D&D 5E (2014) Time to remake the Bard

[BookBarbarian]

It use OGL from 5th edition but it's not a free product, I don't know if there's some exerpts of the classes found in the book

I'll search for some teaser images or downloadable premades.

Still the Player's Guide is on sale for $30 which is worth it IMHO Player's Guide - Cubicle 7

 

[Sacrosanct]

The best way to remake the bard is to make him/her into a cake. Which you feed to the dragon.

 

[Yaarel]

Warlock makes an excellent chassis for the Troubadour archetype.

 

[Parmandur]

I agree with the approach. At the same time, I think it needs Charisma as the spellcasting ability.

That's what Magic Initiate does.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Alternatively, you could make a music instrument implement for the warlock (much like the blade implement, you chose the instrument [I might regret that if it became official and big instruments were picked so you get cover]), give it a basic ability (as long as you use your action to play the instrument, one target that can hear you is charmed), and a couple of invocations (use a warlock slot to create an effect similar to antipathy or sympathy which lasts as long as you play seems like a good high level one, others could let you cast support spells). You have charisma, music, and can (magically) do a bunch of sneaky stuff.

 

[Yaarel]

Alternatively, you could make a music instrument implement for the warlock (much like the blade implement, you chose the instrument [I might regret that if it became official and big instruments were picked so you get cover]), give it a basic ability (as long as you use your action to play the instrument, one target that can hear you is charmed), and a couple of invocations (use a warlock slot to create an effect similar to antipathy or sympathy which lasts as long as you play seems like a good high level one, others could let you cast support spells). You have charisma, music, and can (magically) do a bunch of sneaky stuff.

Not sure how I didnt think of that. It is brilliant. So obvious ... after you mention it.

The AUDIENCE is the magical patron. A pact with the fans!
The implement is the musical instrument.
It is already a Charisma caster with what seems a popular and suitable spell chassis.
It might can already use much of the Fey spells for charm and illusion
− but optionally more Human flavor less Fey − albeit Fey entertainers are an appropriate flavor too.

 

[Krachek]

Bard variant can be
1/3 caster fighter sub class for a « valor bard ».
1/3 caster rogue sub class can make a interesting « trickster bard. »
The actual bard is a new sacred cow so untouchable.

 

[jsaving]

Sounds to me like the PF2e bard could be what the OP is looking for.

 

[Fenris-77]

I like the current Bard just fine, but I do think a version built on the Warlock chassis could be very cool. I think I'd leave the spell selection alone for the most part. Patrons get swapped out for colleges (or whatever, although I think the basic notion of the colleges would work very well) and then you have special Bard abilities to replace invocations. I like it a lot.

 

[Charlaquin]

Is there any open-license material that I can see on the Warden?

As folks have said, Adventures in Middle Earth is published under the OGL, but the book is not available for free. The Warden is their version of the Bard, tweaked to be more appropriate to Middle Earth’s level and type of magic. It follows pretty much the same progression, minus spells, with some extra features to compensate, some of which are pretty magical.