The term swashbuckling comes from the practice of banging on your shield with your weapon or gauntlet.
This was an attempt to intimidate your opponent.
Can a bard count this as playing an instrument for the purpose of replacing material, somatic and verbal components?
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No.
LOL!
Can you elaborate?
What is it missing?
It takes two hands, more than the minimum of one.
Could I use a maraca or skull full of stones in one hand, with a buckler strapped to that arm?
LOL!
Can you elaborate?
What is it missing?
It takes two hands, more than the minimum of one.
Could I use a maraca or skull full of stones in one hand, with a buckler strapped to that arm?
A buckler isn't really an instrument per se. It might be part of an Intimidate check, and if the target were the kind to react to it I may or may not grant a small bonus, but unless your buckler is made by the Zildjians it's probably not going to be as musical as the game requires. And if the maracas are in your shield hand you're on the hook if that's the last action of the round, as no shieldraise for you.
That said, I now wonder something else: if you're doing this to replace somatic or material components, you still need to spend the actions required, right? You can't say a one-action riff substitutes for a somatic gesture and material fluffery, I assume.
So, what does qualify as an instrument?
Could one craft a hollow club full of teeth?
Is there an approved list?
I'm trying for a hobgoblin bard and I would like the instrument to be warlike.
Even a stave used like they do in the Stomp Broadway show might be good.
I'm not sure.
For a hobgoblin, use drums or trumpets. Standard military instruments that can be heard a long way away through the din of battle.
I like drum,maybe I'll use a sap to represent a "soft" headed mallet.
Should be able to hang it at my side, play it with one hand.
As far as being an exploit, I like to think my characters are smart and dedicated to survival and success, so yeah, they will do things that make them more effective.
Of course a bardic race with no charisma bonus is just pure cheese, right?
I like drum,maybe I'll use a sap to represent a "soft" headed mallet.
Should be able to hang it at my side, play it with one hand.As far as being an exploit, I like to think my characters are smart and dedicated to survival and success, so yeah, they will do things that make them more effective.
Of course a bardic race with no charisma bonus is just pure cheese, right?
Every race can have a charisma bonus with free boosts. If you were supposed to use instruments and weapons as the same thing, Paizo would have published a way to do it explicitly. (I'm hoping they actually do eventually.)
But also, you only need an instrument if you're casting material component spells, and most are just somatic and verbal. Remember, you can use somatic actions while both hands are occupied or wielding actions.