A Luthier Shop

[StevenMaurer]

Let's explain this.

The reason why you see no bards in EFU was clear to me about the second time I played. Bards, unlike every other class, have a huge dependency on having specific skill-add equipment available. But there basically are none in EFU.  I have seen a single pair of gloves adding a +1 Perform, and that's it.

This is what it means to the thresholds in a Bard's "Bard Song" which is only real perk you get in this class.

Level      Perform Boost-Needed
   1......                    3.......                0
   2......              6.......              +1
   3......              9.......              +3
   6......            12......             +3
   8......            15......             +4
  11.....           18......              +4
  14.....            21......             +4

As you can see, without equipment, you need to be many levels higher just to hit the thresholds. No one is going to play under that kind of circumstance. The class is underderpowered as it is without the lack of equipment hampering it even further.

The solution is simple. Add a Luthier who sells musical instruments (fashion accessories) with decent Perform bonuses. Maybe Janice Tarth the Carpenter can expand his business slightly.

[Talir]

I cannot seem to find the post for it but I believe we did away with the perform requirement for bard songs. In any case we have a wide range of special bard songs that make playing a bard an attractive choice. Absolutely recommended to try the class.

Bard merchandize wouldn't be bad and it would surprise me if we didn't have some of it already.

[MirrorMask]

I agree as far as the items are concerned. Perform bonuses are found on some items that may be available for sail in mistlocke, but few, far, and inbetween. As a player playing a bard, I feel we aren't too bad off. we can't outdue any class in their focus, but then again, we can do a little of what ever other class does and I find it amazingly versatile.
 
But, as far as the song itself goes, It would be nice if instruments were added to the market rather than waiting for ppl to drop them in the chairty chest or finding them on quests.
 
How do the songs scale now, then?  just the flat basic bonus at 1?

[Talir]

Perform is not a requirement (but provides another bonus).

Bard songs scale differently and bard levels play an important part.

[MirrorMask]

Sorry to kinda hijack, but it's somewhat relevant.  Is that for just the default song or all songs?

[KillerKan]

Perform makes special songs last longer by X amount of perform per round. Or so I have been informed.

There is bard equipment out there on scripted quests, ive seen some decent pieces.

[Pandip]

There's definitely some good bard equipment. There might not be an extremely wide variety of it, but when I played a Bard I know there was at least one thing for most equipment slots. Belt, gloves, and boots especially. They were very common to find, too, while there were rarer items that took a bit more effort to pick up. Can't imagine it's changed too much since then.

[Egon the Monkey]

Bard bonuses on EfU:M

Perform: No longer needed for bardsong. For every 3 ranks in Perform, songs last 1 round longer. The problem you pointed out is why this got changed, so bards are not required to max out Perform and effectively only have 3 Skill Points a level, and then get loot in case they aren't 16+ CHA.

EFUSS Entertainment: Bards get a +2 Class Bonus to this skill. For every 5 ranks in this, gain +1 Perform Skill.

Custom bardsongs: These require a Songbook, buy them from the Marketplace or wilderness stores. Special power on the Song Sheet will let you add it to the book. The Songbook has a help section, use the power to see it. Custom songs have benefits that scale according to your Bard Class Level and are appropriate to the song's theme. Song Sheets may be random loot, DM loot or from a song trader.

Custom Curses: Custom songs that require Curse Song, but are triggered by Bard Song. Affect everyone who hears them, even you.

A friendly announcement from Egon, your resident Bard Snob. Stay classy, back soon.

[Porkolt]

you see no bards in EFU

EFU has plenty of bards, and it has plenty of bardic bards as well. The problem this suggestion attempts to address does not exist.