Bards wander the land, gathering lore and working magic with their music. Silvertongued and cunning, they serve as diplomats, negotiators, messengers, scouts and spies.

Highly skilled, bards often work in a supporting role, using the power of song, poetics and music to inspire friends or fascinate enemies.


Class Overview

• Ability Scores: Charisma, Dexterity, and Intelligence are important for bards. A Charisma of 10 + the spell level is required to cast a bard spell. High Charisma improves the number of spells that may be cast per day and how hard those spells are to resist.



• Alignment: Any nonlawful



• Hit Die: d6



• Good Saving Throws: Reflex, Will



• Class Skills: Bluff, Concentration, Escape Artist, Hide, Knowledge (Arcane), Knowledge (Dungeoneering), Knowledge (Nature), Knowledge (Religion), Knowledge (The Planes), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Tumble, and Use Magic Device.



• Weapon Proficiencies: Bards are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, short sword and shortbow. Bards are proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields).

Special Abilities

• Bard Spells: A bard casts arcane spells, drawn from the bard spell list. Bards can cast spells without preparing them ahead of time the way a wizard or cleric must. To learn or cast a spell, a bard must have a Charisma score of at least 10 plus the spell level.



• Bardic Music: As a full-round action, the bard can play music to increase the morale and abilities of all allies within 30' (6 squares).