D&D: Playtest The “Advanced” 5th Edition Bard
Spells, songs, and seduction are at the heart of the new “Advanced 5th Edition” Bard. Come take a look at the latest from Level Up.
Bards can be the backbone of any party in D&D, and in Level Up, the “Advanced 5th Edition” ruleset, these masters of music and magic and story and swordplay find an interesting niche. They walk the line between artist and adventurer, excelling at both. It’s one of the more popular classes in 5th Edition, and today we’re taking a look at what’s different for these jaunty jacks-of-all-trades. Come and take a look at “advanced” bards in Level Up!
via Level Up
Welcome to the 12th Level Up playtest document. This playtest contains a candidate for the first 10 levels of the game’s bard class.This is a playtest document. We’d love you to try out the rules presented here, and then answer the follow-up survey in a few days.
Bards have always been a sort of catch-all class since they got formalized in 3rd Edition. They got classified as “play magic songs to make the party better” and that’s been the niche they fill. Level Up takes 5th Edition’s trend towards bards going more than just musical buffers and runs with it, recasting them as more than just minstrels. They are artists, and can pick an Art Specialty at first level that reflects their “instrument.” But, more than mere flavor, each of these has a special effect that accompanies it.
You might pick Air Instruments and learn how to cloak your bard spells as part of your performance with a deception of performance check, or Percussion to double the ranges of bard spells from the ‘sound school’, or String Instruments to grant you an additional target when casting movement or teleportation spells, or Visual Art (like calligraphy, dance, shapes, or the like) which lets you make an ally able to see you act as the point of origin when casting a bard spell, or Voice which gives you advantage on concentration checks. There’s something for anyone.
And “advanced” bards have a few more tricks up their sleeves–they have Bardic Inspiration, as per normal, but also gain a Battle Hymn. This is an artistic flourish that allows you to use your Bardic Inspiration (no action needed) to create one of the effects outlined below:
Exploration Knacks are a welcome addition to every “advanced” 5th Edition class, and that holds true here. giving bards an incredible suite of options, including the ability to improve relationships with NPCs, hirelings, and enemies while on a journey, or gaining expertise with a skill and advantage on checks to make an ambush.
At higher levels, bards gain access to Bardic Legend, a feat that allows them to develop a reputation as they pen the tales of their adventures. When entering a town and spending a day playing or recounting the tale, the party’s local reputation grows and allies regain all spent hit dice over the course of a long rest, instead of just half. At 7th and 10th level the feature upgrades again, giving you advantage on certain skill checks or the ability to call enemies out while in a town.
Of course that’s just one example of the “advanced” bard. And it’s still in playtest. All in all, the direction the new class is headed looks exciting! Check it out for yourself below:
Download the Bard Playtest Today
Happy Adventuring!
