Are there any one handed instruments my Bard can use? Currently wielding a Whip and shield, was wondering if one handed instruments currently exist in Golarion?
And secondly, if not, what good is a two handed instrument yes you get the +1 item bonus to performance but is that it? So you can't attack you just stand there playing the drums for a turn? Then I imagine it's a nightmare switching back and fourth from drums or whatever back to the Whip. So does anyone even use instruments?
In Knights of Everflame the bard says 'I play my violin' as an action, and takes her next action, and the violin taking 2 hands to play never comes up. Unless there's some mechanic I haven't noticed. She may be only casting spells, I suppose. I've been thinking maybe a penny whistle on a cord around the neck, 1 hand to lift it and toot
Yeah, a one-handed flute or something similar could work. Hold it to your lips with one hand and keep the other free. A small drum could be on a belt across the chest or waist and then tapped with one hand.
As to why you would use a two-handed instrument, if you are a more magic focused bard then having your hands full with an instrument doesn't really impede you at all. Telekinetic projectile is a fairly nice cantrip that is at least as good as (if not better than) using a weapon, depending on your investment in Str and Dex.
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There is only one official 1 handed instrument in the game and it's magical: Horn of Blasting [+2 item bonus to your Performance check]. Other than that, the game assumes EVERY instrument is 2 handed. It's super odd as there are instruments specifically made one handed [like the tabor and tabor pipe, using one instrument per hand or castanets/clappers] and those that are easily adapted to one hand use [like an recorder or ocarina].