Bard

Poets, singers, dancers, and instrumentalists who weave their magic powers into their art so that it is all the more effective. Bards are lightly armored loremasters and skilled musicians that have used their magical talents to further their art form into a whole new level. Their voices music, and actions can change many things and create a variety of magic spells that come from a wide variety of magic schools as well as from their own- musamancy. This essentially makes Bards the master of all trades in the magic world. Many bards are hired by taverns, nobles, and festivals to create magical, harmless performances that enthrall and entertain a crowd. Others may hire bards for their armies to act as drummer boys and the like, using music to dole out orders and attacks, while using their own magic to aid the fight.

Bard

---

Hit Points

Hit Dice: d6 per Bard level

Hit Points at first Level: 6 + Your Constituion modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 + Your Constituion modifier (or 4 HP) per level

Proficiences

Armor: Light Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Melee Weapons, Simple Ranged Weapons, Pikes, Rapiers, Longswords, Scimitars, Shortswords, Tridents

Tools: Two Instruments of your choice, Disguise kits, Gaming sets

Saving Throws: Charisma, Dexterity

Skills: Pick two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth.

---

Overview & Creation

With the power of your voice, the skill of your words and jokes, the beauty of your acting, or the grace of your hands with an instrument; a Bard uses the performing arts to channel their magic into their medium. And in return, their medium flows their magic out into the world. Many bards chose to be adventurers that use their talents to increase their fame, spread their tales or artistry, or earn a living. Despite their meager appearance at first, Bards can prove to be a strong force when they put their minds and hearts into a task- as this passion is often backed by powerful magic.
(DM's note: This is a flavored & modified version of D&D's Bard class, altered to better fit into the world of Nielea.)

---

Class Features

Spellcasting

You have intertwined magic into every tune you sing, every step you dance, every note you play, and in every stroke you paint. Through your chosen medium, you create works of art that alter the world around you and create spells from each masterpiece you play. See the Dungeons and Dragons 5e Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting.
Cantrips You know two cantrips of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Bard table.
Spell Slots As a bard, you start with four spells known; 2 Cantrips and 2 Spells of 1st Level. See the Bard table below to see how many spells you may know and gain each level.
Spellcasting Ability Your spellcasting ability is determined by your Charisma, as many artists of the performance arts rely on their ability to connect with, deceive, and wow their spectators. While artists and their fellow follow a more reserved route to their artistry, many still find use in the ability to sell their art to their audience and to understand their subjects should their creation be of a fellow person. Additionally, you use your Charisma modifier for saving throw DCs of spells you cast and attack with.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier
Ritual Casting You are able to cast any bard spells you know marked with the Ritual tag as a ritual.
Spellcasting Focus You are able to use a musical instrument or a Bard's focus (see Bard's Focus table above) as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

Bardic Inspiration

With the magic and skill of your chosen art, you are able to inspire others to be better in what they are doing. Through one bonus action on your turn, you may chose one creature who is able to see or hear you other than yourself that is within 60 feet. That creature gains a single bardic inspiration die, a d6, to use on their turn. Within the next 10 minutes, the creature may chose to roll the die and all the number rolled to any one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw that is being made. They can wait until after they roll their d20 before deciding to use their Bardic Inspiration die as long as it is used before being told the results of the roll by the DM. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is used, it is no longer available for use again until the creature is given another Bardic Inspiration die. There can only be one Bardic Inspiration Die per creature.
You may, at a minimum of once, use this feature as many times equal to your Charisma modifier, and regain any expended uses after you have finished a long rest. When you gain certain levels in the Bard class, your Badic Inspiration die will increase. At 5th level, it will become a d8; at 10th level, a d10; and at 15th level, a d12.

Jack of All Trades

Upon reaching 2nd level, you may add half of your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to ability checks made that does not already include your Bard proficiency bonus.
Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn’t already include your proficiency bonus.

Song of Rest

Upon reaching 2nd level, you may begin using your talents to help relax and revitalized your wounded allies during a short rest. This may range from drawing silly doodles, performing a song or dance that captures their attention and thoughts, or otherwise using their art to distract them from their pains. If you or any allies hear or witness your performance or creation, they are affected by the magic of your art and regain hit points at the end of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice. Each of them regains an extra 1d6 of hit points.
Upon reaching certain levels, this die improves: to 1d8 at 9th level, to 1d10 at 13th level, and to 1d10 at 17th level.

