Bard: Difference between revisions
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Note that you can, if you wish, declare you are a martially-oriented Bard and use a Sword and Shield (for example) as your instrument, and this is perfectly legitimate! However, this has the major caveat that when you are using your sword and shield as your Bardic instrument to maintain a Stance, you CANNOT also use it as a weapon and shield, with the single exception of the "Song of Steel" Bardic Performance. | Note that you can, if you wish, declare you are a martially-oriented Bard and use a Sword and Shield (for example) as your instrument, and this is perfectly legitimate! However, this has the major caveat that when you are using your sword and shield as your Bardic instrument to maintain a Stance, you CANNOT also use it as a weapon and shield, with the single exception of the "Song of Steel" Bardic Performance. | ||
In addition to allowing the use of their Performance skill to enter a Performance Stance, a Bard's Instrument can, optionally, be enchanted to act as a light shield. This has the advantage that they can gain a shield bonus without having to put their Instrument away, and vice versa. In such cases, the Instrument can only be used for one function at a time, much as a | In addition to allowing the use of their Performance skill to enter a Performance Stance, a Bard's Instrument can, optionally, be enchanted to act as a light shield. This has the advantage that they can gain a shield bonus without having to put their Instrument away, and vice versa. In such cases, the Instrument can only be used for one function at a time, much as a Shield with Shield Spikes: IE, if you are using it with one hand defensively as a shield, you may not wield it with both hands as an Instrument to Perform. | ||
Magic bard instruments are a subset of magical shields which follow modified rules for their construction. Like normal shields, Bard instruments may have one or more magic properties in addition to an enhancement bonus. Bardic Instruments may also be made with any | Magic bard instruments are a subset of magical shields which follow modified rules for their construction. Like normal shields, Bard instruments may have one or more magic properties in addition to an enhancement bonus. Bardic Instruments may also be made with any dweomermetal, with the caveat that the proprties of the dweaomermetal only apply in rounds when the Instrument is being used as a shield. | ||
The magic properties for a Bard Instrument being used as a shield may be chosen as for any other shield, following the same rules as magic shield properties for the number of properties which may be added (i.e. campaign limits must be followed as to the maximum amount of properties which are allowed). The cost to create a magic instrument is the same as the cost for a comparably enchanted magic shield (i.e. 300 gp for masterwork, plus the cost of the instrument itself, plus the cost for the absolute bonus of the total number of magic weapon properties being applied). | The magic properties for a Bard Instrument being used as a shield may be chosen as for any other shield, following the same rules as magic shield properties for the number of properties which may be added (i.e. campaign limits must be followed as to the maximum amount of properties which are allowed). The cost to create a magic instrument is the same as the cost for a comparably enchanted magic shield (i.e. 300 gp for masterwork, plus the cost of the instrument itself, plus the cost for the absolute bonus of the total number of magic weapon properties being applied). | ||