Bardic
Spellsongs in GS4
Intro:
To sing a
spellsong the Bard must first PREPARE the song using either the spellsong
number or the mnemonic. Next, the Bard
SINGs the song either at himself or a target.
Example:
PREP 1001 or PREP HOLDSONG
SING or SING
<target>
Mana Points
(MP) are required to begin singing a spellsong, with an additional MP cost when
the song is renewed. The renewal cost is
variable, based on the Bard’s level, Influence, and Logic, and grows as the
Bard’s ability in these areas increases.
This renewal cost is lower than the base mana cost of the spell and is
noted, where applicable, in the spell description. Each rank of Mental Lore, Telepathy that the
Bard trains in will increase their renewal time by 2 seconds.
A Bard may use
SING STATUS to see which spellsongs they are currently singing and an
approximation of duration before the next renewal interval. A Bard can either RENEW a specific spellsong
by including the spell number or the mnemonic after the command or RENEW ALL in
order to renew all their spellsongs.
Most songs cost
their level in Mana Points (MP) each time they are sung. For example, 1003 Fortitude Song, a level 3
spellsong, has a base cost of 3 mana.
After the second song, there is an additional charge of MPs, added every
renewal interval. This multi-song
penalty applies any time the Bard is singing three or more songs, and increases
dramatically with each additional song added.
The increased cost for controlling multiple songs considers the number
of songs sung, Bard circle songs known, Discipline, and Logic statistics.
A Bard may use
STOP SINGING to stop singing the spellsongs.
Using the STOP SINGING command will require the Bard to PREPARE and SING
the spellsong(s) again. It is possible
for a Bard to STOP SINGING a specific spellsong by including the spell number
or the mnemonic after the command.
1001 - Holding Song [HOLDSONG]
Duration: Special (Manual Renew)
Type: Attack
Description: Using the forces of air and vibration, this song will lower a single foe’s ability to defend by 10 percent. Holding song affects one creature, plus an additional creature for every 7 bard song ranks over 1 (i.e. 2 at 8 ranks, 3 at 15, etc.).
The song can be sung at a target (SING THIRD ORC) or unfocused (SING). The unfocused version affects the first creature in the room, then the next, until the bard’s limit is reached. The targeted version starts at the creature specified, and adds additional creatures until the bard’s limit is reached or the last creature in the room is affected. This song can affect characters not in the bard’s group, but will cycle through the available creatures first.
Holding Song is more effective when the Bard plays an instrument and sings the song at the same time, reducing the target’s Defense Strength (DS) by an additional 5-15 points. This bonus applies only to the first creature/primary target.
Cost:
Mana cost is 1 + 2 per extra creature when first sung, or 1 + 1 per extra on
renewal. Renewals on this song are not
automatic, the bard must manually renew it (RENEW 1001).
1002 - Vibration Chant [VIBCHANT]
Duration: Immediate
Type: Attack
Description: With this chant, a Bard can find the exact pitch needed to make an object unstable, and then focus the sound energy upon a target. This will cause an object held by the target to vibrate free from the holder’s grasp. Occasionally, the Bard will achieve perfect resonance, causing non-magical objects to explode.
Lore benefits: Training in Mental Lore, Manipulation increases the chance of breaking the target’s weapon/shield.
Tip: It
is not possible to blow up enchanted weapons.
1003 - Fortitude Song [FORTITUDE]
Duration: Fortitude Song lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Defense
Description: Through the aid of music and magic, a Bard singing this song bolsters his or her Defense Strength (DS) by +10.
Renewal Cost:
1 Mana Point (MP)
1004 - Purification Song [PURESONG]
Duration: Immediate
Type: Utility
Description: While singing this song, the Bard can direct the resulting sonic vibrations across the surface of a gem, removing blemishes and impurities in the process. Every successful round increases the value of a gem by 2 percent. There is a chance of a failure ending in damage or destruction of the gem. It is possible to create an imbeddable gem or a gem usable in the recharging process.
Lore
benefits: Training in Mental Lore, Manipulation increases the chance of
successfully purifying a gem.
1005 - Lullabye [LULLABYE]
Duration: Immediate
Type: Attack
Description:
Using the persuasive power of song, the Bard may sing a lullaby at a single
target. The target may experience
varying degrees of drowsiness, react more slowly than normal, be temporarily
immobilized, or fall completely asleep.
Undead are immune to the higher-level effects, but may become drowsy or slowed. This spellsong is not renewable and not
stackable upon itself.
