what are the pnp rules for bardic instuments? because I was going to try having them equip to the weapon slot, reason being that you can't, well I can't, swing a katana around and play the guitar at the same time. Now I havn't tryed it yet but I think that if the instruments are changed to the weapon slot, you will be able to see the instrument in their hands, and if damage was added to each weapon you might be able to hit someone with it.
to be able to equip anything as a weapon, it needs to have a protos number in the 4000 - 4999 range, don't forget to add damage dice type ect...
<TWANG!!!> :chairshot To look at the official rules re these musical things, go here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 and click on Magic Stuff V: wondrous items
Also, keep in mind that bards can do poetics, and sing without an instrument in order to inspire others, etc. The magical instruments MUST be equipped and used in order to get benefits (extra spells, bonus to charm, etc.), which negates the use of a weapon. But they can opt to swing and sing, as it were, too. And I don't mean like Bertram, either...
