PlaneShift

Gameplay => Wish list => Topic started by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 05:58:34 pm

Title: Bardic Class
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 05:58:34 pm
I always loved the Bardic class in EQ

The only problem being EQ couldn\'t decide whether bards were Mages or Warriors.

Plus Music and Crystals are a powerful combinations You know vibrations and such.

Anyway what does everyone else think?
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 06:00:01 pm
There are no classes in PS.
Although some sort of Bard-skill would be nice. For example, you can buy a lute, and play it for your comrades in battle, raising their morale, strength, dex etc.
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 06:02:45 pm
My thought is that the bardic magic would be powered by setting up sympathetic resonances in the Crystal. All insturments would have crystal parts for tuning and Resonating. You could even upgrade your instruments by getting better crystals to replace variouse parts.
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 06:06:56 pm
Sounds good, but exactly what do you want to be able to do with the instruments? Charm animals? Earn cash? Trick monsters? Aid fellow gamers?
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 06:15:37 pm
Haven\'t thought it all through yet.

Here are some of my preliminary thoughts though. Bards should be primarily charm and illusionist magic. In other words charming NPC or casting Illusions. Illusions would also fit in the other traditional task of bards that of the storyteller. They use the illusions to tell their story. Although storytelling may not actually be implemented in the game like that.

Anyway imagine being able to charm a dragon. This would make the bard a great choice for the Explorer or Wagoneer that I saw earlier. He could charm NPC Creatures for his travels. Some charms could last only the length of the song. some Might be more permanent.
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 06:20:47 pm
So bards should be a part of the azure way (the way of illusions, right?) ?
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 06:41:26 pm
Yeah but highly specialized.

It would take more work to learn the musical spells thus making it impossible to learn an additional way. A bard would have to really want to be a bard.
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 06:48:51 pm
Hmm, are you sure that bards should use magic? IMO, the music should come from them and them alone, not magic. Although, I really like the idea of attaching crystals to the instrument. Different crystals do different things. Also, I think that a group of bards should be able to play music together, making their \"spells\" even stronger. Perhaps the music could even injure the monsters, or paralyze them?
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 06:54:21 pm
You misunderstood: The magic is caused BY the Bards music.

There would basically be a subsection of spells in the Azure way that were musical in nature. They are difficult to learn and require that the character be of the musician Job to do.

On the subject of joint magic. Some spells could be Duets, Trios, Quartets, and so on. They require multiple people playing different instruments in tandem. I\'m not sure about damage spells but charming a beast into paralysis would definitely fit with the concept. The Song holds the Creature spellbound while a Warrior hacks away.
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 06:58:37 pm
OK, now I understand. I agree with you on most of the points, although, Im not sure that it should be in the Azure way. I think there should be one more way, the musical way (lousy name).
But, should this way be restricted, meaning that should some types not be able to learn it? For example, should a Kran be able to play a flute? A Streetwarrior able to play the violin?
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 18, 2003, 07:05:08 pm
I don\'t know enough about the variouse races attributes to answer that one. Wiser heads than I would have to answer.

An additional way could be used but I was thinking about the developers and wanted to make it as easy to fit into their current setup as possible.

I think a specialization within the way is an elegant solution and probably very workable.
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 18, 2003, 07:09:25 pm
Perhaps. We should get some more opinions on this. Speak your mind everyone.
Title:
Post by: benmarg on July 19, 2003, 08:30:00 pm
Well the bard is a character that dabbles in a bit of everything, doesn\'t he? (or she...don\'t get on my case about it!)

So it\'s fine - in my opinion - if a bard is skilled in some forms of magic, and one would think that said magic should supplement his ability at music and story-telling, etc.

Now, the illusions bit is probably the way to go (as has already been said) since the bard is there to offer a form of escape to the masses.

However, instead of spells primarily, why not just set about creating a list of songs that would not only come from the bard but also serve some purpose via some sort of magical properties - not unlike a chant or prayer or what have you. All it\'d take is the right crystals in the instrument (which is a decent idea as well) and a good enough skill at playing the particular song.

As for the highly specialized part that is somewhat hazzy. From what i remmeber a bard can be a jack of all trades being able to do a little of that and this. However the commitment to learning the songs should be great since only by performing them flawlessly (much like a failure rate for spells the bard will have a certain probability of mucking up the song if he is not able to play it well) can the magical effects be felt.

