Bard

This page is specifically for the bard class in , , and .
For the version in and , refer to Bard (Baldur's Gate).
== Introduction ==
Bards are jacks-of-all-trades, a result of a lifetime spent on the road, singing in taverns to earn their keep and learning about local legends and tales. Through these varied experiences, they learn many different abilities. They are able to cast up to 6th level wizard spells and pick pockets like thieves, while enjoying a wider selection of usable armor and weapons than thieves, and are able to use most wands. Their broad range of skills comes at the price of not being specialized in any of them, as mages are better at casting spells, thieves are able to use a wide variety of thieving abilities, and fighters can achieve grand mastery in weapons and have the widest selection of weapons and armor.
Bards are generally neutral characters, tending toward the chaotic -- they travel where they wish, and are usually not bound by obligations, countries or organisations. There aren't many bards who are either good- or evil-aligned.
In order for bards to cast a spell, first they need to successfully scribe an arcane spell scroll into their spellbook (scroll lost in process regardless of success or failure). A bard may have a number of spells scribed and available to memorize, limited by their intelligence score. Their intelligence can be raised temporarily however, for example by drinking one or more Potions of Genius, before scribing scrolls to their spellbook. They must choose which spells they will have available for immediate use by placing them into a limited number of spell slots. The bard must then rest for eight hours to memorize the spells, which prepares them for casting. Since most armor prohibits arcane casting and bards can't wear most mage robes, Bracers of Defense and Rings of Protection or bard spells like Ghost Armor are the best sources of armor class until Elven Chain Mails are obtained.
Only humans and half-elves can become bards.
Bards may not dual class.
==Character abilities table==
Character Ability Score	Minimum Score
Strength 	3
Dexterity 	12
Constitution 	3
Intelligence 	13
Wisdom 	3
Charisma 	15
During character creation, rolls below the minimum value for the class will be rerolled until the minimum is met. This table uses the values for Humans, other Races have modified ability scores.
==Special abilities of the bard==
===Bard song===
The signature ability of the bard is their battle song. While active, the party (including the bard) will be fortified against fear, both natural and magical. Specifically, the party will be rendered immune to magical fear, will have any such existing effects removed from them and their morale will be gradually restored to its baseline while they hear the song. Most Bard songs work within a limited range, roughly fireball-sized, and the singer’s view must not be blocked by doors or corners; however, the unkitted Bard's song in the Enhanced Editions affects all of your party members (this doesn't include summoned or charmed creatures) wherever they may be, even if they're in a different area. The Blade's song, despite sharing an effect with the unkitted Bard's song (increasing luck) works like most bard songs, in that it has a limited range and will affect summoned and charmed creatures.
In EE version 2.0+, Bard song of the same type no longer stacks (keep in mind that the unkitted Bard's and the Blade's songs are different and will stack to achieve upwards of +4 luck for party members), and all songs break invisibility, but the patch does give unkitted normal bard song a Luck bonus to all allies, including the Bard:
* +1 Luck at level 1
* +2 Luck at level 15
* +3 Luck at level 20
Gameplay
* Every Bard Song's effects are applied if and when the character is singing (ie the "sing button" is highlighted) at the end of a round and go away if the character isn't singing at that moment. This means it's possible to alternate between singing and attacking/casting spells without ever losing the song's buffs or, in the case of the Jester, debuffs (even without the Bard Hat, though said item makes the rotation much easier to perform due to the extended duration of the effects). For example, to keep themselves constantly buffed while attacking a Skald may perform the following steps:
** Click the button to start singing (which prompts the "Singing Bard Song" message to appear in the log)
** Wait for the round to end to gain the Skald song buff (this is marked by a second "Singing Bard Song" message in the log)
** Immediately attack until all round attacks are performed (eg two attacks when using most bows)
** Click the button to start singing again (another "Singing Bard Song" message appears)
** Wait for the second "Singing Bard Song" message to appear that marks the end of the round
** Attack and repeat (always attacking after the second message and always clicking the "sing button" right after the character finishes their round attacks)
* As exemplified above, the "Singing Bard Song" message serves as an indicator for the player of exactly when the song buffs/debuffs are applied (and the current round ends), but one must be careful because merely clicking the "sing button" also causes the message to appear (so, for example, if the player clicks the button right when the current round is about to end, the message will appear twice in a row).
