Class record

Bard

Support

Tier: 2
Difficulty: 3 / 5
Main role: Support
Secondary role: —

Rules reference

Class mechanics

Entry requirements and the complete level-by-level advancement path.

Entry

Requirements

Idol mastered. Alternatively, have at least 5 skill points in the Art (Singing) expertise, Art (Idol) expertise or at least 5 points in an Art expertise of an instrument.

Advancement

Progression

UnlockKey ability
Toss a coin
Level 2Ability 1
Inspiring Song
Level 3Skills
You gain +5 skill points to spend in Appraise, Art, Negotiation or Common Knowledge. You can exchange any skill point for 2 expertise points, but must spend them in these skills.
Level 4Ability 2
Dirge of Despair
Level 5Heart
You gain +1 to Presence.
Level 6Ability 3
Shatter
Level 7Soul
You gain +1 to Focus.
Level 8Ultimate ability
Siren Song

Identity & lore

Class overview

Bards are the storytellers, entertainers, and actors of the world, hailing from all sorts of disciplines. Whether they're performing in a bustling tavern for a handful of tips or captivating a crowd in the town square, Bards bring life and joy wherever they go. They're the ones who immortalize the tales of adventuring parties, ensuring that no deed, whether noble or notorious, goes unheard.

In a party, Bards play a crucial role by inspiring their allies to achieve greatness. With their music, they can lift spirits and hype up their companions, turning the tide of battle with a well-timed tune.

Tactical guidance

Playing Bard

The bard is a support class primarily focused around their Inspiring Song and Dirge of Despair. Inspiring Song gives every ally a 1d4 bonus to a roll once per round. It may not seem much, but it can be used to push a barely missed attack into hitting. Dirge of Despair is the opposite, affecting enemies instead. Due to allowing a save, it's a bit less reliable but a lot of fights may have more enemies than allies on the battlefield. Because both of these are songs and cannot be used at the same time, the bard has to choose which one they want to use. In general, Inspiring Song is more offensive while Dirge of Despair is a more defensive song.

Their other support ability is Siren Song. It also cannot be used with the other two songs, but it can be a powerful CC against grunts. Because they spend the AP on their turn, their movement provokes attacks of opportunities and even if they are broken free, their spent AP remains lost.

Their last combat ability is Shatter, which is a good follow up after luring enemies closer with Siren Song. The AP cost makes it usable even when keeping up Inspiring Song or Dirge of Despair as well.

Class features

Abilities unlocked

Complete rules for every ability granted by Bard.

Key ability

Toss a coin

Class feature

Benefit 1

As an Errand action, you may perform in a city or town and earn Clim equal to your relevant Art roll x 10 up to a maximum of 300 clim.

Ability

Inspiring Song

2 AP

Range: 30ft
Keywords: Song,Sound,Upkeep

All allies within range (including yourself) may add 1d4 to a single roll they make until the start of your next turn. They may choose to add this after seeing the roll.

Upkeep: At the start of your next turn and every turn thereafter, you may spend 1 AP to continue this performance, granting all allies within range the benefit once again.

Requirements

Ability

Dirge of Despair

2 AP

Range: 30ft
Keywords: Sound,Song,Upkeep,Mind Affecting

All enemies within range must make a save against your Potency or become affected by this Song. While affected, you may subtract 1d4 from a single roll they make until the start of your next turn. You may choose to add this after seeing the roll.

Upkeep: At the start of your next turn and every turn thereafter, you may spend 1 AP to continue this performance. Enemies that successfully made their save, do not have to save again against this continued performance, but those who were affected continue to be affected.

Requirements

Ability

Shatter

3 AP

Range: 30ft
Keywords: Sound,Scatter

Every enemy within range must make a save against your Potency or take Light Damage. Any unattended objects made of glass or a similar vulnerable material also shatter.

Ability

Siren Song

3 AP

Range: 60ft
Keywords: Song, Sound

All enemies in range must make a save against your Potency. If they fail, they may only spend AP on their next turn to move closer to you using the most direct path possible and cannot make attacks before that. To move closer, they may take actions that would help in getting closer such as standing up from prone or using fae flash.

If this path leads them through an obviously harmful hazard such as off a cliff, they are no longer affected by this ability. Otherwise, this ability lasts until they are within 5ft of you or until they take damage. While playing this Song, you can take no other actions. Taking any other action cancels the Song, immediately freeing all enemies from its effects. A creature can only be affected by this ability once per encounter.