I've been wanting a Bard Class for DragonSlayer since Greg first passed me a Beta Copy of DragonSlayer in late 2023.
Note, the Song/Spell list is NOT complete and needs third through fifth level Songs to be added.
Bard
Ability Requirement: Int 12, Dex 13, Cha 15
Race & Level Limit: Human U, Elf 7, Halfling 6, Half-Elf 8
Prime Requisite: Dex and Cha
Hit Dice: d6
Starting Gold Pieces: 2-120 (2d6x10)
Bards, often also known as Skalds, are the storytellers and lyrists of the world. They are well-traveled, as you never want to perform at the same establishment two nights in a row.
Role: Bards are secondary fighters and competent spell casters.
Expo Chart: As Per Assassin
Attack Bonus: As Per Thief
Languages: All Bards speak a language which is known as Bardic Cant, a form of poetry and rhyme their songs are cast/performed with. Bards gain a new language at every odd level, starting at 3rd level. The language chosen must be one that the Bard has encountered during their travels.
Weapons and Armor: A Bard may not use two-handed melee weapons. Bards may wear chain mail, leather, or studded leather armor. They may not use shields.
Thief Abilities: A Bard may Pick Pockets and Hear Noise as a Thief of the same level. A Bard may only Pick Pockets when wearing leather armor or no armor. Bards may also use the PickPockets skill for sleight of hand, such as magic tricks on stage.
Font of (Useless) Knowledge - Bards learn things during their travels. This knowledge may or may not be useful, and is often esoteric in nature. The chance for the bard to have relevant knowledge is equal to a Thief's Appraise Skill for that level. So, at 1st Level the chance is 2 in 6, at 3rd Level it is 3 in 6, at 6th level it's 4 in 6, and at 10th level, it's 5 in 6.
Read Languages - Bards have an innate skill with the written word, and pick up bits and pieces of various languages and common phrases during their travels. This skill is similar to the Font of (Useless) Knowledge ability and progresses in skill in the same manner. It can be used to comprehend street signs, store signage, dungeon graffiti, and most warning language, but would likely not reveal much more than the title of a book without hours if not days, of study (DM fiat for the win).
Charm: A Bard may attempt to charm a person, like the Magic-User spell, once per week at 1st level. At 6th level Bards gain a second attempt per week.
Inspiring Performance: Once per day, the Bard can perform a song, poem, or dance that grants a +1 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws to all allies within earshot for 10 minutes. While performing, the Bard can fight, but not cast any songs/spells without prematurely losing the bonus for their allies.
Bards Songs (Spells), Scrolls, and Memorization Limit: Bards can cast songs or chants from the Bard Song List starting at 3rd level, and follow the Spell Progression Chart of the Monk Class.
Bards can cast Cleric or Magic-User Scrolls of spells on their song list, with a 20% chance (+5% per spell level) of a miscast or lost casting, due to incomplete knowledge of the source material.
Bards start with two known songs or chants of first level upon attaining their level as a Bard. Bards gain one additional song for their repertoire with each additional level, and may learn additional songs from other Bards (for a fee) or songbooks they may find during their career.
Bards do not memorize their songs or prepare them ahead of time. Instead, they perform songs from their known repertoire at will, up to their limit for that day, without repeating any song during that day.
Bards do not get Bonus Songs for high ability scores
Traveler: May only keep what they can carry.
Bard Song List:
Level 1
Audible Glammer
Charm Person
Comprehend Languages
Command
Dancing Lights
Faerie Fire
Message
Remove Fear
Sleep
Ventriloquism
Level 2
Darkness (15')
Deafness
Detect Charm
Forget
Magic Mouth
Pyrotechnics
Scare
Silence (15')
Level 3
xxxxx
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"Traveler: May only keep what they can carry."
ReplyDeleteYeah, that wants some clarification. Does that just mean personally? Or does it include their mount? Their cart? Their circus wagon? Their pirate ship? Every one of those seem like something a bard might use to travel.
Heck, if it's personal carrying capacity they can't even have a mount unless they can bench press their horse. :)
The intent's probably "no non-portable assets allowed" so they can't put down roots and buy a house or something, but that's not really how it's worded.
Charm Person - why only once per week to start. Seems like this is a core ability of bards and should be more frequent
ReplyDeleteThey also have Charm Person on their spell list, and it is immensely powerful as a spell.
Delete