Best and worst perform style for a bard

[Blue_frog]

Hello,

I was considering playing a bard for a new game, and I really liked the flavor of a mysterious wanderer playing the flute and mesmerizing its opponents with its music (a la Siren Sorrento, for those who like Saint Seiya).

And then, it occurred to me that not every performance is equal, and that there seems to be a huge imbalance between them.

Some performance don't need anything: Acting, Comedy, Dance, Oratory, Singing
Others do need an instrument AND have the manipulate trait: Playing any instrument.

So, basically:

I can choose to be a singer, in which case
- I can wield whatever I want in my hands (magic staff, rod, shield...)
- I can use performance even if I'm butt-naked (say, if I'm in jail, or just waking up)
- I can use performance in melee without provoking

OR
I can choose to play an instrument, in which case:
- Both hands are tied. No shield apart from a buckler, no staff
- If I lose my instrument, I'm screwed (yes, I'm aware there's a cantrip but that's a harsh price to pay)
- Manipulate makes me provoke in melee.

So what's the tradeoff ? How is this even remotely fair ? I'm ready to make some sacrifices for flavor, but this is pretty steep.

The only advantage I can see is that you can invest in a Maestro's Instrument to get an item bonus to performance, but Maestro's instrument is a very weak item by itself and you could be a dancer and get a scarf for the same result.

[Blave]

1. You can play an instrument with 1 hand.
2. Since the perform skill isn't tied to any specific performance, you can switch it up as needed. Worst case you lose a 2 bonus from Virtuosc performer.

[Blue_frog]

Blave wrote:

1. You can play an instrument with 1 hand.

Can you ? Where is it written ? Every instruments says "two hands" in the description.

If it were true, that would be better (though no hand is still better than one) ^^

[shroudb]

You need to use an instrument if you want to swap spell components as a bard:

Quote:

Because you're a bard, you can usually play an instrument for spells requiring somatic or material components, as long as it takes at least one of your hands to do so. If you use an instrument, you don't need a spell component pouch or another hand free. You can usually also play an instrument for spells requiring verbal components, instead of speaking.

So for this type of thing an instrument is better than the performances that do not use one.

And also the various magical/masterwork items for Performance are different for each type of performance. Usually getting a masterwork intrument for the +1 item bonus is easier/cheaper than getting a magical item that boosts the specific non-instrument performance you are doing.

[Kyrone]

Probably Dance because of dancing scarf, it's a lvl 3 item when most most of the skill items are lvl 4 and you have the option to be concealed for one action after performing and later with greater version even move half-speed or step while doing so.

[graystone]

Blue_frog wrote:

Blave wrote:

1. You can play an instrument with 1 hand.

Can you ? Where is it written ? Every instruments says "two hands" in the description.

If it were true, that would be better (though no hand is still better than one) ^^

Check out the Horn of Blasting.

Kyrone wrote:

Probably Dance because of dancing scarf, it's a lvl 3 item when most most of the skill items are lvl 4 and you have the option to be concealed for one action after performing and later with greater version even move half-speed or step while doing so.

LOL yep, you can have epic dance battles! Battle cries like 'you just got served!' between break dancing and moon walking. ;)

[PossibleCabbage]

The worst perform style is "organist" since those things are not very mobile.

[Old_Man_Robot]

The greatest bard in all of fiction, Kevin Bacon, used dance.

So I think that settles it.

PossibleCabbage wrote:

The worst perform style is "organist" since those things are not very mobile.

Someone has never played CastleCrashers!

[Captain Morgan]

To be clear, instrument casting is optional and bards can always use somatic, verbal, and material components like anyone else. Some compositions require a perform check, but those aren't mandatory and I feel like if you're a melee bard you probably weren't planning to be holding a lute in battle anyway.

[graystone]

Captain Morgan wrote:

To be clear, instrument casting is optional and bards can always use somatic, verbal, and material components like anyone else.

But if they do that, they'd need to spend 5 sp on a component bag!!! ;)

[Ventnor]

If your Bard has versatile performance, then acting is the best performance style for you.

[Blue_frog]

I guess my question was based on the fact that most bards will use lingering performance during an encounter, and that requires a performance check.

But yeah, that's very specific and doesn't make or break a build.

[Megistone]

PossibleCabbage wrote:

The worst perform style is "organist" since those things are not very mobile.

But how much more impactful is it to start a combat playing this?

[Captain Morgan]

Blue_frog wrote:

I guess my question was based on the fact that most bards will use lingering performance during an encounter, and that requires a performance check.

But yeah, that's very specific and doesn't make or break a build.

Only one muse even starts with Lingering Performance. Some bards will definitely use it, but I wouldn't say most. And that subset of bards would need to further lean into the musical instrument approach, and then further want to swing a weapon around. That character exists and may have a harder time, but they don't feel especially common to me.

Also, the Maestro's instrument is a pretty dang strong magic item as far as social shenanigans are concerned. 4th level charm is pretty grand.

[Arachnofiend]

I'm just happy that even if there's some variance there isn't a bad perform choice. Gone are the days where using an instrument was just flat out incorrect.