D&D 5E The Immortal Bard: 5eing up yer Minstrels

[Mallus]

What would be the in-world explanation for this Daily Power?

The bard sings a magic song.

You know, like when a wizard chants some likely Latin-sounding words and fire shoots out of their fingers.

2e had a perfectly good Bard base class. 5e should start with that... tweaking it some, of course... I seem to recall a good implementation in the Icewind Dale CRPGs.

 

[steeldragons]

What would be the in-world explanation for this Daily Power?

Just a low level enchantment they learn/are trained to be able to do, as part of being a "bard" as opposed to just a minstrel or troubadour.

I mean, guess that would be the simplest way to...did you have some other concept?

 

[Kynn]

Just a low level enchantment they learn/are trained to be able to do, as part of being a "bard" as opposed to just a minstrel or troubadour.

I mean, guess that would be the simplest way to...did you have some other concept?

No, I mean, why can he only do this a certain number of times per day?

 

[Khaalis]

For me, the Bard should be a bit of an umbrella class like the fighter. The bard should encompass all forms of Performer based builds, from Celtic Bard to Nordic Skald to Roman Orator to the English Minstrel to the French Jongleur, to the Elven Spellsinger, the Dwarven Warchanter, etc. etc.

Mechanically I think its core should be a "Leader" (to use a 4E term) or a "Backer or Support" type of role. Then have various "builds" that give it the flavor bent you are looking for (Minstrel, Celtic, Skald, etc.). Some build sshould be more magical than others and others more melee. Some more arcane and some more "nature-oriented".
JMHO. YMMV.

 

[MoonSong]

There has to be a Perform skill, period. While musical intruments may be the main casting focus for a Bard -and they must be, not wands or using the same focus items than the wizards, bards shouldn't need material components or focuses other than their instrument of choice- they also have to be relevant outside of combat -not just "use your diplomacy/bluff/whatever skill roleplaying that you are doing it with your lyre"- without a meaningful Perform skill Bards are just undersupported.

I liked 3.5 Bards, a lot, but I feel most of the time it was impossible to use them as "jacks of all trades" without falling into the "master of none" part, not even the PHBII bardic Knack alleviated the problem. Also their spell progression was painfully slow, some of their best spells were 2nd level and by the time they reached that point, the party cleric had been giving them out for a couple of levels. (Perhaps It would be a good idea to let the Bards choose between being spontaneous or Vancian/semi-vancian?)

 

[Kynn]

There has to be a Perform skill, period. While musical intruments may be the main casting focus for a Bard -and they must be, not wands or using the same focus items than the wizards, bards shouldn't need material components or focuses other than their instrument of choice- they also have to be relevant outside of combat -not just "use your diplomacy/bluff/whatever skill roleplaying that you are doing it with your lyre"- without a meaningful Perform skill Bards are just undersupported.

What exactly would a Perform skill do? How would it work in play? What would the results of a failed or successful Perform check be?

Would anyone other than a Bard have a use for it? (If not, perhaps it should be a class ability and not a skill per se.)

 

[Sunseeker]

What exactly would a Perform skill do? How would it work in play? What would the results of a failed or successful Perform check be?

Would anyone other than a Bard have a use for it? (If not, perhaps it should be a class ability and not a skill per se.)

Personally Perform would be better to be boiled into a sub-set of Profession, since well, performance usually IS a Bard's profession.

 

[steeldragons]

No, I mean, why can he only do this a certain number of times per day?

Oh!

Well, cuz weaving magic through music takes energy and skill and can't just be done "at will." It's tiring! (Some goes to weaving magic in general, I suppose. Applies for mages, et al. and their limited slots/levels of power possible per day)

As you gain levels, your skill/tolerance for doing so increases (it gets "easier") so you can manage it more times per day and more powerfully (effecting more HD).

 

[Hassassin]

Well, cuz weaving magic through music takes energy and skill and can't just be done "at will." It's tiring! (Some goes to weaving magic in general, I suppose. Applies for mages, et al. and their limited slots/levels of power possible per day)

So is it once per 24h or after each rest? Why doesn't that tiring affect the bard's other magical or non-magical abilities? This is why I don't like 4e dailies.

Better just make it a spell like the bard's other magic so they use the same mechanic and resources. Make it a unique spell that has music as a verbal component or focus. Give it to all bards if you use the 3e casting system (spontaneous spell slots like sorcerer).

 

[Mallus]

No, I mean, why can he only do this a certain number of times per day?

Bardic show tunes are Vancian in nature.