D&D 5E (2014) Merric's Test Thread
- Thread starter MerricB
- Start date
Originally posted by iserith:
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14:This page has been linked to theD&D Adventurers League Organizerssite. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
are legal for organized play; however, due to changes to AL rules in 2015, the starting equipment might not be valid. Check the starting equipment before submitting the character to your DM for play.Characters marked with a
have been checked and found to have rules-legal starting equipment.
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14:This page has been linked to theD&D Adventurers League Organizerssite. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
- Brinan, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Hermit)(x)
- Komät the Swift, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Clawnan the Barbarian, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Siggledrix Mudcarver Ajax Morningsnore Dindlerung. 1st-level Gnome Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Toruk Smells-blood, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Ghesh, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Sailor)(x)
- Tiny Mankind, 1st-Level Goliath Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Urik Reinhardt, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Kruntch, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Gladiator)(x)
- Fenris, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Krumden Kraw, 2nd-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Criminal)(x)
- Shadai'hulan, 4th-level Stout Halfing Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Vostyg Stragov, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Odara, 10th-level Human Barbarian 6/Rogue 4 (Outlander)(x)
- Falsetto Jones, 1st-level Human Bard (Criminal)(x)
- Ollum Hammersong, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Artun Felec, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Spy)(x)
- Kursh Lowtone, 1st-level Half-Orc Bard (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Baird, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Charlatan)(x)
- Najiira Hal-Amsah, 1st-level Human Bard (Sage)(x)
- Wave Flute, 1st-Level Water Genasi Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Tryggvi Lithyl, 2nd-level Human Bard (Sailor)(x)
- Vadania Galanodel, 1st-level Wood Elf Cleric (Sage)(x)
- Marshal Heeling, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Bree, 1st-level Stout Halfling Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Ganhard Healshrine, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Myles Stormgroom, 1st-level Human Cleric (Outlander)(x)
- Xia Wei, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Doomguide Daulfgrund, 1st-level Human Cleric (Urchin)(x)
- Lilly Seraphis Calem IV, 1st-level Human Cleric (Noble)(x)
- Nammu the First, 1st-Level Human Knowledge Cleric (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Adrik Rumnaheim,(x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Domain of Trickery) (Charlatan)(x)
- Magdarosa, 3rd-level Human Cleric (Hermit)(x)
- Kyna, 3rd-level Half-Elf Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Torrind Drachmolik, Steadfast of Helm, 3rd-level Dragonborn Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Chukwembe, 1st-level Human Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Alwyn Oakheart, 1st-level Rock Gnome Druid (Sailor)(x)
- Rawrk, 1st-level Wood Elf Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Myrlin, 1st-level Half-elf Druid (Hermit)(x)
- Leugren Torfaen, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Corrin Underbough, 1st-level Halfling Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Alethra Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Darius Amateus Nero, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Cadwallon ap Bliedd, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Narantuyaa Khaghun, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Mucho Cerveza, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Irἵtra Vadû, 1st-level Tiefling Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Alethra Starag, 1st-level Human Fighter (Acolyte)(x)
- Sergor Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Selviyel the Forest Shadow, 1st-level Wood Elf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Aromin Rainshield, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Nihilius, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Jin Wei, 1st-level Human Fighter (Thug)(x)
- Grimfun of Black Keep, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Grindax Battlehummer, 1st-level Gnome Fighter (Forestborn)(x)
- Sir Kerian Désol, 1st-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Æther, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Imsh Il-Khan, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Gorik Ungart, 1st-level Half-Dwarf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Brandle "Brand" Fizzwig, 1st-level Human Fighter (Minstrel)(x)
- Blackeye, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Polrianna Copefront, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Flint Balderk, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Hasied Jassan, 1st-level Half-Elf Fighter (Charlatan)(x)
- Corporal Mara Steele of the Alliance, 2nd-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Lucida Blacletter, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Karlistigan Ignacius Lucien Montenue Artimen Del Gato IV, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Gro Smosh Blu-Smith, 3rd-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- C-06, 3rd-level Warforged Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Sir Vilemar Uskevren, 4th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Cerrah Willforge, 5th-level Human Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Wynter, 7th-level Centaur Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Sir Harold of Maccuswell. 10th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Kirin Ichiban, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Wanderer)(x)
- Nashrukk, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Outlander) - Reflavored to Hell Hound(x)
- Rekish, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Folk Hero)(x)
- Ev'ryn Meliamne, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Kyban, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Monk (Urchin)(x)
- Doctor Ivana Stavemof, 1st-level Human Monk (Hermit)(x)
- Akazuma, 3rd-level Human Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Malik Shadowbreaker, 3rd-level Human Monk (Criminal)(x)
- Wrecan, Lizardman Monk 2/Paladin 1 (Sage)(x)
- Tailor Swift, 4th-level Wood Elf Monk (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Erev’yn Meliamne, 5th-Level Wood Elf Monk4/Rogue1(x)
- Evandarr Thane, 1st-level Human Paladin (Folk Hero)(x)
- Syl "Glory" Moonwave, 1st-level Tiefling Paladin (Acolyte)(x)
- Darden Stubblefoot, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Paladin (Criminal)(x)
- Ravix, 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Trey (Tredichee), 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Shautha Narg, 1st-Level Half-Orc Paladin (Urchin)(x)
- Stern Sentinel Draglarodarrgarthian, 3rd-level Gnome Paladin (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Don Coyote, 3rd-Level Human Paladin (Noble)(x)
- Rhogar "Tempest" Norixius, 3rd-level Paladin 2/Barbarian 1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Sambert Heatherhome, 3rd-level Halfling Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Cranulf Crownshield, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Saad Al'Amyr, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Brenelda Wanderdell, 1st-level Human Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Rindlaf Elmpath, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Rette "Whirl" Renner, 1st-level Air Genasi Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Saelana Elanbow, 3rd-level Half-Elf Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Yanni d'Ghallanda, 3rd-level Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Red Creek Rufus, 3rd-level Human Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Ahnkuulnbaator, 3rd-level Stout Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Chuck Dagger, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Valemon, 1st-level Wood Elf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Dravos, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Handsome Dan, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Igner "The Driller" Greyflint, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Poliva Pursetaker, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Mily, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Lady Magnolia (Mags) Montrésor, 1st-level Human Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Tiguel Darago, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Entertainer)(x)
- Kezefiël, 1st-level Tiefling Rogue (Urchin)(x)
- Welky Ungart, 1st-level Dwarf Rogue (Outlander)(x)
- Swanky Hank MacArthur Esquire the IV, 1st-level Half-Elf Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Hardwicke, 1st-Level Half-Elf Rogue (Acolyte)(x)
- Rankin,(x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Noble)(x)
- Parallel Reedstool, 1st-level Stout Halfling Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Le'thael, the Pallid Ghost, 3rd-level Half-Elf Rogue-1/Monk-1/Warlock-1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Dargefredthula Hobnail Cobbler, 8th-level Gnome Rogue (Sailor)(x)
- Askith Tighn, 1st-level Human Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Althaea Ilphelkiir, 1st-level Wood Elf Sorcerer (Hermit)(x)
- Jeralia Merewyn, 1st-level Drow Sorcerer (Sage)(x)
- Schnella Crystalfist, 1st-Level Deep Gnome Sorcerer (Entertainer)(x)
- Lady Sparky of Gravewell, 1st-level Fire Genasi Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Ahnric "Wet Feet" Delinn, 1st-level Water Genasi Sorcerer (Sailor)(x)
- Kaeniaf'yr Nurbonnis, 3rd-level Drow Sorcerer (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Maes, 1st-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Laznabog Krimm, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Hex Arcana, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Entertainer)(x)
- Diogeen "The Cliche" Callo, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Erene, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Noble)(x)
- Shanks, 1st-level Human Warlock (Pirate)(x)
- Charlotte "Shimmer" Moondew, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Ezirel, A Librarian from Rashemen, 3rd-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Kron'Gzesh, 3rd-level Dragonborn Warlock (Sage)(x)
- Droword, 5th-level Half-Elf Warlock (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Tark Stonefire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Kreslin of the [Academy], 1st-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Jagan Makarius, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Vanciana Feyzalez, 1st-level High Elf Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Sardduk Magavario, 1st-level Tiefling Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Valerise Pengazer, 1st-level Human Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Thaddeus Brocc Mortimorticio Guiseppe Catgut Kinterzuul, 1st-level Rock Gnome Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Caulder Sunspire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard(x)
- Alice Lidell, 1st-level Human Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Sanasha, 1st-level Human Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Darthon Twice-Orphaned Thuliaga, 1st-level Goliath Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Attigus (Ferntwig) Xed, 1st-level Forest Gnome Wizard (Outlander)(x)
- Ravengeld Mazeminder, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Nimil'hel Allynwyn, 3rd-level High Elf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Ataway, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Hermit)(x)
- Include a character image and stats and "back story" more or less in the format I post below. Back story should be quick and to the point. If it's long, throw it in a spoiler block.
- Please indicate whether your character was built according to Adventurers League guidelines.
- This is a place to post characters, not to discuss them.Anything other than characters will be considered off-topic and should be reported to the moderators for deletion. If there's an error on somebody's sheet, feel free to PM them to discuss it.
- Whenever possible, a character sheet in PDF would be a nice addition to the post (optional).
- Characters can be of any level and with any options, but any options other than Basic should be noted in some fashion.
- I will update this post with links to keep things organized by class or level, depending on what works best given what has been posted.
Originally posted by iserith:
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14: This page has been linked to the D&D Adventurers League Organizers site. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
are legal for organized play; however, due to changes to AL rules in 2015, the starting equipment might not be valid. Check the starting equipment before submitting the character to your DM for play. Characters marked with a
have been checked and found to have rules-legal starting equipment.
