Musician Class: Overview & Mechanics

The Musician is a specialized auxiliary unit in Holdfast: Nations At War. Beyond their contribution to the game's historical atmosphere, Musicians serve a vital tactical role by providing passive combat bonuses to friendly infantry.

1. Combat Buffs & Mechanics

Musicians provide a rhythmic cadence that improves the combat effectiveness of nearby Line Infantry, Guards, and Grenadiers.

Accuracy Bonus: Playing an instrument grants a base 8% accuracy buff to nearby qualifying units.
Buff Stacking: If two or more Musicians play the same song in unison, the bonus increases to a maximum of 12% accuracy.
- Note: The buff caps at 12% regardless of how many additional musicians join the ensemble.
Armament: All Musicians are equipped for self-defense with a Pistol (short-range) and a Sword or Sabre Briquet (melee).

2. Musician Class Variations

Class	Nation Availability	Primary Instrument	Unique Traits
Fifer	All Nations	Fife	Agile: Can crouch while playing to reduce their profile.
Drummer	All Nations	Drums	Standard: Essential for coordinating buff stacking with Fifers.
Bagpiper	Great Britain	Bagpipes	Faction Unique: Exclusive to the British Army.
Violinist	GB & France (Naval)	Violin	Light Swimmer: Increases swimming speed by 35% (Naval Maps only).

3. How to Play: Controls & Interface

To begin playing, players must access the Musician Tunes Menu. This menu uses color-coded text to assist in tactical coordination:

Green Text: Indicates the song you are currently performing.
Yellow Text: Indicates a song currently being played by a nearby ally. Select this to stack the accuracy buff.

Console & PC Control Mapping

Action	PC Command	Xbox Controller	PS5 Controller
Open Music Menu	`Q`	Hold RB	Hold R1
Select Tune	Mouse Click	Right Stick	Right Stick
Start Playing	Select Tune	Release RB	Release R1
Auto-Walk	`Num Lock`	D-Pad Down	D-Pad Down
Crouch (Fifer)	`Left Ctrl`	B Button	Circle Button

4. Best Practices & Etiquette

To maximize your effectiveness as a Musician and maintain a positive community environment, consider the following:

Tactical Coordination: Always prioritize playing the song highlighted in Yellow. Reaching the 12% accuracy cap can significantly alter the outcome of a line-battle engagement.

Positioning: Stay behind your Rank & File. As an auxiliary unit, your survival is key to maintaining the accuracy buff for the front line.
Audio Standards: While the game encourages atmosphere, players should use VoIP music sparingly. Ensure any external audio is clear, not distorted, and ideally period-appropriate.
The "Last Stand": Musicians often lead the charge during the final moments of a round to boost morale; however, during standard play, focus on staying alive to provide buffs.

Musician Tunes

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