Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Bard exists, now make YOUR Bard. (+)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 9258015" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Bards are the chroniclers, lorekeeping historians, magic-working poets, and emissaries/arbiters that they traditionally and historically (in Celtic legend), were. </p><p></p><p>Their role is not super-magical casting guy akin to Wizards. Though there certainly is some of that. Full caster is definitely out.</p><p></p><p>Their role, despite the myriad stories of rake-ish lying/trickery (not to mention womanizing and adbuction) schemes, is not stealthy skill-monkey guy akin to Rogues. Though there certainly is some of that. Super-skills guy competent at anything is out.</p><p></p><p>Their role does seem to include competent warriors, in their own right, though not necessarily "leaders" or "great" warriors akin to Fighters/Knights/Warlords. So their armor and weapon selections seem fine, for the most part. A prohibition on shields, for free hands to either play instrument or cast spells, makes sense.</p><p></p><p>They recite poems of history and myth to Evoke (call out) emotions: to calm, to love, to sorrow, to fascinate, to incite. They sing songs of legend and power to INvoke (call upon/call down) magic from the world around them (in my world/game, that's capital-N "Nature"), from the winds and trees, waves and stones, animals and people. They are (what my world/game classify as) Mystics, akin to Clerics and, historically relevant, to Druids.</p><p></p><p><strong>Bards:</strong> </p><p><strong>Prime abilities:</strong> <strong>Wisdom</strong> (cuz Mystic class) & <strong>Charisma</strong> (cuz it's their inteactions bread n' butter) Personally, I'd also add <strong>Dex</strong>, for the instrument playing, roguey skill/sleight of hand bits, useful for AC/saves.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Profs:</strong> Wis & Cha saves. Light or medium armors. No shields. Any Simple or Ranged, and single-handed Martial weapons. Lap Harp,, Lute, or Lyre are the only necessary instrument a Bard start with and need ever know. Though many study/pick up additional instruments, by choice, for more possible options to perform their magic and channel. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Key Mechanic</strong> (as other Mystic classes): <strong>Channel</strong>. - In my game, I just have them "Channel Nature" (like Druids). But for a hypothetic 5e Bard, let's call it tapping into <em>"the Cosmic Symphony"</em> or <em>"Songs of Creation"</em> or some such. Channels require voice or instrument, if not both. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Channel powers: <em>Inspire Competency/Courage/Greatness</em> (combat/action buffs), <em>Rally/Demoralize</em> (initiative and save buffs/debuffs), <em>Fascinate</em> (ye olde original Bard trick of mesmerizing in-combat targets or non-combat crowds),<em> Countercharm, Befriend/Command Nature</em> (calm/control animals, plants, eventually magical beasts, elementals, and fae), <em>Legend Lore </em>(access cosmic knowledge about ancient/myths/legendary stuff) and <em>Shapeshifting</em>. </li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Half-caster </strong>(like all Mystics in my game). Spell progression is half-caster. Get a few Cantrips out the gate. Let's say, "Choose 3 cantrips from any spell list at 1st level, add 1 at 4th and 10th." At will casting. No problem. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Bardic Magic: </strong>Spellcasting Ability: <em>Charisma. </em>Bardic Magic is enacted by "Spell songs." <strong>Voice or Instrument</strong> (1st and 2nd level spells), <strong>if not both </strong>(3rd level or higher) <strong>and a minimal 1 round of performance</strong> <strong>"casting" per every 2 spell levels are required</strong> before the spell takes effect, at end of the round. (One round to effect 1st or 2nd level spells. Two rounds for 3rd or 4th level spells. Three rounds for 5th and 6th level spells. Bards do not receive spells beyond 6th.). Spell list is primarily Enchantments and Nature-base "field control" spells, secondary Illusion and minor Healing/removing conditions, shapechanging and some conjuring at higher-levels. Leans into Utility and interactive. "Flashy" Visuals are fine (useful for a "show"), but not much on the "blasty" spells.