Song of Command & instruments

[restlessgriffin]

Originally Posted by Dalin

At our table we've always ruled that bards with wind instruments can play with brief pauses to sing commands. We interpret the "without interruption" to mean that the bard is engaged in the musical casting with their full attention.

OK, I'll go with that as it's the only way to explain using Song of Command with an instrument such as a whistle, flute, or horn.

[sjmdw45]

Originally Posted by restlessgriffin

OK, I'll go with that as it's the only way to explain using Song of Command with an instrument such as a whistle, flute, or horn.

I just want to note that even then, what Jag claims to be able to do is impossible: control people without speaking, only musical notes.

[restlessgriffin]

Originally Posted by sjmdw45

I just want to note that even then, what Jag claims to be able to do is impossible: control people without speaking, only musical notes.

"Poetic license", he mostly plays a few notes for Concentration, then sings the command to continue the song, resumes with playing the further Concentration in musical notes and sings any further commands. He avoids the alerting "everyone nearby with incantations and gestures".

Admittedly anyone watching his "performance" and paying attention to the words is tipped off. Far from ideal.

One thing I wonder, can Bards suffice only using song and no instrument? If so why bother with the instrument? Extra weight, bulk, and more points spent.

Honestly, once I start really tinkering with the rules (for now I want to stick close to RAW), I thing the must speak command in language understood by listeners/target will be one of my first changes. Why bother with the instrument.

I really ope we'll see power ups for Bard sometime down the road.. I'd love to see something like Song of Healing (to buff healing capabilities), Sonic Blast (usable only with wind instruments, dmg by sound ), etc.

[sjmdw45]

Originally Posted by restlessgriffin

"Poetic license", he mostly plays a few notes for Concentration, then sings the command to continue the song, resumes with playing the further Concentration in musical notes and sings any further commands. He avoids the alerting "everyone nearby with incantations and gestures"...

One thing I wonder, can Bards suffice only using song and no instrument?

Yes, they can just sing: Adventurers pg 18 says "Bard-Song abilities require you to sing or play a musical
instrument at skill 14+." Like you, I assume this is what Jag _actually_ does: sings AND plays.

Note that a wizard with Charm-20 is even less conspicuous: no incantations, no gestures, no music, not necessarily even any verbal orders (e.g. could use flash cards to give orders more subtly, or rely on the default "protect me" proclivity). But yeah, Charm costs a lot of FP especially if maintained for more than a minute. Bard Song is clearly better in some ways.

A bard would be a ton of fun as a secret agent on a James Bond-type solo adventure.