I think expecting all bards to be flamboyant, singing minstrels is just too narrow. Sure, that's the traditional archetype, but we've moved away from the idea of sticking with the archetype with other classes; why not bards?
One area I rarely find touched is a bard with a talent in a visual area; sculpting, calligraphy, painting, etc. I get that that tends to slow down the character--spouting off a limerick or chanting a song seems much easier and faster than whipping up a quick picture of something, especially during combat. But I think there could be numerous ways around that limitation.
I once played a bard that used calligraphy and prestidigitation to draw symbols in the air in front of them. Kinda video gamey, visually.
I love the idea of a valor bard whose backstory was that they were the healer for a tribe of barbarians. Just running around throwing out buffs and heals and swinging around a big old greatsword. Look for spells without material components so you don't need to bother with a focus.
Just created an account make my humble contribution to this wonderful topic.
I'm in the process to setup weird kind of bard. Half drow, tall, skinny, curly silver hair, top hat, blackened glasses. Had a human wife, who died in childbirth. Kept a daughter, who got beatten to death at 8yo for being a quarter drow. He got beaten too, and could just wait and see his daughter diying gargling in blood before passing out.
At his wakeup, his daughter's body disapeared, he was alone under a new moon sky Then he went a lil' ****ed up : he now think his death already happened, and that he is just a spirit haunting his own body, traveling around a black world to spread stars all around the dark, writing beautifull stories based on horrible events encountered on his journey. Since his "death", he's persuaded to see spirits everywhere, spirits of deceased people, spirits of nature... and that all his magic is just spirits accepting to participate to his story, charmed by his joyfull approach of his melancolia.
Oh, and of course, if he does all of this, and keeps going forward, it's just because acting like this give him some hope to find the spirit of his deceased daughter, to show her all the stars he spread around the world for her, and to keep reading all the stories he wrote for her until she finally get her peacefull sleep.
So, that's my glorious depressed Baron Samedi, going to battle like he would go partying with spirits voodoo style, singing, playing drums and sometimes sax, and being freaking terrifying for his opponents, always blurring a bit more the line to other players, making it hard to know if these spirits really roam around us, or if he's just self convincing himself that he's not alone with his broken heart.
Oh, and lore college of course, because cutting words is so much funnier when it's malicious spirits whispering at your ennemies ears. __________
Sorry for the bad english, hope it didn't make all of this too ridiculous
Sorry for the bad english, hope it didn't make all of this too ridiculous
Heartbreaking would probably be a better term! That's a very deep and heartstring-plucking backstory you've made there! It might even go so far as to move a DM to not kill him off until his goal is fulfilled!
Sorry for the bad english, hope it didn't make all of this too ridiculous
Heartbreaking would probably be a better term! That's a very deep and heartstring-plucking backstory you've made there! It might even go so far as to move a DM to not kill him off until his goal is fulfilled!
Truly cruel DMs give players lingering injuries. Like the dragon redering the bard's leg unusable.
This probably isn't the most unusual concept, but if anyone is familiar with the game Tales of Symphonia or the Tales Of... series in general, I was really inspired by the character Raine Sage. I loved that she was a healer and also a historian and teacher, and it got me thinking about non-Cleric healers. I eventually ended up with my new character that I'm swapping in for my original character in a campaign I'm in (turns out playing Warlocks can be a little heavy and difficult sometimes.)
He's essentially a Sunday school teacher/librarian/budding historian and theologian. Born and raised in a city with very specific religious affiliations, he's done his own private studies and discovered the wonder of all the other religions and beliefs and cultures that the world has to offer. He wants to travel beyond the walls of his home and see how much he can learn and discover about the world's enormous pantheon, and create his own collection of memoirs and tomes that includes everything, so that future generations can have that access to information.
Mechanically, he's a College of Lore Bard that will eventually dip into a few levels of Arcana Domain Cleric, and he typically casts spells by citing certain texts or even his own notes and arcane scribblings
My bard is a half-satyr (custom lineage) bard who tells stories. He uses illusion and conjuration magic to create visual representations of the stories he tells. I got some inspiration from Sprite in Eternals, her magic is really pretty and fun to watch. Im still thinking about the college he should follow... Rn Im thinking Lore bc of knowing stories and stuff. That one could be fun to roleplay. Maybe his cutting words could be quick snippets of stories to demoralize his foes or smh like that.
Just created an account make my humble contribution to this wonderful topic.
I'm in the process to setup weird kind of bard. Half drow, tall, skinny, curly silver hair, top hat, blackened glasses. Had a human wife, who died in childbirth. Kept a daughter, who got beatten to death at 8yo for being a quarter drow. He got beaten too, and could just wait and see his daughter diying gargling in blood before passing out.
At his wakeup, his daughter's body disapeared, he was alone under a new moon sky Then he went a lil' ****ed up : he now think his death already happened, and that he is just a spirit haunting his own body, traveling around a black world to spread stars all around the dark, writing beautifull stories based on horrible events encountered on his journey. Since his "death", he's persuaded to see spirits everywhere, spirits of deceased people, spirits of nature... and that all his magic is just spirits accepting to participate to his story, charmed by his joyfull approach of his melancolia.
