Musical talent

[Kurundo]

I suppose I'm just looking for an excuse to be a bard but I think musical instruments might be an interesting addition to the game. I can think of a few different potential effects for music although the main drawback I can see now is hearing the same damn sound file you play the lute.

Potential Instruments and tied in focuses.
Flute: -Increase taming done by nearby player's Quell the Beast
-Cause animals to deaggro
-Negate Rage
-Anything focusing on interaction between bard & wilderness.

Drum: -Increase SHP/Stamina regeneration of partied players
-Give a %boost on combat related attributes or skills
-Focus this instrument on combat moral/recovery

Lute: -Increase happiness of players around the bard (Hopefully happiness will do something by then)
-Increase speed at which nearby players perform tasks (chopping wood, harvest craps etc...)
-Focus on improving life inside the town.

As for hearing the same song over and over, I guess the best that can be done is to make sure the song clips are as short as possible while still getting the point across, there being a cool down time before the bard can play the tune again (which may be equal to the length of the effect or longer than).

I don't expect this to be implemented... ever, but it was just an idea that popped into my mind and I just wanted to drop it out here. Feel free to add your thoughts on it or state why it's a bad idea anyways.

[will1701-a]

I think we should have The Song of Time.

[PhaedrothSP]

A way to solve the repetitive songs part would be MML, if the server could support it and it wasn't a hassle to code.
Some issues come to mind, like:
-Should it only effect those in your party?
-If you play really bad music near cattle, should they give bad milk?
-How far would the sound travel?
-Who wants to be the first target in a battle?

I'm not limiting the possibilities to those in the OP, just putting some things out.
But really, if a musician gives a buff to his party mates in battle, you can bet the opposing side will attempt to take out your bard early.

[Tonkyhonk]

to OP,

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[Kurundo]

-Should it only effect those in your party?
-Who wants to be the first target in a battle?.

For combat effects you would obviously want them limited to just party (or maybe village members, I think the party would be a better option though).

I kind of liked the idea of a heavily armored bard running circles round the battlefield being a high priority target.

Also most abilities should be variable based on root(Charisma * other stat) * base effect
I really like the idea of charisma getting more effect in the game, even if "barding" isn't a necessary talent.