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14: This page has been linked to the D&D Adventurers League Organizers site. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
- Brinan, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Hermit)(x)
- Komät the Swift, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Clawnan the Barbarian, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Siggledrix Mudcarver Ajax Morningsnore Dindlerung. 1st-level Gnome Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Toruk Smells-blood, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Ghesh, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Sailor)(x)
- Tiny Mankind, 1st-Level Goliath Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Urik Reinhardt, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Kruntch, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Gladiator)(x)
- Fenris, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Krumden Kraw, 2nd-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Criminal)(x)
- Shadai'hulan, 4th-level Stout Halfing Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Vostyg Stragov, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Odara, 10th-level Human Barbarian 6/Rogue 4 (Outlander)(x)
- Falsetto Jones, 1st-level Human Bard (Criminal)(x)
- Ollum Hammersong, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Artun Felec, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Spy)(x)
- Kursh Lowtone, 1st-level Half-Orc Bard (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Baird, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Charlatan)(x)
- Najiira Hal-Amsah, 1st-level Human Bard (Sage)(x)
- Wave Flute, 1st-Level Water Genasi Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Tryggvi Lithyl, 2nd-level Human Bard (Sailor)(x)
- Vadania Galanodel, 1st-level Wood Elf Cleric (Sage)(x)
- Marshal Heeling, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Bree, 1st-level Stout Halfling Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Ganhard Healshrine, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Myles Stormgroom, 1st-level Human Cleric (Outlander)(x)
- Xia Wei, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Doomguide Daulfgrund, 1st-level Human Cleric (Urchin)(x)
- Lilly Seraphis Calem IV, 1st-level Human Cleric (Noble)(x)
- Nammu the First, 1st-Level Human Knowledge Cleric (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Adrik Rumnaheim, (x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Domain of Trickery) (Charlatan)(x)
- Magdarosa, 3rd-level Human Cleric (Hermit)(x)
- Kyna, 3rd-level Half-Elf Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Torrind Drachmolik, Steadfast of Helm, 3rd-level Dragonborn Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Chukwembe, 1st-level Human Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Alwyn Oakheart, 1st-level Rock Gnome Druid (Sailor)(x)
- Rawrk, 1st-level Wood Elf Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Myrlin, 1st-level Half-elf Druid (Hermit)(x)
- Leugren Torfaen, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Corrin Underbough, 1st-level Halfling Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Alethra Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Darius Amateus Nero, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Cadwallon ap Bliedd, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Narantuyaa Khaghun, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Mucho Cerveza, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Irἵtra Vadû, 1st-level Tiefling Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Alethra Starag, 1st-level Human Fighter (Acolyte)(x)
- Sergor Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Selviyel the Forest Shadow, 1st-level Wood Elf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Aromin Rainshield, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Nihilius, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Jin Wei, 1st-level Human Fighter (Thug)(x)
- Grimfun of Black Keep, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Grindax Battlehummer, 1st-level Gnome Fighter (Forestborn)(x)
- Sir Kerian Désol, 1st-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Æther, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Imsh Il-Khan, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Gorik Ungart, 1st-level Half-Dwarf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Brandle "Brand" Fizzwig, 1st-level Human Fighter (Minstrel)(x)
- Blackeye, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Polrianna Copefront, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Flint Balderk, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Hasied Jassan, 1st-level Half-Elf Fighter (Charlatan)(x)
- Corporal Mara Steele of the Alliance, 2nd-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Lucida Blacletter, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Karlistigan Ignacius Lucien Montenue Artimen Del Gato IV, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Gro Smosh Blu-Smith, 3rd-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- C-06, 3rd-level Warforged Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Sir Vilemar Uskevren, 4th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Cerrah Willforge, 5th-level Human Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Wynter, 7th-level Centaur Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Sir Harold of Maccuswell. 10th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Kirin Ichiban, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Wanderer)(x)
- Nashrukk, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Outlander) - Reflavored to Hell Hound(x)
- Rekish, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Folk Hero)(x)
- Ev'ryn Meliamne, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Kyban, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Monk (Urchin)(x)
- Doctor Ivana Stavemof, 1st-level Human Monk (Hermit)(x)
- Akazuma, 3rd-level Human Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Malik Shadowbreaker, 3rd-level Human Monk (Criminal)(x)
- Wrecan, Lizardman Monk 2/Paladin 1 (Sage)(x)
- Tailor Swift, 4th-level Wood Elf Monk (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Erev’yn Meliamne, 5th-Level Wood Elf Monk4/Rogue1(x)
- Evandarr Thane, 1st-level Human Paladin (Folk Hero)(x)
- Syl "Glory" Moonwave, 1st-level Tiefling Paladin (Acolyte)(x)
- Darden Stubblefoot, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Paladin (Criminal)(x)
- Ravix, 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Trey (Tredichee), 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Shautha Narg, 1st-Level Half-Orc Paladin (Urchin)(x)
- Stern Sentinel Draglarodarrgarthian, 3rd-level Gnome Paladin (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Don Coyote, 3rd-Level Human Paladin (Noble)(x)
- Rhogar "Tempest" Norixius, 3rd-level Paladin 2/Barbarian 1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Sambert Heatherhome, 3rd-level Halfling Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Cranulf Crownshield, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Saad Al'Amyr, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Brenelda Wanderdell, 1st-level Human Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Rindlaf Elmpath, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Rette "Whirl" Renner, 1st-level Air Genasi Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Saelana Elanbow, 3rd-level Half-Elf Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Yanni d'Ghallanda, 3rd-level Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Red Creek Rufus, 3rd-level Human Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Ahnkuulnbaator, 3rd-level Stout Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Chuck Dagger, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Valemon, 1st-level Wood Elf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Dravos, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Handsome Dan, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Igner "The Driller" Greyflint, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Poliva Pursetaker, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Mily, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Lady Magnolia (Mags) Montrésor, 1st-level Human Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Tiguel Darago, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Entertainer)(x)
- Kezefiël, 1st-level Tiefling Rogue (Urchin)(x)
- Welky Ungart, 1st-level Dwarf Rogue (Outlander)(x)
- Swanky Hank MacArthur Esquire the IV, 1st-level Half-Elf Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Hardwicke, 1st-Level Half-Elf Rogue (Acolyte)(x)
- Rankin, (x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Noble)(x)
- Parallel Reedstool, 1st-level Stout Halfling Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Le'thael, the Pallid Ghost, 3rd-level Half-Elf Rogue-1/Monk-1/Warlock-1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Dargefredthula Hobnail Cobbler, 8th-level Gnome Rogue (Sailor)(x)
- Askith Tighn, 1st-level Human Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Althaea Ilphelkiir, 1st-level Wood Elf Sorcerer (Hermit)(x)
- Jeralia Merewyn, 1st-level Drow Sorcerer (Sage)(x)
- Schnella Crystalfist, 1st-Level Deep Gnome Sorcerer (Entertainer)(x)
- Lady Sparky of Gravewell, 1st-level Fire Genasi Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Ahnric "Wet Feet" Delinn, 1st-level Water Genasi Sorcerer (Sailor)(x)
- Kaeniaf'yr Nurbonnis, 3rd-level Drow Sorcerer (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Maes, 1st-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Laznabog Krimm, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Hex Arcana, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Entertainer)(x)
- Diogeen "The Cliche" Callo, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Erene, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Noble)(x)
- Shanks, 1st-level Human Warlock (Pirate)(x)
- Charlotte "Shimmer" Moondew, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Ezirel, A Librarian from Rashemen, 3rd-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Kron'Gzesh, 3rd-level Dragonborn Warlock (Sage)(x)
- Droword, 5th-level Half-Elf Warlock (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Tark Stonefire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Kreslin of the [Academy], 1st-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Jagan Makarius, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Vanciana Feyzalez, 1st-level High Elf Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Sardduk Magavario, 1st-level Tiefling Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Valerise Pengazer, 1st-level Human Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Thaddeus Brocc Mortimorticio Guiseppe Catgut Kinterzuul, 1st-level Rock Gnome Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Caulder Sunspire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard(x)
- Alice Lidell, 1st-level Human Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Sanasha, 1st-level Human Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Darthon Twice-Orphaned Thuliaga, 1st-level Goliath Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Attigus (Ferntwig) Xed, 1st-level Forest Gnome Wizard (Outlander)(x)
- Ravengeld Mazeminder, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Nimil'hel Allynwyn, 3rd-level High Elf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Ataway, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Hermit)(x)
- Include a character image and stats and "back story" more or less in the format I post below. Back story should be quick and to the point. If it's long, throw it in a spoiler block.
- Please indicate whether your character was built according to Adventurers League guidelines.
- This is a place to post characters, not to discuss them. Anything other than characters will be considered off-topic and should be reported to the moderators for deletion. If there's an error on somebody's sheet, feel free to PM them to discuss it.
- Whenever possible, a character sheet in PDF would be a nice addition to the post (optional).
- Characters can be of any level and with any options, but any options other than Basic should be noted in some fashion.
- I will update this post with links to keep things organized by class or level, depending on what works best given what has been posted.
BoldItalic
First Post
Too much is looking better than too little. Adding back a few line breaks where it looks better will be less work than taking a lot out at seemingly-random places.
Originally posted by iserith:
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14: This page has been linked to the D&D Adventurers League Organizers site. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
are legal for organized play; however, due to changes to AL rules in 2015, the starting equipment might not be valid. Check the starting equipment before submitting the character to your DM for play. Characters marked with a
have been checked and found to have rules-legal starting equipment.
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
I'd like to use this thread to create a depot for pre-generated D&D 5e characters so that DMs and players have a plethora of characters to grab and play as they need it. It's always handy to have extra characters on file for when an unexpected friend shows up to play, for conventions, or for when an existing PC buys the farm and you want to keep the player in the game.
Update 12/04/14: This page has been linked to the D&D Adventurers League Organizers site. Please doublecheck these characters to make sure they are legal for organized play. Indicate in your post if they are AL-legal or not.