* A silenced Bard can't sing his song, and party members can't get the benefits if they're deafened.
* There's an exploit in classic versions to chorus using Vhailor's Helm's sim and/or Mislead images, granting massive THAC0 and damage rolls bonus to the entire party
===Pick pockets===
A bard can attempt to steal items from other characters. The chance to steal an item depends on the percentage, which automatically increases with the Bard's level, up to a maximum score of 115 at level 16, plus dexterity modifier.
=== Lore ===
Bards have the highest Lore rating of any class, allowing them to identify many of the magical items they or their party discover.
===Wizard spellbook===
Bards unlock their first wizard spells at level 2, where they acquire a level 1 spell slot. They can reach up to level 6 spells once they reach level 16.  Bards can still cast level 7 to 9 spells from scrolls, even without acquiring Use Any Item (but spells cast from scrolls use a fixed caster level of 10, so those spells that scale by caster level will be significantly weaker than if cast by a mage / sorcerer, who have actual spellslots for those levels). HLA spells like Improved Alacrity are completely unavailable to Bards, as they don't exist as scrolls and can only be learned by Wizards.
Bards level up faster than mages. It means that, at equivalent XP, spells cast by Bards will tend to do slightly more damage or last slightly longer than spells cast by mages. This gap is due to many spells scaling with level, and is bridged as soon as scaling reaches its cap — at level 10 for Fireball, level 15 for Sunfire, level 20 for most spells. Dispel Magic and Remove Magic are a unique case in that their growth is not capped, making the Bard better than a mage at dispelling throughout the game, as well as making their own spells harder to dispel for enemies. This fact is one of the main reasons why players who attempt Solo saga campaigns select a bard, and especially the Blade kit.
A downside of the Bard is the late unlocking of new spell levels: Level 3 spells are unlocked at 40,000 XP for a Bard, but 20,000 XP for a mage. Level 4 spells at 160,000 XP for a Bard, but 60,000 XP for a mage. Etc.
==Class kits==
=== Bard ===
The Bard is a rogue, but is very different from the Thief. The Bards' strength is their pleasant and charming personality. With it and their wits, they make their way through the world. Bards are talented musicians and walking storehouses of gossip, tall tales, and lore, they learn a little bit about everything that crosses their paths and are jack-of -all-trades but master of none. While many Bards are scoundrels, their stories and songs are welcome almost everywhere.
Class features:
* May not wear armor heavier than chain mail (Spells cannot be cast while wearing armor)
* May not equip shields larger than bucklers
* May only become Proficient (one slot) in any weapon class
* May only become Proficient (one slot) in any fighting style
* Thieving abilities: Pick Pockets
* Increased Lore score
* May cast wizard spells starting at 2nd level
* May use Bard Song ability. While active, the Bard Song has the following effects: Restore morale to its average value, remove fear, protection from fear. Up to +3 Luck bonus in EE version 2.0+
* Alignment restricted to any neutral
* Hit Die: d6
Gameplay
*All four bard companions in game are males, with Eldoth and Garrick being unkitted bards
===Blade===
The Blades are the expert fighters and adventurers whose bardic acting abilities make them appear more intimidating and fearsome. This Bard's fighting style is flashy and entertaining, but is also lethally dangerous.
Advantages:
*May place 3 slots in Two-Weapon Style
*May use the Offensive Spin and Defensive Spin abilities once per day. Gains one use each at level 1 and an additional use each every 4 levels thereafter.
