Spell-less Bard?

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Is there a good non-spellcasting Bard variant class out there? I like bardic lore and bardic music, and don't even mind their spells that much for most games, but their spellcasting doesn't fit with the homebrew world I'm working on. Rather than kitbash them into the magical model for my world I'd rather replace their spells with something else. Anyone seen this written up somewhere, a la the non-spellcasting variant Ranger and Paladin from Complete Warrior?

 

[Silveras]

Is there a good non-spellcasting Bard variant class out there? I like bardic lore and bardic music, and don't even mind their spells that much for most games, but their spellcasting doesn't fit with the homebrew world I'm working on. Rather than kitbash them into the magical model for my world I'd rather replace their spells with something else. Anyone seen this written up somewhere, a la the non-spellcasting variant Ranger and Paladin from Complete Warrior?

The first option that comes to mind is Monte Cook's alternate Bard in the Book of Eldritch Might II. This version does not get true spells as other D&D classes use them. Instead, it gets "Spellsongs", which come in 3 degrees of power/complexity, and which can be "woven" together to create alternate/enhanced effects.

I do not recall any of the bard variants in Unearthed Arcana being spell-less.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

The first option that comes to mind is Monte Cook's alternate Bard in the Book of Eldritch Might II. This version does not get true spells as other D&D classes use them. Instead, it gets "Spellsongs", which come in 3 degrees of power/complexity, and which can be "woven" together to create alternate/enhanced effects.

I do not recall any of the bard variants in Unearthed Arcana being spell-less.

Hmm, I forgot about that one. Now that I take a look at it, I see it replaces the whole bardic music system as well, folding that and bard spells into the spellsong system. Seeing as how I'm borrowing ideas from Monte's Arcana Unearthed for my magic system, maybe his bard wouldn't be a bad way to go. It's not as Vancian as I remembered.

Anyone get more ideas, keep 'em coming.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Hmm, I forgot about that one. Now that I take a look at it, I see it replaces the whole bardic music system as well, folding that and bard spells into the spellsong system. Seeing as how I'm borrowing ideas from Monte's Arcana Unearthed for my magic system, maybe his bard wouldn't be a bad way to go. It's not as Vancian as I remembered.

Anyone get more ideas, keep 'em coming.

I'd say if you bumped bardic skill points up to 8/level, and maybe gave them some bonus feats (like 1/5 levels?) then they'd be viable without spellcasting, especially given the nature of some of the more recent bardic feats out there (they rock!).

 

[Krieg]

Believe it or not the Noble class from The Black Company would fit the roll very well with a bit of minor tweaking. All of it's abilities revolve around social interaction.

You could always custom build one using the talent trees/feats from Grim Tales.

 

[TroyXavier]

I've got a home brew bard with no spells called the War Crier. Abilities mainly relate to bardic music(which I like a lot more than magic usually)

 

[Remathilis]

I've been tinkering with the concept taking the various bardic prestige class abilities (warchanter, evangelist, seeker of the song, virtuoso, bardic feats, etc) and allowing bards a choice of bardsongs 1/2 levels (min perform ranks apply). That way, a bard could have 10-12 bardsongs that are customizable.

If you like messing with rules, its something to look into.

 

[Torm]

The Noble class from Star Wars D20 might work - substitute Hit Points for Vitality, and steal the Bard's skill list, and boom-yow.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

The Fell Caller from IK is a spell-less combat bard. They gain 2 bardic music uses/level/day, have a d8 hit die, get some fighter feats, and have a bunch of new bardic music abilities called fell calls.

 

[Stone Dog]

Believe it or not the Noble class from The Black Company would fit the roll very well with a bit of minor tweaking.

In that same book are conversion notes for D&D classes placed into that world. Bards would get a bonus feat at 2, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16th levels.