Characters marked with a
Pre-Generated Character Index:
Barbarian
- Brinan, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Hermit)(x)
- Komät the Swift, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Clawnan the Barbarian, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Siggledrix Mudcarver Ajax Morningsnore Dindlerung. 1st-level Gnome Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Toruk Smells-blood, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Ghesh, 1st-level Dragonborn Barbarian (Sailor)(x)
- Tiny Mankind, 1st-Level Goliath Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Urik Reinhardt, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Kruntch, 1st-level Half-Orc Barbarian (Gladiator)(x)
- Fenris, 1st-level Human Barbarian (Pirate)(x)
- Krumden Kraw, 2nd-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Criminal)(x)
- Shadai'hulan, 4th-level Stout Halfing Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Vostyg Stragov, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Barbarian (Outlander)(x)
- Odara, 10th-level Human Barbarian 6/Rogue 4 (Outlander)(x)
- Falsetto Jones, 1st-level Human Bard (Criminal)(x)
- Ollum Hammersong, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Artun Felec, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Spy)(x)
- Kursh Lowtone, 1st-level Half-Orc Bard (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Baird, 1st-level Half-Elf Bard (Charlatan)(x)
- Najiira Hal-Amsah, 1st-level Human Bard (Sage)(x)
- Wave Flute, 1st-Level Water Genasi Bard (Entertainer)(x)
- Tryggvi Lithyl, 2nd-level Human Bard (Sailor)(x)
- Vadania Galanodel, 1st-level Wood Elf Cleric (Sage)(x)
- Marshal Heeling, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Bree, 1st-level Stout Halfling Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Ganhard Healshrine, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Myles Stormgroom, 1st-level Human Cleric (Outlander)(x)
- Xia Wei, 1st-level Human Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Doomguide Daulfgrund, 1st-level Human Cleric (Urchin)(x)
- Lilly Seraphis Calem IV, 1st-level Human Cleric (Noble)(x)
- Nammu the First, 1st-Level Human Knowledge Cleric (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Adrik Rumnaheim, (x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Domain of Trickery) (Charlatan)(x)
- Magdarosa, 3rd-level Human Cleric (Hermit)(x)
- Kyna, 3rd-level Half-Elf Cleric (Acolyte)(x)
- Torrind Drachmolik, Steadfast of Helm, 3rd-level Dragonborn Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Chukwembe, 1st-level Human Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Alwyn Oakheart, 1st-level Rock Gnome Druid (Sailor)(x)
- Rawrk, 1st-level Wood Elf Druid (Outlander)(x)
- Myrlin, 1st-level Half-elf Druid (Hermit)(x)
- Leugren Torfaen, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Corrin Underbough, 1st-level Halfling Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Alethra Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Darius Amateus Nero, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Cadwallon ap Bliedd, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Narantuyaa Khaghun, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Mucho Cerveza, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Irἵtra Vadû, 1st-level Tiefling Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Alethra Starag, 1st-level Human Fighter (Acolyte)(x)
- Sergor Bersk, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Selviyel the Forest Shadow, 1st-level Wood Elf Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Aromin Rainshield, 1st-level High Elf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Nihilius, 1st-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Jin Wei, 1st-level Human Fighter (Thug)(x)
- Grimfun of Black Keep, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Grindax Battlehummer, 1st-level Gnome Fighter (Forestborn)(x)
- Sir Kerian Désol, 1st-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Æther, 1st-level Human Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Imsh Il-Khan, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Gorik Ungart, 1st-level Half-Dwarf Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Brandle "Brand" Fizzwig, 1st-level Human Fighter (Minstrel)(x)
- Blackeye, 1st-level Half-Orc Fighter (Criminal)(x)
- Polrianna Copefront, 1st-level Human Cleric (Soldier)(x)
- Flint Balderk, 1st-level Hill Dwarf Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Hasied Jassan, 1st-level Half-Elf Fighter (Charlatan)(x)
- Corporal Mara Steele of the Alliance, 2nd-level Human Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Lucida Blacletter, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Karlistigan Ignacius Lucien Montenue Artimen Del Gato IV, 3rd-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Gro Smosh Blu-Smith, 3rd-level Half-Orc Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- C-06, 3rd-level Warforged Fighter (Soldier)(x)
- Sir Vilemar Uskevren, 4th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Cerrah Willforge, 5th-level Human Fighter (Folk Hero)(x)
- Wynter, 7th-level Centaur Fighter (Outlander)(x)
- Sir Harold of Maccuswell. 10th-level Human Fighter (Noble)(x)
- Kirin Ichiban, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Wanderer)(x)
- Nashrukk, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Outlander) - Reflavored to Hell Hound(x)
- Rekish, 1st-level Dragonborn Monk (Folk Hero)(x)
- Ev'ryn Meliamne, 1st-level Wood Elf Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Kyban, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Monk (Urchin)(x)
- Doctor Ivana Stavemof, 1st-level Human Monk (Hermit)(x)
- Akazuma, 3rd-level Human Monk (Outlander)(x)
- Malik Shadowbreaker, 3rd-level Human Monk (Criminal)(x)
- Wrecan, Lizardman Monk 2/Paladin 1 (Sage)(x)
- Tailor Swift, 4th-level Wood Elf Monk (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Erev’yn Meliamne, 5th-Level Wood Elf Monk4/Rogue1(x)
- Evandarr Thane, 1st-level Human Paladin (Folk Hero)(x)
- Syl "Glory" Moonwave, 1st-level Tiefling Paladin (Acolyte)(x)
- Darden Stubblefoot, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Paladin (Criminal)(x)
- Ravix, 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Trey (Tredichee), 1st-level Human Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Shautha Narg, 1st-Level Half-Orc Paladin (Urchin)(x)
- Stern Sentinel Draglarodarrgarthian, 3rd-level Gnome Paladin (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Don Coyote, 3rd-Level Human Paladin (Noble)(x)
- Rhogar "Tempest" Norixius, 3rd-level Paladin 2/Barbarian 1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Sambert Heatherhome, 3rd-level Halfling Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Cranulf Crownshield, 4th-level Mountain Dwarf Paladin (Soldier)(x)
- Saad Al'Amyr, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Brenelda Wanderdell, 1st-level Human Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Rindlaf Elmpath, 1st-level Human Ranger (Wanderer)(x)
- Rette "Whirl" Renner, 1st-level Air Genasi Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Saelana Elanbow, 3rd-level Half-Elf Ranger (Folk Hero)(x)
- Yanni d'Ghallanda, 3rd-level Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Red Creek Rufus, 3rd-level Human Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Ahnkuulnbaator, 3rd-level Stout Halfling Ranger (Outlander)(x)
- Chuck Dagger, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Valemon, 1st-level Wood Elf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Dravos, 1st-level Human Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Handsome Dan, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Igner "The Driller" Greyflint, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Poliva Pursetaker, 1st-level Human Rogue (Folk Hero)(x)
- Mily, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Lady Magnolia (Mags) Montrésor, 1st-level Human Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Tiguel Darago, 1st-level Halfling Rogue (Entertainer)(x)
- Kezefiël, 1st-level Tiefling Rogue (Urchin)(x)
- Welky Ungart, 1st-level Dwarf Rogue (Outlander)(x)
- Swanky Hank MacArthur Esquire the IV, 1st-level Half-Elf Rogue (Charlatan)(x)
- Hardwicke, 1st-Level Half-Elf Rogue (Acolyte)(x)
- Rankin, (x)1st-Level Mountain Dwarf Rogue (Noble)(x)
- Parallel Reedstool, 1st-level Stout Halfling Rogue (Criminal)(x)
- Le'thael, the Pallid Ghost, 3rd-level Half-Elf Rogue-1/Monk-1/Warlock-1 (Acolyte)(x)
- Dargefredthula Hobnail Cobbler, 8th-level Gnome Rogue (Sailor)(x)
- Askith Tighn, 1st-level Human Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Althaea Ilphelkiir, 1st-level Wood Elf Sorcerer (Hermit)(x)
- Jeralia Merewyn, 1st-level Drow Sorcerer (Sage)(x)
- Schnella Crystalfist, 1st-Level Deep Gnome Sorcerer (Entertainer)(x)
- Lady Sparky of Gravewell, 1st-level Fire Genasi Sorcerer (Noble)(x)
- Ahnric "Wet Feet" Delinn, 1st-level Water Genasi Sorcerer (Sailor)(x)
- Kaeniaf'yr Nurbonnis, 3rd-level Drow Sorcerer (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Maes, 1st-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Laznabog Krimm, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Hex Arcana, 1st-level Tiefling Warlock (Entertainer)(x)
- Diogeen "The Cliche" Callo, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Erene, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Noble)(x)
- Shanks, 1st-level Human Warlock (Pirate)(x)
- Charlotte "Shimmer" Moondew, 1st-level Half-Elf Warlock (Charlatan)(x)
- Ezirel, A Librarian from Rashemen, 3rd-level Human Warlock (Criminal)(x)
- Kron'Gzesh, 3rd-level Dragonborn Warlock (Sage)(x)
- Droword, 5th-level Half-Elf Warlock (Guild Artisan)(x)
- Tark Stonefire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Kreslin of the [Academy], 1st-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Jagan Makarius, 1st-level Lightfoot Halfling Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Vanciana Feyzalez, 1st-level High Elf Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Sardduk Magavario, 1st-level Tiefling Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Valerise Pengazer, 1st-level Human Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Thaddeus Brocc Mortimorticio Guiseppe Catgut Kinterzuul, 1st-level Rock Gnome Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Caulder Sunspire, 1st-level Mountain Dwarf Wizard(x)
- Alice Lidell, 1st-level Human Wizard (Noble)(x)
- Sanasha, 1st-level Human Wizard (Acolyte)(x)
- Darthon Twice-Orphaned Thuliaga, 1st-level Goliath Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Attigus (Ferntwig) Xed, 1st-level Forest Gnome Wizard (Outlander)(x)
- Ravengeld Mazeminder, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Sage)(x)
- Nimil'hel Allynwyn, 3rd-level High Elf Wizard (Soldier)(x)
- Ataway, 3rd-level Human Wizard (Hermit)(x)
- Include a character image and stats and "back story" more or less in the format I post below. Back story should be quick and to the point. If it's long, throw it in a spoiler block.
- Please indicate whether your character was built according to Adventurers League guidelines.
- This is a place to post characters, not to discuss them. Anything other than characters will be considered off-topic and should be reported to the moderators for deletion. If there's an error on somebody's sheet, feel free to PM them to discuss it.
- Whenever possible, a character sheet in PDF would be a nice addition to the post (optional).
- Characters can be of any level and with any options, but any options other than Basic should be noted in some fashion.
- I will update this post with links to keep things organized by class or level, depending on what works best given what has been posted.
