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.

## Proficiencies

### Armor

Bards cannot equip armor heavier than Chainmail and may not equip shields larger than bucklers.

### Weapons

Bards may become proficient in up to light melee weapons.

### Fighting Style

Bards may become proficient in the Sword&Board, Archery, and Duelist Fighting Styles.

## Level Basics

### Bardsong

At first level, a Bard may call upon their musical talent to aid their allies.

The Bard plays a tune, inspiring courage and strength in their allies within 30 feet. The allies inspired gain a +1 to luck in addition to a bonus to morale checks equal to the Bard's Charisma modifier. The Bard must use an action to start playing and an action on each subsequent turn to continue playing.

### Bardic Knowledge

A bard adds half their class level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.

### Spellcasting

At second level, the Bard has spent enough time traveling that they've finally figured out that pesky ol' magic they've seen those wizards pull off. Their spellcasting grows slower, however, they don't have a dedicated teacher or learning place, Bards usually have other things they need to focus on.

Bards still need to find some sort of book to cast from and something to channel their magic, magic does not come for free. Scrolls are still a necessity to learn new spells as well, unless you find a teacher or spend enough time with a new spell book.

Bards use Intelligence for their spellcasting.

## Class Kits

### 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.

#### Replacements

Blades can only equip up to a Chain shirt and lose the option to use shields, but gains the option to use one-handed melee weapons, can become proficient in the dual wield fighting style, and gain another weapon proficiency at level 1.

#### Blade Dance

Blades gain access to a special style of fighting, known as Blade Dancing, that allows them to catch people off guard and surprise them with their cunning and style. This ability replaces the basic Bardsong.

##### ***Defensive Spin***

A Blade using their sly intuition to defend themselves must take extra precaution. The Blade slows their movements to allow near perfect defense of their person, cutting their movement in half to gain a bonus to their armor class equal to half their level, rounded up, for a total of 4 rounds. This ability may be used once per medium rest.

##### ***Offensive Spin***

A Blade pushing themselves beyond normal limits must throw caution to the wind. The Blade speeds up their movements to ensure their attacks land and hurt, doubling their movement and gaining a bonus to hit and damage equal to half their level, rounded up, for 4 rounds. This ability may be used once per medium rest.

### 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.

#### Screeching Song

A Jester laces a song with cutting words and insults, causing their enemies to fumble and fail at every turn. The enemies affected gain -1 luck and a penalty to morale checks equal to the Jester's Charisma modifier. A Jester must use an action to start the song and maintain it on subsequent turns. This ability replaces the basic Bardsong.

### 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.

#### Replacements

Skald's gain the ability to use "Banded Mail", Large shields, up to two-handed melee weapons, their BAB increases, and they gain more weapon proficiencies. In exchange, they lose a portion of spellcasting.

#### Warsong

A Skald tells stories of victories and heroes long past, inspiring strength and vigor in their allies. A Skald's Warsong grants their allies a bonus to hit, damage, and Armor Class equal to half the Skald's level rounded up. The Skald must use an action to start the song and to continue the song on subsequent turns. This ability replaces the basic Bardsong.