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So far, I only have the Palladium Fantasy 2nd E, Dragons and Gods and Monsters and Animals books. I'm crafting my own adventure and got to wondering if there is an existing OCC for a bard in any of the other books?

If not, what could be a good setup for a normal person that's bard?

Adventures on the High Seas has a bard. They are generalized entertainers, not the semi-magical musicians of D&D.

they don't really need to be magic to be a bard. as a bard you are never turned away at taverns nor at town gates. bards were the "sex symbols" of the day. source of entertainment, news, culture, sophistication, decorum, manners, etiquette, and elocution. skilled in conversation, story telling, barter, flirtation, seduction, public speaking, music, and the use of weapons. the ones who was welcomed almost anywhere due to their wit and refinement. the bard was in-the-know on all the latest gossip, rumors, current upheavals, and basically general knowledge of several cities and areas or can find out easily enough!

the ink quill is mightier then 10,000 swords. the things they can do with a mere song. help or hinder trade, help or hinder a church, topple a kingdom or make it seam like heaven, start or stop an uprising or revolt, etc. in a way, their songs are magical. they can plant seeds through music and reach a lot of people quickly.

Mark Hall wrote:Adventures on the High Seas has a bard. They are generalized entertainers, not the semi-magical musicians of D&D.

There is a Song mage in on of the Rifters. "Should" be findable with in the rifter index, or my list of Magic in the Rifters.

It is presented as a PF CC I believe.

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:

Mark Hall wrote:Adventures on the High Seas has a bard. They are generalized entertainers, not the semi-magical musicians of D&D.

There is a Song mage in on of the Rifters. "Should" be findable with in the rifter index, or my list of Magic in the Rifters.

It is presented as a PF CC I believe.

Rifter 18, Page 47.

No, you don't need magic to be a bard, but the frequent assumption of "Bard" in RPGs is one who is magical in some way. If the OP was looking for such a character, knowing where the bard OCC is doesn't do him a lot of good if he's looking for "Minor wizard who sings" or "magical musician" or any other interpretation commonly tied to the name "bard".

If you want a magical bard let him take some psionics or play a half wizard bard
However I did create a range of monsters that were effected by music, and the better the music the worse it was for the bad guys (reduced their invulnerability, stopped them from using certain powers and could stop their regen).

you've been watching Repossessed with Leslie Nielsen, Linda Blair, and Ned Beatty.

Well, in my adventure, I simply wanted a bard that's a local "celebrity" that could be a source of info and lore for my players. It'd be nice to have some magic skills on him but it doesn't matter. I'd like to have his songs maybe grant blessings or something...

I also want to have a barmaid too, but I've found no setups for one, except in Dead Reign's normal occ list - "Wait Staff/Cook", but there is too much I'd have to eliminate... too many of the "modern" skills...

I'd call the barmaid a Vagabond/Peasant OCC, myself. I don't see a terrible reason for them to be a full OCC.

If you want the bard's songs to grant blessings or something like that, you might make him the priest of some deity, just with those minor powers available. I worry less about balance when it's not intended for PC use.

Mark Hall wrote:I'd call the barmaid a Vagabond/Peasant OCC, myself. I don't see a terrible reason for them to be a full OCC.

That's a fantastic idea! Except, I think the merchant occ would be better. Thanks for the idea!

Mark Hall wrote:If you want the bard's songs to grant blessings or something like that, you might make him the priest of some deity, just with those minor powers available. I worry less about balance when it's not intended for PC use.

I'd have to customize it, but it'd be close to the priest...

The idea I have is that the blessings are not tied to a deity of any kind and are just minor boosts that lasts for maybe a week or so.

Eric42 wrote:

Mark Hall wrote:I'd call the barmaid a Vagabond/Peasant OCC, myself. I don't see a terrible reason for them to be a full OCC.

That's a fantastic idea! Except, I think the merchant occ would be better. Thanks for the idea!

NP. That's what the optional classes are really for... "I need this NPC, but don't feel like coming up with a full new OCC to describe left-handed willow-wood basketweavers."

Eric42 wrote:Well, in my adventure, I simply wanted a bard that's a local "celebrity" that could be a source of info and lore for my players. It'd be nice to have some magic skills on him but it doesn't matter. I'd like to have his songs maybe grant blessings or something...

If it is going to be a NPC then you don't need to write her up as so much but his personality and his skill and her possession and what the NPC knows.

Eric42 wrote:I also want to have a barmaid too, but I've found no setups for one, except in Dead Reign's normal occ list - "Wait Staff/Cook", but there is too much I'd have to eliminate... too many of the "modern" skills...

The Saloon Girl in the Rifts New West book is the template I go to for bar/tavern maids. Just replacing the modern skills with ones from the PF setting.

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:If it is going to be a NPC then you don't need to write her up as so much but his personality and his skill and her possession and what the NPC knows.

The Saloon Girl in the Rifts New West book is the template I go to for bar/tavern maids. Just replacing the modern skills with ones from the PF setting.

I don't have any of the Rifts books. Not sure I'll ever get any of them. Oh well.

It's fine, you don't need them. There were some pretty good suggestions besides using Rifts as a framework.

Though for bard type NPC's, I'm all about just winging it.

Rifter #18 has a Song Mage class that is basically a mage that uses music to cast magic that might be what your looking for.

Bard OCC pg 19 Adventures on the high seas

saloon girl / barmaid occ pg 123 New west just remove high tech skills and weapon proficiency to adapt it to pfrpg