New Performance Skills

[Seya]

Disclaimer: This is something that I've been thinking about and discussing with a few folks around Alharth. I would like to hear what you all think and also suggest this for consideration for implementation.

Introduction
Alharthians have options of a few different instruments in three categories: Wind, Percussion, and String. Most of these have two tiers of instruments, with the exception being Percussion's Fairy Chimes. With the amount of parties and festivities in and around the continent, we have a few different songs that we can play which already are catchy enough to stick with me!

Suggestions
Now, for the fun part! The suggestions. There are a couple of additions to existing skills, and one new skill/subskill.

"Improvements"

More instrument tiers
Ssince percussion now has a third tier with the Fairy Chimes, we could have third tier in String and/or Wind. Something with strumming rhythms, like a guitar or baritone guitar; and a reed instrument for winds, like a clarinet.

New instrument types
Another thought would be to add a different type for "Brass" and "Woodwind" instruments part of Wind. The Brass instruments could tie in to favor with folks who like brass items. The Blatterhorn would be in the "Brass" section, while the clarinet/reeded instrument mentioned earlier could be part of Woodwind.

Additions/New stuff
Musical Director/Conductor
The "Music Director/Conductor" (MD) would lead the group, with a few bonus abilities. This was suggested by Denath, who gave his permission to add here with credit.

For example, the MD is able to unlock new music rhythms/sounds that individual instrumentalists are unable to play. The MD can change the mood, shape and rhythm of the music, depending on instruments around them. Since the current PG music is only 4 bars long, the MD is able to unlock 4 additional bars (in a different chord progression), mute/unmute instruments and have unison hits/accents and stops for all the instruments. This gives a starting point for unique music composition opportunities and signature sounds (each MD will compose the music differently).

Another example, when music is playing during poetry jam, if the MD wants a breakdown, they mute all the instruments and have a drum break for 16 bars. Add winds. Then horns. Everyone comes back to hit the down beat, silence for 3 more beats... and then everyone back in, rocking out.

This could be the start of an Alharthian Orchestra. Bards would have tales to regale us with for years to come.

Piano
The piano in the Casino is currently playable for a few bars to "show off" a riff. A piano skill would allow for similar performances to the previous, with more of a Concerto style, where the piano is the solo instrument.

[Sheawanna]

blah no animals allowed

[Seya]

That's a good point, @Sheawanna. I'd love to see that too. I didn't know how to add "beast form playable instruments"... What about this:

Beast form and Instruments
How difficult would it be to add instruments for beast forms? Maybe with some kinds of restrictions, like Percussion or Lutes for spiders (they could use their silk to make the lute strings), or Wind for other animals.
Maybe it would take having the Human/Elf/Rakshasa reaching a certain level of proficiency in the instrument so that the knowledge and muscle memory passes on to their beast forms.

[Sheawanna]

I feel personally that if you look at each animal , perhaps drums for cow/deer (hooves after all ) perhaps bat/spider (wind), rabbit could do blow hard instruments :P( the one no likes hearing :P ).

[Clip]

Some animals could BE musical instruments that collaborate with humanoid players to unlock specialized tracks!

A spider that rolls on its back and holds a bucket on each limb is a drumset! (The kick drum part is admittedly less fun.)

A bunny with a couple tubes jammed into strategic locations is a bagpipe!

A cow is a methane-powered pipe organ, whose stops can be manipulated by pulling on the udders.

That way animals can participate in their own unique way!

[Vish]

Add: tap dancing
For all 3 standard humanoid + cow + dear + pig (sorry other animals and sorry Fairy players :P)
Piano for 3 standard race + Fairy + Dwarf (sorry future Trolls player you have to big fingers) + Spider and Bat
Piano can be available from Carpentry Skill (when some part need be done from otehers trade skills like piano keys and metal strings from Artistry or/and Blacksmithing) This should me most complex construction to do that require access to master of almost all crafting skills.

[Coglin]

I mean, as a bard, I am all for all of these crazy yet oddly fun-sounding ideas.