Bard Instruments

[C. Joshua Villines]

One of the members of the BioWare team was kind enough to e-chat with me
about Bard instruments. My suggestion to him was that something be inserted
into the manual/game that explained that the Mistress of the Bard's Guild
had decreed a time of mourning for a murdered Master Instrument-Maker, and
that no bard could use an instrument until the murderer was found (which
would not be until the expansion pack).

He explained to me that he ranked Bards' use of different instruments with
eating and going to the bathroom. He felt like it detracted from actual
gameplay.

I don't think that is how most of their customer's feel, so I wanted to take
a poll. What do y'all think? Are Bards' Instruments important?

Joshua

[XmolotovX]

No... not really...

[Mike Robilotti]

Yes and no.  Your average mundane bard's instrument itself has little effect on gameplay (unless it's an enchanted instrument, but I'll get to that...).  The bard uses his instrument to help him achieve a desired effect (ex. the ability of a bard to inspire and rally allies, or the ability to counter the effect of songs and poetry used as magical attacks), but the actual instrument is mundane.  On the other hand I think that instruments like the Lyre of Building greatly affect gameplay, and should be included as a possible treasure item, because the instrument itself is producing an effect; the bard is there to play the right chord.

M

Vladimir Salgado wrote:

Instruments for Bards are like holy items for clerics, speelbooks for Mages,
tool picks for Thieves, companions for Rangers, and holy swords for
Paladins.

The Prophet

 

[Vladimir Salgado]

[Valakar]

I certainly think A Bards Instruments are VERY important, IMO. When a Bard
casts a spell he/she replaces the material component of the spell with
something bardlike. This could depend on the Bard. Some bards might recite
poetry, others might sing, while others (Most others I would expect) would
replace these components with music. While I hope that BGate doesn't make
mages count out there rose petals, spiders, and bat guano, but it would add
to the bard class if this was some how incorporated. I'm sure that if it
isn't there now it wont be. Then again that's not really the point. Part of
being a bard is the method in which the he/she entertains. Kind of like
part of being a thief is the method in which he/she pilfers (pick pocketing,
Highway robbery.....). Any way. I could go on and on, so I'll stop ranting
now.

Cheers
Valakar

C. Joshua Villines wrote in message <6p36n9$mu6$1...@camel15.mindspring.com>...

[Valakar]

I agree with the both of you.  Even though the Item is Mundane, it is important.  Spell Books don't need to be mentioned.  It is pretty much taken for granted that the mage has it.  But think  what would happen to the mage that lost his spellbook, the thief that lost his lockpicks, or the cleric who misplaced his holy item.  They are a sorry bunch of heroes without these items.  It is the same with a bards Instrument, mundane or not.

 

Cheers

Mike Robilotti wrote in message <35B549D0...@erols.com>...

Yes and no.  Your average mundane bard's instrument itself has little effect on gameplay (unless it's an enchanted instrument, but I'll get to that...).  The bard uses his instrument to help him achieve a desired effect (ex. the ability of a bard to inspire and rally allies, or the ability to counter the effect of songs and poetry used as magical attacks), but the actual instrument is mundane.  On the other hand I think that instruments like the Lyre of Building greatly affect gameplay, and should be included as a possible treasure item, because the instrument itself is producing an effect; the bard is there to play the right chord.

M

[Curtis C. Hooper]

Despite the multitude of grievances one could have with Ultima Online, I
thought their implementation of Bard skills was very slick--you have nearly
magical abilities (luring people/creatures to you, stopping fights, causing
one creature to fight something else) that are subtle enough to not be
abused without a point system, yet requiring high skill levels to be
reliable.

And, of course, the primordeal "Bard's Tale" series had excellent bard
ability implementation via the various "songs" they could play (providing
healing or light, etc.).

So, unless bards in Baulder's Gate are going to have musical abilities that
have combat usage or social/puzzle-solving help,
mundane instruments would be, as we say, "dirt in the game".

Of course, I'd like bard-only magical musical instruments (as in the pencil
& paper AD&D).

From what it seems so far, most of the bard's reaction adjustments, song and
anti-song abilities will be nixed. Although I don't see why they couldn't
have a continuous reaction bonus (cumulative with charisma) in effect when
you're trying to sweet-talk someone--or why they couldn't give everyone a
little +1 to hit automatically in the first coulple rounds of combat. But
who knows?

In order to compensate for ditching these abilities, they are toying with
the idea of allowing bards to cast spells whilst wearing armor. That
woulnd't be a bad exchange.

-ch-

In Reply to:
_____________________________________________________________

[Curtis C. Hooper]

[Nostromo]

>From what it seems so far, most of the bard's reaction adjustments, song and
>anti-song abilities will be nixed. Although I don't see why they couldn't
>have a continuous reaction bonus (cumulative with charisma) in effect when
>you're trying to sweet-talk someone--or why they couldn't give everyone a
>little +1 to hit automatically in the first coulple rounds of combat. But
>who knows?
>
>In order to compensate for ditching these abilities, they are toying with
>the idea of allowing bards to cast spells whilst wearing armor. That
>woulnd't be a bad exchange.
>
>-ch-

That would be a terrible exchange, IMNSHO. A Bard's instruments & music
almost *define* him/her. Without them he's just a jack-of-all-trades,
master of none, a glorified 2nd-hand mage/thief, which is NOT what a well
roleplayed bard is about. Sorry Ray (Bioware), but if you can't do it
properly, I'd leave the Bard out altogether. I mean, if you can do
something as esoteric as a Druid's shapechanging, then why not some great
midis of medieval music to go with simple rendering of a bard
singing/playing? Oh, I forget - you're the one's who *can* include a
multitude of mage/cleric spell effects, but can't add in *simple*
two-handed weapon styles. *duck & ruuuuuuuuunnnnn* :-p >-)))

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[pspu...@mindspring.com]

The Bard's instruments are critical. Period!