Disadvantages:
* Only has one half the normal Lore value
* Only has one half the normal Pick Pockets skill, the dex modifier to this skill is also halved. Blades will reach up to 57 in pickpocketing at lv16, and with 25 dex, they'll have the combined score of 80 
*Bard Song does not become better with levels 
Gameplay
* Companion Haer'Dalis is a blade
* The Bard song restriction is irrelevant once Enhanced Bard Song HLA is chosen late in the game.
* Aside from uses of Offensive Spin and Defensive Spin abilities, Tenser's Transformation is well designed for Blade.
===Jester===
Jesters are well versed in the arts of ridicule and hilarity, and use their abilities to distract and confuse their enemies, cavorting madly during combat. Do not mistake them for true fools, however, as they can also be quite deadly.
Advantages:
* The Jester's song does not help allies, it causes confusion, slow and sleep on enemies when they fail their saves.
Gameplay
* If Enhanced Bard Song is chosen, the HLA will overwrite the Jester song
===Skald===
Skalds are Nordic bards who are also warriors of great strength, skill, and virtue; their songs are inspiring sagas of battle and valor, and the Skalds devote their lives to those pursuits.
Advantages:
* -1 bonus to THAC0 and  +1 to damage rolls with all weapons
* The Skald's song is different from the typical Bard's and varies with level:
**1st level: Grants allies a -2 bonus to THAC0, +2 bonus to damage rolls, and a -2 bonus to AC
**15th level: Grants allies a -4 bonus to THAC0, +4 bonus to damage rolls, -4 bonus to AC and immunity to fear
**20th level: Grants allies a -4 bonus to THAC0, +4 bonus to damage rolls, -4 bonus to AC, immunity to fear, stun, and confusion
Disadvantage:
* Only has one quarter the normal Pick Pockets score, and one-fourth of the dex modifier to the score. At lv16 skalds will reach up to 28 in pickpocketing, and with 25 dex, they’ll have the combined score of 40.
Gameplay
* If Enhanced Bard Song is chosen, the HLA will overwrite the Skald song
* Companion Voghiln is a skald
==High-level class abilities==
Bards have almost the same high-level class abilities as thieves, but instead of Assassination, they have enhanced bards song and magic flute, despite no skill points into Set Traps the traps HLAs available to the Bard will never fail or accidentally trigger on the Bard.
* Alchemy1
* Avoid Death1
* Enhanced Bard Song
* Evasion1
* Greater Evasion1, requires evasion already selected
* Magic Flute
* Scribe Scrolls1, use any item is a requirement
* Set Spike Trap1
* Set Exploding Trap1
* Set Time Trap1
* Use Any Item
1 Can be taken multiple times.
== Spell slots progression ==
Spell lvl /Bard lvl	Spell lvl /Bard lvl	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total # ofspell slots
1 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	0
2 	 	1	 	 	 	 	 	1
3 	 	2	 	 	 	 	 	2
4 	 	2	1	 	 	 	 	3
5 	 	3	1	 	 	 	 	4
6 	 	3	2	 	 	 	 	5
7 	 	3	2	1	 	 	 	6
8 	 	3	3	1	 	 	 	7
9 	 	3	3	2	 	 	 	8
10 	 	3	3	2	1	 	 	9
11 	 	3	3	3	1	 	 	10
12 	 	3	3	3	2	 	 	11
13 	 	3	3	3	2	1	 	12
14 	 	3	3	3	3	1	 	13
15 	 	3	3	3	3	2	 	14
16 	 	4	3	3	3	2	1	16
17 	 	4	4	3	3	3	1	18
18 	 	4	4	4	3	3	2	20
19 	 	4	4	4	4	3	2	21
20 	 	4	4	4	4	4	3	23
21 	 	5	4	4	4	4	3	24
22 	 	5	5	4	4	4	3	25
23 	 	5	5	5	4	4	3	26
24-27 	 	5	5	5	5	4	3	27
28-29 	 	5	5	5	5	5	3	28
30-37 	 	5	5	5	5	5	4	29
38-40 	 	5	5	5	5	5	5	30
