Learned Bard
Here's my two cents on the Bard situation
Basically, I don't like the 3.0 and 3.5 version of the bard. Don't like it a bit. To me being a bard is not being about a Fantasy equivelent of the Cyberpunk Rockerboy. I much prefered the 2e flavor of the Bard, and so created a alternate version
Many Bard fans have praised this version. So I share it with you here
This is printed in Issue 85 of Knights of the Dinner Table magazine, in case you're wondering
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The Learned Bard: A Character Type Variant for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5
I'm not the first person who has a problem with the Bard class in today's D&D, nor will I be the last. The standard civilized argument goes something like this:
"CHARISMA BASED MAGIC? WHAT THE #@!$?"
Granted, there is a strong case to be made for Charisma based magic. For one thing, it's very streamlined. All of your primary bardic needs are filled by that one attribute. Magic, special abilities, bardic song and story telling ability, it's all there. But not everyone likes the idea of a Charisma based Bard.
Look back to the Norse Scald, or the Medieval Minstrel. Yes, they entertained, but their primary job was to transmit information, be it history or current events. They were the Wandering News Agency, and had to be hearty enough to travel around the country. It is this concept of a bard which attracted me to the character type in the first place. An intelligent jack of all trades, a learned person who doesn't have the patience to sit behind a desk. The MacGuyver of D&D.
Using Charisma based magic ("bringing forth magic from his soul") turns him into either a Sorcerer who can't cut the mustard, or a musician who somehow taps into the Led Zeppelin Material Plane as a source of power. The very idea of him studying and learning magic has all but been removed. It kills the academic flavor of the Bard in favor of a flashy jumpsuit with sequins. The Rockerboy of D&D. This is what I call a "Gifted Bard".
However... let's think about this logically. There are Wizards who study and learn, and there are Sorcerers to whom magic comes naturally. Why can't the same thing apply to Bards? It's the same as a talented technical actor who plans and studies and trains to be the best actor he can be, versus someone to whom acting comes naturally and requires little, if any, practice. It's the difference between Sir Lawrence Olivier and Haley Joel Osmont. Logically there MUST be some Bards out there who can't simply "tap into" the Led Zeppelin Material Plane, and instead have gone the more difficult but rewarding route of learning magic "the hard way".
Alternately, perhaps in your campaign you simply don't want to use Sorcerer-type magic, or perhaps you wish to retain what you feel is the Bard's "original" flavor.
This is what the "Learned Bard" is for.
LEARNED BARD
Adventures: There is no point in doing a complete re-write of the Bard template, since much of the information remains the same. Bards of either school (Learned or Gifted) seek adventure, knowledge, the unknown and great deeds to sing or tell others about in epic poetry.
Characteristics: Unlike a Gifted Bard, the Learned Bard must learn his magic from a book, though his wiley improvisational mind does allow him to take a couple of shortcuts . Thus he has a much wider range of spells available to him (up to 6th level), and can wear light armor. However, he cannot cast as many spells as his Gifted cousin.
In addition to spells, the Learned Bard can also use music, ballads, and poetry to great affect, to encourage allies or manipulate people. However, the strength of this power differs from the Gifted Bard. Of course, the Learned Bard is equally adept at gleaning general information as his Gifted cousin.
Alignment: Like their Gifted cousins, Learned Bards are not usually compatible with a Lawful alignment. However, their diligent study and focused academic nature magically tends to pull them away from being Chaotic as well. This means the majority of Learned Bards are of a Neutral Alignment (Good, Evil, or True).
Background: While Gifted Bards pass on their skills to others who have "the Gift", Learned Bards often struggle up from their boot straps. They refuse to take "No" for an answer. They pester the local mage until he teaches them a few tricks, follow the local men-at-arms to pick up some pointers about fighting, sing and con their way in taverns to make ends meet, while sneaking into the local library late at night and reading in the Restricted Section. As a result Learned Bards tend to look at their Gifted cousins as snobs who "had it easy". While some Learned Bards have been admitted to the informal Bardic "colleges" and have gained renown, more often than not they are outsiders, even among other Bards. Most Learned Bards are just fine with this arrangement.