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Jack-of-all-trades</strong> applies to <em>Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Deception, Gather Information</em>. Options for picking up kits/tools through the levels. Some feature to descipher the gist of unknown languages, overheard or written.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><strong>Loremaster:</strong> <em>Nature</em> and <em>History Lores </em>automatic. Gain additional Lores and Languages as level up. Something like "Magic Secrets" feature falls in here too. Just a few "any spell list" songs they've discerned and/or composed.</li> </ul><p>Sample Bardic Magic Spell List (off the top of my head):</p><p><strong>1st tier Bard spells:</strong><em> Charm Person/Animal, Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Entangle, Fog Cloud, Sleep, Healing Word, Speak with Animals, Thunderwave</em></p><p><strong>2nd tier Bard spells: </strong><em>Alter Self, Calm Emotions, Crown of Madness, Gust of Wind, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Locate Animals/Plants/Object, Mirror Image, Phantasmal Force, Shatter, Silence, Suggestion</em></p><p><strong>3rd tier Bard Spells: </strong> <em>Bestow/Remove Curse, Call Lightning, Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern, Major Image, Nondetection, Phantom Steed, Speak with Dead, Speak with Plants, Stinking Cloud, Tongues, Wind Wall </em></p><p><strong>4th tier Bard spells:</strong><em> Arcane Eye, Banishment, Confusion, Conjure Woodland Beings, Control Water, Faithful Hound, Free Movement, Halluncinatory Terrain, Mass Healing Word, Polmorph </em></p><p><strong>5th tier Bard spells: </strong><em>Awaken, Commune with Nature, Conjure Elemental, Dominate Person, Insect Plague, Mass Cure Wounds, Modify Memory, Seeming </em></p><p><strong>6th tier Bard spells:</strong><em> Conjure Fey, Find the Path, Heroes' Feast, Irrestible Dance, Mass Suggestion, True Seeing, Wall of Thorns, Wind Walk</em></p><p></p><p>I'd probably flesh out the Bard Spell List (or create channels or magic secrets) for some additional/Bard specific flavor, like:<em> "Sonic Spray," "Harmonious Chorus," "Despairing Dirge," "Sharp Chords," etc...</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 9258015, member: 92511"] Bards are the chroniclers, lorekeeping historians, magic-working poets, and emissaries/arbiters that they traditionally and historically (in Celtic legend), were. Their role is not super-magical casting guy akin to Wizards. Though there certainly is some of that. Full caster is definitely out. Their role, despite the myriad stories of rake-ish lying/trickery (not to mention womanizing and adbuction) schemes, is not stealthy skill-monkey guy akin to Rogues. Though there certainly is some of that. Super-skills guy competent at anything is out. Their role does seem to include competent warriors, in their own right, though not necessarily "leaders" or "great" warriors akin to Fighters/Knights/Warlords. So their armor and weapon selections seem fine, for the most part. A prohibition on shields, for free hands to either play instrument or cast spells, makes sense. They recite poems of history and myth to Evoke (call out) emotions: to calm, to love, to sorrow, to fascinate, to incite. They sing songs of legend and power to INvoke (call upon/call down) magic from the world around them (in my world/game, that's capital-N "Nature"), from the winds and trees, waves and stones, animals and people. They are (what my world/game classify as) Mystics, akin to Clerics and, historically relevant, to Druids. [B]Bards:[/B] [B]Prime abilities:[/B] [B]Wisdom[/B] (cuz Mystic class) & [B]Charisma[/B] (cuz it's their inteactions bread n' butter) Personally, I'd also add [B]Dex[/B], for the instrument playing, roguey skill/sleight of hand bits, useful for AC/saves. [LIST] [*][B]Profs:[/B] Wis & Cha saves. Light or medium armors. No shields. Any Simple or Ranged, and single-handed