Originally posted by Litigation:
So, you want to be a Bard, huh? Think it's all about charming the ladies, prancing around, or earning lots and lots of coin? Think again. You're here to lead people into battle, and I don't mean going all Pied Piper and marching kids into a war zone (although some of you might think that's fun). In fact, you might want to make sure you're as good with that blade as you are with your lute. Celts and Vikings are more our model here.
Clerics close wounds fast and Warlords make things die fast, so what is special about you besides the fact you can sing? Well, quite a bit:
* You are the master of positioning. You have a knack for making sure your allies are in the right place at the right time. After all, it doesn't matter how good your party's nova potential is if they're not in a position to unleash it, and you can get a party into position more consistently and expediently than any other Leader can. And not only do you get your allies into the right place, but you also tend to force enemies there.
* You tend to cripple the enemy as much as you help your allies. With your natural secondary role as Controller, this isn't really a surprise. You like to jinx the enemies' attacks, strip their defenses, inflict status effects, and generally do a lot of nasty things to their survival chances. You're still a team player, but you can't help but get some satisfaction yourself as your powers have more of a direct effect than those of other Leaders. There's something about dominating a foe and making him do your bidding that just sounds really cool.
* You are extremely versatile. Want to lead from the front with a shiny blade in hand? You got it. From the back? You got it. With a conductor's baton? You got it. With a bow? You got it. Strumming a lute? You got it. And it doesn't stop there. You are free to dabble in as many other classes' abilities as you'd like to tailor your arsenal as you see fit. Want more healing? You got it. Want things to die faster? You got it. Need more control? You got it.
* You are a master of skills. In fact, only three of the skills in the entire game aren't on your class skill list. Moreover, you start with the second-most number of trained skills after the Rogue. Because you're charismatic, you excel in conversational skill challenges involving skills like Diplomacy and Bluff. And to top it all off, you have the ability to make the skills you didn't train almost as good as the ones you did train.
Ratings system:
Red: AHHHH! My ears! A trap, or just plain garbage.
Purple: A rather sour note. Situational at best.
Black: Tolerable, an acquired taste even.
Blue: A fine selection, indeed.
Sky Blue: Bravissimo! Meaning, you definitely want this.
Gold: Mandatory. Not just the best. Mandatory. A very rare rating.
This Handbook covers the following sources:
PHB - Player's Handbook
PHB2 - Player's Handbook 2
PHB3 - Player's Handbook 3
AP - Arcane Power
HotF - Heroes of the Feywild
E:HFL - Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands
E:HFK - Essentials: Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
FRPG - Forgotten Realms Player's Guide
MM - Monster Manual
MM2 - Monster Manual 2
MME - Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium
AV - Adventurer's Vault
AV2 - Adventurer's Vault 2
D XXX - Dragon Magazine, issue XXX
DA XX - Dragon Annual, year XX
MOTP - Manual of the Planes
NWCS - Neverwinter Campaign Setting
DSCS - Dark Sun Campaign Setting
PHBH - Player's Handbook Heroes
MP - Martial Power
DP - Divine Power
PP - Primal Power
EPG - Eberron Player's Guide
PHR:T - Player's Handbook Races: Tieflings
HoS - Heroes of Shadow
Glossary
[sblock]
AEDU - At-will, Encounter, Daily, Utility. Used to denote the power structure of all classes in 4e before PHB3 and (especially) Essentials. Both the original Bard and the Skald conform to this power structure.
AoE - Area of effect, often denotes a burst or blast attack.
AP - Action Point
Bard Taxi - A build concept written up by Thaldryn here(x), which involves the Bard's teleport feats Bardic Wayfarer and Walk Among the Fey and a multiclass to Warlock to take the paragon path Evermeet Warlock. The result is a hyper-teleport-focused build of Bard that exerts impressive control over ally and enemy positioning on any battlefield.
BBEG - Big Bad Evil Guy (typically a Solo or an Elite)
Charmer - A character who takes a preponderance of powers with the Charm keyword and optimizes their use. Bards are well predisposed toward being this type of character.
DPR - Damage per round
ED - Epic destiny
Fake Skald (or F-Skald) - An original Bard (typically melee-inclined) that takes the feat Skald Training and picks up a CHA- or INT-based MBA to emulate the defining characteristics of the Skald subclass while keeping the original Bard's features. Can be a powerful build, but it is also rather feat-intensive.
Feywalker - A Paragon Tier Bard who took the feat Walk Among the Fey to change all his sliding powers into 2D teleportation powers. Bard Taxis are an extreme example of this type.
MAD - Multiple-attribute dependency. Otherwise known as stretching your ability scores too thin. Typically a designator for a build needing three or more ability scores to function.
MBA - Melee basic attack
MID - Multiple-item dependency. Having to use both a weapon and an implement is a cause of this, eating up more of your allocation of finances, feats and other resources.
NAD - Non-AC Defense (Fortitude, Reflex or Will).
OA - Opportunity attack
O-Bard - The original Bard class from the PHB2, used when it is necessary to distinguish it from its subclass, the Skald.
PP - Paragon path
RBA - Ranged basic attack
THP - Temporary hit points.
Wayfarer - A Bard who took the feat Bardic Wayfarer, generally with the intent to optimize around teleporting. Bard Taxis are an extreme example of this type.
[/sblock]
References
[sblock]
Oh! Blame not the bard(x) by JWT (The original Bard handbook)
The Bard Taxi - The Little Red Corvette(x) by Thaldryn
[/sblock]
Thanks to:
Everyone who posts and helps out.
Authors of other classes' handbooks, some of which REALLY helped for the multiclassing section.
***
NOTE: This handbook will cover both the original Bard from PHB2 and the Skald from HotF. Since both variants use the same AEDU power structure and have access to all the same powers one way or another and only differ in the class features, the Skald could conveniently be folded into this handbook.
Cruel Lullabies:
The Bard Handbook
The Bard Handbook
So, you want to be a Bard, huh? Think it's all about charming the ladies, prancing around, or earning lots and lots of coin? Think again. You're here to lead people into battle, and I don't mean going all Pied Piper and marching kids into a war zone (although some of you might think that's fun). In fact, you might want to make sure you're as good with that blade as you are with your lute. Celts and Vikings are more our model here.
So why play a Bard?
Clerics close wounds fast and Warlords make things die fast, so what is special about you besides the fact you can sing? Well, quite a bit:
* You are the master of positioning. You have a knack for making sure your allies are in the right place at the right time. After all, it doesn't matter how good your party's nova potential is if they're not in a position to unleash it, and you can get a party into position more consistently and expediently than any other Leader can. And not only do you get your allies into the right place, but you also tend to force enemies there.
* You tend to cripple the enemy as much as you help your allies. With your natural secondary role as Controller, this isn't really a surprise. You like to jinx the enemies' attacks, strip their defenses, inflict status effects, and generally do a lot of nasty things to their survival chances. You're still a team player, but you can't help but get some satisfaction yourself as your powers have more of a direct effect than those of other Leaders. There's something about dominating a foe and making him do your bidding that just sounds really cool.
* You are extremely versatile. Want to lead from the front with a shiny blade in hand? You got it. From the back? You got it. With a conductor's baton? You got it. With a bow? You got it. Strumming a lute? You got it. And it doesn't stop there. You are free to dabble in as many other classes' abilities as you'd like to tailor your arsenal as you see fit. Want more healing? You got it. Want things to die faster? You got it. Need more control? You got it.
* You are a master of skills. In fact, only three of the skills in the entire game aren't on your class skill list. Moreover, you start with the second-most number of trained skills after the Rogue. Because you're charismatic, you excel in conversational skill challenges involving skills like Diplomacy and Bluff. And to top it all off, you have the ability to make the skills you didn't train almost as good as the ones you did train.
Ratings system:
Red: AHHHH! My ears! A trap, or just plain garbage.
Purple: A rather sour note. Situational at best.
Black: Tolerable, an acquired taste even.
Blue: A fine selection, indeed.
Sky Blue: Bravissimo! Meaning, you definitely want this.
Gold: Mandatory. Not just the best. Mandatory. A very rare rating.
This Handbook covers the following sources:
PHB - Player's Handbook
PHB2 - Player's Handbook 2
PHB3 - Player's Handbook 3
AP - Arcane Power
HotF - Heroes of the Feywild
E:HFL - Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands
E:HFK - Essentials: Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms
FRPG - Forgotten Realms Player's Guide
MM - Monster Manual
MM2 - Monster Manual 2
MME - Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium
AV - Adventurer's Vault
AV2 - Adventurer's Vault 2
D XXX - Dragon Magazine, issue XXX
DA XX - Dragon Annual, year XX
MOTP - Manual of the Planes
NWCS - Neverwinter Campaign Setting
DSCS - Dark Sun Campaign Setting
PHBH - Player's Handbook Heroes
MP - Martial Power
DP - Divine Power
PP - Primal Power
EPG - Eberron Player's Guide
PHR:T - Player's Handbook Races: Tieflings
HoS - Heroes of Shadow
Glossary
[sblock]
AEDU - At-will, Encounter, Daily, Utility. Used to denote the power structure of all classes in 4e before PHB3 and (especially) Essentials. Both the original Bard and the Skald conform to this power structure.
AoE - Area of effect, often denotes a burst or blast attack.
AP - Action Point
Bard Taxi - A build concept written up by Thaldryn here(x), which involves the Bard's teleport feats Bardic Wayfarer and Walk Among the Fey and a multiclass to Warlock to take the paragon path Evermeet Warlock. The result is a hyper-teleport-focused build of Bard that exerts impressive control over ally and enemy positioning on any battlefield.
BBEG - Big Bad Evil Guy (typically a Solo or an Elite)
Charmer - A character who takes a preponderance of powers with the Charm keyword and optimizes their use. Bards are well predisposed toward being this type of character.
DPR - Damage per round
ED - Epic destiny
Fake Skald (or F-Skald) - An original Bard (typically melee-inclined) that takes the feat Skald Training and picks up a CHA- or INT-based MBA to emulate the defining characteristics of the Skald subclass while keeping the original Bard's features. Can be a powerful build, but it is also rather feat-intensive.
