Bard Class Expansion

[vystal]

I wanted to throw out a suggestion for expanding and enriching the Bard class. It is my opinion that the Bard class is lacking serious depth when it comes to what is supposed to be the Bard's greatest asset...the song. We all know the bard can play his inspirational songs to provide an array of beneficial buffs to his party that increases with strength and depth as the Bard progresses in level. But the actual gameplay appeal (or fun) of these songs is very little (or least debatable) for the actual bard himself. And yes, the Bard can run around and fascinate foes and even at times charm and control them, but beyond that there is little to no interaction between "the song" and actual combat or questing. As I began thinking about this, the following idea occured to me that could integrate directly into the current class and gameplay mechanics:

Why not have Bardic Songs drop in game in chests, end rewards, etc. just like scrolls?

This would open up a whole new world of level appropriate song options to the bard in which he may choose to write into a songbook. <---my other suggested addition to the Bard class.

With the songbook the bard could be limited to the memorization of a certain number of songs per level just as wizards are.

The Bard could also be limited to the number of songs he can play per rest exactly the same way he/she is currently in the game.

With these perameters, the game mechanics remain in tact, and level appropriate. Yet now the Bard can have a large number of beneficial songs: offensive, defensive, passive, aggessive etc. to CHOOSE from. This also creates a new excitement for questing to find new and rare songs fo your bard.


Just a few examples or suggestions of the types of songs im talking about:

Medusa's Song: (Most likely a higher level song)

When the bard plays this song nearby enemies must make a Will save or be effected by the flesh to Stone spell.
(This could be a great rare song to drop in the Attack on Stormreach Quest chain).

Silver Flame Inspiration:
Nearby allies receive a percentage increase to incoming positive energy such as healing spells.

More generics:

-A song that applies a knockdown effect after a failed DC on natural 20 rolls by allies.

-A fire song that applies the "flaming" effect to allies weapons, while nearby enemies within earshot receive a +15% increase to incoming fire damage.

- A song that causes fear, or enemies to become shaken, etc

- Songs to provide elemental resistances, or physical resistances.

- Songs for skills like jump, tumble, etc.

- Song to detect secret doors, or true seeing, etc.

You could create an endless number of songs that work just like spells.


By doing this, you would now have Bard's running around strumming their songs in combat and quests the way they were intended to. You also will know shape the Bard (or player) to make choices about the songs which will inevitably make more much more unique character builds. There is also a great deal of lore and tales that could be told in the descriptions of these songs that add to the overall depth of the game and serve the Bard's true purpose as a story teller.

Lastly, I would add instruments to the game as treasure item drops and end rewards. These instruments could be attached to the trinket slot and provide the Bards different benefits to his/her songs such as extended length of songs, more songs per rest, ability increases to his songs, or dc increases for certain types of songs, etc.