The bard is the prototypical jack-of-all-trades. His interests vary across such a wide spectrum of areas that it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what a bard is. He can be a minstrel, spreading tales of wonder from city to city. He can bolster his people in combat and regale them with heroic tales. He can be a court jester. He can be a scoundrel, enjoying an easy life. One thing all bards have in common is a drive to learn. They love to keep themselves informed of events both near and far.
Characteristics: As a very adaptable class, bards can fill a variety of rolls within a party. They may not be the best fighters, but they can fight if need be. They may not be the best spellcasters, but they can be a caster if need be. They may not be the best scout, but they can do so if need be. One thing bards typically excel at is personal interactions. When a party needs someone to speak on their behalf, a bard can be a wonderful choice.
Role: The strengths of the bard class are in dealing with other people, and with filling any role the party may need at any given moment. With a little notice, bards can amply prepare to fill any role they’re asked to fill.
Game Rule Information
Bards have the following game statistics.
Abilities: As an arcane caster, Intelligence and Charisma are important to bards. Dexterity is also important to bards, who wear little, if any, armor.
Hit Die: d4+2
Starting Gold: 5d4x10
lvl BAB F R W Class Abilities
1 +0 +1 +1 +2 Bardic Music, Inspire Courage +1, Countersong, Fascinate, Bardic Knowledge
2 +1 +1 +1 +3 +1 arcane spellcasting level, Armored Casting
3 +2 +2 +2 +3 Inspire Competence, Advanced Learning
4 +3 +2 +2 +4 +1 arcane spellcasting level
5 +3 +2 +2 +4 +1 arcane spellcasting level
6 +4 +3 +3 +5 Inspire Courage +2, Suggestion, Advanced Learning
7 +5 +3 +3 +5 +1 arcane spellcasting level
8 +6 +4 +4 +6 +1 arcane spellcasting level
9 +6 +4 +4 +6 Inspire Greatness, Advanced Learning
10 +7 +5 +5 +7 +1 arcane spellcasting level
11 +8 +5 +5 +7 +1 arcane spellcasting level
12 +9 +6 +6 +8 Inspire Courage +3, Song of Freedom, Advanced Learning
13 +9 +6 +6 +8 +1 arcane spellcasting level
14 +10 +6 +6 +9 +1 arcane spellcasting level
15 +11 +7 +7 +9 Inspire Heroics, Advanced Learning
16 +12 +7 +7 +10 +1 arcane spellcasting level
17 +12 +7 +7 +10 +1 arcane spellcasting level
18 +13 +8 +8 +11 Inspire Courage +4, Mass Suggestion, Advanced Learning
19 +14 +8 +8 +11 +1 arcane spellcasting level
20 +15 +9 +9 +12 +1 arcane spellcasting level
Class Skills: The bard’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are appraise (int), balance (dex), bluff (cha), climb (str), concentration (con), craft (int), decipher script (int), diplomacy (cha), disguise (cha), escape artist (dex), gather information (cha), hide (dex), jump (str), knowledge (all skills, taken individually)(int), listen (wis), move silently (dex), perform (cha), spellcraft (int), swim (str), tumble (dex), and use magic device (cha). See Player’s Handbook Chapter 4: Skills for skill descriptions.
Skill Points per Level: 6 + Int modifier
Class Features
All the following are class features of the bard.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Bards have proficiency with Basic Weapons Group and two other weapon groups of their choice. They are proficient with light armor, but not with shields.
Spells: At every level except 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 18th, a bard advances as an arcane caster.
Bards have a class specific spell list that only they may access (below). A character must meet the minimum number of bard levels to gain access to these bard-only spells. All bard spells are arcane spells, even if they normally appear on a different spell list. Use the following chart to determine the minimums necessary:
0-level bard spells: 2 levels of bard.
1st level bard spells: 2 levels of bard.
2nd level bard spells: 5 levels of bard.
3rd level bard spells: 8 levels of bard.
4th level bard spells: 11 levels of bard.
5th level bard spells: 14 levels of bard.
6th level bard spells: 17 levels of bard.
Caster Level: At every level except 1st and 6th, a bard’s effective caster level increases by 1, even though he doesn’t advance in spellcasting according to tables S-1 through S-3. This increase in effective caster level only affects the variables of his spells that are dependent upon caster level, such as range, number of targets affected, damage, area of effect, etc. It also increases opposed rolls that rely on caster level, such as rolls made to overcome spell resistance and caster level checks (dispel magic for example). This effective caster level increase does not grant him more spells known, more spells prepared, nor more spells per day.
Bard Spell List: As an arcane caster, a bard may choose any spell from the sorcerer/wizard spell list at the appropriate level. He may also choose spells from the following list.
Level 0: know direction, lullaby, summon instrument
Level 1: cure light wounds, confusion (lesser), magic mouth, obscure object, remove fear, hideous laughter
Level 2: animal messenger, animal trance, calm emotions, cure moderate wounds, delay poison, enthrall, heroism, hold person, rage, silence, sound burst, suggestion, tongues
Level 3: charm monster, confusion, crushing despair, cure serious wounds, fear, geas (lesser), glibness, good hope, remove curse, scrying, sculpt sound, speak with animals
Level 4: break enchantment, cure critical wounds, dominate person, freedom of movement, hold monster, legend lore, modify memory, neutralize poison, repel vermin, speak with plants, zone of silence
Level 5: cure light wounds (mass), dispel magic (greater), heroism (greater), mislead, shadow walk, song of discord, suggestion (mass)
Level 6: animate objects, charm monster (mass), cure moderate wounds (mass), find the path, heroes' feast, irrisistible dance, project image, scrying (greater), shout (greater), sympathetic vibration
Extra Source Material: The above spell list doesn’t include any spells from other source materials than what I own. This list should automatically include any bard spells that are released with new accessory books.
Armored Casting: Bards gain Armored Casting as a bonus feat at 2nd level.
Advanced Learning: At level 3, and every three level after (6, 9, 12, etc.), a bard can add a new spell to his spells known, representing the result of personal study and experimentation. The spell may be any spell that contains a morale bonus or any [mind-affecting] spell. This is in addition to any spells he knows from gaining a spellcasting level.
The remaining explanation of class features can be found in the Player’s Handbook, page 28-30.