D&D 5E Building a better Bard

[rgoodbb]

Bladesinging should be an elven bardic college not a wizard tradition. I mean come on: proficiency in light armor and a melee weapon, performance, BladeSong, Song of Defense, Song of Victory, multi attack. This just screams BARD.

The only reason they made it a wizard tradition is because for some crazy reason elves get bonus to intelligence instead of charisma.

Every charisma based class has a fey subclass except bard. Paladin = Oath of the Ancients, Sorcerer = Wild Magic, Warlock = Archfey.

According to Dwarves: elves are "as apt to start singing as to pull out a sword." I mean come on, how did elves get saddled with tome-lugging wizardry. IMO elven wizards should be a rarity and elven bards should be common (in elven kingdoms anyway). I say bonus to charisma for elves instead of intelligence

I don't know Drow you came to the conclusion that Elves don't have Charisma.

But me likes yer point!

 

[Yaarel]

With minor effort, you can refluff the Half Elf, as a high-Charisma full Elf.

It makes a tolerable Norse Alfr (a sky-spirit associating with sunrays).

 

[Yaarel]

Also 4e Eladrin (≈ Tulani) is a Charisma-Intelligence Elf. This is pretty cool.

Ideally:
• Sun Elf should be Charisma-Intelligence
• Moon Elf should be Charisma-Wisdom
• High Elf, Dexterity-Intelligence
• Wood Elf, Dexterity-Wisdom

The problem is, the proliferation of Elf groups. The solution is for players to have more freedom when assigning Elf ability score bonuses.

Elf
Elf Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma score or Dexterity score increases by 2.
Elf Subgroup Ability Score Increase: Your Intelligence score or Wisdom score increases by 1.

Or something like that. This set up is slightly awkward for Drow, but personally I am fine with the Drow being:

Drow, typical female: +2 Charisma, +1 Wisdom
Drow, typical male: +2 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence


In any case, I agree the Elf works best for D&D assumptions if a racial +2 Charisma is at least an option.

 

[snickersnax]

I don't know Drow you came to the conclusion that Elves don't have Charisma.

But me likes yer point!

How is it that every race with a charisma bonus has side note that nobody likes them or they don't trust them?:

Drow: "Were it not for one renowned exception, the race of drow would be universally reviled."

Tiefling:"To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the tiefling."

Dragonborn: It’s easy to assume that a dragonborn is a monster ... people are likely to respond with caution rather than outright fear.

Half-elf: "A half-elf stranger’s arrival is followed by gossip behind the half-elf's back and stolen glances across the common room"
"...(they are) somewhat less welcome in elven forests."
"They often make excellent ambassadors and go-betweens except between elves and humans, since each side suspects the half-elf of favoring the other"

Yeah they all have a charisma bonus, but by the wording of most of these a disadvantage on charisma checks seems appropriate.

 

[rgoodbb]

Lightfoots? but yes. Charisma can often be seen as deception

 

[Yaarel]

Lightfoots? but yes. Charisma can often be seen as deception

If the Charisma is "seen as deception", then by definition it means that the Charisma check failed. And the Charisma is poor.

 

[rgoodbb]

If the Charisma is "seen as deception", then by definition it means that the Charisma check failed. And the Charisma is poor.

Didn't say they were any good at it!

 

[Yaarel]

Better yet: Elf Charisma.

Elf Ability Score Increase: Your Charisma score or Dexterity score increases by 2.
Elf Subgroup Ability Score Increase: One other ability score increases by 1.

This Elf trait allows for an Elf to have Cha +2 and Dex +1, alternatively Dex +2 and Cha +1, or so on.

Even a D&D 1e Wild Elf is possible with Dex +2, Str +1.

With this, one simple stat writeup can allow for many different kinds of Elf. This allows the DM to homebrew different kinds of Elf cultures for their campaign setting, while still remaining recognizable as an Elf.

 

[snickersnax]

Back to the OP:

I'm not a fan of inspiration dice (or superiority dice or bless dice for that matter). I would rather see inspiration giving advantage on one roll, with higher levels giving more uses. Perhaps a higher level option for mass inspiration. Other types of inspiration similar to Battle Master's Rally or Inspiring Leader feat (meaning one that gives temporary hit points) . Aid should be on the Bardic spell list IMO

It would be really cool if there was a good mechanic for Bards to tell stories of heroic events that they have witnessed and thereby have a chance to bestow a benefit to the heroes of the story. Like an Inspire Discount from the locals. ( Which runs the risk of also Inspiring Requests for Freebee Assistance)

Finally how is Hero's Feast not on the spell list. At the very least there should be a Bard Spell called Inspire the Local High Priest to Cast Heroes Feast for These Great Heroes Who Are Going to Save Your Town, City, Kingdom, Country or World.