The Performer (CBH)

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So what is it that makes bards such fantastic entertainers? Why is a bard with a 15 proficiency in musical instrument any better than a fighter, priest, or wizard with a 15? What makes bards so special? The answer to these questions and other questions are found in this section.
Unlike all the other character classes, bards are performers. This is a special trait common to all bards. There is no die roll bonus associated with this trait, it isn't listed under any kit's special benefits, and it isn't a proficiency.
Being a true performer is so fundamental to the bard character class that it isn't listed at all. Instead, this fact influences almost every aspect of the character class. It is because of their performing nature that bards gain special abilities with music, song, poems, juggling, and so on (based upon the kit). Being performers is as fundamental to the bard class as being combatants is to the warrior class. It is the one element common to all the bard kits, the element that defines the essence of being a bard.
Back to the example of musical instrument proficiency. It is true that a warrior with a proficiency of 16 in musical instruments is able to play more precisely and more accurately than a bard with a 15 or less. However, playing music technically correct is only half the picture. Since bards are performers, they understand numerous hidden aspects relating to music. They are more in tune with their audience and adapt their performances appropriately. Bards are more aware of mood, feeling, tone, and the dramatic effects of stretching the music beyond the technicalities of precise playing.
A warrior who is a master musician (proficiency 20) can play the most complicated piece of music exactly as written. Moreover, every time he plays the piece, it sounds just as it did the last time. But a bard with only a 15 proficiency can entertain audiences far more successfully. Every performance is custom tailored to the occasion and the audience. The bard takes the liberty of interpreting the song and won't simply repeat it.
==The Effect on Role-Playing==
As a role-player, if you can capture this performing aspect of the bard class, you will have captured the essence of your character. Everything should center around this aspect. The spells you choose should not always be chosen to maximize your character's effectiveness in combat. Rather, they should make the most dramatic impact upon those around him (including the adventuring party). Your bard lives to perform.
Likewise, when you select your bard's weapons, clothing, items, proficiencies, friends, allies, enemies, etc., you should try to examine these choices from a performer's point of view.
What weapon will compliment your bard's role as a performer, both on the stage and off? What color should his cape be? Which proficiencies will make him a more effective performer or a more memorable personality? Which spells produce effects in line with your bard's persona? How can these spells be used to build up the reputation of your bard? These are the questions to ask yourself.
Playing a bard can be a lot of fun. Play up the details. Add flavor to the game. Immerse the other players in the fantasy of the game. You should always play heavy on description and mood. For example, it isn't the success or failure of an attack that matters, it's the way in which it is made.
As a player you are succeeding at your job if your fellow role-players know the color of your bard's boots, what kind of weapon he wields, the name of his favorite song (better yet, the words to it), the material components to his most-used spells, the lesser details of his personality, his vocal range, etc. If they know your bard as if he were a real person, then you are a true bard role-player.
To establish such a realistic character, you must have a very solid mental image of your bard's appearance, personality, and mannerisms. For believability, these aspects must be predetermined, consistent, and you must portray them reliably.
Some role-players are skilled at establishing such a solidly defined character. Often they base the bard upon a character in a movie or book that they know. Others spend hours mentally developing their bard and getting to know him as a friend. Some generate pages of notes to help them out. You can use any method you like and the following section should help you out with this process.
==Defining Your Bard's Personality==
Most of the other Complete Handbooks present sample personality types. It can be very useful to read over these sections to help you define your character's personality. Although such descriptions are colorful and useful, they just begin to establish the many facets that you should define for a bard.
Generating complete examples of individual bard personalities would take pages of text and would result in only a dozen options for you to choose from. For this reason, personality types are not presented in this handbook. Rather, the following section contains many traits of a character's personality, along with several examples of each trait.
Although examples under each trait are numbered, you should only roll randomly if you are having a hard time selecting an appropriate trait. Also note that randomly rolling every trait will likely result in combinations that make little sense or are unplayable. So go through and carefully select your character's traits. Keep in mind his kit, alignment, race, other traits, and all other elements that you have already defined.
Note that the examples under each trait are not exhaustive. Feel free to select any other descriptive term that could define the trait. You can also select one or more traits within a specific category if they aren't contradictory. Also, note that the following list of traits is far from complete. Selecting the following traits will help define your bard's persona and is a good start, but you should expand these descriptive terms in your own mind or on paper. Examine your character as a whole, then fill in the gaps and add some extra details.