==Experience and character stats table==
Level	LevelCap	XPRequired	Hit Dice	WeaponProficiency	THAC0 	Saving throwsD/W/P/B/S	Pick Pockets	No. of HLA
1 	 	0 	1d6 	20 	13/14/12/16/15	25 	 	
2 	 	1,250 	2d6 	 	20 	13/14/12/16/15 	30 	
3 	 	2,500 	3d6 	 	19 	13/14/12/16/15 	35 	
4 	 	5,000 	4d6 	19 	13/14/12/16/15	40 	 	
5 	 	10,000 	5d6 	 	18 	12/12/11/15/13 	45 	
6 	 	20,000 	6d6 	 	18 	12/12/11/15/13 	50 	
7 	 	40,000 	7d6 	 	17 	12/12/11/15/13 	55 	
8 	 	70,000 	8d6 	17 	12/12/11/15/13	60 	 	
9 	 	110,000 	9d6 	 	16 	11/10/10/14/11 	65 	
10 	 	160,000 	10d6 	 	16 	11/10/10/14/11 	70 	
11 	 	220,000 	10d6+2 	 	15 	11/10/10/14/11 	75 	
12 	 	440,000 	10d6+4 	15 	11/10/10/14/11	80 	 	
13 	 	660,000 	10d6+6 	 	14 	10/8/9/13/9 	85 	
14 	 	880,000 	10d6+8 	 	14 	10/8/9/13/9 	90 	
15 	 	1,100,000 	10d6+10 	 	13 	10/8/9/13/9 	95 	
16 	 	1,320,000 	10d6+12 	13 	10/8/9/13/9 	100 	 	
17 	 	1,540,000 	10d6+14 	 	12 	9/6/8/12/7 	100 	
18 	 	1,760,000 	10d6+16 	 	12 	9/6/8/12/7 	100 	
19 	 	1,980,000 	10d6+18 	 	11 	9/6/8/12/7 	100 	
20 	 	2,200,000 	10d6+20 	11 	9/6/8/12/7 	100 	 	
21 	 	2,420,000 	10d6+22 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	
22 	 	2,640,000 	10d6+24 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	
23 	 	2,860,000 	10d6+26 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	
24 	 	3,080,000 	10d6+28 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	1 	
25 	 	3,300,000 	10d6+30 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	2
26 	 	3,520,000 	10d6+32 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	3
27 	 	3,740,000 	10d6+34 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	4
28 	 	3,960,000 	10d6+36 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	5 	
29 	 	4,180,000 	10d6+38 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	6
30 	 	4,400,000 	10d6+40 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	7
31 	 	4,620,000 	10d6+42 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	8
32 	 	4,840,000 	10d6+44 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	9 	
33 	 	5,060,000 	10d6+46 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	10
34 	 	5,280,000 	10d6+48 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	11
35 	 	5,500,000 	10d6+50 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	12
36 	 	5,720,000 	10d6+52 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	13 	
37 	 	5,940,000 	10d6+54 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	14
38 	 	6,160,000 	10d6+56 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	15
39 	 	6,380,000 	10d6+58 	 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	16
40 	 	8,000,000 	10d6+60 	10 	8/4/7/11/5 	100 	17 	
Total	 	 	 	12 	 	 	 	17
== Stronghold ==
Bards protagonists may run the Five Flagons Inn stage after they rescue Raelis and Haer'Dalis from the planar prison
==Class exclusive items==
Some instruments, such as The Captive Audience and Methild's Harp, and some other items are only usable by bards. Among them the Bard's Gloves, that have no ability by themselves but can be upgraded to the Wondrous Gloves.
*Azlaer's Harp
*Bard Hat 
*Bard's Gloves / Wondrous Gloves
*Harp of Discord
*Harp of Pandemonium
*Melodic Chain
*Methild's Harp
*Raconteur's Regalia 
*Reed of Echoes 
*Screaming Bagpipes 
*Tangled Strings 
*The Captive Audience 
*The Forest Queen's Benediction 
Note that the Peacock Cap is better for Bards.
