Boutrose Saba-Norr wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:52 am
I might have him double as a keyboardist at times but I do think I am going to keep him as a drummer, the idea is that his setting the tempo of the song with percussion is leading the rest of the band to do better when inspiring the crowd, which makes more sense with the leadership checks since they are to influence allies and not opponents, whereas the lead singers goal is to influence the audience. For your dancer think of it as him setting the rhythm of her movements with the song beat.
This is an interesting predicament. By Genesys RAW, the goal of social combat is to bring your opponents down to either half Strain (compromise) or 0 Strain (capitulation). But are members of the crowd always "opponents?" If not, would Inspiring Rhetoric aimed at the audience be counterproductive, as it would give Strain back to them?
If we go with the idea of crowds being made up of several minion groups, perhaps some of them are fans and some are unconvinced or antagonistic. Perhaps performers get +1 boost for each group of fans present when they use social skills against haters in the crowd, emulating the idea of positive energy in the crowd helping to win over the naysayers? One of the results of Threats on performance rolls might be that fans start to doubt the band (lose Strain) and are less likely to help in this way.
If we stick with the Genesys RAW idea that influencing a crowd is done versus a basic difficulty pool (P, PP, PPP, etc.), Inspiring Rhetoric retains its uses for the musician's own band mates, but I'm not sure how it would affect the crowd as a whole. I'll need to think about it.
Boutrose Saba-Norr wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:52 am
I can definitely see him taking lead vocals on a song or two, or trying to directly effect the crowd himself when he goes for a solo, but I wouldn’t want it to be the main thing for him.
This does mean we will need someone to be dedicated lead singer if we want one, bands don’t always need them.
Don Henley is a good example of a lead singer/drummer. You all might trade off lead-singer duties from song to song, again, like the Eagles.
But you're right; it's possible the band is trying to make a name without their lead singer on purpose after the acrimonious departure. (Let's go with that background for the group for now. Gives me lots to work with as GM.)