If you want a lore answer regarding the realms, music (rhythm and sound) are an alternative use of verbal and somatic components. Bards attend “colleges” to study forms and functions much the same as wizards do. Difference being mode. And yes, a 1st level bard has sufficient magical power (if harnessed precisely) to kill.
Do keep in mind it takes no small amount of willpower for a bard to cast. Thus is the spellcasting mod charisma.
Maybe it’s because I’m a computer programmer with no artistic inclinations, but I find it hard to suspend disbelief about bardic magic. Of course a wizard can cast spells because he read a book, since books are important. But music isn’t very important (to me) in real life. I can say “that sounds nice” or even “that sounds exciting/peaceful/happy/sad” but I don’t think I would be too bothered if I could never hear music again.
I was exaggerating for comedic effect in my original post - I’m not trying to give bard players a hard time. But I do wonder: if you’re a person for whom bardic magic “makes sense” in a way that makes it easy to suspend disbelief, are you also someone who’s artistically inclined? Does music “speak to you” in a sense?
If you want a lore answer regarding the realms, music (rhythm and sound) are an alternative use of verbal and somatic components. Bards attend “colleges” to study forms and functions much the same as wizards do. Difference being mode. And yes, a 1st level bard has sufficient magical power (if harnessed precisely) to kill.
Do keep in mind it takes no small amount of willpower for a bard to cast. Thus is the spellcasting mod charisma.
Maybe it’s because I’m a computer programmer with no artistic inclinations, but I find it hard to suspend disbelief about bardic magic. Of course a wizard can cast spells because he read a book, since books are important. But music isn’t very important (to me) in real life. I can say “that sounds nice” or even “that sounds exciting/peaceful/happy/sad” but I don’t think I would be too bothered if I could never hear music again.
I was exaggerating for comedic effect in my original post - I’m not trying to give bard players a hard time. But I do wonder: if you’re a person for whom bardic magic “makes sense” in a way that makes it easy to suspend disbelief, are you also someone who’s artistically inclined? Does music “speak to you” in a sense?