Speed of bard song

[Kalendraf]

I was rereading the bard section in the 3.5 PHB, and realized my group may be interpreting the "speed" of bard songs incorrectly. Ever since 3e, we've ruled that in order to gain the benefits of a bard's song, all listeners must hear it for 1 full round, then the benefit may be applied.

However, after looking thru the different song entries for the bard in the 3.5 phb, it looks like only 1 song, Inspire Heroics, is listed as having this requirement.

My 2 questions are:

1) Do all other songs kick in immediately? (For example, bard acting on init 18 sings Inspire Courage, then all characters on init 17 and down get the benefit.)
2) Is this a change from 3E?

 

[danielinthewolvesden]

Yep- now it takes a standard action, and takes place right then & there.

In 3.0 one could argue it took a free action, but in any case it didn't start until the bards next round.

 

[Kalendraf]

Yep- now it takes a standard action, and takes place right then & there.

Thanks for the info. Both groups I DM for should be very pleased to hear this since they both have bards.

It's a whole year after switching to 3.5, and I still keep finding stuff we've been doing the old way or incorrectly. I wonder how many other things we're still doing incorrectly?

 

[Scharlata]

Oooops!

Three cheers to Fervus!