Ive been thinking about creating a mute bard, I’d be carrying a lute (ukelele for real life rp) and just play and do gestures instead of my character talking. I’d still be talking to the Dm about stuff but my characters strictly mute. I’ve always wondered, how do vocal spells work with a mute bard, or bards in general? Do you have to speak or can you play music instead? If you have to speak then how do flutes work?
ps: I’m pretty new so there’s a lot of stuff I’m trying to get the hang of
Yeah, unfortunately a lot of spells and particularly Bard spells need a verbal component. It would be a difficult limitation, but it could be a fun one! Here are the Bard spells that don't require a verbal component:
RAW a focus (like a musical instrument for a bard) can replace the material component of a spell, and you can use the same hand for the somatic component, but it does not replace the verbal component. So there are only a few spells you can cast without being able to speak, as mentioned above.
As a DM I would probably allow a mute bard to use an instrument for verbal components if that's how he learned magic (ie. not if only mute due to temporary conditions).
Yep, that seems still balanced. The "downsides" to a verbal component are that they cause noise (thus are not subtle or stealthy) and that they do not function when silenced (magically or mundane). Being mute but creating the required magical noise via an instrument or something should be fine. It matches the normal downsides and adds the slight additional con of needing that instrument handy.
Could "mime" it with Somatic replacing Verbal components where able and sound effects where not.
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GM of The Bonus Role - We are playing a 5E game set in my homebrew world of Audra check us out Sunday's at 10 AM CST and follow us at the following social media links. https://www.twitch.tv/thebonusrole @BonusRole
are there any rules that prevent anybody from creating new spells ?
Brief guidelines for creating new spells can be found on page 183 of the DMG.
Beyond that I think it comes down to DM's option about allowing a Bard to develop spells that use the sound of an instrument rather than voice for the verbal component of spells. I could see the idea working in a lot of campaigns.
Could "mime" it with Somatic replacing Verbal components where able and sound effects where not.
This would be overpowered ruling because it would allow you to cast verbal spells when silenced and in similar situations. I think the best way to handle it is to allow the verbal part to be replaced by the sound of the instrument.
This argument takes the mechanic out of combat and into social encounters. The only reason I state this is because an average enemy party should be able to catch on to a Bard playing the same sound and them being hurt.
But in a social encounter, it might be easier to get away with for sure. But it is also going to be way harder. For example, if the party walks up to a group of guards but the wizard stays 30 feet back, it might be hard for the guards to notice or even tell what the wizard is doing. Give the same situation with a bard though, unless they got a very quiet instrument, the instrument might be easier to pick up on.
It would really boil down to the encounter which would be hard to detect. Someone playing a tune or someone talking. Yes, you can play music at all sorts of volumes but I would personally argue that it is easier for someone to hear music than a whisper.
Edit: also its for RP mainly, and as a DM as long as it is within reason I would generally bend the rules. Now if they tried to abuse it I would talk with them. If they didn't see reason, they just may be struck by a lightning strike dealing 200d12 of damage. Then they either leave my table because they want to break the game in an unfair way or roll a new player.
I am all for bending the rules for story or RP, but not to break the game in an unfair way. Everyone I play with is fairly reasonable and we all get along so its never been an issue. But they also know I am not afraid to kill their players. I think I have only ever killed one character with my lightning strike once. And it was a player that refused to even attempt to play by the rules and just wanted to argue every choice. So he died and decided not to play anymore. Most of the other players around the table thanked me for killing him and told me they didn't like playing with him after he left.
Wouldn't it still be a little overpowered because incantations are obvious but someone playing a bit of music might not be?