Well...that\'s my two cents on the topic.
Title:
Post by: Kuiper7986 on July 19, 2003, 09:04:43 pm
What I believe is that Bard\'s songs are a class of magic itself; \"Musical Magic.\"
Title:
Post by: druke on July 20, 2003, 08:55:33 am
this is simple, its like som,ething i have been thinking about. there are 5 primary magic class types

wizard-magic from study
cleric- maagic form a diety
druid- magic from nature
bard-magic through rythems
Psion-\"magic\"thorugh inner self

all the magic \"class\"s are very common and seeing as how planesnift is going to be skill based i think that \"bard\" or \"Cleric\" is just ones way of saying how he draws his magical abilities.
Title:
Post by: Drilixer on July 20, 2003, 11:07:31 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Kuiper7986
What I believe is that Bard\'s songs are a class of magic itself; \"Musical Magic.\"


maybe Resonant Magic is a better name - since resonance is an important anomaly in wave physics (sound)

I dont like the idea of bards as having magic though - I think a music skill would be more appropriate - there should be no visual effects associated with it beyond the motion of the bard moving his arms mouth etc etc - afterall you cant see music... alot of games throw in visuals for bards and thus confuse their songs as magic - bards are middle road spend their skill points on everything characters - if a music skill is introduced then a bard can dabble in that - but the point being if you play a \'bard\' you have to put a little of your points into everything and roleplay that with a vengeance - many people dont realize that the way the skills are set up - classes are merely self-enforced limitations on what skills you use - for example if you are trying to make a wizard you could but SHOULDNT put any points into your axe skill *panting* ok... thats about it - I never liked bards anyway - my warriors are usually too unappreciative of music - and my mages too evil or powerful to listen to worthless wandering peasants anyways
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 21, 2003, 06:36:21 am
Resonant magic I like that yeah I like that a lot... hehe

The bardic magic is a longstanding tradition in Celtic lore and Faery tradition. I myself have always loved this concept and don\'t see any problem with it. The bard is not a jack of all trades character but a bonafide mage. Many who think like you do are the ones who ruin the bard implementation like EQ did.

anyone else Got a comment on this idea?
Title:
Post by: Drilixer on July 21, 2003, 07:50:23 am
many things have long traditions... for example take your stereotypical town drunk -> just because they are mentioned in nearly every fantasy novel/story , no one wants a drunkard class... I hope :)
Title:
Post by: Caldazar on July 21, 2003, 11:07:34 am
I want the \"bard\" to be a little like the thane in DAoC, since we are talking about classes. Basically he/she is a fighter, swordsmen most common, with the ability to boost his comrades. Of course, he/she isn\'t has to sacrifice some of his sword-training in order to train with the lute.

EDIT: The words got jumbled.
Title:
Post by: Drilixer on July 21, 2003, 08:34:13 pm
sacrificing is good
Title:
Post by: zaphar on July 21, 2003, 11:31:45 pm
I don\'t know much about DAoC just what I\'ve read off the box. But I would personally like to see more than just buffing ability. I would like them to be true mage\'s with a whole system of spells to learn and work on. The melee combat would be ok I guess but I prefer the focus to be on magic.
Title:
Post by: Havena on July 27, 2003, 06:46:33 pm
I really like your concept of Bards, zaphar  :) .

I can imagine a Bard standing behind the warriors in a scuff, playing harmonic tunes and singing a tale of fear into the enemy\'s heart; making illusions, having buff/negative effects or anything. A range of songs could be obtainable with various effects, so long as they fit with the field of magic people would imagine songs to produce.

I suppose Songs could simply be another skill. No need to add another Way or a character type. Then the player can tell you they\'re a Bard and you accept it at that.
Title:
Post by: Drilixer on July 27, 2003, 06:55:20 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Havena
I can imagine a Bard standing behind the warriors in a scuff, playing harmonic tunes and singing a tale of fear into the enemy\'s heart[/QUOTE

I don\'t like bards.

Bard\'s song #1
Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!

He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken,
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!

His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off
And his pen--

Bard\'s song #2
Brave Sir Robin ran away,
Bravely ran away, away.
When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly, he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin.

Bard\'s song #3
He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.