Questions tagged [bard]
For questions about the bard, a charismatic class involving limited spontaneous casting, the use of songs to buff allies and average chance to hit with weapons. The bard class appears in D&D, Pathfinder and many other tabletop RPGs.
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If two Lore Bards used cutting words on an ability check or attack, would they stack?
Let's say the party had two Lore Bards, and both used cutting words on a creature who tried to attack. Does that stack since they are separate penalties and not enduring effects (like bless), or would ...
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1answer
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Bardic abilities requiring concentration with respect to the Melodic Casting feat
According to the feat Melodic Casting in Complete Mage on page 44 it states:
...In addition, you can cast spells and activate magic items by command word or spell completion while using a bardic ...
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2answers
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Does the target of a bard's Fascinate feature remember being fascinated, and how will they react afterwards?
In Pathfinder, I used the bard's Fascinate ability on a guard.
Will the guard remember being pulled under it, and what will his reaction towards me be afterwards?
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Can a College of Swords bard use Blade Flourishes multiple times in a turn?
Bards of the College of Swords have a feature called Blade Flourish that lets them use their Bardic Inspiration to add a modifier to their Attack action (XGtE, p. 15):
Whenever you take the Attack ...
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3answers
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Does a bard know when a character uses their Bardic Inspiration?
Tonight during our play session, we ran into an incident where a character immediately used a bardic inspiration after getting it (on their turn, but like it was the first thing they did). The bard's ...
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1answer
96 views
Can a bard choose to prepare spells, and thereby benefit from items that allow recall of previously prepared spells?
I'm considering whether to place a high-level magic item in my epic-level game.
On page 28 of the PHB, under the bard 'spells' section, it states (emphasis mine):
As noted above, a bard need not ...
7
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1answer
122 views
Can a creature targeted by the Glamour bard's Mantle of Inspiration use its reaction to move if it already had temporary hit points previously?
The College of Glamour bard's Mantle of Inspiration feature (XGtE, p. 14) is worded this way:
As a bonus action, you can expend one use of your Bardic Inspiration to grant yourself a wondrous ...
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2answers
1k views
Is Tales of Old an official bard ability?
It’s my second time playing D&D and I’m playing a bard this time around, so I’ve been doing some research on the class.
I don't have the Player’s Handbook yet, so I do all of my research on ...
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0answers
109 views
How to use skill versatility? [closed]
I'm new to D&D and am making my first character. As she is a half-elf bard, I'm given 'skill versatility, which gives proficiency in any two skills. Where and when does this get added and how is ...
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3answers
319 views
How many spells does my Bard 6/Wizard 1 know? [duplicate]
This is my first time multiclassing a character.
I wanted to multiclass my bard with something, and I wanted to make sure I have the rules for multiclassing correct - because with my understanding, ...
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Can you use a reaction to affect initiative rolls?
Expanding upon this question in a tweet at Jeremy Crawford who confirms once again that Initiative is a skill check and can be modified by things that modify ability checks.
Cutting Words states
...
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2answers
188 views
War Chanter + Seeker of the Song = 3 Simultaneous Bardic Musics?
If I'm a Seeker of the Song 2 (Complete Arcane, p. 56) and War Chanter 5 (Complete Warrior, p. 87), can I play 3 Bardic Musics at once? I seemingly can.
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What type of spellcasting bonus do I use as a multiclassed bard/cleric? [duplicate]
I'm fairly new to D&D, and I'm going to multiclass for the first time - Bard/Cleric, to be specific.
What kind of spellcasting bonus do I use for spells like Healing Word which is bard and cleric?...
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2answers
518 views
What spells could a Bard identify from a Pact of the Tome Warlock's Book of Shadows?
A Bard in my group has expressed an interest in attempting to read a Warlock party member's Book of Shadows, and I'm trying to figure out what, if anything, they can get from it. I figure they can't ...
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1answer
180 views
What are all sources of extra uses of bardic music?
I am working on a (somewhat) functional version of the classic Bard/Barbarian hybrid. The lynchpin is using Rage Casting (Dragon #310), which requires casting to be a free action, citing Quicken Spell ...
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1answer
58 views
Can you reduce the metamagic cost before applying Metamagic Song?
The description of Metamagic Song states:
When applying a metamagic feat to a spell, you must either use Metamagic Song to completely offset the increase in the spell's effective level or apply the ...
