One of the things I've always loved E.G.G. for is the fact that he really tried to make Bards a complicated class, like they were in history & myth, rather than taking the "musician" cop out.
Historically, it took seven years to make an average bard, which was just the first step to becoming a druid.
In fact, they weren't really musicians, either. They were poets and political advisers to the mighty. They were expected to know and compose histories and litanies and eulogies, to be experts in other assorted cultural lore, and held power in court. Court historian and commentator is more apt than musician.
I'm not entirely certain the original Welsh bards had to be able to sing or play music at all, while the Irish bards were somewhat more prestigious than the fili, who were primarily musicians. It was only later with Celtic revivalism and romanticism that "bard" and "musician" became synonymous.
A socially savvy, satirically silver-tongued, sinister subterfuge spinning schemer and sword-swinging slayer could also be a way to approach a bard. Insofar as he always alliterates alluringly with amazing acumen, of course.
Last edited by Vondy; Feb 5th, '12 at 01:47 PM.
Nihil tam absurde dici potest, quod non dicatur ab aliquo philosophorum.
In fact, they weren't really musicians, either. They were poets and political advisers to the mighty. They were expected to know and compose histories and litanies and eulogies, to be experts in other assorted cultural lore, and held power in court. Court historian and commentator is more apt than musician.
I'm not entirely certain the original Welsh bards had to be able to sing or play music at all, while the Irish bards were somewhat more prestigious than the fili, who were primarily musicians. It was only later with Celtic revivalism and romanticism that "bard" and "musician" became synonymous.
A socially savvy, satirically silver-tongued, sinister subterfuge spinning schemer and sword-swinging slayer could also be a way to approach a bard. Insofar as he always alliterates alluringly with amazing acumen, of course.
Musical skill has always been a requirement, but more as rhythmic accompaniment for battlefield type chants. The Celts were pretty big about the practical applications of music in general, but in the case of bardic chants it was more as a memory aide then what we'd consider a song. Harps were specifically called out as weapons of war because of the way the bards used them to fire up troops out on the field... here's a late period example I'm fond of...(spoilered for size) Spoiler:
The Incitement to Battle
Harlaw, 1411
by Lachlann Mor MacMhuirich
O Children of Conn, remember
Hardihood in time of battle:
Be watchful, daring,
Be dextrous, winning renown,
Be vigorous, pre-eminent,
Be strong, brave,
Be valiant, triumphant,
Be resolute, fierce,
Be forceful and stand your ground,
Be nimble, valourous,
Be well-equipped, handsomely accoutred,
Be dominant, watchful,
Be fervid, pugnacious,
Be dour, inspiring fear,
Be ready for action, warrior-like,
Be prompt,
Be exceedingly, recklessly daring,
Be prepared, willing,
Be numerous, giving battle,
Be fiery, fully-ready,
Be strong, dealing swift blows,
Be spirited, inflicting great wounds,
Be stout-hearted, martial,
Be venomous, implacable,
Be fearless,
Be swift, performing great deeds,
Be glorious, nobly powerful,
Be rapid in movement, very quick,
Be valiant, princely,
Be acting, exceedingly bold,
Be ready, fresh and comely,
Be king-like,
Be eager, be successful,
Be unflurried, striking excellent blows,
Be compact in your ranks, elated,
Be vigorous, nimble-footed,
In winning the battle against your enemies.
O Children of Conn of the Hundred Battles.
Now is the time for you to win recognition,
O raging whelps,
O sturdy heroes,
O most sprightly lions,
O battle-loving warriors,
O brave, heroic firebrands,
The Children of Conn of the Hundred Battles,
O Children of Conn, remember
Hardihood in time of battle.
I mean, yeah, I dig it, and with a powerful delivery it'll get the boys riled up nice. I've used it myself on a couple of occasions, and I tell you that a tune would make that middle part a lot easier to keep in focus.
But it isn't something you'd be likely able to dance to...
Edit: Hit send before I meant to... Yeah, a veteran Satirist could go bad really easy, and really bad.
Last edited by AmadanNaBriona; Feb 5th, '12 at 08:57 PM.
