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Keep in mind, a Bard that takes Perform (keyboard) isn't actually playing a keyboard when he uses Versatile Performance or Bardic Performance. Neither is the Bard singing, dancing, using a wind instrument, playing a guitar etc. for Versatile or Bardic Performance.
All it means is your Bard is good at playing the keyboard (like a piano, or possibly xylophone).
Where is that stated? I was always under the impression that a Bard was indeed performing, hence the limited cross over choices that can be related/substituted, to use those skills. He dances nimbly to perform acrobatics, his inspiring oration handles diplomatic situations, like the pied piper his flute leads the animals, etc.
Where is that stated? I was always under the impression that a Bard was indeed performing, hence the limited cross over choices that can be related/substituted, to use those skills. He dances nimbly to perform acrobatics, his inspiring oration handles diplomatic situations, like the pied piper his flute leads the animals, etc.Keep in mind, a Bard that takes Perform (keyboard) isn't actually playing a keyboard when he uses Versatile Performance or Bardic Performance. Neither is the Bard singing, dancing, using a wind instrument, playing a guitar etc. for Versatile or Bardic Performance.
All it means is your Bard is good at playing the keyboard (like a piano, or possibly xylophone).
Well, for one the Bard is kind of the 'baby child' of James Jacobs and he's stated on numerous occasions that you aren't actually playing your instrument or giving a speech for Versatile/Bardic Performance because that would mean that many of the performances would either never be taken, or be impossible to use. For example, if you had to play a guitar to use your bardic performance, that means you can't fight anyone as both of your hands are occupied playing the guitar.
Think about the ridiculousness involved if you selected Keyboard for Versatile Performance and every time you made a Diplomacy check you had to whip out your grand piano and then go all Beethoven and 'negotiate with the power of music'.
Also, if you read Versatile Performance, you'll note it never once says make a Performance Check, it just says substitute your Performance bonus.
At 2nd level, a bard can choose one type of Perform skill. He can use his bonus in that skill in place of his bonus in associated skills. When substituting in this way, the bard uses his total Perform skill bonus, including class skill bonus, in place of its associated skill's bonus, whether or not he has ranks in that skill or if it is a class skill. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the bard can select an additional type of Perform to substitute.
The types of Perform and their associated skills are: Act (Bluff, Disguise), Comedy (Bluff, Intimidate), Dance (Acrobatics, Fly), Keyboard Instruments (Diplomacy, Intimidate), Oratory (Diplomacy, Sense Motive), Percussion (Handle Animal, Intimidate), Sing (Bluff, Sense Motive), String (Bluff, Diplomacy), and Wind (Diplomacy, Handle Animal).
And as for Bardic Perfromance, that is slightly different. While it mentions being trained in the perform skill, the reality is the Bard ins only required to be make some sort of audible or visual component, many require both. For example, if you were required to play your instrument (or whatever Perform skill you chose) and you didn't select one of the non-audible perform skills, there are many bardic performances you simply can't use. Distraction, for instance, requires visible components; if the person you're distracting can't see you, then they can't be distracted.
Soothing Performance requires both audible and visual performance, meaning you would have to do some sort of song and dance in order to use it.
What it really amounts to is the Bard must make noise and must be visible in order to use his bardic performance. Now you can flavor this however you wish (my party is fond of using the phrase, "I start humming" to indicate BP), but you aren't required to be playing an instrument to use Bardic Performance.
[Dot] Thanks for a very inventive guide.[Dot]
This is slightly out of theme... and it seems a little naïve too but...
how do you play a keyboard bard? Do you appear a piano with that cantrip than I don't remember it's name?
This is because I am DMing a bard and the piano is very umpopular for him...
Some keyboard instruments are quite portable: technically, the accordion is a keyboard instrument. (Some might argue that it's a wind instrument, but by that definition, a piano is a string instrument!) There's also the kalimba or thumb piano, which is incredibly portable.
Maybe it's possible to make a melee flagbearer...
1)Impervious, countering and dueling magical weapons can help.
2) The elf favoured class bonus can help too.
I'm playing a mounted summoner right now but my next character will be a melee flagbearer. Maybe it will be a fiasco or a success but I want to prove that build... only as an intellectual challenge.
My first attempts seem cool... like a +3 to hit at first level. The main problem is my enemies not sundering or disarming my longspear.
My strategy could be to hit spellcasters and avoid strong guys and assuming a more pasive role against BBEG.
Would make sense to figure out a way for the flag bearer to function something like the Japanese nobori or Sashimono, this way it could be mounted in the character's back, visible to everyone and still allow the bearer to fight fully.
It would be very cool but Banner of the Ancient Kings must be "firmly wielded" in two hands, sadly. :-(
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I know it's nearly 2018 and all, but I have some items that might be awesome for buffer Bards:
Dervish Sikke.
Banner of the Scarlet Rose
Banner of the Scarlet Rose might be a little difficult because it requires one hand to be firmly holding it. Aside from that, you need to be a woman. It should stack with your Dervish Sikke and (Grand) Master Performer feats.