==Class Group exclusive items==
*Amulet of the Master Harper
*Gloves of Pick Pocketing
*Potion of Master Thievery
*Potion of Frost Giant Strength from Alchemy HLA
==Arcane Spellcasters exclusive items==
*Metaspell Influence Amulet
*Staff of Power
*Golem / Clay Golem / Stone Golem / Juggernaut Golem Manual
*arcane wands
*arcane scrolls
==Bugs==
* Though correctly stated in the kit description, the by the half reduced ability to pick pockets isn't implemented in the classic version of the game, including its expansion: the Blade gains progress as the regular Bard, reaching 115% at level 16.
* On the other hand, the disadvantage "Bard Song does not become better with levels" is removed from the Enhanced Editions kit description, but still applicable.FJBLADEB.spl
*Bards can erroneously scribe spells of levels 7 to 9 to their spellbook, but can never prepare them, making this a waste of scrolls.
==Gameplay (community)==
~Write your insights below, different from the Gameplay section above, you may use your signatures here, example page~
Bards are really fun to play, but a little difficult to handle.
Skalds are very helpful with a group. Usually cast "Mislead" to keep singing while they do other things like casting "Remove magic" versus Mages (It works slower but better than with an Inquisitor like Keldorn). Skalds are a little too passive and sometimes may be a little boring. However, skalds make excellent player controlled/generated NPCs. That way you can enjoy the bonuses (amazing buff song throughout the whole saga, free no hassle item identification, auxiliary spell support, etc), while still having a different, exciting main character to act as your avatar.
Don’t underestimate the immunity from stun and confusion on the Lvl 20 skald song. I just got it on my skald right before entering the mind flayer tunnel in the Underdark and it made dealing with them surprisingly easy. Intelligence drain is a lot less lethal, when you are able to run away after taking a hit or two.
Blades aren´t very good at the front line at beginning of the game, but with some items they can become amazing. With Tenser Transformation, dual wielding (Kundane or Belm in the offhand), Improved Haste, they can be very effective.
Once you get Enhanced Bard Song, I think Blades are more versatile. They stop using Tenser and use Mislead (like a Skald), they can be in the front line or they can cast Remove Magic versus Mages.They can become invulnerable versus Liches. In addition, they can set traps in the way they need. If you want to start melee then cast Improved haste, set a Time Trap and bring a group to start the battle. On the other hand if you want a fast kill versus Mages, just set a Spike Trap and that´s all.
There are many tricks to use them appropriately.
-- Added by a FANDOM user (talk) 
== Bard Songs overview ==
As the bard song has been changed somewhat between different editions of the games, here is an overview of the most current effect of the different songs:
* Every bard kit has its own type of song: unkitted / "normal" Bard Song, Skald Song, Jester Song and Blade Song. Also, every bard kit can take the Enhanced Bard Song as high-level class ability, once the Bard hits level 24. The Enhanced Bard Song completely overwrites the kit's previous song.
* Songs of the same type never stack, but songs from different kits do stack. 
** Example 1: Two level 1 bards singing will only give +1 luck to the party, but a level 1 Bard and a Blade singing adds for +2 luck.
** Example 2: A level 20+ Skald and someone with Enhanced Bard Song (e.g. if Haer'Dalis takes it) singing at the same time stacks and improves THAC0, armor class and damage by 8. If that Skald were to take Enhanced Bard Song later, they would no longer stack.
* Songs can be sung by a Simulacrum. This is not cumulative with the Bard themself singing, but it allows the Bard to do something else instead.
* Singing a song breaks invisibility.
* A silenced Bard can't sing, and a deafened character is not affected by the song.
* Bards should acquire the Bard Hat, as it allows them to keep the song up while doing other things.
* The different song types have different areas of effect:
** The unkitted / normal Bard Song affects all party members globally on the map. It does not affect summons or other allies.
** All other songs only affect allies in an area of 16 ft around the Bard, but also benefits summons and other (blue circled) allies. Jester song affects enemies within 16 ft instead.
