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If a bardic performance has audible components, the targets must be able to hear the bard for the performance to have any effect, and such performances are language dependent.
FAQing would be nice, since I think this is vestigial text from 3.5 when all bards used Sing.
Edits to appease Grick.
From the PRD:
"A language-dependent spell uses intelligible language as a medium for communication. If the target cannot understand or cannot hear what the caster of a language-dependant spell says, the spell fails."
So, essentially, by definition, it is not possible to use Inspire Courage without using intelligible language. You cannot just play a drum. There are words in there, there have to be, or it wouldn't be a language-dependent effect. Since we know it is a language dependent effect from the definition you quoted, then you can't do it non-verbally.
I do agree, however, that it's probably not intended to work that way.
My two cents: It's an overgeneralization, but I don't think it's particularly harmful.
I have a soft spot for the rules in the PFRPG Alpha playtest that went into slightly more detail (i.e. comedy and oratory were language-dependent but you could use magic items with command words while maintaining the performance, while act and dance were line-of-sight only).
Actually, the part that confuses me is where you have to make any particular kind of performance--beyond noting whether it is audible or visual--at all.
On one hand, we have this:
A bard is trained to use the Perform skill to create magical effects on those around him, including himself if desired. He can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 4 + his Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st a bard can use bardic performance for 2 additional rounds per day. Each round, the bard can produce any one of the types of bardic performance that he has mastered, as indicated by his level.
Correct me if I am wrong--but note, however, that the only bardic performances that actually require a Perform skill check are Distraction and Countersong.
The other performances do not require any kind of skill ranks or skill checks (in 3.5 you needed to have a certain number of ranks in Perform to use certain bardic performances, but that was eliminated in Pathfinder). So apart from the counterspellish performances, there is no explicit requirement as to what kind of performance you are making and how good you are at it.
Ergo, even if your ranks are in Perform (Drum) and not in Perform (Oratory), it seems you can recite the Gettysburg Address (or whatever) as your Inspire Courage attempt. Now, from a flavor/roleplaying perspective, you may not want to, and I get that. But you don't have to use the drums, if you don't want to violate the other rules as written.
Indeed, even if you had to use the Perform skill, Perform is untrained, so...
This is all a bit of a mess though, so it would be good if it were addressed in the FAQ.
My two cents: It's an overgeneralization, but I don't think it's particularly harmful.
I have a soft spot for the rules in the PFRPG Alpha playtest that went into slightly more detail (i.e. comedy and oratory were language-dependent but you could use magic items with command words while maintaining the performance, while act and dance were line-of-sight only).
Eww, not being able to perform and cast spells?
DeathQuaker: You do not need to use a perform skill to use any bardic performance other than Distraction and Countersong.
If you choose to inspire competence with a rousing drum beat, your ally needs to speak Drum to get any effect from it. That's the issue.
Drums don't have anything to do with it. You're just making a performance that relies on audible components.
A better example may be Countersong which relies on audible components and requires a Perform (keyboard, percussion, wind, string, or sing) skill check.
And what I'm saying is, why use the drums if the specific skill is not required?
Again, as I said above, if it's a roleplaying issue, I understand -- and I hit the FAQ button because I too would like an explanation that addresses that. I'm just noting that nothing mechanically is keeping you from using whatever type of performance that suits the Bardic Performance.
ETA: Ninjaed by Grick, who makes a very good point.
That's such a boring example though :(
If the thread was "Is countersong-ing with drums really a language dependent effect?" no one would show up, because who uses countersong?
If the thread was "Is countersong-ing with drums really a language dependent effect?" no one would show up, because who uses countersong?
It's also the only time you really run into this issue. The only time drums are relevant are when you're making a Perform (percussion) skill check. And the only time you do that with Bardic Performance is with Countersong.
The specific example is not nearly as important as the question about whether this is left-over text from previous versions (possibly beta or alpha) or an oversight.
This also affects a Sea Singer's Sea Shanty, an Animal Speaker's Soothing Performance and potentially future archetypes.
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I'm torn.
I mean RAW, yes, you have to speak, so no 'inspire rage' by using perform (mime) for example :P
On the other hand, I think that it shouldn't be an issue, since it makes sense. Heck I recall an experiment showing a lizard chasing and finally eating a bug. With light hearted music it was seen as comical, the lizard trying to catch its meal. With more dramatic music people started rooting for the bug to get away from the lizard.
From an optimizers PoV, would there be a time when wordless bardic music would be an advantage over the singing bard?
Animal Companions, allies that don't understand your language...
See, this is why I asked ;-)
IMC, the singing bard would be balanced by the instruments of the instrumental bard. Hands holding instruments, can't cast spells when channelling Chuck Mangione, etc.
FYI, the PF bard has none of the issues you mentioned there. The 3.5 had all of 'em, but not the PF bard.
It's a free action to maintain the bardic performances, and that is the magic of the ability keeping the song / whatever the hell you did to inspire going. It takes no effort from the bard other than the free action.
See the above posts for some clarification :)
Mechanics generally trump fluff. If there's a requirement that the Bard know the language, that's there to make what languages the Bard knows matter for the build, maybe requiring him to take ranks in linguistics, or making some creatures who only speak obscure languages immune. Change that, you change the limitations on the class, making it more powerfull, etc.
If you want to reconcile the fluff, you can rationalise it as different cultures have different music. Take for example how westerners generally don't get Japanese opera.
If the bard wants the music to speak the to listener's heart, they got to play the music of listener's culture (or of a culture they're fluent in, as respresented by they knowing the language). For the bard, that fluency of musical language goes with fluency in their spoken or written language.
Maybe the bard can play drums in Elven style good enough for elves and non-elves to recognise it, and even be entertained by it, that's no problem, but if they want to have it be effective enough to actually be a conduit for bardic magic, they got to know the elvish heart on a much more profound level, represented by being fluent in their language.
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See, this is why I asked ;-)
IMC, the singing bard would be balanced by the instruments of the instrumental bard. Hands holding instruments, can't cast spells when channelling Chuck Mangione, etc.
FYI, the PF bard has none of the issues you mentioned there. The 3.5 had all of 'em, but not the PF bard.
It's a free action to maintain the bardic performances, and that is the magic of the ability keeping the song / whatever the hell you did to inspire going. It takes no effort from the bard other than the free action.
See the above posts for some clarification :)
Thus the IMC. :-) In My Campaign, if you're instrumentally bypassing the language dependent aspect, then that takes effort/resources.