Races: Like the Gifted Bard, this profession primarily attracts humans, elves and half-elves. Gnomes, with their innate magic and more chaotic nature, rarely take up the Learned path. Though dwarves do not have any Bardic traditions of the Gifted nature, they do have a number of Learned Bards. Men and women who can remember dwarven ancestors to the fiftith generation, who pass on ancient legends from one village to another, as well as adding their own exploits into the mix.
Other Classes: Bards of any type work well in a group, and can help fill in any gaps that might be present in an adventuring team.
Table 1 - The Learned Bard
------Base Attack-Fort--Ref---Will--Special-----------------------_ Spells per Day _
Level Bonus-------Save--Save--Save--------------------------------0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1-----+0----------+0----+2----+2----Bardic Music, Insp. Cour. +1--1 _ _ _ _ _ _
2-----+1----------+0----+3----+3----Countersong, Fascinate--------2 _ _ _ _ _ _
3-----+2----------+1----+3----+3----------------------------------3 0 _ _ _ _ _
4-----+3----------+1----+4----+4----Inspire Competence------------3 1 _ _ _ _ _
5-----+3----------+1----+4----+4----------------------------------3 2 0 _ _ _ _
6-----+4----------+2----+5----+5----------------------------------3 3 1 _ _ _ _
7-----+5----------+2----+5----+5----Suggestion--------------------3 3 2 _ _ _ _
8-----+6/+1-------+2----+6----+6----Inspire Courage +2------------3 3 2 0 _ _ _
9-----+6/+1-------+3----+6----+6----------------------------------3 3 3 1 _ _ _
10----+7/+2-------+3----+7----+7----Inspire Greatness-------------3 3 3 2 0 _ _
11----+8/+3-------+3----+7----+7----------------------------------3 3 3 2 1 _ _
12----+9/+4-------+4----+8----+8----------------------------------3 3 3 3 2 _ _
13----+9/+4-------+4----+8----+8----Song of Freedom---------------3 3 3 3 2 0 _
14----+10/+5------+4----+9----+9----Inspire Courage +3------------3 3 3 3 3 1 _
15----+11/+6/+1---+5----+9----+9----------------------------------3 3 3 3 3 2 _
16----+12/+7/+2---+5----+10---+10---Inspire Heroics---------------3 3 3 3 3 2 0
17----+12/+7/+2---+5----+10---+10---------------------------------3 3 3 3 3 3 1
18----+13/+8/+3---+6----+11---+11---Mass Suggestion---------------3 3 3 3 3 3 2
19----+14/+9/+4---+6----+11---+11---------------------------------3 3 3 3 3 3 2
20----+15/+10/+5--+6----+12---+12---Inspire Courage +4------------3 3 3 3 3 3 3
GAME RULE INFORMATION
Abilities: Intelligence determines how powerful a spell a Learned Bard can cast, how many spells he can cast per day, and hard those spells are to resist. Charisma is also very important since it directly influences the Bard Song. As always, a high Dexterity is useful.
Alignment: Usually Neutral (Good, Evil, True)
Hit Die: d6
CLASS SKILLS
The Learned Bard uses the Gifted Bard Skill List. However, it should be noted that the Learned Bard's access to Wizard spells means they no long have access to any of the Healing spells a Gifted Bard has. Most Learned Bards, knowing this limit, have spent plenty of time helping out at the local Healer's Hut, watching them use old fashioned remedies. Thus, they have access to Heal as a Class Skill.
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier
CLASS FEATURES
Weapon And Armor Proficiencies: Same as the Gifted Bard: Because of their ability to cut a few corners and simplify things with magic (such as somatic components), light armor incurs no arcane spell failure penalty. However, medium or heavier armor and shields incur the usual penalties. Weapons are the same as a Gifted Bard: simple weapons plus long sword, short sword, rapier, short bow, sap and whip.
Spells: Unlike the Gifted Bard, which must rely on the Bard Spell List, a Learned Bard learns the same kind of spells as a Wizard, up to 6th level. To learn or cast a spell, a Learned Bard must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Int 10 for 0 level spells, Int 16 for 6th level spells). The Difficulty Class for a savings throw against a Learned Bard's spell is 10 + the spell level + the Intelligence modifier.
