Single-form Bardic Music

[GuardianLurker]

One of the ideas I've been considering for my next campaign is requiring Bards to pick a single form/technique of Perform to "bind" their Bardic Music abilities to.

So one bard might need to sing to activate his bardic music, while another has to play the harp.

A single form might be too limiting, so adding new "binding" forms is probably a good idea. But I don't know what the right approach would be - every N levels? As a feat? 1+Cha?

Opinions? Comments? Feedback?

 

[Khorod]

Well, just how narrow do you want it to be? If you want skilled characters to use only what they are actually trained in, that's one peformance type per skill point.

If you want it to represent a bardic virtuoso (not prc) in the piano, who happens to also have the genius of dance and ballad, then you are talking more about inborn gifts. So I'd go with 1 + Cha bonus.

I definitely don't think this should be a feat... its just not even a rule worth cluttering up the notes to have a feat. And a feat definitely shouldn't be the only way to get more than one style- bard's should be given feats to enhance their abilities, not make them fall behind.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Well, just how narrow do you want it to be? If you want skilled characters to use only what they are actually trained in, that's one peformance type per skill point.

Actually, IMC I've house-ruled Performance to work like Knowledge, Craft, and Profession, and given Bards a class ability/free feat that lets them advance a group of forms as one. That's one of the reasons this came up.

It's definitely more towards the "what they're trained in", with a fair leavening of "genius" thrown in. And of course, there is an implied "not all forms are equal" as well, but I want to allow the "bound" forms to grow in number over time.

I'm not sure skill points are the best solution for the "binding" mechanic, but agree with you that a feat is probably too expensive. Not that I think I've got any better alternatives - that's one of the reasons why I'm posing the question.

Leaving aside the mechanics for a bit, what do you think the campaign impact would be? What would you see as the pros and cons?

 

[GuardianLurker]

*ka-bump*

No-one has any opinions about this?