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<blockquote data-quote="Will" data-source="post: 4196002" data-attributes="member: 5566"><p>Not directly applicable, but from the FAQ:</p><p>What type of action does it take for a bard to keep singing or reciting poetry?</p><p></p><p>Unless the ability states that it requires concentration (a standard action), it doesn’t require any kind of action to maintain a bardic music effect. Technically, a bard incapable of taking any actions wouldn’t be able to maintain a bardic music effect, so it’s probably safest to describe it as a free action (like talking).</p><p></p><p></p><p>RAW is unclear. But it's often unclear; I don't think the lack of detail in this instance is solid evidence that allowance is intended.</p><p></p><p>As for RAI:</p><p>Maintaining a bard song precludes you from casting ANY spell. It also precludes you from using a command word.</p><p></p><p>Yes, there is such a thing as contrapuntal music, but consider those two restrictions: not being able to cast a spell (or use a wand) suggests that maintaining a bard spell requires some element of distraction and concentration, even if it isn't difficult enough to warrant Concentration checks.</p><p></p><p>But the damning part (IMO) is the restriction against command word, particularly when you combine the lack of any comment about type of Performance; you can be playing the drums or a sitar, yet you cannot utter a command word.</p><p></p><p>Given 'command word activation' is nothing more than enunciating something like 'Alcazar,' I think it's fairly solid that the intent is you can't maintain more than one instance of bardic music at a time.</p><p></p><p>Further evidence from Complete Arcane, the prestige class 'Seeker of the Song,' which is a bard PrC that focuses on bardic music. 'Seeker music' PrC ability adds new effects, and contains the following:</p><p>'Some seeker music effects include a secondary effect, called a refrain. In any round when a seeker concentrates on a seeker music effect and expends another use of bardic music, she can activate the refrain associated with that seeker music effect. Using a refrain is a swift action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The original effects of the song do not end; the seeker can maintain the song and activate the refrain simultaneously.'</p><p></p><p>Argument here is why would the writers specify that you can maintain these two different instances of seeker music if you can always do so anyway?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Will, post: 4196002, member: 5566"] Not directly applicable, but from the FAQ: What type of action does it take for a bard to keep singing or reciting poetry? Unless the ability states that it requires concentration (a standard action), it doesn’t require any kind of action to maintain a bardic music effect. Technically, a bard incapable of taking any actions wouldn’t be able to maintain a bardic music effect, so it’s probably safest to describe it as a free action (like talking). RAW is unclear. But it's often unclear; I don't think the lack of detail in this instance is solid evidence that allowance is intended. As for RAI: Maintaining a bard song precludes you from casting ANY spell. It also precludes you from using a command word. Yes, there is such a thing as contrapuntal music, but consider those two restrictions: not being able to cast a spell (or use a wand) suggests that maintaining a bard spell requires some element of distraction and concentration, even if it isn't difficult enough to warrant Concentration checks. But the damning part (IMO) is the restriction against command word, particularly when you combine the lack of any comment about type of Performance; you can be playing the drums or a sitar, yet you cannot utter a command word. Given 'command word activation' is nothing more than enunciating something like 'Alcazar,' I think it's fairly solid that the intent is you can't maintain more than one instance of bardic music at a time. Further evidence from Complete Arcane, the prestige class 'Seeker of the Song,' which is a bard PrC that focuses on bardic music. 'Seeker music' PrC ability adds new effects, and contains the following: 'Some seeker music effects include a secondary effect, called a refrain. In any round when a seeker concentrates on a seeker music effect and expends another use of bardic music, she can activate the refrain associated with that seeker music effect. Using a refrain is a swift action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The original effects of the song do not end; the seeker can maintain the song and activate the refrain simultaneously.' Argument here is why would the writers specify that you can maintain these two different instances of seeker music if you can always do so anyway? [/QUOTE]
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