D&D 5E Can Bard cast Word of Recall?

[TwoSix]

The suggestion that any D&D character would by lacking a patron deity is laughable. The idea of not believing/following any gods in a world where physical proof of their existence, their power, and their constant interest in mortal affairs makes absolutely no sense.

Unless, of course, you're playing in a D&D world where physical proof of their existence is lacking. Like, say, Eberron.

 

[JustTom]

The suggestion that any D&D character would by lacking a patron deity is laughable. The idea of not believing/following any gods in a world where physical proof of their existence, their power, and their constant interest in mortal affairs makes absolutely no sense.

So yes, a Bard most likely has a patron deity. He has sufficient character levels to cast Word of Recall. And he has a class feature which gives him access to it.

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There are a number of reasons a Bard might not have access to a suitable area for the spell: He might have been ex-communicated for actions prohibited by the religion; that particular deity might demand some sort of sacrifice, whether monetary or some sort of quest, in order to allow a character to use space for Word of Recall; or the character might believe in the gods without particularly revering any deity. In order to use Word of Recall a character has to more than simply believe in any one or group of deities he needs a relationship with that deity's hierarchy that would allow him access to sanctify an area for the spell.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The suggestion that any D&D character would by lacking a patron deity is laughable.

Why?

There's dozens of examples in D&D of characters, NPC's, organizations, settings, etc., where not having a patron deity is normal/accepted/expected/just fine.

Characters in Planescape (especially the Athar).

The entirety of the Dark Sun setting.

Eberron with its "distant divinities."

Original-flavor FR.

Dragonlance pre-War-of-the-Lance and post-Cataclysm.

For a recent example, Barovia is noted as believing the gods have abandoned them (the church of the Morninglord is not a popular Sunday destination).

I think this is probably close to RAI:

I like these as an option for the bard's word of recall. I'd probably say, screw the deity, for a bard the spell functions as normal, transporting him off to his own personal sanctuary.

It's certainly what I'd go with IMC!

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

Why?

There's dozens of examples in D&D of characters, NPC's, organizations, settings, etc., where not having a patron deity is normal/accepted/expected/just fine.

Characters in Planescape (especially the Athar).

The entirety of the Dark Sun setting.

Eberron with its "distant divinities."

Original-flavor FR.

Dragonlance pre-War-of-the-Lance and post-Cataclysm.

For a recent example, Barovia is noted as believing the gods have abandoned them (the church of the Morninglord is not a popular Sunday destination).

If the OP had specified any of those, you'd have a point.

 

[S'mon]

The suggestion that any D&D character would by lacking a patron deity is laughable. The idea of not believing/following any gods in a world where physical proof of their existence, their power, and their constant interest in mortal affairs makes absolutely no sense.

So yes, a Bard most likely has a patron deity. He has sufficient character levels to cast Word of Recall. And he has a class feature which gives him access to it.

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This would be my approach - the Bard needs to cast WoR in a shrine/temple of the Bard's patron deity; then it can be cast again to return there. Exactly as for Cleric. BTW I don't require Bards to have taverns or theatres as their temples, there's a major Bard NPC in my Wilderlands campaign, Lady Meda, who is a holy woman of Mycr the Unknown God, and more devout than most Clerics!

 

[I'm A Banana]

If the OP had specified any of those, you'd have a point.

The OP didn't specify anything about their setting, so the presumption that everyone has a patron deity in their campaign isn't a safe one.

In fact, the very act of asking the question implies that it is entirely possible for a bard to not have a deity in the OP's game (or else it wouldn't even be a question).

Generally speaking, points that boil down to "If you were playing D&D RIGHT (in a way that isn't laughable), this wouldn't be a problem!" run into a problem with D&D's diversity - there's no one way to play this game right.

And that's really my point. What's your advise on this situation for games that don't share your assumptions about what is a laughable concept in D&D, as the OP's appears to be?

 

[Kalshane]

This would be my approach - the Bard needs to cast WoR in a shrine/temple of the Bard's patron deity; then it can be cast again to return there. Exactly as for Cleric. BTW I don't require Bards to have taverns or theatres as their temples, there's a major Bard NPC in my Wilderlands campaign, Lady Meda, who is a holy woman of Mycr the Unknown God, and more devout than most Clerics!

I don't think anyone was suggesting it as a requirement, but rather as an option for Bards who are non-typical in their worship.

 

[TwoSix]

Generally speaking, points that boil down to "If you were playing D&D RIGHT (in a way that isn't laughable), this wouldn't be a problem!" run into a problem with D&D's diversity - there's no one way to play this game right.

And boom goes the dynamite.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I would let a bard use the spell, but looking at the last sentence I think the implication is clear that it can't be just a random bar or concert hall. I would be willing to let the bard cast Hallow on any location he/she wanted and let that be the sanctuary, assuming he/she didn't want to go the cheap and easy way of finding a temple or otherwise sacred site. Of course in most settings I run there is at least one disreputable god (there is a reason there is a trickery domain after all) whose clerics would be happy to rent their site to anyone with enough gold....

"You and up to five willing creatures within 5 feet of you instantly teleport to a previously designated sanctuary.
You and any creatures that teleport with you appear in the nearest unoccupied space to the spot you designated when you prepared your sanctuary (see below). If you cast this spell without first preparing a sanctuary, the spell has no effect.
You must designate a sanctuary by casting this spell within a location, such as a temple, dedicated to or strongly linked to your deity. If you attempt to cast the spell in this manner in an area that isn’t dedicated to your deity, the spell has no effect."

 

[Illithidbix]

The suggestion that any D&D character would by lacking a patron deity is laughable. The idea of not believing/following any gods in a world where physical proof of their existence, their power, and their constant interest in mortal affairs makes absolutely no sense.

So yes, a Bard most likely has a patron deity. He has sufficient character levels to cast Word of Recall. And he has a class feature which gives him access to it.

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Arguably being able to observe the direct actions of deities makes them far more open to criticism.

"I don't follow any God, they're all jerks!"