While a musical instrument may require two hands to play with it, it only requires one to hold it when casting a spell.
Material: A spellcaster must have a hand free to access these components—or to hold a spellcasting focus—but it can be the same hand that he or she uses to perform somatic components.
Maybe, but that seems a bit anti thematic in relation to the soul of the bard's Spellcasting ability:
You have learned to untangle and reshape the fabric of reality in harmony with your wishes and music. Your spells are part of your vast repertoire, magic that you can tune to different situations. ...
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells. Your magic comes from the heart and soul you pour into the performance of your music or oration. ...
If a spell doesn't have a verbal component we may be left to wonder what oration could be involved. If a spell does have a verbal component we might wonder why the need for the musical instrument (which may seem only to be needed to balance the mechanics of the game).
It seems a shame to me that the bard's magic doesn't come from music directly poured into the casting of spells.
Horns can be played one handed, even those with valves. Some instruments that were historically called flutes were more like recorders and those can kinda be played one handed.
Otherwise, sure most instruments are two handed, and I guess you're seeing some sort of action economy imbalance with the Bard's spellcasting? I think as a DM you're sorta granted the handwavium to let Bards' instruments be as difficult or facile to deploy as you see fit, like any other magical materiality, with the Bard player's understanding. I mean you're also talking about musical instruments being put in harms way through being attached to a melee and missile target, it could technically be the most brittle focus if you take things like tuning seriously. I just let it be and assume the Bard has developed a sort of tactical deft touch.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
If a spell doesn't have a verbal component we may be left to wonder what oration could be involved. If a spell does have a verbal component we might wonder why the need for the musical instrument (which may seem only to be needed to balance the mechanics of the game).
It seems a shame to me that the bard's magic doesn't come from music directly poured into the casting of spells.
The bard doesn't need a musical instrument to cast spells with material components, he can do so using component pouch for exemple.
But i agree flavor-wise it smore thematic if oration, singing or music is involved somehow.
If a spell doesn't have a verbal component we may be left to wonder what oration could be involved. If a spell does have a verbal component we might wonder why the need for the musical instrument (which may seem only to be needed to balance the mechanics of the game).
It seems a shame to me that the bard's magic doesn't come from music directly poured into the casting of spells.
The bard doesn't need a musical instrument to cast spells with material components, he can do so using component pouch for exemple.
But i agree flavor-wise it smore thematic if oration, singing or music is involved somehow.
Yep, it sure might be more thematic for a bard to perform a bit of "Great Balls of Fire" than to reach into their pouch for a ball of bat guano and some sulfur. :D
An Ocarina is a wind instrument that may be played with one hand. Even a wooden flute may be played with one hand if you are willing to limit the range of musical notes.
You could also think of a Bard as tapping into the power of sound energy and that may be created with something as mundane as a tuning fork.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
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In bard#ClassFeatures it says:
...
Spellcasting Focus
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells
and in basic-rules/equipment#Tools we find:
Musical Instrument
All the instruments listed seem to require the use of one or two hands.
The idea of a one-handed spell focus certainly fits in parallel with the spell focus options of other classes
Arcane Focus
Druidic Focus
...except for a holy symbol of a cleric or paladin for which we read that "the caster must hold it in hand, wear it visibly, or bear it on a shield".
Musical instruments in the Tools section listing all seem to require manipulation by hand in order to play them.
How could things be balanced if a musical instrument required or could be played with two hands?
While a musical instrument may require two hands to play with it, it only requires one to hold it when casting a spell.
Maybe, but that seems a bit anti thematic in relation to the soul of the bard's Spellcasting ability:
You have learned to untangle and reshape the fabric of reality in harmony with your wishes and music. Your spells are part of your vast repertoire, magic that you can tune to different situations. ...
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells. Your magic comes from the heart and soul you pour into the performance of your music or oration. ...
If a spell doesn't have a verbal component we may be left to wonder what oration could be involved. If a spell does have a verbal component we might wonder why the need for the musical instrument (which may seem only to be needed to balance the mechanics of the game).
It seems a shame to me that the bard's magic doesn't come from music directly poured into the casting of spells.
.
Horns can be played one handed, even those with valves. Some instruments that were historically called flutes were more like recorders and those can kinda be played one handed.
Otherwise, sure most instruments are two handed, and I guess you're seeing some sort of action economy imbalance with the Bard's spellcasting? I think as a DM you're sorta granted the handwavium to let Bards' instruments be as difficult or facile to deploy as you see fit, like any other magical materiality, with the Bard player's understanding. I mean you're also talking about musical instruments being put in harms way through being attached to a melee and missile target, it could technically be the most brittle focus if you take things like tuning seriously. I just let it be and assume the Bard has developed a sort of tactical deft touch.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The bard doesn't need a musical instrument to cast spells with material components, he can do so using component pouch for exemple.
But i agree flavor-wise it smore thematic if oration, singing or music is involved somehow.
Yep, it sure might be more thematic for a bard to perform a bit of "Great Balls of Fire" than to reach into their pouch for a ball of bat guano and some sulfur. :D
An Ocarina is a wind instrument that may be played with one hand. Even a wooden flute may be played with one hand if you are willing to limit the range of musical notes.
You could also think of a Bard as tapping into the power of sound energy and that may be created with something as mundane as a tuning fork.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt