Bard Class

Core Aspects

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per Bard Level

Hit Points at 1st Character Level: 8 + your Endurance

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Endurance per Bard Level

Training

Armour: Light Armour, Light Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Ranged Martial Weapons, and Martial Weapons with the Finesse Weapon Property

Tools: Three Musical Instruments or Artisan Tools of your choice

Skills: Choose any Four

Equipment

Upon gaining your first Level in this Class, you start with the following equipment, in addition to your starting equipment:

• Any Weapon from those listed in the Training section, with 3 Units of Ammunition if you chose a simple Ranged Weapon

• A complete set of Leather Armour

• A Musical Instrument or Artisan's Tool

• An Entertainer's Pack

Unique Aspects

Class Tags: Bard, Expert, Mage

Mark of Fate: Fateful Inspiration. An idea suddenly occurs to you about how to inspire your allies in the moment, you regain one use of your Bardic Inspiration.

Inspired Action:

Arcane Potential

1st Lvl Bard Feature

All bards channel the music of creation into their artistic works, but while many can channel this into magical spells, some choose more subtle uses. You can choose to either gain the Inspiring Leader or Spellcasting Class Feature.

Artist of Renown

1st Lvl Bard Feature

Your art has garnered the attention of others, which may come in handy for your adventures. You gain a Skill Foci in the Performance Skill based on your preferred medium of art.

You can choose to either gain the Ear to the Ground, Favour for a Favour, Keeper of Records, One of the Upper Crust, A Scholarly Repute, Tavern Patron, Travelling Artist, or Trusted Storyteller Class Feature.

Bardic Inspiration

1st Lvl Bard Feature

You can inspire others through stirring words or your art. You gain +1RP and gain the Bardic Inspiration reaction.

You can use this reaction a number of times up to your chosen Spellcasting or Leadership Trait (a minimum of once), replenishing expended uses upon completing a Short or Long Rest.

Bardic Specialisation

2nd Lvl Bard Feature

You channel your artistic pursuits towards a particular style of magic. You can choose to either gain the Destructive Focus, Directive Focus, Manipulative Focus, Restorative Focus, or Supportive Focus Class Feature.

If you chose the Spellcasting Feature for your Arcane Potential Feature, when you reach certain Levels in this Class you add specific spells to your repertoire, as shown in the Features’ appropriate tables. These spells are always Prepared and count as Cosmic/Primordial spells for you.

Bardic Training

2nd Lvl Bard Feature

You have learnt to be a jack of all trades and a master of some. You Learn an additional Skill of your choosing. Choose two of the Skills you have Learnt. You become a Master in those chosen Skills.

You can add half your Skill Bonus, rounded down (minimum of 1), to any Trait Test that uses a Skill you have not Learnt or that does not otherwise provide your Skill Bonus, including Initiative Tests.

Bardic College

3rd Lvl Bard Feature

You choose a Bardic College gaining the benefits of that College’s First Tier. These colleges provide advanced studies into specific methodologies for using a bard’s unique abilities.

Feat

4th Lvl Bard Feature

You can increase the value of a Character Trait by 1, to a maximum of 5, and choose a Feat to gain.

Bardic Knowledge

5th Lvl Bard Feature

You have a great deal of knowledge you have gathered in your travels. You may perform the Study action for 1AP. You can choose to take the Study action to see if, with your bardic knowledge, you know about local entities of note, or legendary or noteworthy areas or Items. You gain a Bardic Bonus to this Knowledge Test equal to half your Bard Level to see whether you know some relevant information. Depending on the result of the roll depends on how common the knowledge you receive is, as shown in the table. If you roll an Inspired Event, increase the Degree of Knowledge Learnt result by one.

The result above is only as accurate as the people who would have passed this information onto you. A successful Bardic Knowledge Study Test Targeting a Magic Item, of an appropriate result for the rarity and fame of the Item, acts like the Identify spell, even if the Item is not within Touch Range.

You can use the Study action for a Bardic Knowledge Test a number of times up to your Skill Bonus, and replenishing expended uses upon completing a Long Rest.

Quick Thinking

5th Lvl Bard Feature

You are quick to assess a situation and respond to the demands of the moment. You gain +1RP. You may ignore the restriction of being able to only perform the Bardic Inspiration reaction once per Round, though you cannot use it multiple times for the same Trait Test.

In addition, you can expend a Spell Slot to regain a number of uses of the Bardic Inspiration Feature equal to half the Circle of the Spell Slot.

Expanded Bardic College

6th Lvl Bard Feature

You can choose to either progress in the studies of a known Bardic College, increasing its Tier by 1, or choose the First Tier of a different Bardic College.

