Bard

Song and dance, poetry and music, epic tales and rousing comedy—all of these things, and more, have been associated with bards. Weavers of tales and singers of songs, bards know that words and art have power, and use their craft to produce amazing effects. Bards have produced art beautiful enough to make angels weep, songs to soften the coldest of hearts, and magic capable of the most mythic tasks.

d6 hit die, 3 + Intellect skill points per level

Class skills: Investigation, Linguistics, Monsters, World, Insight, Device, Intimidate, Deception, Diplomacy, Disguise, Sleight of Hand, Acrobatics, Craft, Perform, Profession

Good resistances: Finesse, Grace, Intellect, Ego, Charm

Proficiencies: Light Armor, Simple Weapons

**Spellcasting:**

Bards cast spells spontaneously from their known dramaturgic spells. They can cast a number per long rest as given in the class table, and they know a number of spells as given by the following table. Bards can cast additional spells per long rest with a high Ego score, and the DC of their spells is 16 + MB used to cast + Charm modifier.

**Performances:**

Starting at 1st level, bards can begin a performance in order to create a variety of effects. This can take the form of singing, dancing, playing pipes, orating, or anything that could reasonably be called a performance, at the GM’s discretion. Unless otherwise stated, allies gain the effect of performances only as long as they are able to perceive the performance either visually or audibly. Performances that have not been magically amplified have a maximum range of 10 feet + 10 feet times the bard’s Ego modifier, although some performances have shorter ranges than this, as defined in the performance’s entry.

A performance may be started as a standard action and lasts until the bard’s performance rounds run out or until the bard voluntarily stops the performance. At 7th level, starting a performance is a move action, at 12th level it is a swift action, and at 17th level is a free action. Stopping a performance is no action. At 1st level, a bard can only maintain a single performance at once, and starting a new performance immediately ends whichever was being performed. The bard is able to maintain an additional performance at 11th level and start a third performance for a single round at 17th level using the Dual Performance and Trio abilities. This is not the same as concentrating on a spell, and a performance and a concentration spell can be maintained simultaneously.

Each long rest, bards have a number of performance rounds available equal to 4 + their Ego modifier + their Charm modifier, plus 2 for every level beyond 1st.

A bard must succeed concentration checks if the performance is interrupted, in harsh conditions, or while *bloodied* as if they were casting a spell (use spell level 0), but may add half their level in place of their MB to determine their bonus for this concentration check.

A bard may concentrate on a performance and a spell simultaneously, and spells do not count towards the number of performances the bard may concentrate on and vice versa. The DC for any performance is 16 + ½ the bard’s level + the bard’s Ego modifier. Unless otherwise stated, the resistance against a performance is made when the performance begins.

Performances marked with \* are not maintained performances. Using the performance expends performance rounds and requires some form of action to activate, rather than being maintained for multiple rounds like regular performances.

**Performance:**

At 1st level, bards gain the use of a performance selected from the list below. They gain another performance at 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter.

Accursed Song - Requires level 6. One target is affected as per *Bestow Curse* as the third-level eldritch spell for the duration of this performance. A successful Acumen resistance negates this effect and ends the performance.

Atonal Melody - Hostile creatures that start their turn within 30ft of the bard must succeed a AR or be *sickened* for one round.

Befuddle - One creature within 60ft of the bard takes a penalty equal to the bard’s Ego modifier to all Charm and Intellect skill checks and resistances, and rolls Charm and Intellect skill checks with disadvantage. A successful Charm resistance negates this effect and ends the performance.

Charismatic Chant - One target takes a -2 on resistances against the bard’s performances and the bard gains +4 to Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Deception checks made to influence them. This can affect an additional creature at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, to a maximum of 5 at 20th level.

Song of Competence - The bard and their allies within 30ft receive a morale bonus equal to 2 + ¼ the bard’s level on all skill checks and each ally may reroll a skill check before the result (success or failure) is revealed. Any creature may only reroll a skill check in this manner once per short rest.

