Minstrel(Bard)

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==CoffeeMUD Classes==
Bard        Cleric        Commoner        Druid        Fighter        Mage        Thief

===CoffeeMUD Bard Classes===
Bard        Charlatan        Dancer        Jester        Minstrel

===Minstrel===
Description:	The Minstrel is the master of instruments and musical tools. So capable is a minstrel in this art that he or she is able to draw forth magical and wonderous powers from the instruments played. The Minstrel is able to craft and draw unique powers from any of dozens of different musical instruments, with the only drawback being how the chosen instrument impacts fighting or speaking ability while it is being played. How to play: The Minstrel is as social of a bard as the others, but due to his many hours of lonely practice, the Minstrel also has an almost arcane like ability to use instrumental magic for more solitary or unique benefits than the simple Bard or Dancer. In the end, the Minstrel may become an orchestra of power unto himself, capable of bringing tremendous benefit and joy to his group, or terrible retribution to his foes. Therefore, if a player is looking for a bard to play when groups are not available, this is the one to pick.
Primary Stat:	Charisma
Qualifications:	Charisma 9+, Intelligence 9+
Practices:	5 +[(Wisdom/6)+1 per lvl]. Note: The first number is the number gained at 1st level. Subsequent levels gain the Wisdom/X+Y number.
Trains:	3 +1 per level. Note: The first number is the number gained at 1st level. Subsequent levels gain the number preceding the "per level".
Hit Points:	20 +[(Con/3)+(2d6) /lvl].
Mana:	100 +[(Int/6)+(1d2)/lvl].
Movement:	100 +[5X(Str/18) /lvl].
Attack:	+(Cha/18) per level.
Damage:	+1 damage per 10 level(s).
Maximum Stat Values:	Intelligence (22), Charisma (22), Others (18)
Bonuses:	Receives group bonus combat experience when in an intelligent group, and more for a group of players. Receives exploration and pub-finding experience based on danger level.
Weapons:	Must use swords, daggers, natural, or ranged weapons.
Armor:	Must wear non-metal armor.
Limitations:
Starting Equipment:	a short sword, pan pipes
Races:	Aarakocran Beastkin Centaur Drow Duergar Dwarf Elf Githyanki Gnoll Gnome Goblin Half Elf Halfling Human Lizard Man Merfolk Mindflayer Ogre Orc Pixie Svirfneblin Tiefling
Level	Class Skills (Skills in parenthesis must be trained for at a trainer or by another player.)
1	Write    Ranged Weapon Specialization    Nothing    Tempo    Recall    Befriend    Break    (Wood Clappers)    (Hand to hand combat)    (Climb)    (Play Instrument)    (Bandaging)    (Instrument Making)    (Swim)    (Smoke Rings)    (Sword Specialization)    (Caravan Building)    (Foraging)    (Herbology)    (Floristry)    (Fishing)    (Gem Digging)    (Drilling)    (Hunting)    (Shearing)
2	Rhythm    Dirt    (Flutes)    (Cooking)    (Wood Chopping)    (Butchering)    (Lacquering)    (Dyeing)    (Embroidering)    (Engraving)
3	Fire Building    March    (Drums)    (Blacksmithing)    (Carpentry)    (Leather Working)    (Tailoring)
4	Background    (Harps)    (Find Water)    (Searching)    (Distilling)    (Mining)    (Sculpting)    (Pottery)    (Tanning)    (Costuming)    (Weaving)
5	Tune Instrument    Melody    (Cymbals)    (Relics)    (Glass Blowing)    (Scrimshawing)    (Armorsmithing)    (Weaponsmithing)    (Paper Making)    (Food Prep)    (Fletching)    (Cobbling)    (Baking)    (Painting)
6	Love Song    (Guitars)    (Armor)    (Trophy Count)    (Find Home)    (Shepherding)
7	Carol    (Clarinets)    (Meat Curing)
8	Blues    (Violins)    (Rescue)    (AutoSwim)    (AutoCrawl)
9	Ballad    Dodge    (Serenity)    (Oboes)
10	Instrument Bash    Retreat    (Horns)    (Smelting)    (Construction)    (Siegecrafting)    (Boatwrighting)    (Locksmithing)    (Speculating)    (Farming)    (Jewel Making)    (Wainwrighting)    (Masonry)    (Taxidermy)    (Shrooming)
11	Charge!
12	Reveille    Listen    (Xylophones)    (Find Ship)    (Gardening)
13	Symphony
14	Dirge    (Trumpets)    (Parry)
15	Ditty    (Composting)    (Irrigation)    (Landscaping)    (Excavation)
16	Solo    (Pianos)    (Herding)
17	(Quickness)    (Second Attack)
18	Lullabies    (Harmonicas)    (Struggle)    (AutoClimb)    (Food Preserving)
19	(Thanks)
20	Feint    Accompaniment    (Tubas)    (Branding)
21	(Spiritual)
22	(All Defence)    (Tribal)    (Organs)
23	Harmony
24	(Trombones)    (Mystical)
25	Battlehymn
26
27
28
29	(Master Floristry)    (Master Herbology)    (Master Mycology)
30	Conduct Symphony
31
32
33
34
35

