What’s people’s thoughts on having the bard’s Arcane Art give +armor forward rather than healing? Specifically for a campaign where magical healing is really thin on the ground.
What’s people’s thoughts on having the bard’s Arcane Art give +armor forward rather than healing?
What’s people’s thoughts on having the bard’s Arcane Art give +armor forward rather than healing?
You could do it. Two things come to mind, though. First, I wouldn’t have the Bard give more than a +1 bonus to armor, otherwise it would be a lot better than 1d6 recovered hit points. Second, how long would the effect last? Regaining hit points is a one shot deal (that has long term effects). Too long of an effect would again make the armor boost really good.
It lasts as long as you keep playing….
Yup. I was thinking that exact thing, Nathan Roberts.
well…
1. the bard heals 1d8
2. I was thinking +2 or +3 armour forward. I.e. against the next attack, and no more.
Ha. That’s what I get for not having the book nearby when I answered. 😛
+3 armor seems like a lot to me. Especially if that bonus sticks around for a while. Each point of armor is essentially giving the character 1 extra hit point per attack they suffer. +3 armor for two attacks saved the character 6 hit points. If that bonus sticks around for three attacks, that’s 9 hit points saved. Better than that d8 of healing.
The other thing to consider is a short duration (or requiring rhe Bard to keep performing) means the player is making fewer moves. So there will be fewer opportunities for GM moves.
The OP explixitly stated that the bonus is +x forward. There is no duration involved in that.
I think 1d8 Armor forward would be almost identical in most situations to 1d8 heal, so why not just use that? If you think a preventive shield of that power is too strong go down by 1 or 2 die sizes as you see fit.
Temp hitpoints in form of a magical shield totally works.
It’s OT, however, give a look to this “new” bard:
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/137211/The-Bard–A-Dungeon-World-Playbook
I love the fact he has no all that buffing others during combats; I feel that part of the “old” bard quite annoying and not fiction-powering.
I really like that new bard. Will likely be using it in my next campaign :p