Bard

**Bards** were versatile arcane spellcasters, capable in combat, art, and magic alike. Bards practiced magic as they would art or song, using their artistic talents to induce magical effects that either bolstered their allies or hindered their enemies, typically through charms and illusions. In addition to their magical skills, bards were artistically talented and extraordinarily well-learned, possessing knowledge in a wide range of fields.

## Culture

Both literally and figuratively enchanting, bards drew upon, more than perhaps any other profession, the works of all who'd come before them. Storytellers, musicians, enchanters, dancers, and lorekeepers, bards were prone to wanderlust, traveling from one place to another in search of new lore or perhaps in the hopes of spreading what they already knew.

Bards had a reputation for being joyful and inspiring, though as with every skill their ability to charm and inspire had a darker side. Evil bards were manipulative and cunning, twisting the hearts of others either through magic or sheer charisma. Most bards, though, regardless of their individual morals, held a strong distaste for blatant violence, at least when it could be avoided. To a bard the joys of life were in seeking knowledge or, better yet, witnessing the discovery of such knowledge firsthand. For this reason many bards were drawn to the adventuring lifestyle, hoping to witness the weaving of new tales firsthand - or perhaps even to instigate them.

Bards typically got along well with non-bards, in no small part due to their versatility and charm. In parties of adventurers most bards served as spokesmen of sorts, due to their affinity for social interaction and skill at enchantment. Bards clashed with few people, having a little bit of something to offer just about anyone.

## Abilities

“
All folk laugh from time to time, and none can say for sure what will unleash a man's mirth. Ye may have a gift to call up laughter. Good; but mind ye never try to amuse a mage. Why not? Well, just bridle thy tongue and take a good look at what makes them laugh. Do ye want to try such things?
— Zanshareen Sabiyryn, *A Sage's Travel Guide to The North*
”

Bards were among the most versatile of adventurers. While not necessarily as tough as a fighter, as skilled as a rogue, or as intelligent as a wizard, bards were widely capable in a number of different situations and were widely recognized as a sort of "jack-of-all-trades."

Bards were, as a general rule, uncannily skilled advocates and diplomats. For many bards this was a result of their typically high charisma but some bards - including those who were less charming - could boost their persuasive power through magic. They did this by actually enchanting the very words they speak, making them sound even more persuasive and compelling than they would normally.

Core Classes
Ardent • Avenger • Barbarian • **Bard** • Battlemind • Bushi • Cleric • Druid • Fighter • Invoker • Monk • Paladin • Psion • Ranger • Rogue • Runepriest • Samurai • Seeker • Shaman • Sorcerer • Spellscarred • Swordmage • Warden • Warlock • Warlord • Wizard

Arcane Spellcasters
Alchemist • Arachnomancer • Arcane Archer • Arcane Devotee • Arcane Trickster • Arcanist • Artificer • **Bard** (Cunning Bard • Skald) • Beguiler • Binder • Bladesinger • Dimensionalist • Dragonfire Adept • Dread Necromancer • Duskblade • Eldritch Knight • Elven Dualist • Factotum • Force Mage • Geometer • High Forest Scout • Horizon Walker • Impilturan Demonslayer • Incantatrix • Mentalist • Mystic Theurge • Netherese Arcanist • Shadow Mage • Shadow Walker • Sha'ir • Song Mage • Sorcerer (Cosmic Sorcerer • Draconic Sorcerer • Elementalist • Storm Sorcerer • Wild Mage) • Spellsinger • Spellthief • Swordmage • War Wizard of Cormyr • Warlock (Archfey Warlock • Elemental Warlock • Fiend Warlock • Great Old One Warlock • Hexblade • Sorcerer-King Warlock • Vestige Warlock) •
Warmage • Wizard (Mage • Specialist Wizard) • Witch • Wu Jen

Priests
Avenger • **Bard** • Cleric • Druid • Invoker • Monk • Paladin (Blackguard)

Rogues
Assassin • **Bard** • Thief