There are stories of faeries and banshees and the walking dead; but "the worst of them all," is the Fool of Forth, the Amadan-na-Briona, he whose stroke is, as death, incurable.
As to the fool in this world, the pity for him is mingled with some awe, for who knows what windows may have been opened to those who are under the moon's spell, who do not give in to our limitations, are not "bound by reason to the wheel."
Lady Gregory
"Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland"
Me. Someone who doesn't even think of what version his game is, as if there are versions? Someone who get online looking for a game where he can dust off his characters and rulebooks that haven't seen the light of day in a decade?
Systems I use: D&D 3.5, Pathfinder, Star Wars SAGA, Star Wars Revised Core Rules, GURPS 4th Edition, Shadowrun 4th Edition, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, New World of Darkness, Spycraft 2.0, d20 Modern, Alternity, Savage Worlds, HERO 6th Edition, and Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Edition.
Quit bashing other systems: it isn't doing you any favors.
In fact, they weren't really musicians, either. They were poets and political advisers to the mighty. They were expected to know and compose histories and litanies and eulogies, to be experts in other assorted cultural lore, and held power in court. Court historian and commentator is more apt than musician.
I'm not entirely certain the original Welsh bards had to be able to sing or play music at all, while the Irish bards were somewhat more prestigious than the fili, who were primarily musicians. It was only later with Celtic revivalism and romanticism that "bard" and "musician" became synonymous.
A socially savvy, satirically silver-tongued, sinister subterfuge spinning schemer and sword-swinging slayer could also be a way to approach a bard. Insofar as he always alliterates alluringly with amazing acumen, of course.
So, would V count as a bard?
SteveZilla
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." - Ronald Reagan
"It is impossible for a government to spend its country into prosperity because it is impossible for it to tax its country into prosperity."
"Ooohhh no! There goes my die roll / Go, go SteveZilla!" - FireTiger
"Pardon me boy / Is this the lair of Great Cthulhu?
In the city of slime / Where its night all the time."
I got a bit nostaligic and have been rereading my 1st edition books again recently. But all it did was remind me of the reasons I stopped playing AD&D. I did photocopy some of the DMG appendices to keep in my regular gaming notes, though - random dungeons and the dungeon dressing notes are just too cool to be overlooked.
So I turned to what became my primary dungeon-crawling replacement, Rolemaster. I think if I ever were to run a Rolemaster game again, it'd be pre-RCII Classic. The later version (I have RMFRP as well) keeps the plethora of skills which weigh the system down so much. I still rate Campaign Law (much of which was republished in the RMSS/RMFRP Gamesmaster Law) as having some great world-building advice, though.
But nostalgia aside, I'm running a very old school campaign with Fantasy Hero (6e).
There has to be a way to uparmor the rhinos and make them into spectacular heavy cavalry mounts for a squad of machine-gun-wielding combat biologists. Envenoming the rhino's horn is just icing on the cake. Old Man
I'm the other way. I enjoy going back to the old editions of D&D and AD&D. I eventually go back to those books after trying out a new game. Those editions just work for me. I was also looking at some old issues of Dragon and Shadis the other day and remembered why I keep them. Lots of useful stuff there.
Patron saint of sore feet, fury, and breaking things
Heh. It was going to be the cover of the FH introductory adventure pack I'm working on (now tentatively titled Borderlands), until I realised such heavy referencing of the 1st edition player book of a popular roleplaying game (as we say under OGL) was not a good idea for a Hero book.
I'm rather proud of it though, and am now casting around for replacement cover inspiration.
There has to be a way to uparmor the rhinos and make them into spectacular heavy cavalry mounts for a squad of machine-gun-wielding combat biologists. Envenoming the rhino's horn is just icing on the cake. Old Man
Systems I use: D&D 3.5, Pathfinder, Star Wars SAGA, Star Wars Revised Core Rules, GURPS 4th Edition, Shadowrun 4th Edition, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, New World of Darkness, Spycraft 2.0, d20 Modern, Alternity, Savage Worlds, HERO 6th Edition, and Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Edition.
Quit bashing other systems: it isn't doing you any favors.
Originally Posted by AmadanNaBriona
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