It seems an all-too-easy, XP-penalty-free way to add levels of bard to a wide range of character types. The weird thing, however, is that any character with ranks in Perform, Intimidate or Diplomacy, and the ability to cast arcane spells can qualify for the class. The Virtuoso is essentially an expert bard with the added abilities to use her performances to sustain unconscious allies, slander, sharpen weapons, dominate, enhance allied caster levels, enrage, and cast true seeing. My main gripe here is that only one of these prestige classes is at all applicable to bards, i.e., the Virtuoso. Like the other class books, Song and Silence contains a helping of new prestige classes, all aimed at rogues and bards: Dread Pirate, Dungeon Delver, Fang of Lolth, Outlaw of the Crimson Road, Royal Explorer, Spymaster, Temple Raider of Olidammara, Thief-Acrobat, Vigilante, and Virtuoso. As an additional caveat, given my partiality to bards, the review will tend to focus more on the bard-related elements of the book. The book is divided into six chapters: "Prestige Classes," "Skills and Feats," "Bard and Rogue Equipment," "Organizations for Bards and Rogues," "You and the World Around You," and "Spells." I'll first examine each chapter in detail, and then step back and assess the product as a whole. Still, there are some gems here but, like the stereotypical D&D rogue, you need to slog your way through a lot of obstacles to get to them. The interior illustrations are also atrocious, something almost inexcusable given Wizards' lavish attention to good presentation evident in most of their other products.
In general, the book feels poorly-researched and lacking in creativity. Unfortunately, I've come away from the book feeling pretty disappointed. As a big fan of bards (as an amateur musician of 15 years, I have a soft spot in my heart for them), I was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Song and Silence. If they don't alway contain material that I feel is necessary, they at least contain material I think is cool. I think that Sword and Fist was a great start, and the successive books are, at the very least, enjoyable to read. I've often heard other players dismiss the 3rd edition class books as overpriced and under-playtested. Subtitled, "A Guidebook to Bards and Rogues", it follows in the footsteps of Sword and Fist, Defenders of the Faith, and Tome and Blood as a collection of expanded information and options for the rogue and bard classes, with some nods given to the assassin prestige class.
#100 rogues dungeon music series#
Song and Silence is the latest in Wizards of the Coast's series of class-specific supplements for 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons.
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