Part of the bard that makes them so fantastic is ability to choose a few spells from any other class.
Yes, Counterspell is arguably the most appropriate, Fireball has the power, and Revivify is quite literally a life saver...
...but where's the panache?! Where's the flash?! WE ARE BARDS...!! Our spellcasting is an art form; the spells must be STYLISH.
Any stuffy, bookish wizard can solve a problem with the "right" spell, preparing the "perfect" list for that day along with a grocery list because the barbarian forget to grab the milk and bread...and a cleric might spend their turn returning their allies intestines back into their respective belly-holes...but the bard is there to fling insults, inspire, and look damn good doing it!
So I beseech YOU, intrepid bard of questionable morality...what are some Magical Secrets you choose that make your enemies jaws drop to the ground in awe?!
Do you HADOUKEN with the Chromatic Orb...?! Confetti them to death with the colorful Prismatic Spray?! Indulge your inner deviant with Evard's Black Tentacles..?! Or bombard them with your majestic Crown of Stars, because it feels good to be the king?
Let's hear those sweet, stylish spells in the comments below!
Heh...a spell designed to reflect the mastery of a blade, after levels and levels of training for the ranger, and the bard just does it like it's no big deal.
A bit more of a power spell, but my bard will pick up Melf's Minute Meteors come level 6.
It will just feel too good to impress your enemies with the 6 glowing orbs circling you for a number of rounds as you can cause explosions to happen all around you with the flick of your wrist like a true artist.
Hosted a battle between the Cult of Sedge and the Forum Countershere(Done now). I_Love_Tarrasques has won the fight, scoring a victory for the fiendish Moderators.
Your dulcet tones and force of will clash with magics cast by your opponents and harden the resolve of your allies giving all of your allies within 30' advantage on all saving throws vs spells and magical effects as well as eliminating damage entirely if they are successful in avoiding the worst of it. (Level 10 magical secret option - Circle of Power)
With a wave of your hand, the sound of your voice solidifies into a solid transparent wall protecting your team mates and separating your foes (Level 10 magical secret option - Wall of Force).
I'm not sure yet, but if I pick Fireball, I'm going to ask my DM if I can change the damage type to force damage and call it "Voice Projection," “Tour de Force,” “Compelling Performance,” or “Knock ‘Em Dead.”
Also, it's not a Magical Secrets spell, but whenever I cast sleep, my verbal and somatic components are cupping my mouth and shouting "BORING!"
I'm not sure yet, but if I pick Fireball, I'm going to ask my DM if I can change the damage type to force damage and call it “Tour de Force,” “Compelling Performance,” or “Knock ‘Em Dead.”
Also, it's not a Magical Secrets spell, but whenever I cast sleep, my verbal and somatic components are cupping my mouth and shouting "BORING!"
I would suggest toning down the damage on it if it is turned to force damage, because only one monster is immune to it, while many others are resistant/immune to fire damage. 6d6 might be good for the damage.
Hosted a battle between the Cult of Sedge and the Forum Countershere(Done now). I_Love_Tarrasques has won the fight, scoring a victory for the fiendish Moderators.
Just to make counters for Counterspell, Fireball, and Revivify in the OP:
’A swirl of magic circle Maginio as he points his staff at the ball of inky darkness. Suddenly, light comes down from the sky, dispelling the eldritch magic and making the warlock visible again. The bard laughs, as Maginio’s spell did nothing, and the bard’s drums are instead the ones beating.’ Counterspell.
’Jack smirks as he eyes the Helmed Horror. “Resistant to me sword, huh? Well take this!” He plays a little diddly on his drum, and a spark of magic flies out. “Not as big as I thought, but don’t underetimate it.” The spark flies away and touches the Horror on its head, as it burns away into flames.‘ Fireball
’Coma eyes the dead man. How he’d love to make him a zombie like the rest, but no, he needed him. He was the only one who could harness the magic inside of the jar. He strings his guitar, and plays a song begging his deity for the mans life. Somewhere, the deity smiles and a single tear drop from the performance drops, big as an airship, but is all absorbed by the man. He sits up, gasping, as the wound in his chest starts to heal. “What did I miss?” ‘ Revivify.
I'm not sure yet, but if I pick Fireball, I'm going to ask my DM if I can change the damage type to force damage and call it “Tour de Force,” “Compelling Performance,” or “Knock ‘Em Dead.”
Also, it's not a Magical Secrets spell, but whenever I cast sleep, my verbal and somatic components are cupping my mouth and shouting "BORING!"
