Instruments that double as weapons?

[Eldariel]

I'm making characters for my friends for a one-shot. One is a Lore Bard and the player expressed interest in having a reinforced lute as one of their instruments, one that would double as a weapon in a pinch. I'm wondering if anything of the sort exists in any of the source books or if I should just very well homebrew it?

[Magicspook]

From a realism point of view, I'd say that's a very bad idea and a gold way to destroy your instrument. But lets have at it.

One I've seen come up often is a drum which is beaten with one or two maces. No homebrewing necessary, just use the stats of the light hammer, mace or morningstar.

If you want to strike using a reinforced instrument, you can use the inprovised weapon rules. Long story short, they say that your damage die is a d4 unless the object resembles a weapon from the weapons table. Some suggestions:
-reinfoced blow instrument: club (d4)
-guitar: greatclub (2d4), but that's going to damage your guitarr big time
-Instrument with attached bayonet: shortsword or spear (1d6)

Of course, you can also reason the other way around: why not make an instrument out of your weapon?
-a spear or sword with a flute worked into the hilt
-a sword with a triangle pommel
-a shield with metal disks in the edges, like a tambourine

[Incorrect]

A big metal gong, that doubles as a shield and mace.

Spiked Maracas?

Play the saw.

[ff7hero]

I once played a low level bard who had a Lute/Crossbow combo. I found a picture of something similar. When I'm not at work, I'll try to figure out how to post it here.

[nickl_2000]

Here you go


https://noviceguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Gene-Simmons-Featured.png


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/8d-GGpQbCAZ16BFhtvn20_LbHRcL_j-Ny_XDTu_cWR51IEccK70yxQ7lzJji-eNNpq6T1oE7E8-wXVV7u6gHsg

[ProsecutorGodot]

I've heard the bagpipes are pretty lethal.

It depends how extravagant you want to be. It would be fairly simple to flavor a shield and mace a a gong. You could also have a quarterstaff with a flute on an end.

The most extravagant idea I can think of is to have a rapier with a handle that can extend our remove into a metal flute.

[Zhorn]

As a starting weapon? No
As a weapon they could find at the end of tier 1, start of tier 2? Sure

An instrument made from adamantine to justify if being able to stand up to a beating seems perfectly reasonable.

And then let them rock it like Marceline the Vampire Queen
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CA56JGYdcy4/WXsc5a798bI/AAAAAAAALtA/JoOas4sMEIscTVlthyC2PKnBU01KGsd2ACLcBGAs/s1600/8.png

[Vogie]

I've run a couple games with a Lore Bardadin that wanted to use Shillelagh on the bow to her violin to make it a weapon. It's DM fiat, mostly.

[TMac9000]

OK, now I want to roll a Bardbarian that channels his inner Pete Townsend.

[Chronos]

My next character (after my turn in the barrel) is going to be a valor bard, and I'm planning on asking the DM if I can have a reinforced version of a magic instrument. He's going to have Tavern Brawler, though, so it being an improvised weapon won't be a big problem.

[HPisBS]

A berimbau is basically a bow that's held backwards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4OFgn6PDM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm5sTIHluVU&t=12s


Edit:

... It would be fairly simple to flavor a shield and mace a a gong. You could also have a quarterstaff with a flute on an end.

The most extravagant idea I can think of is to have a rapier with a handle that can extend our remove into a metal flute.

You want a dagger that's also a flute.

[Vogie]

You want a dagger that's also a flute.

Only if it summons Gargantuan Green & Silver Dragon Constructs from the sea.

As is tradition.

[BloodBrandy]

Didgeridoo, could be a Club or Greatclub

[Zhorn]

Only if it summons Gargantuan Green & Silver Dragon Constructs from the sea.

As is tradition.

Truly a bardic weapon of legendary renown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTka-Bi7l3A

[Bphill561]

One of the Eberon books in 3.5 had a Steel flute listed as a weapon. It used the stats of a club. I have been trying to think up a weapon myself, especally if someone can come up with something dex based in melee.

Ranged maybe a blow gun/recorder.

[SociopathFriend]

Towards the end of his career I managed to get a Lore Bard and a DM who allowed him to make basically a Dragonbone Quarterstaff that doubled as a Flute.
Granted most DMs I play with are pretty okay with Bards outright singing as their instrument so I have a somewhat lenient crowd to work with.

[follacchioso]

Get the Tavern Brawler feat, then smash your instrument on the enemy and grapple it!

I have a Orc Bard with a similar setup. I carry around an Harspichord and I have expertise in Athletics. Use the Mending cantrip to fix the instrument after smashing it on the enemy, and prestidigitation to clean it up from blood.

[Falconcry]

When you miss the age of yore. https://www.wowhead.com/item=39769/arcanite-ripper

[Throne12]

There where Japanese monks that played bamboo flute's that they also used as weapons. I think they where called komuso monks. Spies and assassins would dress as these monk and when needed they use there flutes as clubs.