Oh, and of course, if he does all of this, and keeps going forward, it's just because acting like this give him some hope to find the spirit of his deceased daughter, to show her all the stars he spread around the world for her, and to keep reading all the stories he wrote for her until she finally get her peacefull sleep.
So, that's my glorious depressed Baron Samedi, going to battle like he would go partying with spirits voodoo style, singing, playing drums and sometimes sax, and being freaking terrifying for his opponents, always blurring a bit more the line to other players, making it hard to know if these spirits really roam around us, or if he's just self convincing himself that he's not alone with his broken heart.
Oh, and lore college of course, because cutting words is so much funnier when it's malicious spirits whispering at your ennemies ears. __________
Sorry for the bad english, hope it didn't make all of this too ridiculous
I love your backstory. Its actually kinda sad that college of spirits isnt that attractive to play since is mechanically bad designed. It wouldve been a great college for your half drow friend. PS: I understood your english perfectly, no need to worrie <3
My bard is a half-satyr (custom lineage) bard who tells stories. He uses illusion and conjuration magic to create visual representations of the stories he tells. I got some inspiration from Sprite in Eternals, her magic is really pretty and fun to watch. Im still thinking about the college he should follow... Rn Im thinking Lore bc of knowing stories and stuff. That one could be fun to roleplay. Maybe his cutting words could be quick snippets of stories to demoralize his foes or smh like that.
PS: Im super late 2022 oh boy
Spirit works really well too.
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I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
most people online are like beholders. everyone has a different opinion, and they think everyone else has an incorrect opinion. they will fight you over it, usually without thinking. try to avoid beholder fights.
Credits for my profile pic go to Micro Bihon, this guy who does a lot of fan art for the band Good Kid (among other stuff). While I'm at it, listen to Good Kid. They make some pretty great music.
I just created a new character, shes a Goblin Bard, and I'm planning on having a sort of a valley party girl vibe with her. Shes gonna be a troublemaker and shes gonna be so fun to play
I think expecting all bards to be flamboyant, singing minstrels is just too narrow. Sure, that's the traditional archetype, but we've moved away from the idea of sticking with the archetype with other classes; why not bards?
One area I rarely find touched is a bard with a talent in a visual area; sculpting, calligraphy, painting, etc. I get that that tends to slow down the character--spouting off a limerick or chanting a song seems much easier and faster than whipping up a quick picture of something, especially during combat. But I think there could be numerous ways around that limitation.
I once played a bard that used calligraphy and prestidigitation to draw symbols in the air in front of them. Kinda video gamey, visually.
Just jumping in here to throw another creative idea out there.
I've not really been interested in playing bards because I've not been able to think of a character that really interests me in this class. Then, in my recent campaign, I created my first bard.
René Bergé - Body building bard, College of Glamour.
The idea behind him is that his body is his art: he strives to sculpt the perfect physical appearance and physique. In battle he stands at rear of his team and strikes body building poses to both buff and weaken the enemies. He has the capacity to tense or flex certain muscle groups to cast spells. I have it planned that at higher levels when he can cast spells that allow him to physically alter the appearance of his body, he will turn his skin into marble or gold to create the desired effects.
I kind of have the same idea as you using the ancient myths and legends and putting a flourish on it with illusion magic to make it into a play of sorts.
There are definitely other options!!! I saw a post recently with an idea for a "dad bard"
I made a character based off of that and I love him. Basically, an uplifting musical dad (think greg universe) who, for inspiration, says things like "you got this, kiddo!"
Also when he casts vicious mockery he uses insults such as; "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed" and "this is why your mother left!"
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I once played a bard that used calligraphy and prestidigitation to draw symbols in the air in front of them. Kinda video gamey, visually.
I love the idea of a valor bard whose backstory was that they were the healer for a tribe of barbarians. Just running around throwing out buffs and heals and swinging around a big old greatsword. Look for spells without material components so you don't need to bother with a focus.
Just created an account make my humble contribution to this wonderful topic.
I'm in the process to setup weird kind of bard.
Half drow, tall, skinny, curly silver hair, top hat, blackened glasses.
Had a human wife, who died in childbirth.
Kept a daughter, who got beatten to death at 8yo for being a quarter drow.
He got beaten too, and could just wait and see his daughter diying gargling in blood before passing out.
At his wakeup, his daughter's body disapeared, he was alone under a new moon sky
Then he went a lil' ****ed up : he now think his death already happened, and that he is just a spirit haunting his own body, traveling around a black world to spread stars all around the dark, writing beautifull stories based on horrible events encountered on his journey. Since his "death", he's persuaded to see spirits everywhere, spirits of deceased people, spirits of nature... and that all his magic is just spirits accepting to participate to his story, charmed by his joyfull approach of his melancolia.
