Bard
From the Nomad Playhouse Show, Kythorn 6 Day 6 In the Year of AR 152, The famous Bard Lyric, graced the Stage
"Riding, Riding across the Plain, See them riding home again.Bright their shields, bright their chain, The Knights of Dragon Down"
"They have gone where shadows creep, Their blades a bloody harvest reap, Another Dragon foreer asleep, By the Knights of Dragon Down"
"On their fingers gem rings gleam, Of such baubles, the very cream, Falls into the hands, In a steady stream, Of The Knights of Dragon Down"
"In a dark hall a lady sits alone, Her bright eyes gleam white as bone, Her dark spells a hunting roam, For The Knights of Dragon Down"
"With cruel smile, a web she weaves,From each might,his soul she cleaves, Armored Bones are all she leaves, Of The Knights of Dragon Down"
"Riding , riding, their skulls a-grin, Past the gates, The Knights ride in,Sorcery now their souls doth spin, Of The Knights of Dragon Down"
"Ladies scream at the touch of Bone, As skeletal knights come riding home, Undead now foreer to roam, Are The Knights of Dragon Down"
"Hear them riding, nearer outside, Never sleeping doomed to ride, there is no place for you to hide, From The Knights of Dragon Down"
Overview:
The multiverse was not created with a hammer but with a song.
It is a work of art constantly being changed to reflect the times, and the resonant notes of its forging ring forward through creation even to this day, waiting for those with good ears and keen instincts for showmanship to shepherd them back into full view.
Bards aren't just musicians; anyone who's practiced a bit can play those.
They are painters on the canvas of reality, stockpiles of great oral and musical records of the past, present, and future.
Bards train in wielding weapons and wearing armor so they can see the world and incorporate their experience into their art, be it song, dance, painting, sculpting, or any other number of performative acts that communicate emotion. They tap into reality to produce magical effects, and inspire their allies and befuddle their enemies with displays of performance.
Key Mechanics:
Bardic Knowledge - Bards add their level to any lore checks made to identify magic items.
Bard Song - Bards can inspire themselves and their allies to greater heights through performance. The effects increase with level, along with the Perform skill required to activate the higher-tier effects.
Spellcasting - Bards are capable of casting up to sixth level spells as they level up. Their spells focus on enhancing allies and disabling enemies, as well as some sound-based attacks.
Bards require a charisma of at least 16 to cast all spells.
Charisma also increases the difficulty of resisting the bard's spells and the number of spells that can be cast per day.
Bards know a specific selection of spells they select as they level up, and can cast them in any combination, so long as they have spell slots remaining.
Key Mechanics at Level 20:
BAB: 15/10/5
HP: 120+20xConstitution
Saves: +6 Fort, +12 Reflex, +12 Will
Skills: 80 + 20x Intelligence: Appraise, bluff, concentration, craft armor, craft trap, craft weapon, discipline, heal, hide, listen, lore, move silently, parry, perform, persuade, pick pocket, spellcraft, taunt, tumble, use magic device
Path Option: Warlock
At character creation, non-good bards can choose to become Warlocks, an entirely different class with separate mechanics.
See the Warlock entry for information on warlocks.