Questions: Rivendell Song mechanics

[Brandiwise]

one of my players wants to play an Wood Elf Bard (using the Musical Legacy Background). If I can find where this trait is otherwise referenced I might give him the trait in exchange for something else?

You don't need to give him the Trait, he can just use the Undertaking "Gain New Distinctive Feature or Speciality", as there's no limit to where the new Speciality may come from:

The new Trait may be chosen from any list of Distinctive
Features or Specialities, or even invented by the player
(who in this case needs the approval of the Loremaster).

Thanks. We're just starting out a new campaign from scratch and as this is his character concept I think it woudl be more appropriate for him to start with it than develop, hence why I would prefer to swap something out. I think he could be an interesting character and will be encouraging him to compose suitably elvish songs! He'll mix this up with the Rally Comrades skill for combat - always happy to encourage players out of the defensive stance!

But cheers for the tip. I'll bear that in mind for the future for other characters if they want to expand/change their character.

[Majestic]

I think you handled this the right way, Brandiwise. One of my players just retired his main PC (more or less; he'll use him again in a "break glass in case of emergency" situation).

He decided to play a High Elf 'Bard', with an emphasis on music and songs, so I allowed him to swap out the Minstrelsy Trait with one of his other beginning ones.

My logic was that it's clearly an established Trait now, and the only reason it isn't in the main rules is it wasn't added in yet.

[farinal]

I have this kind of character in mind also as a concept. An elf minstrel with the abilities of Elven-magic like the Lights etc. I think it will be a nice character. Also would be cool to have some copies of the songs in Lotr to read during the play.

[Falenthal]

My logic was that it's clearly an established Trait now, and the only reason it isn't in the main rules is it wasn't added in yet.

I also think that's the main reason, and I wouldn't find it a problem to allow a new character to choose it right away instead of any of his cultures starting Specializations.

But you could also hint the player that Minstrelsy is about knowing a bit about other cultures songs and melodies. Probably someone from Lake-town, a center of trade and travel, with an Elven Quarter and Dwarves and merchants from the East, is more natural to be allowed the trait from the beginning. But not for an elf that has spent his last 100 years in the Elven Kingdom. So it could be a nice goal for the roleplaying of this character to visit different human settlements, and show interest in the typical songs of the people that live there, before he is able to choose the Undertaking that allows him to swap Traits.

On the other hand, meanwhile you could allow him to use the Elf Lore trait to work the same as Minstrelsy, but only if the tries to compose an Elven Song. I always thought this should be included in the RAW.