From HofWiki

By Matthew Kearns

Regardless of the Age in which your game is set, the Minstrel is ever-present in the world -- even a large contingent of the Elves in the world would either be of this Order or have many related skills and abilities geared towards the relaxing pastime of playing instruments, singing, and telling stories. Audiences are ready-made as it is the Minstrels, along with the Loremasters, in the world that are the record- and history-keepers in all realms, be it in the form of writing, paintings and murals, or information passed orally in the form of song or story or even dance.

Background

The CODA system and the game itself almost beckons that you create your character’s concept and background before rolling the dice. The Minstrel is a viable Order that can be used at almost any time and anywhere. Think about where he comes from, his motivations and maybe even sketch out a few of his personal goals. This will help both you in focusing your roleplaying and your Narrator for creating side adventures for developing your character. Work with your Narrator to come up with something suitable for the game in which you will be playing.

Race

All the available races for PC’s have some sort of tradition of performance, be it the haunting orchestral Dwarves or bittersweet singing and delicate instruments of the Elves. They also have a variety of functions: Men have Minstrels as courtiers, performing for lords and ladies, while a large portion of the Elven, especially Sindar, and Dwarven common folk have some sort of musical inclination (song, dance, instruments, etc.). The rustic Hobbits and Men have music for all sorts of occasions, typically played not by a professional group, but by locals who, aside from their agrarian or like expertise, have picked up their musical talent from their forefathers.

Attributes

By far, Bearing is a Minstrel’s most important attribute -- it is the driving force behind your performance-related skills and allows you to weave wondrous effects though your unique abilities. Wits is not far behind as it governs your ability to recall information and aids in your ability to learn new information. Perception is also a quality choice for a Minstrel, especially one who is a regular in the court of your lord, to see past the vague and obsequious overtures of other courtiers. Nimbleness comes in a distant fourth for importance and would be appropriate for those who practice flamboyant feats of prestidigitation or for an acrobat in a traveling show. Strength and Vitality aren’t all that important to a Minstrel as they aren’t requisites for your skills nor are you likely to encounter combat often.

Reactions

Wisdom is probably the best choice for your primary reaction as it allows you to resist cunning words from a forceful personality or to extract the truth from a web of misinformation. Swiftness is useful for those with quick hands or those who rely on their physical abilities for putting on a show. Willpower is up there with Swiftness in usefulness, but would be most appropriate for one who turns into ambassador of your lord’s court. Stamina is the least likely, except where playing or traveling for an extended period of time or resisting potential assassination attempts via poison.

Skills

Your performance skills such as Acrobatics, Inspire, Legerdemain, Mimicry, Persuade, and most especially Perform, are the core of a Minstrel. The Perform skill itself is the basis for what the Minstrel is and essentially provides for the prerequisites of four of the six Order abilities. It may be tempting to max this skill out, but don’t forget to put ranks into Lore and Language, as a Minstrel could make a decent replacement for a Loremaster.

Edges

There are many edges that enhance the effectiveness and give a bit of flavor to the Minstrel:

• Charmed Life
• Curious
• Eloquent
• Favour of Fortune
• Foresighted
• Friends
• Furtive
• Gift of Tongues
• Honey-tongued
• Tireless
• Wise.

Flaws

With the pros of being a Minstrel, there are always cons -- the flaws -- that reflect their standoffishness and/or flamboyant presence:

• Arrogant
• Fealty
• Grasping
• Proud
• Reckless
• Rival.

Abilities

Gladden

This ability may appear weak, merely improving the rate of recovery of Weariness Levels, but for a traveling party or beleaguered people needing some peace, it is a godsend. It also provides you a way to show off your abilities and is a good chance for some roleplaying.

===Inspiring Performance - A little more powerful than Gladden, and effective if you are the “face” of your fellowship or are renowned for your ability to inspire the people.

Jugglery

This is probably the weakest of the abilities. Though it gives a bonus to a range of dexterous skills, it’s a one-time bonus, the ability cannot be improved, and it’s not a prerequisite to any other abilities either.

