My favorite PC class – the bard – often is maligned because even in a fantasy game setting, the idea that a musician’s ability to perform could inspire others and generate other magical effects in the context of battle seems, to some, far-fetched.
[As opposed to the “realistic” ability of wizards to cast spells …. Er, I digress. ;-) ]
I love collecting stories about the important role martial music plays, and sharing them with my fellow players – anything to bolster my bard’s standing in a group of adventurers. These examples include fife and drummers in the Revolutionary War to modern-day tank crews who crank up their CDs while on the attack.
I’d lacked a really concrete example from a desert culture, until I read the article “Saudi Folk Music Alive and Well” by Kay Hardy Campbell in the March/April 2007 issue of Saudi Aramco World magazine.
Here’s an excerpt:
“…. Blending elegiac poetry with singing, drumming and majestically slow dance movements, the ‘ardah has become a symbol of traditional Saudi Arabian culture. While variations are also performed in other countries of the west- ern Arabian Gulf, experts point to the ‘ardah’s origins in the Arabian desert among the Bedouin.
It started out as a war dance used to get men ready for battle. “In the old days before the unification of the kingdom, the ‘ardah used to be called al-faza‘, or ‘fright.’ After unification, the dance became a dance of peace. It became known as al-‘ardah al-najdiyyah, since it is well known in Najd,” or central Saudi Arabia, explains Muhammad al-Maiman, president of the Committee for Heritage and Folk Arts at the Riyadh headquarters of the Saudi Society for Arts and Culture. …”
The entire article can be read here:
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200702/saudi.folk.music.alive.and.wel l.htm
So, to my fellow bards, I say “play on.”
I absolutely agree, the bard is so misconstrued. I love playing a bard, and it can often be the life of the game. Besides, a bard gives some of the best role playing opportunities and can be just as good at fights as others with the right Prestige classes...my bard just loves that violin of his. I however don't think it is very far fetched as some would think that music could be a powerful booster or produce some effects if done right(just make sure it's good music), has anyone ever gotten that boost of confidence after hearing a certain song, or ever felt better about something sad when they listen to some music. Infact, putting this all to modern day life would make some sense wouldn't it? Wizardry/arcane and alchemy is a lot like science, bardic powers being the music(duh...), and divine would be praying. Wow...sorry for going way off the topic, but hey, I'm new. Anyway, yeah, the bard is an awesome class and one of my personal favorites. Desert Bards, what a cool class that would make...Bardic Sand Gnomes, haha!
Sir Smashes Alot...smashing your problems to bits!
I am with you I think it is really sad that Bardic Music is derided as too "fantastic" in a game with spells. Thats just dumb. Especially in the face of experience with music and musicians in the real world, martial and other wise.
Tattooes, Bagpipes, Fifes, use of Taps and Revelry to signal troops of key timings.
Music that charms - think of groupies as charmed by music, the involuntary tapping of feet, as well as the effect music has on morale, even healing.
The effect of music in soundtracks to create mood and advance the story. The explicit use of music in movies, the Ride of the Valkyries in Apocolypse Now, and the soldiers in 300 marching the to the sound of a flute.
Add to that the power of music in folklore and the mockery of bards in a fantasy realm is even more close minded - most of the heroes from celtic folklore would most appropriately be described as bards, and would most of those from Finnish and Norwegian myth. The heroes of greek mythology where all students of music and music as a form of magic Orpheus, the sirens, are common.
And the Spartans the most fighterly of fighters valued skill in song second only to skill in combat.
Pity the bard bashers - a close minded, ill informed lot. For those who choose to play bards, revel in your skills, your magic, your abilty to heal and persuade as well as fight. Those of you who choose the bard stand with the heroes who inspired the game - Cuchulain, Vainamoinen, Aragorn (more bard than Ranger), Finn mac Cumail, and Orpheus to name but a few. Let those who choose the musclebound fighter, or the academic spell caster, wallow in their adolescanet fantasies and stereotypes devoid of imagination. Game proudly in the role of the cunning warrior, touched by magic and blessed with charm, and the power to inspire.
BTW - I work in Saudi and I have seen cultural displays of the Dance and song - it is interesting - in small doses.
Music was of course outright used in battle - imagine scottish pipers walking with their troops - the sound was meant to cause fear in the enemies, at the same time inspiring courage in the scottish fighters. Music has a strong and direct access to our emotions. There are countless examples for this: National anthems, "fan songs" in sport stadiums, music played at a wedding (or a funeral), or generally in church, music in movies etc. And, last but not least, music is used in RPGs - for what purpose? To set up a certain mood.
Of course, on a battlefield, your music won´t be heard if it isn´t loud - drums, bagpipes, horns. War fiddlers, harpists or lyrists are rather unusual, as this music just has not the volume needed over the din of a battlefield.
Stefan
The effect of music on the mind is incredible, really. Especially the already named example of Ride of the Valkyrie in Apocalypse Now... it gives me chills seeing that. The proper music gives more power to a scene then images can.
The proper music; although a personal thing; can greatly change ones confidence or mood. You should pay attention to people walking down the streets with headphones, you can almost see when the song skips to something they really like; their whole appearance can change because of it.
