I recently had an idea for a bard that would break the usual role of musician, probably almost certainly going against the idea of the "horny bard." I've just been trying to figure out exactly how it would work.
What I'm thinking is a twist where it is a bard who, instead of a musician, is a chef. So instead of music, charisma comes in the form of being really good at cooking and knowing a variety of recipes. It would probably be refreshing for a party who is sick of having to eat rations. I could even reflavor some weapons and play with the idea of them using kitchen utensils in combat.
But the big question I've started to notice is how exactly do I build such a character? There doesn't seem to be a lot in the way of cooking skills, so I'd have to figure out what of the available skills would be best suited to a chef. Perception might be a good one, since the job does require an eye for detail. Maybe a skill for medicine as a by-product of the trade. Healing word could be a good spell to have for kitchen-related injuries.
I thought it might be interesting to get some other peoples' thoughts.
This is a really cool idea. I wouldn't get hung up on finding cooking-specific spells and skills. A lot of things can simply be re-flavored (ahem) to fit your idea -- for example, your charm person could be accompanied by a smell like fresh baked bread that just makes the target feel happy and relaxed
The key will probably be picking a College that ties into your concept. Creation's probably the most obvious choice, but with a little DM buy-in I can see something like Spirits working, where the various bonuses from your Tales From Beyond feature are actually tied to different little snacks you make and hand out to the party, rather than different stories
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Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
To build on AntonSirius' comment, you could choose College of Eloquence, but instead of Silver Tongue being persuasion or deception, you could have it be persuasion and intimidation and do a Gordon Ramsay type of chef.
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DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form| Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock | He/Him/They/Them
I came up with a few spells that I thought would be fitting for a chef:
Healing Word: It might have been something they picked up from having to deal with kitchen-related injuries like accidentally cutting your finger while chopping something.
Unseen Servant: A lot of dishes may require some serious multitasking, so having a spell that takes some of the load off would make you more efficient.
Sleep: Good for dealing with unruly customers
I am intrigued by Anton's suggestion of using "charm person" in combination with food odors.
I also took the statblocks for a few different melee weapons and reflavored them as kitchen utensils- wooden spoon, frying pan, two different kitchen knives.
I suppose I'll have to do some research into the different bard schools.
I must point out there’s a chef feat, which seems like a must for this character. Like the feat, your healing could be based on giving people snacks. It might seem a bit video-gamey, which you say here’s a banana and they get back some health, but it could still be fun.
And sometimes being a chef can be performative. Those Japanese-style restaurants where they cook in front of you and are all but juggling their knives, for example.
I must point out there’s a chef feat, which seems like a must for this character. Like the feat, your healing could be based on giving people snacks. It might seem a bit video-gamey, which you say here’s a banana and they get back some health, but it could still be fun.
And sometimes being a chef can be performative. Those Japanese-style restaurants where they cook in front of you and are all but juggling their knives, for example.
The character in the game I DM who has the Chef feat spends a lot of time harvesting bits from defeated monsters for later use
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I recently had an idea for a bard that would break the usual role of musician, probably almost certainly going against the idea of the "horny bard." I've just been trying to figure out exactly how it would work.
What I'm thinking is a twist where it is a bard who, instead of a musician, is a chef. So instead of music, charisma comes in the form of being really good at cooking and knowing a variety of recipes. It would probably be refreshing for a party who is sick of having to eat rations. I could even reflavor some weapons and play with the idea of them using kitchen utensils in combat.
But the big question I've started to notice is how exactly do I build such a character? There doesn't seem to be a lot in the way of cooking skills, so I'd have to figure out what of the available skills would be best suited to a chef. Perception might be a good one, since the job does require an eye for detail. Maybe a skill for medicine as a by-product of the trade. Healing word could be a good spell to have for kitchen-related injuries.
I thought it might be interesting to get some other peoples' thoughts.
This is a really cool idea. I wouldn't get hung up on finding cooking-specific spells and skills. A lot of things can simply be re-flavored (ahem) to fit your idea -- for example, your charm person could be accompanied by a smell like fresh baked bread that just makes the target feel happy and relaxed
The key will probably be picking a College that ties into your concept. Creation's probably the most obvious choice, but with a little DM buy-in I can see something like Spirits working, where the various bonuses from your Tales From Beyond feature are actually tied to different little snacks you make and hand out to the party, rather than different stories
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
To build on AntonSirius' comment, you could choose College of Eloquence, but instead of Silver Tongue being persuasion or deception, you could have it be persuasion and intimidation and do a Gordon Ramsay type of chef.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock | He/Him/They/Them
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I like this idea. A good DM would help you reflavor things, for example multiple cooking types: wood fire cooking, charcoal, smoking, ceviche, etc.
So I have a sheet!
https://ddb.ac/characters/77412887/dpCsEE
I came up with a few spells that I thought would be fitting for a chef:
I am intrigued by Anton's suggestion of using "charm person" in combination with food odors.
I also took the statblocks for a few different melee weapons and reflavored them as kitchen utensils- wooden spoon, frying pan, two different kitchen knives.
I suppose I'll have to do some research into the different bard schools.
Another options, swords bard but you wield a cleaver if you go with duelist or two cleavers if you go with dual wielding.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I must point out there’s a chef feat, which seems like a must for this character. Like the feat, your healing could be based on giving people snacks. It might seem a bit video-gamey, which you say here’s a banana and they get back some health, but it could still be fun.
And sometimes being a chef can be performative. Those Japanese-style restaurants where they cook in front of you and are all but juggling their knives, for example.
The character in the game I DM who has the Chef feat spends a lot of time harvesting bits from defeated monsters for later use
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I've always wanted to play a Bard who is basically a fitness instructor or gym rat. Someone who inspires others to reach their peak physical condition
I envision taking expertise in Athletics and Acrobatics and picking up spells like Longstrider and Enhance Ability.
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