D&D 5E (2024) how to redo 2e bard kids redone in 2024?

[Shades of Eternity]

The Complete Bard's Handbook is one of my most favorite books of all dnd, so curious.

How can you update the kits to the latest edition.

do some change classes?

which subclass would apply?

Curious to see the results.

 

[Artamo]

The Complete Bard's Handbook is one of my most favorite books of all dnd, so curious.

How can you update the kits to the latest edition.

do some change classes?

which subclass would apply?

Curious to see the results.

Most of the kits already have some analogue in 5e or 5.5. 2e kit structure was set around having an advantage and disadvantage that the PC had. If you’re converting that, it’s likely you would turn that into a subclass feature. More likely than not, you’ll need to actually expand the number of abilities a 2e kit gave you if applying them to 5e and 5.5 subclasses because kits were much more limited in scope.

 

[Remathilis]

The Complete Bard's Handbook is one of my most favorite books of all dnd, so curious.

How can you update the kits to the latest edition.

do some change classes?

which subclass would apply?

Curious to see the results.

This book contained 13 kits: True Bard, Blade, Charlatan, Gallant, Gypsy-bard, Herald, Jester, Jongleur, Loremaster, Meistersinger, Riddlemaster, Skald, and Thespian.

True bard was just the kitless PHB bard..we'll skip it.
Blade was literally redone as college of swords.
Loremaster is also just the college of lore.
Skald is replicated with the college of war.
Jongluer probably could be college of dance.
Herald can be handled with the College of Eloquence.
The meister singer is adequately covered with the college of the moon.

That leaves charlatan, gallant, jester, riddler, thespian, and g*psy.

Charlatan is a background option, so mixing that with Eloquence would probably be fine. The Actor feat similarly is a big step towards the thespian.

The jester WAS in the same UA that swords was, but got cut. You can find that old UA or get a 3pp jester subclass. Dance works in a pinch.

The gallant was based on the tragic romantic hero, and probably a good replacement is Darrington presses College of tragedy from Taldorei Reborn.

Honestly stumped on riddlemaster. It wasn't a good kit to begin with. Maybe a lore bard or a whisper bard. There may be a 3pp option that works too.

I'd avoid g*psy. It's just a bunch of Roma stereotypes. If you want an Esmeralda like character, opt for a dance bard or a glamour bard (replacing g*psy tropes for fey).

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

A kit to be updated should show some interesting concept and special benefits.

We have got the blade (knife-dancer or assasin), charlatan(social manipulator), gallant(gentleman interested more into romance than battles), gypsy-bard (we should use other name now), herald (master of social etiquette, information gatherer, public relations and counterintelligence), Jester (the funny guy with the fool's luck), jongleur(circus entertainer or close), loremaster(walking encyclopedias), meistersinger (Disney princess singing in the forest with her friends the cute animals), skald (viking), riddlemaster(mastermind who love mind games) and thespian(professional interpreter)

The 5e bard colleges are now creation, eloquence, lore, spirits(Ravenloft), swords, valor and whispers.

I don't advice a kit too focused for social interaction.

Suggestions:
college of gallantry
college of nomadism (a touch of primal magic and a charming effect when you are dancing or performacing).
college of laugh (jester).
college of spectacle(juggling and mime instead music).
college of Country, Mother Nature (a little touch of primal magic), or "Umwelt-zuliebe".

 

[sevenbastard]

college of Country

Like Merle Haggard or Waylon Jennings?

 

[Reynard]

::reads thread title::

There is a joke about half dragons in here somewhere.

 

[Sacrosanct]

This book contained 13 kits: True Bard, Blade, Charlatan, Gallant, Gypsy-bard, Herald, Jester, Jongleur, Loremaster, Meistersinger, Riddlemaster, Skald, and Thespian.

Blade was literally redone as college of swords.

In name only. Perhaps the flourish, but it's different. In 2e, creatures attacking you had to make a save or take damage. 5e doesn't do that. 5e also doesn't have the Blade's abilities for weapon display (morale affecting), weapon handling (dual weapon usage), or catching weapons.

I definitely like the 2e version better.

 

[Remathilis]

In name only. Perhaps the flourish, but it's different. In 2e, creatures attacking you had to make a save or take damage. 5e doesn't do that. 5e also doesn't have the Blade's abilities for weapon display (morale affecting), weapon handling (dual weapon usage), or catching weapons.

I definitely like the 2e version better.

Eh. They said it was inspired by the kit. I care less about 1:1 conversion and more about theme and flavor. This is the replacement.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Now I remember the reason because the song dragons wanted to be renamed spirit dragons.

Those 2nd kits were interesting for roleplaying but no so practical for players more focused into the batlefield.

* I awaited some joke about country music. I also thought college of the (Nature) comunion but this sounded too sacred.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

For the Professor kit, I'd make it an Artificer subclass. Calligraphy tools as focus, mostly divination based bonus spells, and the special abilities would be based around "professing", which would be an Intelligence based version of Bardic inspiration.