I remember when I made my bard character, I was using an alien software and when I chose my instruments I chose a lute. I then wanted some weird instruments, and there were two that captured my eye. The Tocken and the Zulkoon. I don't remember very well what they did. but damn were they fun.
If you want some interesting performances you can also add a type of music to the mix. One of my characters played Jazz on the bagpipes (commonly referred to as the Jazzpipes). Bagpipes are pretty random by themselves but adding the extra strangeness of trying to picture them making Jazz adds a new layer to it haha.
My Bard's main instrument is a Lute crafted from the bones of a Hydra and strings from golden fleece. It has the power to animate objects and raise the dead. When I'm feeling metal, I switch to my duel-wielded flame throwing bag pipes. Not only do the flames inspire armies, they make for a powerful weapon against shrubbery!
I recently started a new campaign as a level 0 slave in a world with scarce resources. Now that the group has survived to level 1, the DM has shown me the way to my class by providing wind chimes. I think a proper response is to acquire a set then bring them to the game.
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Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. We're all going to die. Come watch TV. - Morty
I am building a bard as a temporary character in a campaign where the DM is building adventures to play on different characters strengths. The adventure takes the group into The Land of Wonder (aka Wonderland). My Bard will be carrying a drum. The drum is a fat Raccoon named Azeban.
I'm a drummer IRL, so usually my bardic instrument is a drum of some sort. At one point I was using Summon Instrument to summon kettle drums over my enemies heads to trap them in it when the drum fell if I was close enough. Than I would stab through the drum head with a bladed weapon to deal damage to the baddy inside. I've also summoned a drum on myself and hurled them at baddies Donkey Kong style.
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I use summon instrument to summon my kettle drum, hold it overhead like Donkey Kong, and chuck it at the nearest kobold.
Kalimba! Or thumb piano. Pretty great instrument to listen to and just prank with. Even if you couldn't catch a note thrown tied to a stone just rambling on the thing builds up a great anxious sound.
My Satyr/Faun (female satyr, bc the male only thing is 🙄) Bard in 4e used a fiddle bow (reflavored songblade) for melee attacks, and played the fiddle for casting spells. It was rad. I miss that campaign.
My first 5e Bard concept hasn't been played, because the prospective DM went ape-crap crazy. He was a Rashemeni member of an ancient and little known order of Bardic Warriors who specialize in taking down necromancers, and other evil sorcerer, and the abominations they summon. He was a Bard/Warlock with a bandolier of bells, inspired by The Abhorsen books. The bells were a custom Pact Boon and set of Invocations, and each one has a different effect, and the basic Boon basically makes it harder for nearby casters to concentrate of Conjuration Spells, and thus risk losing control of summoned/controlled/animated creatures. Invocations add effects for greater bells, and boost interference with enemy casters.
my favorite Bard, though, just played a mandolin, and fought with a sword.
For shame, no one has suggested the factually best instrument in the history of all time, the accordion. Really make the other players want to polka your eyes out.
One of my players wanted to multiclass into bard. There was a bard college in the city they were in, so I OKed it. Little did I know that the party would soon have a boxer-style monk with the world's smallest violin.
Idk if its been suggested but my band director once brought in his balalaika, specifically a contrabass balalaika. If you want a shield/ mace/ instrument hybrid there you go!
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For my attack I will throw my spear...two handed...for 1d8...
Harmonica would be a great 1-handed instrument. It can easily play invigorating tunes, crazy offensive riffs, slow dirges, etc. Very versatile, small, loud/quiet, weighs less than ½ lb., hard to crush in a fall, etc.
Order of the Bug Hunters Apple ][+ MOSTech 6502 1.0 MHz • 64k Ram • Hercules 8k EGA video card • 300baud USR modem • 2 x 340k 5¼" floppy drives • Software Emulated Sound • Apple DOS 3.3 • Sony 13" TV monitor • Integrated Keyboard • No Mouse
I have a Warforged bard on the forums here, Decus, who is made of a specific metal that is extremely resonant. He was built with the ability to vibrate his composite plating so as to provide music using the various plates (he can also use them to produce spell effects like Thunderwave, and Thunderclap). So far in the game however I did use them to great effect accompanying my Lute playing, which I thought was pretty cool. He will eventually be a Valor Bard :-)
this reminds me that in Wizardry 8 you can use as an instrument a jack in the box.
In one of my campaigns back in 3.5 a friend had a bard who was used "improvised music instruments" by approval of the DM.
He used a cat as an instrument, some friends refused to allow him to explain the way the music was produced. After that campaign, the player was forced to use more humane ways to produce music. I found it somwhat ammusing the idea, but abit to gorry for my idea of a bard.
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my faerie fire has FABULOUSshades that will match your shoes and eyes~
I remember when I made my bard character, I was using an alien software and when I chose my instruments I chose a lute. I then wanted some weird instruments, and there were two that captured my eye. The Tocken and the Zulkoon. I don't remember very well what they did. but damn were they fun.
Can I roll for that?
