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'''Description''': Bards often serve as negotiators, messengers, scouts, and spies. They love to accompany heroes (and villains) to witness heroic (or villainous) deeds firsthand, since a bard who can tell a story from personal experience earns renown among his fellows. A bard casts [[NWN:Arcane|arcane spells]] without any advance preparation, much like a [[sorcerer]]. His magic emphasizes charms and illusions, and the bard can also play an inspiring [[NWN:Bard_Song|song]] that strengthens him and his allies. Bards also share some specialized skills with [[rogue|rogues]], and their knowledge of item lore is nearly unmatched.
'''Description''': Bards often serve as negotiators, messengers, scouts, and spies. They love to accompany heroes (and villains) to witness heroic (or villainous) deeds firsthand, since a bard who can tell a story from personal experience earns renown among his fellows. A bard casts [[NWN:Arcane|arcane spells]] without any advance preparation, much like a [[sorcerer]]. His magic emphasizes charms and illusions, and the bard can also play an inspiring [[NWN:Bard_Song|song]] that strengthens him and his allies. Bards also share some specialized skills with [[rogue|rogues]], and their knowledge of item lore is nearly unmatched.


'''Note''': on Avlis, the [[Bardic Music]] system provides bards up to nine more songs they can perform if their songbooks are discovered.
'''Note''': on Avlis, the [[#Bardic Music|bardic music]] system provides bards up to nine more songs they can perform if their songbooks are discovered.


==Level Progression==
==Level Progression==
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==Bardic Music==
The [[Bardic Music]] system provides bards with a variety of songs in addition to the two currently available to the class (the standard bard song, and curse song, if the feat was taken). There are '''nine''' songs in total, each with its own level and perform requirements. The lyrics to the songs can be found in '''Legendary Songbooks:''' rare and valuable tomes that, once obtained, provide the means to unleashing powerful inspirational magic.
*Each use of a legendary songbook counts as a single use of the bard song class feat.
*Bard songs typically affect all allies within hearing distance, and many of them become more powerful as the bard gains experience and masters performance.
*Bard songs are affected by the lingering song and lasting inspiration feats. Lasting Inspiration increases the duration of a bard song by 50%, while Lingering Song adds an additional round to it.
*Some songs are so taxing on a bard that they cannot be sung again until the bard has had a chance to recover energy for another performance. This period of time is known as a cooldown.
'''The nine songbooks are:'''
*[[Bardic Music:Cacophony|Cacophony]]
*[[Bardic Music:Countersong|Countersong]]
*[[Bardic Music:Fascinate|Fascinate]]
*[[Bardic Music:Haven Song|Haven Song]]
*[[Bardic Music:Ironskin Chant|Ironskin Chant]]
*[[Bardic Music:Legionnaire's March|Legionnaire's March]]
*[[Bardic Music:Longstride|Longstride]]
*[[Bardic Music:Song of Freedom|Song of Freedom]]
*[[Bardic Music:Song of Valor|Song of Valor]]
*


==Epic Bard==
==Epic Bard==

Latest revision as of 19:44, 1 October 2023


Part of the series on Character Classes
Base Classes: Barbarian | Bard | Cleric | Druid | Fighter | Monk | Paladin | Psion | Ranger | Rogue | Sorcerer | Wizard
Prestige Classes: Arcane Archer | Assassin | Avlis Dragon Disciple | Dwarven Defender | Pale Master | Shadowdancer | Shifter | Weapon Master
Holy Warrior Classes: Annihilator | Avenger | Blackguard | Champion | Confounder | Dominator | Equalizer | Justicar | Paladin
Bard
Hit Die: d6
Base Attack Bonus: +3/4 levels

Proficiencies:

Skill Points: 4 + INT modifier
Class Skills:

Primary Saving Throw(s):

Alignment Restriction:
  • Any non-Lawful


Description: Bards often serve as negotiators, messengers, scouts, and spies. They love to accompany heroes (and villains) to witness heroic (or villainous) deeds firsthand, since a bard who can tell a story from personal experience earns renown among his fellows. A bard casts arcane spells without any advance preparation, much like a sorcerer. His magic emphasizes charms and illusions, and the bard can also play an inspiring song that strengthens him and his allies. Bards also share some specialized skills with rogues, and their knowledge of item lore is nearly unmatched.

Note: on Avlis, the bardic music system provides bards up to nine more songs they can perform if their songbooks are discovered.

Level Progression

Spellcasting: Arcane (Charisma-based, no spell preparation, spell failure from armor is a factor). Bards begin the game knowing four cantrips. Must have a Charisma score of 10 + the spell’s level to cast a spell.

