D&D (2024) Bard brainstorm

[Clint_L]

Im right with you on what bards were, historically speaking. It’s just that D&D’s legacy is not always historically accurate (or ever?) and has acquired another definition by D&D’s standard. Most people I know have the wandering troubadour or minstrel in mind when they think of ´bard’ (or reads the class’ description), and it always irks me that in order to play a « D&D bard », one should avoid playing a D&D bard. Ok, that’s a bit exaggerated, but I have the same feeling when people point that in order to play a ranger you’ve got to play a fighter/rogue multiclass…

But really, I’m just being picky and fussy, and semi-grognard. The bard is just fine and needs few or minor adjustments IMO

My thinking is that no game is going to capture exactly how I see any particular class fantasy unless I write it myself. So I see D&D rangers as D&D rangers. It's just that some folks want to play a LotR ranger instead. Same thing with bards, and so on.

But I don't see why the name of the class even matters. If the way that someone sees a ranger is best captured by playing a fighter with a lot of scouting skills, then just make that and call it a ranger. To me, this is an "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" situation.

 

[Clint_L]

What if, once per round, bards could attempt a DC 20 performance check to get advantage on one attack roll or saving throw, with the risk of being at disadvantage if they fail?

 

[Ashrym]

What if, once per round, bards could attempt a DC 20 performance check to get advantage on one attack roll or saving throw, with the risk of being at disadvantage if they fail?

I think it's unnecessary extra dice rolling that is a bit superfluous. No one will use the ability at low levels because failure will be too common and the investment tax in the perform skill it adds leads to almost never failing at high levels.

It's an ability that grants disadvantage about 3/4's of the time at low levels and almost always (90% chance) grants advantage with CHA investment and expertise in the perform skill at 17th level is also a bit weak as far as abilities go.

It would be simpler and more functional to grant advantage on one attack starting at 13th level and give that ability a name.

 

[mellored]

What if, once per round, bards could attempt a DC 20 performance check to get advantage on one attack roll or saving throw, with the risk of being at disadvantage if they fail?

I wouldn't have a penalty. Also, it should scale by bard level.

Maybe something like.
As a reaction, when a creature can rolls a d20 that is equal to or less than your bard level, you can make them reroll the die. They must use the new result. This can apply to one die if the creature rolls multiple, such as from advantage.
For example, at level 5, and someone rolls a 5 or less, you can make them reroll it.

 

[Clint_L]

I wouldn't have a penalty. Also, it should scale by bard level.

Maybe something like.
As a reaction, when a creature can rolls a d20 that is equal to or less than your bard level, you can make them reroll the die. They must use the new result. This can apply to one die if the creature rolls multiple, such as from advantage.
For example, at level 5, and someone rolls a 5 or less, you can make them reroll it.

I guess I am confused as to why you would want to force a re-roll that was already almost certainly a fail.

The idea of the penalty was to force a choice, but I agree that my idea scales weird and would only really work well between levels 5-10 or so. Although at low levels you might use it if desperate, which could be cool.

Yeah, needs a lot of work. Trying to come up with an effective way for bards to use their entertainment skill for material advantage - you would think that their training in misdirection, dance, emotional manipulation, etc. could be turned into something concrete for game mechanics, specifically for combat.

What if once per long rest they can add OR subtract their entertainment bonus to/from any one test?

 

[Ashrym]

I guess I am confused as to why you would want to force a re-roll that was already almost certainly a fail.

The idea of the penalty was to force a choice, but I agree that my idea scales weird and would only really work well between levels 5-10 or so. Although at low levels you might use it if desperate, which could be cool.

Yeah, needs a lot of work. Trying to come up with an effective way for bards to use their entertainment skill for material advantage - you would think that their training in misdirection, dance, emotional manipulation, etc. could be turned into something concrete for game mechanics, specifically for combat.

What if once per long rest they can add OR subtract their entertainment bonus to/from any one test?

Why wouldn't you just use a perform check instead of an attack roll once per day per point of proficiency bonus or something like that?

 

[mellored]

I guess I am confused as to why you would want to force a re-roll that was already almost certainly a fail.

If your fighter rolls a 1 on an attack, you can let them reroll it. It's not going to happen often at level 1.

At level 5, you can have the cleric reroll a 1-5 on their save. So it triggers easier.

At higher levels, you use it when an enemy rolls a 13 on a save.

I thought it scaled pretty neat anyways.

my idea scales weird and would only really work well between levels 5-10 or so. Although at low levels you might use it if desperate, which could be cool.

Well, you can't stack disadvantage. So it does have uses in niche cases.

What if once per long rest they can add OR subtract their entertainment bonus to/from any one test?

Perhaps the "once a creature is affected by this, you can't use it again on them until you take a ... rest".

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Instead of spells having a concentration duration, some spells’ duration could be set to ‘as long as vocalized’ and performance can act as a kind of concentration check to continue the performance.

 

[lall]

The DIET arcane list is pretty restrictive, but I’ve come to the conclusion I’d still prefer bard over other classes even if they had no magic.

 

[Ashrym]

The DIET arcane list is pretty restrictive, but I’ve come to the conclusion I’d still prefer bard over other classes even if they had no magic.

Based on what?