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1answer
62 views
Can you use Metamagic Song and Quicken Spell together?
The description for the feat Metamagic Song in Races of Stone states (emphasis mine):
When you spontaneously cast an arcane spell that is enhanced by a metamagic feat, you can spend a number of ...
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2answers
255 views
Is a bard's use of Bardic Inspiration still expended if the target can't hear them?
What happens if a bard tries to give a target a Bardic Inspiration, but that target happens to be unable to hear the bard due to deafness or a Silence spell. Does the bard lose one of their bardic ...
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1answer
203 views
Is there any rule preventing me from starting multiple bardic performances in a single round?
Bardic Performance reads as follows:
Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be
maintained each round as a free action. Changing a bardic performance
from one effect to ...
5
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1answer
116 views
How do I calculate the Sound Striker bard's Weird Words attack?
Bard Sound Striker Archetype has 2 new bardic performances, one which is Weird Words and reads as:
Weird Words (Su): At 6th level the bard can start a performance that is always a standard action ...
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2answers
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Can you use a concentration spell while using Mantle of Majesty?
According to the text of Mantle of Majesty (a Bard College feature from the College of Glamour, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, page 14):
As a bonus action, you cast command, without expending a ...
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2answers
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Is Inspire Greatness (Bard) the only way to gain explicit temporary Hit Dice?
The bard's Inspire Greatness ability adds 2d10 hit dice to a character for a short period of time.
The trait Magical Knack gives you bonus caster levels that cannot exceed your current hit dice.
...
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3answers
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What spell do I need to be my own rock band?
In Pathfinder, I created a level 10 bard, and I want to be my own rock band outside battle. My bard already have a huge performance in singing and playing numerous instruments.
I took Ghost Sound to ...
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1answer
513 views
Can a bard grant bardic inspiration to an unconscious creature?
The recipient of bardic inspiration must be able to hear the bard.
...choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who
can hear you.
An unconscious creature is "unaware of its ...
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1answer
71 views
Can a Lute of the Battle Ready be used to perform when it is transformed?
I'm playing a Bard and was given a Lute of the Battle Ready at level 1. However, I haven't been really able to use it because I focus on Performing instead of fighting.
Is it possible to maintain a ...
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2answers
263 views
At which level does a Glamour bard cast the Command spell when they activate Mantle of Majesty? [duplicate]
At level 6, Glamour bards gain the Mantle of Majesty feature (XGtE, p. 14):
At 6th level, you gain the ability to cloak yourself in a fey magic that makes others want to serve you. As a bonus ...
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1answer
65 views
Can a bard use Captivating Melody to increase the DC of the Soothing Voice spell-like ability?
Soothing Voice is a spell-like ability for half-elf bards that give them the ability to expend a bardic music to cast Calm Emotions.
Captivating Melody allows for a bard to expend a bardic music as a ...
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4answers
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Can a Valor bard Ready a bard spell, then use the Battle Magic feature to make a weapon attack before releasing the spell?
College of Valor bards (PHB, p. 55) get the Battle Magic feature at 14th level:
You have mastered the art of weaving spellcasting and weapon use into a single harmonious act. When you use your ...
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1answer
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As a Bard multi-classing into Warlock, what spells do I get?
My character is a bard and I'm planning on taking a level in Warlock. Do I get the 2 cantrips and 2 spells from the Warlock spell list that a new Warlock character would get in addition to the Bard ...
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What is unbalanced about this homebrew College of the Storm bard subclass?
What, if anything, is unbalanced about this homebrew College of the Storm bard subclass?
I think the subclass I made is unbalanced because of the number of abilities gained at third level, and the ...
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3answers
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How do Bards prepare spells?
My newest character is a lvl 1 Bard with some spellcasting and ritual ability. I would like to know how to prepare spells, as it does not say how to do this in the PHB. Thanks!
Edit: Thank you to all ...
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1answer
189 views
Can a Bard use the Spell Glyph option of the Glyph of Warding spell and cast a known spell into the glyph?
If you read the description of the "Spell Glyph" option of the Glyph of Warding spell, it says you cast a spell that you have prepared into the glyph. Bards can learn this spell, but they don't ...
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Can a bard perform underwater?
We were underwater this past session and ran into an issue with the bard, who is a vocalist, and despite being able to breath underwater via the water breathing spell ran into an issue when we ...
