Bard
Bards often serve as negotiators, messengers, scouts, and spies. They love to accompany heroes (and villains) to witness heroic (or villainous) deeds firsthand, since a bard who can tell a story from personal experience earns renown among his fellows. A bard casts arcane spells without any advance preparation, much like a sorcerer. His magic emphasizes charms and illusions, and the bard can also play an inspiring song that strengthens him and his allies. Bards also share some specialized skills with rogues, and their knowledge of item lore is nearly unmatched.
Some hold that if one had the eyes to see, the world would be revealed as a symphony of celestial music, each theme playing out its part on the stage of reality. For some bards, this intuition is true. When they let the scales slip from their eyes, they see the underlying overture of music that connects all levels of reality.
Hit Die: d6
Proficiencies: Armor (Light, Medium), Shields, Weapons (Simple)
Skill Points: 6 + INT
Class Skills: Appraise, Bluff, Concentration, Craft (all), Decipher Script, Discipline, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all), Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Parry, Perform, Persuade, Profession (all), Sense Motive, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Taunt, Tumble, Use Magic Device
Spellcasting: Arcane (spell failure from armor is a factor), charisma-based (a base charisma score of 10 + the spell's level is required to cast a spell, bonus spells are based on modified charisma, and the charisma modifier affects spell difficulty class), and spontaneous cast (no spell preparation required). Bards begin the game knowing four cantrips.
Alignment: The restriction has been removed and Bard can now be chosen for any alignment.
Spells
Cantrips | 1st level spells | 2nd level spells | 3rd level spells |
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4th level spells | 5th level spells | 6th level spells |
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Level progression
Lvl | BAB | Saves | Feats | HP range | Base spells per day | Known spells | ||||||||||||||||
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Fort | Ref | Will | 0 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 0 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | ||||||
1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +2 | Bardic Knowledge, Bard Song | 3-6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +3 | Weapon Finesse | 6-12 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +3 | 9-18 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | |||
4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | 12-24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | |||
5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +4 | Curse Song | 15-30 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | ||
6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +5 | 18-36 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | |||
7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +5 | 21-42 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | |||
8th | +6/+1 | +2 | +6 | +6 | 24-48 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | |||
9th | +6/+1 | +3 | +6 | +6 | 27-54 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | |||
10th | +7/+2 | +3 | +7 | +7 | Lingering Song | 30-60 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | - | ||
11th | +8/+3 | +3 | +7 | +7 | 33-66 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | |||
12th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | 36-72 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | - | |||
13th | +9/+4 | +4 | +8 | +8 | 39-78 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | |||
14th | +10/+5 | +4 | +9 | +9 | 42-84 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | |||
15th | +11/+6/+1 | +5 | +9 | +9 | Extra Music | 45-90 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | - | ||
16th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | 48-96 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |||
17th | +12/+7/+2 | +5 | +10 | +10 | 51-102 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||
18th | +13/+8/+3 | +6 | +11 | +11 | 54-108 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||
19th | +14/+9/+4 | +6 | +11 | +11 | 57-114 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | |||
20th | +15/+10/+5 | +6 | +12 | +12 | Chord of Power, Ballad of the Banshee | 60-120 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Being able to cast 0 spells of a certain level per day means the bard cannot cast spells of that level unless bonus spell slots of the appropriate level are granted by a high charisma.
As a rule of thumb, bards can cast spell levels up to a third their class level, rounded up.
Bard Song Bonuses
Bards are able to sing a song that can bolster their allies. Deafened creatures are not affected by the bard's singing. The song affects all allies within 30 feet and lasts for 10 rounds. The higher the bard's final perform skill and class level, the better the bard song. This ability is a free action.
Chord of Power
At level 20, Bard Song gains an additional 30 rounds to its duration and grants temporary hit points equal to double the perform skill.
Level | Perform | Attack | Damage | Will | Fort | Ref | Temp HP | AC | Skills |
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1st | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3rd | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6th | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
8th | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
11th | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
14th | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 2 |
15th | 24 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 3 |
16th | 30 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 4 |
17th | 35 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 5 |
18th | 40 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 5 | 6 |
19th | 45 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 5 | 7 |
20th | 50 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | Perform x 2 | 6 | 8 |
Curse Song Effects
Bards are able to sing a song that can curse their enemies. Deafened creatures are not affected by the bard's singing. The song affects all enemies within 30 feet and lasts for 10 rounds. The higher the bard's final perform skill and class level, the more powerful the curse song. This ability is a free action.
