The crafting bit mentioned by InquisitiveCoder above is on page 187 of the Player's Handbook, by the way, or here.
For the focus thing, I've seen it work in two different ways: I've seen DMs that allow any instrument to be a spellcasting focus, and I've seen DMs that say it takes a specially made instrument (as per the Arcane Focus description) to channel the magic.
In neither case does a table qualify, where the game's mechanics are concerned, however. :p I can see allowing it as an improvised instrument to deliver a Performance check or similar stunts, but it's not an instrument for the same reason a door isn't a shield, rules-wise - the list of instruments are found in the Tools section of the Player's Handbook, page 154 (or much more specifically here).
It's worth considering that, by this mentality, a Wizard could pick up a stick and call it a staff or wand. Doubly so for a Druid. The assumption behind the cost of these items is that using one as an arcane focus requires a pretty good-quality version of the item, not just junk you find lying around. A DM could certainly rule you can improvise something in a pinch, especially if it's just performance rather than spellcasting.
But druids can pick up a stick and do magic, a staff drawn whole out of a tree is just any conveniently shaped tree branch or piece of fell wood. And the wand is a smaller piece of specific kinds of wood.
I would rule that you can only use an instrument as your focus if you're proficient in that instrument, so unless you find some way to become proficient with improvised instruments then I wouldn't allow it.
To be clear, a bard does not need a spellcasting focus to cast a spell. The rules simply say the following, they do not say you must use a musical instrument:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. (Bard Spellcasting)
Furthermore, under Material (M) in Components of the Casting a Spell section of the rules, it says you can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus in place of the components specified for a spell. Meaning you would still be able to cast a spell without a focus or component pouch as long as you had the material component the spell specified available to you.
EDIT: In short, don't let anyone tell you that your Bard has to be a music lover... The Bard I want to play in an upcoming campaign doesn't even have musical proficiencies. I literally just left them blank and am going to pick up a Component Pouch.
To be clear, a bard does not need a spellcasting focus to cast a spell. The rules simply say the following, they do not say you must use a musical instrument:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. (Bard Spellcasting)
Furthermore, under Material (M) in Components of the Casting a Spell section of the rules, it says you can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus in place of the components specified for a spell. Meaning you would still be able to cast a spell without a focus or component pouch as long as you had the material component the spell specified available to you.
EDIT: In short, don't let anyone tell you that your Bard has to be a music lover... The Bard I want to play in an upcoming campaign doesn't even have musical proficiencies. I literally just left them blank and am going to pick up a Component Pouch.
Actually that would be hilarious to play a bard who appears to be using every random object they drum on as a magical focus, but really they've just a component pouch handy.
Can a bard say make a drum out of something? Also can a bard just make music by slapping a table and use it as their focus?
Sure. The Player's Handbook has crafting rules.
...must resist mayonnaise comment... >.<
The crafting bit mentioned by InquisitiveCoder above is on page 187 of the Player's Handbook, by the way, or here.
For the focus thing, I've seen it work in two different ways: I've seen DMs that allow any instrument to be a spellcasting focus, and I've seen DMs that say it takes a specially made instrument (as per the Arcane Focus description) to channel the magic.
In neither case does a table qualify, where the game's mechanics are concerned, however. :p I can see allowing it as an improvised instrument to deliver a Performance check or similar stunts, but it's not an instrument for the same reason a door isn't a shield, rules-wise - the list of instruments are found in the Tools section of the Player's Handbook, page 154 (or much more specifically here).
It's worth considering that, by this mentality, a Wizard could pick up a stick and call it a staff or wand. Doubly so for a Druid. The assumption behind the cost of these items is that using one as an arcane focus requires a pretty good-quality version of the item, not just junk you find lying around. A DM could certainly rule you can improvise something in a pinch, especially if it's just performance rather than spellcasting.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
But druids can pick up a stick and do magic, a staff drawn whole out of a tree is just any conveniently shaped tree branch or piece of fell wood. And the wand is a smaller piece of specific kinds of wood.
I would rule that you can only use an instrument as your focus if you're proficient in that instrument, so unless you find some way to become proficient with improvised instruments then I wouldn't allow it.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
To be clear, a bard does not need a spellcasting focus to cast a spell. The rules simply say the following, they do not say you must use a musical instrument:
You can use a musical instrument (see the Tools section) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells. (Bard Spellcasting)
Furthermore, under Material (M) in Components of the Casting a Spell section of the rules, it says you can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus in place of the components specified for a spell. Meaning you would still be able to cast a spell without a focus or component pouch as long as you had the material component the spell specified available to you.
EDIT: In short, don't let anyone tell you that your Bard has to be a music lover... The Bard I want to play in an upcoming campaign doesn't even have musical proficiencies. I literally just left them blank and am going to pick up a Component Pouch.
Actually that would be hilarious to play a bard who appears to be using every random object they drum on as a magical focus, but really they've just a component pouch handy.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium