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| What the rest of the party think I do. |
Confession
time, I have never played a Bard.... nor do I know of anyone who has. Ever. I
don’t know why exactly and I’m sure there are many out there who could tell me
the reasons why, however, it got me thinking about an alternative Bardic type
PC, (drum roll please, (oh the puns keep on coming) the Spellsinger. It was while I was working on this
post, and reminiscing about the good old days, that it came to mind. Now, while
we had zero bards in our gaming groups down the years, we have had a few
Spellsingers.
It
all started with a series of books written by Alan Dean Foster back in the
‘80’s about a young college student (who while as high as a kite) crosses over
into a fantasy world. Now of course he thinks he is tripping his nuts off, and
hallucinating, but that all come to an abrupt end when the talking otter
(Mudge), he is conversing with, stabs him. The blood, and pain, makes Jon-Tom realise
that all is not well in his world. A long story short, a sentient tortoise
(Clothahump) that lives in a tree, and is an ancient magician, cast a spell in
the hope of summoning a great warrior from beyond. Something went awry and he
winds up with Jon-Tom in his stead.
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| What my parents think I do |
Jon-Tom
is stuck in their world, and is useless at everything, until one day he picks
up a Duar (a hybrid guitar/biwa/lute creation), sings a little song, and what
he sings about manifests itself. Jon-Tom is what they call a Spellsinger.
Whatever he sings about materialises, but not always in the manner of his
desires. Once he sings “Little Deuce Coup” by the Beach Boys, in the hope of
creating a car, but instead summons a twelve foot long racing lizard with
saddles on it; transport, yes, but not what he had in mind.
I
think there were eight books in the series, and I recall them fondly as a teen,
however, I think they might not have aged at all well, and might indeed be a
bit twee... who knows, I’m in no hurry to find out either, best let sleeping
Spellsingers lie.
So
I thought I would have a little fun and create some Spellsongs for those who
think they might want to give it a bash as a fun character to play. It really
is a tongue-in-cheek class but can add a little hilarity in the most unexpected
corners of a dungeon if need be.
It
would be best to work it out with your DM before hand, as to how many songs the
PC could sing per day, or encounter, also how long the Spellsinger would need
to sing before the desired result happened, and also, just what that result
might be.
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| What I think I do |
The
Spellsinger would have to come from our world too, otherwise what would he sing
about? Unless you and the DM want to make your own songs that fit with your
world, but knowing the limited time we all have, I don’t see that happening.
For
all other statistics, just use the Bard’s stat lines, and remember, they don’t
just have to sing songs, they could recite evocative poetry, bawdy limericks
about bow-legged sailors from Nantucket, or even Nursery Rhymes and Jump-Rope
Songs, which as we all know, are a little eerie to begin with... so, without
further adieu, songs (and their possible results) for your Spellsinger.
P.S. I listen to a lot
of ‘heavier’ music, so my choices are somewhat weighted toward that genre.
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| What I actually do |
1)
Song: It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)
Artist:
Bob Dylan
Range:
1’
Duration:
Permanent
Casting
Time: 4 Rounds
Effect:
Any two living creatures.
Used
to heal damage, and cures 2-7 hit points for two creatures. Also negates paralysis brought on by spell or touch,
not by excessive alcohol abuse.
2)
Song: Don’t fear the Reaper
Artist:
Blue Oyster Cult
Range:
40’
Duration:
I turn
Casting
Time: 2 Rounds
Effect:
Against Un-dead or summoned beasties
This
song will cause one undead creature to burst into flame and burn hotter the
longer the Spellsinger plays, eventually causing them to explode. If they make
a successful saving throw then they will merely burn for 1d8 for 4 rounds. If they
fail, BOOM! If cast at a summoned entity, and it fails its saving throw, then
it will return from whence it came.
3) Song: Dark as a Dungeon
Artist:
Johnny Cash (original Merle Travis)
Range:
120’
Duration:
4 Turns +1 Turn per level of caster
Casting
Time: 2 Rounds
Effect:
Volume of 45’ in diameter
Singing
this little ditty creates a swathe of complete darkness which completely blocks
out any light source, be it magical or mundane, and also renders any biological
vision abilities useless. If cast at a particular beings eyes, Save vs. Spells
or go blind for the duration of the spell; not even a light spell can break the
Man-in-Black and his darkness.
4)
Song: Shoot to Thrill
Artist:
AC/DC
Range:
175’
Duration:
1 Round
Casting
Time: 1 Round
Effect:
Creates one or more bolts of magical awesomeness
When
this song is sung, a magical bolt of metal bursts forth from the headstock of
the Spellsinger’s instrument doing 1d8 +1 to anyone foolish enough to get in
its way. It never misses, and the Spellsinger can add another one to his
arsenal for every three levels gained.
5)
Song: While my Guitar Gently Weeps
Artist:
The Beatles
Range:
260’
Duration:
2d12 turns
Casting
Time: 2 Rounds
Effect:
3-30 Hit Dice of living creatures (no un-dead) within a 60’ square area
Hearing
the skills of one George Harrison, sends the unlucky creatures into a fit of uncontrollable
weeping that makes any form of attack impossible. They will drop their weapons
and cry, and works on creatures of 5+1 Hit Dice or less only, with no Saving Throw
allowed. If however, one of the creatures were to be killed while in this state
by one of the party, then it will shatter the illusion and it is business as usual;
best used to escape hordes etc.
