Role-playing a Bards musical talents

Wippit Guud · May 20, 2003

Man... my bard just took the performance "contortionist".
Next level, he's taking "fire eating"

Someone get me a flaming torch, the DM wants me to to actually do it!

ced1106 · May 22, 2003

Umbran said:
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.

Agreed. Also, is the GM requiring the spellcasters to recite incantations? The barbarians to shout battle cries? The dwarves to be literal? The half-orcs to be scatalogical?

In my 10+ years of GM'ing, I've never required players to be "in character". If a player isn't comfortable, or is too embarrassed, the third person is just fine with me. Most "roleplaying" I've seen (including mine, lol) seems to be just bad drama school improv. Then again, I'm pretty much a plot kinda guy...

Still like the banjo idea.

Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

DanteHayes · May 22, 2003

Ridiculous? Far too kind. Your DM needs to have his mouth filled with sausages and have starving dogs shoved up his rectum.

It's hard enough to get players to play Bards anyway, since they are a reletively low power character class. Why make it any more painful.

I suppliment my income by working part time as a musician and, I would by put out if my DM insisted that I have to perform all of my Bards (my current character) performances.

On the other hand, the statitical approach leaves a lot to be desired. One of the players in our group is fond of "I try to convince party X of my opinion Y. I rolled a (large number) for my Diplomacy. Did I succeed?" It couldn't hurt to try to be a little more involved in some of the charisma based skills.

Dante

tarchon · May 23, 2003

Emerald said:
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

I always play my bass, but that only works because we play on-line and nobody can hear me.

Shadowdancer · May 23, 2003

I play a bard, and I've written a few songs for my character to perform but that's because I wanted to. Writing poetry and song lyrics is something I've done for years, long before D&D was even invented. Since it's something I choose to do, and since the DM and the other PCs are entertained by it, I don't mind doing it, but only because it is my choice.

On the other had, I can't sing a lick, so I don't actually sing the songs. I recite them, like a poem, but never sing -- I wouldn't inflict that sort of damage on my group's eardrums.

I think it's a fine idea as long as the player does it by choice, and has the option of deciding how far to carry it. But having the DM require it as part of role-playing the character, I'm not in favor of that.

ergeheilalt · May 24, 2003

Heh, you could make up a *simple* rhyme for you spells like:

The time has come for you to sleep,
Eyes shut, mind counting the sheep.
sleep

I would not require a player to do this sort of thing, but it is something I have been contemplating for the next bard I play.

Erge