I've got a half-elf whispers bard with one level of barbarian for a base and war caster to make it really hard for him to go down or lose concentration.
His half-fey ancestry and barbarian rage make him really unstable and he uses his charisma-fueled spells to pass on the psychic torture to others. His favorite move so far has been trapping enemies in iron maidens in a phantasmal force and skewering them.
Barbarian 101: Can't rage and cast spells or concentrate on spells at the same time.
Barbarians generally make poor combos for any casting class save for Paladins.
I've got a half-elf whispers bard with one level of barbarian for a base and war caster to make it really hard for him to go down or lose concentration.
His half-fey ancestry and barbarian rage make him really unstable and he uses his charisma-fueled spells to pass on the psychic torture to others. His favorite move so far has been trapping enemies in iron maidens in a phantasmal force and skewering them.
Barbarian 101: Can't rage and cast spells or concentrate on spells at the same time.
Barbarians generally make poor combos for any casting class save for Paladins.
Yup! I considered that, and I wasn't going to use rage until I ran out of spells. I've never needed to, though.
Also, did I misunderstand the OP for unusual concepts? Do I need to make the unusual concept also optimised?
I've got a half-elf whispers bard with one level of barbarian for a base and war caster to make it really hard for him to go down or lose concentration.
His half-fey ancestry and barbarian rage make him really unstable and he uses his charisma-fueled spells to pass on the psychic torture to others. His favorite move so far has been trapping enemies in iron maidens in a phantasmal force and skewering them.
Barbarian 101: Can't rage and cast spells or concentrate on spells at the same time.
Barbarians generally make poor combos for any casting class save for Paladins.
Yup! I considered that, and I wasn't going to use rage until I ran out of spells. I've never needed to, though.
Not a Bard but I once played as a Sorcerer with a level in Barbarian for the Rage. Was it optimal? Probably not, but it was very thematic for a half feral Dragonborn Sorcerer to go into a Rage when backed into a corner, plus there are some 1 minute or longer spells that don't need concentration, so you can still combine a bit of magic with it by casting first (e.g- if you're being backed into a corner and want to hulk out). Sounds like it could very thematic and fun!
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Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I've got a half-elf whispers bard with one level of barbarian for a base and war caster to make it really hard for him to go down or lose concentration.
His half-fey ancestry and barbarian rage make him really unstable and he uses his charisma-fueled spells to pass on the psychic torture to others. His favorite move so far has been trapping enemies in iron maidens in a phantasmal force and skewering them.
Barbarian 101: Can't rage and cast spells or concentrate on spells at the same time.
Barbarians generally make poor combos for any casting class save for Paladins.
Yup! I considered that, and I wasn't going to use rage until I ran out of spells. I've never needed to, though.
Not a Bard but I once played as a Sorcerer with a level in Barbarian for the Rage. Was it optimal? Probably not, but it was very thematic for a half feral Dragonborn Sorcerer to go into a Rage when backed into a corner, plus there are some 1 minute or longer spells that don't need concentration, so you can still combine a bit of magic with it by casting first (e.g- if you're being backed into a corner and want to hulk out). Sounds like it could very thematic and fun!
I like the feral sorcerer flavor! It's always refreshing to see experimental builds based around a concept that the player makes their own. They're always really fun to play
I'm planning to hold out on raging for the moment. If I play my cards right, I'll only have to pull it out when the DM decides to wipe out the entire party for good. When that happens, I'll probably be one of the very last to go down. And people are going to remember it because I'm going to be very dramatic about it. I'll make all my over-the-top bard predecessors proud.
My current bard is a College Of Spirits bard with a 1 level dip each in Draconic Sorcerer (silver) and Hexblade Warlock. She's a gambler with the Charlatan background that fights using a magical deck of cards that floats around her in a protective cloud, and she throws them at enemies or gives them to allies to activate her spell effects. My DM let me reflavor the Magic Stone cantrip as preparing and throwing cards, Gambit style.
Whenever she uses the Tales From Beyond feature, she just pulls a card from the deck and she has no idea what she's going to get.
She's ended up becoming the party face and she's a lot of fun to play as. Her endgame goal is to Shapechange into an Adult Silver Dragon and use Wish to make the change permanent.
