Today I tried my hand at creating a Bard class for D&D Next. I mostly used the 3.5 and Pathfinder Bard as inspiration. My girlfriend keeps complaining that she wants to play a Bard, so I hope I did a good job. What do you guys think?
Bard
A typical bard is a jack of all trades, master of none. They are capable of swordplay, magical illusions and healing, are highly skilled, and excel in social situations. They offer the widest range of abilities and boast great versatility. But perhaps their greatest skill is their capability to inspire others with their impressive knowledge of verse and song, lifting them to legendary heights.
Creating a Bard
When you create a character whose first class is bard, you gain these benefits.
Ability Adjustment: +1 to your Dexterity, Intelligence or Charisma score.
You use Dexterity to dodge attacks, and to attack using finesse weapons and many missile weapons, Intelligence to recall lore, and Charisma for casting spells and many social situations.
Starting Hit Points: 6 + your Constitution modifier
Armor and Shield Proficiencies: Light and medium armor, and shields
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple weapons, light crossbow, long sword, rapier, short sword
Suggested Background: Minstrel
Suggested Specialty: Specialist
Suggested Equipment: Leather armor, rapier, light crossbow, case of 20 bolts, adventurer’s kit, musical instrument.
THE BARD
Bard Spells per Day
Class Features
A bard gains the following class features.
Hit die: 1d6 per bard level
Hit points: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per bard level gained
Level 1: Spellcasting
A bard casts arcane spells, the same type of spells as a wizard. Unlike the wizard, a bard can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every bard spell contains a vocal component, either through singing, reciting, or music.
Benefit: You can cast a number of bard spells per day based on the number of spell slots you receive from your bard level, as noted on the Bard Spells per Day table. You can also cast cantrips. Charisma is your magic ability score.
Spells Known: A bard starts with three cantrips and two 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard’s spell list. Each time you gain a bard level, you can add one spell to your list of spells known. You choose the spell from the bard’s spell list, and it must be of a level you can cast, as noted in the Bard Spells per Day table.
Casting a Spell: A bard can cast spells without preparing. When you cast a spell, choose one of your known spells and use a spell slot of that spell’s level or higher. Some spells have improved effects when they are cast at higher levels. After you cast the spell, you lose the use of that slot until your next extended rest, but you can still use the spell with another spell slot.
Saving Throw DCs: When a bard spell that you cast calls for a saving throw, the save DC equals 10 + your Charisma modifier + the spellcasting bonus for your level, as noted in the Bard table.
Level 1: Bardic Knowledge
You have collected a wide variety of knowledge pertaining to various subjects.
Benefit: You have advantage on all Intelligence checks to recall lore.
Level 1: Fascinate
Your performing skills are extremely fascinating to watch, to the exclusion of all else.
Benefit: You can use the Perform skill to fascinate a one or more creatures. You can fascinate a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier. The creatures must be able to see and hear you and must be within 90 feet. The creatures must be able to pay attention to you; distractions from combat or other dangers prevent this ability from working.
You must make a Perform check, opposed by the target’s Wisdom saving throw. If the saving throw succeeds, you cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for the next 24 hours. If the saving throw fails, the target sits quietly and listens to the song for up to 1 round per your bard level. While fascinated, the target suffers disadvantage on Spot and Listen checks.
Any potential threat allows the target a second saving throw against a new Perform check result. Any obvious threat automatically breaks the effect.
While fascinating a creature, you must concentrate, as if casting or maintaining a spell.
Level 1: Performance
Your performance inspires your allies, bolstering their resolve.
Benefit: On your turn, you can start a performance as part of your action. While performing, you and all allies within 30 feet gain one of the following benefits:
· advantage on saving throws against illusions and enchantments
· a bonus to the damage roll of one attack of choice each turn, equal to your spellcasting bonus
Performing also has a drawback: you can’t cast spells while performing.