6)
Song: Welcome to the Jungle
Artist:
Guns & Roses
Range:
40’
Duration:
1 Round per level of caster
Casting
Time: 3 Round
Effect:
Creates deadly entangling jungle vines
Singing
this 80’s hit, creates thick, thorny jungle vines, to sprout anywhere the
Spellsinger wants within the 40’ area. He can control them, and make them do
his bidding, such as binding his foes or use them to grow on a wall in order
for people to climb. However, the thorns are extremely sharp and can do 1-3 Hit
Points of damage to the unwary.
7)
Song: Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be
Artist:
AC/DC
Duration
1 Turn per level of caster
Casting
Time: 3 Rounds
Effect:
Creates a 10’ cage of Hellfire
Summons
a flaming cage of hellfire to contain any creature of 6+1 Hit Die or below.
Cannot be negated or escaped, especially if the Spellsinger sings this song in
its entirety. Two Barbed Demons stand on watch outside the cage just in case
the occupant tries to escape. The cage, and the demons, will disappear once the
spell is over; leaving the former captive cowering on the floor.
8)
Song: Sweet Thing
Artist:
Van Morrison
Duration
2 Turns per level of caster
Casting
Time: 1 Rounds
Effect:
One person
Affects
anyone who would rather stand in the way of the party and brings them around to
the Spellsingers way of thinking, and for the duration of the spell, the
enchanted will comply completely with the Spellsingers commands, accept to do
anything that may cause it harm.
9)
Song: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Artist:
Bob Dylan
Range:
55’
Duration:
1 ‘locked door, portal, gate etc’ per caster level
Casting
Time: 1 Round
Effect:
Volume of 45’ in diameter
Any
door, gate, portal, or hole, used for ingress or egress, locked magically, or
merely rusted shut, cannot stand up to the twangyness of Mr Dylan’s famous
song. It will be opened in a jiffy, sometimes even blowing the offending door
of its hinges to send it barrelling down the hallway.
10)
Song: Creeping Death
Artist:
Metallica
Range:
666’
Duration:
1/2 hour only, anytime from sunup to sunset
Casting
Time: The entire song must be sung
Effect:
Creates a swarm of locusts of almost biblical proportions.
Summons
so many locusts that it blots out the sun and blackens the sky. They will eat
anything that stands in their way. Animal or mineral, nothing is safe. Any
living creature under 4+1 Hit Dice will be consumed entirely. Not even a
skeleton will be left. The swarm can surround the Spellsinger in a ball of 80’,
or be controlled from a distance by pointing his musical instrument to where he
wants them to go.
11)
Song: Black Blade
Artist:
Blue Oyster Cult
Range:
1’
Duration:
1 Turn per caster level
Casting
Time: The entire song must be sung
Effect:
Creates an otherworldly sword
The
singing of this eldritch tune summons an unholy blade of evil from beyond both
space and time. It is a +3 to hit, as well as a +3 to damage, and any roll over
a 17 cause automatic decapitation...but... any roll of a three or under, and
the sword takes a swing at the caster instead. Use this weapon as a last resort
only!!
12)
Song: Gallows Pole
Artist:
Led Zeppelin
Range:
70’
Duration:
7 Turns
Casting
Time: 3 Rounds
Effect:
Causes ropes to knot themselves into a Hangman’s noose and attack
The
Spellsinger can animate 2d8 pieces of rope into turning themselves into nooses
and then attempting to strangle foes the Spellsingers foes. The DM should give
the ropes the appropriate AC as well as movement rate as well as potential damage.
But should be a minimum AC of 8 and do 1d8+1.
13)
Song: Purple haze
Artist:
Jimi Hendrix
Range:
Spellsinger only
Duration:
2 Turns per level of caster
Casting
Time: 4 Rounds
Effect:
Creates a huge purple mist
Singing
this song cause purple smoke to flow from the Spellsinger’s mouth, nose, and
ears, filling an area of 20’ per level of the caster; if the Spellsinger moves,
then the purple haze moves with him. It will essentially blind everyone except
the singer and cause any combat taking place within the haze to take place at a
-4 to hit.
14)
Song: Iron Man
Artist:
Black Sabbath
Range:
120’
Duration:
6 Turns
Casting
Time: 4Rounds
Effect:
Summons an 8 Hit Dice Iron Statue
See
your friendly neighbourhood Monster Manual for the applicable stats.
15)
Song: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Artist:
AC/DC
Range:
120’
Duration:
4 Turns +1 Turn per level of caster
Casting
Time: 6 Rounds
Effect:
Summons an Invisible Stalker as an Assassin
As
above, see your Monster Manual for the low-down on these bad boys.
There
you have just 15 examples of what songs may or may not do. Remember, there is
also a chance that it may not be cast as desired, as an example, instead of the
hellfire cage being around the enemy; it may misfire and trap the party
instead.
But
the minutia of that is up to you. So, if you want to get your kids listening to
decent music, as well as getting them into role-playing, let them roll up a
Spellsinger and see what happens.
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| The Wizard |
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| Back in Black |
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| Flutes of flaming fury. The Pied Piper of Jethro Tull |