Feywalker - A Paragon Tier Bard who took the feat Walk Among the Fey to change all his sliding powers into 2D teleportation powers. Bard Taxis are an extreme example of this type.
MAD - Multiple-attribute dependency. Otherwise known as stretching your ability scores too thin. Typically a designator for a build needing three or more ability scores to function.
MBA - Melee basic attack
MID - Multiple-item dependency. Having to use both a weapon and an implement is a cause of this, eating up more of your allocation of finances, feats and other resources.
NAD - Non-AC Defense (Fortitude, Reflex or Will).
OA - Opportunity attack
O-Bard - The original Bard class from the PHB2, used when it is necessary to distinguish it from its subclass, the Skald.
PP - Paragon path
RBA - Ranged basic attack
THP - Temporary hit points.
Wayfarer - A Bard who took the feat Bardic Wayfarer, generally with the intent to optimize around teleporting. Bard Taxis are an extreme example of this type.
[/sblock]
References
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Oh! Blame not the bard(x) by JWT (The original Bard handbook)
The Bard Taxi - The Little Red Corvette(x) by Thaldryn
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Thanks to:
Everyone who posts and helps out.
Authors of other classes' handbooks, some of which REALLY helped for the multiclassing section.
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NOTE: This handbook will cover both the original Bard from PHB2 and the Skald from HotF. Since both variants use the same AEDU power structure and have access to all the same powers one way or another and only differ in the class features, the Skald could conveniently be folded into this handbook.
Originally posted by Litigation:
Your power source is Arcane, and your role is Leader. You use your talents in the performing arts as a conduit for spells, and you use those spells to spur your allies into action, and to heal or bolster them when the chips are down. The Arcane power source seems to favor the Controller role, and sure enough, you do have a strong Controller element.
If you're a Skald, you are also Martial, in addition to Arcane. The biggest draw of the Skald's Martial designation is the feats that boost your basic attacks, which you'll be using a lot of if you're a Skald.
Buffing - Generally defined as the ability to affect your allies' rolls in a positive way. Generally, you'll be pretty good at this, as a fair number of your powers do confer strong benefits to attack or damage rolls, and a few of them even allow your allies to roll attacks twice. Prescient Bards are amazing at this, as are Valorous Bards once they take a certain PP.
Debuffing - The ability to disrupt the opponent, whether through attack penalties, defense penalties, status effects, or forced movement. This is definitely your realm of expertise; in fact, this is your modus operandi. Many of your powers do one or more of the above, in quite a few cases to multiple enemies. Out of all Leaders, only the Pacifist Cleric challenges you in this category.
Enabling - The ability to let your allies do what they normally couldn't do. This includes positioning, of which your class is the master among Leaders. Many of your powers and features excel at getting your allies into optimal attack position in very short order (and in some cases, forcing your enemies there). The reason you're only "good" at enabling overall, rather than great, is because, on the whole, you're not quite as good at generating extra attacks as the Warlord. (But who is?) That said, you have enough attack-enabling powers to take a respectable second place. And with the right party composition, certain builds, particularly Cunning Bards, can actually be flat-out great at it.
Healing - You're capable at it, but it's not your strong point. Depending on what phase of supplemental material support the Warlord is in compared to you, you're either second-to-last or dead-last among Leaders in this category.
Survivability - You're arguably the most important part of the party, so you want to be able to stay upright. Cunning and Valorous Bards will be decent at this; Cunning because of a good AC potential and Valorous because of the high number of healing surges they'll get. Prescient Bards are the worst in this category, but since they'll stay at range almost exclusively, it won't matter too much.
Secondary Roles
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Controller - Some argue that you could fill in for a full-time Controller completely. While I wouldn't go quite that far (not without at least some light multiclassing), you definitely excel here. Indeed, many of your powers and abilities seem to serve both Leader and Controller roles simultaneously. Much of what you do lies in the vicious status effects, forced movement and penalties you inflict, in some cases to multiple enemies at once. At later levels, you might start laying down serious saving throw penalties with your powers for even more effective battlefield control, both for yourself and even perhaps for a more "dedicated" Controller in the party.
Defender - Valorous Bards, with their high CON and number of healing surges, could fill in this role somewhat, particularly if they actually take a multiclass feat for a Defender class that gives some sort of marking mechanic to them. Cunning Bards and Prescient Bards aren't likely to step in this role, though.
Striker - With the advent of the Skald material and the powers that work off basic attacks (which means charging, a Striker's favorite at-will tactic), you're marginally better at this than you were before, but still not great at it unless you do some radical multiclassing. Your class still doesn't have enough self-damage boosts to be considered anything beyond mediocre here.
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Baseline mechanics
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All Bards, Skalds included, start with the following statistics and proficiencies:
Hit Points: 12 + CON score at 1st level, 5 gained per level. Standard figures for a Leader, which is adequate.
Healing Surges: 7 + CON mod. About average.
Proficiencies: Aside from all simple weapons, you're trained in the longsword, scimitar and shortsword. Decent, if a bit disappointing that the rapier isn't on that list. Also of note is training in all military ranged weapons; that's important for some of you. You're trained in all light armors as well as chainmail; that's just fine for some of you, while others of you might have wanted more. You're also proficient in light shields. Your implement proficiency is wands, which can be good, but isn't the best (i.e. weapon).
Defense Bonuses: +1 to Reflex and Will. Solid.
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Bard Class Features
What O-Bards and Skalds Have in Common
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Regardless of whether you're playing the original 4e Bard from the PHB2 or the Skald from HotF, you can count on having the following features:
Skill Versatility (PHB2): +1 to all untrained skills. Nice.
Song of Rest (PHB2): Charisma-mod healing bonus at the end of a short rest for healing surge use, giving your party more efficient use of resources.
Words of Friendship (PHB2): Per-encounter boost of a Diplomacy check. With your high Charisma, you're likely to be a party face (if not THE face), so this one's always good in skill challenges.
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O-Bard Features
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Bardic Training (PHB2): Ritual Caster for free and a book of rituals. Some of those Bard-specific rituals are pretty damn good. Moreover, you even get to cast a Bard ritual or two (or three) per day without any components.
Bardic Virtue: Basically your main build decision within the O-Bard chassis, and it can be a key advantage vis a vis the Skald.
Virtues
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Virtue of Cunning (PHB2): Once per round, slide an ally who got missed by an attack a square as a free action. The distance at which this works is based on your Intelligence. This one can help set up flanks, or just get an ally out of immediate danger. The trigger is likely to happen every single round in combat, especially if you inflict hit penalties on your enemies, easily making it the virtue that gets the most action in a fight. In Paragon Tier, this one can get even better for melee allies who took Agile Opportunist, granting them some immediate action attacks. While this Virtue does seem to be biased toward implement usage (and indeed, an implement-only Bard is almost always of this Virtue), there are also some predominantly weapon-attacking Bards who can rock this Virtue as well (Eladrin, in particular). A Cunning Bard will also make the best use of Bard rituals thanks to his/her Intelligence.
Virtue of Valor (PHB2): When an ally within 5 squares bloodies or kills an enemy, you can give him a decent amount of temporary hit points (1/3/5 + CON mod). The value of this varies from battle to battle; it's good in fights with several standard enemies or minions, but not so great in fights against Elites and Solos. You also can't really control who gets the benefit. Still, at least having Constitution as a secondary stat helps you live longer, and you do get access to an incredible PP. A Valorous Bard is most likely to mix it up in melee and is a prime candidate for a Fake Skald build.
Virtue of Prescience (AP): This Virtue works once per encounter, unlike the others that can happen every round. As an immediate interrupt, if an enemy hits your ally, you boost your ally's targeted defense by your Wisdom modifier, which can make the enemy miss that attack. Pretty solid benefit, and it does get good feat support, including a lovely offensive use of it in Paragon. Unfortunately, this virtue has the indirect shortcoming of requiring Wisdom to fully benefit. Since your main attack stat is Charisma, which also happens to govern Will defense, this means you're only going to have one good non-AC defense (NAD). A Prescient Bard is most likely to use a ranged weapon.
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Majestic Word (PHB2): Your version of the per-encounter healing ability that all Leaders get, and it's easily among the best of its kind. Aside from the healing figures, it slides the target (you or your ally) a square, helping setting up flanks easier, getting a vulnerable member of the party out of an enemy's melee range, getting allies out of grabs, and even triggering Agile Opportunist from a melee ally who took that. If you want, you also have an option (via a feat) to turn the slide from this into a teleport, which opens up its own avenue of optimization.
Multiclass Versatility (PHB2): You can multiclass with as many different classes as you want. Pretty obvious what the possibilities are here, and another big plus point when comparing to the Skald.
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Skald Features
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Deceptive Duelist (HotF): Fully Charisma-based MBAs (this means attack AND damage) when you're using a one-handed weapon (typically a shortsword, longsword or, if you spend a feat, rapier). Very convenient, and it saves you the need to splurge a feat on getting an MBA.
Master of Story and Song (HotF): Essentially, this works out to an extra Lv. 1 daily power that you get to keep for the rest of your career. And you don't have to switch daily powers out of your arsenal when you reach the levels that other characters have to (e.g. Lv. 15 and above). Pretty tame feature, if you ask me, but I imagine there might be a few cases where this can be convenient.
Skald's Aura (HotF): The signature feature of the Skald. This encounter aura 5, which you should pop at the start of every combat, works as the Skald's healing mechanic in place of Majestic Word, and it's one that is quite distinct from other Leader classes in 4e. Namely, it lets your allies (and you) heal themselves with their own minor actions if they're in your aura, freeing up your minor actions for other things over the course of a combat. It also lets your allies heal themselves if you are incapacitated (e.g. dazed, stunned, dominated, etc.). The tactical advantages of this are quite apparent. However, the key downside of this is that the aura is forever at 5; the range on this does not increase as the heals of other Leaders do. In addition to being the healing mechanic, Skald's Aura serves as the conduit for certain at-will and daily powers (originating with the Skald) that provide allies offensive boosts. NOTE: A feat called Skald Training (HotF) allows an O-Bard to trade in Majestic Word for this. The implications of this will be discussed below.
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Skald: Real or Fake?