You can keep performing as part of your action, as long as you are able to take actions. You can end a performance as a free action. A performance also ends after 10 minutes or if you fall unconscious.
The effects of a performance last until the end of the performance, and for a number of rounds after, equal to your Charisma modifier.
You can only have one performance effect active at the same time. If you start a new performance while the effect of a previous performance is still active, the new performance replaces that effect.
After you perform twice, you must complete an extended rest to perform again. You can perform more times between long rests as you gain levels, as noted on the Bard table. At 20th level, you can perform an unlimited number of times per day.
Level 3: Inspiring Performance
Your performance inspires others to excel at their tasks.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant all allies within 30 feet the following benefit:
· advantage on one skill check of choice each turn
Level 6: Suggestion
Your performing skills are so fascinating they make someone willing to do things for you.
Benefit: When you successfully fascinate a creature, you can make a suggestion (as the spell). You can use your action to suggest a course of action for the fascinated creature. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw to negate the effect. The save DC equals 10 + your Charisma modifier + the spellcasting bonus for your level, as noted in the Bard table. On a failed save, you decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn.
Any suggested course of action that is obviously suicidal automatically ends the effect.
This ability affects only a single creature.
Level 8: Versatile Performer
By combining different approaches to performing, you have managed to enhance the effects of your performances.
Benefit: Once per day, when you start performing you can grant two different benefits with your performance simultaneously.
At 14th and 20th level you gain an additional use per day of this ability.
Level 9: Bolstering Performance
Your performance inspires greatness in others, allowing them to push beyond their limits.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant you and all allies within 30 feet one of the following benefits:
· two bonus Hit Dice (2d10), granting temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these Hit Dice)
· advantage on Constitution-based saving throws
Level 11: Lore Master
Your travels have expanded your knowledge to great heights.
Benefit: When you make an Intelligence check to recall lore and don’t like the result, you can use your Intelligence score in place of the result.
Level 15: Heroic Performance
Your performance is capable of inspiring tremendous heroism in others, greatly increasing their chances in combat.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant you and all allies within 30 feet one of the following benefits:
· advantage on one attack roll of choice each turn
· any damage roll of 1 is treated as a 2
Level 18: Mass Suggestion
Your performing skills are so fascinating your entire audience is willing to do things for you.
Benefit: When you successfully fascinate creatures, you can now make a suggestion to all of them. This ability functions the same as the suggestion ability, but can affect several creatures at once.
Bard Spells
Cantrips
Light
Mage Hand
Mending
Minor Illusion
Prestidigitation
Read Magic
Resistance
Level 1 Spells
Alarm
Cause Fear
Charm Person
Comprehend Languages
Cure Wounds
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
Feather Fall
Grease
Identify
Sleep
Level 2
Animal Messenger
Blur
Darkness
Hold Person
Invisibility
Mirror Image
Silence
Sound Burst
Level 3
Blink
Confusion
Daylight
Dispel Magic
Haste
Remove Curse
Slow
Speak with Animals
Level 4
Dimension Door
Dominate Person
Freedom of Movement
Hold Monster
Protection from Poison
Scrying
Level 5
Mass Suggestion
Seeming
Level 6
Mass Invisibility
Otto’s Irresistible Dance
Bard
A typical bard is a jack of all trades, master of none. They are capable of swordplay, magical illusions and healing, are highly skilled, and excel in social situations. They offer the widest range of abilities and boast great versatility. But perhaps their greatest skill is their capability to inspire others with their impressive knowledge of verse and song, lifting them to legendary heights.
Creating a Bard
When you create a character whose first class is bard, you gain these benefits.
Ability Adjustment: +1 to your Dexterity, Intelligence or Charisma score.
You use Dexterity to dodge attacks, and to attack using finesse weapons and many missile weapons, Intelligence to recall lore, and Charisma for casting spells and many social situations.
