Defining "allies" - A matter of perception?

[Jack99]

A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 8th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th, and +4 at 20th). Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability.

So, how is ally defined.

I have a case which makes me unsure about how to handle this, and thus I find myself here, to hear what my friendly fellow ENworlders have to say on the matter.

The Case: An elf PC (age 160ish) had an affair with a human NPC (woman) about 25 years ago. He left town soon after, eager to start his training as a wizard. Meanwhile, the woman was with child, and soon enough, she got a lovely little half elven boy.

But good things rarely happen to good people, and times were hard for the single woman and her bastard child. To make a long story short, she grew bitter, blaming the PC for not being there, blaming him for all the misery that was befalling her. Obviously, the child grew up hating his father, especially when the mother dies during his early teens, forcing him to grow up on the streets.

Now, years later, the half elf hates his father with even more passion, and wants revenge for the death of his mother. He is now a bard (rog1/fig1/bard4 actually) and has finally tracked down his father (and the party ofc.).

His plan is to get close to them by telling that he is a bard impressed with their achievements, and that he wants to travel with them to record their adventures. He is going to observe, and at an opportune moment, place a dagger in his father's back. Or something along those lines.

Anyway, the question is: If he during a combat starts to inspire courage, will only he get the bonuses? will the other party members (as in all but the father) or will the father also benefit from the song?

I am guessing that being an ally is a matter of perception, but the perception of who? the one who inspires or the one who is inspired?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

There have been huge, complex, truely bizarre discussions on the ally criterion.... afaik, there is no set definition in the rules, so this is just my personal guideline to make life easier. If there is an actual definition of "ally" out there, I'd be happy to hear it too.

If an individual is within the area of effect and cooperating with the caster / effect creator for the purposes of this combat, they get the beneficial effects. Their long term goals, overall feelings towards the caster, caster's feelings towards them, etc do not effect the outcome, nor does the caster's awareness of their existence.

 

[Rvdvelden]

Hmmm, just wondering....

If the bard is hating his father, could he give a bonus to him as long as he hasn't killed him? Let's say the group encountered a couple of ogres and the youngster is starting to sing? Would his father notice he's not affected by the song, thus making him aware the youngster doesn't view him as an ally???

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Hmmm, just wondering....

If the bard is hating his father, could he give a bonus to him as long as he hasn't killed him? Let's say the group encountered a couple of ogres and the youngster is starting to sing? Would his father notice he's not affected by the song, thus making him aware the youngster doesn't view him as an ally???

Since it is a moral bonus, I would think that it would be noticable to the recipient. The inspiration and sudden confidence, etc. He could definitely compare notes after the fight. (Why was that kid singing during the fight? It helped you fight? huh, didn't do anything for me....)

 

[Tiberius]

Hmmm, just wondering....

If the bard is hating his father, could he give a bonus to him as long as he hasn't killed him? Let's say the group encountered a couple of ogres and the youngster is starting to sing? Would his father notice he's not affected by the song, thus making him aware the youngster doesn't view him as an ally???

Well, you don't have to like someone to be their ally. I would think that, for the purposes of the ogre fight here, the boy would consider his father his ally; after all, they have a common foe. When he went to shank his old man, clearly the father would not be an ally (nor anyone who came to his aid), and as such would not be benefited by the song.

I have no real rules support for this, however, as the "ally" clause is more than a bit murky. I could see the beneficiaries either being determined by the bard himself on a round-by-round basis, or by the listeners based on their relationship with the bard.

 

[Pyrex]

The ruling in our group has been that "allies" are defined by the caster at the time of casting (singing, whatever).

So when your bard above starts singing, he chooses who within range gets the bonus.

 

[werk]

Anyway, the question is: If he during a combat starts to inspire courage, will only he get the bonuses? ... What are your thoughts?

"Ally/allied creature: Allies are other creatures in the same warband or in teammates' warbands."

He's either with them or against them. If he's with them, then changes sides, his buffs just make it harder on himself.

It has to do with rechecking for target eligibility for spells. Check only once, when cast, or prepare for pain.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Well, you don't have to like someone to be their ally.

It depends. The PHB glossary defines an ally as "a creature friendly to you".

By that definition, you don't have to like them... but they have to like you!

(To make matters more confusing, 'friendly' is a defined attitude in D&D, and it's one step down the scale from 'helpful'. The glossary definition could be read to mean that a creature helpful to you is not an ally...)

-Hyp.

 

[Nifft]

Would it help to consider using the (harmless) descriptor used in saving throws?

Like, the caster can decide who is an ally at the time of casting / singing / etc., those people who don't want to be allies can ignore the effect, those for whom the "handshake" worked gain the benefit?

Just thinking out loud, -- N

 

[Darklone]

I don't see a problem with the bard starting battle as ally, buffing his buddies for some rounds, then he turns on them, kills the mage with a full attack action... and some snipers loyal to him attack too...

I would apply the song benefits now to his current allies and not anymore to the group.