When perusing the Skald's features above, you were tipped off to the fact that the Skald's two key features, the Charisma-based MBA and Skald's Aura, are indeed poachable by the O-Bard with a couple of feats. And indeed, combining the Skald's key features with the advantages of the O-Bard seems like having your cake and eating it, too, and it seems quite powerful. However, there are several other factors to consider before rushing to the conclusion that the Fake Skald is hands-down superior all the time. This sub-section will go over the plusses and minuses of the O-Bard "Fake Skald" and an actual Skald in detail for a convenient comparison.
Fake Skald, Plusses and Minuses
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(+) Rituals, including the Bard-specific ones, all for free.
(+) Multiclass Versatility, allowing you to multiclass with as many classes as you want.
(+) Bardic Virtue, including Cunning's many tricks and Valor's War Chanter PP.
(-) Down two feats in your build when comparing to the real Skald (Skald Training, an MBA feat).
(-) Related to above, only a couple of races can get full CHA-modifier on damage for their MBAs. Others are either stuck with Melee Training, which only grants half CHA-modifier to damage, or have to pump INT and get Swordmage MC and Intelligent Blademaster.
(-) Your secondary stat is locked into the one that corresponds with your Virtue.
(-) Related to above, your only option for a ranged Fake Skald is INT along with CHA, and using a Farbond Spellblade for RBAs. Not knocking the Farbond Spellblade, but I'm sure some of you would rather have had a Frost Dagger.
(-) Want MBA-boosting feats such as Deft Blade? You need to multiclass Martial, which isn't necessarily restrictive for you thanks to Multiclass Versatility, but it still costs yet another extra feat the real Skald doesn't have to pay.
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Real Skald, Plusses and Minuses
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(+) Up at least two feats on a Fake Skald (and in many cases, even more).
(+) Since you're Martial already, you have instant access to MBA-boosting feats like Deft Blade.
(+) Your MBA will always do full CHA-modifier damage.
(+) Your secondary stat can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. This is of particular importance to ranged Skalds (who want a high DEX). And in addition, it's possible to just not care about a true secondary stat, making a starting CHA 20 very much a viable option for a melee Skald (O-Bards, Fake Skalds included, need a strong secondary).
(-) No rituals without a feat, and even if you spend the feat on them, you won't ever be as good at them as the Fake Skald.
(-) No Virtues, no Cunning's tricks, no War Chanter.
(-) Can only multiclass with one other class.
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General and Slightly Random Conclusions
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- If you're looking for ranged-weapon Skald action, you (probably) want to be a real Skald.
- If you want to start with a natural 20 CHA for maximum attack rating, you're better off as a real Skald.
- Half-Elves (via Versatile Master and Dilletante) and Tieflings (via Paladin MC and Wrath of the Crimson Legion) make the best Fake Skalds thanks to fully powered CHA-based MBAs.
- Despite its feat-intensiveness, a Half-Elf or Tiefling Valorous Fake Skald/War Chanter looks pretty damn sexy.
- A Cunning Fake Skald taking Swordmage MC and Intelligent Blademaster is also quite alluring, but even more feat-intensive than the Valorous build, since Virtue of Cunning has more must-take feats. Intelligent Blademaster works with RBAs from a Farbond Spellblade, so if you want a viable ranged Fake Skald, there you go.
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Bards may have the wackiest ability score configurations in all of 4e. The value of their stats -- other than Charisma, of course -- are heavily build-dependent. One build's dump stat is another's secondary, or at the very least one that will qualify them for a multiclass feat that they'll want. You'll see that this list reflects the diversity among Bard builds in this respect. The arrival of the Skald has thrown this into even more chaos, since Skalds can literally pick any secondary stat they want, and several of their choices for such are very much viable.
Strength: Prescient and Valorous Bards may actually want to put a decent score in this to wear better heavy armor than chain (13 qualifies for scale). Most Cunning Bards, on the other hand, will rely on their wits for their armor class and can get away just fine with being girly men, multiclassing considerations notwithstanding.
(Recommended start: 8-13, before racial adjustments)
Constitution: The unquestioned secondary for a Valorous Bard. However, none of you want to ignore it completely. If you want an expanded crit range with implements in Epic Tier, you'll need to make sure you hit 15 in this by then. Even that aside, no one wants to take a penalty to starting hit points and healing surges, and many of you will want to be on the positive side of the ledger here if at all possible.
(Recommended start: 10-16, before racial adjustments)
Dexterity: This stat is LITERALLY all over the place. It ranges from a co-primary for some Skalds, namely those who want to use their powers with a ranged weapon, to about as close to a universal dump stat as an O-Bard can have. But even O-Bards may have a reason to have a decent score here for multiclass purposes, and even if that's not the case, an O-Bard should find another, more suitable dump stat if at all possible, as a penalty to initiative is just not fun.
(Recommended start: 8-13, before racial adjustments. Ranged weapon Skalds want this at 16 before racial adjustments.)
Intelligence: The unquestioned secondary for a Cunning Bard (and for some builds, notably Resourceful Magicians and Cunning Fake Skalds, this might even be a co-primary). Even if you're not Cunning, you don't want to dump this completely. Many of your rituals use an Arcana check, which is governed by how learned you are. Ironically for Skalds, while their class description in HotF nominally lists Intelligence as their secondary stat, they have easily the least use for it and can actually get away with dumping this if it suits their build, since they won't be using rituals.
(Recommended start: 10-16, before racial adjustments. Skalds, however, can actually dump this at 8 if that suits them.)
Wisdom: The secondary stat for a Prescient Bard. For everyone else, this is typically a safe dump stat (again, multiclassing notwithstanding).
(Recommended start: 8-16, before racial adjustments).
Charisma: This one is non-negotiable. Period. Quite simply, all of you, whether O-Bard or Skald, will make your living off of your good looks and olive oil voice. And by living, I mean all attack rolls most of you will ever make, as well as being the backbone of some of your class features and utility powers. (OK, some Skalds can technically use another main attack stat instead of Charisma, but such builds deprive themselves of many of the Bard's top-flight powers by doing so, so I don't recommend it.)
(Recommended start: 16-18, before racial adjustments).
16, 14, 14, 13, 10, 8: Known as the most well-rounded stat line. Charisma is your highest stat, and you have both a solid secondary and tertiary stat. Even your quaternary can help you qualify for a multiclass feat or other things at Heroic Tier. Like with all other classes, you can't go wrong with this array.
16, 16, 12, 12, 10, 8 (or 16, 16, 13, 11, 10, 8): Charisma and your relevant secondary stat get equal, intensive focus. A third and fourth stat may be good enough to qualify for some feats if you need to. The best array if you place a premium on your Virtue benefit and the riders on your powers. Also the array of choice for ranged Skalds (CHA/DEX).
18, 13, 13, 10, 10, 8: For those either going for the starting natural 20 in Charisma, or for those races with bonuses to a secondary and a tertiary stat. Either way, it's the array used for maximum attack bonus potential, so you can hit more often. This choice tends to be better for pure melee Skalds than for O-Bards, since such Skalds don't have any use for a real secondary stat.
18, 12, 12, 12, 10, 8: Variant of above. To make this one work, you'll want to be a race who either has bonuses to Charisma and your chosen secondary stat, or to your designated secondary and tertiary stats. Racial bonuses will help soften the blows to those stats, and you'll get an appreciable quaternary stat while still going for maximum attack bonus.
Our Profession's Details:
Power Source and Role
Power Source and Role
Your power source is Arcane, and your role is Leader. You use your talents in the performing arts as a conduit for spells, and you use those spells to spur your allies into action, and to heal or bolster them when the chips are down. The Arcane power source seems to favor the Controller role, and sure enough, you do have a strong Controller element.
If you're a Skald, you are also Martial, in addition to Arcane. The biggest draw of the Skald's Martial designation is the feats that boost your basic attacks, which you'll be using a lot of if you're a Skald.
Buffing - Generally defined as the ability to affect your allies' rolls in a positive way. Generally, you'll be pretty good at this, as a fair number of your powers do confer strong benefits to attack or damage rolls, and a few of them even allow your allies to roll attacks twice. Prescient Bards are amazing at this, as are Valorous Bards once they take a certain PP.
Debuffing - The ability to disrupt the opponent, whether through attack penalties, defense penalties, status effects, or forced movement. This is definitely your realm of expertise; in fact, this is your modus operandi. Many of your powers do one or more of the above, in quite a few cases to multiple enemies. Out of all Leaders, only the Pacifist Cleric challenges you in this category.
Enabling - The ability to let your allies do what they normally couldn't do. This includes positioning, of which your class is the master among Leaders. Many of your powers and features excel at getting your allies into optimal attack position in very short order (and in some cases, forcing your enemies there). The reason you're only "good" at enabling overall, rather than great, is because, on the whole, you're not quite as good at generating extra attacks as the Warlord. (But who is?) That said, you have enough attack-enabling powers to take a respectable second place. And with the right party composition, certain builds, particularly Cunning Bards, can actually be flat-out great at it.
Healing - You're capable at it, but it's not your strong point. Depending on what phase of supplemental material support the Warlord is in compared to you, you're either second-to-last or dead-last among Leaders in this category.
Survivability - You're arguably the most important part of the party, so you want to be able to stay upright. Cunning and Valorous Bards will be decent at this; Cunning because of a good AC potential and Valorous because of the high number of healing surges they'll get. Prescient Bards are the worst in this category, but since they'll stay at range almost exclusively, it won't matter too much.
Secondary Roles
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Controller - Some argue that you could fill in for a full-time Controller completely. While I wouldn't go quite that far (not without at least some light multiclassing), you definitely excel here. Indeed, many of your powers and abilities seem to serve both Leader and Controller roles simultaneously. Much of what you do lies in the vicious status effects, forced movement and penalties you inflict, in some cases to multiple enemies at once. At later levels, you might start laying down serious saving throw penalties with your powers for even more effective battlefield control, both for yourself and even perhaps for a more "dedicated" Controller in the party.
Defender - Valorous Bards, with their high CON and number of healing surges, could fill in this role somewhat, particularly if they actually take a multiclass feat for a Defender class that gives some sort of marking mechanic to them. Cunning Bards and Prescient Bards aren't likely to step in this role, though.