1006 - Song of Luck [LUCKSONG]
Duration: Song of Luck lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Utility
Description: This group song aids in many maneuvers and in a couple of other areas. Lady Luck is fickle, though, and may not always come to the Bard’s aid. Increased song knowledge increases the likelihood that she will aid the Bard (and his/her party members).
Cost: The Mana Point (MP) cost of Song of Luck is 6 mana, +1 for every 4 Bard spellsongs known over 1006. For example, if a Bard had 18 Bard spellsongs, the cost would be 9 Mana Points (6 + (12/4)).
Renewal Cost:
Half of the base Mana Point (MP) cost.
1007 - Kai’s Triumph Song [KAISONG]
Duration: Kai’s Triumph Song lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Bonus
Description:
While singing this song, the Bard stirs the sense of confidence of all members
of his or her party, giving them increased fighting ability. The graduated bonus is +1 Attack Strength
(AS) for every Bard Spellsong known over seven, up to +20 AS. The initial mana cost is 7, +1 for every
point of AS boost over +10.
Once the Bard knows 19 Spellsongs, the group will experience increased Health
Point recovery.
Lore benefits: The caster’s group will experience an increased AS bonus with Mental Lore, Telepathy ranks. The AS increase begins with +1 at 3 Telepathy ranks and tops out at +11 for 88 Telepathy ranks.
Renewal Cost:
2 Mana Points, +1 for every point of AS boost over +10.
1008 - Stunning Shout [SHOUT]
Duration: Immediate; not renewable
Type: Attack
Description:
The bard focuses the power of their shout into a physical blow that strikes
their target with great force. In
addition to the damage caused, the target may be knocked down, stunned, or
disoriented for a period of time.
The song is an instantaneous attack, not added to the song maintenance list and
not renewable. Primary damage caused is
based on the warding roll. The secondary
critical is based on bard vs. target level and the warding roll, and may be
either an impact or unbalance critical.
Tertiary effect is either a stun or a disorient effect. Stun duration is not stackable with other
stuns (but the greater duration of the two stuns will apply). Disorientation varies in severity based on
the warding roll, but will always result in at least some round time for the
target, plus possible other ill effects.
Mana Point (MP) cost is 8 per cast.
Lore
Benefits: Primary damage caused by the spell is increased slightly by
training in Elemental Lore, Air.
1009 - Sonic Shield Song [SONICSHIELD]
Duration: Sonic Shield lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Defense
Description: While singing this song, the Bard creates a shield of air that can be wielded in the left hand. The base shield enchant is +10. For every two additional Bard spellsongs known, a bonus of +1 is added to the base shield enchant, for a maximum bonus of +35. Like a real shield, success with a sonic shield is dependent upon the Bard’s Shield Use skill. The default shield is a medium sized shield. The base durability of the sonic shield is 125 + 1/2 the character’s level.
Available shield types:
|
Buckler |
|
Heater |
|
Kite |
|
Parma |
|
Shield |
|
Targe |
|
Tower |
|
Wall |
Usage: After preparing the spell, SING <shield type>.
Lore benefits: Training in Elemental Lore, Air increases the durability the sonic items. A minimum of 1 Air Lore rank will provide a bonus of 5 to the item’s durability. This bonus maxes out at a durability bonus of 201, with 101 Air Lore Ranks.
Training in Elemental Lore, Air reduces the shield hindrance when evading and attacking. At 20 ranks, the bard’s shield will be treated as being one size smaller for Evasion Defensive Strength (DS) and evading an attack. At 50 ranks, the bard’s shield will be treated as being two sizes smaller, and at 100 Air Lore ranks, the shield will be treated as being three sizes smaller. In other words, a bard with 100 Air Lore ranks can use a sonic tower shield and only receive the hindrance of a small shield. At no time will the shield be considered small than a small shield.
Renewal Cost:
4 Mana Points (MP)
1010 - Song of Valor [SONGVAL]
Duration: Song of Valor lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Defense
Description: By singing tales of heroism and valor, the singer creates an aura of protection about himself, bolstering his defense by +10 Defense Strength (DS), +1 DS for every 2 Bard spells known over 1010.
Cost: With the increase in defense, there is an increase in mana cost. The base mana cost is 10, +1 for every +2 DS beyond +10.
Renewal Cost:
3 Mana Points (MP), +1 for every +5 DS bonus over +10.
1011 - Song of Peace [PEACESONG]
Duration: Song of Peace lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Bonus
Description: The singer creates a minor sanctuary where all creatures and players are held passive due to the soothing rhythmic sounds of the song.