Martial weapons. Lap Harp,, Lute, or Lyre are the only necessary instrument a Bard start with and need ever know. Though many study/pick up additional instruments, by choice, for more possible options to perform their magic and channel. [*][B]Key Mechanic[/B] (as other Mystic classes): [B]Channel[/B]. - In my game, I just have them "Channel Nature" (like Druids). But for a hypothetic 5e Bard, let's call it tapping into [I]"the Cosmic Symphony"[/I] or [I]"Songs of Creation"[/I] or some such. Channels require voice or instrument, if not both. [LIST] [*]Channel powers: [I]Inspire Competency/Courage/Greatness[/I] (combat/action buffs), [I]Rally/Demoralize[/I] (initiative and save buffs/debuffs), [I]Fascinate[/I] (ye olde original Bard trick of mesmerizing in-combat targets or non-combat crowds),[I] Countercharm, Befriend/Command Nature[/I] (calm/control animals, plants, eventually magical beasts, elementals, and fae), [I]Legend Lore [/I](access cosmic knowledge about ancient/myths/legendary stuff) and [I]Shapeshifting[/I]. [/LIST] [*][B]Half-caster [/B](like all Mystics in my game). Spell progression is half-caster. Get a few Cantrips out the gate. Let's say, "Choose 3 cantrips from any spell list at 1st level, add 1 at 4th and 10th." At will casting. No problem. [LIST] [*][B]Bardic Magic: [/B]Spellcasting Ability: [I]Charisma. [/I]Bardic Magic is enacted by "Spell songs." [B]Voice or Instrument[/B] (1st and 2nd level spells), [B]if not both [/B](3rd level or higher) [B]and a minimal 1 round of performance[/B] [B]"casting" per every 2 spell levels are required[/B] before the spell takes effect, at end of the round. (One round to effect 1st or 2nd level spells. Two rounds for 3rd or 4th level spells. Three rounds for 5th and 6th level spells. Bards do not receive spells beyond 6th.). Spell list is primarily Enchantments and Nature-base "field control" spells, secondary Illusion and minor Healing/removing conditions, shapechanging and some conjuring at higher-levels. Leans into Utility and interactive. "Flashy" Visuals are fine (useful for a "show"), but not much on the "blasty" spells. [/LIST] [*][B]Jack-of-all-trades[/B] applies to [I]Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, Deception, Gather Information[/I]. Options for picking up kits/tools through the levels. Some feature to descipher the gist of unknown languages, overheard or written. [*][B]Loremaster:[/B] [I]Nature[/I] and [I]History Lores [/I]automatic. Gain additional Lores and Languages as level up. Something like "Magic Secrets" feature falls in here too. Just a few "any spell list" songs they've discerned and/or composed. [/LIST] Sample Bardic Magic Spell List (off the top of my head): [B]1st tier Bard spells:[/B][I][B] [/B]Charm Person/Animal, Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Entangle, Fog Cloud, Sleep, Healing Word, Speak with Animals, Thunderwave[/I] [B]2nd tier Bard spells: [/B][I]Alter Self, Calm Emotions, Crown of Madness, Gust of Wind, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Locate Animals/Plants/Object, Mirror Image, Phantasmal Force, Shatter, Silence, Suggestion[/I] [B]3rd tier Bard Spells: [/B] [I]Bestow/Remove Curse, Call Lightning, Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern, Major Image, Nondetection, Phantom Steed, Speak with Dead, Speak with Plants, Stinking Cloud, Tongues, Wind Wall [/I] [B]4th tier Bard spells:[/B][I] Arcane Eye, Banishment, Confusion, Conjure Woodland Beings, Control Water, Faithful Hound, Free Movement, Halluncinatory Terrain, Mass Healing Word, Polmorph [/I] [B]5th tier Bard spells: [/B][I]Awaken, Commune with Nature, Conjure Elemental, Dominate Person, Insect Plague, Mass Cure Wounds, Modify Memory, Seeming [/I] [B]6th tier Bard spells:[/B][I] Conjure Fey, Find the Path, Heroes' Feast, Irrestible Dance, Mass Suggestion, True Seeing, Wall of Thorns, Wind Walk[/I] I'd probably flesh out the Bard Spell List (or create channels or magic secrets) for some additional/Bard specific flavor, like:[I] "Sonic Spray," "Harmonious Chorus," "Despairing Dirge," "Sharp Chords," etc...[/I] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Bard exists, now make YOUR Bard. (+)
Top