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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.

42 votes
7 answers
34k views

Are 3.5 Bards mechanically weak?

People frequently seem to think that Bards are mechanically weaker than other classes, and I was wondering if this was true?
KRyan's user avatar
  • 355k
46 votes
4 answers
58k views

Does a bard have to play a musical instrument when using it as a spellcasting focus?

At my table I have ruled that 'to use as a spellcasting focus' does not imply 'to play'; since the sorcerer can simply point a wand, it seems like an undue burden that the bard should have to use both ...
A. Foster's user avatar
  • 4,713
45 votes
6 answers
35k views

Can a Lore bard's Cutting Words feature cancel a critical hit?

The Lore bard's Cutting Words feature says (PHB, p. 54; emphasis mine): When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, [...] you can use your reaction to expend one of ...
Meta4ic's user avatar
  • 5,380
21 votes
2 answers
6k views

Can a multi-class Bard/Wizard write spells known from Bard, into Wizard spellbook?

Can a multi-class Bard/Wizard write spells known from their Bard class, into their wizard spellbook? e.g. they know the Comprehend Languages as a Bard spell, and want to write it directly into their ...
SteveC's user avatar
  • 8,000
17 votes
2 answers
21k views

Do Bard and Rogue expertise stack?

If you multiclass correctly so you get expertise from both bard and rogue(e.g. Rogue 1 and Bard 3), and if in both classes you put the expertise into Deception, does it stack on an ability check? ...
Loki's user avatar
  • 171
46 votes
3 answers
10k views

I Roll To Seduce The Dragon! (or, Do doublings of proficiency bonus stack?) [duplicate]

Lets say there exist some enterprising young bard 3/ sorcerer 1 named Kirk. Deciding to uphold (long past) family tradition, he has chosen to go out and have a little half-dragon of his own. He ...
Ajn's user avatar
  • 615
22 votes
2 answers
1k 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 ...
Q Paul's user avatar
  • 4,124
13 votes
2 answers
10k views

Can you use Magical Secrets to choose high level spells when multiclassing as a Bard?

Say you have a Wizard 7/Bard 9. You gain your 17th level and choose to gain the level in Bard (which grants you Magical Secrets). According to the Multiclass Spellcaster: Spell Slots per Spell Level ...
Avilyn's user avatar
  • 2,018
71 votes
2 answers
109k views

Does Bard's Jack of All Trades grant them greater initiative?

Bards get the ability "Jack of All Trades" which reads: Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include ...
GMNoob's user avatar
  • 33k
42 votes
4 answers
12k views

Can a bard cast Vicious Mockery without passersby thinking it's an attack?

So vicious mockery is, to my understanding, the bard insulting a target, and the target taking psychic damage, and gaining disadvantage. The flavor, as I understand it, is that they're so insulted ...
Selkie's user avatar
  • 811
16 votes
2 answers
7k views

How much does a bard know when they decide to use Cutting Words?

The College of Lore bard has the Cutting Words feature (PHB, p. 54-55): Also at 3rd level, you learn how to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence and competence of ...
Jared Kossler's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
20k views

How many skill proficiencies does a College of Lore Bard have?

In fifth edition D&D when creating a bard it says you have 3 skills of your choice. I'm guessing that mean proficiency in those skills. At level 3 in bard, if you choose College of Lore, you get ...
Richard Young's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
60k views

What counts as a spellcasting focus for bards?

Inspired by this question: Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses? The PHB, on p54 says: Spellcasting focus You can use a musical instrument (found in chapter 5) ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 36.4k
16 votes
3 answers
85k views

How do spell slots and preparation work when multi-classing between cleric and bard

I'm planning to play a multi-class bard/cleric character, and I wanted to verify how spell preparation and slots work across the two classes, particularly since they use different approaches for ...
Imaginary's user avatar
  • 3,196
9 votes
2 answers
376 views

Is this homebrew Bard College of Comedy v1 balanced, compared to officially published subclasses?

I wanted to play a bard, but personally lack any musical talent. While it's not vital to actually sing in real life, it got me thinking that there should be a College that focuses more on the spoken ...
MivaScott's user avatar
  • 40.9k

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