Bard
Bards gets their magic from the great Bahumat, who values creativity and beauty. They are decently common and most cities home to metallic dragons have a place for Bards to train.
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Experience Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Bardic Inspiration (d6), Spellcasting | 0 |
| 2nd | +2 | Song of Rest, Jack of all Trades | 300 |
| 3rd | +2 | Bard College, Expertise | 1,000 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3,000 |
| 5th | +3 | Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration | 6,000 |
| 6th | +3 | Bard College Feature Countercharm | 10,000 |
| 7th | +3 | - | 20,000 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 40,000 |
| 9th | +4 | Greater Rest | 60,000 |
| 10th | +4 | Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Magical Secrets | 80,000 |
| 11th | +4 | - | 100,000 |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 120,000 |
| 13th | +5 | - | 140,000 |
| 14th | +5 | Magical Secrets | 160,000 |
| 15th | +5 | Bardic Inspiration (d12) | 180,000 |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 200,000 |
| 17th | +6 | Self-Inspiration | 225,000 |
| 18th | +6 | Magical Secrets | 250,000 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 300,000 |
| 20th | +6 | Superior Inspiration | 350,000 |
Class Information.
- Hit Dice. 1d8 per bard level
- 1st Level Hitpoints. 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Higher Level Hitpoints. 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bard level after 1st
- Armor Proficiencies. Light Armor, Medium Armor, and Shields
- Weapon Proficiencies. Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords
- Tool Proficiencies. Three of any Artisan’s Tools or Musical Instruments
- Saving Throw Proficiencies. Dexterity and Charisma.
- Skill Proficiencies. Choose any three.
- Equipment. A Simple or Martial melee weapon (suggested: Rapier or Longsword), one Equipment Pack (suggested: Diplomat’s Pack), one Musical Instrument, one non-vehicle tool that you are proficient with, leather armor, and a dagger.
Spellcasting. You gain the ability to cast spells at 1st level.
- Spellcasting Ability. Charisma
- Spell Save DC. 8 + Your Proficiency Bonus + Your Charisma Modifier
- Spell Attack Bonus. Proficiency Bonus + Your Charisma Modifier
- Ritual Casting. You can cast any prepared spell as a ritual if it has the ritual tag.
- Spellcasting Focus. A Musical Instrument or a Set of Artisan’s Tools
- Spell Learning Method. You learn one new spell every even level and two new spells every odd level.
| Level | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2nd | 2 | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3rd | 2 | 7 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4th | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5th | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6th | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7th | 3 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8th | 3 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9th | 3 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 10th | 4 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 11th | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 12th | 4 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 13th | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| 14th | 4 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| 15th | 4 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 16th | 26 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 17th | 28 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | 29 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | 31 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | 32 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Bardic Inspiration. Starting at 1st level, you can inspire others through stirring words or music. As a bonus action on your turn, choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die. Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is used. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest. Your Bardic Inspiration die is a d6, and increases when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.
Jack of All Trades. Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that you are not proficient in or have expertise in.
Song of Rest. Beginning at 2nd level you can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies. You can spend a minute performing, after the minute, you expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration, if you do, all creatures of your choice within 30ft who can hear you regain a number of hit points equal to one roll of your Bardic Inspiration die + your Charisma Modifier.
Magical Inspiration. At 3rd level, if a creature has a Bardic Inspiration die from you and casts a spell that restores hit points or deals damage, the creature can roll that die and choose a target affected by the spell. Add the number rolled as a bonus to the hit points regained or the damage dealt. The Bardic Inspiration die is then lost.
Bard College. At 3rd level, you delve into the advanced techniques of a bard college of your choice. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th and 14th level.
Expertise. At 3rd level, choose two skills that you are proficient with, but do not have expertise in. You gain expertise in the chosen skills.
Ability Score Improvements. When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can take a feat instead of taking this increase to ability scores.
Font of Inspiration. At 5th level, your well of inspiration increases. You can use your Bardic Inspiration a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1) + your proficiency bonus.
Countercharm. At 6th level, you gain the ability to use musical notes or words of power to disrupt mind-influencing effects. As an action, you can start a performance that lasts until the end of your next turn. During that time, you and any friendly creatures within 30 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. A creature must be able to hear you to gain this benefit. The performance ends early if you are incapacitated or silenced or if you voluntarily end it as a free action.
