Bard (Class)

It is said that music has a special magic, and the bard proves that saying true. Wandering across the land, gathering lore, telling stories, working magic with his music, and living on the gratitude of his audience—such is the life of a bard. When chance or opportunity draws them into a conflict, bards serve as diplomats, negotiators, messengers, scouts, and spies.

A bard’s magic comes from the heart. If his heart is good, a bard brings hope and courage to the downtrodden and uses his tricks, music, and magic to thwart the schemes of evildoers. If the nobles of the land are corrupt, the good bard is an enemy of the state, cunningly evading capture and raising the spirits of the oppressed. But music can spring from an evil heart as well. Evil bards forego blatant violence in favor of manipulation, holding sway over the hearts and minds of others and taking what enraptured audiences “willingly” give.

Game Information

Alignment

Any non-lawful

Hit Die

d6

Starting Gold

4d4x10 gp
200 gp (Sky Islands Campaign Setting)

Class Skills

All skills are class skills for bards. With the exception of Perform and Knowledge skills, a bard cannot invest max ranks into any of his skills.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (10+ INT mod) x 4
Skill points at Each Additional Level: 10 + INT mod

Table: the Bard

Class Features

Armor and Weapon Proficiency: A bard is proficient with all simple weapons, pistols, the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. Bards are proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). A bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a bard wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass bard still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.

Bard Spells Known — **Bard:** Spells Known # Assuming the bard's charisma bonus would grant him a bonus spell at this level

Spells: A bard casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the bard spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. Every bard spell has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music). To learn or cast a spell, a bard must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a bard’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the bard’s Charisma modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a bard can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Bard. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score. When Table: The Bard indicates that the bard gets 0 spells per day of a given spell level, he gains only the bonus spells he would be entitled to based on his Charisma score for that spell level.
The bard’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A bard begins play knowing four 0-level spells and one 1st level spell of your choice. At most new bard levels, he gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: The Bard. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a bard knows is not affected by his Charisma score; the numbers on Table: The Bard are fixed.)
At every odd level, a bard can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the bard "loses" the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged. A bard may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level.
As noted above, a bard need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level.

Bardic Knowledge: A bard may make a special bardic knowledge check with a bonus equal to his bard level + his Intelligence modifier to see whether he knows some relevant information about local notable people, legendary items, or noteworthy places. (If the bard has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (history), he gains a +2 bonus on this check.)

A successful bardic knowledge check will not reveal the powers of a magic item but may give a hint as to its general function. A bard may not take 10 or take 20 on this check; this sort of knowledge is essentially random.
A bard dabbles in many skills, and gains Jack of All Trades as a bonus feat.
A bard can never truly master most skills however; he cannot invest max skill ranks in any skills except for Perform and Knowledge skills.

Bardic Music: Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (usually including himself, if desired). While these abilities fall under the category of bardic music and the descriptions discuss singing or playing instruments, they can all be activated by reciting poetry, chanting, singing lyrical songs, singing melodies, whistling, playing an instrument, or playing an instrument in combination with some spoken performance. Each ability requires both a minimum bard level and a minimum number of ranks in the Perform skill to qualify; if a bard does not have the required number of ranks in at least one Perform skill, he does not gain the bardic music ability until he acquires the needed ranks.

Starting a bardic music effect is a standard action. Some bardic music abilities require concentration, which means the bard must take a standard action each round to maintain the ability. Even while using bardic music that doesn’t require concentration, a bard cannot cast spells, activate magic items by spell completion (such as scrolls), spell trigger (such as wands), or command word. Just as for casting a spell with a verbal component, a deaf bard has a 20% chance to fail when attempting to use bardic music. If he fails, the attempt still counts against his daily limit.

Countersong (Su): A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to counter magical effects that depend on sound (but not spells that simply have verbal components). If he notices such an effect taking place, he may act immediately to begin his countersong (assuming his instrument is reasonably easily available) and use his Perform check in place of the regular saving throw. Each round of the countersong, he makes a Perform check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard’s Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard’s Perform check result for the save. Countersong has no effect against effects that don’t allow saves. The bard may keep up the countersong for 10 rounds. This is a bardic music ability.

Fascinate (Sp): A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, able to see and hear the bard, and able to pay attention to him. The bard must also be able to see the creature. The distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 1st, he can target one additional creature with a single use of this ability. This is a bardic music ability.

