Bard

Untold wonders and secrets exist for those skillful enough to discover them. Through cleverness, talent, and magic, these cunning few unravel the wiles of the world, becoming adept in the arts of persuasion, manipulation, and inspiration. Masters of one or many forms of artistry, Bards possess an uncanny ability to know more than they should and use what they learn to keep themselves and their allies ever one step ahead of danger. Bards are quick-witted and captivating, and their skills might lead them down many paths, be they gamblers or jacks-of-all-trades, scholars or performers, leaders or scoundrels, or even all of the above. For Bards, every day brings its own opportunities, adventures, and challenges, and only by bucking the odds, knowing the most, and being the best might they claim the treasures of each.

## The Bard (d6)

### **Class Skills**

Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Hide, Jump, Knowledge, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Swim, Tumble, and Use Magic Device.

### **Weapon and Armor Proficiency**

A Bard is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip and with light armor and all shields except tower shields.

### **Class Features**

#### **An Ear for Magic**

A Bard may choose to make Listen checks in place of Spellcraft checks when attempting to identify spells or other magic effects.

#### **Bardic Lore**

A Bard may apply half her Bard level, to a minimum of +1, as a Competence bonus to all Knowledge checks. Additionally if she has 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (History) she gains a further +2 bonus on all other Knowledge checks.

#### **Jack of all Trades**

A Bard is considered trained in all skills.
Beginning at 6th level, a Bard may treat all skills as though they were class skills.

#### **Opening Act**

When making Initiative checks a Bard may choose to apply her Charisma modifier, rather than her Dexterity modifier, as a bonus.

#### **Well Versed**

Beginning at 2nd level, a Bard gains a +4 Circumstance bonus on all saving throws made against bardic performances.

#### **Break the Silence**

Beginning at 4th level, a Bard may apply half her Bard level as a bonus to all checks and saves made to overcome Silence and similar such spells.

#### **Suggestion**

Beginning at 6th level, a Bard can use her performance to make a suggestion (as per the spell) to a creature she has already Fascinated. Using this ability does not disrupt the Fascinate effect, but it does require a Standard action to activate (in addition to the Free action to maintain the Fascinate effect). A Bard can use this ability more than once against an individual creature during an individual performance.
Making a suggestion does not count against a bard's daily uses of bardic performance. A Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ the Bard's level + the Bard's Cha modifier) negates the effect. This ability affects only a single creature.
Suggestion is an enchantment (compulsion), mind affecting, language-dependent ability and relies on aural components.
Beginning at 18th level a Bard may make the same suggestion simultaneously to any number of creatures that she has already Fascinated.

#### **Center of Attention**

Beginning at 8th level, a Bard has learned how to focus attention on herself so thoroughly that even the presence of danger does not distract her adoring crowd. When using Fascinate, a target making a save to break the effect because of a potential threat takes a –4 penalty on that save, and even obvious threats now require a save rather than automatically breaking the effect.

#### **Maestro**

Beginning at 16th level, a Bard is a true master of her craft. At 16th level and each level thereafter until and including 20th level, a Bard gains a single maestro special ability of her choosing.