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1answer
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If a character can use a +X magic weapon as a spellcasting focus, does it add the bonus to spell attacks or spell save DCs?
My 5e College of Swords bard can use a weapon as a spell focus for their spell casting.
If they have a +1 rapier and cast a spell requiring a spell attack roll, do they get the +1 added to their ...
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1answer
321 views
Can a bard 10/sorcerer 1 take 6th-level spells for Magical Secrets because of the way multiclassed spellcasters' slots work? [duplicate]
I have a Lore bard who multi-classed into sorcerer after level 4 and went back to leveling as a bard. When he reaches 10th level bard (11th level spellcaster), he will have 6th level slots. Can he ...
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Can a Bard use an arcane focus?
The description of the Weave of Magic in the Spellcasting chapter says Bards are users of Arcane magic, but they seem to only be offered the use of an instrument as a focus. Can they use a standard ...
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Can a College of Swords bard use a Blade Flourish option on an opportunity attack provoked by their own Dissonant Whispers spell?
Consider this scenario: a College of Swords bard uses dissonant whispers on a creature within 5 feet of him while he is holding a melee weapon. The creature fails the save and has to immediately use ...
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4answers
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Can Sentinel at Death's Door and Cutting Words combine to make a critical hit miss?
We already know from Sage Advice and other answers to other questions that by RAI, (and I guess RAW too), Cutting Words (and Bane) don't work on critical hits, though in the case of Cutting Words they ...
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1answer
129 views
Finding a College of Lore “local group” as an outsider in the city
I am playing a newly Level3-Bard with the College of Lore. In her backstory she encountered the criminal group The Nine Swords in Westgate, who are protected from high up and her goal is to bring them ...
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1answer
446 views
What can a Bard access to grant teammates Temp HP?
I am playing a supportive Bard character whose schtick is that she projects barriers onto other Characters.
I am aware that they don't stack.
So far I've got Inspiring Leader (Lv4 + Cha4 to 6 allies)...
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2answers
419 views
Is the dulcimer listed under 5e's tools intended to be the hammered variety or the strummed variety?
The Dulcimer is listed in official sources as a tool available for use and purchase [SRD p.70]. However, I cannot seem to find official clarification on whether this refers to a hammered dulcimer or a ...
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1answer
131 views
Does looking at a gaze attack indirectly still trigger the effect?
This question is similar to this one, but with Pathfinder rules in mind.
More specifically, my group is up against a creature that does damage when it looks at you. Our bard ran away, but can still ...
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1answer
136 views
Is using Doomspeak a standard action?
Doomspeak is a [bardic] feat from Champions of Ruin with the following benefit:
You can spend one of your bardic music uses to utter a string of crass and appalling epithets and curses at one enemy ...
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3answers
410 views
Does the bard's Inspire Courage feature increase damage for swarms?
The Bard's Inspire Courage feature references weapon damage rolls:
A 1st level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and ...
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1answer
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How does a bard become aware that their music has magical properties? Or must they actively choose it? And how would they learn?
I have a (human) bard in D&D 5E, and wrote a backstory of how his mother was a singer and he enjoyed this when he was young. Later in life he had some Gnome illusionist friends and he became ...
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2answers
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Does a kenku bard need an instrument, or can they use Mimicry for one?
I'd like to play a Kenku Bard in Adventurer's League, one raised by bards since a young age to hopefully become a master of the Bardic arts through copying many other skilled bards.
One thought that ...
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2answers
765 views
Is there a way for a Bard to learn one more known spell?
Looking at the Bard progression table, Bards begin at level 1 with 4 spells known, and then gain (on average) 1 new known spell per level, until they cap at level 18. I'd like to know if there is a ...
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2answers
166 views
Can a sandman bard steal prepared spells that have already been cast?
Can a sandman bard use the bardic performance stealspell to steal a spell from an allied druid if the druid has already cast the spell?
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Is this homebrew feat for bards balanced (or even useful)?
I've been toying with the idea of a feat for a bard to allow for more sneaky play with things like mass suggestion. I think it could be fun and I was thinking of suggesting it to my DM for the bard I ...
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Can Bardic Inspiration be used on a roll replaced by Portent?
A creature with a Bardic Inspiration die can roll it to add the result to an ability check, saving throw, or attack roll, while the Divination wizard's Portent feature overrides the roll before the ...
