Show Notes

This week, Fiona and Hamilton take a deep dive into the Bard - a playable class from the original 5e Player's Handbook. Bards are a versatile group, capable of combat and of magic. They weave magic through words and music to inspire allies, demoralize foes, manipulate minds, create illusions, and even heal wounds.

According to the Player's Handbook:

'The bard is a master of song, speech, and the magic they contain. Bards say that the multiverse was spoken into existence, that the words of the gods gave it shape, and that echoes of these primordial Words of Creation still resound throughout the cosmos. The music of bards is an attempt to snatch and harness those echoes, subtly woven into their spells and powers.

The greatest strength of bards is their sheer versatility. Many bards prefer to stick to the sidelines in combat, using their magic to inspire their allies and hinder their foes from a distance. But bards are capable of defending themselves in melee if necessary, using their magic to bolster their swords and armor.

Their spells lean toward charms and illusions rather than blatantly destructive spells. They have a wide-ranging knowledge of many subjects and a natural aptitude that lets them do almost anything well. Bards become masters of the talents they set their minds to perfecting, from musical performance to esoteric knowledge.'

In this episode, we cover the following:

• Bard Class Features (as it appears in PHB)
• Optional Class Features (from TCoE)

Chapter discussed: 'Bards' from 'Ch. 3: Classes' and 'Bards' from 'Ch. 1: Character Options'.

Books: 'Player's Handbook' and 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything', published by Wizards of the Coast, August 2014 and November 2022 respectively.

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Credits

The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). 

The DM’s Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).

The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.

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