Like all other spell casters, a Learned Bard can cast only a certain number of spells per day (less than a Wizard), and receives bonus spells based on a high Intelligence score. Like a Wizard, the Learned Bard must prepare and memorize their spells beforehand. Unlike the Gifted Bard they are limited only by the number of spells they carry in their spellbook. While the level of their casting progression starts off slower than a Gifted Bard, in later levels they do catch up (though never in regards to the number of spells they can cast)
Spell limitations: Though they can learn the same kinds of spells, Learned Bards do not have the time or focus to learn ALL kinds of wizard spells. Thus, they are limited to four of the eight schools (or spheres) of Wizardry. The Learned Bard, however, gets to choose which schools to learn from. This is reflective of their individual nature, and how they usually chose their own course of instruction rather than being taught by a single master. These schools are fixed from the onset and do not change. In theory you could take two different Learned Bard types and alternate each level (and thus have access to all schools of magic), but this would SEVERELY limit spell casting abilities (at 10th level you'd still only have 2nd level spells!).
For example, an Evil Bard might take Necromancy, Enchantment, Conjuration, and Transmutation (and raise an army of the dead, turn a crowd into an angry mob to do his bidding, summon monsters and change their shape and form in battle), while a Good Bard might prefer Abjuration, Divination, Evocation and Illusion (To protect themselves and others, learn and see more then they normally could, and use illusions and pyrotechnics in a show as well as in battle.) Both types of Bards, however, use scrolls from ANY school, not just the ones they are trained with.
The starting spellbook of a Learned Bard consist of only 4 0-level cantrips, chosen from the Sorcerer/Wizard Spells section from among their chosen schools. All others must be acquired the same way as a Wizard.
Special Feat: In exchange for a Feat, the Learned Bard can also chose to have the ability to Summon a Familiar the same way as a Wizard. (which can come in quite handy for con games, stealing keys to prison doors, etc...). See the D&D Players Handbook for details.
Bardic Knowledge: This works exactly the same as for a Gifted Bard, and is gained at first level.
Bardic Music: One of the down sides of the Learned Bard is that they can be called "late bloomers". While they have access to the same benefits, most of these benefits occur at a slower rate. Thus, while at first level a Bard automatically has access to Bardic Music and can Inspire Courage, they cannot use Countersong or Fascinate until level 2. Such is the price of focusing more on academic studies than tuning your lute.
The effects, durations, and minimum Perform requirements, however, remain the same as for the Gifted Bard.
HUMAN LEARNED BARD STARTING PACKAGE
Armor: Studded Leather (+3AC, armor check penalty -1, arcane spell failure chance n/a, speed 30 ft, 10 lbs)
Weapons: Rapier (1d6, crit 18-20/x2, 2 lbs, piercing)
Short Bow (1d6, crit x3, rng 60 ft, 2 lbs, piercing)
Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 7+Int modifier.
Skill-----------------Ranks---------Ability----Armor Check Penalty
Perform (choose type)---4-----------Cha-------- _
Spellcraft--------------4-----------Int-------- _
Use Magic Device--------4-----------Cha-------- _
Gather Information------4-----------Cha-------- _
Heal--------------------4-----------Wis-------- _
Listen------------------4-----------Wis-------- _
Decipher Script---------4-----------Int-------- _
Diplomacy---------------4-----------Cha-------- _
Knowledge (choose any)--4-----------Int-------- _
Bluff-------------------4-----------Cha-------- _
Sense Motive------------4-----------Wis-------- _
Search------------------2-----------Int-------- _
Feat: If Dex is over 13, Dodge. If Dex is under 13, Investigator
Bonus Feat: Familiar
Spellbook: Acid Splash, Light, Read Magic, Detect Magic
Spell Schools: Conjuration, Divination, Evocation, Illusion
Gear: Backpack with waterskin, one day's trail rations, bedroll, sack, flint and steel. Three torches. Quiver with 20 arrows. Musical Instrument of your choice. Spell component pouch.
Gold: 2d4 gp