==Table 28: Bard Traits==
 Personality 
Rationality	Rationality
1 	Neurotic
2 	Normal
3 	Slightly insane
4 	Stable
5 	Unstable
6 	Very stable
Mannerism 	Mannerism
1 	Careless
2 	Curious/Inquisitive
3 	Fanatical/Obsessive
4 	Perceptive
5 	Precise/Exacting
6 	Relaxed
7 	Retiring
8 	Somber
9 	Studious
10 	Suspicious/Cautious
Self-Esteem	Self-Esteem
1 	Egoist/Arrogant
2 	Humble
3 	Modest
4 	Proper
5 	Proud/Haughty
6 	Servile/Obsequious
Philosophy 	Philosophy
1 	Altruist
2 	Benevolent
3 	Extroverted
4 	Hedonist
5 	Introverted
6 	Malevolent
7 	Optimist
8 	Pessimist
Intellect 	Intellect
1 	Active
2 	Anti-intellectual
3 	Average
4 	Brilliant
5 	Flighty
6 	Dull
7 	Ponderous
8 	Scheming
Bravery 	Bravery
1 	Brave
2 	Calculating
3 	Craven
4 	Fearless
5 	Foolhardy
6 	Normal
Morals 	Morals
1 	Aesthetic
2 	Amoral
3 	Depraved
4 	Immoral
5 	Lustful
6 	Lusty
7 	Normal
8 	Perverted
9 	Sadistic
10 	Virtuous
Piety 	Piety
1 	Average
2 	Iconoclastic
3 	Impious
4 	Irreligious
5 	Irreverent
6 	Martyr/ Zealot
7 	Pious
8 	Profane
9 	Reverent
10 	Saintly
Motivation 	Motivation
1 	Driven
2 	Energetic
3 	Lazy
4 	Motivated
5 	Normal
6 	Slothful
 Interests
Hobbies	Hobbies
1 	Altruism
2 	Athletics
3 	Community service
4 	Dancing
5 	Exotic animals
6 	Fishing
7 	Foods & Preparation
8 	Gambling
9 	Handicrafts
10 	History
11 	Horticulture
12 	Hunting
13 	Husbandry
14 	Legends
15 	Nature
16 	None
17 	Politics
18 	Religion
19 	Smoking & Pipes
20 	Wines & Spirits
Loves 	Loves
1 	Armor
2 	Artwork
3 	Books & Scrolls
4 	Coins & Tokens
5 	Knives & Daggers
6 	Minerals & Gems
7 	Ornaments & Jewelry
8 	Porcelain, China, & Crystal
9 	Shields & Weapons
10 	Swords
11 	Trophies & Skins
12 	Weapons
Fears 	Fears
1 	Caves
2 	Enclosed places
3 	Crowds
4 	Dark
5 	Dying
6 	Heights
7 	Horses
8 	Insects
9 	Loneliness
10 	Pain
11 	Poison
12 	Priests
13 	Sight of own blood
14 	Snakes
15 	Spiders
16 	Torture
17 	Traps
18 	Undead
19 	Water
20 	Wizards
Hates 	Hates
1 	Authority
2 	Bad food
3 	Beggars
4 	Braggarts
5 	Bullies
6 	Greed
7 	Guards
8 	Heretics
9 	Laws
10 	Lower class
11 	Farmers
12 	Priests
13 	Rival clan
14 	Selfishness
15 	Stupidity
16 	Thieves
17 	Big cities
18 	Upper class
19 	Warriors
20 	Wizards
 Relationships'''
Allies 	Allies
1 	Baker
2 	Beggars
3 	Blacksmith
4 	Constable
5 	Foreigner
6 	Innkeeper
7 	King
8 	Local college
9 	Mayor
10 	Merchant
11 	Prince
12 	Princess
13 	Sage
14 	Sheriff
15 	Slave master
16 	Tavern master
17 	Thief
18 	Thieves' Guild
19 	Warrior
20 	Wizard
Foes 	Foes
1 	Beggars
2 	Criminals
3 	Dragons
4 	Dwarves
5 	Elves
6 	Gnomes
7 	Half-elves
8 	Half-races
9 	Halflings
10 	Highwaymen
11 	Humans
12 	Lizard men
13 	Lower class
14 	Nonhumans
15 	Planar beings
16 	Ruffians
17 	Thieves
18 	Underworlders
19 	Upper class
20 	Use ally list
Manner 	Manner
1 	Abrasive
2 	Antagonistic
3 	Blustering
4 	Capricious/Mischievous
5 	Compassionate/Sensitive
6 	Courteous
7 	Diplomatic
8 	Forceful
9 	Foul/Barbaric
10 	Helpful/Kindly
11 	Hostile
12 	Opinionated/Contrary
13 	Overbearing
14 	Practical joker/Prankster
15 	Rash
16 	Rude
17 	Trusting
18 	Vengeful
19 	Violent/War-like
20 	Well-spoken
Mood/Disposition	Mood/Disposition
1 	Aloof
2 	Cheerful
3 	Cruel/Callous
4 	Easygoing
5 	Even-tempered
6 	Forgiving
7 	Hard-hearted
8 	Harsh
9 	Hot-tempered
10 	Pleasant
11 	Moody
12 	Silly
13 	Peaceful
14 	Reserved
15 	Scheming
16 	Soft-hearted
17 	Solitary/Secretive
18 	Taciturn
19 	Unfeeling/Insensitive
20 	Unforgiving
Honesty 	Honesty
1 	Average
2 	Deceitful
3 	Liar
4 	Scrupulous
5 	Truthful
6 	Very honorable
 Appearance/Possessions
General 	General
1 	Dandyish
2 	Dignified
3 	Foppish
4 	Imposing
5 	Slob
6 	Spartan
7 	Stately
8 	Typical
Quantity 	Quantity
1 	Above Average
2 	Abundant
3 	Average
4 	Exceptional
5 	Few
6 	Scant
Quality 	Quality
1 	Cheap
2 	Durable
3 	Garish
4 	Functional
5 	High
6 	Junk
7 	Kingly
8 	Low
9 	Practical
10 	Trash
Personal Habits 	Personal Habits
1 	Disheveled
2 	Immaculate
3 	Nonchalant
4 	Organized
5 	Perfectionist
6 	Prim and proper
7 	Scatterbrained
8 	Sloppy
State of Clothing	State of Clothing
1 	Clean
2 	Dirty
3 	Immaculate
4 	Ragged
5 	Rough
6 	Unkempt
Thrift 	Thrift
1 	Ascetic
2 	Average
3 	Charitable
4 	Covetous
5 	Generous
6 	Greedy
7 	Miserly
8 	Spendthrift
9 	Thrifty
10 	Wastrel