Whenever I have a bard centered on being a performer or stage magician, I always flavor the Fireball as a massive collection of fireworks...just more...lethal.
Yeah my Bard's backstory is that he's a really talented actor (a more historically accurate term for him would be a Strolling Player, as he does not sing or play music - instead scripts, a "vamping horn" (old school version of a megaphone), and an English Billhook he fashioned into a Vaudeville Hook against one of his enemies are his "instruments") that doesn't really use magic on stage, but has had rival actors use magic and tricks on him while he's performing to mess him up. The magic he's developed as a result of his talents is more of a nicety that he'll use in self defense or to punish those who sabotage him or other performers.
Just to make counters for Counterspell, Fireball, and Revivify in the OP:
...
’Jack smirks as he eyes the Helmed Horror. “Resistant to me sword, huh? Well take this!” He plays a little diddly on his drum, and a spark of magic flies out. “Not as big as I thought, but don’t underetimate it.” The spark flies away and touches the Horror on its head, as it burns away into flames.‘ Fireball
...
Unfortunately ...
"The spark flies away and touches the Horror on its head, a cloud of flames erupts. The empty helm turns towards you and the creature approaches as you mutter. Oh ... "
Spell Immunity. The helmed horror is immune to three spells chosen by its creator. Typical immunities include fireball, heat metal, and lightning bolt.
More for thematic reasons AND style than anything else really, I had my dweebish gnome bard (who grew up constantly exposed to ludicrous hero stories growing up) take Guardian of Faith. It's ordinarily a very flavorful defensive spell designed for divine magic users that conjures the vague shape of a large radiant warrior anchored to one spot with a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of the caster's deity.
My bard hadn't exactly gotten to devoting themselves to any one god in particular however, so I took a different approach with the flavor. Instead, when he uses Guardian of Faith he'll randomly conjure up a large, radiant silhouette of a character he idolizes and sees as a hero like what he was raised on, which currently include: his instructor at bard college, a now-dead golden dragonborn paladin who mentored one of the other party-members, an ancient bronze dragon, and most secret of all... the party's own paladin (whom he's had a very contentious rivalry with for most of the campaign). 'Course I'm waiting for the right time to unveil the last one. 'S gotta be the right kind of climactic/dramatic conditions for that first time to really deliver the proper punch.
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Part of the bard that makes them so fantastic is ability to choose a few spells from any other class.
Yes, Counterspell is arguably the most appropriate, Fireball has the power, and Revivify is quite literally a life saver...
...but where's the panache?! Where's the flash?! WE ARE BARDS...!! Our spellcasting is an art form; the spells must be STYLISH.
Any stuffy, bookish wizard can solve a problem with the "right" spell, preparing the "perfect" list for that day along with a grocery list because the barbarian forget to grab the milk and bread...and a cleric might spend their turn returning their allies intestines back into their respective belly-holes...but the bard is there to fling insults, inspire, and look damn good doing it!
So I beseech YOU, intrepid bard of questionable morality...what are some Magical Secrets you choose that make your enemies jaws drop to the ground in awe?!
Do you HADOUKEN with the Chromatic Orb...?! Confetti them to death with the colorful Prismatic Spray?! Indulge your inner deviant with Evard's Black Tentacles..?! Or bombard them with your majestic Crown of Stars, because it feels good to be the king?
Let's hear those sweet, stylish spells in the comments below!
Dazzle them with a magically summoned spotlight to blind them so they miss! (Shield)
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Excellent!
Steel Wind Strike show those rangers you dont need to be be a level 17 to learn that spell
Heh...a spell designed to reflect the mastery of a blade, after levels and levels of training for the ranger, and the bard just does it like it's no big deal.
A bit more of a power spell, but my bard will pick up Melf's Minute Meteors come level 6.
It will just feel too good to impress your enemies with the 6 glowing orbs circling you for a number of rounds as you can cause explosions to happen all around you with the flick of your wrist like a true artist.
Your music makes the dead come to life and dance as you please! Animate dead!
Subclass Evaluations So Far:
Sorcerer
Warlock
My statblock. Fear me!
Hosted a battle between the Cult of Sedge and the Forum Counters here(Done now). I_Love_Tarrasques has won the fight, scoring a victory for the fiendish Moderators.
