Ok the text says the following:
"Starting a bardic performance effect is a standard action.
Some bardic performance abilities require concentration,
which means the bard must take a standard action each
round to maintain the ability. Even while using a bardic
performance ability that doesn’t require concentration,
a bard cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell
completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by
magic word (such as wands). Bardic performance has
specific limitations, depending on the type of Perform
skill used to activate it. Bardic performance activated with
Perform (act) or Perform (dance) requires line of sight to
the targets of its effects and does not affect blind creatures.
Bardic performance activated with Perform (comedy) and
Perform (oratory) requires the targets to be able to hear the
bard, and such effects are language dependent (although
the bard can activate magic items that require a magic
word, such as wands, while using these types of Perform to
activate bardic performance). Bardic performance activated
using any other type of Perform only requires the targets to
be able to hear the bard. These requirements are in addition
to those listed with each bardic performance ability."
This seems to say that while using Bardic performance that the Bard "cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), or activate magic items by magic word (such as wands)", well it actually does say that. Then it says "Bardic performance activated with Perform (act) or Perform (dance) requires line of sight to the targets of its effects and does not affect blind creatures. Bardic performance activated with Perform (comedy) and Perform (oratory) requires the targets to be able to hear the bard, and such effects are language dependent (although the bard can activate magic items that require a magic word, such as wands, while using these types of Perform to activate bardic performance)."
Um is it just me or is the text contradicting itself here? Am I misreading something, I am talking about the parts concerning the activation of magic items that require a magic word specifically. Just a little confused about this.
Charles
I read that as "You can't use a magic wand or a scroll while using Bardic Performnce, EXCEPT for Comedy and Oratory. Because Comedy and Oratory are spoken, you are able to use magic-word-activated items such as wands."
I read that as "You can't use a magic wand or a scroll while using Bardic Performnce, EXCEPT for Comedy and Oratory. Because Comedy and Oratory are spoken, you are able to use magic-word-activated items such as wands."
Yes. It's effectively saying "The disadvantage of using oratory/comedy is that it's language-dependent, but the advantage is that you can still use wands and stuff."
Yes. It's effectively saying "The disadvantage of using oratory/comedy is that it's language-dependent, but the advantage is that you can still use wands and stuff."I read that as "You can't use a magic wand or a scroll while using Bardic Performnce, EXCEPT for Comedy and Oratory. Because Comedy and Oratory are spoken, you are able to use magic-word-activated items such as wands."
Ok that was one of my possible interpretations for that section. I will have to say that I am quite impressed with what Paizo has done with the bard, they have come further than anyone else I have seen at "un-sucking" the bard (considering that past consensus was mostly that bards suck). I think I would consider playing one now.
Charles
Yes. It's effectively saying "The disadvantage of using oratory/comedy is that it's language-dependent, but the advantage is that you can still use wands and stuff."I read that as "You can't use a magic wand or a scroll while using Bardic Performnce, EXCEPT for Comedy and Oratory. Because Comedy and Oratory are spoken, you are able to use magic-word-activated items such as wands."
Ok that was one of my possible interpretations for that section. I will have to say that I am quite impressed with what Paizo has done with the bard, they have come further than anyone else I have seen at "un-sucking" the bard (considering that past consensus was mostly that bards suck). I think I would consider playing one now.
Charles
I always liked the Bard. They had their thing which was more unique then most other classes. Because of that they were more fun. It is not all about dealing xxx amount of damage or killing with one spell.
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Didn't want to start a new thread, so I figured this one would be appropriate...
Is there no save for the Bard's Dirge of Doom bardic performance? If not, doesn't it seem overpowered that you can automatically make enemies shaken and -2 to attack, damage, etc. for at least 4 rounds? Especially considering it would be easy to stack on another shaken condition (possibly from another Bard's Dirge of Doom?), thus making them frightened. Comments?
Is there no save for the Bard's Dirge of Doom bardic performance? If not, doesn't it seem overpowered that you can automatically make enemies shaken and -2 to attack, damage, etc. for at least 4 rounds? Especially considering it would be easy to stack on another shaken condition (possibly from another Bard's Dirge of Doom?), thus making them frightened. Comments?
A player in one of my groups asked me exactly the same question; I came up with a solution (of course, homebrewed...) saying that Dirge of Doom cannot affect a creature who is already shaken (some spells and abilities in later splatbooks work in this same way, I believe... cannot find where I came up to this situation, though). Of course, if a Bard uses Dirge of Doom AND a Cleric later casts Doom, now that would be nasty indeed...