Countersong - The bard can create melodies that interfere with sound-dependent effects. At the beginning of each round of this performance, the bard makes a Perform check and their allies may use the result in place of all resistances against sound-dependent effects, such as effects that deal sonic damage, other performances, or language spells. For non-allies within 60ft, casting and concentrating(once per round) on compulsion or charming spells requires a spell focus check against this performance’s DC.

Song of Courage - The bard and their allies within 30ft receive a morale bonus on resistances against charming, compulsion, and fear effects equal to the bard’s Charm modifier. This increases by 2 at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter.

\*Dancing on the Wind - By expending 4 rounds of performance as no action, the bard and all allies within 30ft gain the effects of *Feather Fall*, as the first level arcane spell.

Dazzling Show - Requires level 9. For each round that the bard maintains this performance, creatures within 30ft must succeed a Finesse resistance at the beginning of their turn or be *blinded* for one round.

\*Deadly Dirge - Requires level 12. By expending 10 rounds of performance as a full-round action, a single target within 60ft of the bard must make a Resolve resistance or be moved to incredible sadness and become *dazed* for 1d4 rounds. On a successful resistance, they are instead *shaken* and *altered* for 1d4 rounds. If a creature that is currently *dazed* by this effect fails a resistance against a second use of this ability, it dies.

Ditty of Distraction - The bard puts on a captivating performance that traps the attention of creatures within 90ft. Any creatures that fail an Acumen resistance are *fascinated* for the duration of the performance. This is a charming and mind-affecting ability.

Diva’s Tantrum - Requires level 9. Creatures must succeed an Intellect resistance or be unable to attack the bard. These creatures must make this resistance roll for every attack or damaging spell that targets the bard. On a failure, the action is lost. If the bard attacks any creature during this performance, they gain no benefit from this performance for one round. Maintaining this performance requires a move action each round.

Dominating Dirge - Requires level 15. One person is affected as *Dominate Person* as the 5th level eldritch spell for the duration for this performance. A successful Ego resistance negates this effect and ends the performance.

\*Dance with Doom - By expending 2 rounds of performance as a standard action, enemies within 30ft become *shaken* for 2d6 rounds unless they succeed a Resolve resistance. This ability cannot stack with itself to produce higher levels of fear.

Earth-Rumbling Steps - Requires level 15. The ground centered on the bard’s location is subject to the spell *Earthquake* as the 8th level halcyon spell for the duration. The bard is immune to its effects. Activating and maintaining this performance always requires a standard action.

Frightening Tune - Requires level 6. Enemies are *frightened* of the bard for the duration of the performance unless they succeed a Resolve resistance.

\*Gavotte of Greatness - By expending 4 rounds of performance as a standard action, the bard’s allies within 60ft gain a number of temporary HP equal to twice the bard’s level for up to two rounds per level. These temporary HP do not stack with themselves.

Healer’s Hand - The bard and their allies gain fast healing 2 for the duration of the performance. This increases by 1 at 5th level and every 3 levels thereafter.

Heroic Ballad - The bard and their allies within 20ft receive a Deflection bonus to their AC and morale bonus to resistances equal to 1+¼ the bard’s level.

Infectious Tune - Every round, all creatures that can hear the bard’s song must succeed an AR or contract Ear Worm. The bard is immune to this disease.

Inspiring Song - The bard and their allies gain a +1 morale bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls. This increases by 1 at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter to a maximum of +5 at 20th level.

Irritating Song - Creatures the bard designates within 40ft take a -1 penalty on attack rolls and resistances. This increases by 1 at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter. A successful Acumen resistance halves this penalty (min 0).

Lullaby - Requires level 6. Designated creatures within 30ft of the bard fall asleep. A successful Acumen resistance negates this effect. Hostile creatures roll this resistance with a +5 bonus. Creatures that are *fatigued* roll twice and take the lower result on this resistance. *Exhausted* creatures roll twice and take the lower result on this resistance, with an additional -5 penalty. Creatures with 4 HD more than the bard’s HD are immune to this effect.

