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Bards seem to cast spells like sorcerers - no daily prep, ability bonus affects the number of spell/day but not the number known, a limit number of spells known - rather than wizards - may know an unlimited number of spells but can only cast those she preps.
No prep is nice and goes with the idea of the bard having a repertoire of memorized songs to draw from, but I think the idea of a bard having a 'songbook' fits the archetype, too. What would be more bard-y than traveling around collecting new songs to add to ones songbook? Or is this just a bard with a bunch of scrolls? (But what a shame to use-and-burn that ancient ballad you just uncovered.)
As I picture it, bards are artists that are so gifted they can work magic with their art. They don't fully "get" how they do it, other than that they are talented at their performances.
If they had a formula that they followed to cast spells, then theoretically, a wizard could follow a similar formula, even if that formula might be more difficult for them. In other words, if bards used magical formulas, wizards should be able to figure out healing spells as a formula to be cast.
As it stands, bards just perform their art, and they can do what they do, and its not so much because they understand spells and the like, but because they are supernaturally gifted. At least as I've always understood it.
In a way, I have always pictured them as pretty much like a sorcerer, i.e. you can't just train anyone to be a bard, except that its not so much in their blood as much as it may be some muse or some other supernatural thing that "blesses" them to have a supernatural ability to perform.
But I could be way off base.
Bards seem to cast spells like sorcerers - no daily prep, ability bonus affects the number of spell/day but not the number known, a limit number of spells known - rather than wizards - may know an unlimited number of spells but can only cast those she preps.
No prep is nice and goes with the idea of the bard having a repertoire of memorized songs to draw from, but I think the idea of a bard having a 'songbook' fits the archetype, too. What would be more bard-y than traveling around collecting new songs to add to ones songbook? Or is this just a bard with a bunch of scrolls? (But what a shame to use-and-burn that ancient ballad you just uncovered.)
Funny, I never imagined the bard singing or playing while casting a spell, although it's probably how it is described in PHB...
I guess I'm just stuck to the fact that casting is a standard action, which at the most, leaves you 6 second to make out your song. That always seemed rather short to play a recognizable song or ballad, never mind a magical one...
If it is the case 'though, can a bard cast a spell with somatic component without an instrument?
The way i see it, bards can substitute the spell components with their performing skills :
Verbal : Acting, poetry, singing, storytelling...
Somatic : Dance, juggling, mime, weapon display...
Material : Accessories, musical instruments...
The bard can substitute one or more components, according to his/her specialty, talent, college or any variant he might use.
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The way i see it, bards can substitute the spell components with their performing skills :
Verbal : Acting, poetry, singing, storytelling...
Somatic : Dance, juggling, mime, weapon display...
Material : Accessories, musical instruments...
The bard can substitute one or more components, according to his/her specialty, talent, college or any variant he might use.
That's how I see it as well.
And I think that's how it should be written...
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The way i see it, bards can substitute the spell components with their performing skills :
Verbal : Acting, poetry, singing, storytelling...
Somatic : Dance, juggling, mime, weapon display...
Material : Accessories, musical instruments...
The bard can substitute one or more components, according to his/her specialty, talent, college or any variant he might use.That's how I see it as well.
And I think that's how it should be written...
However in that train of thought in some spells the Material Component is absorbed by the spells power. So then would you have a Bard walking around with multiple Lutes???
Also bards cannot use silent spell, all bardic magic requires a vocal component.