Striker - With the advent of the Skald material and the powers that work off basic attacks (which means charging, a Striker's favorite at-will tactic), you're marginally better at this than you were before, but still not great at it unless you do some radical multiclassing. Your class still doesn't have enough self-damage boosts to be considered anything beyond mediocre here.
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Self-Styled: The Foundations of All Bards
Baseline mechanics
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All Bards, Skalds included, start with the following statistics and proficiencies:
Hit Points: 12 + CON score at 1st level, 5 gained per level. Standard figures for a Leader, which is adequate.
Healing Surges: 7 + CON mod. About average.
Proficiencies: Aside from all simple weapons, you're trained in the longsword, scimitar and shortsword. Decent, if a bit disappointing that the rapier isn't on that list. Also of note is training in all military ranged weapons; that's important for some of you. You're trained in all light armors as well as chainmail; that's just fine for some of you, while others of you might have wanted more. You're also proficient in light shields. Your implement proficiency is wands, which can be good, but isn't the best (i.e. weapon).
Defense Bonuses: +1 to Reflex and Will. Solid.
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Bard Class Features
What O-Bards and Skalds Have in Common
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Regardless of whether you're playing the original 4e Bard from the PHB2 or the Skald from HotF, you can count on having the following features:
Skill Versatility (PHB2): +1 to all untrained skills. Nice.
Song of Rest (PHB2): Charisma-mod healing bonus at the end of a short rest for healing surge use, giving your party more efficient use of resources.
Words of Friendship (PHB2): Per-encounter boost of a Diplomacy check. With your high Charisma, you're likely to be a party face (if not THE face), so this one's always good in skill challenges.
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O-Bard Features
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Bardic Training (PHB2): Ritual Caster for free and a book of rituals. Some of those Bard-specific rituals are pretty damn good. Moreover, you even get to cast a Bard ritual or two (or three) per day without any components.
Bardic Virtue: Basically your main build decision within the O-Bard chassis, and it can be a key advantage vis a vis the Skald.
Virtues
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Virtue of Cunning (PHB2): Once per round, slide an ally who got missed by an attack a square as a free action. The distance at which this works is based on your Intelligence. This one can help set up flanks, or just get an ally out of immediate danger. The trigger is likely to happen every single round in combat, especially if you inflict hit penalties on your enemies, easily making it the virtue that gets the most action in a fight. In Paragon Tier, this one can get even better for melee allies who took Agile Opportunist, granting them some immediate action attacks. While this Virtue does seem to be biased toward implement usage (and indeed, an implement-only Bard is almost always of this Virtue), there are also some predominantly weapon-attacking Bards who can rock this Virtue as well (Eladrin, in particular). A Cunning Bard will also make the best use of Bard rituals thanks to his/her Intelligence.
Virtue of Valor (PHB2): When an ally within 5 squares bloodies or kills an enemy, you can give him a decent amount of temporary hit points (1/3/5 + CON mod). The value of this varies from battle to battle; it's good in fights with several standard enemies or minions, but not so great in fights against Elites and Solos. You also can't really control who gets the benefit. Still, at least having Constitution as a secondary stat helps you live longer, and you do get access to an incredible PP. A Valorous Bard is most likely to mix it up in melee and is a prime candidate for a Fake Skald build.
Virtue of Prescience (AP): This Virtue works once per encounter, unlike the others that can happen every round. As an immediate interrupt, if an enemy hits your ally, you boost your ally's targeted defense by your Wisdom modifier, which can make the enemy miss that attack. Pretty solid benefit, and it does get good feat support, including a lovely offensive use of it in Paragon. Unfortunately, this virtue has the indirect shortcoming of requiring Wisdom to fully benefit. Since your main attack stat is Charisma, which also happens to govern Will defense, this means you're only going to have one good non-AC defense (NAD). A Prescient Bard is most likely to use a ranged weapon.
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Majestic Word (PHB2): Your version of the per-encounter healing ability that all Leaders get, and it's easily among the best of its kind. Aside from the healing figures, it slides the target (you or your ally) a square, helping setting up flanks easier, getting a vulnerable member of the party out of an enemy's melee range, getting allies out of grabs, and even triggering Agile Opportunist from a melee ally who took that. If you want, you also have an option (via a feat) to turn the slide from this into a teleport, which opens up its own avenue of optimization.
Multiclass Versatility (PHB2): You can multiclass with as many different classes as you want. Pretty obvious what the possibilities are here, and another big plus point when comparing to the Skald.
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Skald Features
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Deceptive Duelist (HotF): Fully Charisma-based MBAs (this means attack AND damage) when you're using a one-handed weapon (typically a shortsword, longsword or, if you spend a feat, rapier). Very convenient, and it saves you the need to splurge a feat on getting an MBA.
Master of Story and Song (HotF): Essentially, this works out to an extra Lv. 1 daily power that you get to keep for the rest of your career. And you don't have to switch daily powers out of your arsenal when you reach the levels that other characters have to (e.g. Lv. 15 and above). Pretty tame feature, if you ask me, but I imagine there might be a few cases where this can be convenient.
Skald's Aura (HotF): The signature feature of the Skald. This encounter aura 5, which you should pop at the start of every combat, works as the Skald's healing mechanic in place of Majestic Word, and it's one that is quite distinct from other Leader classes in 4e. Namely, it lets your allies (and you) heal themselves with their own minor actions if they're in your aura, freeing up your minor actions for other things over the course of a combat. It also lets your allies heal themselves if you are incapacitated (e.g. dazed, stunned, dominated, etc.). The tactical advantages of this are quite apparent. However, the key downside of this is that the aura is forever at 5; the range on this does not increase as the heals of other Leaders do. In addition to being the healing mechanic, Skald's Aura serves as the conduit for certain at-will and daily powers (originating with the Skald) that provide allies offensive boosts. NOTE: A feat called Skald Training (HotF) allows an O-Bard to trade in Majestic Word for this. The implications of this will be discussed below.
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Skald: Real or Fake?
When perusing the Skald's features above, you were tipped off to the fact that the Skald's two key features, the Charisma-based MBA and Skald's Aura, are indeed poachable by the O-Bard with a couple of feats. And indeed, combining the Skald's key features with the advantages of the O-Bard seems like having your cake and eating it, too, and it seems quite powerful. However, there are several other factors to consider before rushing to the conclusion that the Fake Skald is hands-down superior all the time. This sub-section will go over the plusses and minuses of the O-Bard "Fake Skald" and an actual Skald in detail for a convenient comparison.
Fake Skald, Plusses and Minuses
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(+) Rituals, including the Bard-specific ones, all for free.
(+) Multiclass Versatility, allowing you to multiclass with as many classes as you want.
(+) Bardic Virtue, including Cunning's many tricks and Valor's War Chanter PP.
(-) Down two feats in your build when comparing to the real Skald (Skald Training, an MBA feat).
(-) Related to above, only a couple of races can get full CHA-modifier on damage for their MBAs. Others are either stuck with Melee Training, which only grants half CHA-modifier to damage, or have to pump INT and get Swordmage MC and Intelligent Blademaster.
(-) Your secondary stat is locked into the one that corresponds with your Virtue.
(-) Related to above, your only option for a ranged Fake Skald is INT along with CHA, and using a Farbond Spellblade for RBAs. Not knocking the Farbond Spellblade, but I'm sure some of you would rather have had a Frost Dagger.
(-) Want MBA-boosting feats such as Deft Blade? You need to multiclass Martial, which isn't necessarily restrictive for you thanks to Multiclass Versatility, but it still costs yet another extra feat the real Skald doesn't have to pay.
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Real Skald, Plusses and Minuses
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(+) Up at least two feats on a Fake Skald (and in many cases, even more).
(+) Since you're Martial already, you have instant access to MBA-boosting feats like Deft Blade.
(+) Your MBA will always do full CHA-modifier damage.
(+) Your secondary stat can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. This is of particular importance to ranged Skalds (who want a high DEX). And in addition, it's possible to just not care about a true secondary stat, making a starting CHA 20 very much a viable option for a melee Skald (O-Bards, Fake Skalds included, need a strong secondary).
(-) No rituals without a feat, and even if you spend the feat on them, you won't ever be as good at them as the Fake Skald.
(-) No Virtues, no Cunning's tricks, no War Chanter.
(-) Can only multiclass with one other class.
[/sblock]
General and Slightly Random Conclusions
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- If you're looking for ranged-weapon Skald action, you (probably) want to be a real Skald.
- If you want to start with a natural 20 CHA for maximum attack rating, you're better off as a real Skald.
- Half-Elves (via Versatile Master and Dilletante) and Tieflings (via Paladin MC and Wrath of the Crimson Legion) make the best Fake Skalds thanks to fully powered CHA-based MBAs.
- Despite its feat-intensiveness, a Half-Elf or Tiefling Valorous Fake Skald/War Chanter looks pretty damn sexy.
- A Cunning Fake Skald taking Swordmage MC and Intelligent Blademaster is also quite alluring, but even more feat-intensive than the Valorous build, since Virtue of Cunning has more must-take feats. Intelligent Blademaster works with RBAs from a Farbond Spellblade, so if you want a viable ranged Fake Skald, there you go.
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Natural Talents: Ability Scores
Bards may have the wackiest ability score configurations in all of 4e. The value of their stats -- other than Charisma, of course -- are heavily build-dependent. One build's dump stat is another's secondary, or at the very least one that will qualify them for a multiclass feat that they'll want. You'll see that this list reflects the diversity among Bard builds in this respect. The arrival of the Skald has thrown this into even more chaos, since Skalds can literally pick any secondary stat they want, and several of their choices for such are very much viable.
Strength: Prescient and Valorous Bards may actually want to put a decent score in this to wear better heavy armor than chain (13 qualifies for scale). Most Cunning Bards, on the other hand, will rely on their wits for their armor class and can get away just fine with being girly men, multiclassing considerations notwithstanding.
