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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 03:56:12
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What is the source of a bard's magic? Is it instinctual, like a sorcerer's? That idea doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Why can a bard heal, for instance; That is supposed to be a divine spellcaster- only ability.(not counting life transfer spells, or the Simbul's syndodweomer)It seems that if a bard is a jack-of-all trades, he should get ordinary(arcane) memorized spells, like a wizard. His spell advancement could be low-grade because he doesn't spend all of his time studying.
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But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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Edain Shadowstar
Senior Scribe
USA
455 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 04:43:57
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| Bards in general are weird. Their myriad of skills is definately due to their jack-of-all trades nature. Generally their magic is arcane, and is more or less like a wizard's, except they have acess to what are otherwise divine spells. Since their casting power is never going to be overpowering, it does not cause too many problems. A bard's skill are so low grade simply because he tries to learn all abilities he can, and thus cannot invest the time to master any. |
Edain Shadowstar
Archwizard of Rel Astra and Waterdeep
"Mmm…pie…"
- Gaius Solarian, Captain General |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 22:20:51
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| yeah bards spells r arcane, but not arcane like a wizards exactly...like Edain said, bards r wierd |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2004 : 23:03:21
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Well folks, I would agree with you on all of the above except for a few fundamentals...
First of all, I think that we bards are much more akin to sorcerers than wizards. Like them, we need no spellbooks, nor are we chained to the "memorization" of spells like wizards do.
The really neat thing about being a bard (as far as I am concerned) is that like the sorcerer, we gain access to the Weave by sheer force of personality alone, which allows us a little more free reign to "customize" our magic. "A bard brings forth magic from his soul, not from a book." - Player's Handbook, ed.3.5, pg. 26.
And indeed, our spellcasting IS low grade. We learn very few spells, so that the bard who chooses only to act as a spellcaster will find himself severely hindered. Our ability to choose "Cure 'fill-in-the-blank' Wounds" is probably more indicative of personal intention than divine intervention. Hey, that rhymes....I really AM a bard! |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 20:51:09
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| I understand that a bard's magic is instinctual, but isn't it still considered "arcane?" I was under the impression that arcane magic couldn't heal directly. |
But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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The Cardinal
Senior Scribe
Canada
647 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jan 2004 : 21:04:33
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| There's exceptions to every rule.... Bards are usually that only exception. The Cure '?' wounds is a divine spell but for the bard it's an arcane spell. since the bard's spells are arcane... The-Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Arcane magic cannot heal... directly or indirectly (unless you want to go into the undead and certain necromancer spells but not now). Again Do not lump a bard in with wizards though as they do not follow that rule since their arcane magic can heal. Simple really |
It has to be Certain, the Gods Hate Me. For whatever irrevokable Fate, I have been made the walking Joke. Either that, or Beshaba is overlyfond Of Me.
-Unknown |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2004 : 07:55:50
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Which is stupid, of course. Not game-wise, just as a matter of logic. It's why I created that Magical Healer feat for Artalis. I ought to dust that one off to make it more balanced . . . .
Just remember: divine spells are prayers. Arcane spells are actually spells, using natual energy with hand waves and spell words. A bard has to watch out for restricting armor, among other limitations.
Bards should heal, in my opinion, since they're music-based and music can have healing effects even in the real world. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2004 : 23:00:15
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| aye more like a sorcerer would make more sense |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Besshalar
Learned Scribe
Finland
166 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2006 : 21:40:39
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| The healing power of music ? |
The large print giveth , and the small print taketh away.
-Tom Waits |
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Lawfire
Acolyte
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2006 : 22:34:43
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| The 3E bard is one of the VERY FEW things I don't like about 3E. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2006 : 23:24:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Sourcemaster2
What is the source of a bard's magic? Is it instinctual, like a sorcerer's?
I'm not sure we have a clear answer. Do Realms bards cast magic through music and storytelling, somewhat like spellsingers, or are they part-time wizards as in 1st edition AD&D? Probably both occur, but a question for Ed.quote:
That is supposed to be a divine spellcaster- only ability.(not counting life transfer spells, or the Simbul's syndodweomer)
According to both 2E and 3E design philosophies, yes, but in the Realms proper arcane healing magic is more prevalent. |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2006 : 23:56:21
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| There are at least 2 Arcane spells I can think of that heal Life bolt and theres another one created by the Simbul which originally appeared in FR4 (Im not sure whether its been converted to 3ed yet) |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2006 : 02:50:07
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| Wow. I'm surprised someone went to the trouble to cast raise thread on this. I still haven't found a suitable answer; just more questions about similar classes that have spellcasting that's limited in unusual ways. |
But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 04 Nov 2006 : 17:52:53
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| Very good read to this topic is in the sidebar in the FRCS on page 55. Check it out. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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A question about bards
