1. The section on bardic masterpieces does not mention how one might be disrupted or stopped.
2. If bardic masterpieces are really bardic performance (which is a whole 'nother can of worms), then we rely on the CRB for how to disrupt them.
Core Rulebook wrote:
Bardic Performance: [...] A bardic performance cannot be disrupted, but it ends immediately if the bard is killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain it each round. [...]
Nowhere in that list does it say 'grappled'. But I'll throw in the text of the grappled condition.
Core Rulebook wrote:
Grappled: A grappled creature is restrained by a creature, trap, or effect. Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler's CMB + spell level), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
Further, I'll throw in a somewhat notorious James Jacobs quote. Just to show it's not phony: link to the quote
James Jacobs wrote:
Okay; I've been thinking this over and rephrased myself better on a similar thread... but basically, here's the trick.
Bardic performance does NOT require you to use a Perform skill that you have ranks in. It doesn't even need a Perform skill at all. Not only is Perform usable untrained, but the bardic performance ability does not require you to make Perform checks of any kind except for a few specific TYPES of bardic performance, such as countersong or distraction.
This means that when you inspire courage, you're not necessarily doing so by playing the flute or banging drums. It's more likely that you're singing or bragging or taunting or dancing or otherwise just showboating to raise your allies' morale. If you WANT to say that your bardic performance is from a particularly rousing violin solo, that's fine... but once it's started you don't have to keep playing the violin if you want to put the violin down and fight or spellcast or whatever because the actual Perform (strings) skill doesn't ever enter the picture.
So, it looks like you can maintain a bardic performance while grappled.
Now, here's the text to a few bardic masterpieces from Blood of Angels
Blood of Angels wrote:
symphony of the Elysian heart: The complex arpeggios in this piece follow each other so quickly that the music can sound jumbled and disjointed at first. As the piece progresses, however, distinct phrases emerge, creating a wild but harmonious piece that inspires feelings of unfettered freedom. You and up to one ally per bard level within 30 feet who can hear you can move and attack normally for the duration of your performance, even if under the influence of magic that usually impedes movement. This effect is identical to that of freedom of movement, except that this masterpiece does not allow subjects to move and attack normally while underwater unless these creatures would already be able to do so, and only lasts as long as you continue the performance.
pallavi of Nirvana's blossoming: You begin your dance slowly, focusing on exact posture, the position of your limbs, even the direction of your gaze, then build to a blur of motion. Upon completing the performance, you summon a fixed aura of divine sunlight that glows in a 100-foot-radius circle centered on you.
The divine sunlight acts as true daylight and affects creatures damaged or destroyed by such light. The light is as bright as sunlight at full noon and counters or dispels any darkness spells of 4th level or lower. If the dance is performed in an area of more powerful magical darkness, both the divine sunlight and darkness are temporarily negated so that otherwise prevailing light conditions exist in the overlapping areas of effect.
Within the area of the sunlight, plants grow and blossom rapidly, becoming a overgrown tangle. This effect mimics the overgrowth version of plant growth. You and one ally per three bard levels are immune to the movement-impairing effects of the overgrowth. The divine sunlight and all its associated effects last for 1 minute per bard level you possess.
Now let's posit that you're a bard and you know these two masterpieces. Further, let's suppose that a vampire is grappling you right now. What can you do?
Q1: The symphony of the Elysian heart takes a full-round action of either blowing on a flute or playing a concertina to start (probably). If you're being grappled by a vampire, can you start or complete the full-round action, or not?
Q2: Again with the symphony: say that you're now just maintaining it using a free action. If a vampire is grappling you, can you just walk out of the grapple as a standard action (per freedom of movement), or is your masterpiece disrupted by the grapple?
Q3: On to the pallavi of Nirvana's blossoming. If you're in the middle of the 3 full rounds it takes to create the effect, can a grappling vampire disrupt you? The difference here is that it's a dance (compared to the symphony's instruments). Do you need two hands to dance?
The pallavi seems like it would be incredibly effective against a vampire, grappling you or not. However,
Ultimate Magic wrote:
Bardic Masterpieces: [...] This brief description summarizes what occurs when a bard performs the masterpiece. Unless otherwise stated, a masterpiece's effects are supernatural. Unwilling creatures may attempt a Will save against the effect of a masterpiece; the save DC for masterpieces is equal to 10 + 1/2 the bard's level + the bard's Charisma bonus. Masterpieces that duplicate spells use the bard's caster level for the spell's caster level. [...]
Q4: Can a vampire make a Will saving throw against either the pallavi's overgrown plants (even though regular plant growth offers no save) or its superior sunshine?