Greater Rest. At 9th level, your ability to soothe your allies improves, any creature below half health heals twice the total from your Song of Rest.
Expertise. At 10th level, choose two skills that you are proficient with, but do not have expertise in. You gain expertise in the chosen skills, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make with a skill you have expertise in.
Magical Secrets. By 10th level, you have explored magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.
Magical Secrets. By 14th level, you have explored magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.
Self-Inspiring. At 17th level, your well of inspiration inspires and improves yourself. Whenever you expend a use of Bardic Inspiration, you gain a Bardic Inspiration die.
Magical Secrets. By 18th level, you have explored magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.
Superior Inspiration. At 20th level, whenever you expend a use of Bardic Inspiration, you can choose a creature that you can hear within 60 feet of you, that creature gains a Bardic Inspiration die.
College of Creation
Bards believe the cosmos is a work of art—the creation of the Three. That creative work included harmonies that continue to resound through existence today, a power known as the creation energy, khaagaazh. The bards of the College of Creation draw on that primeval song through dance, music, and poetry, and their teachers share this lesson: “Before the sun and the moon, there was the Song, and its music awoke the first dawn. Its melodies so delighted the stones and trees that some of them gained a voice of their own. And now they sing too. Learn the Song, students, and you too can teach the mountains to sing and dance.” Dwarves often encourage their bards to become students of the Song of Creation. And among dragonborn, the Song of Creation is revered, for legends portray Bahamut and Tiamat—the greatest of dragons—as two of the song’s first singers.
Mote of Potential. Starting at 3rd level, whenever you give a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you can utter a note from the Song of Creation to create a Tiny mote of potential, which orbits within 5 feet of that creature. The mote is intangible and invulnerable, and it lasts until the Bardic Inspiration die is lost. The mote looks like a musical note, a star, a flower, or another symbol of art or life that you choose. When the creature uses the Bardic Inspiration die, the mote provides an additional effect based on whether the die benefits an ability check, an attack roll, or a saving throw, as detailed below:
- Ability Check. When the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die to add it to an ability check, the creature can roll the Bardic Inspiration die again and choose which roll to use, as the mote pops and emits colorful, harmless sparks for a moment.
- Attack Roll. Immediately after the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die to add it to an attack roll against a target, the mote thunderously shatters. The target and each creature of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of it must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or take thunder damage equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die.
- Saving Throw. Immediately after the creature rolls the Bardic Inspiration die and adds it to a saving throw, the mote vanishes with the sound of soft music, causing the creature to gain temporary hit points equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point).
Performance of Creation. At 3rd level, as an action, you can channel the magic of the Song of Creation to create one non-magical item of your choice in an unoccupied space within 10 feet of you. The item must appear on a surface or in a liquid that can support it. The gp value of the item can’t be more than 20 times your bard level, and the item must be Medium or smaller. The item glimmers softly, and a creature can faintly hear music when touching it. The created item disappears after a number of hours equal to your proficiency bonus. Once you create an item with this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 2nd level or higher to use this feature again. You can have only one item created by this feature at a time; if you use this action and already have an item from this feature, the first one immediately vanishes. The size of the item you can create with this feature increases by one size category when you reach 6th level (Large) and 14th level (Huge).
Animating Performance. At 6th level, as an action, you can animate one Large or smaller non-magical item within 30 feet of you that isn’t being worn or carried. The animated item uses the Dancing Item stat block, which uses your proficiency bonus (PB). The item is friendly to you and your companions and obeys your commands. It lives for 1 hour, until it is reduced to 0 hit points, or until you die. In combat, the item shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take another action. That action can be one in its stat block or some other action. If you are incapacitated, the item can take any action of its choice, not just Dodge. When you use your Bardic Inspiration feature, you can command the item as part of the same bonus action you use for Bardic Inspiration. Once you animate an item with this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a spell slot of 3rd level or higher to use this feature again. You can have only one item animated by this feature at a time; if you use this action and already have a dancing item from this feature, the first one immediately becomes inanimate.
Creative Crescendo. At 14th level, when you use your Performance of Creation feature, you can create more than one item at once. The number of items equals your Charisma modifier (minimum of two items). If you create an item that would exceed that number, you choose which of the previously created items disappears. Only one of these items can be of the maximum size you can create; the rest must be Small or Tiny. You are no longer limited by gp value when creating items with Performance of Creation.