Bards
Bards are the jack-of-all trades and the masters of none. Bards can fight with any weapon and wear any armor up to and including chainmail, but cannot use a shield. Bards can cast wizard spells, although their spell progression is slower. Like wizards, they cannot wear armor when casting spells. All bards are proficient musicians and there are numerous magical instruments in the game. By singing, bards can grant a +1 bonus to attack rolls, a +1 bonus to saving throw rolls and a +2 bonus to morale. bards are able to Pick Pockets like thieves. Due to their studies and travels, bards also have exceptional Lore ability, allowing them to identify magic items much better than other classes. The alignment of the bard must be at least partially Neutral. The minimum abilities for becoming a bard are dexterity 12, intelligence 13 and charisma 15. The prime requisites of the bard are dexterity and charisma. Skills from AD&D that are not implimented in BG: Detect Noise, Climb Walls, Read Languages, Remove Traps and using a musical instrument.
In ToB, the Bard can draw from a high level ability pool which gives the Bard some extra abilities.
Kits
- Blade
The blade is an expert fighter and adventurer, whose bardic acting abilities make him appear more intimidating and fearsome. His fighting style is flashy and entertaining, but is also quite deadly.
Advantages:
- May use Offensive Spin and Defensive Spin abilities once per day per 4 levels. Offensive Spin lasts 24 seconds, granting the blade +2 to hit, +2 to damage, and an extra attack. As well, all of his attacks do maximum damage for the duration. Defensive Spin lasts 24 seconds, roots him to the spot, but gives -1 AC per level of experience. This armor class bonus does not go over -10.
- May place three slots into two-weapon fighting style.
Disadvantages:
- Only has one-half normal Lore value.
- Only has one-half Pick Pockets percentage.
- Bard Song does not become better with levels.
- Jester
This bard is well versed in the arts of ridicule and hilarity, and uses his abilities to distract and confuse his enemies, cavorting madly during combat.
Advantages:
- Jester's song does not help allies. Instead, it affects every opponent within 30 feet, and they must save vs. magic at +4 once per round or be confused.
Disadvantages:
- Skald
This Nordic bard is also a warrior of great strength, skill and virtue. His songs are inspiring sagas of battle and valor, and the skald devotes his life to those pursuits.
Advantages:
- +1 to hit and +1 damage with all weapons.
- The skald's song is different from the typical bard and varies with level:
- 1st: Gives allies +2 to hit, +2 to damage and -2 to AC.
- 15th: Gives allies +4 to hit, +4 to damage, -4 to AC, and immunity to fear.
- 20th: Gives allies +4 to hit, +4 to damage, -4 to AC, and immunity to fear, stun and confusion.
Disadvantages:
- Pick Pockets ability one-quarter normal.
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