There's real power in music. In the beginning, bards weren't my thing. But he who fights without hearing music in his head, is doomed from the start. Power to the bard, and never underestimate the power of good music ;)
I agree wholeheartedly. I'm absolutely in love with my bard character's ability to hold her own in a battle, and should that not work, talk her way out of it. And she's an aasimar, who have always been near and dear to me.
I've encountered entire groups of players who think bards are useless and that saddens me to no end. Thankfully, I've also talked many a bard hater into 'seeing the light'.
Wow! How delightfully unexpected. A chorus of validation from fellow bard-lovers.
Thanks guys and gals! It's so good to know that bard is appreciated here.
Well Troy, I'm continuing the validation for bards. In my campaign I've given bards a preeminent position in the hierarchy of society. My PCs have a bard NPC ally named Yserone who is indispensable. Now that she is 10th-level and has taken a level of lyric thaumaturgist (a prestige class from Complete Mage) she is rocking their world.
I finds that derision of any PHB class is typically unfounded. All of them are potent and powerful, filling amazingly diverse archetypes. Bards are certainly an awesome class. To those who say "Bah!" just think about an orcish horde charging forward to the sound of the terrifying beat of the war drums, banging away faster and faster as they close in on the front line of dwarves. That wimpy "musician" may well mean the defeat of the stronghold!
Hooray for bards! (The Lords of the Boards already know I'm a huge fan, as if you can't tell from my icon.)
My favorite image is the one of William the Conqueror's minstrel marching into battle at Hastings, tossing his sword in the air and singing the Song of Roland. Read Tolkien--the great song the Rohirrim make about the Battle of the Pellenor Fields (with its metric echos of Beowulf); Luthien singing a song that puts Morgoth to sleep so she and Beren can cut the Silmaril from his crown; Maglor holding the burning Silmaril he has reclaimed to fulfill his oath, singing to keep the pain from overwhelming him; or the simple magic of song that keeps the hobbits going when the road is tough. Read the book of Psalms in the Bible. Think of Sufis or Dervishes, animated to bravery and mystical oneness with God by song, or of Japanese warrior poets who celebrate the poignancy of death in the service of lord and cause, or in the inevitability of duty.
Battle is all about morale, and song, music, and poetry help to sustain bravery and steadfastness of purpose in battle. Have you never been stirred to core of your hearts by an anthem? The Star Spangled Banner? Beethoven's Ode to Joy? A Mighty Fortress is Our God? A great rock anthem (pick your favorite 1970s band)? I say only stone golems and zombies are immune to the power of music!
Read Tolkien--the great song the Rohirrim make about the Battle of the Pellenor Fields (with its metric echos of Beowulf); Luthien singing a song that puts Morgoth to sleep so she and Beren can cut the Silmaril from his crown; Maglor holding the burning Silmaril he has reclaimed to fulfill his oath, singing to keep the pain from overwhelming him; or the simple magic of song that keeps the hobbits going when the road is tough.
I might be wrong here (fogive me Tolkien loremasters!), but didn't Eru create the world with music?
I might be wrong here (fogive me Tolkien loremasters!), but didn't Eru create the world with music?
Indeed, it was the song of creation. And evil came into that world the moment Melkot tried to deviate from the harmonies set forth by Eru, creating - disharmony.
Stefan
I love Bards not only do they lift people up with there music but they tell stories of there great and other peoples great deeds and greatness! I think Chinua Achebe’s says it the best though.....
It is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior. It is the story that outlives the sound of war-drums and the exploits of brave fighters. It is the story, not the others, that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it we are blind. Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story; rather it is the story that owns us and directs us. It is the thing that makes us different from cattle; it is the mark on the face that sets one people apart from their neighbors
Chinua Achebe’s
Indeed, it was the song of creation. And evil came into that world the moment Melkot tried to deviate from the harmonies set forth by Eru, creating - disharmony.
Stefan
Edited.
How could I forget the Ainulindale? *pinches self*
I think it was Melkor (aka Morgoth) that created the disharmonies, which, of course Eru cleverly turned back into musical beauty. Melkot is either a typo or a slip-up--it's the name of Denis Tetreault's Greyhawk campaign site. Stefan now qualifies as a first-rank Greyhawk geek ;)
And, I like the Chinua Achebe quote! I'm constantly amazed at how broadly read and intellectual people on this site are!
Melkot is either a typo or a slip-up--it's the name of Denis Tetreault's Greyhawk campaign site. Stefan now qualifies as a first-rank Greyhawk geek ;)
Ahem. You got me there, it is a slip-up. *whistles*
Well, now I had my coming out as a first-rank Greyhawk geek, it sure takes a load off of me :-)Stefan
Add to that the power of music in folklore and the mockery of bards in a fantasy realm is even more close minded - most of the heroes from celtic folklore would most appropriately be described as bards, and would most of those from Finnish and Norwegian myth.
Yeah, well, traditionally Finns viewed magic as that of words and music...magic is sung and everyone who weaves magic is a bit of bard. Add to this the idea that obscure knowledge equals power and it comes clear that Kalevala is one big all-bard campaign book (with couple of characters multiclassing to fighters or barbarians).
Wow, I've never heard anyone complain that bardic mechanics are unrealistic. All I ever hear is 'bards suck, whine, cry...'