How would you balance a bard without spells?

[Nebuchadnezzar]

I've decided to remove the bard's spellcasting ability for my next low-magic campaign. He retains bardic music and knowledge.

Note that the campaign also features these house rules:

- Characters begin the game with a number of hit points equal to their Constitution score.

- They gain a static number of hit points at either good, average or poor progression (3, 2, and 1 respectively). The bard gains average progression. Constitution modifier is not added to hp gained each level.
- Armour grants damage reduction, but not defence (defence equals a characters base defence score plus his Dexterity modifier).

Light Armor damage reduction 1 (skill penalty: -2, max dex +4)
Medium Armor damage reduction 2 (skill penalty: -4, max dex: +2)
Heavy Armor damage reduction 4 (skill penalty: -8, max dex: 0)

Light Armor 30 feet, x4 run
Medium Armor 20 feet, x4 run
Heavy Armor 20 feet, x3 run

(Masterwork grants +1 Maximum Dex Bonus and -1 Armor Check Penalty)

- Each class has base defence at either good, average or poor progression. The bard gains average progression.

Good Average Poor

1 +2 +1 +0
2 +3 +2 +0
3 +3 +2 +1
4 +4 +2 +1
5 +4 +3 +1
6 +5 +3 +2
7 +5 +4 +2
8 +6 +4 +2
9 +6 +4 +3
10 +7 +5 +3
11 +7 +5 +3
12 +8 +6 +4
13 +8 +6 +4
14 +9 +6 +4
15 +9 +7 +5
16 +10 +7 +5
17 +10 +8 +5
18 +11 +8 +6
19 +11 +8 +6
20 +12 +9 +6

- The wizard, sorceror, druid and cleric classes have been removed. I'm going to either use the Call of Cthulhu d20 magic rules, or adding a spellcasting prestige class. Obviously, spells that do damage have to balanced against the new hp progressions. I'm also going to change sneak attack and favored enemy.

Many of the house rules were taken directly from the Grim 'N' Gritty system.

Now, what would you give the bard to compensate for the lost spellcasting ability?

(Since I've posted quite a few house rules, comments on these are welcome as well).

 

[Crothian]

I'd boost the Bard to 6 skill points per level instead of 4. I'd also add more of the Bardic musical abilities with like the ones presented in Path of Magic or in The Enchiridion of Mystic Music

 

[Felix]

You could give him full BAB... that way he becomes more of a light armored fighter whose role has been vacated by the ranger...

 

[Nifft]

How political is the game, as opposed to physical combat oriented?

If the campaign is political, give the Bard 8 Skill Points per level.

(Don't worry about Rogues, since there's no spells left to duplicate their unique class skills.)

If the campaign is of a more martial nature, consider using either the Star Wars d20 Noble class ability "Resource Access" or "Favor".

Actually, you might want to take a look at the non-Force classes in the Star Wars d20 game -- they're very nicely done for a world without a lot of explicit magic, and most would work very well even without blasters & starships.

-- Nifft