Renewal Cost:
4 Mana Points (MP)
1012 - Sonic Blade Song [SONICWEAPON]
Duration: Sonic Blade lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song
Type: Attack
Description: While singing this song, the Bard can weave vibrating air and magic around their right hand into a weapon of the Bard’s choosing. The base weapon enchant is +10. For every two additional Bard spellsongs known, a bonus of +1 is added to the base weapon enchant for a maximum bonus of +35. The Bard is also able to attack undead with a sonic blade at its base bonus of +10. In addition, the magical energy of the sonic weapon may surge into an opponent with a successful strike, with powerful effect. Like real weapons, success with a Sonic Blade is dependent upon the Bard’s applicable weapon skill.
The strength of a sonic weapon is 1. The base durability of the sonic blade is 160 + 1/2 the character’s level.
Bards may create just about any weapon that could be found in a merchant shop. If there is a weapon name that would only be available by alteration, the Bard must be holding that weapon in their hand to be able to create the sonic version. Weapons with special properties, such as katanas, naginatas, and claidhmores, can not be created with this song.
Usage: After preparing the spell, SING <weapon type>.
Lore
benefits: Training in Elemental Lore, Air increases the durability the
sonic items. A minimum of 1 Air Lore rank
will provide a bonus of 5 to the item’s durability. This bonus maxes out at a durability bonus of
201, with 101 Air Lore Ranks.
Each rank of Elemental Lore, Air will add to a separate chance for the weapon
to flare on any given hit. There is a
possibility that the sonic weapon could flare twice on a given hit.
Renewal Cost:
4 Mana Points (MP)
1013 - Song of Unraveling [UNRAVEL]
Duration: Immediate; manual RENEW
Type: Attack/Utility
Description:
Versus a player or creature target, the song will dispel a targeted spell or
random spell if available. A penalty to
the target’s warding attempt is based on the singer’s song knowledge. Targeted attempts do not receive the full benefit
of this bonus, are more difficult to achieve versus spiritual spells, and are
progressively harder against higher level spells.
If no spells are active on the targeted player or creature, the song will try
to drain mana from the target. The
amount of mana drained per attempt is based on the singer’s song knowledge. The amount of mana recovered is based on the
singer’s song knowledge and Mana Control, Mental skill.
Versus a magic item, the song will drain charges from the item and convert to
mana. Mana from non-elemental sources
will be less efficient than from elemental sources.
Renewal Cost:
The base renewal cost is 4 Mana Points (MP), adjusted for the target’s spell
circle and spell level. This song is not
auto-renewable. If the song is
dispelling random spells or draining mana from a character/creature/object, it may
be manually renewed for the duration of the song and will continue to target
the original target. Unraveling
targeting spells from a target is not renewable in any form.
1014 - Sonic Armor [SONICARMOR]
Duration: Sonic Armor lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Defense
Description:
While singing this song, a Bard can weave vibrating air and magic, similar to
Sonic Shield and Sonic Weapon. The
difference is that this spellsong forms a sonic barrier around the singer,
effectively acting as magical armor. The
base armor enchant is +15. For every two
additional Bard spellsongs known, a bonus of +1 is added to the base weapon
enchant for a maximum bonus of +35.
In addition, Sonic Armor provides resistance to heat, cold, and electrical attack,
and is slightly susceptible to impact attacks.
The susceptibility to impact attacks will not change as the Bard gains
levels, but the heat, cold, and electrical resistance will improve as the Bard
learns more spellsongs. Like real armor,
use of Sonic Armor is dependent upon the Bard’s Armor Use skill. The base durability of the sonic armor is 210
+ 1/2 the character’s level.
|
ASG |
Type |
Coverage |
|
5 |
Light Leather |
Torso |
|
6 |
Full Leather |
Torso, arms |
|
7 |
Reinforced Leather |
Torso, arms, legs |
|
8 |
Double Leather |
Head to toe |
|
9 |
Leather Breastplate |
Torso |
|
10 |
Cuirboulli Leather |
Torso, arms |
|
11 |
Studded Leather |
Torso, arms, legs |
|
12 |
Brigandine |
Head to toe |
|
13 |
Chain Mail |
Torso |
|
14 |
Double Chain |
Torso, arms |
|
15 |
Augmented Chain |
Torso, arms, legs |
|
16 |
Chain Hauberk |
Head to toe |
|
17 |
Metal Breastplate |
Torso |
|
18 |
Augmented Breastplate |
Torso, arms |
|
19 |
Half Plate |
Torso, arms, legs |
|
20 |
Full Plate |
Head to toe |
Usage:
After preparing the spell, SING <AsG number>
The singer can specify the Armor Sub-Group (AsG) when casting by including the
number of that group, using the chart.
