascinated it! Way cool!

Pinotage

 

[blargney the second]

I used it what turned out to be a god in a PBEM. *boggle*

 

[wmasters]

Fascinate is an amazing ability even without suggestion. The ability to distract an entire crowd means that the rest of your party can do anything else that needs to be done. Need to get the slavers key that he's left on the inn table with 4 bodyguards around him? No problem, the bard fascinates them all and the party is free to take it.

And as the Perform check setting the Will very difficult to save against.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've not played one as a PC, but as a DM I've often had bards use fascinate. The DC can be almost impossible to resist!

 

[Schmoe]

Well, it looks like at least some people out there are getting good use out of it.

It seems like an incredibly effective ability to me. For example, a 14th level PC in my old campaign has max ranks (+17), a 22 Charisma (+6), Skill Focus (+3), and a house feat that makes your voice like a Masterwork Instrument (+2), for a total bonus of +28. Since you use Fascinate outside of combat, you should be able to take 10, so that without breaking a sweat this PC could force a DC 38 Will save on everyone who can hear him to resist! That just boggles my mind even more that he hasn't used it.

I don't know if it's DM'ing style, the types of adventures, or playing style that leads to people not using the ability. I'd think, though, that if the party doesn't plan together and work well together, it makes Fascinate harder to use.