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I'm a little confused about how the Skald's Inspired Rage song works for allies. In particular, I'm concerned that by RAW the allies might lose the benefits of the song in between turns. The rules say:
"If a raging song affects allies, when the skald begins a raging song and at the start of each ally's turn in which they can hear the raging song, the skald's allies must decide whether to accept or refuse its effects. This is not an action. Unconscious allies automatically accept the song. If accepted, the raging song's effects last for that ally's turn or until the song ends, whichever comes first."
It seems like this might mean an ally drops out of rage when his turn ends. That would be kind of disappointing since you wouldn't get bonuses on AoOs. It could also be dangerous if the bonus hit points suddenly disappear. Even worse, it would make a lot of the Rage Powers a Skald could grant to allies kind of useless. For instance, Beast Totem's natural armor bonus would be a nice buff, but it wouldn't help much if it only applies during the ally's turn, not outside of his turn when enemies are actually attacking him.
Am I reading this rule too strictly RAW and missing the RAI, or is this stuff all intentional? Have there been any rulings or developer comments on this? I tried a few searches, but I couldn't come up with anything.
I came here to ask this exact question, so why not just bump this instead of making my own topic.
I came here to ask the same question. Here's my thinking.
How often have you been attacked (physically or magically) DURING your turn? It can happen, but how often?
Inspired Rage (Su) At 1st level, affected allies gain a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration. At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the song's bonuses on Will saves increase by 1; the penalty to AC doesn't change. At 8th and 16th levels, the song's bonuses to Strength and Constitution increase by 2. (Unlike the barbarian's rage ability, those affected are not fatigued after the song ends.)
I ask because Inspired Rage gives you a bonus to your will save and a penalty to your AC, as well as an increase to your con. If raging song ONLY affected you on your turn, then those modifiers would be VERY situational. Basically, you have a penalty to your AC against any AoO you trigger on your action, and a bonus to your will & fort saves for anything that you might get to save against during your turn (like a second chance to remove a charm or something). I could see it argued that someone holding their action until you act doesn't make it your turn during that time, so you wouldn't even get those bonuses/penalties then.
So, what it mainly boils down to, Inspired Rage as written gives you a bonus to str & con, a bonus to will saves if you have to make a save during your turn, and a penalty to AC for AoO you provoke during your turn. The increase to con could help with any fort save you have to make during your turn and may make you able to act if you would be below 0 HP before your turn started, but otherwise wouldn't have much of an affect (not counting the orc witch archetype). I guess you could fight off starvation during your turn... but not during the rest of the round. Suffocation, maybe?
I'm 99% positive that it's supposed to be until the beginning of your next turn, but I wanted to see what other people thought.
I think we'd all like to believe that the effects of the song last until your next turn. That's not quite what the rules say though, so I figured it would be good to check.
For what it's worth I'm currently playing my Skald cohort as if raging song lasts the entire round. If it turns out that's wrong then Beast Totem could end up being a pretty disappointing Rage Power though the rage disappearing at the end of the round would leave my Viking with the same AC outside his turn either way (no -2 vs getting both a -2 and a +2)
Considered that way this just barely makes a difference for my PC, but I'd like to know the answer either way.
Bumping this thread. Was there ever an answer to this?
guess not
The ACG was jam packed with bad editing. The intention should be clear by context that it lasts until the target’s next turn, or until the song ends. I guess if your GM wants to be difficult about something like this, they’re probably going to be difficult about a lot of stuff, so consider your choices.