Bards

Bards are emotional alchemists, they wield Aṣé through sound, movement, and myth. They don’t just cast magic, they compose it, remixing truth and belief into living forces. They are masters of improvisation, powerful support casters, and versatile artists who alter fate with rhythm and resonance.

Core Progression

(1st Level)

Spellcasting

• Full caster, Charisma-based.
• You know 2 cantrips and 2 1st-level spells. You gain new known spells each level.
• Spell list = Bard list (expanded by subclass). Magical Secrets allows cross-class learning.

Bardic Inspiration (Reaction-Based)

You have a pool of Bardic Inspiration dice equal to your proficiency bonus (refresh on short rest at level 5).

• Reaction (default):
• When a creature within 60 ft fails a d20 Test, use your reaction to add your Inspiration die (d6 → d8 → d10 → d12).
• Or when an ally takes damage, reduce it by the die roll.
• Performance Mode (Bonus Action), give an Inspiration die in advance.

Performance Focus

Choose your artistic expression: Song, Instrument, Dance, Oration, Visual Art, Masks, Tattoos, Culinary, etc.

• You gain expertise in Performance with that method.
• You may use Charisma in place of Strength/Dex/Int/Wis when your Performance Focus is applicable (e.g., dancing to dodge, drawing to uncover detail).

Expertise

Choose one skill in which you're proficient. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any check with it.

(2nd Level)

Jack of All Trades

Add half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) to all ability checks you're not proficient in

Empowered Magic

Choose one empowered expression:

• Harmonic Caster: When you cast a Bard spell of 1st level or higher, roll your Inspiration die. You can heal that much HP to yourself or an ally within 30 ft, or grant them that die as free Inspiration (no action).
• Resonant Echo: 1/turn when you use Bardic Inspiration or cast a Bard spell, you may grant one:
• +5 ft speed to one ally until your next turn,
• Temp HP equal to CHA modifier,
• Or a brief whispered message that lingers in the air (RP or illusion use).

(3rd Level)

Genre Feature

Choose your Bardic Genre , your signature genre. (More on these later.)

• Gain subclass features.
• Bardic Inspiration becomes d8.

(4th Level)

Ability Score Improvement

You gain +1 to an Ability Modifier or choose a feat of your choice for which you qualify.

(5th Level)

Font of Inspiration & Magical Secrets I

• Font of Inspiration: Bardic Inspiration now refreshes on a short or long rest.
• Magical Secrets I: Choose 1 spell from any class list. It counts as a Bard spell for you.
• Must be a level you can cast.
• Gains Bardic flair when cast using Performance Focus.

(6th Level)

Genre Feature

Gain 1 Genre Feature.

Genre Infusion & Expertise

• Genre Infusion: Gain 1 feature from another Bard College’s 3rd-level options. You can use your own Inspiration die for it.
• Expertise: Choose a second skill to gain Expertise.

(7th Level)

Rhythmic Instinct

You gain:

• Free Spellcasting Through Performance:
• Once per long rest, cast 1 Bard spell without expending a slot while performing your focus.
• Sonic Disruption:
• Once per long rest, cast Counterspell or Dispel Magic without a slot if the casting involves expressive art (slamming a drum, screaming, tearing paper, etc.).

(8th Level)

Ability Score Improvement

You gain +1 to an Ability Modifier or choose a feat of your choice for which you qualify.

(9th Level)

Composition Memory & Magical Secrets II

• Composition Memory: During a long rest, you may “record” a Bard spell of 3rd level or lower that you cast. You can replay that spell once the next day without a slot by invoking your Focus.
• Magical Secrets II: Choose another spell from any class.

(10th Level)

Genre Feature

Gain 1 Genre Feature

Improved Inspiration & Subclass Expertise

Improved Inspiration:

• Once per turn, you can reroll a Bardic Inspiration die you roll and use either result.

Bonus Expertise:

• Gain Expertise in a third skill, determined or flavored by your subclass.

(11th Level)

Aura of Vibration

While actively performing (1 minute or less), you generate an aura (30 ft radius):

• Choose one effect at the start of each round:
• Allies ignore difficult terrain.
• Enemies must make CON saves (DC = your spell save DC) or have disadvantage on attack rolls until next round.
• Sound is distorted: creatures have disadvantage on sound-based perception, and your verbal spells require counterspell to be cast using a higher-level slot.

Bardic Inspiration becomes d10.

 (12th Level)

Ability Score Improvement

You gain +1 to an Ability Modifier or choose a feat of your choice for which you qualify.

(13th Level)

Great Composition & Magical Secrets III

Great Composition:

• Create your signature magical performance, a powerful, once/day spell, battlefield effect, or transformation themed to your subclass.
• You cast it using your Focus, no material components.

Magical Secrets III: Choose one additional spell from any class.

(14th Level)

Genre Feature

Gain 1 Genre Feature

Crescendo

• Spend 2 Bardic Inspiration dice at once to:
• Trigger a subclass feature twice,
• Add the second die to a spell’s effect (e.g., double charm save DC, extra illusion effect),
• Or regain 1 spell slot (up to 3rd level).

(15th Level)

Master of Flows

You gain all of the following:

• Triple Memory: You can now store and replay 3 Bard spells of 3rd level or lower without expending slots.
• Combat Charge: At the start of each combat, you regain all expended Bardic Inspiration dice.
• Split Focus: You can concentrate on two Bard spells at once, if at least one has verbal, sonic, or illusion components.

You must roll individually for concentration loss for each one.