I'm transporting this idea from another thread that was about Performance training, and adding my own two cents.
Original Idea: Turn PLAYACT into an iteration of ACT that has a non-combat AoE Charm vs Will move based on Bardic Lore and Performance where the Bard can cause people to feel certain emotions the Bard wins the check. A Bard passing the check can make the audience spontaneously laugh, cry, cheer, etc.
Personally, I've been referring to this idea in my head as "Bard Roars" since I originally read it. Might be a little inaccurate, but I recall years ago playing an atheistic Gor'tog Cleric who insisted that the gods were just manifestations of raw magic and didn't actually exist, and a Barbarian used a roar (don't recall which; I never got the hang of that guild) to make me run out of the room screaming. Ever since then, whenever someone suggests an ability that forces another player to act a certain way, I point at Roars. Sure, you might play your character like a stone-cold, emotionless wall of angst, but if the stat contest says otherwise, you'll cry like a baby.
Anyone else have thoughts or additions?
I
