Trombone-toting bards?

[der_kluge]

All this talk about the fragility of the trombone in combat, has to make me wonder why anyone would dare tread into combat with a wooden lute. A metal trombone has to be at least 10 times as likely to survive a dire boar attack than a lute does.

 

[Driddle]

All this talk about the fragility of the trombone in combat, has to make me wonder why anyone would dare tread into combat with a wooden lute. A metal trombone has to be at least 10 times as likely to survive a dire boar attack than a lute does.

In an environment where elves are running around in mithral chainmail shirts, you'd think there would be sturdy metals available for forging instruments (or even an enamel treatment) that would still provide an attractive resonance.

 

[pawsplay]

All this talk about the fragility of the trombone in combat, has to make me wonder why anyone would dare tread into combat with a wooden lute. A metal trombone has to be at least 10 times as likely to survive a dire boar attack than a lute does.

Quite the opposite. You can thump the side of a lute for a beat and it will be fine. A lute might survive being dropped down the stairs. A trombone? Wonk, that's it.

Incidentally, a six-stringed steel guitar is nothing other than a lute. Maybe D&D bards dig that Nashville sound.

 

[tzor]

Common misconception.

You can have all of your Perform ranks in "Trombone" and still use Inspire Courage or Inspire Heroics or Song of Freedom via singing and shouting poetry in combat, neither requires a Perform check.

The "check" doesn't matter. You need the minimum perform requirement in the area you are performing.

Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). While these abilities fall under the category of bardic music and the descriptions discuss singing or playing instruments, they can all be activated by reciting poetry, chanting, singing lyrical songs, singing melodies, whistling, playing an instrument, or playing an instrument in combination with some spoken performance. Each ability requires both a minimum bard level and a minimum number of ranks in the Perform skill to qualify; if a bard does not have the required number of ranks in at least one Perform skill, he does not gain the bardic music ability until he acquires the needed ranks.

So if he has trombone skill he can only do his stuff while honking on the trombone. Actually that in and of itself doesn't matter. Almost all of the bardic stuff doesn't really need spoken words to work and the one that does, suggestion only suggests that the bard can make a suggestion to someone he has fascinated, and does not require the suggestion as a part of the performance. There are a number of famous jazz pieces that have a spoken phraise at the end. "Salt Peanuts" and "Pennsylvania Six-Five Thousand" are two prime examples.

"Inspure Heroics" might be a problem. Technically the SRD states, "To inspire heroics, a bard must sing and an ally must hear the bard sing for a full round." So it requires singing, something that's impossible to to while performing with the trombone which is required to get that annoying minimum score in order to acrivate.

So for all the wrong reasons you are generally right.

 

[ShadowDenizen]

"Trombone" would be an EASY change-of-pace for our group!

We have a Dwarven(!) bard who plays multiple instruments, including the recorder, the spoons, the triangle and the bagpipe!

And he alwasy seems to have the appropriate sounds cued up on his laptop.

Realistic?
No.
But he seems to enjoy it, and he RP's it well, so the group is fine with it. (AND it adds the occassional comic relief.)

 

[Thunderfoot]

"Trombone" would be an EASY change-of-pace for our group!

We have a Dwarven(!) bard who plays multiple instruments, including the recorder, the spoons, the triangle and the bagpipe!

And he alwasy seems to have the appropriate sounds cued up on his laptop.

Realistic?
No.
But he seems to enjoy it, and he RP's it well, so the group is fine with it. (AND it adds the occassional comic relief.)

Actually, as I posted in #23 - that is probably VERY realistic. The trombone is too fragile, the other items you have mentioned are not. The recorder (and other whistles) has been a travel instrument for millenea, spoons are commonly made and easily replaceable as well as portable, the triangle is a bent iron rod, and the Highland regiments of the British Army have been carrying bagpipes into battle since the 1500s (the highlanders themselves, long before that).

As for the personality, bards are bards -as a IRL performer (or at least I was), while I have the tools of my trade in my hands, I AM the center of attention, I AM the spotlight (and I'm a drummer). The challenge is not what the bard while he/she is being abard, the conunmdrum is, what is the bard when hs/she is himself/herself; oft times, that person is introverted and completely unsure of themselves, they hide that with being overt.

There is a saying - 'moody musician' - let your mind wrap around that for awhile and go from there. Hope that helps.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

Will he be named Chuck Gnomegione?

DS

 

[rgard]

Will he be named Chuck Gnomegione?

DS

We're talking low brass here, not bugle dudes.

Gnome Miller or Gnomey Dorsey would be better fits.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In an environment where elves are running around in mithral chainmail shirts, you'd think there would be sturdy metals available for forging instruments (or even an enamel treatment) that would still provide an attractive resonance.

Not to mention that bards can do magic and the one race that's got bard as its favored class are good alchemists.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

They make kazoos that look like trombones. Issue resolved!

Meet Twink Humperdinck, Gnome Bard 10, Perform (slide kazoo) +15!