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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Simon Collins" data-source="post: 2010768" data-attributes="member: 9860">This is not a playtest review.The Quintessential Bard is the fifteenth in the race/class splatbook Collector Series from Mongoose Publishing. Released before 3.5.The Quintessential Bard is a 128-page mono softcover product costing $19.95. Layout is similar to previous products with standard font and margins but fairly large gaps between paragraphs giving it a fairly airy feel. Ten different artists contribute to the product and this leads to a variety of style and quality (from poor to good). Except for the prestige class section, art is rarely appropriate to the text, being mainly a series of pictures of bards to fit the potential white space. The writing style is intelligent and engaging. Editing is average with regular minor errors, noticeably in the flavour text at the beginning (which seems to be of poorer quality than the rest of the book), and the irritating 'rouge' instead of 'rogue' in the designer's notes - rouge being pink make-up (from the French for 'red') for the ignorant.Chapter 1: Character ConceptsMongoose introduced the popular idea of character concepts - roleplaying hooks for beginning characters, with minor benefits and penalties that are designed to balance each other out to some extent. Examples from the selection provided for bards include the Ambassador, Explorer, Lore Master, Minstrel, Skald, and Vagabond.Chapter 2: The Prestige BardEight new prestige classes designed for bards:* Dream Dancer - 5 levels. Minimum entry 12th level. Average BAB, good Ref save. Class features surround emotionally reading and dominating audiences through dance.* Elder - 5 levels. Minimum entry 4th level. Poor BAB, good Will save. Class features focus on wisdom, giving bonuses to bardic knowledge and AC, and controlling others with voice.* Grandmaster - 10 levels. Minimum entry 9th level. Average BAB, good Ref and Will saves. Class features improve bardic class features and gain additional bardic feats.* Jester - 5 levels. Minimum entry 5th level. Average BAB, good Fort and Will saves. Class features focus mainly on taunting and distraction.* Seneschal - 10 levels. Minimum entry 5th level. Poor BAB, good Will save. Class features surround running a noble house.* Singer Of The Dawn - 5 levels. Minimum entry 5th level. Average BAB, good Fort and Will saves. Class features dedicated to fighting and resisting attacks of undead.* Soul Taker - 5 levels. Minimum entry 9th level. Average BAB, good Ref and Will saves. Class features focus on seduction and draining touch attacks.* World Singer - 10 levels. Minimum entry 6th level. Average BAB, good Ref save. Class features grouped into abilities termed Songs of Power, which have different effects dependent on which natural focus is used - e.g. sun, storm, sea, wind.Chapter 3: Tricks Of The Trade New uses for old skills are covered - complicating, influencing, and interpreting conversations using Diplomacy, uncovering locations and supporting bardic knowledge using Gather Information, flatter and insult using Innuendo, attract attention and bully using Intimidate, and gain passage through a magical barrier using Use Magic Device.The next section in the chapter looks at effects that can be created with non-Bard characters using the Perform skill. Battle hymns can be used to increase the chance of saving against fear effects, whilst lullabies can increase the chances of a successful Heal check for those in complete rest. DCs for the Perform skill are given for each of these.Various professions for bards are briefly discussed, such as the Acrobat, Busker, Fool, Juggler, Street Magician, and Tavern Minstrel.Chapter 4: Feats25 new feats are provided, including many feats only available to bards. These include a number of feats to improve bardic knowledge checks in focused areas, such as Antiquarian (gives bonus to checks on item history and can give knowledge of one property of the item on a straight 20) and musical effects that disrupt in slightly different ways to the countersong class feature. There are also more general feats such as some that allow magical crafting of objects and some that focus on shouting to defeat opponents. Another feat allows the bard to take a signature instrument, with which he can create certain effects.Chapter 5: Tools Of The TradeGives detail on crafting masterwork instruments, investing signature instruments with magical effects, crafting magical instruments, exotic tools used in these processes, and 14 magical instruments such as drum of haste and harp of frost.The next section looks at magical crafts, creating objets d'art with magical abilities such as paintings that talk, statues that move, and similar effects. Various possibilities for each craft are discussed, including architecture, chandlery, embroidery, pottery, sculpture, and weaving.Compositions are bardic writings that when performed create a magical effect. Costs of creation, effects, and a few examples are discussed (e.g. the Widows' Tears flute solo engenders despair in the listener for 24 hours giving penalties to attack).Chapter 6: The Power Of LoreThis chapter breaks down the Bardic Knowledge check into areas of knowledge and obscurity of the knowledge. Example DCs are given cross-referencing typical questions in terms of obscurity versus knowledge type on a series of tables. Some alternative uses for bardic knowledge checks are also discussed, such as decipher divinations, remember details, and read omens.Chapter 7: Mysteries Of MusicMysteries of music are an expansion of the Bardic Music class feature. Each mystery relies on a different medium (e.g. chant, dance, drum, flute, harp, jesting, storytelling) and each mystery has four levels, available to the bard when they gain Perform skill ranks of 3, 6, 9 and 12 respectively. They are available as options instead of the normal usage available through the Bardic Music class feature. Some race-specific mysteries are also provided.Chapter 8: Bard Spells16 new spells generally revolving around extending the area of the bard's Bardic Music attempts and the distance over which his voice can be heard. Also a series of spells from 1st to 5th level that increase an audience's empathy with the bard.Chapter 9: Bardic DuelsFive different types of bardic duel are discussed - magical, performance, riddles, rites (essentially a battle of social skills - e.g. seduction or praise), and battle to humiliation (a mixture of wit and steel). A 'points' system is used to judge the bards' success compared with the other.Chapter 10: VenuesThis chapter provides a system that allows the venue to provide bonuses or penalties to the bard's performance, dependent on the acoustics, availability, fame, location, and resources. Some examples of magical attributes of special venues are given along with further examples of actual venues in several sections including borrowed (e.g. tavern), court, owned (e.g. theatre), public (e.g. street corner), religious, and travelling (e.g. circus). There are also some basic rules for building a venue comparing cost to attributes.The book ends with the humble designer's notes, a 3-page index, a 3-page rules summary, 4-page Bard character sheet, and the OGL.High Points:The product does a good job of expanding the options of a 3rd Edition Bard, particularly in terms of Chapters 6 and 7, which deepen and extend the bard's Bardic Knowledge and Bardic Music class features. The bardic duels system also looks to be fun, and could make for some great in-character roleplaying scenarios.Low Points:The Quintessential series is best used as a grab bag of ideas in my opinion and this is no exception. There are several forgettable feats, spells, and prestige classes strewn amongst the gems, though The Quintessential Bard does not seem to go over the top in terms of power compared to some previous products in the series (apart from some of the prestige classes). Conclusion:Overall, one of the better in the Quintessential series, the product focuses on providing depth and choice to the bard's abilities and occasionally seems to tread the same path as the 3.5 bard (such as the mysteries of music, which are defined by the type of Perform skill required). Some inspirational stuff for enhancing the role of bards in a campaign, though, as usual with the series, best used as a grab bag of ideas with a wary eye on unbalanced rules.</blockquote>

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