Base Class #
Alignment restrictions: any non-lawful
Hit die: d6
Proficiencies: armor (light, medium), shields, weapons (simple)
Skill points: 4 + int modifier ( (4 + int modifer) * 4 at 1st level)
Skills: appraise, bluff, concentration, craft armor, craft trap, craft weapon, discipline, heal, hide, listen, lore, move silently, parry, perform, persuade, pick pocket, ride, spellcraft, taunt, tumble, use magic device
Unavailable feats: divine might, divine shield, extra turning, weapon specialization
These general feats cannot be selected when taking a level of bard.
Primary saving throw(s): reflex, will
Base attack bonus: +3/4 levels
Spellcasting: Arcane (spell failure from armor is a factor), charisma-based (a base charisma score of 10 + the spell’s level is required to cast a spell, bonus spells are based on modified charisma, and the charisma modifier affects spell DCs), and spontaneous cast (no spell preparation required). Bards begin the game knowing four cantrips.
Bard Spells #
| Cantrips | 1st level spells | 2nd level spells | 3rd level spells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cure minor wounds Daze Flare Light Resistance | Amplify Balagarn’s iron horn Charm person Cure light wounds Expeditious retreat Grease Identify Lesser dispel Mage armor Magic weapon Protection from alignment Scare Sleep Summon creature I | Blindness/deafness Bull’s strength Cat’s grace Clarity Cloud of bewilderment Cure moderate wounds Darkness Eagle’s splendor Fox’s cunning Ghostly visage Hold person Invisibility Owl’s wisdom See invisibility Silence Sound burst Summon creature II Tasha’s hideous laughter Ultravision | Bestow curse Charm monster Clairaudience/clairvoyance Confusion Cure serious wounds Dispel magic Displacement Fear Find traps Greater magic weapon Gust of wind Haste Invisibility sphere Keen edge Magic circle against alignment Remove curse Remove disease Slow Summon creature III Wounding whispers |
| 4th level spells | 5th level spells | 6th level spells |
|---|---|---|
| Cure critical wounds Dismissal Dominate person Hold monster Improved invisibility Legend lore Neutralize poison Summon creature IV War cry | Ethereal visage Greater dispelling Healing circle Mind fog Summon creature V | Dirge Energy buffer Ice storm Mass haste Summon creature VI |
Bard Level Progression #
| Level | Base attack bonus | Saves (Fort / Reflex / Will) | Feats | HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +0 | 0 / 2 / 2 | Bardic knowledge Bard song | 6 |
| 2nd | +1 | 0 / 3 / 3 | 12 | |
| 3rd | +2 | 1 / 3 / 3 | 18 | |
| 4th | +3 | 1 / 4 / 4 | 24 | |
| 5th | +3 | 1 / 4 / 4 | 30 | |
| 6th | +4 | 2 / 5 / 5 | 36 | |
| 7th | +5 | 2 / 5 / 5 | 42 | |
| 8th | +6/+1 | 2 / 6 / 6 | 48 | |
| 9th | +6/+1 | 3 / 6 / 6 | 54 | |
| 10th | +7/+2 | 3 / 7 / 7 | 60 | |
| 11th | +8/+3 | 3 / 7 / 7 | 66 | |
| 12th | +9/+4 | 4 / 8 / 8 | 72 | |
| 13th | +9/+4 | 4 / 8 / 8 | 78 | |
| 14th | +10/+5 | 4 / 9 / 9 | 84 | |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | 5 / 9 / 9 | 90 | |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | 5 / 10 / 10 | 96 | |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | 5 / 10 / 10 | 102 | |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | 6 / 11 / 11 | 108 | |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | 6 / 11 / 11 | 114 | |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | 6 / 12 / 12 | 120 |
Epic Bard #
Bonus feats: The epic bard gains a bonus feat every three levels after 20th. In other words, at levels 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, and 38.
Epic bonus feats: arcane defense, curse song, epic skill focus (all but animal empathy), epic spell focus, epic will, extra music, great charisma, great dexterity, greater spell focus, greater spell penetration, improved combat casting, lasting inspiration, lingering song
Unavailable epic feats: bane of enemies, construct shape, dragon shape, epic spell: dragon knight, epic spell: epic mage armor, epic spell: epic warding, epic spell: greater ruin, epic spell: hellball, epic spell: mummy dust, epic weapon specialization, great smiting, improved ki strike 4, improved ki strike 5, improved sneak attack, improved spell resistance, improved stunning fist, mighty rage, outsider shape, planar turning, terrifying rage, thundering rage, undead shape
These general epic feats cannot be selected when taking a level of bard.
Epic Bard Level Progression #
| Level | Feats | HP |
|---|---|---|
| 21st | 126 | |
| 22nd | 132 | |
| 23rd | bonus feat | 138 |
| 24th | 144 | |
| 25th | 150 | |
| 26th | bonus feat | 156 |
| 27th | 162 | |
| 28th | 168 | |
| 29th | bonus feat | 174 |
| 30th | 180 | |
| 31st | 186 | |
| 32nd | bonus feat | 192 |
| 33rd | 198 | |
| 34th | 204 | |
| 35th | bonus feat | 210 |
| 36th | 216 | |
| 37th | 222 | |
| 38th | bonus feat | 228 |
| 39th | 234 | |
| 40th | 240 |
Bard Class Tips #
- If you intend to use the bard song or curse song feats, it’s highly reccomended to get at least 20 bard levels and the epic feat Lasting Inspiration (requires 20 Bard & 25 Perform skill). This will increase your songs length from 1 minute to 10 minutes duration.
- ADoH Bard Community Builds
Bard Changes From NWN:EE #
On ADOH, Bard has the following differences from the vanilla (base game) one: