A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Weekly Wonders – Bardic Masterpieces

Weekly Wonders – Bardic Masterpieces by Alex Riggs and Joshua Zaback is a role playing game supplement published by Necromancers of the Northwest for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License with some parts considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is a collection of new masterpieces for the bard class. Bardic masterpieces were introduced in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Ultimate Magic and are applications of the bardic performance ability that require special training, and the masterpiece has a special cost such as replacing a feat or a spell.

This is an eight page PDF which is available from RPGNow for $1.99 but was purchased at the reduced price of $1.33. Two pages are the colour front and rear covers, one page is the front matter and one the Open Game License.

It starts with a very brief Introduction and references Ultimate Magic, before getting into the masterpieces themselves. There are 15 new pieces in total.

Each masterpiece follows the standard layout; name, description, prerequisite, cost, effect, use and action. The costs for the pieces are all either a feat or a spell; the spells range from 1st to 6th level with the majority being in the 4th to 6th range. The required skills cover the range of Perform skills, with some requiring a lot of ranks. Masterpieces can be spoken, sung, acted, danced and played on different instrument types, which gives a nice range of different skills.

Weekly Wonders – Bardic Masterpieces in Review

The PDF is well bookmarked, especially for a short supplement, with all the masterpieces linked. Navigation is therefore very good.

The text maintains a two column full colour format and a couple of minor grammatical errors were noted. There is a single piece of colour stock art as an illustration. Presentation is decent.

The masterpieces themselves, as well as covering a wide range of appropriate skills, also have a number of different uses. Some are combat pieces whilst others are best used in other situations. Some would appear fairly powerful but none appear to be truly overpowered. Having to give up feats or spells always limits bardic masterpieces, as a more general ability is often swapped for a more specific one.

Weekly Wonders – Bardic Masterpieces adds a range of new masterpieces that bards can choose from and can be found by clicking here.