Oh, and of course, if he does all of this, and keeps going forward, it's just because acting like this give him some hope to find the spirit of his deceased daughter, to show her all the stars he spread around the world for her, and to keep reading all the stories he wrote for her until she finally get her peacefull sleep.
So, that's my glorious depressed Baron Samedi, going to battle like he would go partying with spirits voodoo style, singing, playing drums and sometimes sax, and being freaking terrifying for his opponents, always blurring a bit more the line to other players, making it hard to know if these spirits really roam around us, or if he's just self convincing himself that he's not alone with his broken heart.
Oh, and lore college of course, because cutting words is so much funnier when it's malicious spirits whispering at your ennemies ears.
__________
Sorry for the bad english, hope it didn't make all of this too ridiculous
Heartbreaking would probably be a better term! That's a very deep and heartstring-plucking backstory you've made there! It might even go so far as to move a DM to not kill him off until his goal is fulfilled!
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread - latest release; the Harvest Sprite, a playable Jack-o-Lantern Race!
Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: The College of Fisticuffs Bard!
I also dabble in art on here (my art thread)
Truly cruel DMs give players lingering injuries. Like the dragon redering the bard's leg unusable.
Beardy druid.
Very beardy druid. With a cap.
This probably isn't the most unusual concept, but if anyone is familiar with the game Tales of Symphonia or the Tales Of... series in general, I was really inspired by the character Raine Sage. I loved that she was a healer and also a historian and teacher, and it got me thinking about non-Cleric healers. I eventually ended up with my new character that I'm swapping in for my original character in a campaign I'm in (turns out playing Warlocks can be a little heavy and difficult sometimes.)
He's essentially a Sunday school teacher/librarian/budding historian and theologian. Born and raised in a city with very specific religious affiliations, he's done his own private studies and discovered the wonder of all the other religions and beliefs and cultures that the world has to offer. He wants to travel beyond the walls of his home and see how much he can learn and discover about the world's enormous pantheon, and create his own collection of memoirs and tomes that includes everything, so that future generations can have that access to information.
Mechanically, he's a College of Lore Bard that will eventually dip into a few levels of Arcana Domain Cleric, and he typically casts spells by citing certain texts or even his own notes and arcane scribblings
My bard is a half-satyr (custom lineage) bard who tells stories. He uses illusion and conjuration magic to create visual representations of the stories he tells. I got some inspiration from Sprite in Eternals, her magic is really pretty and fun to watch. Im still thinking about the college he should follow... Rn Im thinking Lore bc of knowing stories and stuff. That one could be fun to roleplay. Maybe his cutting words could be quick snippets of stories to demoralize his foes or smh like that.
PS: Im super late 2022 oh boy
I love your backstory. Its actually kinda sad that college of spirits isnt that attractive to play since is mechanically bad designed. It wouldve been a great college for your half drow friend.
PS: I understood your english perfectly, no need to worrie <3
Spirit works really well too.
I've never encountered a forum where I got this many "talking to a wall" impressions as this one...
Actually, I have a couple of bards in my character sheet reserves that might fit this thread:
just hope this isn't qualified thread necromancy yet.
BARDS RULE!
thoughts:
most people online are like beholders. everyone has a different opinion, and they think everyone else has an incorrect opinion. they will fight you over it, usually without thinking. try to avoid beholder fights.
Credits for my profile pic go to Micro Bihon, this guy who does a lot of fan art for the band Good Kid (among other stuff). While I'm at it, listen to Good Kid. They make some pretty great music.
I just created a new character, shes a Goblin Bard, and I'm planning on having a sort of a valley party girl vibe with her. Shes gonna be a troublemaker and shes gonna be so fun to play
New but trying my best!
Just jumping in here to throw another creative idea out there.
I've not really been interested in playing bards because I've not been able to think of a character that really interests me in this class. Then, in my recent campaign, I created my first bard.
René Bergé - Body building bard, College of Glamour.
The idea behind him is that his body is his art: he strives to sculpt the perfect physical appearance and physique. In battle he stands at rear of his team and strikes body building poses to both buff and weaken the enemies. He has the capacity to tense or flex certain muscle groups to cast spells. I have it planned that at higher levels when he can cast spells that allow him to physically alter the appearance of his body, he will turn his skin into marble or gold to create the desired effects.
I always loved the idea of a Henry Rollins-esque oratory bard, someone who would rage against the machine and could potentially foment revolution!
I kind of have the same idea as you using the ancient myths and legends and putting a flourish on it with illusion magic to make it into a play of sorts.
I had a bard named Flux who was a glamour bard/Artillery artificer.
He was a dj and his eldritch cannons were really eldritch speakers.
"Anyone can smith at the cosmic anvil, yet only I can forge a weapon as good as thee."
My Homebrew Please click it, they have my family.
There are definitely other options!!! I saw a post recently with an idea for a "dad bard"
I made a character based off of that and I love him. Basically, an uplifting musical dad (think greg universe) who, for inspiration, says things like "you got this, kiddo!"
Also when he casts vicious mockery he uses insults such as; "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed" and "this is why your mother left!"