Musical Components

Most bards are almost magically skilled at some form of musical expression. If you are seeking a way to more closely incorporate this talent with a bard's magical abilities, you may want to consider the option of using music as the verbal component to spells. Then, instead of speaking arcane words to invoke a spell, the bard sings a song, recites poetry, or plays a tune.

Of course, as with all optional rules, you must first obtain your Dungeon Master's approval. If this option is taken, a bard can perform some form of music in place of a spell's verbal component. However, once this option is agreed upon for your bard, he can no longer speak words to cast spells requiring verbal components. He must always resort to music. Only one of the three musical mediums (singing, poetry, or instrumental) works for any particular bard (until 10th level). Demi-bards have different options available to them. The musical options for bards and demi-bards are given in Table 18.

Table 18: VERBAL COMPONENT SUBSTITUTES

Kit	Musical Substitute
True	Singing or Instrumental*
Blade	Poetry
Charlatan	Singing
Gallant	Poetry
Gypsy	Instrumental
Herald	Instrumental
Jester	Poetry, Singing, or Instrumental*
Jongleur	Poetry
Loremaster	Instrumental
Meistersinger	Instrumental
Riddlemaster	Poetry
Skald	Singing
Thespian	Singing
Demi-Bards
Chanter	Chanting
Minstrel	Special**
Professor	Whistling or Instrumental*
Whistler	Whistling

*The bard must select only one of these options. This choice is binding and cannot be altered at a later time.

**Minstrels are a special case. Refer to their kit description.

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