When I think of a bard my first thought is of an older gold dragonborn lore bard bolstering his allies by recounting the great deeds of their ancestors to them, or by comparing their current situation to a similar historical example. Something like a classics professor on his 2nd glass of brandy rallying the troops. He would probably resemble a wizard more than a bard, until one got to know him. A rather serious person, pinze-nez glasses, always reading a book, or asking strangers at the tavern for any tales of heroism they may have to share.
Granted, music is the defining characteristic of the Bard class, but we should remember that the voice is the oldest and most versatile musical instrument, and one which we all carry with us.
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Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
I just started a campaign, I never purchased Theros but I did buy Tasha's and so I am going with Eloquence Bard.
My concept is he was a goblin that never fit in. He always felt the totalitarian society of goblinoids unfair and cruel and was always standing up for the lower castes. Because he was more charismatic and intelligent then most of them he mainly just confused the bully's with a lot of words while the victim got away.
Longish story short, he left the clan and found a niche in Baldur's Gate under the wing of a liberal minded solicitor/barrister.
Now my Bard, Verbo Ossity, is an attorney, specializing in defense of adventurers who may have caused a bit more "collateral damage" then intended.
The Eloquence Bard has me concocting all sorts of concepts...
One is sort of an inter-planar diplomat, who serves as a translator for adventurers who travel between worlds.
The other is a personal trainer...his goal is to find someone "heroic", follow them around and train them, and record their legendary feats to become immortalized (and make money off them).
If you take Phil from Disney's "Hercules"...you wouldn't be far off. Sort of like a boxing coach.
LOL!! Love the personal trainer route! I like how eloquence bard tends to lend to more unique concepts rather than musical. Others do to but Eloquence seems "easier" to do it.
My Bard is slowly working from being the flamboyant bard that excells at performance, deception and persuasion and also being good at hiding (Whisper bard) which was fun in the start, into a book writing, poem gathering, story/legend creating lore bard. I've slowly dropped using instruments and started using my caligraphy tools instead. I hardly ever sing but rather go to theaters, carnivals and libraries whenever we visit a new town to gather more knowledge.
He wants his group to be legends, instead of just himself.
Eldest step daughter has officially joined the game and has officially broke me with her character design. I watched as she started organically forming this concept until there was Sirena, the Goblin bard. Her backstory is a hoot and has given me acres to work with for the story. She basically loves to sing to the point she was driven out of the warren and was took in by a bard who taught her the trade. She's plying her as this odd amalgamation of Golum, generic goblin npc's, the shiftiest hafling ever, elmo from sesame street and I'm not sure. It's hysterical and totally viable and not overly distracting given the rest of the party.
With the help of some of the wonderful people here in dndbeyond, i made a Bard that is essentially a madwoman who uses her spells to drive her enemies to madness by announcing their dooms and speaking words of the great old ones.
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Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Was just thinking about this again and recently read "The Inifinite World" by JT Wright. Has a character in it that is your stereotypical sergeant. Loud, borderline abusive but manages to get the best out of everyone and keep them coming home.
I think this would make a great bard. Healing word would be something along the lines of "Get up boy, I know you aren't laying down on the job. You get up and show that goblin whatfor or you will be tasting my boot leather" or inspiration something like "You will climb that wall or you will give me 20 pushups and then carry me up that wall. Hop to it!!"
With the help of some of the wonderful people here in dndbeyond, i made a Bard that is essentially a madwoman who uses her spells to drive her enemies to madness by announcing their dooms and speaking words of the great old ones.
Ooh...that sounds FANTASTIC.
"College of Eloquence" with their "Unsettling Words"?
Or more "College of Lore" with their "Cutting Words"?
With the help of some of the wonderful people here in dndbeyond, i made a Bard that is essentially a madwoman who uses her spells to drive her enemies to madness by announcing their dooms and speaking words of the great old ones.
Ooh...that sounds FANTASTIC.
"College of Eloquence" with their "Unsettling Words"?
Or more "College of Lore" with their "Cutting Words"?
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Another idea: a masked Luchador (wrestler) Valor Bard with a personality similar to Jack Black's character in "Nacho Libre" - is told to be Lawful Good in a very threadbare way but wants to embody a "please the crowd" Chaotic Good/Neutral way instead while maintaining a secret identity.
Uses Dancing Lights to accentuate Performance skill with either Color Spray or Pyrotechnics for additional visual FX. Expertise in Athletics for grappling.