How to Play

Minstrel is a sub-class of the Bard focused on using instruments as a mana conduit. They are what happens when someone with high magical abilities attends a music academy instead of a magic academy. They are proficient in swords, daggers, and ranged weapons, but they also have access to an assortment of instruments. Without access to heavy armor, they are going to want to use their abilities to end battles quickly before they take much damage.

Early in your adventuring career you'll want to take advantage of the exploration and pub-finding experience. Traveling to new areas, fully exploring areas, and finding pubs, can give a great head start on leveling. It's also a great way to find new band mates. Just be wary of aggressive monsters and dangerous zones!

Minstrels are not made for the front lines, and benefit from a group. Ideally you'd want a party of real allies, but being a Minstrel gives you other options. The BEFRIEND ability will let you recruit mobs that wander, and are your same race, to become a member of your merry band. Alternatively you could use FLUTES or HARPS to temporarily charm animals and creatures to your side. The number of entertainers you can round up is directly related to your CHARISMA. Keeping a group of allies to take the focus off you will be helpful in surviving long enough to finish your rock anthem.

Minstrels are so talented they can literally evoke magic spells by playing mundane instruments. Early in your music career you get access to a variety of elemental attacks. Using PLAY OBOES, PLAY CLARINETS, PLAY VIOLINS, and PLAY GUITARS while wearing the corresponding instrument gives you access to the ACID ARROW, SHOCKING GRASP, FROST, and FIREBALL spells respectively. Everyone in the room, that is not in your group, will be attacked with your malicious melodies, so take care you do not start a fight you can't win. Make sure to TUNE your instruments to get the most damage out of them. Some instruments use both hands, so you might not be able to wield a weapon during those ballads. Other instruments may require you to hold them to your mouth. In these cases, you will not be able to speak until you take a BREAK from your playing. Every type of instrument can conjure certain unique effect on it's own, but can also be used to play the variety of music pieces you will learn during your career. You can even boost the abilities of your fellow BARDS with ACCOMPANIMENT, pushing your band mates into the limelight.

While most of a minstrels talents come from instruments, you are also able learn a few A-Capella songs. Notable ones include SERENITY, which will pacify all fighting in a room, and QUICKNESS, which will increase the number of attacks for your whole party. If you aren't using an instrument that requires your mouth, you can actually PLAY and SING at the same time. To be an fully effective musician, you will need to find a variety of instruments. These can be found all over the world, but when just starting out you can purchase them from one of the Ranasaels music shops in Alramus, Elvenhame or Midgaard. You can also try to find an ARTISAN that knows INSTRUMENT MAKING, or learn it yourself as one of your COMMON SKILLS and craft your own. If all else fails using the OUTFIT command may equip you with a starting instrument, if your hands are free.

Minstrels are fantastic in a group, but can also choose to travel the world composing music as a solo act. Just be careful of your audience or you could end up de-composing instead.

Notes

Most songs can be played on any type of instrument, except the instrument-specific songs.