A bard brings forth magic from his soul, not from a book. He can cast only a small number of spells, but he can do so without selecting or preparing them in advance. His magic emphasizes charms and illusions over the more dramatic evocation spells that wizards and sorcerers often use. In addition to spells, a bard works magic with his music and poetry. He can encourage allies, hold his audiences rapt, and counter magical effects that rely on speech or sound. Bards have some of the skills that rogues have, although bards are not as focused on skill mastery as rogues are. A bard listens to stories as well as telling them, of course, so he has a vast knowledge of local events and noteworthy items.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Bard, the character must fulfill the following criteria.
- Alignment: Any Non-Lawful
Class Skills
The class skills of the Bard are:
- Appraise
- Balance
- Bluff
- Climb
- Concentration
- Craft: Alchemy
- Craft: Armorsmithing
- Craft: Jewelcrafting
- Craft: Tailoring & Leatherwork
- Craft: Trap and Contraptions
- Craft: Weaponsmithing
- Craft : Woodworking
- Decipher Script
- Diplomacy
- Disguise
- Escape Artist
- Gather Information
- Hide
- Jump
- Knowledge: Geography
- Knowledge: Arcana
- Knowledge: Architecture
- Knowledge: Dungeoneering
- Knowledge: History
- Knowledge: Local
- Knowledge: Nature
- Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty
- Knowledge: Religion
- Knowledge: The Planes
- Listen
- Lore
- Move Silently
- Parry
- Perform
- Profession: Cook
- Profession: Fisher
- Profession: Miner
- Profession: Woodcutter
- Sense Motive
- Sleight of Hand
- Spellcraft
- Swim
- Taunt
- Tumble
- Use Magic Device
Class Features
Base Attack Bonus Progression: Medium
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + Int modifier, x4 at first level
Hit Dice: D6
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Bard is proficient in the use of simple weapons, light armor, and shields (except for tower shields).
Arcane Spellcasting: A bard casts arcane spells, which are drawn from the bard spell list. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time. To learn or cast a spell, a bard must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level (Cha 10 for 0-level spells, Cha 11 for 1st-level spells, and so forth). Starting at 8th level, and every three levels after, bards can replace one known spell with a new spell of the same level. The spell that can be replaced must be two spell levels below what the bard can currently cast (1st level spell at 8, 1st or 2nd level spell at 11, 1st or 2nd or 3rd level spell at 14, and so forth). Bards do not suffer from arcane spell failure when wearing light armor. Medium and heavy armor, as well as all shields, still incur the normal failure chance.
Bardic Music: Once per day per bard level, a bard can use his song or poetics to produce magical effects on those around him (including himself). Each ability requires both a minimum bard level and a minimum number of ranks in the Perform skill to qualify; if a bard does not have the required number of ranks in at least one Perform skill, he does not gain the bardic music ability until he acquires the needed ranks. Some bard songs are acquired automatically as the bard levels up, but others can only be learned from songbooks the bard discovers while adventuring. Those that are aquired through leveling are: Countersong (1), Fascinate (1), Inspire Courage (1), Inspire Competence (2), Haven Song (3), Cloud Mind (6), Inspire Regeneration (7), Inspire Toughness (8), Ironskin Chant (9), Inspire Defence (10), Inspire Slowing (11), Song of Freedom (12), Inspire Jaring (14), and Song of Heroism (15).
Bardic Knowledge: This feat allows the character to identify items more easily than others. It grants the character a bonus equal to their bard or harper agent level to any Lore checks.
Dispater