One of the standards in fantasy is someone who casts spells through song. A poet who can persuade reality that truth is beauty and beauty truth, and therefore that it adheres to the poet's description of beauty. A musician who inspires others, or who uses music to bind their wills.
In its 3.6i incarnation, the bard is essentially a social-specialized character with magical abilities. The bard can function as a con artist, or as a weaver of stories, equally well.
Bard
Level | Fort | Ref | Will | Pow | Ins | Ana | Special |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Proficiencies, spellcasting |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Trustworthy |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Bardic music |
4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Trustworthy, confidence artist |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | When all else fails 5 ft. |
6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Trustworthy, bardic music |
7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Bardic knowledge |
8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Trustworthy, confidence artist |
9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Bardic music, bardic knowledge |
10 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Trustworthy, when all else fails 10 ft. |
11 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Bardic knowledge |
12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Trustworthy, confidence artist, bardic music |
13 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Bardic knowledge |
14 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Trustworthy |
15 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Bardic knowledge, when all else fails 15 ft., bardic music |
16 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | Trustworthy, confidence artist |
17 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | Bardic knowledge |
18 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | Trustworthy, bardic music |
19 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | Bardic knowledge |
20 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | Trustworthy, confidence artist, when all else fails 20 ft. |
Class Skills: Attack(light), Credibility, Gather Information, Knowledge (history, local), Perform, Persuasion, Read Person, StubbornnessSkill Points per Level: 4+Int modifierInvestment Points per Level: 2+Wis modifierHit Die: d4
Class Features
Proficiencies: You are proficient with one light weapon and one type of armor.Spellcasting: You are able to cast spells. You select two of the spell lists associated with your bard class skills, and your saving throws are Charisma-based. You know two spells at first level, and thereafter learn one spell each level.Trustworthy (Ex): You add half your class level to all Credibility and Gather Information checks as a competence bonus.
Bardic Music: Every three levels, you choose one of the following abilities. You gain one use of that ability per day.
Fascination (Ex): As long as you spend three ticks per round performing, you may target one creature per margin of success on a Perform check (DC 20) each consecutive round you spend performing. Targeted creatures must make a Will save (DC 20) or become fascinated for that round.
Inspiration (Ex): As long as you spend three ticks per round performing, you may make a Perform check (DC 20 + 2 x creatures capable of hearing you) each consecutive round you spend performing. Any ally capable of hearing you may spend one margin of success on this check to gain a +1 bonus to a single check or save that round.
Confidence Artist: Every four levels, you choose one of the following abilities. You now have that ability. Unless stated otherwise, all of these abilities are free actions.
Born and Raised in the Briar Patch (Ex): Once per day for each time you choose this ability, you may make a Persuasion check (DC 20) against another creature, opposed by that creature's Read Person check (DC 20) as an action taking one tick. If this check succeeds, the creature is unable to pursue or take hostile action against you for one minute.
Curse the Locust (Ex): Once per day for each time you choose this ability, you may make a Credibility check (DC 20) when using any other skill against a creature, opposed by that creature's Read Person check (DC 20). If this check succeeds, the creature is convinced that another creature of your choice within shared line of sight used the skill against it.
Feign Strength (Ex): Once per day for each time you choose this ability, you may make an Intimidate check (DC 20) against a creature on which another creature is using a skill, opposed by the target's Read Person check (DC 15). If this check succeeds, the target is convinced that you used the skill on it.
Keep Your Balance (Ex): Once per day for each time you choose this ability, you may make a Perform check (DC 20), opposed by another creature's Read Person check (DC 25). If this check succeeds, the creature cannot take actions targeting only you and actions targeting only other creatures in the same round until it can no longer see you.
When All Else Fails (Ex): You add a number of feet to all of your speeds equal to your class level.
Bardic Knowledge (Ex): At seventh level, and every odd-numbered level thereafter, you gain a cumulative +1 competence bonus to Knowledge checks. In addition, choose a Knowledge skill. You may add your ranks in Gather Information to any check made with that skill, and are never considered untrained in it.