A middle aged man, with a mustache, thinning hair, bit of a belly, cargo shorts, socks & crocs, and a comfortable cardigan. Inflicts psychic damage through unrelenting and endless dad-jokes and puns.
bandit: "You're going to die for that!"
dad bard: "Die? that's the last thing I'll do!"
bandit: "Urgh! what? How did you... I'm bleeding!"
I am about to start playing an Orc Bard who is completely wholesome- no trying to get in everyone's pants. His mom ran away from an attack of giants on their village and hid him in the hollow of a tree and led them away. He was found by halflings and raised as one of their own so he is totally happy and jovial like your typical halfling. His outlook is that everyone can be kind and loving to one another if they just try. Think Mr Rogers in an Orc body with Bard powers :)
Barbarian 101: Can't rage and cast spells or concentrate on spells at the same time.
Barbarians generally make poor combos for any casting class save for Paladins.
Yup! I considered that, and I wasn't going to use rage until I ran out of spells. I've never needed to, though.
Also, did I misunderstand the OP for unusual concepts? Do I need to make the unusual concept also optimised?
Not a Bard but I once played as a Sorcerer with a level in Barbarian for the Rage. Was it optimal? Probably not, but it was very thematic for a half feral Dragonborn Sorcerer to go into a Rage when backed into a corner, plus there are some 1 minute or longer spells that don't need concentration, so you can still combine a bit of magic with it by casting first (e.g- if you're being backed into a corner and want to hulk out). Sounds like it could very thematic and fun!
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I like the feral sorcerer flavor! It's always refreshing to see experimental builds based around a concept that the player makes their own. They're always really fun to play
I'm planning to hold out on raging for the moment. If I play my cards right, I'll only have to pull it out when the DM decides to wipe out the entire party for good. When that happens, I'll probably be one of the very last to go down. And people are going to remember it because I'm going to be very dramatic about it. I'll make all my over-the-top bard predecessors proud.
My current bard is a College Of Spirits bard with a 1 level dip each in Draconic Sorcerer (silver) and Hexblade Warlock. She's a gambler with the Charlatan background that fights using a magical deck of cards that floats around her in a protective cloud, and she throws them at enemies or gives them to allies to activate her spell effects. My DM let me reflavor the Magic Stone cantrip as preparing and throwing cards, Gambit style.
Whenever she uses the Tales From Beyond feature, she just pulls a card from the deck and she has no idea what she's going to get.
She's ended up becoming the party face and she's a lot of fun to play as. Her endgame goal is to Shapechange into an Adult Silver Dragon and use Wish to make the change permanent.
When I think of a bard my first thought is of an older gold dragonborn lore bard bolstering his allies by recounting the great deeds of their ancestors to them, or by comparing their current situation to a similar historical example. Something like a classics professor on his 2nd glass of brandy rallying the troops. He would probably resemble a wizard more than a bard, until one got to know him. A rather serious person, pinze-nez glasses, always reading a book, or asking strangers at the tavern for any tales of heroism they may have to share.
Granted, music is the defining characteristic of the Bard class, but we should remember that the voice is the oldest and most versatile musical instrument, and one which we all carry with us.
Tayn of Darkwood. Lvl 10 human Life Cleric of Lathander. Retired.
Ikram Sahir ibn Malik al-Sayyid Ra'ad, Second Son of the House of Ra'ad, Defender of the Burning Sands. Lvl 9 Brass Dragonborn Sorcerer + Greater Fire Elemental Devil.
Viktor Gavriil. Lvl 20 White Dragonborn Grave Cleric, of Kurgan the God of Death.
Anzio Faro. Lvl 5 Prot. Aasimar Light Cleric.
Haven't read all the rest, but I would really like to play a skald one day.
Thinking someone used to a harsh Norse style existence that tells stories of heroes. Certainly wouldn't be your foppish bard stereotype.
With how good bards are in this edition though I think they can be reskinned to be extremely versatile and interesting.
I just started a campaign, I never purchased Theros but I did buy Tasha's and so I am going with Eloquence Bard.
My concept is he was a goblin that never fit in. He always felt the totalitarian society of goblinoids unfair and cruel and was always standing up for the lower castes. Because he was more charismatic and intelligent then most of them he mainly just confused the bully's with a lot of words while the victim got away.