Starting Hit Points: 6 + your Constitution modifier
Armor and Shield Proficiencies: Light and medium armor, and shields
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple weapons, light crossbow, long sword, rapier, short sword
Suggested Background: Minstrel
Suggested Specialty: Specialist
Suggested Equipment: Leather armor, rapier, light crossbow, case of 20 bolts, adventurer’s kit, musical instrument.
THE BARD
| Level | Attack Bonus | Spellcasting Bonus | Performances Per Day | Class Features |
| 1 | +1 | +1 | 2/day | Bardic Knowledge, Fascinate, Performance, Spellcasting |
| 2 | +1 | +1 | 2/day | - |
| 3 | +1 | +1 | 2/day | Inspiring Performance |
| 4 | +1 | +1 | 2/day | - |
| 5 | +2 | +2 | 3/day | - |
| 6 | +2 | +2 | 3/day | Suggestion |
| 7 | +2 | +2 | 3/day | - |
| 8 | +2 | +2 | 3/day | Versatile Performer (1/day) |
| 9 | +2 | +2 | 4/day | Bolstering Performance |
| 10 | +2 | +2 | 4/day | - |
| 11 | +2 | +2 | 4/day | Lore Master |
| 12 | +2 | +2 | 4/day | - |
| 13 | +2 | +2 | 5/day | - |
| 14 | +2 | +2 | 5/day | Versatile Performer (2/day) |
| 15 | +3 | +3 | 5/day | Heroic Performance |
| 16 | +3 | +3 | 5/day | - |
| 17 | +3 | +3 | 6/day | - |
| 18 | +3 | +3 | 6/day | Mass Suggestion |
| 19 | +3 | +3 | 6/day | - |
| 20 | +3 | +3 | Unlimited | Versatile Performer (3/day) |
Bard Spells per Day
| Bard | | -Spell | Slots | per | Spell | Level- |
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - |
| 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - |
| 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - |
| 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - |
| 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - |
| 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
A bard gains the following class features.
Hit die: 1d6 per bard level
Hit points: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per bard level gained
Level 1: Spellcasting
A bard casts arcane spells, the same type of spells as a wizard. Unlike the wizard, a bard can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every bard spell contains a vocal component, either through singing, reciting, or music.
Benefit: You can cast a number of bard spells per day based on the number of spell slots you receive from your bard level, as noted on the Bard Spells per Day table. You can also cast cantrips. Charisma is your magic ability score.
Spells Known: A bard starts with three cantrips and two 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard’s spell list. Each time you gain a bard level, you can add one spell to your list of spells known. You choose the spell from the bard’s spell list, and it must be of a level you can cast, as noted in the Bard Spells per Day table.
Casting a Spell: A bard can cast spells without preparing. When you cast a spell, choose one of your known spells and use a spell slot of that spell’s level or higher. Some spells have improved effects when they are cast at higher levels. After you cast the spell, you lose the use of that slot until your next extended rest, but you can still use the spell with another spell slot.
Saving Throw DCs: When a bard spell that you cast calls for a saving throw, the save DC equals 10 + your Charisma modifier + the spellcasting bonus for your level, as noted in the Bard table.
Level 1: Bardic Knowledge
You have collected a wide variety of knowledge pertaining to various subjects.
Benefit: You have advantage on all Intelligence checks to recall lore.
Level 1: Fascinate
Your performing skills are extremely fascinating to watch, to the exclusion of all else.
Benefit: You can use the Perform skill to fascinate a one or more creatures. You can fascinate a number of creatures equal to your Charisma modifier. The creatures must be able to see and hear you and must be within 90 feet. The creatures must be able to pay attention to you; distractions from combat or other dangers prevent this ability from working.
You must make a Perform check, opposed by the target’s Wisdom saving throw. If the saving throw succeeds, you cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for the next 24 hours. If the saving throw fails, the target sits quietly and listens to the song for up to 1 round per your bard level. While fascinated, the target suffers disadvantage on Spot and Listen checks.