To use the ability, a bard makes a Perform check. His check result is the DC for each affected creature’s Will save against the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and listens to the song, taking no other actions, for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). While fascinated, a target takes a -4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Listen and Spot checks. Any potential threat requires the bard to make another Perform check and allows the creature a new saving throw against a DC equal to the new Perform check result.
Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinate is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.

Inspire Courage (Su): A bard with 3 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use song or poetics to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to hear the bard sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws and a +1 morale bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every five bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by 1 (+2 at 5th, +3 at 10th, +4 at 15th, and +5 at 20th). This bonus is doubled against charm and fear effects. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. This is a bardic music ability.

Rally Performance (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a bard hones his skill as a public musician and can re-roll a Perform check once per day, but only when attempting to impress audiences for the purpose of earning money. A bard must take the result of the re-roll, even if it's worse than the original roll. See Perform on page 79 of the Player's Handbook.

Inspire Competence (Su): A bard of 3rd level or higher with 6 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use his music or poetics to help an ally succeed at a task. The ally must be within 30 feet and able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also be able to see the ally. This is a bardic music ability.

The ally gets a +2 competence bonus on skill checks with a particular skill as long as he or she continues to hear the bard’s music. Certain uses of this ability are infeasible. The effect lasts as long as the bard concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. A bard can’t inspire competence in himself. Inspire competence is a mind-affecting ability.

Refined Performance (Ex): At 4th level, a bard learns how to make his performances more appealing to the public of a prosperous city and is considered to have rolled average when determining how much money was earned each day from a Perform check (see the Perform skill). At 10th level, a bard earns the maximum amount of money for his performance.

Rapscallion (Ex): A bard of 5th level or higher is well versed in the arts of improvised combat. He can use any weapon he is not proficient in at only a -1 penalty. He also takes no penalty when using improvised weapons.

Suggestion (Sp): A bard of 6th level or higher with 9 or more ranks in a Perform skill can make a suggestion (as the spell) to a creature that he has already fascinated. Using this ability does not break the bard’s concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect. This is a bardic music ability.

Making a suggestion doesn’t count against a bard’s daily limit on bardic music performances. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ bard’s level + bard’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature (but see mass suggestion, below). Suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language dependent ability.

Harmonious Assault (Su): A 7th level bard can aid another as a move action. Any ally he aids gains a bonus on their own roll equal to his Charisma bonus.

Inspire Greater Competence (Su): This ability functions like Inspire Competence, above, except that a bard of 8th level or higher with 11 ranks in a Perform skill bestows a competence bonus equal to his Cha modifier or +3 (whichever is greater). This is a bardic music ability.

Cocksure (Ex): A bard of 9th level or higher is so confident in his own abilities that he may take 10 on any skill check, even under adverse conditions. If he fails any skill check through this ability, he may re-roll the check as an immediate action. He must take the re-roll, even if it is a lower result. He may use this ability three times per day.

Inspire Greatness (Su): A bard of 9th level or higher with 12 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to inspire greatness in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet, granting him or her extra fighting capability. For every three levels a bard attains beyond 9th, he can target one additional ally with a single use of this ability (two at 12th level, three at 15th, four at 18th). To inspire greatness, a bard must sing and an ally must hear him sing. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for 5 rounds thereafter. A creature inspired with greatness gains 2 bonus Hit Dice (d10s), the commensurate number of temporary hit points (apply the target’s Constitution modifier, if any, to these bonus Hit Dice), a +2 competence bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 competence bonus on Fortitude saves. The bonus Hit Dice count as regular Hit Dice for determining the effect of spells that are Hit Dice dependent. Inspire greatness is a mind-affecting ability. This is a bardic music ability.

Fanbase (Ex): When traveling through civilized lands, a bard is often met with crowds of adoring fans. The first time an 11th level or higher bard ever publicly visits a settlement, he is greeted at the gates by his adoring fans and showered with gifts. He immediately gains triple treasure appropriate to his level, among more mundane items. The bard may only use this ability in small cities or larger settlements. The bard can avoid this fanfare by sneaking into the settlement, or otherwise obfuscating his intentions to visit from any prying groupies. The bard cannot gain treasure

At 14th level a bard can use this ability in the same city any number of times, but not by simply revisiting the city. Before he can reap the rewards of his fame in the same city he must complete a "tour", by visiting at least 8 other cities.

Song of Freedom (Sp): A bard of 12th level or higher with 15 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to create an effect equivalent to the break enchantment spell (caster level equals the character’s bard level). Using this ability requires 1 minute of uninterrupted concentration and music, and it functions on a single target within 30 feet. A bard can’t use song of freedom on himself. This is a bardic music ability.