Longish story short, he left the clan and found a niche in Baldur's Gate under the wing of a liberal minded solicitor/barrister.
Now my Bard, Verbo Ossity, is an attorney, specializing in defense of adventurers who may have caused a bit more "collateral damage" then intended.
Nice one from above. : )
The Eloquence Bard has me concocting all sorts of concepts...
One is sort of an inter-planar diplomat, who serves as a translator for adventurers who travel between worlds.
The other is a personal trainer...his goal is to find someone "heroic", follow them around and train them, and record their legendary feats to become immortalized (and make money off them).
If you take Phil from Disney's "Hercules"...you wouldn't be far off. Sort of like a boxing coach.
LOL!! Love the personal trainer route! I like how eloquence bard tends to lend to more unique concepts rather than musical. Others do to but Eloquence seems "easier" to do it.
My Bard is slowly working from being the flamboyant bard that excells at performance, deception and persuasion and also being good at hiding (Whisper bard) which was fun in the start, into a book writing, poem gathering, story/legend creating lore bard.
I've slowly dropped using instruments and started using my caligraphy tools instead.
I hardly ever sing but rather go to theaters, carnivals and libraries whenever we visit a new town to gather more knowledge.
He wants his group to be legends, instead of just himself.
Eldest step daughter has officially joined the game and has officially broke me with her character design. I watched as she started organically forming this concept until there was Sirena, the Goblin bard. Her backstory is a hoot and has given me acres to work with for the story. She basically loves to sing to the point she was driven out of the warren and was took in by a bard who taught her the trade. She's plying her as this odd amalgamation of Golum, generic goblin npc's, the shiftiest hafling ever, elmo from sesame street and I'm not sure. It's hysterical and totally viable and not overly distracting given the rest of the party.
With the help of some of the wonderful people here in dndbeyond, i made a Bard that is essentially a madwoman who uses her spells to drive her enemies to madness by announcing their dooms and speaking words of the great old ones.
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Was just thinking about this again and recently read "The Inifinite World" by JT Wright. Has a character in it that is your stereotypical sergeant. Loud, borderline abusive but manages to get the best out of everyone and keep them coming home.
I think this would make a great bard. Healing word would be something along the lines of "Get up boy, I know you aren't laying down on the job. You get up and show that goblin whatfor or you will be tasting my boot leather" or inspiration something like "You will climb that wall or you will give me 20 pushups and then carry me up that wall. Hop to it!!"
Could be fun ...
Ooh...that sounds FANTASTIC.
"College of Eloquence" with their "Unsettling Words"?
Or more "College of Lore" with their "Cutting Words"?
Either could work, and Whispers bard as well was suggested. If you want to see the ideas given go back to the bard forum and look for my post "Building a form of Eldritch themed Bard (just a build not subclass) and in need of help!"
Born under the watch of something from the furthest corners of the far realms.... It knows all.... it sees all... and it asks: "What is it that you want to see?"... and my answer is... ALL"
Another idea: a masked Luchador (wrestler) Valor Bard with a personality similar to Jack Black's character in "Nacho Libre" - is told to be Lawful Good in a very threadbare way but wants to embody a "please the crowd" Chaotic Good/Neutral way instead while maintaining a secret identity.
Uses Dancing Lights to accentuate Performance skill with either Color Spray or Pyrotechnics for additional visual FX. Expertise in Athletics for grappling.
A middle aged man, with a mustache, thinning hair, bit of a belly, cargo shorts, socks & crocs, and a comfortable cardigan. Inflicts psychic damage through unrelenting and endless dad-jokes and puns.
bandit: "You're going to die for that!"
dad bard: "Die? that's the last thing I'll do!"
bandit: "Urgh! what? How did you... I'm bleeding!"
dad bard: "Hi Bleeding, I'm dad."
Bandit: "uuurgh...." *thud*
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
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I am about to start playing an Orc Bard who is completely wholesome- no trying to get in everyone's pants. His mom ran away from an attack of giants on their village and hid him in the hollow of a tree and led them away. He was found by halflings and raised as one of their own so he is totally happy and jovial like your typical halfling. His outlook is that everyone can be kind and loving to one another if they just try. Think Mr Rogers in an Orc body with Bard powers :)
one of the first spells...play music so one of the bad guys attacks one of the bad guys..........nifty :)