If unspecified, the song will default to Full Leather (6).
Lore
benefits: Training in Elemental Lore, Air increases the durability of sonic
items. A minimum of 1 Air Lore rank will
provide a bonus of 5 to the item’s durability.
This bonus maxes out at a durability bonus of 201, with 101 Air Lore
Ranks.
Training in Elemental Lore, Air will boost the elemental damage provided by the
armor.
Renewal Cost:
5 Mana Points (MP)
1015 - Song of Depression [DEPRESSION]
Duration: Immediate; manual RENEW
Type: Attack
Description: Singing this song will cause all not joined to the singer to become depressed, decreasing their desire to ward against magic and attack. This will cause them to suffer -20 to their Spirit Warding and react slower than normal.
Lore benefits: Each rank of Mental Lore, Telepathy will boost the TD pushdown from the song. Also, the slow effect of the spell will be increased by one second, cumulative, at 10, 25, 45, 70, and 100 Telepathy Lore ranks.
Renewal Cost:
6 Mana Points (MP). The bard must
manually renew Song of Depression (RENEW 1015).
1016 - Song of Rage [RAGESONG]
Duration: Immediate; manual RENEW
Type: Attack
Description: This song stimulates memories of anger in the target, causing it to become enraged and attack with full force. As a natural side effect, the singing bard becomes the focus of the target’s anger. A single target will go to a fully offensive stance and try to attack the singer relentlessly for the song’s duration. The singer must be visible in the room, and the creature may occasionally give up and walk away if it has no chance to hit the singer.
Lore benefits: Training in Mental Lore, Telepathy increases the effectiveness of the song, potentially increasing the level of rage. The potential increase is up to one level of rage at 5 Telepathy ranks, two levels at 15 Telepathy ranks, three levels at 30 Telepathy ranks, and four levels at 50 Telepathy ranks.
Renewal Cost: 4 Mana Points (MP). Multiple renewals on a single target “stack,” forcing the creature to become more and more enraged, and adding additional round time to the target. The Bard must manually renew Song of Rage (RENEW 1016).
1017 - Song of Noise [NOISESONG]
Duration: Song of Noise lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Utility
Description: Calling upon the echoes of every song ever sung, the bard creates a cacophony of sound, disrupting the magical forces in the area. Due to the difficulty in singing this song, the bard may experience trouble renewing or singing other spellsongs while this song is in effect.
Renewal Cost: 7 Mana Points (MP).
1018 - Song of Power [POWERSONG]
Duration: Song of Power lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Bonus
Description: The singer of this song becomes a moving focal point of magic in the area, providing improved mana recovery for everyone joined to the singer.
Renewal Cost: 15 Mana Points (MP)
Tip: The bard can potentially lose control of the mana flows and potentially harm both himself and those around him.
1019 - Song of Mirrors [MIRRORS]
Duration: Song of Mirrors lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Bonus
Description: When singing Song of Mirrors, the Bard’s voice will form resonant tones that will create the illusion of multiple images of the Bard in the room. As such, the attacker will have more difficulty hitting the Bard, since it will become difficult to tell which the true Bard is and which is a mirror image. This illusion provides the defense equivalent of 20 Dodging ranks, +1 for every 2 Bard spellsongs known over 1019.
Cost: With this increased bonus, there is an increased mana cost. The base mana cost is 19, +1 for every 5 Bard spellsongs known over 1019.
Renewal Cost:
8 Mana Points (MP), +1 for every 10 spellsongs known over 1019.
1020 - Traveler’s Song [TRAVELSONG]
Duration: Immediate
Type: Utility
Description:
Tapping into the elemental forces, the bard creates an illusion of past revelry
so real that the bard’s entire party is transported to the location of the past
event.
By singing this song, the caster’s entire party is transported to the nearest
Inn, or a more dangerous area on a failure.
Will work anywhere that a ring will work. Other side effects of the song may include
dizziness and thirst. A failure will
result in loss of mana and injuries upon arrival.
Note:
Teleportation has changed with GS4. More
information on it can be found here.
1025 - Singing Sword [SINGSWORD]
Duration: Singing Sword lasts as long as the Bard is singing the song.
Type: Attack
Description: Through clever manipulation of vibrations, a Bard can force magic and air to take the shape of a particular free-floating weapon. This free-floating weapon will follow the Bard into most areas, and he or she can direct it to attack foes.
The attack strength of the weapon is based upon the skills of the Bard, but the final attack strength may not match that of the Bard. Through the magic of the spellsong, the weapon is affected by the condition and posture of the caster, and its attack strength will adjust accordingly. However, this song-created weapon cannot be attacked or cast upon.