You can also choose an additional option from the options presented in the Artist of Renown Feature.

Reliable Inspiration

7th Lvl Bard Feature

You find more creative ways to inspire others in more reliable ways. Your Bardic Inspiration reaction gains the following modifications:

• Your Bardic Inspiration reaction now allows you to Target two entities if they simultaneously Trigger the reaction.

• Your Bardic Inspiration reaction gains an additional Trigger "An entity you can see within Range, that can see or hear you, casts a spell, manifests a psionic power, or otherwise uses an action that deals damage or restores HP".

  When Triggered this way, the Target may roll your Bardic Inspiration Die, and add the result to the amount of HP restored or damage dealt.

In addition, if the entity who uses your Bardic Inspiration Die rolls equal to or under half your SB, you regain a use of your Bardic Inspiration Feature.

Secrets of Leadership

7th Lvl Bard Feature

You have studied principles of leadership from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two Feats of Leadership from those presented in Appendix A: Feats of Leadership you meet the Prerequisites of. You Learn the chosen Feats of Leadership in addition to those you may already know per the Inspiring Leader option of the Arcane Potential Feature.

Use your Spellcasting or Leadership Trait as the Leadership Trait for these Feats of Leadership.

If the chosen Feats of Leadership would have a cost of a Bardic Inspiration Die, you may perform the Feat once with the benefit of having expended a Bardic Inspiration Die without expending it. Once you have performed the chosen Feats of Leadership this way, you cannot do so again until you have completed a Long Rest.

if you chose the Inspiring Leader option for the Arcane Potential Feature, you gain the following additional benefits:

• You Learn an additional Feats of Leadership.
• Double the Range of your Feats of Leadership.

Feat

8th Lvl Bard Feature

You can increase the value of a Character Trait by 1, to a maximum of 5, and choose a Feat to gain.

Inspired Talent

9th Lvl Bard Feature

You have learnt how to channel your creativity into your everyday problems. You Learn two additional Skills. Choose two of the Skills you have Learnt. You become a Master in those chosen Skills.

When you would make a Trait Test, bar Attack Rolls, adding your Skill Bonus to the roll, you can add your Bardic Inspiration Die to the roll without expending a use of the Feature.

The size of the Bardic Inspiration Die used by this Feature is as follows:

• Half SB. If you would add half your SB to the Trait Test, decrease the size of your Bardic Inspiration Die by 2.

• SB. If you would add your SB to the Trait Test, decrease the size of your Bardic Inspiration Die by 1.

• Double SB. If you would add double your SB to the Trait Test, use your normal Bardic Inspiration Die.

Magical Secrets

9th Lvl Bard Feature

You have studied magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any Spell List. A spell you choose must be of a Circle your current Bard Level could cast, as shown on the Bard Table, or a Cantrip. You always have the chosen spells Prepared.

If the chosen spell was not a Cantrip, you can cast the spell once without requiring a Spell Slot, using your Spellcasting or Leadership Trait, once you have cast the spell this way you cannot do so again until you have completed a Long Rest.

If you chose the Spellcasting option for the Arcane Potential Feature you gain the following additional benefits:

• The chosen spells also count as part of your chosen Spell List for you.
• Choose one Spell List bar that chosen in the Spellcasting Feature. You may Prepare spells from that chosen Spell List as if they were part of your original chosen Spell List.

Expanded Bardic College

10th Lvl Bard Feature

You can choose to either progress in the studies of a known Bardic College, increasing its Tier by 1, or choose the First Tier of a different Bardic College.

Empowered Inspiration

11th Lvl Bard Feature

You are skilled and inspiring greatness in others. when an entity would roll your Bardic Inspiration Die due to failing a Trait Test, if the Bardic Inspiration Die rolled its maximum result, or if the total of the d20 rolled for the Triggering Test + the result of the Bardic Inspiration Die would be equal to or greater than 20 - the entities Inspired Event Scope, then the Triggering entity scores an Inspired Event for the Trait Test.

when an entity would score an Inspired Event on a Trait Test affected by your Bardic Inspiration reaction, or if for other Triggers of the Bardic Inspiration reaction, they rolled the maximum value on the Bardic Inspiration Die, the following occurs based on which option you chose with the Arcane Potential Feature:

• Inspiring Leader. Once the result of the roll has resolved, the entity can make a Weapon Attack or Unarmed Strike for 1RP.
• Spellcasting. Once the result of the roll has resolved, the entity can cast a spell or manifest a psionic power with a Casting Time of 1AP or 2AP for 1RP.

Improved Specialisation

11th Lvl Bard Feature

You find yourself able to perform actions with greater ease with practice. The Bardic Specialisation Feature no longer requires an Activity to use during a Short Rest. You also gain an additional effect depending on your chosen Focus:

• Destructive Focus. Your spells from the School of Evocation and Feats of Leadership that deal damage, add your SB to their Damage Rolls.

• Directive Focus. Your spells from the School of Dictation or Feats of Leadership, can Target a number of additional Targets equal to half your SB.

• Manipulative Focus. Entities Targetted by your spells from the School of Dictation and Feats of Leadership, have Disadvantage on their Trait Tests to resist, avoid, or end the spell or Feat’s effects.

• Restorative Focus. Your spells from the School of Restoration and Feats of Leadership that restore HP, add your SB to the amount of HP restored.

• Supportive Focus. Your spells from the School of Protection and Feats of Leadership that bestow BP, add your SB to the amount of BP bestowed.

Feat

12th Lvl Bard Feature

You can increase the value of a Character Trait by 1, to a maximum of 5, and choose a Feat to gain.

Well Practised Artist

13th Lvl Bard Feature

Your fame stretches further than ever before, your name associated with quality and skill in your chosen art style. You can choose a third option from the Artist of Renown Feature.

Whenever you would roll your Bardic Inspiration Die, you can roll a 1d6 choosing to use its result instead of that of the Bardic Inspiration Die and not expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration Feature.

However, for uses of your Bardic Inspiration Die that do not affect Trait Tests, you may instead add the result of the 1d6 to your Bardic Inspiration Die’s roll.

In addition, you learn two additional spells with the Magical Secrets Feature, and if you chose the Spellcasting option for the Arcane Potential Feature, your Magical Secrets Feature lets you choose an additional Spell List to be able to Prepare spells from.

Expanded Bardic College

14th Lvl Bard Feature

You can choose to either progress in the studies of a known Bardic College, increasing its Tier by 1, or choose the First Tier of a different Bardic College.

Swift Arcana

15th Lvl Bard Feature

You have mastered your preferred method of utilising your magic allowing you to quickly perform arcane feats when it matters most. When you roll Initiative, you replenish two expended uses of your Bardic Inspiration Feature.

Depending on your choice for the Arcane Potential Feature you gain the following benefit:

• Inspiring Leader. When you complete a Long Rest, choose a Feat of Leadership. Until you next complete a Long Rest, you can perform the Feat for 1AP less than normal (minimum of 1AP).

• Spellcasting. When you complete a Long Rest, choose a spell you can Prepare whose Circle is equal to or less than half your SB. Until you next complete a Long Rest, you reduce this spell's Casting Time by 1AP (minimum of 1AP).

Feat

16th Lvl Bard Feature

You can increase the value of a Character Trait by 1, to a maximum of 5, and choose a Feat to gain.

Backbone of the Party

17th Lvl Bard Feature

You have experience helping to guide the party in times where teamwork is the only way out of a crisis. When engaging in a Party Challenge, other members of your party have Advantage on Skill Rolls utilising Skills that you are a Master in.

Adaptable Bard

18th Lvl Bard Feature

You have learnt to operate well in unusual environments. Your Bardic Inspiration reaction now allows you to Target up to three entities if they simultaneously Trigger the reaction.

You also gain the Universal Understanding action.

In addition, you may choose two additional spells with the Magical Secrets Feature to always have Prepared, and your Reliable Inspiration Feature now replenishes a use of your Bardic Inspiration Feature should an entity using your Bardic Inspiration Die still fail the Trait Test.

Feat

19th Lvl Bard Feature

You can increase the value of a Character Trait by 1, to a maximum of 6, and choose a Feat to gain.

Master of the Arts

20th Lvl Bard Feature

You are a master of the arts and know how to get the most out of your tools. If an Item bestows an Item Bonus of less than +3, you always treat it as bestowing a +3 Item Bonus.

Spells with the Tonomancy Spell Tag and Feats of Leadership can always Target one additional Target than normal within Range.

If you use the Performance Skill, use your Bardic Inspiration reaction, cast a spell, or use a Feat of Leadership during an Active Time Encounter. Until the end of your next Turn, double the amount of Limit Potential gained by all members of the Party.

In addition, you can choose two Skills you have mastered to become Legendary in that Skill, for Trait Tests made using that Skill you can roll an additional d20 choosing to replace the final d20 result of the Trait Test (after Advantage and Disadvantage has been resolved) with the value rolled on this separate d20. You can only be Legendary in two different Skills at the same time.

You also can increase one Trait’s score by 2 or two Trait’s scores by 1, these can increase any Trait’s value up to a maximum of 7.