Bard College

Upon reaching 3rd level, you have garnered the attention of a bard college who you now keep in touch with as they provide teachings and advice to help advance your skills. You may chose a bard college from the official D&D sourcebooks or other, DM approved, sources. Your choice will grant you features from that College first at 3rd level, and then again at 6th level and 14th level.

Expertise

Upon reaching 3rd level, your skill in two of your proficiencies is enhanced. Any ability checks done with those two proficiencies will have their proficiency bonus doubled. At 10th level, you may do this once again for two more proficiencies.

Ability Score Improvement

At 4th level, 8th level, 12th level, 16th level, and 19th level; you may increase one ability score of your choice by 2 points, or split it in half to increase two ability scores of your choice by 1 point. You may not increase your ability score above 20 with this feature. Optionally, you may instead chose to take a feat of your choice instead.

Font of Inspiration

Upon reaching 5th level, you may regain any expended uses of Bardic Inspiration when you finish a short rest, as well as a long rest.

Countercharm

Upon reaching 6th level, you are able to use your music, dance, or art as a focal point to disrupt mind-influencing effects. As an action on your turn, you may start a performance that lasts until the end of your next turn. For the duration of your performance, you and any allies that are within 30 feet of your gain an advantage of saving throws against being fightened or charmed. Your allies must be able to see or hear your performance to gain this benefit. Your performance may be interrupted and ended early if you are incapacitated, paralyzed, or silenced- or if you chose to end it early with no action required.

Magical Secrets

When you have reached 10th level, you have gained a source of magical knowledge from a secret source. You may chose two magical spells or cantrips from any classes or archetypes, including this one, as long as it is a spell of a level you are capable of casting, as shown on the bard table. Those chosen spells count as two of your bard spells, and they are included in the number of the Spells Known column found in the Bard table.
Upon reaching 14th level, and once again at 18th level, you may learn two additional spells from any classes or archetypes.

Superior Inspiration

Upon reaching 20th level, when you have no uses of Bardic Inspiration left and roll for initiative, you regain one use.

---

Starting Equipment

You start out with the following equipment, on top of any gear granted by your background:

• (a) a rapier, (b) a shortsword, or (c) any simple weapon
• (a) a diplomat’s pack or (b) an entertainer’s pack
• (a) a musical instrument of your choice or (b) a Bard's focus
• Padded armor and a light crossbow

Bard Focuses

Item	Description	Cost	Weight
Decorative Bangles	A collection of glittering and clattering jewelry that enhances your dance with every movement you take.	4gp	1 lb.
Echoing Orb	A magically enchanted crystalline sphere that fits perfectly within your grasp. Holding this sphere seems to enhance your voice to draw attention to it.	2 gp	1 lb.
Tap Shoes	Commoner's shoes with metal plating or another head metal adhered to the bottom to act as a form of percussion as the wearer dances.	2 gp	1 lb.
Theatre Mask	A decorative mask attached to a stick or metal rod that is used by performers to take on roles.	1 gp	-

---

Spellcasting

Spell Lv	Name	Source
Cantrip	Blade Ward
Cantrip	Dancing Lights
Cantrip	Friends
Cantrip	Light
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Mending
Cantrip	Message
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Thunderclap
Cantrip	True Strike
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1	Animal Friendship
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

---

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Cantrips	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1	+2	Spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration (d6)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2	+2	Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest (d6)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
3	+2	Bard College, Expertise	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	+2	Ability Score Improvement or Featt	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
5	+2	Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
6	+2	Countercharm, Bard College Feature	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
7	+2	-	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
8	+2	Ability Score Improvement or Feat	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
9	+2	Song of Rest (d8)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
10	+2	Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Magical Secrets	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
11	+2	-	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
12	+2	Ability Score Improvement	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
13	+2	Song of Rest (d10)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
14	+2	Magical Secrets, Bard College Feature	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
15	+2	Bardic Inspiration (d12)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
16	+2	Ability Score Improvement or Feat	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
17	+2	Song of Rest (d12)	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
18	+2	Magical Secrets	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
19	+2	Ability Score Improvement or Feat	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
20	+2	Superior Inspiration	C	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-