Ballad of the Banshee
At level 20, Curse Song gains an additional 30 rounds to its duration and deals sonic damage equal to double the perform skill.
Level | Perform | Attack | Damage | Will | Fort | Ref | Sonic Dmg | AC | Skills |
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1st | 3 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2nd | 6 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3rd | 9 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6th | 12 | -1 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
8th | 15 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 8 | 0 | -1 |
11th | 18 | -2 | -2 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 8 | -2 | -2 |
14th | 21 | -2 | -3 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 16 | -3 | -2 |
15th | 24 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -2 | -2 | 16 | -4 | -3 |
16th | 30 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 20 | -5 | -4 |
17th | 35 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 22 | -5 | -5 |
18th | 40 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 24 | -5 | -6 |
19th | 45 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 26 | -5 | -7 |
20th | 50 | -3 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -3 | Perform x 2 | -6 | -8 |
Epic bard
The epic bard's music is beyond inspiring, beyond heartrending, beyond perfection. With just a song, the bard can weaken the cruelest creature or inspire allies to the heights of power and bravery.
Hit die: d6
Skill points: 4 + int modifier
Bonus feats: The epic bard gains a bonus feat every three levels after 20th. In other words, at levels 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, and 38.
Epic bonus feats: arcane defense, curse song, epic skill focus (all but animal empathy), epic spell focus, epic will, extra music, great charisma, great dexterity, greater spell focus, greater spell penetration, improved combat casting, lasting inspiration, lingering song
Unavailable epic feats:
bane of enemies,
construct shape, dragon shape,
epic spell: dragon knight, epic spell: epic mage armor, epic spell: epic warding, epic spell: greater ruin, epic spell: hellball, epic spell: mummy dust,
epic weapon specialization, great smiting,
improved ki strike 4, improved ki strike 5, improved sneak attack,
improved spell resistance, improved stunning fist,
mighty rage, outsider shape,
planar turning, terrifying rage, thundering rage, undead shape
These general epic feats cannot be selected when taking a level of bard.
Epic Bard Song
Level | Perform | Attack | Damage | Will | Fort | Ref | Temp HP | AC | Skills |
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21st | 55 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Perform x 2 | 7 | 9 |
22nd | 60 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Perform x 2 | 7 | 11 |
23rd | 65 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Perform x 2 | 7 | 12 |
24th | 70 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Perform x 2 | 8 | 13 |
25th | 75 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Perform x 2 | 8 | 14 |
26th | 80 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Perform x 2 | 8 | 15 |
27th | 85 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Perform x 2 | 8 | 16 |
28th | 90 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Perform x 2 | 9 | 17 |
29th | 95 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Perform x 2 | 9 | 18 |
30th | 100 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Perform x 2 | 9 | 19 |
Epic Curse Song
Level | Perform | Attack | Damage | Will | Fort | Ref | Temp HP | AC | Skills |
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21st | 55 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -4 | -4 | Perform x 2 | -7 | -9 |
22nd | 60 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -4 | -4 | Perform x 2 | -7 | 11 |
23rd | 65 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -4 | -4 | Perform x 2 | -7 | -12 |
24th | 70 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -5 | Perform x 2 | -8 | -13 |
25th | 75 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -5 | Perform x 2 | -8 | -14 |
26th | 80 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -5 | Perform x 2 | -8 | -15 |
27th | 85 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -5 | Perform x 2 | -8 | -16 |
28th | 90 | -6 | -7 | -7 | -6 | -6 | Perform x 2 | -9 | -17 |
29th | 95 | -6 | -7 | -7 | -6 | -6 | Perform x 2 | -9 | -18 |
30th | 100 | -6 | -7 | -7 | -6 | -6 | Perform x 2 | -9 | -19 |
Epic bard level progression
Lvl | Feats | HP range |
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21st | 63-126 | |
22nd | 66-132 | |
23rd | bonus feat | 69-138 |
24th | 72-144 | |
25th | 75-150 | |
26th | bonus feat | 78-156 |
27th | 81-162 | |
28th | 84-168 | |
29th | bonus feat | 87-174 |
30th | 90-180 |