Lvl   BAB   Saves Feats   Base spells per day   Known spells
  Fort     Ref     Will     0   1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th   0   1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
1st +0 +0 +2 +2 Bardic Knowledge, Bard Song   2 - - - - - - 4 - - - - - -
2nd +1 +0 +3 +3   3 0 - - - - - 5 2 - - - - -
3rd +2 +1 +3 +3   3 1 - - - - - 5 3 - - - - -
4th +3 +1 +4 +4   3 2 0 - - - - 5 3 2 - - - -
5th +3 +1 +4 +4   3 3 1 - - - - 5 4 3 - - - -
6th +4 +2 +5 +5   3 3 2 - - - - 5 4 3 - - - -
7th +5 +2 +5 +5   3 3 2 0 - - - 5 4 4 2 - - -
8th +6/+1 +2 +6 +6   3 3 3 1 - - - 5 4 4 3 - - -
9th +6/+1 +3 +6 +6   3 3 3 2 - - - 5 4 4 3 - - -
10th +7/+2 +3 +7 +7   3 3 3 2 0 - - 5 4 4 4 2 - -
11th +8/+3 +3 +7 +7   3 3 3 3 1 - - 5 4 4 4 3 - -
12th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8   3 3 3 3 2 - - 5 4 4 4 3 - -
13th +9/+4 +4 +8 +8   3 3 3 3 2 0 - 5 4 4 4 4 2 -
14th +10/+5 +4 +9 +9   4 3 3 3 3 1 - 5 4 4 4 4 3 -
15th +11/+6/+1 +5 +9 +9   4 4 3 3 3 2 - 5 4 4 4 4 3 -
16th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10   4 4 4 3 3 2 0 5 5 4 4 4 4 2
17th +12/+7/+2 +5 +10 +10   4 4 4 4 3 3 1 5 5 5 4 4 4 3
18th +13/+8/+3 +6 +11 +11   4 4 4 4 4 3 2 5 5 5 5 4 4 3
19th +14/+9/+4 +6 +11 +11   4 4 4 4 4 4 3 5 5 5 5 5 4 4
20th  +15/+10/+5  +6 +12 +12   4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 4

Being able to cast 0 spells of a certain level per day means the bard cannot cast spells of that level unless bonus spell slots of the appropriate level are granted by a high charisma.

Selectable Class Feats: Ambidexterity, Arcane Defense, Brew Potion, Craft Wand, Curse Song, Deflect Arrows, Extra Music, Greater Spell Penetration], Lingering Song, Quicken Spell, Scribe Scroll, Skill Focus, Spell Focus, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Proficiency Exotic, Weapon Proficiency Martial

Spells

Bards draw their power from an invisible vortex of energy that permeates the entire world, called the Vortex of Mortal Magic. By channeling small amounts of energy from this vortex into their own bodies and shaping it, they are able to cast spells.

Cantrips 1st Level 2nd Level 3rd Level


4th Level 5th Level 6th Level

Bardic Music

The Bardic Music system provides bards with a variety of songs in addition to the two currently available to the class (the standard bard song, and curse song, if the feat was taken). There are nine songs in total, each with its own level and perform requirements. The lyrics to the songs can be found in Legendary Songbooks: rare and valuable tomes that, once obtained, provide the means to unleashing powerful inspirational magic.

  • Each use of a legendary songbook counts as a single use of the bard song class feat.
  • Bard songs typically affect all allies within hearing distance, and many of them become more powerful as the bard gains experience and masters performance.
  • Bard songs are affected by the lingering song and lasting inspiration feats. Lasting Inspiration increases the duration of a bard song by 50%, while Lingering Song adds an additional round to it.
  • Some songs are so taxing on a bard that they cannot be sung again until the bard has had a chance to recover energy for another performance. This period of time is known as a cooldown.

The nine songbooks are:

Epic Bard

Bonus Feats: 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38

Epic Bonus Feats: Arcane Defense, Curse Song, Epic Skill Focus (all but Animal Empathy), Epic Spell Focus, Epic Will, Extra Music, Great Charisma, Great Dexterity, Greater Spell Focus, Improved Combat Casting, Lasting Inspiration, Lingering Song

Epic Selectable Class Feats: Automatic Quicken Spell I - III, Automatic Silent Spell I - III, Automatic Still Spell I - III, Blinding Speed, Epic Spell Penetration

Notes

  • Avlis UMD gives a bonus to NON-ARTIFICED casting items. These include amulets, unique items, rings, etc. Bonus is +1 to caster level/Spell DC per 5 base ranks (not including modifiers, skill focuses, etc.) in the Use Magic Device Skill.

See also

Avlis Private Discussion: Bards, a private class discussion forum.

On Avlis

An IC description of Avlissian Bards was written by Kered Rose: