Back to Essence Magic Users
A bard is an adventurer that casts spells for performance and distraction.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per level after 1st
Power Points
Power Point Dice: 1d6 per level
Power Points at 1st Level: 6 + your Intelligence modifier
Power Points at Higher Levels: 1d6 (or 4) + your Intelligence modifier per level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light Armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords
Tools: Three musical instruments of your choice
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
Skills: Choose any three
Bards choose 2 base lists and 3 open or closed Essence spell lists at Level 1. They have access to Levels 1-5 in each of these lists. They also gain 2 cantrips from the 5E rules at Level 1 and one additional cantrip every 5 levels thereafter.
In addition to gaining spell lists through level advancement, Essence users can learn spell lists through adventuring.
After character creation, they have to learn spell list fragments, each of which contains 5 levels of spells. (Levels 1-5, 6-10, etc.) They must learn lower spell levels before they can learn higher levels in a list. (You have to know Levels 1-5 before you can learn 6-10.) They can cast any spell they know, but it's harder to cast higher level spells.
Table: Class Level Progression
Bardic Inspiration
You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6.
Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Your Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th level and a d10 at 10th level.
Song of Rest
Beginning at 2nd level, you can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.
The extra hit points increase to 1d8 at 9th level.
Font of Inspiration
Beginning when you reach 5th level, you regain all of your expended uses of Bardic Inspiration when you finish a short or long rest.
Countercharm
At 6th level, you gain the ability to use musical notes or words of power to disrupt mind-influencing effects. As an action, you can start a performance that lasts until the end of your next turn. During that time, you and any friendly creatures within 30 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. A creature must be able to hear you to gain this benefit. The performance ends early if you are incapacitated or silenced or if you voluntarily end it (no action required).
Gimble Level 1 Gnome Bard
Last edited by ionathas, October 29 2023 20:44:46. Secured game article. You most log in to contribute.