Is a Storyteller a Bard

[SniptheShadow]

I had a mini-debate about this at the bar last friday night.

Take someone like George R. R. Martin in RL.

Okay, in D&D terms, would he be considered a Bard because of his high storytelling ability or some other class that is more equated to a commoner in medieval times in our world?

I know many factors encompass say real life Charisma. The hot Sorceress in D&D may have an 18 Charisma score but is doesn't mean she is a born leader.

So with that kind of thinking and those kind of factors in mind -- many aspects creating one result, like an ability score -- my friend and I went at it about this issue.

Is a Storyteller a Bard?

Thoughts.



Thanks everyone.



Snip

[Mister_Peace]

Storytelling is one use of the Perform skill. In PnP, you can have high ranks in Perform without being a bard.

[Arnhelm]

From Wikipedia, italics mine - "In medieval Gaelic and British culture (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall) a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.

Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland and Highland Scotland, the term "bard", with the decline of living bardic tradition in the modern period, acquired generic meanings of an epic author/singer/narrator, comparable with the terms in other cultures: minstrel, skald/scop, rhapsode, udgatar, griot, ashik) or any poets, especially famous ones. For example, William Shakespeare is known as The Bard."

While I know Wiki is not an authoritative source, in this instance I believe the information is acceptable. Further, the information presented in the quote reinforces your position of a bard as a storyteller as well as poet, singer, etc.

[EufretDemias]

Wow, I just had my hopes crushed.. thought you were refering to the Deadlands: HoE class Storyteller.

Well if after hearing someone tell you a story, if you feel inspired in someway then they just may be a Bard. If not then they just have ranks in Perform. Remember in PnP Bards don't have to play musical insturments; they can sing, recite poetry, dance, even preach a sermon (if they DM would allow it) for their "songs". Wasn't Shakespear a Bard?

Mister_Peace is correct that Perform is not a Bard only skill in PnP, how else would Rogues and Monks get the 5 ranks in Perfom: Dance required for the Shadowdancer PRE.