> From: David.Lynam@...
>Subject: Bards N Plate and people's opinions
>
>From what I've seen the bards in Everquest are nothing like the "bards" of
>the celtic tribes as you describe them here. The bards of everquest
travel,
>sing songs, and play instruments. They are in fact travelling musicians,
>which you said the celts were not. I could handle bards wearing chain in a
>roleplay situation, however, not plate.
Someone who can't roleplay a character because their character is wearing
Plate instead of Leather is a poor roleplayer. Back when I was in high
school and being the DM, I'd "roleplay" 20+ characters a session. Never
once was I unable to roleplay a character because the armor he was wearing
didn't fit my personal views of what a character from history supposedly
wore.
This is Norrath we are talking about, not Earth. Bards are not Celtic bards
or European minstrels.
> This is my opinion, and I feel both
>sides need to be expressed with minimal sarcasm (which is why i appreciated
>that post, not nearly as much sarcasm). It's understandable that most of
>you want to retain the ability to wear plate, but I fail to see a valid
>argument from a roleplaying point of view for the allowance of plate on
>bards.
So give me any valid argument of how a bard song makes a group invisible or
how playing a drum makes you run twice as fast. In fact, how is magic and
monsters "valid" to begin with? But lets try anyway...
=====
I am Luti, a 4th generation Bard. My friend Windraven, a Paladin, and I,
daily go out to rid Qeynos Hills of the evil gnolls. I am wearing Leather
armor because that is what my father and his father before him always wore.
Windraven has a suit of Plate handed down from his grandfather. When we go
out to hunt the gnolls, Windraven has to protect me. His platemail easily
turns back the rusty weapons of the Blackburrow gnolls. But the same swords
bite deeply into my Leather tunic. I wish I was able to wear the Plate.
So one day Windraven and I are down at Crows playing some cards. It was a
hot day and Windraven decided to take off his armor. After another flash of
mead, Windraven had to "excuse" himself yet again. Looking at his Plate, I
decide to see what it feels like to wear it. So I remove my Leather boots
and put on his Steel Plate Boots. Wow, these would protect my feet much
better when Fippy steps on them. And they don't affect my singing or
instrument playing at all. Then I put on the Platemail Helm. It is heavy,
but the faceplate is open, allowing easy access for my flute and brass horn.
I try on the rest of the pieces and they feel great. The Breastplate flexes
enough for me to get deep breaths needed for my songs. The Plate Girdle
actually has a hook for me to hang my drum on. The leg, back and neck
pieces don't interfere with any of my abilities.
Only with the Plate Gauntlets do I see any difficulties. I can't see how
I'd play my instruments with these guantlets on. I thought the same about
my Leather gloves when I tried playing my Lute. But with much practice, I
was able to manage. Maybe I could manage to practice and learn to play with
these Gauntlets too.
I hear a great laughter behind me. Windraven is rolling on the floor. He
says "Silly Bard, you can't wear Plate". "Why not?" I ask.............
=====
Luti