Discord (Su): A bard of 13th level or higher with 16 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use magic or poetics to sow dissonance in the ranks of his enemies. He may select one or more enemies with this ability. The enemies must be within 60ft of the bard, and be able to see and hear the bard. The bard must also be able to see the enemies. This is a bardic music ability.

To use this ability, the bard makes a Perform check. His check result -5 is the DC for each affected creature's Will save against the effect. If a creature's saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to use this ability on that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails the creature loses its ability to differentiate allies from enemies, and it reacts accordingly. This effect persists for as long as the bard continues to play and concentrate (up to a maximum of 1 round per bard level). Discord is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.

Inspire Heroics (Su): A bard of 15th level or higher with 18 or more ranks in a Perform skill can use music or poetics to inspire tremendous heroism in himself or a single willing ally within 30 feet. For every three bard levels the character attains beyond 15th, he can inspire heroics in one additional creature. To inspire heroics, a bard must sing and an ally must hear the bard sing for a full round. A creature so inspired gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. The effect lasts for as long as the ally hears the bard sing and for up to 5 rounds thereafter. Inspire heroics is a mind-affecting ability. This is a bardic music ability.

Enrage Opposition (Su): This ability functions like Discord, above, except that a bard of 16th level or higher with at least 19 ranks in a Perform skill does not subtract 5 from his Perform check to determine the DC for this ability, and the targets of this ability receive a +6 Morale bonus to attack and weapon damage rolls made against their former allies. Using this ability does not count against a bard's daily limit on bardic music performances (as it extends the Discord ability). This is a bardic music ability.

Fiddler's Challenge (Sp): At 17th level, a bard with at least 20 ranks in a Perform skill can use his incredible skills to entice an evil outsider's audience. The evil outsider will challenge the bard in a performance of the outsider's choosing. If the bard wins, the outsider will grant him a single wish. Should the bard lose the outsider will take his soul. Using this ability is a full-round action, which the bard can only use once per week.

Mass Suggestion (Sp): This ability functions like suggestion, above, except that a bard of 18th level or higher with 21 or more ranks in a Perform skill can make the suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that he has already fascinated. Mass suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language-dependent ability. This is a bardic music ability.

Undeniable Rhythm (Sp): A bard of 19th level or higher with at least 22 or more ranks in a Perform skill can dominate (as the Dominate Monster spell) a creature that he has already fascinated. Using this ability does not break the bard's concentration on the fascinate effect, nor does it allow a second saving throw against the fascinate effect. This is a bardic music ability.

Dominating a creature doesn’t count against a bard’s daily limit on bardic music performances. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ bard’s level + bard’s Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature. Undeniable Rhythm is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting, language dependent ability.

Face Melter (Su): A 20th level bard or higher with at least 23 ranks in a Perform skill can put on a performance so exceedingly awesome that it literally melts the faces off of anyone who bears witness (along with the rest of their flesh). Any corporeal creatures caught within 30 ft. of the bard while he performs his face melter must succeed a Fortitude save (the result of his Perform check is the DC) or die immediately while their flesh is rended from their bones. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the bard cannot attempt to melt that creature's face off again for 24 hours, but they still take 10d6 points of sonic damage each round they stay within 30ft of the bard while he performs. Corporeal undead are not safe from the bard's face melter either; they are also stripped of their flesh and become skeletons (if applicable). Sentient undead are granted a Will save (DC 10 + ½ bard’s level + bard’s Cha modifier) to keep their minds. Any mindless undead fall under the control of the bard, to a limit of double his bard level in HD. Undead that he can no longer control remain favorable to the bard. This is a bardic music ability.

Ex-Bards

A bard who becomes lawful in alignment cannot progress in levels as a bard, though he retains all his bard abilities.

Variants

Bardic Sage (UA)
Divine Bard (UA)
Savage Bard (UA)

House Rules

Stage Name

Base Classes

Adept - Archaeologist - Archivist - Aristocrat - Barbarian - Bard - Battle Dancer - Beguiler - Cleric - Commoner - Dragon Shaman - Dread Necromancer - Druid - Duskblade - Expert - Favored Soul - Fighter - Healer - Hexblade - Incarnate - Knight - Marshal - Monk - Ninja - Paladin - Pistolero - Psion - Psychic Rogue - Psychic Warrior - Ranger - Rogue - Samurai - Scout - Shugenja - Sorcerer - Soulborn - Soulknife - Spellthief - Spirit Shaman - Swashbuckler - Totemist - Warlock - Warmage - Warrior - Wilder - Wizard - Wu Jen