* Normal Bard song and Blade song improve Luck. Skald song and Enhanced Bard Song affect THAC0 (hit-rate) and damage directly, plus increasing armor class. Luck also has a positive effect on hit-rate and damage, but not as much as directly improving those values, and luck does not benefit armor class. On the other hand, luck also provides several other bonuses.
Song type 	Area 	Effect at level 1-14	Effect at level 15-19	Effect at level 20+
Bard song 	global	Bard and party members:
* +1 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored	Bard and party members:
* +2 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored	Bard and party members:
* +3 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored
Blade song 	16 ft 	Bard and all allies:
* +1 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored	Bard and all allies:
* +1 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored	Bard and all allies:
* +1 Luck
* Immunity to panic
* Morale restored
Skald song 	16 ft 	Bard and all allies:
* +2 THAC0 bonus
* +2 damage bonus
* +2 armor class bonus	Bard and all allies:
* +4 THAC0 bonus
* +4 damage bonus
* +4 armor class bonus
* Immunity to panic	Bard and all allies:
* +4 THAC0 bonus
* +4 damage bonus
* +4 armor class bonus
* Immunity to panic
* Immunity to stun and confusion
Enhanced Bard Song 
(requires level 24)	16 ft 	 	 	Bard and all allies:
* +4 THAC0 bonus
* +4 damage bonus
* +4 armor class bonus (+10 for Bard)
* Immunity to panic
* Immunity to stun and confusion
* Protection from normal weapons
* +5% magic resistance (+10% for Bard)
Jester song	16 ft 	Enemies:
* save vs. Spells at +2 bonus or be confused	Enemies:
* save vs. Spells at +2 bonus or be confused
* save vs. Spell or be slowed	Enemies:
* save vs. Spells at +2 bonus or be confused
* save vs. Spell or be slowed 
* save vs. Spell at +2 bonus or fall unconscious
==Mod content==
Installation of the Rogue Rebalancing mod makes a number of gameplay revisions and changes to all Rogues, including their kits. It is a comprehensive modification to nearly all aspects of the Rogues (Bards and Thieves) abilities and strives to bring them closer to their Pen and Paper AD&D counterparts. New and revised abilities are included, as well as new equipment and rogue specific items. Separate user installed components are available to customize selection of content and changes. Go to the link for further information. Other changes applicable to most Bards:
True Bard
The Bard's song has been altered. The revised Bard song is based on the Pen and Paper version of this ability. The updated kit description reads as follows:
BARD: The bard is also a rogue, but he is very different from the thief. His strength is his pleasant and charming personality. With it and his wits he makes his way through the world. A bard is a talented musician and a walking storehouse of gossip, tall tales, and lore. He learns a little bit about everything that crosses his path; he is a jack-of-all- trades but master of none. While many bards are scoundrels, their stories and songs are welcome almost everywhere and are often inspirational to the listeners. A bard can rally his allies by singing heroic songs or weaving inspiring tales about how his companions will overcome their foes and win the day. The effect of the bard's song varies according to his level:
1st: +1 to hit and all saving throws, song raises morale
9th: +2 to hit and all saving throws, song removes fear
18th: +3 to hit and all saving throws, song protects from fear
Bard High Level Ability revisions
This component will remove all Traps and other Thief-specific HLAs from the Bard High Level Ability table and replace them with new abilities which are more fitting for the Bard class. These new HLAs are: Mass Charm, Sound Burst, Enthralling Melody, Lingering Song, Resonating Weapon and Sound Barrier. Furthermore, the Magic Flute and Alchemy HLAs will be revised and each Bard kit will get a unique version of the Enhanced Battlesong HLA. See the Mod link to read up on the specifics.
Proper spell progression for Bards
This component will restore the proper PnP AD&D spell progression to Bards, effectively granting them the ability to cast 7th and 8th level spells once they reach the appropriate experience levels. See the Mod Link for the spell progression table.
For Bard Kit specific changes see the Blade, Jester and Skald pages.
==External Links==
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Category:Bugs