Your dulcet tones and force of will clash with magics cast by your opponents and harden the resolve of your allies giving all of your allies within 30' advantage on all saving throws vs spells and magical effects as well as eliminating damage entirely if they are successful in avoiding the worst of it. (Level 10 magical secret option - Circle of Power)
With a wave of your hand, the sound of your voice solidifies into a solid transparent wall protecting your team mates and separating your foes (Level 10 magical secret option - Wall of Force).
"All in all, you're just another brick in the WALL."
I'm not sure yet, but if I pick Fireball, I'm going to ask my DM if I can change the damage type to force damage and call it "Voice Projection," “Tour de Force,” “Compelling Performance,” or “Knock ‘Em Dead.”
Also, it's not a Magical Secrets spell, but whenever I cast sleep, my verbal and somatic components are cupping my mouth and shouting "BORING!"
I would suggest toning down the damage on it if it is turned to force damage, because only one monster is immune to it, while many others are resistant/immune to fire damage. 6d6 might be good for the damage.
Subclass Evaluations So Far:
Sorcerer
Warlock
My statblock. Fear me!
Hosted a battle between the Cult of Sedge and the Forum Counters here(Done now). I_Love_Tarrasques has won the fight, scoring a victory for the fiendish Moderators.
Just to make counters for Counterspell, Fireball, and Revivify in the OP:
’A swirl of magic circle Maginio as he points his staff at the ball of inky darkness. Suddenly, light comes down from the sky, dispelling the eldritch magic and making the warlock visible again. The bard laughs, as Maginio’s spell did nothing, and the bard’s drums are instead the ones beating.’ Counterspell.
’Jack smirks as he eyes the Helmed Horror. “Resistant to me sword, huh? Well take this!” He plays a little diddly on his drum, and a spark of magic flies out. “Not as big as I thought, but don’t underetimate it.” The spark flies away and touches the Horror on its head, as it burns away into flames.‘ Fireball
’Coma eyes the dead man. How he’d love to make him a zombie like the rest, but no, he needed him. He was the only one who could harness the magic inside of the jar. He strings his guitar, and plays a song begging his deity for the mans life. Somewhere, the deity smiles and a single tear drop from the performance drops, big as an airship, but is all absorbed by the man. He sits up, gasping, as the wound in his chest starts to heal. “What did I miss?” ‘ Revivify.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Whenever I have a bard centered on being a performer or stage magician, I always flavor the Fireball as a massive collection of fireworks...just more...lethal.
Yeah my Bard's backstory is that he's a really talented actor (a more historically accurate term for him would be a Strolling Player, as he does not sing or play music - instead scripts, a "vamping horn" (old school version of a megaphone), and an English Billhook he fashioned into a Vaudeville Hook against one of his enemies are his "instruments") that doesn't really use magic on stage, but has had rival actors use magic and tricks on him while he's performing to mess him up. The magic he's developed as a result of his talents is more of a nicety that he'll use in self defense or to punish those who sabotage him or other performers.
Unfortunately ...
"The spark flies away and touches the Horror on its head, a cloud of flames erupts. The empty helm turns towards you and the creature approaches as you mutter. Oh ... "
Spell Immunity. The helmed horror is immune to three spells chosen by its creator. Typical immunities include fireball, heat metal, and lightning bolt.
Hey . We can assume it took sleep, misty step and shield.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Level 9 haste for flight of the bumblebee, quarter note equals 9001
Slow while miming their sluggish movements? Hey, rogues don't have a monopoly on being ********.
"The Epic Level Handbook wasn't that bad, guys.
Guys, pls."
More for thematic reasons AND style than anything else really, I had my dweebish gnome bard (who grew up constantly exposed to ludicrous hero stories growing up) take Guardian of Faith. It's ordinarily a very flavorful defensive spell designed for divine magic users that conjures the vague shape of a large radiant warrior anchored to one spot with a gleaming sword and shield emblazoned with the symbol of the caster's deity.
My bard hadn't exactly gotten to devoting themselves to any one god in particular however, so I took a different approach with the flavor. Instead, when he uses Guardian of Faith he'll randomly conjure up a large, radiant silhouette of a character he idolizes and sees as a hero like what he was raised on, which currently include: his instructor at bard college, a now-dead golden dragonborn paladin who mentored one of the other party-members, an ancient bronze dragon, and most secret of all... the party's own paladin (whom he's had a very contentious rivalry with for most of the campaign). 'Course I'm waiting for the right time to unveil the last one. 'S gotta be the right kind of climactic/dramatic conditions for that first time to really deliver the proper punch.