Hi everybody: a Bard can start, as per the Core Rulebook, a Bardic Performance as a standard action, and can mantain each round as a free action. In my group, the gnome bard plays her harp to start a Bardic Performance: to mantain each round, even as a free action, does she have to keep on playing, having this way both her hands busy? If so, what kind of standard action could she do? Could she just effect movement actions?
Many thanks!
V.
Does the character have other perform skills such as Oratory or Singing or Dancing? This would allow performing without hands and dancing is a lot quieter than instruments/singing.
Bards that are designed to be effective in combat rather than implement a concept tend to use Oratory, Singing and Dancing. That leaves them two hands to do things during the rest of their turn.
She could certainly cast a spell with no somatic or material components. Since it is only a free action to continue, it is reasonable (although probably a GM ruling) to say she can briefly stop playing, hold the harp in one hand and cast spells or use a one-handed weapon. Figuring how a harp strap would let her use both hands is possible but more likely to meet a GM veto.
She could also do things like Intimidate to demoralize, although that might not fit her character.
For the record, you don't even need your hands to start any performance. It takes a standard action to start the performance, a free action to continue the performance. Nowhere in the description of bardic performance does it say anything about needing have your hands free or even use an instrument to start or continue a performance.
Most bardic performances are not linked to your ranks in perform, so you are free to do whatever you want to perform. For example, Inspire Courage is not actually linked to any perform skills, thus you you have 7 ranks in Perform(Strings) and no other perform skills, and you could Inspire Courage with Singing, Dancing, or Comedy just as well as you can do it by playing a harp.
Thus, it really doesn't matter what perform you choose on a bard. The only real advantage of choosing to use an instrument is that you can get the +2 masterwork tool bonus on your perform checks, but nothing in the rules says you actually have to use your instrument when doing bardic performances in combat.
For the record, you don't even need your hands to start any performance. It takes a standard action to start the performance, a free action to continue the performance. Nowhere in the description of bardic performance does it say anything about needing have your hands free or even use an instrument to start or continue a performance.
Most bardic performances are not linked to your ranks in perform, so you are free to do whatever you want to perform. For example, Inspire Courage is not actually linked to any perform skills, thus you you have 7 ranks in Perform(Strings) and no other perform skills, and you could Inspire Courage with Singing, Dancing, or Comedy just as well as you can do it by playing a harp.
Thus, it really doesn't matter what perform you choose on a bard. The only real advantage of choosing to use an instrument is that you can get the +2 masterwork tool bonus on your perform checks.
+1 - what he said!
You don't even need ranks in perform any more.