TOPIC: GHC review

Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Not a solution to the overarching problem, but when I play bard, I carry a set of cheap party store Maracas that I can shake relatively unobtrusively to my side to remind the DM bard song is going when singing is inopportune.

I think the bard should bring 10 kazoos and if the DM insists in music the whole party should start just like, really belting out, something obnoxious. Perhaps 99 bottles of beer on the wall.

Matthew Hayward wrote: I think the bard should bring 10 kazoos and if the DM insists in music the whole party should start just like, really belting out, something obnoxious. Perhaps 99 bottles of beer on the wall.

smile.amazon.com/Amscan-Party-Favors-Kazoos-12-Pack/dp/B001681UYA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1478654013&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=party+kazoo

There was the guy who brought the Vuvuzela to GenCon...

From the DM guide: While not a requirement, it is highly recommended that the player be made to sing or perform

GHC as a whole is a good con. The location isn't the best. Food options are limited and the facility is a bit antiquated. That said, the people are great, the con is well organized. They commission their own plushies, and there obviously isn't too much walking involved. Others complained about the dealer's area, but I thought it was great! There was a lot of space for TD, but other areas felt cramp.

Beertram wrote: GHC as a whole is a good con. The location isn't the best. Food options are limited and the facility is a bit antiquated. That said, the people are great, the con is well organized. They commission their own plushies, and there obviously isn't too much walking involved. Others complained about the dealer's area, but I thought it was great! There was a lot of space for TD, but other areas felt cramp.

It looked like there was a moderate amount of room that wasn't utilized, maybe next year we will see a bit more used upstairs and in the hotels.

The D&D AL area could have been twice the size easily.

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Then don't play bard. You can sing. Hum. Tell a story. Play a whistle. Play music from your phone...it isn't hard to be creative

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Then don't play bard. You can sing. Hum. Tell a story. Play a whistle. Play music from your phone...it isn't hard to be creative

The bard in my son's group once used a phone and a blue tooth speaker attached to a guitar hero guitar. The DM in one room told him "that's cheating."

I've been playing TD since 2005. Over the years I've really been noticing that some DMs shouldn't be DMs. There are a few power-mad ones out there. I'd hate to have to sit at their D&D tables outside of TD.

I do agree that the Bard class should be encouraged to do something "entertaining." But not forced to do it. There are so many options like telling jokes. Humming. Singing. Playing some type of instrument... any type of instrument... even a cowbell. The Player just has to use their imagination. That's the problem since old school D&D got antiquated by minis, computers, and way to many required dice rolls for simple things like finding your Party in a crowded tavern: players forgot how to use their imaginations.

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Then don't play bard. You can sing. Hum. Tell a story. Play a whistle. Play music from your phone...it isn't hard to be creative

I agree with ME, I've seen the roleplaying element of TD slowly diminish over the many years I've participated. The Bard having to sing is one of the few remaining aspects of that past and I'd hate to see it removed from TD. If your friend doesn't like to sing, they shouldn't play a Bard just like someone who doesn't like to slide two tokens at the same time shouldn't play a Ranger.

Snakeeyes0217 wrote:

lazlo_hollyfeld1985 wrote:

Arcanist Kolixela wrote: Overall we had a lot of fun at GHC but we had an issue with 2 combat DMs in Deeper dark on Friday and Saturday (136 saturday 224 friday) requiring our Bard to sing for the bardsong effect. Our group Bard enjoys the class but has anxiety that makes performing uncomfortable for her. The somewhat continual demand that she sing is pushing her to swap classes (which she doesn't want to do) or stop playing (which would be a loss)

If it doesn't change I can't see it not leading to her quitting True Dungeon and that would be rather upsetting for our rotating group.

I've heard they can't do this but I've also heard it's pretty common to have DMs requiring it. What's the official view?

Then don't play bard. You can sing. Hum. Tell a story. Play a whistle. Play music from your phone...it isn't hard to be creative

I agree with ME, I've seen the roleplaying element of TD slowly diminish over the many years I've participated. The Bard having to sing is one of the few remaining aspects of that past and I'd hate to see it removed from TD. If your friend doesn't like to sing, they shouldn't play a Bard just like someone who doesn't like to slide two tokens at the same time shouldn't play a Ranger.

You can play a ranged Ranger. You can do other things than sing. No one is telling you how to play your character classes we shouldn't be telling anyone else how to play either.