(Recommended start: 8-13, before racial adjustments)
Constitution: The unquestioned secondary for a Valorous Bard. However, none of you want to ignore it completely. If you want an expanded crit range with implements in Epic Tier, you'll need to make sure you hit 15 in this by then. Even that aside, no one wants to take a penalty to starting hit points and healing surges, and many of you will want to be on the positive side of the ledger here if at all possible.
(Recommended start: 10-16, before racial adjustments)
Dexterity: This stat is LITERALLY all over the place. It ranges from a co-primary for some Skalds, namely those who want to use their powers with a ranged weapon, to about as close to a universal dump stat as an O-Bard can have. But even O-Bards may have a reason to have a decent score here for multiclass purposes, and even if that's not the case, an O-Bard should find another, more suitable dump stat if at all possible, as a penalty to initiative is just not fun.
(Recommended start: 8-13, before racial adjustments. Ranged weapon Skalds want this at 16 before racial adjustments.)
Intelligence: The unquestioned secondary for a Cunning Bard (and for some builds, notably Resourceful Magicians and Cunning Fake Skalds, this might even be a co-primary). Even if you're not Cunning, you don't want to dump this completely. Many of your rituals use an Arcana check, which is governed by how learned you are. Ironically for Skalds, while their class description in HotF nominally lists Intelligence as their secondary stat, they have easily the least use for it and can actually get away with dumping this if it suits their build, since they won't be using rituals.
(Recommended start: 10-16, before racial adjustments. Skalds, however, can actually dump this at 8 if that suits them.)
Wisdom: The secondary stat for a Prescient Bard. For everyone else, this is typically a safe dump stat (again, multiclassing notwithstanding).
(Recommended start: 8-16, before racial adjustments).
Charisma: This one is non-negotiable. Period. Quite simply, all of you, whether O-Bard or Skald, will make your living off of your good looks and olive oil voice. And by living, I mean all attack rolls most of you will ever make, as well as being the backbone of some of your class features and utility powers. (OK, some Skalds can technically use another main attack stat instead of Charisma, but such builds deprive themselves of many of the Bard's top-flight powers by doing so, so I don't recommend it.)
(Recommended start: 16-18, before racial adjustments).
Modes of Development: Ability Score Arrays
16, 14, 14, 13, 10, 8: Known as the most well-rounded stat line. Charisma is your highest stat, and you have both a solid secondary and tertiary stat. Even your quaternary can help you qualify for a multiclass feat or other things at Heroic Tier. Like with all other classes, you can't go wrong with this array.
16, 16, 12, 12, 10, 8 (or 16, 16, 13, 11, 10, 8): Charisma and your relevant secondary stat get equal, intensive focus. A third and fourth stat may be good enough to qualify for some feats if you need to. The best array if you place a premium on your Virtue benefit and the riders on your powers. Also the array of choice for ranged Skalds (CHA/DEX).
18, 13, 13, 10, 10, 8: For those either going for the starting natural 20 in Charisma, or for those races with bonuses to a secondary and a tertiary stat. Either way, it's the array used for maximum attack bonus potential, so you can hit more often. This choice tends to be better for pure melee Skalds than for O-Bards, since such Skalds don't have any use for a real secondary stat.
18, 12, 12, 12, 10, 8: Variant of above. To make this one work, you'll want to be a race who either has bonuses to Charisma and your chosen secondary stat, or to your designated secondary and tertiary stats. Racial bonuses will help soften the blows to those stats, and you'll get an appreciable quaternary stat while still going for maximum attack bonus.
Originally posted by DuelistDelSol:
Walk With Me in Hell: The Warlock's Guide
Since Malkonnen's guide has not been updated in a while, missing material from several Dragon magazines and, most importantly, the Essentials books, this guide is meant as a spiritual successor to The Power of the Dark Side: The Warlock's Handbook(x), and much credit will be given to him for its role in this guide's creation.
Credit will also be given to several others:
LordDuskblade for the handbook format that's now taken for granted here;
Zelink551 for the encouragement;
Malkonnen as mentioned above for the (excellent) original guide and the inspiration for this guide;
anyone here who posts with honest opinions. I need 'em.
As a Warlock, you belong in the realm of the Arcane Striker, a designation you share with your AOE-centric cousin, the Sorcerer. However, the two classes are monumentally different. You fit more along the lines of the Ranger, of which you share the same Player's Handbook: instead of focusing on AOE DPR, you go instead for single-target heavy damage, with a huge bent on Controller abilities. Indeed, you are second-to-none in this regard, acting as an excellent single-target Controller while putting down solid damage to honor your original intent.
How you work as a Striker is also rather unique. Your power grows as enemies fall to their deaths, giving you special abilities and boosts depending on the Pact you sign with. You also share the "Quarry" feature of the Ranger in the Warlock's Curse; however, the Curse is arguably much more powerful than Hunter's Quarry, as the damage bonus component can be boosted to absurd numbers, on top of several feats and items that can give you incredibly nice boosts, such as automatic combat advantage, defensive boosts in convenient equipment slots, and accuracy boosts.
Before I get into the Striker Traits, you may be seeing a lot of colors in this guide. On features, powers, feats and the like, you'll be seeing these colors, adopted and borrowed from LordDuskblade's handbooks:
Ratings
[sblock]Gold (near mandatory or jaw-droppingly good)
Light Blue (very good, or at least worth serious consideration)
Blue (good, though probably not excellent)
Black (middle-of-the-road, but not bad)
Purple (mediocre, or build specific)
Red (terrible or otherwise not recommended)
Green (no rating, shows emphasis)[/sblock]
So, to clarify how you compare with other Strikers:
Striker Traits
[sblock]
Luckily, handbooks already exist for the two Essentials daughter classes. They may be slightly outdated, but barring suggestion for an updated version of either, I will present these guides, written by LordVentnor and Malisteen, respectively.
Walk With Me in Hell: The Warlock's Guide
Since Malkonnen's guide has not been updated in a while, missing material from several Dragon magazines and, most importantly, the Essentials books, this guide is meant as a spiritual successor to The Power of the Dark Side: The Warlock's Handbook(x), and much credit will be given to him for its role in this guide's creation.
Credit will also be given to several others:
LordDuskblade for the handbook format that's now taken for granted here;
Zelink551 for the encouragement;
Malkonnen as mentioned above for the (excellent) original guide and the inspiration for this guide;
anyone here who posts with honest opinions. I need 'em.
As a Warlock, you belong in the realm of the Arcane Striker, a designation you share with your AOE-centric cousin, the Sorcerer. However, the two classes are monumentally different. You fit more along the lines of the Ranger, of which you share the same Player's Handbook: instead of focusing on AOE DPR, you go instead for single-target heavy damage, with a huge bent on Controller abilities. Indeed, you are second-to-none in this regard, acting as an excellent single-target Controller while putting down solid damage to honor your original intent.
How you work as a Striker is also rather unique. Your power grows as enemies fall to their deaths, giving you special abilities and boosts depending on the Pact you sign with. You also share the "Quarry" feature of the Ranger in the Warlock's Curse; however, the Curse is arguably much more powerful than Hunter's Quarry, as the damage bonus component can be boosted to absurd numbers, on top of several feats and items that can give you incredibly nice boosts, such as automatic combat advantage, defensive boosts in convenient equipment slots, and accuracy boosts.
Before I get into the Striker Traits, you may be seeing a lot of colors in this guide. On features, powers, feats and the like, you'll be seeing these colors, adopted and borrowed from LordDuskblade's handbooks:
Ratings
[sblock]Gold (near mandatory or jaw-droppingly good)
Light Blue (very good, or at least worth serious consideration)
Blue (good, though probably not excellent)
Black (middle-of-the-road, but not bad)
Purple (mediocre, or build specific)
Red (terrible or otherwise not recommended)
Green (no rating, shows emphasis)[/sblock]
So, to clarify how you compare with other Strikers:
Striker Traits
[sblock]
- Alpha Striking: Unfortunately, this kinda isn't your best suit. A common characteristic of 4e Strikers is multiple attacks in one round, out-of-turn attacks, or "zone abuse". While you're decent at the second and OK in the third, the first of this list is not something you really do. On top of which, your Curse only works once per turn, and your Encounters and Dailies do not do significant damage over your At-Wills, so that's regretable.
- Damage/Round (DPR): This is an area you're quite a bit better at, especially since Arcane Power and several trains of Dragon Magazines have come out. Prime Shot really helps here, since you ride more on accuracy than straight damage rolls, and starting at level 9 or thereabouts, whenever Shadow Warlock Armor comes into play, automatic combat advantage nearly every round is quite awesome.
- Debilitating Effects:
Though again, you work more in the single-target range, what you can sling around in regards to Controller abilities is phenomenal. You run the gamut from teleportation, to daze, stun, immobilize, dominate, and even attack dissuasion - eliminating yourself from the board as a legitimate option to attack does help in several ways. Charisma-based Warlocks come close to gold
in this field.
- Survivability:
As the first of only two Constitution-primary (if you so choose) classes in the game, you can choose to be one of the healthiest Strikers in the business, with a solid stockade of hitpoints and healing surges. On-demand Concealment also tends to help you a lot, on top of the propensity to stay five to ten squares away from everything you want to hit (having a Defender blocking the enemy's path to your face tends to work quite well for you). Charisma'locks are a little worse, but can still pull some strings to keep themselves out of danger. Being stuck in Leather armor could be a little bit of an issue, especially if your race doesn't get a bonus to Intelligence, but you can manage, especially as a lot of neat enchantments are contained in Leather.
- Targeting Capacity: Another advantage of being a ranged combatant is the freedom of choice as to what you want to hit. And especially as you gain a bonus to defenses just for shimmying along in the battlefield, you can stray inwards a little bit to gain your Prime Shot bonus and ruin a monster's day. Several facets of the Warlock also rely on teleportation, which also helps a lot with mobility, but some Warlocks may not want to get too much in danger to force their Prime Shot to activate, especially with melee-focused allies.
Luckily, handbooks already exist for the two Essentials daughter classes. They may be slightly outdated, but barring suggestion for an updated version of either, I will present these guides, written by LordVentnor and Malisteen, respectively.
- HEXBLADE: Blades of Cursed Night(x)
- BINDER: Ties That Bind(x)
