But inspired by the thread on sorcerors, I'd like to ask:
How do you use bards in Mystara IYC ?
Are there bardic colleges?
What is the relation between glantrian wizardry, Alphatian / Flaemish sorcery and the bards' spells?
IMO not all bards should use "spells". The rogue Petja in my group took a bard level once on a trip to Ostland so we decided he has to resite small epic poems or verses to "cast a spell".
Similar things could work for the famous Ylari storytellers or the Hin ?
Should Kaelic warrior-poets from Klantyre have their own flavour of bardic magic to reflect their heritage?
Let me know how you feel on these issues!
:-) Jesper
Bards are people who are able to produce magical effects with their performances. As spell casters they will be entitled Gentry in Alphatia. I don't think they should be accepted into the Great School of Magic though, as they would no doubt be seen as dabblers, rather than true performers of the Art. Yet, they probably won't have any problems staying in Glantri (as long as they pay their lisences ofcourse).
Hin Storytellers might very well be bards. Someone on the MML suggested to have Bard as the Favored Class for Halflings, though I havent implemented that in my game. Same should go for the Ylari and the Kaelic Warrior Poets. (Cool ideas btw).
As I see it, Bardic magic is totally unrelated to Sorcery. Also, I dont think there should be Bardic colleges, just Bard masters taking apprentices along on their journeys.
I agree that Bards should use their Perform skill (though not roll) in order to cast spells, whether that be poetry, oratory, music, singing or whatnot.
Like I said though, I havent given this issue too much thought yet, so I am curious to hear what others have to say!
Havard
Originally posted by Spellweaver
Are there bardic colleges?
Well, you could consider the Ierendi School of Arts a "bardic college". And probably the Traldaran artists of Specularum (there are some such NPCs in GAZ1, aren't they?) might have such a school.
Darokin:
Although they do not necessarily all belong the the bard class, entertainers play an important role in Darokin society. The Elite and Gold class citizenry enjoy the plays put on by thespians in the major cities as well as opera performances.
Acrobats and other street performers entertain the silver and copper class with acts of tightropewalking, juggling and animal training.
In the rural areas, wandering storytellers are also a source of news from afar and as such are universally welcome.
Furthermore, bards in the role as heralds are often recruited into the Darokin Diplomatic Corps and taught the skills of negotiation and spying for missions abroad.
Ylarum:
The desert people have little tolerance for arcane spellcasters but their culture has elevated storytelling to an artform for centuries. Indeed, a skilled storyteller can earn a comfortable living entertaining emirs, sheiks and sultans. Since ancient times much lore has been handed down orally and the storytellers of the desert still carry with them much of the accumulated wisdom of the Alaysians.
Five Shires:
Like the Ylari people, the Hin appreciate a well told story and a skilled storyteller can often earn a meal and a place to sleep for his tales.
Rockhome:
Most human visitors to the dwarven lands never get to experience the dwarves relaxing but in truth they appreciate both storytelling, music and singing. However, the dwarven sense of social responsibility and family commitment prevents most dwarves from taking up the life of a wandering entertainer. Instead, the dwarves practice their talents in the comfort of their local inn or tavern, surrounded by kinsmen.
Alfheim:
Little is known outside the elven culture about the fabled elven minstrels - the spellsingers. Their magic is both rare and mysterious and several Glantrian and Alphatian mages have tried over the centuries to learn more about it.
Northern Reaches:
Before Odin gave the northmen their runic alphabet, their storytellers - skjalds - wandered from hamlet to hamlet and told the ancient sagas of the immortals, the giants and the queen of the underworld. Legends say that Odin stole the gift of poetry from a giant by driking his magical ale and the all-father then begifted this talent unto the skjalds and made them poets and storytellers. To this day, the skjalds are therefore usually welcomed with the respect normally only reserved for priests and nobility and they are given free passage regardsless of feuds and other strife.
Northmen skjalds can cast spells but do so by reciting poetry with magical properties.
Karameikos:
Apart from the jugglers and the acrobats, another type of bardic entertainer has become popular in Karameikos - the jester. Most noblemen have a least one fool on staff to entertain guests with silly tricks and witty remarks.
Karameikos also have a few groups of wandering actors - thespians - who travel from village to village and put on plays, most of them about King Halav and the old ways. So far, Specularum does not have a stage hall of its own but the increasingly powerful middle class of merchants and craftsmen have begun to plan the construction of one, modelled after the theatres of Darokin.
Well, these are just ideas. Any comments? :D
:-) Jesper
Originally posted by Hugin
Perhaps there are small entertainer's guilds that function to share amonst themselves and control certain aspects (just like any other guild likes to do).
I like that. I was thinking at circus groups and wandering groups of thespians might behave in a similar manner. They teach the art to new entertainers and seek to control its spread.
:-) Jesper