Natural Talent

At first glance, this ability might seem weak. The added bonus from using Courage on the skills you’re most likely to use is quite a boon, as just spending 2 Courage points is the equivalent of spending at least three normally.

Voice of Power

Now this ability is a bit overpriced for its effect. Increasing the effect of the “Power of Words” is well and good, but these are all subtle and fairly low-powered effects, aren’t boosted all that much by the ability, and aren’t (or shouldn’t be) invoked often but for dramatic effect in the course of a chronicle, let alone a chapter.

Woven Words

This is one of not many abilities worth their prerequisites. Though not overall a mechanically powerful ability, the effects of conjuring the scenes you are intimating through your performance are intensely dramatic in effect and can make for a vivid and potent roleplaying experience if done right.

Multiple Orders

Barbarian

Regardless of how advanced a society is, the Minstrel is an applicable Order and one that is especially necessary for the less advanced ones as Minstrels are also the history-keepers and storytellers who pass on what is most important to the society’s culture. In terms of mechanics, the abilities don’t really mesh well with those of a Barbarian, but nonetheless could be useful in the right situations.

Craftsman

The Minstrel would really only acquire this Order if she wanted to create an instrument as a work of art -- a labor of love -- and/or to imbue it with enchantments to enhance her performance. Otherwise, this Order wouldn’t offer much to a Minstrel.

Loremaster

Minstrels as scribes, storytellers, shamans, etc. would do well to acquire this Order for Vala Virtue and other abilities pertaining to lore and languages.

Magician

Since this Order mostly deals with spellcasting, it could enhance the Minstrel’s effectiveness in performance or other social skills and situations, but wouldn’t offer much more than being able to cast spells (which is easier to do than in the Loremaster Order).

Mariner

This is probably not a good fit with a Minstrel unless the character is a ship’s record keeper or other such things.

Noble

Many Nobles in their youth learn to appreciate some form of performance art such as playing an instrument or singing. Music usually has its importance placed high up near that of lore, languages, and philosophy.

Rogue

A Minstrel’s skills and abilities don’t necessarily build upon that of a Rogue’s, but they can offer intriguing options for certain types of characters like street performers and fair entertainers.

Warrior

Minstrels don’t typically become fighters; however, Warriors may become Minstrels, traveling the lands, regaling court, tavern, or street corner audiences with tales of their past experiences on the battlefield and of the lands they have traveled. Mechanically, the Warrior offers the Minstrel, best of all, Evasion, which can come in handy for a variety of situations and not necessarily combat.

Elite Orders

Currently, there are no Elite Orders that a Minstrel, on her own, would necessarily choose to join as an obvious choice unless she had multiple Orders, but here are two that could possibly be acquired by way of a specific career path in mind and good roleplaying.

Archer

Being nimble of hand, a Minstrel has Ranged Combat as an Order Skill so increasing the skill and acquiring bonuses won’t be as expensive, but I’d suggest that you acquire Jugglery along the way.

Spy

Courtiers and entertainers have opportunities that others may not when it comes to espionage, giving them an edge both getting in where they shouldn’t be and getting out of a jam if there is a way out.

Spells

If your Minstrel ever does acquire the Spellcasting ability, there are a few spells that would enhance her performance and abilities: Animal Messenger, Animal Summoning, Beast-speech, Blinding Flash, Burning Sparks, Create Light, Display of Power, Evoke Awe, Fireshaping, Fog-raising, Fog-weaving, Imitation-spell, Kindle Fire, Resist Fear, Scribe Moon-letters, Smoke-weaving, Voice of Suasion, and Water-shaping.

Playing a Minstrel

A Minstrel may not be a player’s first choice for his character, but a Minstrel shouldn’t be underestimated in his ability to contribute to a party or to a chronicle: they can be the record keeper of events, act as emissary for a lord, embolden comrades to greatness, or inspire them to push on when all action seems futile. There aren’t really any examples of characters that are focused on the Minstrel’s path, but his trade and the effects of his abilities can be found in many places from the dwarf song in Bilbo’s home in The Hobbit to The Hall of Fire in Rivendell.