The weapon’s attack strength is
based upon the skill of the Bard in the weapon type, the number of spells known
over spell 1025, the Bard’s knowledge of Mental Lore, Manipulation, as well as
the Aura and Influence stat bonuses.
Other songs, spells, potions, or other items that increase the Bard’s
attack strength will not affect that of the weapon.
The Bard will receive a portion of the normal Experience Points and Fame Points
they would be eligible for through damage done with this weapon. If, for some reason, the spellsong is
interrupted beyond the control of the caster, or if the Bard is not in the same
room as the weapon when attempting to renew the song, the weapon will
disintegrate.
The weapon is subject to a five second Roundtime (RT) for one-handed weapon types. Polearms and two-handed weapons naturally have a higher RT due to their size and structure. The caster can continue to perform other functions without receiving RT from the weapon’s attacks. The singer may even attack with another weapon in his or her hands at the same time.
Usage: Use STOP 1025 to eliminate the weapon.
Upon preparing the spellsong, the Bard can sing one of ten weapon types, using the format SING <weapon type>. Available weapons are:
|
Broadsword |
|
Club |
|
Falchion |
|
Halberd |
|
Longsword |
|
Jeddart-Axe |
|
Katar |
|
Mace |
|
Morning Star |
|
Sai |
|
Troll-Claw |
|
Two-Handed Sword |
|
War Mattock |
Controlling the sword is done with the TELL verb.
TELL WEAPON TO <command>, where <command> is:
ATTACK [target] - Attacks the specified creature or player. If no target is specified, it will attack the first eligible creature
CEASE - Causes the weapon to stop attacking
RETURN - Causes the weapon to return to the room the Bard is in if it becomes “lost” or “stuck”. Note that some areas of the game are naturally inaccessible to the weapon
Lore
Benefits: Training in Mental Lore: Manipulation, affects the attack
strength of the weapon.
1030 - Song of Sonic Disruption [DISRUPT]
Duration: Manual renewal
Type: Attack
Description:
The bard singing this song is able to make their voice resonate to such a
degree that all not joined to the singer must suffer sonic disruption of their
bodies.
Once a renewal every non-joined player and all creatures must ward the resonant
vibrations of the song or suffer vibration injuries. This song is made more effective by a bard
playing an instrument.
This song may also be used in focused form. To use the focused version, the Bard must have 15 ranks in Mental Lore, Manipulation, PREPARE 1030/SING <target>. The song will cost 15 mana on the initial prep/sing, 10 mana for future casts. Once sung in a targeted form, the Bard can RENEW 1030, which will cost 10 mana and will automatically target the last target attacked with the song. Also, once sung in targeted form, PREPARE 1030/SING will result in a 10 mana charge and will target the last target attacked with 1030.
To change from targeted to open, PREPARE 1030/SING <self>, which will cast the spell in the open form and cost 20 mana. The Bard can also change from open to targeted just by singing it in a targeted form, with the cost being 10 mana.
Renewal Cost: 20MPs/manual renewal
1035 - Song of Tonis [TONISSONG]
Duration: 60 seconds
Description: While singing this song, a Bard magically imparts all members of his or her party with additional speed, making all of their actions a bit quicker, and giving them an increased chance to dodge incoming attacks. Specifically, Song of Tonis increases the defensive equivalent of the group’s Dodging skill by +20 ranks as well as adding a -1 second haste effect.
Lore
benefits: Training in Elemental Lore, Air will increase the dodge benefit
of this song, and at certain thresholds, the haste effect will be increased (-1
second haste effect at 30 ranks, then again at 75 ranks). Dodging is increased from 1 Dodging rank at 1
rank of Air Lore, with the maximum being 20 Dodging ranks at 96 ranks of Air
Lore. Rank thresholds for increased
Dodging ranks are 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, 17, 21, 26, 31, 36, 42, 49, 55, 63,
70, 78, 87 and 96.
The duration of Song of Tonis can be increased by training in Mental Lore,
Telepathy. The first 20 ranks of
Telepathy Lore will increase the spellsong’s duration +1 second. Every 2 ranks of Telepathy Lore thereafter
will increase the spellsong’s duration +1 second. The total maximum duration addition for 100
ranks of Mental Lore, Telepathy is 60 seconds.
Renewal Cost: 20 Mana Points (MP).
1040 - Unnamed
Not yet implemented
Nothing is yet
known about this spell.
1050 - Unnamed
Not yet implemented
Nothing is yet known about this spell.