If you want some interesting performances you can also add a type of music to the mix. One of my characters played Jazz on the bagpipes (commonly referred to as the Jazzpipes). Bagpipes are pretty random by themselves but adding the extra strangeness of trying to picture them making Jazz adds a new layer to it haha.
"Toss a coin to your [Insert class here]"
My Bard's main instrument is a Lute crafted from the bones of a Hydra and strings from golden fleece. It has the power to animate objects and raise the dead. When I'm feeling metal, I switch to my duel-wielded flame throwing bag pipes. Not only do the flames inspire armies, they make for a powerful weapon against shrubbery!
I got it!!! I was looking for a kazoo for r/p ridiculousness at the table and I found a JAW HARP!!! I use it when I'm shooting arrows!
Vuvuzela
Put your spoiler here.
or Airhorn
Put your spoiler here.
I recently started a new campaign as a level 0 slave in a world with scarce resources. Now that the group has survived to level 1, the DM has shown me the way to my class by providing wind chimes. I think a proper response is to acquire a set then bring them to the game.
Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. We're all going to die. Come watch TV. - Morty
I am building a bard as a temporary character in a campaign where the DM is building adventures to play on different characters strengths. The adventure takes the group into The Land of Wonder (aka Wonderland). My Bard will be carrying a drum. The drum is a fat Raccoon named Azeban.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
I'm a drummer IRL, so usually my bardic instrument is a drum of some sort. At one point I was using Summon Instrument to summon kettle drums over my enemies heads to trap them in it when the drum fell if I was close enough. Than I would stab through the drum head with a bladed weapon to deal damage to the baddy inside. I've also summoned a drum on myself and hurled them at baddies Donkey Kong style.
I use summon instrument to summon my kettle drum, hold it overhead like Donkey Kong, and chuck it at the nearest kobold.
Kalimba!
Or thumb piano. Pretty great instrument to listen to and just prank with. Even if you couldn't catch a note thrown tied to a stone just rambling on the thing builds up a great anxious sound.
Fiddle bow. Fight with a fiddle bow.
My Satyr/Faun (female satyr, bc the male only thing is 🙄) Bard in 4e used a fiddle bow (reflavored songblade) for melee attacks, and played the fiddle for casting spells. It was rad. I miss that campaign.
My first 5e Bard concept hasn't been played, because the prospective DM went ape-crap crazy. He was a Rashemeni member of an ancient and little known order of Bardic Warriors who specialize in taking down necromancers, and other evil sorcerer, and the abominations they summon. He was a Bard/Warlock with a bandolier of bells, inspired by The Abhorsen books. The bells were a custom Pact Boon and set of Invocations, and each one has a different effect, and the basic Boon basically makes it harder for nearby casters to concentrate of Conjuration Spells, and thus risk losing control of summoned/controlled/animated creatures. Invocations add effects for greater bells, and boost interference with enemy casters.
my favorite Bard, though, just played a mandolin, and fought with a sword.
We do bones, motherf***ker!
My husband just found this and wants to put it on wheels for his bard.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
For shame, no one has suggested the factually best instrument in the history of all time, the accordion. Really make the other players want to polka your eyes out.
One of my players wanted to multiclass into bard. There was a bard college in the city they were in, so I OKed it. Little did I know that the party would soon have a boxer-style monk with the world's smallest violin.
Sheep in wolf's clothing
The best instrument is using your body as a drum(This sounds like a joke, but I assure you it's not)
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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Idk if its been suggested but my band director once brought in his balalaika, specifically a contrabass balalaika. If you want a shield/ mace/ instrument hybrid there you go!
For my attack I will throw my spear...two handed...for 1d8...
Harmonica would be a great 1-handed instrument. It can easily play invigorating tunes, crazy offensive riffs, slow dirges, etc. Very versatile, small, loud/quiet, weighs less than ½ lb., hard to crush in a fall, etc.
TQQdles™
Order of the Bug Hunters
Apple ][+ MOSTech 6502 1.0 MHz • 64k Ram • Hercules 8k EGA video card • 300baud USR modem • 2 x 340k 5¼" floppy drives • Software Emulated Sound • Apple DOS 3.3 • Sony 13" TV monitor • Integrated Keyboard • No Mouse
I have a Warforged bard on the forums here, Decus, who is made of a specific metal that is extremely resonant. He was built with the ability to vibrate his composite plating so as to provide music using the various plates (he can also use them to produce spell effects like Thunderwave, and Thunderclap). So far in the game however I did use them to great effect accompanying my Lute playing, which I thought was pretty cool. He will eventually be a Valor Bard :-)
this reminds me that in Wizardry 8 you can use as an instrument a jack in the box.
In one of my campaigns back in 3.5 a friend had a bard who was used "improvised music instruments" by approval of the DM.
He used a cat as an instrument, some friends refused to allow him to explain the way the music was produced. After that campaign, the player was forced to use more humane ways to produce music. I found it somwhat ammusing the idea, but abit to gorry for my idea of a bard.
my faerie fire has FABULOUS shades that will match your shoes and eyes~
My bard's instrument is whistling.