Role-playing a Bards musical talents

[Emerald]

I have a character concept for a game that is starting in a few weeks for a Bard. A unique Dwarf who composes love songs and poems. But the DM just told me that she will not handwave the bards performances, I have to actually do the performance. This seems to be completely ridiculous to me. I do not have a musical bone in my body and could not hit a note to save my life. I am very tempted to tell her that if I have to sing to play a bard, then I will not play a bard. But I was wondering is this a common rule and just part of the roleplaying experience, or is have to sing to play a bard as ridiculous as making a someone playing fighter have to actually be able to sword fight, and a someone playing a Rogue to actually be able to pickpockets?

Just wondering what others think. Thanks

 

[haiiro]

It's pretty ridiculous, IMO. Part of the enjoyment in gaming is doing things you yourself couldn't possibly do, so requiring you to sing/read poetry/whatever to make Perform checks makes no sense to me. In this case, it will also be time-consuming, and would probably wind up making you perform less, not more.

If you were both into it, that would be a different story -- but since you're not, it isn't a good idea.

 

[alsih2o]

with the right person with the right talents this is a fantastic idea.

that stated, forcing a player into it seems ludicrous to me. is she gonna make the fighter pick up her volkswagen to rp his incredible str? make the wizards player memorize nonsense syllables to cast spells?

and what happens if you fail a save vs. a fireball?

 

[Airwolf]

Well, unless your DM is expecting the party wizard to actually cast spells, the party cleric to actually perform specific divine rights to his/her deity, etc. I don't see why a bard should have to actually sing, recite poems, dance etc.

We have two bards in our party, my wife and myself. Now I am like you and I can’t sing worth anything or play an instrument. My wife is very talented in that area. When we play the DM has never forced either of us to act out our performances. My wife has on several occasions done so just to increase the role-playing enjoyment of the game.

If we were in an LARP game I would expect to sing, dance, etc. but in a pen and paper game I don’t think it is necessary.

 

[sircaren]

I'll throw my vote into the rediculous category. Although, my group did, at one time, have a bard who liked to write songs for his character. But it was never required, he just liked to sing.

 

[Zappo]

I had to do something like that *once*, with *one song*, in a comedic game. It's not something you can expect a player to do consistantly. It is ridiculous, time-consuming, and just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

 

[Henry]

Ask the DM if she will let the player of the front-line fighter swing a baseball bat in her direction if a fight with a monster comes up.

Seriously, if the DM refuses to budge on this position, I would either not play with that DM (if that's an option to you), or simply not play a bard. To me, enforcing a PC's action on the player is kind of ANTI-roleplaying, because it falls back to the player's strengths and weaknesses, rather than the character's.

Similarly, will she and the other players be speaking in character at all times? Will she be asking the other players to mimic the casting of spells and swinging of weapons?

I certainly get behind that as an OPTION for you to do, but it should be something that is only done for fun and to enhance the play experience for the players involved, not to enforce it as a table rule.

 

[ced1106]

"Oh, death, and grief, and sorrow, and murderrrrr..."
-- Steve Martin

I say go for it. Get your dwarf a banjo and sing happy dirges.


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

 

[Necrogorgon]

Assuming the DM is really being as insistent as your post makes it sound, then yes, that it pretty ridiculous. I DO think it is a good idea however to have a Bard's player summarize what a song, poem, or story is about and to actually give some details instead of just saying "I tell a story to the audience at the Inn... I make a Perform check... I got a 34... how much money do I get?" It all depends on the nature of the game however.

 

[Umbran]

The whole point of having game statistics is to represent the character's abilities. Personal performance should be a colorful addition to the game, not a requirement.