You can always make it very noticeable, ominous or dramatic music that's required. I like the music instead of voice idea, but if I'm the DM (IITDM), you're not going to be able to play Tiptoe Through the Tulips to cast Dissonant Whispers :) The sort of music you'd need to play to create magic will be the sort that people will take notice of if you're standing in the middle of the marketplace casting. Maybe cantrips and illusion spells will be different--or healing spell music will be more soothing, that sort of idea. But it can still be very noticeable music. "The bystanders in the market nearby turn to look, sensing the power coursing through the notes as they hang in the air." Done and done :)
Ive been thinking about creating a mute bard, I’d be carrying a lute (ukelele for real life rp) and just play and do gestures instead of my character talking. I’d still be talking to the Dm about stuff but my characters strictly mute. I’ve always wondered, how do vocal spells work with a mute bard, or bards in general? Do you have to speak or can you play music instead? If you have to speak then how do flutes work?
ps: I’m pretty new so there’s a lot of stuff I’m trying to get the hang of
Yeah, unfortunately a lot of spells and particularly Bard spells need a verbal component. It would be a difficult limitation, but it could be a fun one! Here are the Bard spells that don't require a verbal component:
RAW a focus (like a musical instrument for a bard) can replace the material component of a spell, and you can use the same hand for the somatic component, but it does not replace the verbal component. So there are only a few spells you can cast without being able to speak, as mentioned above.
As a DM I would probably allow a mute bard to use an instrument for verbal components if that's how he learned magic (ie. not if only mute due to temporary conditions).
Yep, that seems still balanced. The "downsides" to a verbal component are that they cause noise (thus are not subtle or stealthy) and that they do not function when silenced (magically or mundane). Being mute but creating the required magical noise via an instrument or something should be fine. It matches the normal downsides and adds the slight additional con of needing that instrument handy.
are there any rules that prevent anybody from creating new spells ?
Could "mime" it with Somatic replacing Verbal components where able and sound effects where not.
GM of The Bonus Role - We are playing a 5E game set in my homebrew world of Audra check us out Sunday's at 10 AM CST and follow us at the following social media links.
https://www.twitch.tv/thebonusrole
@BonusRole
Brief guidelines for creating new spells can be found on page 183 of the DMG.
Beyond that I think it comes down to DM's option about allowing a Bard to develop spells that use the sound of an instrument rather than voice for the verbal component of spells. I could see the idea working in a lot of campaigns.
This would be overpowered ruling because it would allow you to cast verbal spells when silenced and in similar situations. I think the best way to handle it is to allow the verbal part to be replaced by the sound of the instrument.
Wouldn't it still be a little overpowered because incantations are obvious but someone playing a bit of music might not be?
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This argument takes the mechanic out of combat and into social encounters. The only reason I state this is because an average enemy party should be able to catch on to a Bard playing the same sound and them being hurt.
But in a social encounter, it might be easier to get away with for sure. But it is also going to be way harder. For example, if the party walks up to a group of guards but the wizard stays 30 feet back, it might be hard for the guards to notice or even tell what the wizard is doing. Give the same situation with a bard though, unless they got a very quiet instrument, the instrument might be easier to pick up on.
It would really boil down to the encounter which would be hard to detect. Someone playing a tune or someone talking. Yes, you can play music at all sorts of volumes but I would personally argue that it is easier for someone to hear music than a whisper.
Edit: also its for RP mainly, and as a DM as long as it is within reason I would generally bend the rules. Now if they tried to abuse it I would talk with them. If they didn't see reason, they just may be struck by a lightning strike dealing 200d12 of damage. Then they either leave my table because they want to break the game in an unfair way or roll a new player.
I am all for bending the rules for story or RP, but not to break the game in an unfair way. Everyone I play with is fairly reasonable and we all get along so its never been an issue. But they also know I am not afraid to kill their players. I think I have only ever killed one character with my lightning strike once. And it was a player that refused to even attempt to play by the rules and just wanted to argue every choice. So he died and decided not to play anymore. Most of the other players around the table thanked me for killing him and told me they didn't like playing with him after he left.
You can always make it very noticeable, ominous or dramatic music that's required. I like the music instead of voice idea, but if I'm the DM (IITDM), you're not going to be able to play Tiptoe Through the Tulips to cast Dissonant Whispers :) The sort of music you'd need to play to create magic will be the sort that people will take notice of if you're standing in the middle of the marketplace casting. Maybe cantrips and illusion spells will be different--or healing spell music will be more soothing, that sort of idea. But it can still be very noticeable music. "The bystanders in the market nearby turn to look, sensing the power coursing through the notes as they hang in the air." Done and done :)
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)