TOPIC: Bard Instrument swaps

Just curious if a Bard can change instruments in a room after they start "singing," or is it once they start "singing" using an instrument, that is the instrument for the full room?<br />Thanks,<br />Greyseer

That's a really good question.<br /><br />Kim

I would assume that a bardic instrument is handled much like a weapon swap.

No, I am going to say that once you start your song to inspire, you are committed with the instrument used.  If you want to stop and change out an instrument, you would be stopping the song, changing the instrument (which breaks the spell effect) you can then start over with a new song and instrument.  <br /><br />It is not an issue of action, but one of "spell" effect.<br /><br />Dave

So Dave, if a bard wants to do that, sounds like there would be a one-round delay w/o bardsong while they switch instruments.

<br />So Dave, if a bard wants to do that, sounds like there would be a one-round delay w/o bardsong while they switch instruments.<br />

<br />TD seems to play easy and loose with the whole weapon/equipment swapping, so my take is that there would not be a one round delay.<br /><br />What say you Dave?

<br />No, I am going to say that once you start your song to inspire, you are committed with the instrument used.  If you want to stop and change out an instrument, you would be stopping the song, changing the instrument (which breaks the spell effect) you can then start over with a new song and instrument.  <br /><br />It is not an issue of action, but one of "spell" effect.<br /><br />Dave<br />

<br /><br />It was my understanding though that once a Bard started a song in a room, should he/she stop for any reason (drink a potion, cast a spell, use a scroll, basically anything that requires the use of their mouth), then the song would end (obviously) and they could NOT start another song, have I been incorrect in this aspect? 

My opinion, and I will confirm this with Jeff, is that there should be a round interruption in the effect of the bard song.  Instruments can be switched, but the effect will have a delay.<br /><br />So:<br /><br />Round 1: Bard uses Lyre of Rage, and begins song.  <br /><br />Round 2: Bard is still singing, bonus is still in effect.<br /><br />Round 3: Bard forgot about Widseth's Lute and decides to change.  The Bard must announce this at the beginning of the round.  During the round as he changes instruments, the players get no benefit from the previous song.  The Bard starts singing as his action for the round, but the effect does not have an impact on the players until the next round.  The delay is caused by the disorientation from the loss of the effects of one "spell-like" effect and the beginning of another...<br /><br />Round 4: The players get the benefit from bardsong with Widseth's lute...<br /><br />To me this would also apply to any situation where bardsong was stopped, that is the first action of the round, so that the Bard can attack, so no one gets the effect during the round.<br /><br />If a Bard wants to start singing after attacking for a few rounds, the effect would kick in the next round.  The only time the effect works at the beginning of the same round is when the Bard starts singing at the beginning of combat...

Thanks Dave,<br /><br />That seems pretty clear to me.<br /><br />Jim