How/Can you roleplay a non-musical bard?

[Errant]

Now and then I've contemplated playing a bard but I've always been put off by my own complete lack of musical ability (I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket) which leaves me stumped as to how to RP a bard at the gaming table.

Thankfully, 3.5E Bards offers a few "Performing" non-musical options I think I can use, especially things like Acting and Oratory, maybe even Comedy.

I'm still a little fuzzy on how to present that kind of Performing at the gaming table when using the Bard's Perform-based abilities.

I think it will wear a little thin if all I can say is "I rattle off a quick speach/joke/poem to Inspire everyone's Confidence".

Can anyone offer any tips?

 

[pawsplay]

If you have any knack for it at all, trying writing a poem that emphasizes, say, bravery, and recite it every so often as needed.

EDIt: Also, there's no rule against an oratory being "Stomp them into the dirt!" And if you want to buff and not do the song and dance routine, check out the Marshal.

 

[MerricB]

Now and then I've contemplated playing a bard but I've always been put off by my own complete lack of musical ability (I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket) which leaves me stumped as to how to RP a bard at the gaming table.

Thankfully, 3.5E Bards offers a few "Performing" non-musical options I think I can use, especially things like Acting and Oratory, maybe even Comedy.

I'm still a little fuzzy on how to present that kind of Performing at the gaming table when using the Bard's Perform-based abilities.

I think it will wear a little thin if all I can say is "I rattle off a quick speach/joke/poem to Inspire everyone's Confidence".

Can anyone offer any tips?

Don't be original. Go and get some *real* poetry/jokes/oratory. Note the names that need to be replaced and have fun. "Real" Bards don't use all their own material; improvisation is a useful skill, but they spend far more time repeating stuff than creating it anew.

Fill a page or two with this sort of material and then use it as needed.

Cheers!

 

[MonkeyDragon]

Remember that small gestures can go a long way. I would in fact not suggest doing oratory or comedy for your perform: those things are things that actually rely on speaking, and thus cant be faked. But you don't have to be able to sing to hum a few bars and mime playing a lute. Or choose dance, and do a little chair-groove.

 

[Quickleaf]

We had a bard from an animistic tribal culture in a game that invoked spirits of his faith for succor ("Creatrix Tuara do not abandon us now!"). It had a very epic feel and didn't require great eulogizing, just the ability to make it sound mythic and a solid knowledge of his faith.

Two ideas for Perform (Oratory). I've always liked the idea of a storytelling bard who relates short anecdotes from legend to inspire. Another idea is the proverbial bard who uses pertinent proverbs to inspire.

I've always thought it would be fun to play a bard whose musical abilities come from something like dance (perhaps they enter ecstatic trances like a Sufi dervish?) or acting (a wisecracking bard who uses Perform (comedy) to inspire?).

A nice touch would be to spend a few minutes between every other game to compose a ditty, poem, limerick, or joke about the party's recent adventures.

 

[bodhi]

Don't be original.

QFT.
I mean, if you have your magnum opus burning to get out, by all means, set it down. But it's much easier to rip off borrow from previous masters, like the St. Crispin's Day Speech from Henry V, or Dylan Thomas' Do not go gentle into that good night.

Or maybe look at something like the haka.

Or go find some DVD's of Def Poetry Jam.

I gotta admit, it's hard for me to think of appropriate examples that are non-verbal, given the audience focus of the bard. Although a drow signing bard or an illithid telepath bard would be interesting.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Archetypes for Non musical bards?

1) A limerick specialist- not reccomended for the grandma-freindly game.

2) An insult comedian- this works especially well if you like to taunt.

3) A mime. Use lots of expressive gestures.

4) A rapper- I know- anachronistic...but it really isn't. Rap is really just a form of chant set to modern beats- lyrically, you can find some nice "war chants" or uplifting words...

5) An ac-TOR!

6) A con man with the "gift of gab." Imagine if you will, inspiring your warrior buddy to great efforts (Inspire Courage) by telling him that the Raging half-orc barbarian he's about to face is using a Greataxe you sold him (you know- the ones with the sub-standard hafts and cheap metal heads) and took a potion that should give him the flux "any minute now..."

 

[Shadowdancer]

I have played in several RPGA Living Greyhawk mods with a player whose bard was a storyteller only -- he has no musical skills. His bard would tell inspiring stories about the time so-and-so hero overcame tremendous odds or so-and-so diety beat the crud out of this other diety. You don't have to go into great detail or length -- just give enough info to set the scene and mood, and the other players' imaginations will do the rest.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In other words, someone like Bill Cosby or a talk-show host.

 

[SteelDraco]

I'm intending to play a dwarf bard at some point, who tells dwarven legends to inspire courage and such. He might or might not have a drum, but nothing more complicated than that for music. Max out the knowledges and take the summoning spells to summon dwarven ancestor spirits. I think it'd be a fun character to play.