Suggesting Soliloquy - Requires level 15 and Suggestive Sonata. This performance functions as the 2nd level dramaturgic spell *Suggestion*, but it may affect a number of creatures up to the bard’s level. A successful Ego resistance negates the effect.

\*Ready Rephrase - The bard may expend 3 rounds of performance to reroll a Charm based skill as no action. This cannot be used more than once per round. The result of the second roll must be taken, even if it is lower than the first.

Resolute Refrain - The bard and their allies gain +2 morale bonus to TED, AC, and 2 resistances of their choice. This increases by 1 per every 5 levels gained. Concentration checks to maintain performances gain a bonus equal to the bard’s ranks in Perform.

Silken Sway - Requires level 9. While maintaining this performance, the bard gains the effects of *Control Winds* and *Control Water*, as per the 4th level halcyon spells, and can concentrate on both simultaneously.

\*Soothing Song - Requires level 9. By using 4 rounds of performance as a standard action, all allies within 30ft of the bard receive the benefits of *Curing* as the first level divine spell (cast as a 4th level spell, healing 7d8 + level), using the bard’s level as caster level, as well as removing the *fatigued*, *sickened*, and *frightened* conditions.

Suggestive Sonata - Requires level 3. A single target is affected by *Suggestion* as the 2nd level dramaturgic spell for the duration of the performance. A successful Ego resistance negates this effect and ends the performance. This is a compulsion effect.

Tough Crowd - The bard and their allies within 30ft gain DR 1/-. This increases by 1 at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter.

**Bardic Studies:**

At 2nd level, bards adds two skills of their choice to their class skills. They add half their level to skill checks for the purposes of recalling information. They may take a 20 on any skill check to recall information, and may add half their level again to these checks once per long rest, plus an additional time per long rest at 6th level and every 4 levels thereafter.

**Upstage:**

At 5th level, when bards casts a spell from the dramaturgic spell list targeting a single creature, they may choose to make a Perform check as a move action directly before casting to raise the spell’s DC. By consuming 2 rounds of performance, they make a Perform check with a DC of 20 + the target’s Acumen modifier + half the target’s HD or 16 + the target’s Insight modifier, whichever is higher. If successful, the DC of the spell cast by the bard is increased by 2. The DC of the bard’s spell is increased by an additional 1 for every 5 by which the DC of the Perform check was exceeded. At 19th level, this can be done as a swift action. Spells affected by this are considered charming effects. Spells cast in this manner cannot be Silent, Still, Swift, or Quick.

**Jack-of-all-Trades:**

At 8th level, bards add ¼ their level to skill checks with which they have no ranks. Once per long rest, they may add their Charm modifier in place of the ability score required for any skill check. They may use this twice per long rest at 16th level.

**Dual Performance:**

At 11th level, bards can begin two performances as a standard action and may maintain these performances as a move action. This consumes 2 rounds of performance per round. At 17th level, starting two performances is a swift action, and maintaining them is a swift action.

**Grand Courage:**

At 14th level, any ally gaining benefits from a bard's performances are immune to the *shaken* condition. Additionally, all *frightened* allies benefiting from one of the bard’s performances may still move towards the source of their fear.

**Trio:**

At 17th level, once per short rest, a bard can begin three performances as a full-round action. They can only maintain two of these performances for more than one round, but all three performances are in effect for one round.

**Master of Ceremonies:**

With a flick of the wrist, a masterful bard can control the flow of battle. At 20th level, while maintaining 2 performances, a bard may choose to end both as a standard action, consuming 10 rounds of performance. When this happens, two effects take place. First, all allies affected by the bard’s performances may move up to their base speed immediately as no action. Secondly, the bard's allies may expend a quick action to take any action that would normally acquire a standard action. The bard acts as *dazed* for one round following this.