Musical Instruments

[pawsplay]

They cost 50s but they don't do anything! I guess Perform was cut. At that price, should they be good for a +2 to Relax and Impress or something? Maybe remove the need for a common language to Impress?

[ludomastro]

I'm sure someone more knowledgable than I will also answer.  Nevertheless, either of the two you suggested would work.  I might go so far as to allow both.

[Cherrypie]

Peronally, I´ve been using musical instrument use as Knowledge checks, and instrument types (Keyboard, String, Wind, Drum, Voice, etc.) as Interests, with bonuses from a social skill (Impress, Intimidate if its Metal, Bluff if its a crappy garage band)

[pawsplay]

What do you do with the Knowledge check?

[Cherrypie]

Just evaluate how well their performance should be-- you know. See the number, ignore it, and tell the result.

[Daedalus]

I imagine that musical instruments allow you to use Impress checks without espousing an idealism or something like that.  I imagine using Impress without an instrument requires some kind of formulation and a "knowledge of the audience".  It also exists, I imagine, to be a base for magic items that might have calling effects (as suggested) or any other magical effects that are typical in the mythical bardic traditions.

[Crafty_Pat]

Perform is indeed a part of Impress (or rarely, other social skills), as suggested. Extremely high-end instruments may eventually grant benefits to these checks but not the one in the book. 50s is not a high price for something that's essentially a specialty craft in fantasy.

[pawsplay]

A trip to the launderer can give you a temporary +1 Appearance, a pipe can help you Relax... but a 50s musical instrument in the hands of a bard does nothing?

[Antilles]

It... makes music? I dunno what more you could want from a musical instrument...

[pawsplay]

I personally find pipe-smoking not at all relaxing, but I think listening to a guitar or violin is a pretty traditional way for ramblers and vagabonds to relax.

[Wolverine]

I personally find pipe-smoking not at all relaxing...

I think that's more a reference to Lord of the Rings, where pipe smoking is a rather common relaxant. They might be smoking something different to you, though.

[pawsplay]

In the Hobbit, they broke out some musical instruments and sang some songs.

[Crafty_Pat]

First, cost is a facet of the item being made, not how well it's being made or the role it plays in the game, so that really shouldn't have anything to do with whether it has an effect. Second, we intentionally left bonus mechanics off many items that allow you to do something - in this case, play music. Like I said, we may introduce higher-end instruments eventually but for now, we feel 50s is the cost of making music in an age where lutes and drums are neither common nor simple to produce.

[Sletchman]

Plus superior music instruments can be prizes*.  Magic items don't have to be magical you know.

* A gift from the lands greatest artisans for instance, a work that would normally cost several hundred silver, comissioned from the king.  For the right character...

[Crafty_Pat]

Plus superior music instruments can be prizes*.  Magic items don't have to be magical you know.

* A gift from the lands greatest artisans for instance, a work that would normally cost several hundred silver, comissioned from the king.  For the right character...

That's pretty slick! Well reasoned, Turnip!