Any potential threat allows the target a second saving throw against a new Perform check result. Any obvious threat automatically breaks the effect.
While fascinating a creature, you must concentrate, as if casting or maintaining a spell.
Level 1: Performance
Your performance inspires your allies, bolstering their resolve.
Benefit: On your turn, you can start a performance as part of your action. While performing, you and all allies within 30 feet gain one of the following benefits:
· advantage on saving throws against illusions and enchantments
· a bonus to the damage roll of one attack of choice each turn, equal to your spellcasting bonus
Performing also has a drawback: you can’t cast spells while performing.
You can keep performing as part of your action, as long as you are able to take actions. You can end a performance as a free action. A performance also ends after 10 minutes or if you fall unconscious.
The effects of a performance last until the end of the performance, and for a number of rounds after, equal to your Charisma modifier.
You can only have one performance effect active at the same time. If you start a new performance while the effect of a previous performance is still active, the new performance replaces that effect.
After you perform twice, you must complete an extended rest to perform again. You can perform more times between long rests as you gain levels, as noted on the Bard table. At 20th level, you can perform an unlimited number of times per day.
Level 3: Inspiring Performance
Your performance inspires others to excel at their tasks.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant all allies within 30 feet the following benefit:
· advantage on one skill check of choice each turn
Level 6: Suggestion
Your performing skills are so fascinating they make someone willing to do things for you.
Benefit: When you successfully fascinate a creature, you can make a suggestion (as the spell). You can use your action to suggest a course of action for the fascinated creature. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw to negate the effect. The save DC equals 10 + your Charisma modifier + the spellcasting bonus for your level, as noted in the Bard table. On a failed save, you decide what action the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn.
Any suggested course of action that is obviously suicidal automatically ends the effect.
This ability affects only a single creature.
Level 8: Versatile Performer
By combining different approaches to performing, you have managed to enhance the effects of your performances.
Benefit: Once per day, when you start performing you can grant two different benefits with your performance simultaneously.
At 14th and 20th level you gain an additional use per day of this ability.
Level 9: Bolstering Performance
Your performance inspires greatness in others, allowing them to push beyond their limits.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant you and all allies within 30 feet one of the following benefits:
· two bonus Hit Dice (2d10), granting temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these Hit Dice)
· advantage on Constitution-based saving throws
Level 11: Lore Master
Your travels have expanded your knowledge to great heights.
Benefit: When you make an Intelligence check to recall lore and don’t like the result, you can use your Intelligence score in place of the result.
Level 15: Heroic Performance
Your performance is capable of inspiring tremendous heroism in others, greatly increasing their chances in combat.
Benefit: When you start a performance, you can grant you and all allies within 30 feet one of the following benefits:
· advantage on one attack roll of choice each turn
· any damage roll of 1 is treated as a 2
Level 18: Mass Suggestion
Your performing skills are so fascinating your entire audience is willing to do things for you.
Benefit: When you successfully fascinate creatures, you can now make a suggestion to all of them. This ability functions the same as the suggestion ability, but can affect several creatures at once.
Bard Spells
Cantrips
Light
Mage Hand
Mending
Minor Illusion
Prestidigitation
Read Magic
Resistance
Level 1 Spells
Alarm
Cause Fear
Charm Person
Comprehend Languages
Cure Wounds
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
Feather Fall
Grease
Identify
Sleep
Level 2
Animal Messenger
Blur
Darkness
Hold Person
Invisibility
Mirror Image
Silence
Sound Burst
Level 3
Blink
Confusion
Daylight
Dispel Magic
Haste
Remove Curse
Slow
Speak with Animals
Level 4
Dimension Door
Dominate Person
Freedom of Movement
Hold Monster
Protection from Poison
Scrying
Level 5
Mass Suggestion
Seeming
Level 6
Mass Invisibility
Otto’s Irresistible Dance
I'll present the class to my girlfriend this weekend!
